Diamonds for Dummies: All you need to know from Mr Eric Tay of Larry Jewelry

Yes, everyone claims that diamonds are a girl’s best friend but just like best friends, diamonds can be equal parts confusing and exciting to have.

Whether it’s learning about the 4Cs – carat, colour, clarity and cut – or how to store and care for them, we’ve probably been stumped at one point in time. And the bewilderment tends to reach peak levels right around this time – when Valentine’s Day is around the corner and proposal plans are definitely underway.

However, seeing that these precious little gems of carbon come with a hefty price tag, it’ll only do you good to do some research and get the best diamond for your beautiful significant other. So from factors to consider when choosing diamonds to common misconceptions, we spoke to Mr Eric Tay, Retail Director of Larry Jewelry Singapore, to give you the lowdown on what you really need to know about these luxurious stones.

Marie France Asia: When buying a diamond ring, what are the key factors to look out for?

Mr. Eric Tay: Firstly, one should assess the diamond’s quality based on what is commonly known as the ‘4Cs’. Especially for first-time diamond buyers, it will be good to familiarise and understand the terms commonly used to describe the quality of diamonds.

■ Carat is a weight measurement or commonly associated with the size. A 1-carat diamond weighs 200 milligrams.

■ Colour is graded by letter, starting with D for rare, colourless diamonds. E and F are considered excellent, but G or H diamonds will look the same to the untrained eye.

■ Clarity measures diamond flaws or ‘inclusions’ which might appear as tiny spots, clouds, or cavities. SI stands for ‘‘slightly included.’’ VS is a better grade, ‘‘very slightly included.’’ VVS is even higher, ‘‘very, very slightly included.’’

■ Cut measures workmanship, not a diamond’s inherent qualities. The way a stone is cut enhances its brilliance. At Larry Jewelry, we believe that ‘cut’ and the craftsmanship behind are the most important factors influencing the brilliance of a diamond, so I will elaborate further below.

The cut of a diamond does not refer to the shape of diamond. It is the most important factor that determines the quality of diamonds as it also defines the brilliance and beauty of a diamond.

Only diamonds cut in accordance to the strictest ideal cut mathematical formula produce maximum brilliance, sparkle and fire (brilliance determines the brightness and contrast of diamonds; sparkle refers to the tiny flashes of light noticeable in a diamond and is the reflection of light from the inner facets of the diamond; fire or dispersed light refers to the refraction of light and is what causes a diamond to display iridescent colours).

At Larry Jewelry, it is important to us to offer the best quality diamonds. Larry Premium diamonds and Lazare Diamonds have helped Larry Jewelry built a solid reputation as a diamond jeweler.

Exclusively available in Singapore at Larry Jewelry, Lazare Diamonds or otherwise known as ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Diamond’ is exactly what an ideal-cut diamond should be like. Each and every diamond is cut precisely to the mathematical formula, giving the diamonds a consistency that would otherwise be difficult to achieve at other diamond manufacturing company.

Secondly, price is definitely a key consideration All buyers wants to get the best value-for-money. Good quality diamonds should be proportionate to the value invested, and not due to marketing dollars. Buyers should know their budget so that the jeweler can recommend the best range within his or her budget.

MFA: What are some of the current trends of engagement rings in Asia?

Mr. Eric Tay: The solitaire (round-shape) has always been the best-seller here at Larry Jewelry.

The popularity of the diamond shapes are also influenced by popular celebrities. The cushion-cut (square or rectangular shape) has also seen increasing popularity as it is regularly seen on the fingers of many Hollywood brides like Kim Kardashian.

More importantly, diamond buyers are becoming more discerning. A rising trend we observe locally and around Asia is the increasing interest to own customised and personalised engagement rings. At Larry Jewelry our bespoke custom-jewelry service has been enjoying growing popularity with newlyweds.

Customers can customize their rings from scratch within their preferred budget. They can select their desired stones, share with us their design ideas and inspirations. The Larry Jewelry design team will translate the thoughts into a unique personalized jewelry piece for them. Popular customization requests include inscription of a quote, or additional diamonds as a design on the wedding band.

MFA: Does a heavier weight mean a bigger and better diamond?

Mr. Eric Tay: Yes, a heavier weight does mean a bigger diamond, but not necessarily a better diamond. Carat translates to actual weight, so a heavier weight means a bigger carat size which translates to a bigger diamond. However, a heavier and bigger diamond does not necessarily indicate that it is of better quality. The quality of a diamond is not related to the size of the stone. Quality is dependent on the cut, colour and clarity.

MFA: What are some common misconceptions about buying diamonds?

Mr. Eric Tay: A bigger diamond equals a better value-for-money investment. This is not true. Quality in terms of the cut, clarity and colour plays a very important role in the valuation process.

Fancy coloured diamonds are always less expensive. The diamond market prices are determined by market demand and supply. The pricing of fancy coloured diamonds and white diamonds are ruled by the same economic factor. While white diamonds are generally the most popular, it also has the more accessible supplies. Rare colored diamonds supply is also limited and rarity is valued, and could be more expensive. Recently, we have had many enquiries for yellow and pink diamonds.

MFA: What other questions should consumers ask before buying diamonds?

Mr. Eric Tay: First, what is the source of the diamond?

Knowing the source of diamonds refers to the supply chain, which covers more than just the origin of the diamonds. Today, responsible jewelers and consumers are getting increasingly concerned about the ethical issues in sourcing of diamonds. As a retailer, it may not be possible to be absolutely sure due to the complexity of the supply channel but we do our bit by working with responsible supplier like Lazare Kaplan to ensure that our sources are ethical.

Second, are the diamonds certified?

GIA (Gemological Institute of America) and AGS (American Gem Society) are the two more popularly recognised international certifications in Singapore though there are other international and local ones as well. However, while certification provide important information such as the 4C’s, it is more important to understand the cut details which ultimately affects the brilliance of the diamond.

MFA: What are your tips to taking care of diamonds?

The Basics

Mr. Eric Tay: Clean your diamond regularly. Everyday exposure to creams, skin oils, hairspray, household chemicals and other substances can cause build-up that will dull your diamond’s brilliance and sparkle.

Use a solution of warm water mixed with a few drop of ammonia and soak your diamond jewelry in it. Rinse and dry with a clean soft cloth that is usually provided by your jeweler. This can be a weekly routine.

Be mindful of the cleaning solutions you use – chlorine or abrasives should never be used when cleaning diamonds, especially those set in jewelry. These erode some of the metals often used in diamond settings, and may loosen prongs, or even dissolve the metal completely.

Jewelry Storage

Jewelry pieces should not be stored close to one another as this can cause scratches. Use a fabric-lined jewelry case with separate compartments would be ideal or you can also individually wrap your jewelry in pouches for each piece.

Regularly inspect your diamond jewelry to make sure the setting is secure. We recommend having your diamond jewelry examined at least once a year by a professional jeweler – the settings may be damaged or loosened. In addition to performing any necessary repair work, your jeweler can expertly clean your jewelry.

Getting it professionally cleaned by a jeweller

Larry Jewelry provides an aftersales service and we encourage our customers to bring their jewelleries back regularly for cleaning and checking at least once or twice a year. Doing so, we could check for wear and tear and in cases of settings damaged or stones loose in the setting, we could send them back to the factory for repair to avoid further damages or loss of material.

Tarandip Kaur