How to Buy a Diamond

The Origin of Diamonds

No gemstone is as rare, beautiful and precious as a diamond. It's little wonder then that, over the centuries, the diamond has become known as the ultimate symbol of love and is at the heart of every celebration.

At Fields we're passionate about diamonds, and every piece of diamond jewellery we offer has been selected with love and care. We understand that diamond jewellery is a significant purchase - emotionally and financially.

Buying a diamond should be a magical, truly special experience and that's exactly what we want you to have.

Top Tips for Buying a Diamond Ring

Set your budget and stick to it. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a beautiful diamond ring. Familiarise yourself with the 4 Cs (Carat, Colour, Cut, Clarity) - the characteristics that determine a diamond's value and beauty. This will help you choose the right diamond for your budget and taste.

Learn about the different diamond shapes. There's a diamond shape to suit every style. Buy with confidence. Only buy your diamond ring from a reputable, trusted jeweller.

Love at first sight. In our experience, if you fall in love with a diamond ring, that's the one you have to own. Cherish your diamond ring. With the right love and care, your diamond ring will last forever. It's important to have it cleaned and checked regularly by an expert jeweller.

Fields have over 40 years of retail experience. We are passionate about diamonds and we want to help you make the best choice. 



Carat

The carat is a reference to the weight of a diamond. A one carat diamond is equivalent to 0.2 grams. One carat is divided into 100 points, so a diamond of 25 points is described as 0.25 carats.

It may be hard to believe that approximately 250 tons of ore must be mined and polished in order to produce a single, one-carat polished diamond.

The carat weight stated for a piece of diamond jewellery with multiple stones is the total weight of all the diamonds in it. 

Colour

Colour is perhaps the most important characteristic of a diamond. Ideally, colour should be totally absent as the clearer the diamond, the more light will pass and refract through it, and therefore the rarer it will be. 

One of the most internationally used scales is the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) scale which grades colour from D to Z.

At Fields we only state diamond colour grade on our certificated diamonds.

Cut

Good proportions reflect light between the facets and up through the crown. Too shallow or deep a cut lets some light escape through the pavilion.

Many people confuse cut with the shape.

The cut of the diamond refers to the brilliance. It will dramatically influence the fire and sparkle of the diamond.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is assessed by examination of its imperfections, normally under a 10x magnification. Nearly all diamonds contain traces of non-crystallised carbon called inclusions.

Inclusions are also referred to as "nature's fingerprint". The fewer there are, the rarer the diamond will be. 

When you're choosing your diamond jewellery, always remember that these unique 'fingerprints' make each stone individual to you.

At Fields we only state clarity grade on our certificated diamonds.

Caring for your diamond ring

A clean diamond has a beautiful fire and a brilliant sparkle. Everyday products such as skin cream, soap, oils and cosmetics can dull your diamond’s natural radiance.

Keep your diamond clean and gleaming. Here are some tips on how to keep your diamond at its best:

Our Complimentary Cleaning Service: At Fields, we want your diamonds to look their best at all times, this is why we offer a complimentary cleaning service. This service includes a professional cleaning and inspection of your diamond ring. Call in to any of our stores and a member of staff will be happy to assist you.

Cleaning Solution: Use our recommended liquid jewellery cleaning solution, which is available in all 13 Fields stores nationwide. The liquid cleaner is the ideal home-solution to keeping your diamond as beautiful as they day you bought it.

Mild Detergent Bowl: Make up a small bowl of warm water and a mild cleaning detergent – liquid washing liquid or liquid soap. Place your diamond jewellery into the bowl and use a small soft toothbrush to gently clean the jewellery.

Rinse the jewellery thoroughly after cleaning and pat dry with a Fields Gold and Diamond Cloth, or a soft lint-free cloth.

Fields' Diamonds are Conflict-Free

Fields subscribe to the Kimberley Process (KP) www.kimberleyprocess.com, a joint initiative between governments, industry and society which restricts the flow of Conflict Diamonds, used in the financing of wars against legitimate governments.

The KP uses traceability systems in order to ensure that rough diamonds are shipped via tamper-proof methods and are government-certified as conflict-free. Under this process, shipments lacking legitimate certification will be rejected or impounded. As the diamonds continue their journey through the market, they are further certified as compliant with the Kimberley Process.

We insist that all our diamond and diamond product suppliers subscribe to the Kimberley Process and state this on their supply documentation. Hence, we warrant that all diamonds sold by Fields come from suppliers that adhere to the Kimberley Process.