How do cut grades and fluorescence determine the value of my diamonds?

The cut grade of a diamond, which pertains to its symmetry, proportions, and polish, is an element that determines the value of a diamond, and is important when selling your diamond. The jewelry buyers at DeSumma and Wexler take a diamond’s cut grade into consideration when pricing a diamond.

The Significance of Cut Grades When Selling Your Used Diamonds
The GIA, Gemological Institute of America, Cut Scale ranks a diamond’s cut into one of the following five grades:

  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Poor

The cut grade of a diamond is rated by the unique angles and measurements of key facets in a polished diamond.  Proper table (largest facet in the center of a diamond) and the depth measurement of the diamond (a percent of the overall surface area of a diamond) dictate its light performance.  If a diamond has a better light performance, it will appear brighter and more brilliant.  Today, most consumers are looking for well-proportioned, precisely cut fancy and round brilliant diamonds.

It is very common for jewelers to advertise and promote diamond weight, but uninformed consumers can sometimes end up purchasing a diamond with more weight that is miscut.  A miscut diamond impacts the overall diameter, which is the size you see from the top view, and light interaction.  A good example of this is how two people can weigh the same, but be different heights.  Although they have identical weights, the two people would be built entirely different due to their heights.  The same holds true regarding a diamond’s weight.  A diamond that has too much depth will have a smaller diameter size, which will make the diamond will look smaller and the diamond will allow light “leakage.”  A shallow cut diamond would have all the size, but no brilliance.  Consumers are closely analyzing the cut of a diamond, which ultimately will impact the price a person will pay for that particular diamond.

Fluorescence and Your Used Diamond Jewelry
Fluorescence is another element of a diamond that greatly influences the value of a diamond.  It is the reaction that occurs when a diamond is tested under a fluorescent light and there is presence of trace minerals.  The GIA Diamond Grading Scale evaluates a diamond’s fluorescence using the following categories:

  • None
  • Faint
  • Medium
  • Strong
  • Very Strong

The most common form is blue fluorescence, which is often widely perceived as a negative characteristic in a diamond.  Today, the GIA rates the presence of fluorescence at Faint, Slight Blue, Medium Blue and Strong Blue Fluorescence.  Most savvy and quality-conscious consumers often seek out diamonds with no fluorescence.  The diamond jewelry buyers at DeSumma and Wexler often encounter people who were unaware of fluorescence in their diamond when they purchased it, especially with the absence of credible certification.  This can pose a problem since fluorescence slightly devalues a diamond, especially at the medium and strong blue levels.  Since the consumer was misinformed, they are often surprised to hear the news.  People who look to purchase a diamond on the secondary market should consider the fluorescence factor in their evaluation process.  

Selling Used Diamond Jewelry at DeSumma and Wexler
The best place to sell diamonds and jewelry is a store that has vast diamond knowledge as well as fair pricing, and DeSumma and Wexler has just that.    We evaluate everything from cut grades, fluorescence, and more to establish the price of your used diamond jewelry.  From engagement rings to wedding rings and all used diamond jewelry, we will consider purchasing all pieces either for cash or on consignment.  We believe that DeSumma and Wexler offers the most competitive cash and consignment diamond pricing.