Pay in installments with
Diamonds are certified by the most renowned gemological institutes, such as IGI and GIA, to promote responsible ethical, social and environmental practices, aimed at ensuring respect for human rights throughout the entire diamond supply chain, from mines to sales.
Zahir Jewels are always accompanied by a certificate of authenticity for the materials and gems used in their creation, issued by our laboratory.
For over thirty years, the BS group has had the best selection of diamond jewelry in Catania and its province .
Diamonds are not only a girl's best friend, but also the most precious and widely used gemstone in jewelry.
Strict market regulation has also meant that diamonds have become an excellent safe haven in these years of extreme volatility for traditional investments.
When purchasing a diamond ring, however, it is very important to be able to trust your jeweler and the quality certificate that accompanies the gem.
To this end, our boutiques, located in Catania, Misterbianco, and Etnapolis, work only with certification bodies and have a well-equipped in-house gemological laboratory.
We decided to embark on the journey with our gems many years ago with our proprietary brand Zahir Gioielli.
Zahir is a jewelry line specialized in the production and creation of items in gold, platinum, diamonds, colored precious stones and pearls.
Choosing a diamond is a personal and meaningful experience, but with this guide, you'll be able to evaluate the different options, ask the right questions, and find the stone that not only fits your budget but will sparkle for a lifetime.
Buying a diamond, whether for an engagement ring, an anniversary, or another special occasion, is an exciting moment and a significant investment.
Understanding the factors that determine its quality, beauty, and value is essential to making an informed and safe choice.
This guide will guide you through the "4Cs" (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat), the universal standard for diamond grading, and provide additional valuable advice to help you navigate the fascinating world of these precious stones.
The 4Cs: The Basics of Diamond Grading
The value of a diamond is determined by a combination of four fundamental characteristics, known internationally as the "4Cs".
Cut: The Splendor of the Diamond
Contrary to popular belief, cut does not refer to the shape of the diamond (round, princess, pear), but to the quality of its facets, angles, and proportions.
A well-executed cut is the factor that more than any other influences the brilliance and sparkle of the stone.
A masterfully cut diamond will reflect light internally from one facet to another and then disperse it across the top of the gem, creating a magnificent display of light.
Ratio, Symmetry, Table, Polishing:
The diamond cut was designed to maximize the brilliance of the gem.
The proportions of all parts must comply with strict codified percentages.
Every single facet in the diamond cut must be perfectly finished.
When a round brilliant cut diamond maximizes the perfection of its proportions, polish, table and symmetry, a particular optical effect occurs:the gem, observed through a viewer, highlights a play of shadows that creates 8 hearts and 8 arrows.
The cut classification ranges from Excellent to Poor .
It is advisable to opt for a diamond with a cut classification of Very Good or Excellent .
Color: The absence of hue
A diamond's color refers to its lack of color. The less color a diamond possesses, the rarer and more valuable it is. The color grading scale, established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), ranges from D (absolutely colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
For a diamond that appears colorless to the naked eye, the ideal choice generally falls within the J grade.
Clarity: Inner Perfection
Clarity refers to the absence of inclusions (internal imperfections) and surface defects (external imperfections).
Most of these features are microscopic and do not detract from the beauty of the stone.
However, the fewer inclusions there are, the rarer and more valuable the diamond is considered.
The classification expresses the number and size of inclusions contained in the diamond when observed by an expert operator with a magnifying glass at ten times magnification.
The purity scale is as follows:
For an excellent compromise between quality and price, VS and SI graded diamonds are often the best choice, as their small imperfections are generally not visible to the naked eye.
Carats: The Weight of the Diamond
The carat is the unit of measurement of the weight of a diamond, where one carat equals 0.2 grams.
All other things being equal, the price of a diamond increases exponentially as its carat weight increases, since larger diamonds are rarer.
It's important to remember that carat weight doesn't necessarily correspond to the visual size of the diamond. An excellent cut can make a diamond appear larger than one with a higher carat weight but a lower-quality cut.
In a well-executed brilliant cut, there are proportions so fixed that they determine a relationship between the diameter and the weight (carat) of the stone.
When choosing carats, consider the style of the ring and the size of the wearer's hand.
The Shape of the Diamond
The shape is the external geometry of the stone.
The choice of shape is a matter of personal taste.
The most popular forms include:
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is the reaction of diamond to ultraviolet (UV) light.
About a third of diamonds emit a light, usually blue, when exposed to UV light. In many cases, fluorescence has no visible impact on the diamond's appearance.
However, very strong fluorescence (Strong Blue) in a high color (DF) diamond can sometimes give it a slightly milky or oily appearance.
Conversely, in diamonds with a lower color (IK), medium fluorescence can help make them appear whiter.
The Gemological Certificate
A gemological certificate, issued by an independent and authoritative laboratory, is the guarantee that the diamond's characteristics (the 4Cs and more) have been professionally evaluated.
It is a fundamental document that certifies the quality and value of the stone.
Internationally renowned laboratories include the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) , IGI (International Gemological Institute) , and HRD (Hoge Raad voor Diamant) .
Pearls are organic gems produced by living organisms, mollusks, and share the same chemical composition as their protective shell. Those that form spontaneously in nature, as a result of the mollusk's defense against an irritant, are extremely rare today. Their random formation often leads to irregular shapes, relegating them almost exclusively to the antique market.
Almost all pearls on the market are cultured. Although they are generated by the same biological process, their origin is induced by human intervention. They are mainly divided into two categories.
These pearls are created by inserting a spherical nucleus of mother-of-pearl into the mollusk. The animal, recognizing it as an intruder, begins covering it with countless layers of pearl.
These pearls develop in large mussels that populate rivers and lakes, primarily in Asia. The cultivation technique is radically different:instead of a solid nucleus, multiple fragments of epithelial tissue are grafted onto the mollusk. This method allows a single oyster to generate dozens of pearls simultaneously and ensures that they are composed almost entirely of pure nacre. Technical advances in recent decades have elevated the quality of freshwater pearls to extraordinary levels in terms of shape, luster, and size, so much so that distinguishing them with the naked eye from saltwater pearls has become a task reserved for gemological laboratories.
Considered an organic gem, coral is actually the calcareous skeleton formed by colonies of tiny marine organisms called polyps. Its name evokes ancient legends, deriving from the Greek "korallion," which translates as "sea maiden." Prized since prehistoric times, as evidenced by finds dating back to 6000 BC, it was long believed to be a type of aquatic plant that solidified outside the water. It was only in the 18th century that its animal nature was scientifically confirmed.
The Mediterranean tradition of coral fishing and processing has seen many cities excel, but starting in the 18th century, it was Torre del Greco, on the slopes of Vesuvius, that established itself as the world center of this art.
Among the main varieties used in jewelry we find:
The world of colored gems is a fascinating universe, governed by the laws of rarity, beauty, and science.
The value and quality of a stone depend on a combination of factors, including the intensity and saturation of its color, its internal clarity, its geographical origin, and any treatments it has undergone to improve its appearance.
A gemological certificate issued by a reputable laboratory represents the gem's identity card, objectively attesting to its characteristics.
Corundum is a mineral known for its exceptional hardness, second only to that of diamond. In ancient times, its name (derived from Sanskrit and Tamil terms such as kurundam ) was used generically to indicate any particularly hard stone. Today, it specifically refers to this mineral and its precious varieties.
It is common practice for rubies and sapphires to be heat treated to improve their clarity and intensify their color.
There are also synthetic versions, created in the laboratory, which possess the same chemical-physical properties as their natural counterparts.
Beryl is another very important mineral species that gives rise to some of the world's most beloved gemstones.
Receive your order immediately and pay in 3 to 12 installments.
Our team is always available to you 24/7.
We deliver all jewelry in Zahir personalized packaging.
Engrave a name, letter, or a date that's important to you, at no additional cost.
