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WHAT IS A SOLITAIRE?

To mark any special occasion, a Diamond solitaire is always a classic choice, timeless and elegant. Classic single Diamond setting is a timeless beauty that maximizes the brilliance of a Diamond. A Solitaire is a testament to love and a witness to all your special moments. At B.C.Sen Jewellers, Solitaires are not limited to only engagement rings. Our collection has an extensive range of Solitaire earrings, necklaces and bracelets serving both men and women.

SHAPES & CUTS

As a Solitaire setting celebrates the Diamond in its full glory, which makes it vital to select the perfect shape to flatter you. The basic shapes that you can choose from are:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHILE SELECTING A SOLITAIRE?

Solitaire is an elegant choice. Its sleek design adds the right amount of spark and compliments every outfit. A mindful focus on the features and quality of the Diamond while selecting a Solitaire is pivotal. This can be done by a good understanding of the 4Cs- Cut, Colour, Clarity, & Carat weight.

CUT

When talking about Cut, we refer to the interaction of Diamond’s facets with the light. A well-cut Diamond can refract the light to increase its brilliance and make it appear the brightest and breathtaking.

WHY CUT IS IMPORTANT?

Getting a clear understanding of Diamond Cut is crucial to making a wise buying decision. The interaction between a light ray and a diamond is determined by the depth and angles of its facets. It determines the Brilliance, Fire and Scintillation of a Diamond. Brilliance is a term used to describe the amount of light returned to the eyes resulting in the overall brightness of a Diamond. The fire of a Diamond are the flashes of colour we see on a polished Diamond and Scintillation refers to the sparkles created when the Diamond, the light or the observer moves. The Cut has to be ideal and balanced for a Diamond to appear breathtaking and reach its optical potential. Two diamonds having similar properties can have different Brilliance, Fire and Scintillation, all depending on the Cut.

COLOR

Diamonds might appear colourless, but they are rarely that. They are nearly colourless with yellow or brown tints. The colour difference can be negligible but marks a notable difference in its value. The closer the diamond is being to ‘colourless’ the higher is its per-carat price.

According to the industrial standard colour grading scale, Diamond’s colour ranges from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The letters don’t represent any actual hue but are a measure of how noticeable the colour tint is.

CLARITY

Clarity is a measure of Diamond’s purity and rarity. Diamonds have internal flaws, called inclusions, which might be otherwise invisible to unaided eyes along with surface irregularities called blemishes. Clarity highly influences the value of a Diamond and its rarity. ‘Flawless’ at the upper end of the grading scale are the superior Diamonds, these don’t have any visible inclusions or blemishes when examined under 10x magnifier. Towards the lower end are Diamonds with various inclusions that can be easily seen by unaided eyes and appear cloudy. The Diamonds at the upper end of the scale are higher in value.

CARAT WEIGHT

Diamonds are measured in carats. One carat means 0.20 grams. It is used to express the weight of a Diamond and not the size. A Diamond that appears larger can weigh less than a smaller Diamond. The carat weight also varies depending on the shape and cut of a Diamond. Carats highly contribute to the value of a Diamond, but is not the sole factor in deciding the price nor the quality. The sizes in the above chart are just for visual representable and not the actual size of the Diamonds.

BEYOND 4CS

Beyond the above 4Cs, one must consider Diamonds with an excellent rating in all 3 aspects of cut, symmetry and polish, together known as the Triple ‘X’ Diamond. These are the Diamonds that exhibit superior craftsmanship and brilliance.

Cut: Excellent cut Diamond means the Diamond is mindfully cut to maximize its brilliance, fire and scintillation keeping all the aspects in check.

Symmetry: Symmetry refers to the precision of Diamond’s shape and the arrangement of the facets. Light’s path is determined by the alignment of its facets. In an excellent symmetry Diamond, the light enters the stone and exists through the table (top of the stone). But in a poorly aligned Diamond, the light can be emitted from any random facet, minimizing its brilliance and sparkle.

Polish: Polish refers to the smoothness of the Diamond’s surface. The smoother the surface the more is its scintillation. An excellent polish graded Diamond has no polish marks visible under a 10x magnification.

Fluorescence is another aspect to look into before the completion of your buying process. Fluorescence is the emission of visible light when exposed to UV light. The presence of a strong fluorescence can make a Diamond appear cloudy and less transparent, which is also a vital factor to consider while buying a Solitaire.

DIFFERENT SETTINGS

The intention is to secure the Diamond to hold it safely in place while creating exceptional sparkle and to please the aesthetic concerns. There are a few traditional settings as well as some with a contemporary twist, but each setting allows the light to travel through its facets in a unique way, breathing life into the Diamond.

THE PRONG SETTING

The Prong setting is also known as the claw setting. This setting has typically four to six metal prongs extended up from the ring’s basket and over the gemstone. This effectively secures the diamond and allows more light to enter.

THE CATHEDRAL SETTING

The Cathedral setting gets its name from its aesthetic resemblance to an old cathedral. This setting allows the diamond to be visible more with slopes on either side to protect the stone.

THE BEZEL SETTING

The Bezel setting is an elegant and modern setting. An ideal choice for someone who has an active lifestyle. The metal of the band surrounds the diamond in this setting.

THE TENSION SETTING

The Tension setting with an unorthodox setting flaunts a unique appearance. It allows the ring to act as a spring, holding the diamond in place and allowing the diamond to appear floating. Moreover, there is no metal beneath the diamond.