When you visit St. Maarten and St. Thomas, you are looking for the whole experience: luxury, relaxation, beautiful views, shopping, and adventure. The one-of-a-kind luxury jewelry scene that is found when escaping to the Virgin Islands was built to be lavished by those who appreciate such beauty. 

At Grand Jewelers, we don’t just pride ourselves on the products we sell and the services we offer, we stand by the ambiance afforded by the artisanal pieces we curate for our valued customers. Part of shopping for luxury diamonds is knowing what makes a diamond stand out from the crowd. The rest is the pure beauty that you can’t put a price on. 

We want to share what you should keep an eye out for when you’re doing your luxury shopping at St. Maarten and St. Thomas.

The 4C’s of Diamond Engagement Rings

Carat, clarity, color, and cut, fondly known as the 4Cs, are the diamond quality rating scales that will help you find the St. Maarten engagement rings and St. Thomas engagement rings of your dreams. If you are on the hunt for the perfect diamond, the 4Cs will help guide you along your shopping journey and guarantee a luxury diamond that lets happiness thrive.

Carat

A carat refers to a unit of measurement that measures the weight of a diamond. A single carat is divided into 100 parts, commonly known as points. These points can be described as 1/100 carat or .01 carat, and a single carat equals 0.200 grams. 

The more a diamond weighs, the higher the carat count. When searching for a luxury diamond, higher-carat diamonds will be reflected by a higher cost, like this stunning Diamond Engagement Ring Set. 

If you are shopping for a diamond ring or engagement ring that makes a big impression, you may want to prioritize how many carats are in the diamond. However, carat is only one of four qualities to consider and weight alone does not determine the value of a diamond.

Our luxury diamond shopping tip for carat – Know what the carat weight is of the diamond that catches your eye. Consider carats in order to best know whether the size of a diamond is reflected in its weight, or whether a smaller diamond carries more depth. 

However, remember to look at the whole diamond and consider clarity, color, and cut. These other qualities may prove to be of more value than the carats alone.

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is a way to acknowledge the visibility of imperfections on the gem. Imperfections – also called inclusions – are to be expected, diamonds are naturally occurring beauties and these little flaws can be worn with honor. 

When shopping for your next luxury diamond, you will want to consider the clarity so that you know what makes your diamond unique, like with this exquisite Flexible Diamond Engagement Ring. 

Inclusions assessed and considered for a luxury diamond’s clarity rating can occur on the interior or the exterior of a diamond. Clarity is rated on 11 grades that fall into the following categories: 

• FL for flawless
• IF for internally flawless 
• VVS for very, very small inclusions
• VS for very small inclusions
• SI for small inclusions
• I for imperfect

As you’re visiting diamond shops in St. Maarten and St. Thomas, you can prioritize clarity or consider the other rating scales as well when choosing your diamond. Remember, inclusions can give a diamond some character, so consider exactly which range of clarity you’re willing to accept. These blemishes can be the very thing that sets your diamond apart.

Our luxury diamond shopping tip for clarity – Always have a professional evaluate your luxury diamond for clarity. These tiny imperfections cannot often be seen by the naked eye and require further assessment by a professional with the right tool. 

Color

The color of a diamond may seem universal, but there is actually quite a lot of variability. Specifically, color refers to the lack of whiteness of a diamond. The color of a diamond is influenced by the other elements present as the stone develops, as well as what level of pressure it is put under during its development. 

The color of a diamond is rated from the letter D to the letter Z. A diamond with a D rating is completely colorless, while a diamond with a Z rating has a distinct tint that is plainly visible. 

A lot of coloring comes down to preference. If you are in the market for engagement rings or diamond jewelry, consider the color of the diamond you choose in comparison to the setting it will be placed in. For instance, in this beautiful Yellow Gold Diamond Ring, a tint in the diamond against the bold and gold ring may not be noticeable or may even be preferred.

Our luxury diamond shopping tip for color – The color of your diamond certainly matters. However, it is an important reminder that diamonds with a rating less than D can still have no discernable color and may not change the quality. Even more fun, the color of a diamond can be harnessed as a strength when matched to the right setting to amplify the gem’s beauty.

Cut

The cut of the diamond refers to the style and quality of its edges. Symmetry, proportions, angles, and smoothness are all considered important aspects of determining whether the cut of a diamond can be called standard or luxury. The diamond’s cut will allow the ring to shine brightly under light, as seen in this Diamond Engagement Ring. 

The quality and shape of a diamond’s cut can be rated as poor, fair, good, very good, or excellent. The specific cut characteristics include the table, crown, girdle, pavilion, cutlet, and depth. The cut of a diamond may be shallower or deeper than the ideal proportion, which impacts the way it performs under light. 

The smoothness of the diamond’s surface pairs with the intricate and precise shapes of the cut to produce the reflected, glimmering shine we all associate with elegant diamond rings. 

Our luxury diamond shopping tip for cut – When looking at a diamond cut, you are really looking for shine. Take a moment to see how light is reflected off the diamond. In particular, look for sparkles! It can be easy to get lost in the detail of the diamond cut you are assessing, but what matters most is how brilliantly it shines.

#1 Diamond Shop in St. Thomas and St. Maarten 

Putting words to the gasp caused by St. Thomas engagement rings and St. Maarten engagement rings are challenging. As you shop for the perfect luxury diamond, consider the carat, clarity, color, and cut to help you decide what look you are hoping to achieve.

Follow our diamond shopping tips above and you will find yourself in a world of luxury, such as when you try on our classically gorgeous White Gold Diamond Ring or our striking White Gold Solitaire Diamond Ring. We recommend letting your gut do some of the shopping as well. Beauty is individual and we at Grand Jewelers feel that each of our engagement rings has a perfect and unique diamond. Lean into the romance and love of shopping for a luxury diamond by choosing the one that catches your eye and brings butterflies to your stomach. 

At Grand Jewelers, we are honored and excited to be a part of your luxury shopping journey. Our experts are ready and willing to help you decipher the 4Cs of diamond quality in order to find the luxury diamond of your dreams. Contact us today with questions or to get started on your shopping adventure!