FAQs
What are the 4 Cs?
A diamond's value is determined by many qualities that serve to benchmark the rarity of a particular stone but four qualities are of particular importance when appraising the value of a diamond.
These qualities are Cut, Carat Weight, Clarity and Color.
Knowing the 4 Cs allows a customer to knowledgeably and accurately compare the price of diamonds from various sellers based on these specific criteria. And any small difference in quality can have a big effect on price!
The Cut of a diamond is factored into the value of a stone because, typically speaking, a finished and polished diamond such as a round brilliant cut diamond will require a larger starting rough diamond to accommodate the full and round circumference of this specific cut. It isn't really viable to price a 1.00 Ct princess cut diamond and a 1.00 Ct round brilliant cut diamond at the same price point, all other factors being the same.
The Carat Weight of a diamond is pretty straightforward. Diamonds are measured in carats to an accuracy of one-hundredth of a carat. The heavier the carat weight, the more valuable the diamond.
There are also carat weights considered, within the industry, to be "magic numbers". A 1.00 carat diamond will have a significant price jump over .98 carat diamond.
The Clarity of a diamond is determined by how few "characteristics" a diamond has. "Characteristics" are typically very small inclusions such as carbon spots or "feathers" (natural internal cleaves.) The fewer characteristics an untreated diamond has, the more valuable the diamond is. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has devised a scale by which to grade a diamond's clarity.
From the highest clarity to the lowest clarity, the scale goes as follows:
Clearest--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Least Clear>
Flawless (FL), Internally Flawless (IF), VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, (SI3) I1, I2, I3
Finally, the Color of a diamond plays a significant role in the value of the diamond. From colorless to bright, fancy colored diamonds, the GIA has devised a scale by which to grade a diamond's color as well!
From colorless to fancy colors, the scale goes as follows:
Colorless----------Fancy Colors start at 'N'-----------Most Color>
D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
When selecting a diamond for it's lack of any color, D is considered colorless, E-G is near colorless, H-K is very slightly colored and very typical in most production jewelry.
When selecting a diamond for its fancy color (any color other than clear or black) it should be graded as a color N or higher. It is that point at which a diamond has sufficient saturation to start being considered a "fancy color". The more saturated and uncommon the color of a fancy diamond, the more valuable the diamond is.
What is the difference between CT and CTW?
Many stores/sellers manage to confuse customers on this point.
When an item's diamond weight is listed as CT, this generally is an abbreviation for "carat" and refers to the weight of a single stone.
When a piece of jewelry is listed as 1.00 CTW, CTW is an abbreviation for "Carat Total Weight" which is a cumulative measurement of the weight of ALL diamonds on the piece of jewelry.
This becomes misleading when a seller lists a 1.00 CTW piece as a "1.00 CT Diamond" piece. A solitaire 1.00 CT Diamond ring will always be significantly more valuable than a 1.00 CTW Diamond piece that has the 1.00 CTW worth of diamonds comprised of 10 .10 CT diamonds.
Do your diamonds have Certificates from the GIA, EGL, etc.?
GIA or EGL Certificates are available for many new diamond jewelry pieces. We make certain to specify in an item listing when a Gemological Labrotory's paperwork is available. If we haven't specified such in an item listing, we can still get a certificate processed by the GIA at an additional cost. Please contact us to inform us of your preference and we will source the perfect diamond for you.
What is the difference between Estate/Antique Jewelry and New Jewelry?
We have a large selection of New and Estate/Antique jewelry available for sale.
New jewelry is in completely unworn, brand new condition.
Our fine selection of Estate/Antique jewelry has been carefully vetted by us for durability of design and overall condition. The nature of Estate/Antique jewelry being such that it is, pieces will show very slight to slight wear. Stones may have very slightly scuffed facets or very slightly abraded girdles. While we have gone to great lengths to select only the most choice pieces to include in our Estate/Antique jewelry collection, if you have any concern about the condition of a particular piece you are interested in, please don't hesitate to contact us for more information.
How can I get jewelry designed, fabricated or repaired by Eligius Jewelers?
Simply contact us! If you are in the same area as us (Shrewsbury, PA 17361) a meeting in person may be arranged. If you are not located close to us geographically, we are more than happy to arrange for USPS to pick up your carefully packaged jewelry. Depending on your location and the jewelers who service your region, it is very possible that we can beat their price quotes, even after the cost of shipping has been factored into your expenses.
Do you offer giftcards?
We don't yet offer giftcards. If enough interest is expressed to justify the additional business expense, we will certainly consider adding this service.
Do you offer financing?
We don't yet offer financing currently.
What is your return policy?
How much does shipping cost?
Where do you ship to?
We are able and willing to ship purchases all over the world. Typically, for a transaction to be approved internationally, the billing address and shipping address must match.
Does Eligius Jewelers support green gold and ecologically sound manufacturing practices?
YES! We make certain to source our jewelry from only the most professional and responsible manufacturers. We will always source our products in such a way as to offer you multiple options committed to your conscientious lifestyle. We leave the final decision to you. Please contact us for more information.