Cost

Diamonds are generally priced according to widely accepted industry standards for determining value, making it easier to compare prices and shop with assurance. A diamond's worth is derived from the combination of its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Each of these characteristics can vary greatly from diamond to diamond, and each has a significant effect on its value. It is essentially the rarity of a diamond that determines its worth, so we encourage you to decide which factors are most important before you begin your diamond search.

Although diamond prices are controlled worldwide, you may still find a wide range of prices among diamond retailers. These price differentials are due to varying profit margins, which can be dramatically different from store to store and city to city. We at Charleston Alexander believe that higher volume and lower margin is the only way to provide our customers with the quality they desire at the lowest possible price. Our buying power overseas is tremendous, and we pass the savings directly on to you.

Cost Analysis

The cut of a diamond is generally considered its most distinguishing characteristic. A diamond with good proportions will disperse the most light and yield the most brilliance. At Charleston Alexander we are proud to showcase an array of diamonds with an "Excellent Ideal" cut, the very finest available. For the equally discriminating buyer we also feature "Ideal" cut diamonds, which are cut to slightly lesser dimensions than "Excellent Ideal" yet still emit tremendous sparkle. A "Very Good" cut offers the buyer an excellent value in that the price decreases yet the diamond still radiates. A "Good" cut is satisfactory, yet even the untrained eye will notice a difference in sparkle between this and an "Ideal" cut diamond. Before you decide which cut is right for you, we recommend that you view differently cut diamonds side by side to determine the amount of sparkle that is pleasing.

The clarity of a diamond is a bit less subjective. At 10x magnification it is determined what inclusions are present internally or externally, and these inclusions are identified on the diamond certification. As with cut, an acceptable clarity is subject to the buyer's eye. For many, if the inclusions are invisible without magnification, the diamond will suffice. For others, the highest clarity grades increase the diamond's value and are therefore more desirable.