The sparkle of diamonds never fades. These precious gems have always been treasured possessions and their popularity continues to grow.

There are four factors to keep in mind when buying diamonds – carat, cut, clarity and colour – which must be certified and considered together in order to determine the true worth of a diamond.

The carat is the measuring unit of a diamond’s weight. Size in a diamond does not necessarily relate to weight. Size varies according to the cut and, visually, this may be misleading.

A diamond may be cut with a wide surface or a shallow depth. Although these factors affect its weight, they aren’t necessarily perceptible to the naked eye.

A carat is divided into 100 parts called points. So, a 25-point diamond weighs a quarter of a carat while a 50-point diamond weighs half. A diamond may be referred to as a three-quarter carat or 75-point stone.

While the cut, arguably, has the greatest impact on the overall desirability of a diamond, the carat has the heaviest impact on price. This is because carat refers to the actual weight, which is one of the primary indicators of how rare a diamond is. The heavier a diamond is, the rarer and the more expensive.

Carat weight, however, can be compromised without sacrificing the overall appearance of the diamond.

When buying diamonds, needs vary from size to quality and colour. Since buying a diamond is a big investment, it should be a well-informed decision.

Size in a diamond doesn’t necessarily relate to weight

Diamonds International offers a selection of International Gemological Institute-certified diamonds in all shapes and sizes.

The diamonds are sold by certified gemologists, who are part of an in-house team made up of professional goldsmiths, a watchmaker and other craftsmen who are always ready to talk to customers about what they are buying.

Diamonds International outlets can be found at Portomaso, Valletta and MIA, Luqa.