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Tennie's Jewelry | Logo
Visit Us
(920) 231-0462
Oshkosh, WI

Education Center

Behind every I do, Is a great Jeweler

Diamond Education Center

High-Quality Products | Competitive Pricing | Over 100 Years in Business

High-Quality Products
Competitive Pricing
Over 100 Years in Business

Appleton, WI (920) 734-1858
Oshkosh, WI (920) 231-0462

How to Buy a Diamond

Learn how to buy a diamond with the help of Tennie's Jewelry. Visit one of our two locations today to check out our selection.

The Diamond Quality Pyramid

The Diamond Quality Pyramid is a framework to help you compare diamonds and measure their value. While all diamonds are precious, those closest to the top of the pyramid — possessing the best combination of cut, clarity, carat weight, and color — are the Earth's rarest, most valuable, and most beautiful to the eye.

Carat: The Larger the Diamond, the More Rare

Larger diamonds are found relatively infrequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of the Diamond Quality Pyramid. What also makes a bigger diamond so desirable is that it shows off a stone’s fine color and cut, and therefore its brilliance, to its best advantage.

A diamond’s size is measured in carat weight, and each carat is equal to 100 points. A .75 carat diamond is the same as a 75–point diamond or a 3/4 carat stone.

While larger diamonds are highly prized, diamonds of equal size may vary widely in value and brilliance, depending on their qualities of clarity, cut, and color.

Clarity: The Purer a Diamond, the More Brilliant

The greater a diamond’s clarity, the more brilliant, valuable, and rare it is — and the higher it is on the Diamond Quality Pyramid.

Virtually all natural diamonds contain identifying characteristics, yet many are invisible to the naked eye. Under the scrutiny of a jeweler’s 10x — magnifying loupe or microscope, natural phenomena — called inclusions — may be seen. These are nature’s birthmarks, and they may look like tiny crystals, clouds, or feathers.

Diamonds categorized as internally flawless reveal no such inclusions. Flawless stones are at the peak of the Diamond Quality Pyramid and are treasured for their rarity and beauty. Diamonds with very, very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2. The larger the inclusion, the lower the grade and the less rare the diamond. Inclusions that can be seen with the naked eye are graded I1 to I3.

The number, color, type, size, and position of surface and internal birthmarks affect a diamond’s value. Major inclusions can interfere with the path of light that travels through a diamond, diminishing its brilliance and sparkle and, therefore, its value.

Color: The Less Color in a Diamond, the More Rare

Diamonds are graded by color, starting at D and moving through the alphabet to Z.

While most diamonds appear white, virtually all display barely perceptible tints of color. Evaluating a diamond’s color for grading purposes is done by measuring the degree to which a diamond approaches colorlessness. Although it is difficult for the untrained eye to see these minor variations, a jeweler can help demonstrate them by showing you diamonds side by side.

Diamonds graded D, E, and F are more expensive because they are rare and therefore are highest on the Diamond Quality Pyramid. However, well-cut diamonds with good clarity of all color grades can be equally dazzling, as it is the interplay of the 4Cs that determines each diamond’s unique beauty.

Cut: The Better the Cut a Diamond, the More Brilliant

A well-cut or faceted diamond, regardless of its shape, scintillates with fire and light — offering the greatest brilliance and value.

While nature determines a diamond’s clarity, carat weight, and color, the hand of a master craftsman is necessary to release its fire, sparkle, and beauty. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, the light will reflect from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse through the top of the stone, resulting in a display of brilliance and fire.

Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose light that spills through the side or bottom. As a result, poorly cut stones will be less brilliant and beautiful — and certainly less valuable — than well-cut diamonds higher on the Diamond Quality Pyramid.

Why Buy From Us

  • We are a full-service jeweler
  • All repairs and service work are done in-store
  • We value our customer relationships and get to know our customers on a first-name basis
  • We own our business and building; therefore, we do not have to meet the high rents of the mall, so we can be competitive in pricing
  • We deal direct with our diamond cutters and jewelry manufacturers, so any shape, size, color, clarity is available for your viewing before a commitment is made
  • We honestly feel we will not be undersold on any comparable diamond or piece of jewelry
  • You are always dealing with the owner and committed employees, not someone who is there today and gone tomorrow
  • Our best advertising is the word of mouth
  • We have been a well-established family business for over 100 years

Get a Free Consultation

Call or visit us today!

(920) 734-1858

(920) 734-1858
hibu-tm

We started at Tennie's with my engagement ring almost 20 years ago and have purchased a number of pieces since. They've helped us with a few custom pieces as well as some right out of their case. I have also recommended them to many friends. I much prefer them and the local family store over any chain.

- Melissa B. on Google

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