A diamond necklace can prove an unexpectedly tricky thing to buy. Perhaps a photograph captures the beauty of the stone but there is little suggestion how it will lie against the collarbone if you try to look after how the chain feels against the skin, whether it is substantial feeling, or what you should be paying for.
In Singapore, this category now covers much more than just a single round solitaire. Local buyers can choose from bezel pendants and halo designs as well as delicate diamond stations while others prefer a full tennis necklace with different widths of diamonds. Other options span from different sized precious metal finishes with current listings showing items in 10K, 14K and 18K gold plus platinum.
A better choice involves looking further than just examining the first dazzling sparkle from a diamond
What Are Lab Created Diamonds’ Necklaces?
The name reveals everything you need to know in that they are exactly as the description implies that are grown rather than mined. Two principal techniques, Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) and High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) generate quality gem-grade diamonds. Cubic zirconia and moissanite, frequently encountered imitations, can both resemble diamond but that is where the similarities end since lab grown specimens are also genuine diamond with very close chemical, atomic and optical properties. Specialist gemological tests can separate the provenance of each.
However, the term can create a false impression because such phrases as ‘diamond alternative’ are sometimes applied. This is perfectly valid but what that entails must be understood. In short, it isn’t imitative jewellery.
Start Your Choice From Actual Diamonds
A bigger diamond is not always the best option.
Examine first what location is intended. One of the attractions of a small solitaire pendant is their ability to blend in with workwear, T-shirts and dresses but a larger pendant becomes far more of a statement design. A tennis style operates differently since the stones run around much or all of the neck.
Options currently range from understated bezel style necklaces to multi-carat tennis necklaces in Singapore.
If the necklace is intended to be worn more regularly, examine the setting and chain as closely as the central stone or stones since a light pendant will feel out of proportion with a heavier pendant, however closely they resemble each other.
Diamond Cut Requires Greater Focus Than Its Weight
Carat simply measures weight but says little about the liveliness of a diamond.
The influence of cut means that a proportionately fashioned stone can generate considerable brilliance, fire and scintillation compared to another diamond of the identical or similar carat weight. That is most clearly seen in a solitary pendant that carries almost all of the impact in a necklace.
While round diamonds remain popular there are additional choices in oval, pear, emerald, princess, cushion shapes and still other options. This affects the character of a pendant and its overall appearance. An elongated style of oval or pear diamond contrasts markedly with a round brilliant cut diamond.
Understanding the 4Cs for Lab Grown Diamonds
That same 4Cs applies in almost identical fashion when comparing lab grown diamonds. They serve as an effective reminder since there is frequently little point in accepting a heavily discounted but lower-grade specimen if an average specimen at normal pricing fulfils individual requirements. On the other hand, should a higher grade improve considerably on an average specimen when viewed at everyday distances? How obvious would these differences be to the naked eye in comparison?
Solitaire, Bezel or Tennis – Which Necklace Should You Choose?
A solitaire pendant fixes attention upon a single stone. These are basic, relatively simple to combine with other pieces and unlikely to become outdated. A bezel setting frames a stone in metal but is a clean solution compared to an open-backed prong setting. Where that option is considered it is worth noting the number and positioning of the prongs rather than basing a choice simply upon the appearance of an open-backed design.
Meanwhile, rather than fixing the sparkle in any one pendant, a tennis necklace uses a continuous sequence, or almost continuous sequence, of stones. Construction, clasp mechanism, overall carat weight and size variations between stones, along with flexibility, all demand consideration.
White, Gold or Rose Coloured – What Is the Preferred Finish?
White, yellow and rose gold each present the same design in notably different tones.
White gold offers a near-seamless transition from a colourless stone to the metal frame. Yellow gold provides an obvious contrast. A rose finish gives a distinctly pinkish effect.
However, the purity level is equally important since, for example, Singapore listings for lab created diamond jewellery already include several gold purity levels including 10K, 14K and 18K.
Selecting such a piece based upon a choice of the figure stamped upon the gold is unwise. As with metal type, it is worth examining the implications.
Length of the Chain Determines the Necklace
A single pendant is a classic shape but one that can generate misleading results when deciding upon size and length at the point when it is around the neck due to the length of chain.
Lengths of 16 or 18 inches appear regularly in current Singapore listings, sometimes including the option of the adjustable section. However, length is always dependent upon the person wearing it, the contours of the neckline and the size of the pendant itself.
An adjustable length provides greater flexibility. It allows a pendant to be worn with different types of necklines. It is equally useful when layering necklaces since rather than one piece lying over or under another, the two can be further apart. Before ordering it might be worth noting that advertised length indicates the entire length of the necklace and whether the adjustable option includes an extension piece.
Examine Any Documentation for Information about the Diamond
Such details as the carat weight, actual dimensions, colour and clarity of the centre diamond, or the overall carat weight of a tennis necklace, become vital pieces of information when shopping for a pendant. Documentation might offer additional reassurance about the authenticity of a single stone but for most purposes, the existence or otherwise of some form of grading documentation is more significant. In relation to lab created diamonds necklaces, GIA advise that advanced equipment is needed for accurate identification since lab-grown and natural grades are extremely similar to everyday observation.
As a practical consideration, it is worth examining precisely what documentation comes with the necklace you intend to purchase, as not every stone in multi-stone jewellery will have individual documentation. Shoppers who might be choosing between competing web sites might find NOVITA DIAMONDS useful as an insight into contemporary jewellery design as well as a comparison of the design choices on offer.
Singapore’s Buyers of Lab Created Diamonds Necklaces Have One Extra Choice to Consider
It is one that is relatively simple but, when overlooked, can be highly expensive. In short, it is worthwhile double-checking whether a quoted price already includes tax. The current standard rate of GST in Singapore is 9% and businesses registered for GST charge this tax rate against local sales unless an exemption applies. Some local web sites explicitly note the inclusion of GST but an overseas supplier may choose to operate according to different rules.
Before making a purchase it is worth examining whether the final cost calculation has already taken taxes into account as well as the overall returns policy. For online purchases it is equally relevant to examine details such as exact diamond dimensions, overall carat weight, whether carat weight refers to a single or multiple stones, metal type as well as its purity, length and adjusting mechanism for any chain, general clasp and setting construction, grading documentation if applicable, plus resizing, repair, returns policy or any other after-sales arrangement. Each is far more important than the impression a heavily enlarged photograph might convey.
Care for the Lab-Grown Diamond Necklace
Diamonds are extremely hard but they are not indestructible since, even though the diamond itself is resistant to scratches and other damage, gold chains can be mangled. Remove any necklace before any type of activity that might cause strain to the clasp, links or other aspects of the construction. Store one separately to avoid softer metals scraping against the surface of a diamond. In addition, body oils, lotions or any other residue can cling to a pendant’s setting and reduce sparkle.
For normal cleaning, the jeweller is likely to have instructions about the safest procedure for each type of jewellery but it is reasonable to examine periodic inspections as well, ensuring that any prongs or settings are secure, the closing mechanism has not weakened and a pendant has not suffered any unusual impact.
How to Better Compare One Necklace to Another
There are times when two similar necklaces appear virtually the same. It might be that one has a slightly larger central stone but a finer chain or that another replaces slightly smaller central stone, better fitting setting and stronger links. While the larger carat weight may seem more impressive, it isn’t always the case that sheer size determines the value of a piece.
The same principle applies to colour and clarity, both of which use numbered scales to describe individual specimens – but this is still clothing that will be worn from a distance, not a microscope.
That makes shopping easier when purchasing from a lab created diamond necklace since there is no need to worry about overcomplicating choices, instead focusing on those details that will be visible after the box is opened.
