Why are Canadian diamonds more expensive?
Can you tell me why it seems that Canadian diamonds are more expensive? I’m shopping for an engagement ring and thought it would be kind of cool to buy a Canadian diamond since my girlfriend is from Canada. The first thing that I noticed is that nobody seems to offer Canadian diamonds with the same level of cut quality offered by Brian Gavin. The second thing that I noticed is that the price of Canadian diamonds seems to be higher, even though the cut quality is lower. Am I missing something? Does Brian Gavin offer Canadian diamonds of the same cut quality as Brian Gavin Signature round hearts and arrows diamonds?”
Canadian Diamonds from Brian Gavin:
Brian Gavin does not use diamond rough from Canada to produce his Signature diamonds, because the price of the rough is significantly more expensive. Given the fact that diamond rough is diamond rough and the only thing different about diamond rough from Canada is the country of origin, there is no advantage to buying diamond rough that is more expensive.
Brian Gavin does have the ability to source Canadian Diamonds for our clients from diamond cutters enrolled in the Canadamark program, but as you’ve noticed the cut quality of those diamonds is not comparable to our Signature diamonds. The premium charged for Canadian diamonds is not due to higher production costs, it is a simple matter of the diamond rough costing more at the wholesale level.
Superior Diamond Cut Quality is Worth Every Penny!
There is a difference in price between standard ideal cut diamonds and the super ideal hearts and arrows cut diamonds that we specialize in. The fact of the matter is that it takes about four times longer to polish a diamond to the precision required to produce a crisp and complete pattern of hearts and arrows. The hearts and arrows pattern exhibited by this 1.877 carat, G-color, VS-1 clarity, Brian Gavin Signature round diamond is a result of the incredible degree of optical precision that this diamond exhibits. Fewer than 0.001% of round brilliant cut diamonds produced in the average year will exhibit this pattern and have an overall cut grade of AGS Ideal-0.
The higher degree of optical precision which creates this pattern of hearts and arrows, also produces a higher volume of light return, and sparkle that is bolder, brighter, and more intense. In this particular instance, it makes sense to us to pay more for a diamond that exhibits superior optical precision. However, it does not make sense to us to pay more for diamond rough simply because it originates in Canada.
Diamond Proportions vs Optical Precision:
Take a look at the hearts pattern exhibited by this GIA Excellent Canadamark diamond. Do you see the extra black space around the tip of the heart in the six o’clock position? What effect do you think that might have upon the pattern of light return? Notice how all of the hearts and slightly different in size and shape, and how the tips of the hearts appear to be bending in different directions. This is caused by a difference in the length of the lower girdle facets. This diamond actually has ideal proportions, it has a total depth of 61.6% and a 57% table diameter with a 40.8 degree pavilion angle and a 34.5 degree crown angle with an overall cut grade of GIA Excellent.
The proportions of this diamond fall within the design specifications of a Brian Gavin Signature round diamond. The difference between this diamond and one of ours, is the degree of optical precision. Now you might be wondering whether all this optical precision stuff is something you’re going to be able to see with just your eyes… Take a look at the ASET image provided by the cutter for this diamond. Do you see the translucent spot that is visible in the seven o’clock region of the table facet? That’s light leakage created by the extra space around the heart in the 6 o’clock position. Now look at the edge of the table facet in the same region.
Do you see how the edge of the diamond is also more translucent in the seven o’clock region? I’ll bet that you’re beginning to see why Brian Gavin says “It’s all in the hearts…”
Regardless of whether you buy a Brian Gavin Signature round hearts and arrows super ideal cut diamond, or elect to purchase a Canadian diamond, we urge you to focus on the overall cut quality of the diamond. Forget about whether Canadian diamonds are more expensive, what’s important is the level of light performance delivered by the degree of optical precision.
Be sure to review the ASET Scope, H&A Scope, and Ideal Scope images for any diamond that you are considering, that’s the only way to judge optical precision. We provide all of these images on our diamond details pages. Why doesn’t everybody?
