DIAMOND BUYING GUIDE

VISIT TAPPER’S TODAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING DIAMOND PURCHASE, OR FIND US ONLINE AT WWW.TAPPERS.COM.

TAPPER’S DIAMOND BUYING GUIDE

Purchasing a diamond, especially

an engagement ring, is not only a very

exciting time in a couple’s relationship,

but it can also be a purchase that may

cause considerable apprehension.

ARE YOU READY TO POP THE QUESTION?

There are some key components in the

purchase of a diamond that will help you

make the best decision for your budget,

and for your partner.

Visit Tapper’s to discuss this important

and thrilling step in your relationship.

THE 4 Cs

When most people talk about diamonds, the more important aspects to consider are “the 4 Cs,” which include the Clarity, Color, Cut, and Carat of each diamond.

SHAPEDiamonds come in all shapes and sizes from the more traditional to more distinctive shapes. Each has its defining characteristics and has something different to offer each wearer.

STYLETapper’s has created six classifications of engagement rings as an easy guide to select the perfect style that is right for you.

Brilliant Princess Cushion

Radiant Emerald Oval

Pear Asscher Marquise

VISIT TAPPER’S TODAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING DIAMOND PURCHASE, OR FIND US ONLINE AT WWW.TAPPERS.COM.

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO THINK ABOUT THE SHAPE AND STYLE WHEN SELECTING AN ENGAGEMENT RING.

Solitaire Halo

Micro Pavé Three Stone

Shared Prong Channel Set

CLARITYThe clarity of a diamond is determined by the number and size of internal characteristics (inclusions) and external characteristics (blemishes) which occur naturally in diamonds. At Tapper’s, we approach the clarity of a diamond as its unique personality and what makes the diamond specific to the wearer.

Small inclusions that are only visible under magnification are not likely to diminish the beauty of a diamond. Most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye and the smaller the inclusion, the less likely it will interfere with light as it passes through the diamond causing unhindered sparkle.

Very, Very Small Inclusions

Contain minuscule inclusions difficult to locate even under 10x magnification.

Pinpoints, faint clouds, tiny feathers, or bruises of internal graining.

Very Small Inclusions

Contain minor inclusions in a range of sizes, number, and locations.

Fairly difficult to locate under 10x magnification.

Small included crystals, small feathers, and distinct clouds.

Small Inclusions

Contain noticeable inclusions easily visible under 10x magnification.

Certain inclusions in some SI diamonds may be visible to the untrained eye.

Included

Contain obvious inclusions visible under 10x magnification.

May be visible to the unaided eye in the face-up position.

F IF VVS-1 VVS-2 VS-1 VS-2 SI-1 SI-2 I-1 I-2 I-3

CLARITY GRADES OF VVS-1 TO SI-2 HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT ON THE APPEARANCE, OR SPARKLE, OF YOUR DIAMOND. IF ANYTHING, THE CLARITY OF YOUR DIAMOND MERELY CONNECTS IT TO ITS ORIGIN IN NATURE.

No Inclusions

Contain no inclusions under 10x magnification.

IF diamonds may include very small blemishes on the diamond surface.

COLOR

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE GRADE AND ANOTHER IS VERY SUBTLE, AS CAN BE SEEN BY THE NUMBER OF GRADES WITHIN ANY ONE CATEGORY.

Many people think of gem quality diamonds as colorless, however, truly colorless diamonds are actually very rare. Most diamonds that are used for jewelry are near colorless with tints of yellow and brown; these tints are rarely noticeable to the untrained eye.

Diamonds are compared to a master set to determine their coloring, and then the diamond is given a letter grade that corresponds to the range of noticeable color.

D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

COLORLESSNEAR

COLORLESSFAINT

YELLOWVERY LIGHT

YELLOWLIGHT

YELLOW

TWO DIAMONDS WITH IDENTICAL COLOR AND CLARITY, BUT CUT DIFFERENTLY, WILL VARY IN VALUE BY AS MUCH AS 50% — SOMETIMES EVEN MORE.

CUT

Cut GradesRound brilliant diamonds

This pyramid represents the total volume of gem quality diamonds on the market.

Excellent Cut When light enters an ideally cut diamond, it is refracted from facet to facet and comes back through the top to the eye.

Thick CutIf a diamond is cut too deep, much of the light is refracted at poor angles and lost out the side.

Tapper’s only sells the top

three gradesof quality.

Excellent Cut

Good Cut

Fair Cut

Poor Cut

Very Good Cut

Table Size

CrownAngle

Pavilion Angle

Lower Girdle/ Half Facet Length

Star Length

Girdle Thickness

Total Depth

Pavilion Depth

Crown Height

Thin Cut If the diamond is cut too shallow, much of the light fails to be refracted at all and leaks out of the bottom.

The proportions with which a diamond is cut greatly affects the way the diamond performs in the light. Diamonds with carefully crafted proportions, symmetry, and polish have optimal interaction with light causing increased brightness, fire, and scintillation.

The weight of a diamond seems to be the most popular item to discuss, and it is relatively simple to determine. A carat is 200 milligrams (1/5 of a gram) and is divided into 100 points, much like a dollar into pennies. Thus, a half carat diamond is 50 points and is listed as 0.50 carats.

CARAT

THE WORD ‘CARAT’ ORIGINATED IN A NATURAL UNIT OF WEIGHT — THE SEEDS OF THE CAROB TREE. DIAMONDS WERE TRADITIONALLY WEIGHED AGAINST THESE SEEDS UNTIL THE SYSTEM WAS STANDARDIZED AND ONE CARAT WAS FIXED AT 0.2 GRAMS.

0.50carat

0.75carat

1.00carat

1.25carat

1.50carat

1.75carat

2.00carat

3.00carat

VISIT TAPPER’S TODAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING DIAMOND PURCHASE, OR FIND US ONLINE AT WWW.TAPPERS.COM.

A L L C O N T E N T © T A P P E R ’ S 2 0 1 7

WEST BLOOMFIELD 248.932.7700

SOMERSET COLLECTION 248.649.2000

TWELVE OAKS MALL 248.465.1800

TAPPER’S IS A CUT ABOVE

Our mission is to provide you with a luxury shopping experience and unparalleled customer service. As a multi-generation family-owned business, we bring a long term perspective to all of our relationships, driven by honesty, accountability, community involvement, and excellence. We are committed to delivering on this promise every day.

APPRAISALS

Tapper’s provides comprehensive appraisals by our in-house CGA (Certified Gemologist Appraiser), certified by the American Gem Society. These appraisals offer an unparalleled level of accuracy and care in evaluating your jewelry.

INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION ASSURANCE

Tapper’s offers a wide selection of diamonds for our clients to view and consider for purchase. We supply an independent grading certification from a recognized laboratory with the purchase of one of our diamonds. This is an evaluation and certification of the diamond’s clarity, color, cut, and carat weight. The labs performing the certification are completely objective, which delivers a special quality guarantee to our customers. There may be some differences in grading reports from the various laboratories that could have an impact on the price of the diamond you purchase.

BEST VALUE GUARANTEE

We are direct diamond importers, so we do not pay fees to a middleman. This allows us to offer you the best price in the market, guaranteed. If, within 30 days, you happen to find a better value for the same diamond (from a physical store location) with all the same characteristics and measurements, we will offer you a better value or refund your money.

TRADE-IN - TRADE-UP

Tapper’s will credit you the full purchase price of the engagement ring center diamond, diamond studs, the diamonds from an anniversary band, eternity band or eternity bracelet, less the mounting, towards the purchase of a diamond or diamond jewelry of at least twice the value.

TAPPER’S DIFFERENCE