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Diamonds

Your Diamond Guide

Federal Way Custom Jewelers maintains the highest standards in the diamond selection process. Our professional gemologists precisely curate each diamond using strict criteria. At the heart of our philosophy is to give our customers all the insight they need to feel confident and well-informed about their choices, while also delivering a positive and friendly experience.

Diamond Basics

Diamond basics are often defined by the 4 Cs: color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. However, these aspects only scratch the surface of a diamond’s worth and attraction. At FWC Jewelers, we believe several other factors are important in picking the perfect diamond for you or a loved one.

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Diamonds: Beyond the Specifications

While we educate clients about the 4 Cs – Carat, Cut, Clarity, and Color – our Gia-certified gemologists also believe in these 3 principles you should consider when looking at diamond selections:

  1. Prioritize beauty over technical specifications.
  2. Take the opportunity to view diamonds in person, in a visual and comparative setting.
  3. Avoid fixation on minor details. For example, a customer may have specific criteria like “I want a 1.50ct F VS2 Diamond.” We take the time to dive deeper by asking, “Why?” Through our experience, we’ve discovered that some of the most stunning diamonds fall within the SI clarity range, highlighting the importance of aesthetic appeal over technicalities.

How We Do Diamonds Differently

    • Offer natural diamonds, fancy-color diamonds, and lab-created diamonds.
    • Stock GIA-certified, IGI-certified, and estate non-certified diamonds. (All of our diamonds, especially pre-owned ones, are environmentally friendly and ethically sourced.)
    • Maintain a wide selection of loose, unmounted diamonds for clients to choose from. (Our loose inventory offers flexibility and cost savings to clients.)
    • Own our inventory – the diamonds we sell are ones we stand behind.
    • Provide diamond brokerage services for high-value or rare diamonds (natural diamonds 2ct and larger, fancy color diamonds $10k plus). This low-margin service helps clients acquire or liquidate diamonds.
    • Encourage clients to inspect diamonds under a microscope before purchasing, ensuring transparency and understanding.
    • Believe that the engagement ring selection process starts with choosing the diamond or gem, followed by designing the ring around that centerpiece.

Let us help you find the perfect diamond that speaks to your heart.

Our team of jewelry professionals would be happy to show you all the different selections to fit your personal style.

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Cut

Contrary to popular belief, the most important feature in a diamond’s brilliance isn’t its color or clarity but its cut. An excellent cut can mask flaws, enhance whiteness, and determine the diamond’s shine. GIA-graded “excellent” cuts have superior light performance (how well a diamond takes light and reflects it back out). Round brilliant cut diamonds demand precise angles and symmetry to optimize light performance. However, for other shapes, GIA assesses symmetry and polish without assigning an overall cut rating due to the absence of standardized rules for these fancy shapes.

Color

While color is crucial, especially for those preferring a white diamond, subtle differences exist between grades. Most of our sales fall within the near-colorless range (G, H, I), offering an impressive appearance without the premium price of D, E, and F grades. Diamonds with faintly tinted (J, K, L) colors, paired with faint blue fluorescence, often deliver excellent value and nearly indistinguishable brilliance.  For years, fluorescence was overlooked in diamond buying. However, people are now recognizing its benefits. Some jewelers avoided fluorescent stones fearing they’d lack brightness, but our hand-selected diamonds prove otherwise. In fact, a recent GIA study found that most diamond shoppers preferred fluorescent stones in a blind comparison test.

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Clarity

We prioritize SI1 and SI2 clarity grades, where imperfections are virtually invisible to the naked eye. However, not all SI diamonds are equal, with the location of inclusions influencing desirability. Some have inclusions in the center of the diamond, while others have them hidden under crown facets, which is more appealing. Additionally, we offer VS1 and VS2 grades for clients wanting top-tier clarity. We buy the best SI stones out there so that our clients get the best value possible.

Carat Weight

While carat weight influences size, we feel that a diamond’s quality shines regardless of size. The appropriate carat weight is determined by personal preference, with diamonds over 1ct considered big and those over 2cts rare.  Our clients benefit from individualized advice based on their budget and preferred appearance, allowing them to maximize value.

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Crystal (The 5th “C”)

We introduce a fifth “C” – Crystal, representing the diamond’s crystalline nature, which determines its brilliance. Even diamonds with similar grades may differ in clarity due to variations in crystal quality. This is one reason that we refuse to buy diamonds sight unseen, even if they have GIA or AGS certification, and it is another reason why we encourage customers to see the diamond in person under our microscope, outside, and in our store before they make a purchase.

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Choosing An
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