Diamonds, whether purchased online or on the high street, should come with a certificate of authenticity. This certificate or diamond grading report will include detailed information of the Four Cs (carat, colour, clarity and cut) and additional grading information. Look for diamonds that come with a grading report, which has been issued by an independent body, preferably one of the major diamond grading laboratories.

The GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) is the World's Foremost Authority in Gemmology. Their grading is recognized throughout the jewellery industry as the most accurate and unbiased opinion when it comes to grading diamonds.

It is important that you make sure the diamond comes with a full certificate from the GIA and not with a certificate issued by a GIA gemmologist. The GIA headquarters are based in Carlsbad, CA and their certificates come only from their New York and Carlsbad laboratories. Every diamond report from the GIA will have these addresses at the top of the certificate.

Below is a list of some of the benefits of purchasing a GIA certified diamond:

*Your diamond has been graded using the strictest standards known to the jewellery industry by a very independent body, which also happens to be the World's Foremost Authority in Gemmology

*You have the strongest guarantee available that the diamond is 100% natural and has never undergone any kind of treatment

*You are safe from purchasing a man-made diamond, Cubic Zirconium, moissanite or any other type of synthetic

*The diamond can be easily resold in the market, should you need to part with it in the future

Make sure your GIA certified diamond purchase comes accompanied by a no questions asked 30-day money back guarantee. 30 days should give you plenty of time to consider your purchase, and the seller should have no quibbles with providing such guarantee since the diamond has been certified independently by the GIA.

Knowing that your diamond should be GIA certified and backed by a no questions asked 30-day money back guarantee is the beginning of your journey towards making a successful diamond purchase.

Nowadays, online retailers offer GIA certified diamonds at discounted prices when compared to traditional online stores. This is now possible thanks to the ability of displaying a wider inventory over the internet, which benefits from having a global reach and being able to make transactions 24 hours a day. Online retailers do not need to have a huge workforce nor hold a large volume of stock as transactions take place online, resulting in orders being fulfilled more cost efficiently whilst eliminating any risk.