In order to buy the best quality diamond there are things you must know and understand. Do not rush in and buy a diamond on an impulse because it is advertised as a 'good deal' or is 'discounted'. There are no bargains in diamonds and diamonds that are of excellent quality, cut and colour are not sold off cheap! Always make sure you buy a loose diamond that has been independently certified and compare diamonds before making any decision.
Do not confuse a diamonds carat weight with the size of a diamond. Two diamonds that have the same carat weight could have very different diameter measurements and appearance in actual size. A poorly cut 1.00ct diamond may look like a 0.75ct diamond from the top because they have the same diameter measurements even though their carat weights are different.
Diamonds are sold by their carat weight. A diamond cutter always tries to retain as much carat weight and as few inclusions when cutting a diamond. Sometimes the cut of a diamond might be sacrificed in order to produce a diamond with a higher carat weight. Excellent, Ideal and Very Good cut diamonds will sparkle with more brilliance and fire than diamonds which are poorly cut with a lower cut grade.
Buying a loose diamond for an engagement ring is a daunting task with so many jewellers, diamond dealers and diamond internet websites these days. There is an abundance of information available to consumers, but not all of it is accurate. This is probably one of the most important considerations to make when buying a diamond. There is alot more to diamonds and their prices than just learning about the diamond's cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. All diamonds are unique, no two diamonds are exactly the same which is why it takes years of experience, training and learning to fully understand them.
Buy your diamond from a reputable diamond dealer. Most diamond buying guides advise you on the 4 C's and suggest that you only shop at honest, reputable diamond dealers, but how does the average consumer determine this?
Our advice is to ask if the diamond is certified and to see which laboratory issued the certificate or grading report. The quality of the certificate, or lack thereof, goes a long way towards telling if you are dealing with someone reputable and professional.
A diamond certificate or grading report is only as good as the laboratory who issued it. A diamond certificate, is only useful if it is reliable and has been issued by a reputable independent laboratory which has no financial interest in the stone. If you've never heard of the institution that is offering a grading report, don't hesitate to ask about its credentials and that of the people who graded the diamond.
a diamond certificate or grading report is a blueprint of a diamond which documents the details and statistics about a loose diamond such as the shape, colour, clarity, carat weight, proportions and finish of the diamond. A diamond certificate also confirms that the diamond is natural and is not synthetic or man-made.
There is also the undeniable fact that some diamonds are treated or enhanced in some way, and these diamonds are very difficult, and in some cases impossible to identify, without the correct laboratory equipment.
Synthetic diamonds are the latest threat to the uneducated consumer. If you are buying a diamond with out a recognized certificate (IE; a certificate recognized by either the WFDB, IDC, or CIBJO) it is possible that it may not be a Natural diamond at all.
Diamond certificates from respectable labs, meaning GIA, HRD, AGS or DCLA, are totally necessary if you want to compare diamonds intelligently. Laboratories such as GIA, HRD, AGS and DCLA issue grading reports of the highest international standards. All of these diamond grading laboratories utilize strict procedures, have the most advanced equipment, and affiliations which meet the strict requirements for recognition by international trade organizations.
It is up to you, the consumer, to verify the credentials of the diamond grading laboratory and the diamond merchant, wholesaler or jeweller you are dealing with when buying diamonds or engagement rings.
Be even more cautious of website dealers who issue their own 'in house diamond certificates' or 'manufacturer's grading reports' as these simply are NOT independent certificates and they are NOT from a compliant laboratory.
Every diamond grading laboratory has a different set of parameters and specifications that they grade diamonds by and not all laboratories are as strict as each other.
In fact, some laboratories are popular with certain diamond dealers because they have a reputation for being generous with grades and are known not to be as strict as others. As a leading diamond wholesaler we choose to only sell independently certified loose diamonds that have been graded by compliant, internationally recognized laboratories such as DCLA, GIA, HRD & AGS. This translates to Global Assurance.
Diamond grading laboratories which grade to IDC International Diamond Council rules, do not just use the opinion and expertise of one person. They must grade the diamond and have the opinion and consensus of three qualified diamond graders before the grade is applied to any diamond. In Australia, DCLA is the only IDC diamond grading laboratory.
Valuations or appraisals are NOT the same as a diamond certificate or grading report.
It is important to remember is that a grading report or diamond certificate does not include an appraisal, or any kind of statement about the monetary value of the diamond.
Many of us are yet to come to terms with the concept of online purchases. For various reasons, both real and imaginary, many of us still feel uncomfortable to buy anything on the Internet. No wonder we are even more cautious when the item we want to buy is an expensive one like diamond. However, the hesitancy in buying diamonds online can be overcome to a large extent if we do some research before making our purchase.
Those who prefer buying diamonds online as opposed to buying from a local jewelry store do so primarily because of the price factor. Local jewelry stores will charge you much more due to its overhead costs for the store and commissions to be paid to salespeople. Online stores can afford to sell these items at a much lower price as they don't incur those expenses.
The flip side of this story is that a very low price can indicate that the product may not be a real diamond. Another reason that lures customers online is the huge variety of diamonds available on the Internet compared to the small stocks in most normal local jewelry stores.
These plus points notwithstanding, you must still do your homework and check out any retailer that you are planning to do business with. To begin with, study as much as you can about diamonds so that you are not taken for a ride. In particular, you must learn about carat weights, color, clarity, and the cut of diamonds and also how each of these factors affects the price of the stone. Once you are armed with this knowledge, you will feel a lot more confident about buying online.
Never make the mistake of purchasing in a hurry the first diamond that seems interesting to you. Better wait and surf the Internet to compare prices so that you know for sure that you are getting a good deal. But remember that knowledge about diamonds, or finding some good deals is not enough. You must also find out what kind of credentials the online jeweler has. You must know what associations it is a member of and what its policies are regarding returns, refunds, and upgrades.
Because you are buying online, you may also inquire about services it may provide as far as settings, mountings, and sizing are concerned as well as its shipping prices and policies.
Some online diamond sellers may even offer you free shipping if you insist. Ask for a grading report for the product you intend to buy from an independent laboratory prior to finalizing the deal. It is also better to use an escrow service to handle the final disposition in which they will receive the diamond from the seller and appraise it. You can then send the money to the escrow service.
Both Kirsten Katz & Jen Carter are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kirsten Katz has sinced written about articles on various topics from Diamonds, Buy Diamond and Diamonds. Diamond Imports is one of Australia's largest importers of loose diamonds specialising in Excellent Cut and Ideal Cut diamonds,. Kirsten Katz's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.
Jen Carter has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marriage, Wedding Bells and Marriage. Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog - offering about many topics including. Jen Carter's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.