Unlike gold, silver and other commodities, you won't find loose diamonds traded on a commodity exchange. The reasons: diamonds for sale generally have a substantial mark-up; the resale market for diamonds is quite limited; and control of that market is remarkably concentrated. Recently, well over 90% of all the world's gem-quality diamonds were cut and processed in Surat, India; London, Tel-Aviv and New York are active markets for loose diamonds. The other major is Antwerp, Belgium, where the diamond-cutting industry got its start some 500 years ago.
How Valuable Is It?
Loose diamonds are subject to both inspection and appraisal. The former is also called certification; any should be accompanied by documentation of that fact.
Certified diamonds for sale have been measured, examined and analyzed for weight, clarity, color and cut by trained specialists called gemologists. These professionals prepare a grading report based on criteria established by the Gemology Institute of America (GIA). Diamonds of greater weight without visible marring or scratches that have been professionally and carefully cut are naturally worth substantially more than rough stones; additionally, colored diamonds with rich hues may command more of a premium than the more common white or "clear" ones.
How Reliable Is The Report?
It should be apparent that a grading report that has been prepared by an independent, unaffiliated, outside agency has much greater reliability than a similar report prepared by the diamond merchant's "in-house" gemology lab. The most reputable dealers that have diamonds for sale generally agree on this point, and will provide documentation of this with the loose diamonds prior to purchase.
It is important to understand however that such an analysis and grading process can be carried out only on loose diamonds; because of the procedures used, such an evaluation is impossible to do once diamonds have been mounted in a setting.
How Much Do Loose Diamonds Cost?
Although the price of certified diamonds has historically risen, many factors - including the content of the grading report, current market conditions, and even location can cause fluctuations in the priced of diamonds. If you are planning to enter the market and are considering the purchase diamonds for sale, it is highly advisable to educate yourself about these remarkable gems and the market in which they are traded.
Shopping for diamonds online can be scary. Any time you shop online you are taking a chance of being scammed. You must be prepared and do a lot of research. Diamonds are not cheap and when dealing with large sums of money you have to be very careful who you deal with and the merchandise you are buying.
There are many stores these days that sell diamonds, from Tiffany's to Wal-mart, so you can buy a diamond almost anywhere. But there are times when it is not possible. Either you live in a remote location or want a better quality for your money. These are reasons to look online. The first thing you want to do is to research the type of diamond you want.
There are some questions you have to ask yourself to determine the right diamond for you. They are about the cut, clarity, color, carat, and price. There is square cut, pear cut, or the traditional princess cut, then you want to determine the right size. How you are going to use it may determine the answer. If you are going to put it in a ring, a round cut is very nice, but on a pendant, a square cut would look good.
Next you want to examine clarity, which means the amount of flaws that are visible. There can be a little bit of cloudiness or small bits of discoloration. Color is the natural color of the diamond that you can see, most diamonds are clear, blue, red, or green. The clear ones are the most valuable, but when they are in a set with other stones, having one with color can make it look even better. The next important consideration is the carat or weight of the diamond. Carat weight is used because diamonds are so small and light there isn't a better way to measure them.
After you have answered all these questions, you can start looking for your diamond. When browsing the web pages it is important to look for websites that have been approved by nationally recognized agencies, like the Gemologist Institute of America. This is a nonprofit agency that is committed to maintaining the standard of grading in the diamonds industry. You may also want to look at testimonials by previous customers or even contact them yourself to find out if it is a reputable company.
After you have done your shopping and are ready to buy, it would be a good idea to look into a company to act as a mediator. There are third party companies that will take the diamond and inspect it for you, then give you an unbiased report on their findings. If this is good then you can send them your money and they will send your money to the seller and then the diamond to you. This protects both parties from being scammed.
Both Jonathan Blocker & Gregg Hall 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.
Jonathan Blocker has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cars, Jewelry and Golf Guide. Jonathon Blocker specializes in diamond jewelry and loose diamonds. He is a consultant for GemFind.com, a trusted name in the jewelry industry since 1999.. Jonathan Blocker's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.
Gregg Hall has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lingerie, Desserts and Mortgage. Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as at http://www.diamondringsplus.com. Gregg Hall's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.