How to Buy a Diamond Without Getting Ripped Off

How to Buy a Diamond Without Getting Ripped Off

how to buy a diamond

How to Buy a Diamond 101

Selecting the perfect diamond for your engagement ring can be overwhelming and very confusing. If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t thought of all the intricacies associated with buying a diamond. Because of this, you may fall prey to getting ripped off. Diamonds are expensive and therefore you want to get the very best quality for your money. With a little knowledge regarding incredible diamond, you will find exactly what you are looking for and know you’ve made the very best choice.

Know Your Limitations

Before moving ahead into shopping for diamonds, you need to set your budget and what you can actually afford. What you can afford and what you can’t is certainly your own personal decision but staying within reason is pretty important when it comes to diamonds.

How To Buy A Diamond: Questions You Should Ask Yourself

Have I saved any money toward the purchase of a diamond?

It would be a great idea to have put some money aside in order to buy a nice diamond ring. This would also give you a leg up on the quality you are looking for.

How long will I have to save up to afford the stone?

If you haven’t started saving, how long will it take? Are you thinking of taking out a loan or paying cash for the ring? Consider the price of the diamond and then sit down a calculate the time it would take to pay off. It’s not three months salary any more. It’s more of a case of what you can afford.

Are there other financial goals and commitments of higher priority at this time?

If you have other commitments that are on the front burner, you might want to hold off on a diamond for a short while. You would not be the first to settle for a wedding band for now, and purchase that special diamond when you become more financially secure.

How to Buy a Diamond: Getting Down to Basics

So, you have decided you are ready and set to buy a diamond, so let’s talk the quality you should look for. First and foremost you must understand the Four “Cs” when it comes to diamond selections

Carat Weight

Everyone knows that gems are weighed in carats, but just what are carats? Because the shape of a diamond can effect the size of a stone, jewelers use carat weight to determine the amount of diamond you are getting for your purchase. The actual size of a stone is not it’s carat weight. Understanding the size of a particular gem and the carats is important in choosing the right stone for you.

Carats are measured by the entire mass of the individual diamond. A carat is usually measured by the point value of the diamond.

One Carat = 100 points, therefore a diamond of 50 points would equal 1/2 carat.

The Color

The diamond’s color has an affect on the quality of the gem. Ideally, the highest value diamond is colorless. The amount of tint sets a rating on a specific gem. A visible color could be “Z”, where colorless could be “B”. Most high end diamonds (the kind that movie stars wear) can be in the D range. The average consumer generally has something in the F and below range.

The Clarity

The clarity of a diamond is very important when talking value. This is the number and size of “flaws” within the gem. A flawless diamond is the highest quality where highly visible flaws are the lowest values.

The Cut

The artistry and skill placed into cutting a diamond will decide the gem’s value. This takes into account the diamond’s facets and the proportion of the stone. In a nutshell, the better the cut, the higher the value and this has nothing to do with the size of the diamond.

How to Buy a Diamond Which Has Been Treated

Sometimes diamonds are treated to improve the stone’s clarity and color making them more attractive to the eye. Treatments can remove minor imperfections or small fractures. A big drawback to treated diamonds are the resale value. Usually treated diamonds do not increase in value over time, as natural diamonds do.

How to Buy a Diamond: What Shape Do You Prefer?

Possibly you already have a shape you want for your engagement ring or have a setting and need to find the perfect match for it. The shape of your stone is totally preference and has no affect on the actual stone. The setting will dictate the shape of the stone.

The Pear Shape

This cut looks wonderful in a large range of settings. It is excellent for creating the illusion of longer, more slender fingers.

Asscher Cut

This cut has a spectacular cut and has a certain vintage appeal. Works best without added embellishments.

Heart Shape

Offers a “meaningful” cut vs traditional cuts and sends a message of “I Love You”.

Cushion Cut

The classic diamond cut that accentuates the diamond’s beauty and takes its name from the shape of a pillow cushion. A fantastic vintage option.

Various cuts can influence how large the stone appears to the eye. The more facets in the shape will influence the diamond’s reflection.

Emerald Cut

Elegant, modern yet classic, the emerald cut is a beautiful option that many women love. It does, however, need to have excellent clarity as flaws will show up on this cut more than others.

Round Brilliant

The most popular cut, the round brilliant is sparkly and gorgeous. A timeless classic.

Princess Cut

Second in popularity next to the round brilliant cut, the princess cut is a sparkly square option that is more affordable than all the other diamond cuts.

How to Buy a Diamond: Set Your Priorities

With each aspect of a diamond comes a price tag. You need to set your priorities on the various options in selecting a diamond. Unless you have a great deal of money, you should factor in all of the above. The four Cs will add to or detract from the final value of the chosen stone. Take these various questions and answer them truthfully:

How important is the clarity of your diamond?

Does it matter if there are flaws in the diamond?

Does the size of the diamond play a large role in your decision?

Does buying a treated diamond bother you?

Will your setting hide an imperfect cut?

Do you want a mined diamond or wait a get a more affordable simulant for now?

How to Buy a Diamond While Working With Your Local Jeweler

Stopping by your local jewelers is an important step. You will actually see the diamonds up front a personally. You will discover that some aspects of the diamond are not particularly important to you because you don’t even see any differences. This is where you need a trusted jeweler. All jewelers are in the business to make money and they gain huge profits of up to 500% on some diamonds. Don’t be afraid to negotiate for a lower price, knowing that they have the diamond and the setting marked up incredibly high.

Go online and checkout the costs of diamonds, choosing categories to sort through the large array of gems.

Once you have found the stone of your dreams, above and beyond anything, make sure you get a certificate of authenticity. This certificate is called a GIA Certificate. Get the diamond appraised by a expert gemologist or jeweler.

Make sure there is a return policy, should the ring not fit or is not meeting your criteria.

In Conclusion

Diamonds are absolutely exquisite stones that have enchanted people for centuries. To many, the diamond represents the symbol of love and is the birthstone for Aries.

That said, you might want to consider the history of the beloved diamond.

Do you know why diamonds are called “blood diamonds“?. Diamonds have funded wars and stripped human beings of basic human rights. If the blood shed due to the mining of diamonds upsets and bothers you, there are many other exquisite gems to choose from. The classic illuminating beauty of a pearl to the firing blaze of a ruby, there are many to choose from. You might also look into Canadian diamonds or synthetic, man made diamonds. Do some final research to find out what option is best for you.

 

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