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HOW TO BUY A DIAMOND?
Buying your dream diamond can be quite complicated
considering the various factors which go into determining the quality of a
diamond. But if you are aware and know the right things you can get the best
diamond at a fair price. The best way would be to put down in steps the
strategies that guide you through the diamond buying process.
Learn
as much as you can about diamonds through websites and other sources. You can
also browse through our
diamond
education
link on this website. The forums listed on our website such as
diamonds
will enable you to learn by interacting with other people with similar queries.
Decide
which properties of Diamond are most important to you. Write down, in order of
importance, which of the 5C's are your priority: Cost, Carat, Color, Clarity or
Cut. When we show people two stones with similar properties, one a bit smaller
with a better cut and the other a bit bigger, but not as good a cut, they will
usually prefer the better cut. Jewelers may also help you to make out the
differences affecting your choice.
Finding out the
market price for your diamond is the next step.
You can compare prices of diamonds but one has to remember that only similar
diamonds can be compared with each other. This is because even a slight change
in grading and weight can increase or decrease the price. There are also price
differences which come as a result of certified and non-certified diamonds.
Asking for a certificate is the next step. The
Gemological Institute of America or better known as
GIA
is the most well recognized body in this field. But confusions have to be
avoided when it comes down to appraisals and certificates, which are both
provided by the GIA Gemologist. The
EGL or the European Gemological Laboratory is one
of the most recognized non-GIA laboratories. But you must beware of fake
certification or no-name certification, or no brand name certification. This
might result in you getting much less than what you had expected. Each lab has
its own independent procedures for certification, and grading. But if you have
more doubts to clarify you can do so on the diamond chat forum.
Look for
matching Color and Clarities based on your
preferences. In other words, don't buy a High Color/Low Clarity or High
Clarity/Low Color Diamond. Some questions pop up immediately. Why pay a premium
for an Ideal Cut Diamond, and then accept a lower color and clarity? You pay a
serious premium for getting say an E Color Diamond. What's the purpose of
paying that premium and then buying an SI2 Diamond? Why not revert to a lower
color shade and increase one or two clarities? This practice of asking
questions enables you to make better choices.
