How to Buy a Diamond

A well understanding of diamonds is necessary before you begin buying diamonds. This infrmation gives you the basics of how to buy a diamond includes, the all-important four Cs, a glossary of terms, special information on diamond shapes, and more. you can learn a lot, but that still doesn't help you much in physically grading a Diamond or going through the diamond buying process. Nonetheless, if you know the right things you can have better success rate in buying a diamond for a fair price. Here is a shortlist of the things you need to know.

When it comes to buying diamonds, you're about to make a major investment. How much should you spend? And what should you look for?

• You want to be assured of quality
• You want to trust that you're paying fair market value
• You want to see a broad product offering so you can make comparisons
• You want to gather as much information as you can and get honest answers to all your questions
• You want to be assured of good service (you may need to have the ring sized after you present it, or perhaps changed to a different setting, or maybe upgraded at a later date)
• You want proper certification for your diamond
• Most likely, you want to deal with a well-respected jeweler and a knowledgeable salesperson.

1. Educate yourself i.e learn as much as you can about Diamonds.Give yourself a lot of time to learn about the factors that affect the appearance (and value) of diamonds, and develop a knack for seeing the difference between excellent, decent, and poor diamonds.
2. Decide how much you can spend. If you are buying an engagement ring, the general rule is two months' salary, but the sky's the limit if you're in pursuit of the perfect stone.
3. Decide which properties of Diamond are most important to you. Write down, in order of importance, which of the 4C's you care most about: Carat, Color, Clarity or Cut. Most people want big. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. When jewelar shows 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. If you find a Jeweler who will be willing to show you the difference, it may be worth your time.
4. Inspect the diamond's clarity (the degree of transparency). A 'flawless' diamond, free from all inclusions or blemishes, is very rare. Other diamonds are rated on a clarity scale that grades diamonds from 'flawless' to 'obvious inclusions''the higher the diamond's rating on this scale, the greater its value.
5. Examine the diamond's color. Although you may not generally think of diamonds as having color, some have a yellow, gray or brown cast. Pure, colorless diamonds are at the top of the color scale. Diamonds are also available in 'fancy' colors such as red, blue or purple. These diamonds are rare and more expensive than the normal clear to yellow variety.
6. Choose the shape of diamond you prefer. Although the round, or brilliant, cut is most popular, diamonds come in many cuts, including oval, square or even heart-shaped. Examine the diamond's cut, which is crucial to the brilliance of the stone and a major factor in its value. A well-cut diamond reflects and disperses light in beautiful ways, thanks to qualities such as symmetry and depth (the bottom of the diamond shouldn't be too shallow or too deep). Diamonds are graded according to the cut quality, and this grade should carry a great deal of weight in your decision.
7. Determine the weight, which is measured in carats. The greater the carat weight, the more valuable the diamond. Keep in mind that since larger stones are more rare, two 1 /2-carat diamonds are less expensive than a single 1-carat diamond.
8. Ask for a certificate. There are several Independent Laboratories out there. The most well-known is GIA, the Gemological Institute of America. GIA has done a great service by providing the public a metric to compare Diamonds and Diamond prices from different suppliers / jewelers / dealers. Nonetheless, if you don't know the rules of the game, even this won't help you.
9. Compare several diamonds side by side and get a good idea of what you can find in your price range. No two diamonds are alike, so examine all of them carefully for their unique qualities.
10. Make your final decision based on which diamond offers the best combination of the four C's: clarity, color, cut and carat. Ignore any of these attributes, and you jeopardize your chances of getting the best diamond for your money.

1. Inquire about a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA, the largest impartial diamond-grading authority in the world, issues a grading report and details the diamond's specifications after examining it. Many stores keep the certificate on hand.
2. A nicked and scratched stone is almost certainly fake, but only a jeweler can detect some fakes.
3. Have a questionable stone professionally appraised.
4. Buy from a jeweler who will guide you through the process. A good jeweler will help you assess how much you can spend, show you a wide selection of diamonds, and explain the four C's.
5. Buying a loose diamond gives you the option of designing a setting around the stone. If you buy a ring band, opt for platinum or white gold: Metals other than yellow or rose gold enhance the brilliance of the diamond due to their color.