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.