Before You Purchase A Diamond: 9 Easy Tips For A Confident Decision
Offline or online: you don’t buy a diamond every day. And no matter whether it is a loose diamond or an individual diamond ring, buying such an expensive asset needs proper knowledge and research.
Following that, anyone should know the 4 Cs of purchasing diamonds – cut quality, carat weight, color, and clarity. Having a clear idea about these four Cs and establishing a budget & more importantly, adhering to it means you can buy a diamond easily.
However, if you still want to be 100% confident before making a diamond purchase, please consider our nine brilliant tips in this article below.
1. Establish a Budget
We all know how expensive diamonds can be! Therefore, before anything else, specifying a budget is super essential. That said, the cost is the hidden fifth C of buying a diamond. Please don’t get worried. We aren’t asking you to compromise on your dream diamond.
Instead, we insist on changing your decision to buy a stone size smaller than what you thought initially without compromising quality.
2. Identify Your Favorite Diamond Shape
Brilliant rounds are the most popular diamond shape. However, there’s nothing wrong with picking a diamond with a unique shape, like an oval, emerald, or cushion cut. Besides this, you and your partner can also purchase diamond melee as per your preference.
There is no rulebook or pressure about it. Only make sure to pick a diamond shape that fits the ring design aptly and is practical for daily life.
3. Review Your Carat Affordability
If you believe the appearance of the diamond influences the price, it’s time to revisit the four Cs. In reality, the carat weight determines the price of a diamond. So, after reviewing your finances, make an intelligent decision.
For instance, 0.95-carat diamonds come at a considerably lower price than 1 carat with almost the same size appearance. It is merely a matter of mutual decision with your fiancé.
4. Come Down to Evaluate Cut Quality
The one thing that contributes the most to any diamond’s appeal is undoubtedly its cut quality. And our advice is to never compromise on that. While there is no standard way to check the diamond’s cut quality, you can always rely on a GIA diamond report or AGS grading before buying an excellent diamond.
Remember: the online or offline retailer will only help you get these gradings, certifications, and reports to assure top-notch cut quality.
5. Define Your Desired Diamond Color Range
The unique shapes of diamonds reflect a range of colors. Moreover, this point is crucial to buy a white diamond (solitaire). The diamond color scale starts from D and stretches to Z. While D represents the most colorless diamond (white), Z means fancier (yellow) diamond.
Diamond buyers often pay a high price for diamonds in the range D to F. Nevertheless, diamonds from the range G to I appear colorless to the naked eye but come at much less value. Here, refer to this ultimate diamond color guide.
6. Check Out Clarity Grade
After the cut quality and color comes clarity. Examine your preferred diamond for clarity by holding it in your hand and no blemishes. Technically, a diamond between the VS1-VS2 range is purely eye-clean.
Most retailers allow you to analyze diamonds using a magnifying glass to check if they have zero impurities. Similarly, AI tools like Ringo and Sarine help you check diamond imperfections via videos.
7. Compare With Similar Diamonds
There might be a chance that diamonds with other similar specs differ in price. Besides the 4 Cs, majorly factors like fluorescence, symmetry, and polish affect a diamond’s price. Hence, compare similar diamond options from different brands to decide wisely.
Now even with augmented reality tools, you can compare diamonds on multiple levels before purchasing.
8. Pick a Ring Design
From minimalist to grandeur: different ring styles elevate different personalities. If you are a penchant for diamonds, you should also put thought into your ring design. The ring’s metal color and structure decide what shape of the diamond it might hold best in the center.
Not only that, but the overall built ring design will also give you an idea about diamond melee to use to add a character to your center diamond. We recommend consulting your jeweler and asking your partner’s opinion before finalizing the ring’s design and diamond.
9. Verify The Certificate & Purchase
The happiness of finding your dream diamond and desired ring might make you forget about diamond certificates for a second. But never purchase a loose diamond without receiving its lab-tested certificate.
We suggest picking diamonds graded by GIA and AGS over HRD, IGI, and EGL. Because of their consistent grading tactics, the GIA/AGS graded diamonds are the most reliable to purchase. Also, request a physical certificate from your retailer with the diamond purchase.
Summary
Most first-time buyers finalize a diamond that appears captivating without delving deep into its specs. However, such diamonds perform drastically less than expected, and their allure fades away with time.
Therefore, it is paramount to research and examine a diamond from a 360-degree viewpoint before buying. We guarantee that this checklist of nine thoughtful tips is all you need every time you wish to purchase a diamond.
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