Are you in the market for a unique diamond ring? Well, you are not alone. You see, whoever said diamonds are forever was right on point. Simply put, diamond jewelry is beautiful, and you can never go wrong with these pieces at any occasion. Whether you want to propose or you want to gift a special lady in your life with a dazzling ring, the exquisite, sparkling diamonds will instantly make her face light up. A well-designed diamond ring makes the moment special and creates indelible memories. Little wonder then that many jewelry stores have a wide selection of diamond rings to suit every occasion.
But there is one big problem; the popularity of diamonds has made this one of the most precious metals in the jewelry industry. It follows that fraudsters find easy prey in consumers who want to buy beautiful diamond rings on the cheap. When buying diamond jewelry, you have to be careful because this is a costly undertaking. The choices you make towards the purchase will determine whether you get good value for money at the end of the day.
There is so much to learn on how to buy a diamond ring without falling for numerous online scams. This article will highlight some of the important things you ought to consider. The insight you get will prevent any knee-jerk reactions which might cost you eventually. Keep reading:
Learn the Basics of Diamond Buying ( The 4C’s)
Unlike other precious metals in the market, diamond has a complex grading system, and without knowing the basics, it is easy to lose your money. The 4Cs determine the quality of a diamond:
Cut
The cut is the most important features to help determine the value of a diamond. The cut defines the sparkle of a diamond and if you want to buy a beautiful stone, you should look for a perfect cut. A poorly cut diamond looks dull as it doesn’t reflect light.
The diamond cut grades vary from very shallow (poor shine and too dark), shallow (shines and sparkles), ideal (brilliant sparkle) deep (poor diamond cut) to very deep (poor shine and appears very small). Every diamond in the market has a cut grade, and this is the first thing you should look out for to avoid getting duped.
Color
Color is the second most important consideration when buying a diamond ring. Colorless diamonds are rare, and they cost arm and leg. The color grade starts from D to Z with the following categories:
- Grades D, E, and F are colorless diamonds
- Grades G, H, I AND J are near colorless diamonds
- Fancy diamonds are yellow
- K, L, and M are faint yellow diamonds
- Grade N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, and S-Z are very light yellow diamonds
When moving from grade D through to Z, the price falls.
Clarity
Clarity in a diamond refers to tiny imperfections in the stone or minuscule black or white specks which observable using a microscope. If a diamond has a high number of inclusions or imperfections, the price is lower. However, it is important to remember that these inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. The grading system for clarity is as follows:
- Grade FL: Flawless diamonds
- Grade IF (Internally Flawless): Diamonds which contain only small blemishes which you cannot see under 10X magnifications.
- Grade VVS1: Very, very slightly included inclusions on the lower half of the stone.
- Grade VVS2: Very, very slight inclusions on the upper half of a diamond
- Grade VS1: Diamonds with inclusions visible under 10X magnifications.
- Grade VS2: Diamonds with more blemishes than VS1.
- Grade SI1 and SI2: Diamonds with blemishes that visible to the naked eye.
- Grade I1: Diamonds with inclusions obvious to the naked eye
- Grade I3-I2: These diamonds have even more blemishes than Grade I1.
The cost of these diamonds decreases from FL to I3.
Carat
It refers to a diamond’s weight with 1 carat equal to 200 milligrams. It is important to note that carat is not the size of a diamond but rather its weight. The carat is not very important because even a smaller carat weight stone can appear larger and magnificent with a high cutting grade. As the carat weight increases so does the price.
Buy the Ideal Diamond for Your Ring
Now that you understand the 4Cs, you have to balance each quality to buy the best diamond for your diamond ring.
- Shape: Start with examining the different cuts including round, princess, emerald, oval, pear, cushion, marquise and radiant shapes.
- Carat: go for a carat weight between 0.25 and 5 carats depending on your budget.
- Clarity: Go for clarity range between VS1 and VS2 but if you are not on a budget, go higher for VVS1 or VVS2 diamonds.
- Color: If you have the money, go for a color grade G to J diamond or K-L color grade if you less to spend.
- Cut: Spend more in the cut for a brilliant diamond for your ring.
Look for GIA Certification
If the dealer selling you a diamond ring has no Gemological Institute of America), run and don’t look back. Such third-party certification is crucial to avoid falling for a scam. Don’t accept in-house certification and instead insist on 3rd party grading.
Use a Reputable Jeweler or Online Retailer
Seek referrals and recommendations and read reviews and testimonials to identify the most reliable jeweler in the market. Avoid looking at the price alone and instead look for a credible jeweler who has a reputation to protect.
There is no denying that a ring-like diamond engagement ring will always light up the occasion. However, there are many fraudsters in the market, and you need to be cautious not to lose your money. These tips will help you buy your perfect diamond piece without much hassle.