Lots of people get nervous about Buying a Loose Diamond. People don’t know what they’re really looking at or looking for. They feel Uncomfortable with looking at Scientific Detailed Information with tons of Numbers, Symbols and Meaningless Ratings.
Some people haven’t used a Microscope since the 7th Grade! They’re Scared of looking Stupid! They’re Scared of Spending so much Money on a Small Piece of Rock they know nothing about. They feel it would be easy to get Ripped Off and they don’t even know where to begin.
Sound about right?
Don’t worry, thousands are in your Shoes! Hence the purpose for me Writing this Post!
I LOVE Diamonds. I LOVE showing Diamonds. I LOVE talking about Diamonds. Just looking at them is a Sheer Joy. It’s Mother Nature at her BEST.
Loose Diamond Buying Guide
To help you cope with the tons of information thrown at you in a Jewelry Store, I’ve come up with the Top Ten Rules to follow when Purchasing Loose Diamonds. I call it the “Loose Diamond Buying Guide!” Whether you’re Buying a Loose Diamond for an Engagement Ring, a Wedding Set, or even an Anniversary Band, it doesn’t matter… it’s all the same process!
I’ll give you the Top Ten List, then I’ll go through each topic piece by piece. So without further delay, here’s the Top Ten Guidelines to Buying a Loose Diamond:
- Buy Certified
- 10X Magnification
- Understand Clarity
- Know your Color
- Choose a Carat Weight
- Learn about the Cut
- Watch Fluorescence
- Buy Laser Inscribed
- Buy Quality not Quantity!
- Don’t be Fooled by Price!
Or you can just take the easy route and Buy from James Allen – Awesome Diamonds, Awesome Prices (use “RINGSUM” at Checkout to save an Additional 10% off your Ring Mounting!)
1) Buy Certified
Make sure it’s Certified! Above and beyond all else, DO NOT Buy a Loose Diamond that’s NOT Certified!
Now I’m not talking about a Diamond Appraisal. Appraisals and Diamond Certificates are two totally different things. Jewelers always give Diamond Appraisals away for free with most Jewelry purchases. The thing to note here is that Appraisals are for Insurance purposes and Retail Value… While Certification is for Proof of Purchase, Peace of Mind and Guarantee! The Guarantee is a Detailed Independent Opinion of what your Diamond really is!
I can’t stress enough how important this first step really is.
Your Diamond MUST be Certified!
If not, the Jeweler could sell you anything, call it anything, and truly rip you off!!!
Certificates like the G.I.A. Diamond Certificate, do one thing and one thing really good; They remove the Jeweler’s Opinion all together from the equation. That’s so important! It keeps the Jeweler’s Honest!
Independent Certificate Companies like G.I.A. (Read: Why G.I.A. is the Best!) Grade the Diamonds and lists all the important detailed features that identify those Loose Diamonds. Things like: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. Those 4 C’s Determine the Price of your Diamond. They guarantee that the Quality of the Diamond listed on the Certificate is really the Quality of the Diamond you’re Buying!
I highly recommend G.I.A. (The Gemological Institute of America) They give the most accurate Diamond Certificates available. Buy G.I.A.!
2) Magnification
A lot of Jewelers want you to view your Loose Diamond with a 10x Jewelers Loupe. That’s Fine and Dandy if you know how to properly hold a Loupe and use a Loupe. If you’re not an Expert, and not Experienced with 10x Loupes, then forget it! It’s not going to help you any. It’ll only hurt! Instead use a Microscope. A 10x Powered Microscope is what Professionals use to Certify and Grade Diamonds with.
What do I find shocking about Microscopes?
I’m always blown away with people Buying Loose Diamonds, but I’m more blown away with other Jewelers selling Loose Diamonds. Why? Because I’ll ask the customers that have been out shopping for Loose Diamonds all over the city, if they’ve ever seen a Diamond under a Microscope?
80% of them say “NO!”
This is down-right shocking to me.
How can other Jewelers expect to sell Loose Diamonds without letting the customer see what it is they’re Buying? I don’t get it. It’s like selling a Car without lifting the hood! Shame on them! (Note: Other Jewelers that are my Direct Competition “Keep it up!“)
Don’t Buy a Loose Diamond from a Jeweler that doesn’t offer you a closer look under the scope. It’s just common sense. Avoid it. All it means is that the Jewelers either don’t think you’re serious about Buying, don’t care about making a Sale, or is just trying to Hide the Quality of that Diamond. I tend to believe they’re covering it up.
Run away fast!
A Microscope will allow you to view the Diamond at all angles with the correct lighting. You’ll be able to see the Inclusions inside the Diamond and spot the Blemishes on the outside. You’ll be able to see if the Diamond is Cracked or Chipped or has Huge Black Spots in it. You’ll be able to look at the Girdle to see whether it’s too Thin or too Thick. You’ll be able to view the Diamond from the Bottom and the Side and look at the Depth of the Diamond and the Height of the Crown.
Use the Scope, don’t be Scared of it! Compare Diamonds of other Qualities to really see the difference. Do NOT buy a Loose Diamond, even if it’s Certified, if you haven’t scoped it with a microscope! Scope it! When you buy it, scope it! When you get it set or sized, scope it! Learn to Identify the Unique Characteristics about your Diamond. Don’t let yourself get ripped off and don’t allow the Jeweler to Switch your Diamond!
3) Understand Clarity and What Inclusions are
You can hear all day to Buy VS Clarity, but if you don’t know what a VS Clarity Diamond is, then Clarity doesn’t mean squat to you. It makes it pretty useless, this is why I recommend a hands on approach. Instead of hearing all about the Quality and Clarity, learn the easy way… learn by seeing the difference!
Have the Jeweler grab a bunch of Different Clarity rated Diamonds, Grab the Diamond Chart that lists all the Clarities and Grades, and high-tail it to the microscope! You’re going to view each and every Clarity to really see what they’re talking about. I would advise starting with the lowest Clarity Grade first, then working up to the better and best!
Starting with the I Clarity Diamonds, I always have people look at the Diamond, then look at the Plot (Reference Diagram that marks the Inclusions), then look at the Diamond again. I point out the Inclusions on the Certificate Plot and then show them where they are in the Diamond under the microscope. With the microscope the Plot doesn’t look like such a Mystery anymore. On paper, a Plot looks like a Puzzle, but you’d be surprised at how many of those Microscopic Flaws seem to Disappear under Magnification.
Don’t judge a Diamond by how the Plot looks. And don’t buy a Diamond solely based upon it’s Clarity Rating.
All Diamonds are different. Let your eyes be the judge. So many things affect the beauty of the Diamond other than just Clarity. Color, Cut and Size play big roles!
Compare Diamonds
Look at I Clarity Diamonds, then move on up to SI Clarity. It’s so fascinating to watch people’s expressions when they go from I Clarity to SI. The difference almost blows them away. I hear “Wow!” and “Oh My God!” a lot! It’s like night and day, you have to see it to believe it. An I Clarity Diamond has Eye-Visible Inclusions in it. I will say that most Certified Diamonds will not be I Clarity Diamonds. Usually only higher Clarity Diamonds like SI or VS will be Certified. (Notice I said “Usually“)
SI Clarity Diamonds have small inclusions in them, visible only under a 10x Microscope. You’ll see Pin-Points and Clouds and Feathers and other Identifying Marks. Generally SI1 Diamonds (Which is the highest of the SI Clarity Diamonds) are a good Clarity choice to buy. They have smaller inclusions than the SI2 Clarity Diamonds and look much better than any I Clarity Diamond. SI Clarity Diamonds are also the most affordable Diamond to buy and still get a good quality. SI Diamonds are pretty, until you scope a VS Clarity Diamond!
So what does a VS Clarity Diamond do?
VS Clarity
VS will knock your socks off! VS is Crisp and Clean and Simply Breathtaking. VS Clarity Diamonds have very small inclusions in them that are pretty difficult to spot under magnification. I love VS Clarity! They’re stunning and full of sparkle. You’ll never regret buying such a clean stone.
One step higher up the Clarity Chart is VVS! (That rating is V V S, not WS like the font makes it look like!) VVS Clarity Diamonds are quite Rare and Expensive. But they are almost perfect! Unless you’ve got tons of dough or just want the best that money can buy, I would pass these up. To the naked eye you won’t really see any great visible differences between a VVS Clarity Diamond and a VS Diamond. The only difference is under the scope with tiny, little, microscopic imperfections. Although, not perfect, most people consider these stones to be. If you have money to burn, I would suggest you spend it more wisely and invest in a better Color instead! And speaking of Color…
4) Know what Color you Want
There are only 2 Categories of Color that I would recommend: Colorless and Near Colorless! (White vs Off-White)
My Favorite Color is E or F Colored Diamonds hands down. I love Diamonds that have NO Color! (Colorless) The Colorless range is D-E-F. D is just about impossible to find. And if you can find it, it’ll be insanely priced. Buy an E or F Color if you can.
Colorless Diamonds are so white and bright you’ll see the sparkles across the room. They look like they have ten times the amount of brilliance and sparkle of a normal Diamond. They are stunning! I love showing Colorless Diamonds because most people have never seen them. The mall usually only carries lower Color ratings like I-J-K Color! Ouch!
G – H Diamond Color is all right
Nothing wrong with them. Some people can’t tell the difference between a White Diamond and an Off-White Diamond. Most people don’t notice Color in a Diamond until it actually looks Yellow! And trust me, you don’t want a Yellow Diamond! A Yellow tinted Diamond looks Dirty and Old and it’ll rob your Diamond of Beauty. Colorless… I’m telling you Colorless is the way to go! Compare Colorless to Near Colorless Diamonds and you’ll see how much more sparkle and life you get out of the Diamond. Buy Colorless, you won’t regret it!
5) Know what Carat Size you Want
If she says she wants a 1.00 Carat Diamond, get her one! (She’ll be sad and blue the rest of her life if you don’t.) Plus you’ll always be saying to yourself, “I wish I would have bought her that bigger Diamond!” It’ll happen, trust me. If you don’t know what Diamond Size to buy her and she hasn’t dropped you any hints, then I would buy her the biggest Carat Weight that you can afford. But only do that AFTER deciding what Color and Clarity to purchase first!
A Half Carat (.50 Points) is okay. It’s cute and small, but it screams cheap and broke. 3/4 Carat (.75 Points) is better. It looks big. It’ll have plenty of brilliance and sparkle. You can’t go wrong with a 3/4 Carat.
If you Want my Advice:
Buy her a 1.00 Carat Diamond! The ultimate is 1.00 Carat or bigger! I don’t know of any woman who doesn’t at least want One Full Carat! (Read: Understanding Carats and Points!)
6) Learn about Cut
The Cut is the toughest topic of the 4C’s to Comprehend. There’s just so much to understand about Cut, it’s overwhelming! People try to wrap their heads around it, but the Cut is always confusing. The Cut deals with Angles, Percentages, Millimeter Size, Crown Facets, Culets… BLAH! Where do you begin? You begin step by step! Begin with the most important topics: Measurements and Percentages! I’ll try to keep this simple…
A One Carat Diamond should be close in measurements to 6.5 MM Wide. That’s from one edge of the stone to the other. The Depth of the Diamond should be around 3.97 MM Deep. That’s measured from the flat top of the Diamond to the bottom of the Diamond’s Point. (Or the Culet!)
You can quickly see on the Certificate the Diamond’s Measurements to compare these too. No Diamond in the World will ever be dead on, but you can get close and that’s what matters. If your MM Size is too wide or too deep, you’ll Lose Light and Sparkle. Your Diamond will actually look lifeless!
The Beauty of a Diamond is it’s Brilliance. A Diamond with a good MM Size will help your Diamond come to life.
Now on to the hard one… but trust me, you won’t need a calculator!
Finishing off the Cut and those fun MM Measurements, we have…
Percentages
(Or Proportions) The Percents are a little harder to explain, but it all boils down to 2 main numbers:
Table Percent and Depth Percent.
You can get into Numbers and Percents and work out Mathematical Proportions for Ideal Cuts, but it’ll drive you crazy if you do. I tend to make it simpler…
Follow the 60/60 Rule
The 60/60 Rule is 60% Table and 60% Depth! 60/60 is what most Jewelers carry and what most Jewelers like! Don’t over analyze it! Remember 60/60 and your Diamonds will look great and sparkle plenty!
Update:
Now a days, you don’t have to worry about the 60/60 Rule… GIA did something MUCH better! They introduced Simple Grading Scales for the Cut of the Diamond. Now, to get the BEST Cut, all you have to look at is the GIA Cut Grade for the stone. If it’s Graded “Excellent“, or at the very least “Very Good“, then the Diamond will be Awesome and give you GREAT Light and Sparkle! :)
7) Don’t buy Fluorescence
Fluorescence in a Diamond is a Light Killer! Fluorescence is when your Diamond will Glow in the Dark under a Black Light.
Fluorescence creates a weird blurry affect with your Diamond that makes it react to light differently. It always looks foggy and cloudy to me. It covers up your sparkle! Even if your Diamond is a VS, E, if it has Fluorescence, then it can still look dull and boring. If it has Fluorescence, skip it!
8) Buy Laser Inscribed Diamonds
This is the best way in the World to keep from getting ripped off!
A Diamond that’s Laser Inscribed actually has the Diamond Certificate Report Number Etched (Lasered) into the side of the Diamond. The Numbers are visible on the Diamond’s Girdle under a Microscope.
With that Report Number etched in stone, you’ll always be able to identify your Diamond no matter what. You’ll be able to scope your Diamond and see those numbers and never have to worry if the Jeweler Switched your Diamond!
9) Buy Quality not Quantity
If you can afford it, buy a Certified 1.00 Carat Diamond with VS Clarity and E Color. That’s my recommendation!
If you can’t afford that, buy the same thing but in a 3/4 Carat Weight! I would advise you to not lower your standards and start skimping just because of price. Don’t down Grade to a Lower Clarity or Color just to get a Bigger Diamond. Size is not worth it! If you have to buy smaller, do so. You can always up-size the Diamond later, for say an Anniversary or Christmas gift!
10) Price
Deals, Discounts, Watch those Scams!
Don’t be fooled by Unbelievable Prices or Steals. If a Jeweler is selling a Loose Stone $1000 Cheaper than every other Jeweler in town… BEWARE! There’s always a good reason why it’s so cheap!
It’s usually the Cut
Most people don’t understand the Complexity of Cut. Most really do think Cut means “Round!” So it’s a good way for Jewelers to Sell (Dump) Inferior and Poorly Cut Stones on the market! That’s why you should ALWAYS Buy a Stone that’s “Excellent“, or “Very Good“!
To wrap things up
Check out the Millimeter Measurements (6.5 MM across for a 1.00 Carat, 3.97 MM Deep) and Table and Depth Percentages (60/60). Check out the Diamond’s Girdle (Thin-Medium Thickness). See if the Diamond has Fluorescence (It’ll be listed right on the G.I.A. Diamond Certificate). Make sure it’s Certified and Laser Inscribed! (G.I.A. G.I.A. G.I.A. Can you tell I love G.I.A.?)
Listen to your Gut
What’s your gut saying? Does the Jeweler seem shady? Are they trying to shove it down your throat? Are they showing you the Diamond under a 10x Microscope? Do they seem to fully understand the 4 C’s and are they trying to explain them and help?
Too many times you’ll see inexperienced Salespeople (What I call “Clerks!”) that don’t know jack about Diamonds and shouldn’t be selling Diamonds. These types of people can only sell Diamonds “Because they Look Pretty!” There is no substance there.
Only buy Loose Diamonds from a Trained, Knowledgeable and Respected Jeweler. Only buy G.I.A. Laser Inscribed Certified Diamonds! And only Buy Quality!
With these Tips and Tricks from my Loose Diamond Buying Guide, you’ll get not only a wonderful Diamond that’s full of Brilliance and Sparkle, but a Diamond that you’ll be proud of!
Happy Shopping!