Buying a loose diamond?
Looking for a grand stone of exceptional quality? (and not wanting to learn all the technical info associated with diamond knowledge?)
Then this is the post to read
For I’ll give you the only 4 pieces of information that you truly need to buy a stunning diamond, full of brilliance, life, and sparkle…
And it really is as easy as:
4 little steps
So let’s dive in…
1) GIA Certified
If you want to keep yourself from getting scammed, ripped off, taken advantage of, then make sure you buy a loose diamond that’s certified (comes with a diamond report) by GIA (The Gemological Institute of America). That’s the only diamond report you must ask for.
GIA is strict, the biggest and best in the industry, highly respected, admired by all, and…
They Devised the Current 4C’s System!
The system that every jeweler across America uses to grade, buy, and sell diamonds, uses this grading system.
GIA wrote the book!
So above all else, opt for nothing less than GIA (not IGI, not EGL, nor Gemex…) Nothing else. GIA, period!
2) Diamond Cut
Cut is crucial!
Luckily, it’s now easy to understand… Especially when you’re buying a GIA certified diamond. For GIA has 5 cut grades; Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor…
But to get a top-notch diamond, one that has more sparkle and pizzazz than any other stone, make sure your diamond is graded “EXCELLENT“.
And, if you can also get “EXCELLENT” grades in both “polish” and “symmetry” (they go hand in hand with CUT), then that’s a huge bonus. For these “triple excellent” rated diamonds are the best of the best. They are called super-ideal cut diamonds (like true hearts, hearts on fire, signature cuts), and they are outstanding in dazzle, brilliance, fire, and scintillation (light effects).
So look for “excellent“, it makes a big, BIG difference!
3) SI1 Clarity or Higher
You don’t want visible flaws!
Easy as that. You don’t want her to see black spots, or lines, clouds, fractures, or chips in the stone (for the rest of her life)…
It just won’t do!
So that’s why you must stick with SI1 clarity or higher (VS, VVS)… Diamonds SI1 or higher are “eye-clean” diamonds, and have no visible inclusions. None! (You’ll need a 10x microscope or a 10x jeweler’s loupe to see them – which is awesome!)
Only once you magnify these beautiful stones (SI1 or higher), will you see those tiny identifying marks. Those are a diamond’s fingerprint, and each and every diamond is unique and different (a fascinating world).
So SI1 clarity (the best selling clarity, for that reason), is the clarity you should buy (and it also keeps the price down, versus a VS or VVS clarity diamond).
4) NO Fluorescence!
Fluorescence is a phenomenon that can make a diamond appear cloudy or hazy in natural light (it also makes it glow-in-the-dark under UV light, or black light).
This isn’t good!
Especially if you’ve bought a high quality stone… And it still looks foggy!
So double check the “fluorescence” grade on the GIA diamond report. It should say “none“.
Let’s Recap:
That’s the 4 BIG things you must learn and know to buy a loose diamond (which is the ideal way to buy a stone; LOOSE, then have it set into a mounting afterwards).
Write these 4 things down. Memorize them. Put them in your Smart Phone’s Notes!
It’s that Important!
Want more tips and tricks? Things that can help steer you in the right direction?
Then keep reading…
- No Sizing – Don’t get the ring sized (yet). For sizing can actually VOID a return policy! Get it sized AFTER you give it to her (and she says YES).
- 14kt White Gold – Have it set in 14kt white gold. White gold metals tend to make a stunning diamond “POP” more in the mounting. It doesn’t add any yellow into the stone.
- Don’t worry about COLOR – Most diamonds on the market are white or off-white in hue (Colorless or Near Colorless). Which all tend to appear white, and most people see no difference anyway. Only if the stone appears visibly yellow, would I skip it!
- Carat Weight – Buy the biggest you can afford (without sacrificing any of these 4 crucial points). You can always upgrade to a bigger stone later (Anniversaries are great for this).
- Insure the Ring – Diamond rings are expensive, so before you give it to her, throw it on your insurance policy or home-owners… (have you seen those videos of people proposing and dropping the ring in the ocean???) Ouch!
- Simple Simple – Keep the mounting simple. The showpiece is the center stone (and always will be). You don’t want to detract from that. A plain band, or just a few diamonds down the side or a halo around the stone are perfect (plus, a simple mounting is cheaper!)
- Cheaper Shapes – Round Brilliant Cuts are the most popular shape of stone, but Princess Cuts are cheaper (any of the Fancy Cuts are cheaper than Round). Plus, fancy cuts tend to look bigger as well.
- Return Policy – Make sure that the store or website that you buy your diamond from has a 100% money-back-guarantee. Just in case!
- Microscope the Stone – Make sure you view the diamond under 10x magnification BEFORE you buy the stone, just so you can see and identify the small inclusions inside the diamond.
- Pay Cash – If you can, pay cash. Money talks. Often, paying cash can get you a better deal. If not, look into interest free financing (just make sure you pay on time or you could get bombarded with huge interest fees and penalties). Lay-a-way also works!
And if you want to know where I recommend shopping…
Buy from James Allen
James Allen has a huge inventory, great warranties, allows you to view the diamond (the actual real stones, and not a sample stock photo) at 10x magnification BEFORE you buy it; and their prices are some of the best ANYWHERE! (compare with the mall stores, you’ll see. It will BLOW YOUR MIND!)
Look at these Beautiful Diamonds HERE:
See MORE Loose Certified Diamonds HERE!
Cheers! :)