How to Buy a Diamond Ring
How to Buy a Diamond Ring Skip to content
Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an average return of 397%. For $79 (or just $1.52 per week), join more than 1 million members and don't miss their upcoming stock picks. 30 day money-back guarantee. Sign Up Now This is not one of the four C’s, but it is a crucial one. A Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certification guarantees the specs on the 4 C’s. It may add a few hundred dollars to the price, but will protect you from a scam. I highly recommend getting a diamond that has been certified. One of the worst experiences I had when diamond shopping was a dealer offering a diamond at a very high cost with specs that had not been certified. They claimed to have their own internal certification (an obvious conflict of interest). When I told them I was not interested, they dropped the price in half. This is an obvious sign that they were overvaluing the diamond initially and were now bringing the price closer to the diamond’s real value. If this happens, just walk away. Otherwise, you are asking to get scammed. Tip: A GIA certification raises the price, but keeps you from getting scammed by an in-house “expert.”
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By Ryan Knight Date February 08, 2022FEATURED PROMOTION
As you know, diamonds are one of the most sought-after gems in the world and are commonly used for engagement rings and other jewelry. When purchasing a diamond, it is important to understand what quality of diamond to look for, how to find it, and how much to pay. Taking a little extra time to plan ahead will make buying a diamond a great success for you and it will make for a very happy recipient.What To Look For In A Diamond – The Four C’ s
1. Carat The weight of a diamond is defined in carats and a carat is the most common reference to size. A two-carat diamond weighs twice as much as a one-carat diamond, but may not look twice as big depending on the cut. When looking for a diamond, it’s good to have a general idea of what weight you are looking for, but leave room for flexibility as you may want to balance carat with color and clarity within your budget. Tip: If you want a 1 carat diamond, consider .98 and you may save a lot of money by going for a less-demanded weight (and you can still round up when you tell people). 2. Cut The cut of a diamond generally refers to the shape, but more specifically refers to how well the diamond is designed to optimize its brilliance and size. A well cut diamond will shine brightly whereas a poorly cut diamond will allow light to pass right through. In addition to shining brightly, a well cut diamond also makes the most of its weight. By this I mean that a well cut diamond will stretch out the weight to look as big as possible without compromising the shine. Tip: If you are considering a round diamond, use the patented Holloway Cut Advisor to compare the dimensions of your diamond with ideal standards. 3. Clarity The clarity of a diamond deals with how many imperfections or specs of dust, dirt, or carbon can be seen in the diamond. A perfect diamond does not exist naturally, but anything close is extremely expensive. For most people, finding a diamond with no obvious flaws is just fine. Most diamonds are certified by a gemologist, but you should also take the opportunity to compare diamonds with easily seen flaws next to diamonds with flaws only seen under a microscope. Decide what you are comfortable with and stick with it. Typical clarity ranges for most diamonds range from “Small Inclusions” to “Very, Very Small Inclusions.” Ask to look at a range of these and decide what is clear enough for you. Tip: A “Small Inclusion” or “Very Small Inclusion” diamond may have inclusions, but usually requires a microscope to see them. These are often a great value. 4. Color The color of most diamonds ranges from colorless to light yellow on a scale from D to Z. Similar to clarity, color is a personal choice that you must feel comfortable with. A good range that has hints of color only to the trained eye is the G to K range. It probably makes the most sense to pick a diamond in this range. Tip: “H” and “I” colored diamonds look clear to everyone other than gemologists and offer great value. 5. CertificationMotley Fool Stock Advisor recommendations have an average return of 397%. For $79 (or just $1.52 per week), join more than 1 million members and don't miss their upcoming stock picks. 30 day money-back guarantee. Sign Up Now This is not one of the four C’s, but it is a crucial one. A Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certification guarantees the specs on the 4 C’s. It may add a few hundred dollars to the price, but will protect you from a scam. I highly recommend getting a diamond that has been certified. One of the worst experiences I had when diamond shopping was a dealer offering a diamond at a very high cost with specs that had not been certified. They claimed to have their own internal certification (an obvious conflict of interest). When I told them I was not interested, they dropped the price in half. This is an obvious sign that they were overvaluing the diamond initially and were now bringing the price closer to the diamond’s real value. If this happens, just walk away. Otherwise, you are asking to get scammed. Tip: A GIA certification raises the price, but keeps you from getting scammed by an in-house “expert.”