My Pink Diamonds

Believe it a not; there are jewelers who are unable to differentiate a diamond cut from a diamond shape. Everyone is so hyped up about the carat weight and has totally forgotten about the other 3 characteristics of a diamond. It won’t take you years or months to learn something about diamond. There are plenty of articles and information on the 4C of a diamond. Spend some useful time in the library or internet and learn about diamonds. Who knows, you may become an expert in diamonds. 1. Prioritize the 4 characteristics There are much more about diamonds than just the 4Cs. But at the end of the day, the 4Cs are still the major factors influencing the quality and price of a diamond. Before you start prioritizing the 4Cs, you got to know what your girl actually likes about a diamond. If she like big one, go for a diamond with big carat weight but with poorer quality in terms of color, cut or clarity. If she likes the brilliance of a diamond and doesn’t mind the size, choose one with excellent cut and clarity. Whichever the case is, prioritizing the 4Cs will give you a better idea of what diamonds will suit her taste as well as your budget. 2. Do a price research Based on your list, you should have a rough estimate of the market price of the diamond you are looking for. If the price is out of your budget, try going for a grade lower than your expectation and you may eventually find one that suits you well. 3. Do some background research on the jewelry stores If you have been doing researching, you would have come across information on cubic zirconium diamonds. These synthetic diamonds are D-color graded, flawless and cut to perfection. In short, a CZ diamond is a ‘perfect’ diamond. It is brilliant, flawless and yet cheap. Their prices do not increase exponentially with their quality unlike diamonds. And there are also some natural diamonds which have undergone treatments to reduce its blemishes thus enhanced its appearance. It is still a low grade diamond and dishonest dealers may try to pass it off as a good graded diamond and sell you at a higher price. So, before you start swiping your hard-earned money away, do some research about the jeweler as well. Ask your family, relatives or friend who have purchased from the dealer. Online forum is a good place to ask around and there are plenty of sites that provide reviews on jewelry store online. Give the jewelry store a call, talk to their staffs and decide for yourself if you are comfortable with the store. 4. Always ask for a money back guarantee There are risks in very form of transactions, so do buying diamonds. Protect yourself and minimize any risks by making sure that the store has the complete details about their return policy. It should include information about the validity period, what to do if you wish to return your purchase and their address. As a rule of thumb, online stores should offer you no less than 21 days return policy. In fact, most of them have a return policy of 30 days. 5. Choose jewelers who provide grading reports Certified diamonds will come along with a grading report by reputable gemology organizations such as GIA or AGS. Some online jewelry stores certified their diamond by in-house gemologists and they may be using different grading standards from GIA or AGS, while others may not provide the grading reports. Diamonds from top online jewelry stores generally comes accompanied with a grading report. After you have purchased your diamond, you should get it appraised again with the grading report by a trained gemologist. The grading report will be very helpful in ascertaining whether the diamond you have bought is up to the specifications shown on the report.

About the author: Mr. P Sharma is the owner of the Diamonds and Diamond Jewellery (http://djewels.org), a website that offers reviews on online jewelry stores selling diamonds and diamond jewelry.

Diamonds, known for their beauty and durability, were, until late, almost always seen in various jewelry facets alone- diamond earrings, diamond rings, diamond necklaces, diamond pendants. With the jewelry trend leaning towards personalized jewelry more and more people took resort in loose diamonds. In the present fashion era, loose diamonds hold a very high prized position in the market due to the convenience of molding them into any desired facet.Though it is easy to select loose diamonds, there are certain things that one should check for before deciding on what would be the final purchase. One thing that needs to be studied and decided is the kind of diamond that is to be searched. Will it be a round diamond or a princess diamond or an emerald diamond? What will be the color and clarity of the diamond? What will be its carat weight? And the like.While round diamonds is by far the most preferred choice the cushion diamonds and radiant diamonds are also speeding up in popularity. The shape of the diamond is absolutely a matter of personal tastes but the cut of a diamond must be such that it brings out maximum radiance and brilliance. Also the choice of the cut depends on one’s budget. As far as the clarity of a diamond is concerned, it need not always be a flawless diamond; a clarity grade in which the inclusions of a diamond are not clearly visible to the naked eye is good. But obviously, more the clarity more will be the price of the diamonds.The carat weight of the diamond is again a matter of choice. Depending on the budget one maintains and the size one wishes to have, the determination of the carat weight might differ.Once decided on all these points you are ready for your purchase. And with so many online diamond portals, the process of purchasing loose diamonds has been simplified further. All you need to check with after deciding the kind of diamond you wish to possess is to see that you buy certified loose diamonds. The certificate of a diamond marks its credibility. Also it helps in insuring the diamond.There are various independent gem laboratories that issue certificates for diamonds such as GIA, AGS, EGL and the like. GIA being the most recognized of all labs, GIA certified loose diamonds command maximum price. Following these are the AGS certified loose diamonds and the EGL certified loose diamonds. B2cjewels.com is an online shopping site which presents to you certified loose diamonds in all shapes and grades as per your requirement.

Certified Loose Diamondswww.b2cjewels.com

Many people who trade in diamonds do not realize that the manner in which you handle your diamonds and diamond jewelry can actually impact the jewelry business. But there is a very simple and basic reason why this is true.Diamonds whether studded in jewelry or handled loose, have a natural tendency to draw oil and greasy dirt towards it and every time the diamond is handled by bare hands, it tends to pick up some grease from the hand. As we all know, grease attracts dust particles from the air and eventually there is a layer of grease and dust that covers the surface of the diamond. And we all know that when that takes place the light that reflects from the diamond is affected negatively.The property of diamonds to attract grease has not always been seen as a negative property. In the earlier years, this property of diamonds was effectively used by diamond miners to separate diamonds from other minerals in the same ore. This was done by covering a belt in grease and wax and then allowing the crushed ore to run over the belt. As the crushed ore passed over the greasy belt, the uncut diamond rough would stick to the belt as the other minerals remained unaffected.However, these processes have changed over time and there are more sophisticated methods that are now used to separate diamonds. But one thing is for sure, this unique property of diamonds continues to be the bane for those who handle and trade diamonds daily.The scientific reason for why a diamond that is covered with a layer of grease and dust looses its sheen is due to the refractive index. The shine of the diamond is dependant on the light that enters the diamond and the manner in which it moves out of the diamond. When the light passes through a clean diamond the interface is between diamond and air. The refractive index of air is 1.0 but the refractive index of grease is 1.5.In more practical terms what this means is that the diamond’s critical angle increases and the amount of light that reflects from the pavilion reduces significantly. The light does not go through the crown but falls inside and then some of it escapes out of the pavilion. And since the entire light that enters does not move in a focused manner but diffuses in the diamond, the shine, brilliance and glint of the diamond is far lesser than it could be.Now, the customers who buy diamond jewelry do so because of its shine and luster and way it attracts attention too. Therefore, it is very important for one to keep the diamond jewelry shining.Make sure that the diamonds are not handled unnecessarily except when they need to be. Keep the area where the diamond jewelry are displayed completelty clean and tidy. When you are handling the diamonds make sure that you hold it with tweezers, or wear gloves or use any lint/dust free cloth. After your customers handle the diamonds make sure that you wipe them with a soft, clean cloth before you replace them in their safe haven. As your diamonds dazzle your customers, you will realize that the cash registers ring more often and keep you smiling.

Whether you’re looking to purchase wholesale diamonds for investment purposes, for business purposes, or just because you love the idea of owning diamonds on your own, there are some things to look for when it comes to a diamond wholesaler.  Before you run out and start plunking down your investment dollars or jewelry business start-up finances for any loose diamonds, keep in mind that you don’t want to send money to just any diamond wholesaler.  Like any other investment option or business vendor, you need to be choosy and use some discretion.

First, keep in mind that a diamond wholesaler will be offering a large inventory with different cuts, carats, and so on.  It’s up to you to educate yourself about what makes a diamond valuable and why there will no doubt be a wide variety of prices between diamonds of the same carat, and so on.  Your diamond wholesaler may offer some tips and education in this regard but it will be up to you to learn as much as possible about diamonds themselves.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society (AGS), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) are the three most widely known and respected diamond grading laboratories in the world.  Each of the grading laboratories have developed a very similar nomenclature for identifying the 4 C’s of diamonds.  The 4 C’s stand for Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut.

You could insist on a certificate from GIA or AGS for each and every diamond you purchase for a wholesaler but bear in mind that this certification process will increase the final price of the diamonds.  A certificate describes the quality of a diamond, but it does not place a monetary value on the gem.  An appraisal places a monetary value on your diamond, but does not certify the quality of the diamond.  After you have been purchasing diamonds for a while you should be able to learn how to certify and appraise the diamond on your own and not rely on any outside sources.

A diamond wholesaler should be a direct importer of diamonds rather than a reseller.  They may cut their own as well; this usually means that you get a better selection when it comes to quality and value, something that will be very good for a startup jewelry business.  When you start to deal with a reseller, the costs go up, so it’s best to look for a wholesaler of diamonds that imports their merchandise directly.

You need to be sure where the wholesaler gets his diamonds from.  There are many gems that have a poor history for how they have been cultivated; many civil wars in Africa and other areas are started and waged over diamond mines.  Diamonds known as conflict diamonds originate from the war zones of Africa. 

In May of 2000 The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was adopted.  It is a plan that could halt the trade of conflict diamonds by establishing a way that diamond origin could be certified.

On December 1, 2000 the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution defining the role of conflict diamonds with the intent of cutting off the sources of funding for rebel forces and to help shorten the wars and prevent their recurrence.

Among the countries most affected by the terror inflicted by traders in conflict diamonds are Liberia, Sierra Leone and also Angola.  Unscrupulous groups still manage to elude the legal barriers and still find ways of infiltrating the diamond centers of the world.  Insist on a certification before purchasing any diamonds.  It will tell you the stone’s carat weight, its color and clarity, flaws, and its origins.

If you do some research about any potential diamond wholesaler and check their paperwork carefully, you’re sure to make the right decision for your investment or business.

Nicole Kidman’s hit song “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” is enough to prove that females love Diamond Jewelry as much as they love their boy friends! Diamond Jewelry has always been the best gift which any lady would love to take as her anytime present and Diamond related products (like Diamond studs) does possess some magnetic power which is enough to leave the girls dreaming.

Diamond studs act like magnets when it comes to impressing girls and loose Diamond have been part of almost every mafia related movie of the 1970s. If you are planning to buy a mesmerizing gift for your girl friend (or your wife) then you should always opt for Diamond jewelry or at least a Mount Blanc Pen. Anklet, Diamond bracelet, Diamond ring, and Diamond stud are some more examples of diamond jewelry gifts which will leave your lady astonished. It will be better if you already have some experience in buying Diamond jewelry else we are sure that you might end up buying a design which she might not appreciate. It is suggested that you take your significant other with yourself while going for the shopping spree else there are huge number of chances that she won’t appreciate your gift. Girls have the knack of turning guys down for no reason!

You should be aware of the fact that girls wear diamond rings on their third finger as the vein which goes straight to her heart is found on the top of her third finger. This started as an Egyptian belief but these days science has given significant proofs related to this fact.

The word Diamond has gained so much publicity that many organizations have tried to use the name in order to attract people towards themselves. The circular shaped machine in the scientific facility “Diamond Light Source” is called as Diamond. A very popular flying industry is called by the name Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. A train named Black Diamond Express runs successfully in India. Many industries are famous just because they deal with loose Diamonds. They will sell loose diamonds to those who have expertise in converting them into attractive jewelry. These and many such examples prove the fact that the word Diamond is sometimes enough to bring fame to any organization.

Dreamers might also refer diamond to be the tiny stars that fall on earth to bring shine on a female’s body. People of ancient origin used to call Diamonds as the tears which would fall on earth when God cries. Concentrated form of His tears would take the shape of shining Diamonds after reaching earth. As per Hindu mythology the bones which are left after extremely courageous and pure sacrificial are Diamonds itself.

History says that Kings of various dynasties used to wear Diamond jewelry and many knights of the medieval history would wear Diamond jewelry as these would render them unbeatable. Diamond also became the source to drive away the evils and dig off guilt from various rogues.

Now let us unravel one more myth which you do believe in since you came to know about it. The story “Hope Diamond” which sank with the huge Titanic is completely false. The makers of Titanic showed this in their movie and “Hope Diamond” became the hot topic amongst people but serious research after the movie the release of movie proved that Eva Lyn Walsh McLean, the lady who wore Hope Diamond had actually cancelled her trip at the very last moment.

When you find an accurate diamond price you’ll fully appreciate the daunting task and intricate complexity of discovering the best priced stones. You have to visit one site after another and run individual searches to compare the results. Alternatively, to find the exact diamond price, you can also visit comparison sites to get diamond quotes.

Buying loose diamonds online

To discover the price tags of various products, you may have to resort to some generic shopping search engines. In the case of diamonds, search engines will become futile as you need additional details like cut, clarity, and color in order to make the comparison. To solve this problem, you have to shop comparison search engines, which are exclusively designed to sell diamonds, and compare prices on cut, clarity, color, weight, and shape.

By this process, you can buy cheap loose diamonds online. You can also match the diamonds with the displayed diamond quotes received from various online vendors. You can then quickly find out the diamond price for a specific quality if you post a search such as “price for 1.5 carat round diamond” with its proportions.

Usually in the online diamond world, you will find that diamond retailers get their lists of diamonds from diamond wholesalers from all over the world. Retailers get the loose diamonds from the wholesalers at their cost price and then mark them up with their own price tags. That’s why you observe differences in prices between various retailers, which can differ up to $10,000 for a big diamond.

Comparing diamond quotes and diamond prices online

Besides, online retailers put up different diamond price tags in their inventories. You will be astonished to see how much the prices posted at different sites vary for diamonds with the same characteristics such as color, cut, clarity, weight, shape, total depth, table width, and other measurements. When you make a purchase decision and finally buy the diamond, the wholesaler removes the diamond from the online inventory after being notified by your retailer. As a result, the diamond you purchase will not be available in the inventory of any other retailer.

By understanding the process involved in the price comparison of loose diamonds through exclusive search engines, you can save a lot of time and energy in finding the best price for your favorite diamond pieces. You will get to know the online availability of loose diamonds, which match your requirements instantly, from multiple vendors. You can sort out the diamond price results in a tabulated form to make the comparison easier. When you try the search engines, you will be amazed to see unbelievable price differences among various retailers for the same diamond.

While conducting the research for loose diamonds, you have to ensure that you have exercised all of the options of your search and have considered all critical aspects of your requirements in order to satisfy your needs. For buying loose diamonds, you have to enter the specifications of your requirements to narrow your search to the specific websites that cater to your needs.

Ignore the advertisements at the top of the pages of online stores, as they are mere distractions. After taking a look at the results, you can browse each page individually in separate windows, if you wish to get a clear picture on diamond price and quality.

Emma Parker & Co.’s Advance Diamond TutorialIntroductionWelcome to Emma Parker & Co.’s Advance Diamond Tutorial. Before we begin to dig into the deepest areas of the subject of diamonds, let me take a moment to set a little background that will help you as you journey through this document.Before you read any further…you should have read Emma Parker & Co.’s Diamond Tutorial. There is much foundation there that will give you a good base to start from. There will also be instances throughout this tutorial where references will be made to certain items or occurrences without explanation…a solid understanding of the basics of diamonds will be critical at that point. In this tutorial, we will seek to explore diamond cut from top to bottom, starting with a simple breakdown of cut…then moving into more in depth subjects such as facet breakdown, proportions, and measurements. We hope that you enjoy this tutorial, and that it will be useful to you in your diamond search. So now, without further delay, Emma Parker & Co. is proud to present our Advanced Diamond Tutorial.Diamond Cut…The BasicsOne of the biggest misconceptions of “diamond cut” held by the average consumer today is that the term “diamond cut” means “diamond shape”. The two are totally separate and distinct terms, and mean completely different things. “Diamond shape” is exactly that…it is the shape of the diamond…be it round, square, cushion, princess, or any of a number of shapes that are available in the marketplace. “Diamond cut”, however, refers to the angles, measurements, proportions, and facet structure of the diamond. The “diamond cut” directly impacts that visual beauty of the diamond, through its ability to reflect light, and therefore is considered by most gemologists to be the most important factor that should be considered when selecting a quality stone. It is important to understand that there is no base set measurements for “diamond cut” that apply to diamonds in general. Each diamond shape has a different set of proportions and measurements that, when put together in the correct way, create the pinnacle of optical beauty and performance for that particular shape. Thus, for consumers, it should be very easy to spot a “scam” or “generalized sales push” when a set of measurements or series of criteria is presented as being supreme to all diamonds. A perfect example of this is the gross misuse of the term “ideal” in the industry. Ever since the introduction of this term by gemological laboratories, it has been loosely applied to diamonds, with reckless abandon, in an effort to sway customers as to the quality of the diamond. Simple and deceptive tactics…which will be illustrated later on in this tutorial…combined with frequent and loose usage of terms such as “ideal” and “excellent”…have caused massive confusion for consumers seeking to purchase a quality product with their hard earned money.While there are many differing opinions on what constitutes the “best” cut stone, most of the valid opinions on the subject do have a significant amount of overlap, and therefore, by looking at the intersection point of these different theories, consumers can be sure that they will purchase a beautiful diamond.BEWARE THE TRAP! There is NO SUCH THING as the BEST diamond. Diamonds are like fingerprints, there are no two alike. Every single stone has a different personality and carries its own defining marks. This applies to the cut of the stone as well. Hence the search for the world’s best diamond is a purely subjective one, which will yield a different result for each person that attempts the search. It has been an observation of mine, that customers often paralyze themselves with fear, by dwelling on the thought that if they only wait for the next diamond…that one will be “the best”.  While the selection process is a difficult one, and should not be approached with a cavalier attitude, it is critical that you, as a consumer, not handicap yourself with the fear which comes from trying to find the “perfect diamond”. There are many beautiful diamonds in the world, and taking simple steps to find one of them will lead you to a very rewarding end to your quest. Written by Timothy Andre, Emma Parker & Co.     www.emmaparkerdiamonds.com

If you’re a jewellery lover and have always wanted to invest in some kind of precious stones or metals, now is the time to make a fortune out of your investment on some of the world’s favorite and exuberant stones- loose diamonds. They are available for purchase at many jewellery stores that could also be accessed online.Loose diamonds are an option for those who would want to invest in a particular kind of rare diamond whose cost will only be on the rise in future, owing to the value it holds. At the same time you could choose a variety of shapes, sizes or colors and keep a pouch of these expensive yet exclusive diamonds like an asset. It will always come of use to you when you would want to customize your own diamond jewellery. You could also get these diamonds studded into any thing that you think is as precious as these scintillating stones. The choice is totally yours as to how you would want to see these glittering stones.Celebrities and fashion freaks are some common people who indulge in buying loose diamonds. They don’t just use it to design their fashionably gorgeous jewellery but quench their thirst to be creative, trendy and different by using it on their clothes at times, where the costume that has the diamonds woven into it is considered as precious as the diamond, giving the wearer an equally appalling look. Have heard that loose diamonds come handy to fashion dainty looking shoes? Well, Cinderella is no more a fairy tale, you could look as gorgeous as her with those extravagantly designed footwear. Cell phone cases and bags are other accessories that you could sport off with, making use of your loose diamonds to add the touch of extravagant beauty to all that you could think of. These diamonds can actually be used in all the possible places that your creative minds can actually comprehend. The advantage of adding this luxurious touch of glittering luster to your lifestyle is the secret of investing in loose diamonds that can be customized to your preferences.How do you actually go about buying the right kind of loose diamonds, also ensuring that it is from a genuine diamond dealer? Lets look at this aspect in depth. Loose diamonds come in the following shapes: 1.Heart diamonds2.Pear diamonds3.Triangle diamonds4.Emerald diamonds5.Asscher diamonds6.Cushion diamonds7.Princess diamonds8.Round Diamonds9.Oval diamonds10.Marquise diamonds11.Radiant diamondsA genuine dealer or diamond manufacturer would show you this variety to make your choice from. The demand for loose diamonds has been consistently increasing over the years. According to the World Diamond Council about 114 million carats of loose diamonds on an average of $7 billion are sold every year. With this analysis it is a simple and clear fact that people are choosing to invest in diamonds. This rare stone that is mostly imported from Africa undergoes the process of cutting and polishing in most of the countries of the world. The knowledge and expertise that the diamond manufacturers keep upgrading is an advantage to all those buyers who are looking for nothing less than quality that glitters with unparalleled beauty. Talking of the way these loose diamonds are cut, we need to understand that this is indeed one of the most vital factors that make the diamond look gorgeously sparkling. Each cut made at the right angle is a crucial and most significant process towards making a diamond look exotically royal and elegant. While surfing on the net you could bump into www.diamondsonweb.com that could assist you with information and prices on the various shapes and sizes of loose diamonds you would want to invest in. Similarly online stores like these have gone way beyond a customer’s expectation of delivering quality and service that would not just satisfy a customer but give the customer’s imaginative thought a new trendy turn. Bring fortune at your doorstep as you make invest on a variety of loose diamonds to be able to bring the positive glitter into your life.

Loose Diamonds may seem like something that you only see in the movies, but more and more regular people are purchasing loose diamonds. Loose diamonds are often the most affordable way to get the perfect diamond ring. Many jewelers will attach loose diamonds to your jewelry for a nominal price. Loose diamonds are the most affordable way to up grade your current jewelry or to wear your own designs. Purchasing loose diamonds can now be done online and usually at the best prices. We have designed a guide for you to follow when purchasing a loose diamond.

Loose Diamonds Clarity

Loose diamond clarity begins with flawless for a diamond that does not have any “flaws” or inclusions. Most diamonds have some flaws, feathers and specks in them that are visible under 10 X magnifications or to the naked eye. The loose diamond clarity chart begins with flawless followed by VVS 1 (very, very slight flaws) and through the whole range of diamond clarities. These flaws considerably affect diamond prices. Relax, it only takes a few minutes to learn the lingo and compare diamond prices based on diamond clarity.

Carat Weight

The carat weight of loose diamonds is just that – how much the stone weighs. Not very exhilarating until you see the spectacular rise in price from a small quarter carat diamond to a one or two carat diamond. Loose diamonds allow couples to purchase the best diamond they can afford now and upgrade the center diamond in the future.

Loose Diamonds – Cut

Loose diamond cut refers tot the shape of your diamond. Round brilliant diamonds are the most popular diamond cut and are available in many price ranges and sizes. It pays to price round diamonds even if you plan to buy a fancy cut diamond. The “fancy cut” diamonds include oval diamonds, emerald cuts, pear shaped diamonds, heart diamonds, marquis cuts, etc. Each diamond cut has it’s own magic and romance… Which diamond cut should you choose? Let you heart by your guide.

Loose Diamonds – Color

Loose diamond color is based on matching a diamond against a set of diamond color stones called “master” stones. The colors of the master stones (usually quartz) start range from colorless (best quality) to slightly yellowish followed by diamonds that are clearly yellow and brown diamonds. The diamond color chart starts with “D” for a colorless diamond, followed by E,F,G (slight yellowish tint) and H, I and J that are clearly yellowish. There are also fancy yellow diamonds, green diamonds, etc.

We hope this guide has been helpful, for more information on loose diamonds please visit www.diamonds-usa.com

Retail Jewelry Stores
A common belief is that all jewelers are out to get you and that you’re going to pay too much for a diamond or engagement ring. This is true for all industries and businesses, not just the jewelry industry. There are good businesses and there are not so good businesses. There’s always a chance to pay more than you have to when buying a car, electronics, jewelry, or whatever. The key is to do your homework and find a jewelry store that you know is creditable; sometimes a referral from a friend is the best place to start. Now it’s true that most jewelry store prices will start off listing higher than many of the on-line businesses, but you have to consider all things. Who will size your ring when it needs to be done? How much will it cost when you have it done? How long will you be without your ring? There is a huge amount of convenience when buying local because many jewelers do all their work in-house. This means no waiting and sometimes you can actually have your ring sized or altered on the spot. Imagine proposing to your girlfriend and then telling her she has to wait 2-3 weeks before wearing it because it has to be shipped back to the on-line jeweler for sizing!
Other benefits are the warranties that come along with the purchase from a local jeweler. I had a customer come to our retail showroom not too long ago with a ring he bought from Bluenile. He brought his fiancé in to be fit for the ring and we sized the ring for $75.00. 2 weeks later she came back and said that she chose to have the ring sized too small and needed to be sized again. Another $75.00! Now they’re up to $150 in additional fees and they’ve only owned ring 2 weeks. Imagine the expenses you’ll accumulate over the lifetime of the ring! Another issue is the replacement of missing diamonds; today’s engagement ring styles are very complicated and can be set with intricate diamond combinations. These tiny diamond accents are prone to falling out. When you need to have a small diamond accent replaced you could pay $75.00 to $150.00 in repair costs. Do you see the repair costs adding up? Most local jewelers value your business; in effort to keep you happy they’ll take care of any costs associated with the upkeep of your ring. If you think I’m being one sided don’t worry, I have a lot of positive things to share with you about buying on-line also.
One of the other benefits of shopping locally is the ability to see and examine the diamonds before buying. A big misconception is that all diamonds are graded exactly the same way and that an SI2 on-line is the same as an SI2 in a store. Truth is that every diamond is uniquely different and some diamonds are better than others even if the grades are identical. There are good VS2’s and there are bad VS2’s how do you know which one you have? I’m assuming of course that you know what a VS2 is, if you don’t you can visit http://therealscooponbuyingdiamonds.blogspot.com and I’ll be happy to explain it further to you. You really need to see the diamond first hand and look at it under a microscope to be able to compare one to the next. You can have two diamonds graded exactly the same but one may be poorer a version of the same clarity grade because it was graded by two different people with different opinions. This of course greatly affects the value of the diamond and you’re not aware of it unless you see them first hand. Shopping locally empowers you by allowing you to compare one diamond to next in real life situations.
Now if you say “That’s all well and good but I still want the best deal I can get” and the bottom line price is still you’re biggest concern then simply be honest with the people you’re shopping with. Truth be known, most jewelers are flexible in their pricing. You just have to communicate your needs with them properly so they know where you stand. They don’t read minds and if you want the best deal you can get for a diamond then say that to them. You can’t get what you don’t ask for and nobody is going to volunteer this unless you ask for it. If you tell the local jeweler that you have been shopping on-line and you want them to match the price, they’ll probably do it. The best strategy is to bring the Internet listing from the website that you are shopping with and give it to the jeweler. Ask them to show you a diamond of the same size, clarity and color, this way you are comparing apples to apples. In some cases they’ll match the price and you’ll get the best of all worlds including warranties, service, price and convenience.
There are no magical formulas or pixie dust that allows one on-line jeweler or retail jeweler the ability to buy a diamond for less than their competitors. Retailers and on-line jewelers pay the same amount for a diamonds and the going rate is the going rate. So your local jeweler has the ability to sell the diamond at the same price as the Internet jeweler, you just have to give him reason to. The best advice I can give you is “Don’t make them jump through hoops”; if they’re going to give you a great deal don’t make them work hard for it. Otherwise they may lose interest in the sale and say “No Thanks!”. Be honest and fair with them and you may be surprised at how helpful they can be.
Internet Jewelers
Ok I know you have been waiting for this, so here it is… Yes you can buy a diamond for less on the Internet! You’ll also save the sales tax. But you need to know that not all Internet jewelers are created equal and you really need to become familiar with whom you are dealing with. Lets start with some important issues. First, you should know that most Internet jewelers don’t own their own diamond inventories. What they do is create computerized lists from diamond wholesalers and suppliers from around the country and place these lists on their websites. Now the problem with this is that these Internet jewelers have never seen the diamonds that they sell so they don’t know what they are giving you. If you see a diamond listed on their site and ask them to describe it to you they have to call the supplier who owns the diamond and have them describe it to them first so they can describe it to you. That’s fine as long as you are aware of the process.
Now, there are Internet jewelers who do own their inventories and actually hand select the diamonds that go on their website. The benefit is that these Internet jewelers have the ability to weed out problem stones because they get to see the diamonds before they buy them for resale. Allow me to give you an example of a problem diamond, take an SI1 diamond for instance. By definition, an SI1 diamond should not have imperfections that can be seen to the naked eye. However, I’ve seen GIA certified SI1 diamonds with imperfections that were plain as day when viewing the diamond to the naked eye. How does the Internet jeweler that’s selling computerized lists of diamonds know what kind of SI1 he/she is selling? They don’t! That’s why its important to choose an Internet jeweler who owns their inventory and hand picks each diamond personally. The benefit is that you can call them and ask them to describe the diamond to you to be sure that it’s not a problem diamond. When wholesalers have problem diamonds that retail jewelers and Internet jewelers (that own their inventories) won’t buy, they list them on Internet websites because there’s nobody to verify the problem.
In the end you suffer because you unknowingly buy the problem diamond. What’s the solution? Work with an Internet jeweler that can hold the diamond in their hand and inspect it for you. Or work with a smaller yet trustworthy Internet jeweler who has a pulse on all the suppliers that they work with so they can verify the validity of the diamond grade. The larger Internet jewelers like Bluenile undoubtedly have a harder time weeding out the problem diamonds because they sell so many diamonds from these published virtual lists. You’re diamond purchase is just another number to them while the smaller Internet jewelers can spend more time with you on the phone answering your questions and sorting through their diamonds. Another benefit to shopping online is the lack of pushy salespeople to deal with. As with many retail environments you’ll occasionally run in to the hard-core salesperson at local jewelry stores. If you’re the type of person who likes to move at his/her own pace and doesn’t like to be pressured then the Internet jeweler is a great option. If you find an informative site you’ll have the time to gather information about diamonds at your own pace without the pressure of having to make a quick decision. You’ll also cover a lot of ground very quickly because you can compare thousands of diamond prices with the click of a mouse. Shopping locally can be a long laborious process while spending hours at each location before going on to the next store.
If you choose to buy your diamond online require several things from your Internet jeweler. First is a no-frills return policy, the standard for an established and creditable Internet jeweler is 30 days. Next is gemological certification, this is important because you want to be assured that the diamond is graded as fairly as possible. I would only choose the Internet jewelers that display the BBB-Online Seal. The Better Business Bureau is a great consumer advocacy group and won’t allow any website to display the seal unless their identity has been verified. They’ll also remove the seal if the Internet site is abusing the use of the seal or is using unfair business practices. In the end you’ll have to decide what’s more important, price or guarantees. Some people would never buy a diamond from an Internet jeweler and some hate shopping locally. There are no secrets or shortcuts but you have to take the time to understand that there are pros and cons to both options. Nobody can say what’s best for you and your fiancé but you.
Good Luck Shopping and feel free to contact me for any information about diamonds or diamond engagement rings!
Andy Moquin
President – Andrews Jewelers Inc.
CEO – Rokstok.com
http://www.andrewsjewelers.com