Diamond Buying Tips
&
Hepful Shopping Advice

Here are the main diamond buying tips included in our pages: 4 C's of diamonds, diamond grading, diamond certification, and diamond appraisal. With these tips, you can find a quality diamond engagement ring and wedding band for the right price!

• A beautifully cut diamond has brilliance and fire, and reflects a large amount of light back out of the diamond through the top facet (also known as the table). The most desirable cut has symmetry, an excellent polish and finish, a small to nonexistent bottom facet (also known as a culet), and a girdle that is between thin to slightly thick in size.
• The most desirable colorless diamonds have no tints of color; however, diamonds with lower grades of color are colorless to the untrained eye. The color of a lightly tinted low grade diamond may also be less noticeable if a diamond is set in a colored metal which matches its tint; for example, a slightly yellow tinted diamond will show less color in a gold ring, and a slightly gray tinted diamond will show less color in a silver colored metal ring.
• Diamonds that have a flawless clarity rating are quite rare and command higher prices. However, flaws such as blemishes and inclusions are not always a bad thing; these flaws can also serve as an identification fingerprint for a diamond, and they are proof that the diamond is not man made. It is possible to buy lower grade diamonds which contain blemishes and inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye.
• The carat of a diamond has a lot to do with the diamond's price, but the other 3 C's are just as important as well. Larger cut diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds, but larger cut diamonds often have less brilliance and fire than smaller diamonds.

Certificate, Grading, and Appraisal Diamond Buying Tips:

• A diamond certificate shows detailed information about your diamond's 4 C grades and identifying characteristics. This certificate is your only proof that the diamond is actually real, and it serves as a basis for your diamond's appraisal. Without a certificate, the resale value of a diamond is extremely low, and you have no guarantee that you are buying a quality diamond.
• The diamond appraisal is also a guarantee that you can use to compare prices of other similarly certified diamonds. Without an appraisal it is impossible to obtain insurance for a diamond, and it can be difficult to sell or replace the diamond in the future.

Points to Remember About Diamond Certification and Diamond Appraisal:

• The diamond certificate should always be separate from the appraisal. No appraisal value should be present on the diamond certificate.
• The two most dependable independent companies which grade diamonds and issue diamond certificates are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS). The International Gemological Institute (IGI) is the top international diamond laboratory.
• The diamond appraisal should also be conducted by an independent third party which is not associated with the seller. The appraisal needs to be performed by a certified gemological appraiser

Additional Diamond Buying Tips:

• Comparison shopping is the best way to ensure that you are paying the right price for a diamond.
• Reputable diamond retailers will always sell their certified diamonds and diamond rings with a refund policy.
• While large diamonds are beautiful, they can overwhelm smaller more delicate hands. Always take into consideration the size of the person's hand and fingers when buying a diamond. The perfect diamond will compliment the hand and should never look bulky or over sized (bling lovers - disregard this policy!).

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