Friday, May 30, 2008

Regardless of your quest, whether you are searching for an affordable engagement ring, an anniversary band ring, or just generally looking to buy diamond jewelry and you need to further your knowledge about diamond cuts, diamond shape, or if you are trying to figure out which are the the most current wedding band styles, the advice we are here to offer you should help educate you and ease your search. It doesn't matter if you are seeking to buy 14k toe rings or a 4 carat diamond - you are bound to find something here that will help you in your search.

PLEASE NOTE: The following is an opinion and should be viewed as such. I must also clarify that NOT all the folks in the diamond industry are crooks and scam artists - in fact - most are honest, trustworthy people. The purpose of this blog is to warn consumers that although it's a small percentage of jewelers, there are some scam artists out there. The information below is meant to help you avoid such situations.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Avoid The Diamond Buying Ride

When setting out to purchase a diamond or diamond jewelry, first and foremost, do your research. You wouldn’t purchase a house or a car without doing just that. When they say diamonds are forever, they mean that they are a lifetime purchase and investment. Take your purchase decision seriously and do not ever rush through the decision making process.

Most importantly, and some of you may not like to hear this, you must be certain that you are able to afford a diamond before you set out to search for one. You must avoid a situation whereby you purchase a diamond only because it is inexpensive. If it’s a cheap diamond you are looking to buy, settle for a different precious stone.

Having been in this business from the wholesale side for many years, I find that in most cases consumers are not being cheated or sold glass instead of diamonds. What I see happening is the uneducated consumer sometimes paying too much for a diamond or buying a diamond that they believe is of higher quality than it really is.

Below I have listed specific items to consider before venturing out to purchase your diamond. Also, I've included the usual guidelines provided to the diamond consumer. The information provided is geared toward helping you consider the important questions to ask your salesperson.

Good luck and enjoy shopping!
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  • Figure out if you feel most comfortable buying a diamond from a huge chain, such as Diamonds Inernational, a smaller chain such as Robbin's Bros, your local mom & pop jewelry store, or buying diamonds direct from a wholesaler with a retail business.
  • Do your homework! Don’t assume that driving down to your local jewelry store is all that is required. You must shop around and compare. Take notes as you inspect different diamonds. Taking the right initial steps will ultimately aid you in making a wise investment.
  • Like I mentioned earlier, make sure you can actually afford to purchase a decent diamond before setting out to search for one.
  • Have a specific dollar range in mind so you will not be tempted to spend more than you can afford.
  • Make a decision as to the carat size you are seeking. It is important to determine in advance if you are willing to give up size for quality or vice versa.
  • If you’re shopping for someone else and they will not be accompanying you, try to find out the shape she prefers. The quality, color, cut, and clarity can be based on how much you can afford to spend, and can be decided by you but the shape of the diamond is a personal decision that should be made by the person for whom it is purchased.
  • Try to buy loose diamonds rather than diamonds that have already been set in a ring. It is easier to determine the stone’s quality before it has been set. Also, I prefer to have my rings set while I watch. Try to find a place that will do it right away and in front of you, but that will be difficult. I have three friends who received their jewelery back after having it repaired or cleaned only to find that their stone was replaced by a similar cheaper stone or a cubic zirconia!
  • When inspecting a stone, ask if you could borrow a loupe which is simply a magnifying lens. It will help you better detect small flaws that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
  • When examining the diamond’s color, do so against a white paper and if at all possible, get away from artificial lighting. Also, a fun thing to try is laying the stone on a newspaper – if you can read the newspaper, then oh-oh, there’s a good chance the stone is a fake. The many facets of a diamond should distort your vision of the text.
  • When examining the diamond’s color, do so against a white paper and if at all possible, get away from artificial lighting. Also, lay the stone over newspaper – if you can read the newspaper, there’s a good chance the stone is a fake. The many facets of a diamond should distort your vision of the text.
  • Always find out if the diamond has a certificate, and if it does not, whether the salesperson will be willing to attain it. The certificate will likely be from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). They are commonly used by jewelers.
  • Don’t try to appear knowledgeable about matters in which you have very little experience. Be honest about what you would like to purchase and how much you can afford. Ask many questions and have the salesperson show you several different stones of different color, cut, and clarity so you can become better acquainted with how diamond differ.
  • Always find out if the diamond has a certificate, and if it does not, whether the salesperson will be willing to attain it. The certificate will likely be from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). They are the largest in the world.
  • If you don’t feel right about the purchase for any reason, walk away. However, if you like the diamond but need to have more assurance, get it appraised by a professional appraiser. Make sure the store will take back the diamond for any reason as long as you return it within the alloted timeframe. It is wise not to use an appraiser who is from the same shop or affiliated with it. Appraisers are available in every city; you can even find them on the Internet!