How To Buy a Diamond

Whether you want a beautiful piece of jewelry that you can pass down to your children or a gorgeous ring that will tell your beloved how you feel, a diamond is an excellent choice. The value of a diamond depends on the 4 C’s, including cut, clarity, color, and carat, and understanding these factors allows you to avoid getting scammed. Remember to shop wisely and don’t rush into a final decision.

Cut refers to how the diamond is faceted. This does not refer to the shape of the diamond, but instead how well it is cut to create the diamond’s brilliance. The top grade of cut for a diamond is called Ideal, and in this cut, a diamond’s facets are situated to create the most spectacular brilliance inside. On the other hand, clarity refers to how clear the diamond is, and whether it has any flaws inside it. The more clear a diamond is, the more expensive it is, though it must be said that some people find that interesting inclusions give the stone more interest.

The diamond’s color refers to how true the diamond’s hue is. The most expensive diamonds are clear; these are the diamonds that reflect light the most easily, creating the desired sparkling effect. Diamonds that are not clear absorb more light, leading to less sparkle. Finally, the carat weight of a diamond determines how heavy it is. The heavier the diamond, the more pricey it tends to be.

Be aware that there are some diamond enhancements available that allow dealers enhance the good qualities of their diamonds while hiding the bad. For example, to remove inclusions, the diamond may be drilled with a very tiny laser, or fractures may be filled with a glassy compound. Similarly, some diamonds are colored to give them a truer or deeper hue. While there is nothing wrong with these treatments, it is important for the dealer to be honest about them. In the case of the diamond coloration treatments, the effect is not always permanent. Ask the dealer if the diamonds have been treated in any way

When choosing a diamond, remember that you need to balance these four factors. A diamond may be very heavy, and thus more pricey, but it can also be fairly poor in quality in every other respect. Take the time to evaluate each diamond based on these qualities. One short cut in avoiding diamond scams is to ask for a certification. Diamond certifications come from third-party inspection services, and they tell you about the grade of the diamond in question.

To avoid treated diamonds or even imitation diamonds, do business only with jewelers that are honest about their wares. Research the dealers online before going in, and when in doubt, always call in a third party assessor to grade the diamond for you. While this is significantly more complicated than simply buying a diamond out of the case, in the end, it ensures that you absolutely get what you paid for. There is a great deal of sleight of hand and trickery in the diamond trade, so do your investigation carefully.

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