Introduction to Diamond Grading

Buying a diamond is not a simple process and the more that you can educate yourself about the process the better you will understand what you are buying and that you will make an informed correct decision. Diamonds are a very expensive product and choosing the right diamond for your requirements can save you from either regretting your decision or spending too much money. Unfortunately as you learn about diamonds you will find that there are many conflicting opinions about how a diamond is graded and what is the best choice. Finding a diamond merchant who you feel comfortable with and will understand you requirements will help you find your way through the diamond selection process.

Education on the 4 C’s

Diamonds are graded using the 4 C’s which once understood does make diamonds much easier to compare and decipher than other precious gems. If a diamond is certified then the grading given to a diamond is basically equivalent to other diamonds from the same certification laboratory. The greatest advantage to this is that a diamond can be purchased sight unseen just by understanding what is on the diamond certificate and know that any diamond will come through relatively the same as any other. The certification is the key and without it you have nothing, there is no way you can judge the quality of the stone or the value. Certification will also come with a laser inscription of the certificate number in the girdle of the diamond to provide all the security need to be sure that you have received the correct diamond.

Education and Expert Advice

There are some things that certification will not show and this is where some expert advice will often be helpful when it come to a final decision. Shopping around is probably the greatest safety net to determine what is the correct price for a diamond. There are several price levels when it come to buying a diamond from direct wholesale merchants to full retailers and many in between and each comes with it advantages and disadvantages. When purchasing from a direct diamond importer there is a small element of risk but you will receive the best price possible and often get a much better quality diamond. This is where finding an expert that you feel you can trust will help you with your purchase and you can use their knowledge wisely. This way you get to choose your exact diamond at the price you want to spend from a very large selection of diamonds. If you choose to buy from a retail shop then expect to get a very different purchasing experience. The advantage is that you can see what you are purchasing and you can take the diamond straight away but it will come at a higher price and your selection is reduced to what is in store. Stores will often carry a certain quality level of diamonds and will always push that their diamonds are the superior choice over the neighbouring stores giving you an often confusing and biased opinion of the quality. If you approach a store with certain requirement for a diamond and they do not have one close to your request they will have to order the diamond in anyway. At the end of the day you need to feel confident with what you buy and who you buy it from and remember if it is too cheap then there is probably a reason because you get what you pay for.