How To Buy Diamonds: What to Look for When You’re Buying for the First Time
by Anne Reyes,
Any diamond purchase is unique, but nothing can ever replace the experience of buying your very first one. It is one of the most significant moments in your life. This rollercoaster-like experience involves a spur of emotions in the buying process, especially with the hundreds of options and possibilities you can choose from.
Buying a diamond for the first time is not like your usual mall shopping. It will take some pointers and research to ensure you get a great one that you (or your recipient) won’t regret purchasing. This guide will give you some basic guidelines and tips for purchasing diamond jewelry the first time around.
1. Setting A Budget
When most people think of buying a diamond, it is often believed that the buyer should go all out, and the usual budgeting does not apply. But this should not be the case. Setting a budget is your first and foremost consideration, and it is essential to settle on a fixed number. When you have that, you are pretty much halfway done.
If your budget is not as big as you would like it to be, do not sweat about it so much. It is perfectly fine to start with a lower carat first. You can always do an upgrade a couple of years down the line.
2. Know the 4Cs in Jewelry
Those dabbling into the glimmering world of fine jewelry must be acquainted with the all-important 4 Cs — color, cut, clarity, and carat. These are four crucial pointers that you need to consider when purchasing your diamonds.
When buying diamonds, you have a choice to pick from a variety of color grades that suit your allotted budget. A stone with purer white color (Grades D-F) is better in an ideal setting, except when you are choosing colored ones. With larger stones, however, then the cut is more important to consider.
Often, the differences between color are very subtle, and you don’t need to be picky when it comes to color for earrings and pendants (you can choose Grades G- J)
When it comes to diamond cut, its depth, width, and facets are its primary considerations. The cut determines the brilliance of light that shines through and is reflected off of the diamond. You can also do better by asking some of these questions:
- Don’t rely on just a certification; try and examine the stone.
- Can you see a prism of colors when the light passes through it?
- How complex is the cut?
If you have a friend or relative with some experience in buying diamonds, we recommend asking them to go with you when shopping for a jewelry piece. With their advice and that of the jewelers, you can get all your questions answered. It’s recommended not to purchase until you have all the details you need to make a decision.
Clarity refers to the imperfections or faults that occur internally (inclusions) or externally (blemishes) in or on the diamond. Most of these inclusions are visible under a microscope and not to the naked eye.
There are certain grade assignations to diamonds based on how flawless the stone is. Typically, VS1 and VS2 are acceptable grades. Be aware that an entirely perfect diamond is extremely rare to find. They also get slight bruises when mounted onto a ring or set in a design.
Carat is a diamond’s weight measurement which also determines its price. Because larger diamonds are more significantly rarer than smaller diamonds, the former’s price per carat is higher.
While it is true that diamonds are often the centerpiece of all jewelry (especially for rings), other aspects of the accessory should still be taken into consideration to ensure it fits your preferences, lifestyle, habits, and personal style.
Once you have got those C’s to a tee, you should start thinking about the make and setting. Some pieces of jewelry are made simple, and some are a little more intricate in design.
You must all research the metals and gemstones that you can ideally take care of. Some materials and compositions are much easier to clean and maintain. You can always take them to a jeweler for a more thorough inspection and repair, but learning the basics of jewelry care will be beneficial in the long run.
Certification and Purchasing
Once you’ve done your research and have made up your mind on what to purchase, be sure that you are buying a certified diamond. Jewelers who fail to or refuse to show you a certificate of authenticity are people you do not want to be doing this pricey transaction with. Do not hesitate to ask for it.
And then, go and buy it! You have reached the home stretch and got yourself the best gift of a lifetime — your very first diamond. Show it off at your next get-together and do everything you can to keep it at its excellent luster for years to come!
One of the Best Places to Purchase Your First Diamonds
If you are looking to find a beautiful, timeless, and affordable luxury for your first diamond purchase, you have come to the right place. We are Heaven-Roc, a New York-based jewelry label and proud craftsmen of unparalleled handpicked and handcrafted luxury jewelry. Boasting several pieces of varying make and design, we guarantee to delight you with their undeniable glamour and charm no matter your style and preference.
Our Dolce Vita and Riviera collections are stunning wearable works of art that will have you spending considerable time deciding what you want to get first. Each purchase is gift-ready; every ring you buy is exquisitely packaged in a keepsake mandarin box with a pretty satin bow.
Should you have questions pre or post-purchase, we have a dedicated team of jewelry experts online who can readily answer any concerns. Contact us here.
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