What Do You Need to Know Before Buying Diamond Jewelry?
Diamond jewelry has long been treasured as an object of desire and wealth. But, before you purchase your diamond jewelry, it’s important to understand how to tell the difference between real and fake diamond rings.
This can be confusing, so we’ll show you what you need to know before buying diamond jewelry so that you don’t end up with a stone that isn’t worth as much as you thought it was!
What Are the Different Types of Diamonds
Although we tend to think of diamonds as a single product, in fact they come in several different shapes, colors and sizes. When you buy diamond jewelry, it’s important that you know exactly what you’re buying; diamond pricing is based on quality, so it’s possible for one store or website to charge vastly different prices for exactly the same thing.
Here are some of your options when looking at diamonds The 4 C’s: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight are all factors which go into how much a diamond costs. These factors are standardized by industry bodies such as GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) but, really, you should familiarize yourself with these 4C’s before even thinking about shopping around.
While price isn’t everything (you do want value!), don’t make the mistake of thinking that cheap automatically means low-quality; there’s more to diamond pricing than just finding something cheap! Educate yourself about diamonds – then be sure to shop around.
Why Buy from A Real Jeweler
Many people sell diamonds on Craigslist or in pawn shops. This is a great way to get rid of a diamond, but you’re likely not going to get a whole lot of money for it because you could have received much more if you had sold it through a real jeweler.
A real jeweler will also be able to offer you protection against scams, insurance policies and expert recommendations on cut, clarity and carat weight. If you’re interested in buying diamond jewelry, make sure that your seller is an official jeweler. Without an official certificate, there’s no way of knowing if your diamonds are really as expensive as they seem.
Where Can I Get the Best Value for My Money
There are other things you should consider before buying diamond jewelry. Diamond quality and craftsmanship aside, there’s a lot more that goes into a piece of diamond jewelry than most people realize.
What kind of metal is it made out of? Is it plated with rhodium or another precious metal? Will it tarnish over time or chip, dent, or scratch easily? Are all diamonds created equal, and what kind of imperfections are acceptable in a diamond jeweler’s eyes (if any)? To answer these questions and more—and to help you identify diamonds that have been treated with chemicals—you’ll want to see an independent lab certification when you buy. Keep reading for more details on what all you need to know before buying diamond jewelry.
What Kind of Warranty Should I Expect
While some diamond jewelry is covered by a lifetime warranty, most are not. Knowing what kind of warranty you should expect when buying your diamond jewelry will keep you from getting scammed or thinking you’re getting a great deal when actually you’re not.
There are four main types of warranties to look for: manufacturer warranties, store-based warranties, third-party warranties and insurance policies. We recommend checking each one before making your purchase. That way, if something does go wrong with your ring down the road, you can rest assured that it’s covered by a reputable source and that you’ll get a fair resolution—even if that means getting a new piece or refunding your money.
If any gemstone jewelry is damaged within three months after purchase and you don’t have an official document showing that it wasn’t your fault, return it to the store where you bought it; they’ll likely replace it at no cost (or charge only 10 percent of cost).
If damage isn’t obvious, they may ask a jeweler to assess repair costs. More substantial issues generally require an appraisal at full value; all must be done through retailers or insurers, who almost always require that repairs are made by jewelers they’ve approved.
How Can I Find Reputable Dealers and Suppliers in My Area?
There are plenty of reputable, third-party resources that can help you identify reputable jewelers. But before you go that route, it’s important to ask around—the Internet makes it easy for jewelers to put on a polished, professional facade from anywhere in the world.
If you live in a rural area or are otherwise cut off from information about suppliers and dealers in your region, reach out to organizations like Chambers of Commerce, industry trade groups and local businesses. They may know who they’d recommend or who they trust when it comes time for them (or their customers) to make an investment in diamond jewelry.
And if all else fails, Google is always your friend. A quick search will turn up thousands of trusted sources offering advice, reviews and interviews with leading experts in each field. In any case, do your research! Getting recommendations from knowledgeable people goes a long way toward ensuring you get what you want at a fair price. (And if there’s no one nearby that can help—don’t worry! You’ll find links below for great online resources.)
Is There Anything Else I Should Consider Before Buying?
What exactly are you looking for in a diamond? If it’s price, that’s easy: stick with diamonds of a lower grade. If it’s cut, color or clarity, we can help—but do your homework. Don’t just assume all D-color diamonds are created equal; some of them look pretty dull.
And CZ is technically diamond (it stands for cubic zirconia) but there really isn’t any comparison between real and fake stones. Choose carefully! In addition to making sure you know what you want from a stone, think about what will work best for you long term. For example, a platinum setting won’t work so well if it ends up getting knocked around while at work, while a white gold setting might scratch more easily than one made from yellow gold (see Why White Gold Is Better Than Yellow Gold).
Your jewelry isn’t like other possessions–you’re going to wear it every day–so take care of yourself as well as your things. There’s nothing worse than having a favorite ring ruined by an unfortunate accident because nobody told you what type of care would be necessary after years spent in bad conditions and harsh environments.
