Buying Diamond - What You Should Be Aware Of

It is not easy and in fact scary to be doing anything for the first time.  Buying a diamond engagement ring is the same. But with just a little bit of care and awareness, it is not difficult to be able to buy with confidence.

First and foremost you need to know what the 4 C's mean. They mean: Color, Cut, Clarity and Cost. You should also understand the way diamond color and clarity is graded. Many jewelry stores will use their own grading systems, which have nothing to do with the universally accepted grading system used by GIA and AGS. These stores will attempt to dazzle you by showing you a diamond and saying it is an "AAA+" grade diamond, which means absolutely nothing, because they have made the grading system up. I would suggest dealing only with jewelry stores that use the GIA and AGS grading system, which is accepted literally worldwide.

Another thing you'll want to watch for is how the diamond is shown to you. Jewelry stores will display and show their diamonds in the brightest possible light to make the diamonds sparkle as much as possible. If at all possible, ask if you can see the diamond in a more subdued light, preferable natural daylight.

Some jewelry stores will show their loose diamonds on a black or other dark background. This is frequently done to disguise an off color diamond, and make it appear to be a better color than it actually is. Always request to see a loose diamond against a white background such as a piece of white paper. The color in an off color diamond can usually be seen this way.

You will also want to be aware of how diamond weights are listed on the price ticket. Almost always, you will see something like: "1.25Ct TW". This means the total weight off all the diamonds in the ring equals 1 1/4 Carats. However, some people looking at the ring tag may think it means the center diamond is 1 1/4 Carats, which is not the case. This practice is not usually done to deceive. The price tickets for rings are very small, and there is only room enough for basic information. Don't hesitate to ask the jeweler to clarify anything you don't understand.

While the things I've mentioned above are not illegal, and probably not even unethical, I'm certain you have heard stories about jewelers switching diamonds while sizing rings or making jewelry repairs. Let me begin by saying "yes" there are unethical and dishonest jewelers just as there are unethical and dishonest doctors and unethical and dishonest lawyers and others.
There are times when diamonds have been switched, and sometimes it doesn't happen accidentally, although it can. However, a jeweler lives on his reputation for honesty and integrity. No jeweler can risk even the slightest hint of a question about that honesty and integrity, if he wants to stay in business. His entire business is built on trust, so it would be quite foolish for him to take such a stupid chance as switching diamonds. I suspect that for every 1,000 stories you hear about a diamond being switched, probably only 1 of them may have actually happened, if that many. In other words, while it's possible it is also highly unlikely.

All these points are to show you how important it is to arm your self with some knowledge and caution before you go out shopping for engagement rings. Find a jewelry store and a jeweler with whom you can feel comfortable and confident. Use the knowledge that you have to get the best deal.