Learn to Buy a Diamond

HOW TO BUY A DIAMOND?

Buying your dream diamond can be quite complicated considering the various factors which go into determining the quality of a diamond. But if you are aware and know the right things you can get the best diamond at a fair price. The best way would be to put down in steps the strategies that guide you through the diamond buying process.

• Learn as much as you can about diamonds through websites and other sources. You can also browse through our diamond education link on this website. The forums listed on our website such as diamonds will enable you to learn by interacting with other people with similar queries.
• Decide which properties of Diamond are most important to you. Write down, in order of importance, which of the 5C's are your priority: Cost, Carat, Color, Clarity or Cut. When we show people two stones with similar properties, one a bit smaller with a better cut and the other a bit bigger, but not as good a cut, they will usually prefer the better cut. Jewelers may also help you to make out the differences affecting your choice.
• Finding out the market price for your diamond is the next step. You can compare prices of diamonds but one has to remember that only similar diamonds can be compared with each other. This is because even a slight change in grading and weight can increase or decrease the price. There are also price differences which come as a result of certified and non-certified diamonds.
• Asking for a certificate is the next step. The Gemological Institute of America or better known as GIA is the most well recognized body in this field. But confusions have to be avoided when it comes down to appraisals and certificates, which are both provided by the GIA Gemologist. The EGL or the European Gemological Laboratory is one of the most recognized non-GIA laboratories. But you must beware of fake certification or no-name certification, or no brand name certification. This might result in you getting much less than what you had expected. Each lab has its own independent procedures for certification, and grading. But if you have more doubts to clarify you can do so on the diamond chat forum.
• Look for matching Color and Clarities based on your preferences. In other words, don't buy a High Color/Low Clarity or High Clarity/Low Color Diamond. Some questions pop up immediately. Why pay a premium for an Ideal Cut Diamond, and then accept a lower color and clarity? You pay a serious premium for getting say an E Color Diamond. What's the purpose of paying that premium and then buying an SI2 Diamond? Why not revert to a lower color shade and increase one or two clarities? This practice of asking questions enables you to make better choices.

 

Care Of Diamond

CLEANING AND PROTECTING YOUR DIAMOND

To make sure that the luster and sparkle in your diamond is retained over the years it has to be cleaned periodically. The cleaning process can be illustrated by the following methods:

• Professional Cleaning
  Having a professional opinion is the best option. The inputs might help you to know the condition of your diamond or diamond jewelry.
• Handle your Diamond sparingly
  Diamonds are natural magnets for grease; they're not easy to keep clean. Handling a diamond with your fingers provides enough oils from your skin (the type of "grease" that mostly affects diamonds) to alter the way your diamond looks. So less use means your diamond remains clean and sparkling.
• Mild liquid detergent
  Soak your jewelry in a small bowl of warm, soapy water made with any mild liquid detergent. Gently brush the diamond jewelry with a soft toothbrush while it is in the suds. Then, rinse each piece under warm running water. Pat it dry with a soft, lint-free cloth. Make sure to always stopper your sink.
• Household Ammonia
  To keep your diamond jewelry always looking beautiful soak the diamond in an ammonia-based household cleaner (such as window cleaner) overnight, once or twice weekly. In the morning, remove the diamond from the cleaner and brush it with a soft, clean toothbrush (one that has not previously been used in any way, and that you reserve exclusively for cleaning your diamond) to remove any leftover dirt. Take extra care to brush the back of the diamond as this will be the area that has collected the most oil and dirt. Swish in the solution a second time, rinse and drain on tissue paper.
• Jewelry Cleaner
  Use any reputed brand name jewelry cleaner and use it according to the instructions given on the label.
• Avoid harmful solutions
  Chlorine (as in household bleach) or abrasives (such as household cleansers or toothpaste) should never be used when cleaning diamonds, especially those which are set in jewelry. These erode some of the metals often used in diamond settings, and may loosen prongs, or even dissolve the metal completely.
• Ultrasonic Cleaner
  By sending high frequency sound waves through a detergent solution, ultrasonic cleaners cause vibrating fluid to remove accumulated dirt and grime. However, they can also shake loose stones from their mounting, so this method shouldn't be used on fragile settings (or estate jewelry), and is best undertaken by a professional jeweler.