Diamond Buying Guide
Hi Everyone,
It's Michael here. I am Head Gemologist and trained Diamond Graduate here at Bradleys. I studied at the world renowned GIA (Gemological Institute of America) where I immersed myself in the world of diamonds.
Over the last decade I have worked closely with some of the leading diamond cutters in Tel Aviv, Mumbai and Antwerp and I have personally examined thousands of loose diamonds.
This hands on knowledge has given me a unique understanding of what exactly makes a diamond truly beautiful. And how you can get the very best diamond for your bucks.
After speaking to thousands of customers over the last 10 years I kept hearing the same few things over and over again from our customers:
What are the 4'Cs?
How do I know what spec to choose?
How do I know that what I am getting is quality?
If you're experiencing any of the above issues, I get it...
So I've created this article to save you time and money and show you how exactly you can get the very best diamond for your budget.
So without any further ado lets get started.
Three tips and tricks to get the best diamond for your bucks
1. Where Are You Buying The Ring?
When you buy a diamond from a faceless high-street chain the price can be up to 30% more expensive.
Not to mention, those diamonds are often chosen by people with often limited knowledge about diamonds.
Often times a family jewellers that works direct with the diamonds cutters and has their own in-house gemologist who can quality control each diamond is the best option.
Simply because there's no costly middlemen who want their cut, better quality, a family
2. Look out for the 4 C's
Carat, Colour, Clarity and Cut are 4 things greatly impact the price of any diamond wedding ring.
By getting the right combination of all four, you can achieve the perfect engagement ring without paying more than you need to. For example, choosing a slightly lighter carat weight can cut costs dramatically without affecting the appearance of a ring too much
Carat
The heavier the diamond, the higher the carat weight. The higher the carat weight if all other factors are equal, the more valuable a diamond is. Carat weight is not a measure of diamond size like often assumed.
Colour
Rated from D-Z, diamonds vary in how they are graded. D is the highest grade of colour a diamond can have. Those graded Z reflect the lowest amount of light and therefore appear dull to the eye. You want the highest colour grade your budget allows.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is determined by how clean it is or how many inclusions it has. A diamond that is too included can effect its sparkle whilst with a diamond that is totally flawless you end up paying tuns more without a noticable difference to the naked eye. A VS2 grade gives you a beautiful clean stone to the eye without breaking the bank.
Cut
If a diamond is properly cut, it should capture and throw back as much light as possible giving it that beautiful sparkle. If the proportions of a diamond are too deep or too shallow, light can be lost. Don't lose that dazzle..
Certification
The GIA is the industry so I always recommended . Generally you will pay less for a diamond, but this can be misleading as many so what you are buying maybe in fact a grade or two lower than.
3. Don't Stretch Yourself
The truth is buying can still be a large investment to pay out all at one time. You may want to look out for an engagement brand that offer finance options, find one that offers a 12 month interest free finance plan, this way you are not tied into a long term plan and you are not paying more than you need to.
Diamond Shopping Can Be Over whelming
There's so many options out there and so much to choose from. Imagine if you had an expert walk you step-by-step through the whole process and together, create the perfect ring for you
Find Out How