Buying a diamond, whether for oneself or a loved one, will probably be a big decision in most people’s lives. After all, a diamond is not only a statement piece but also a big investment. As such, it is necessary to do a thorough research to ensure that you only buy diamonds that are the best bang for your buck. If you are not too knowledgeable about what to consider when buying a diamond, then the below tips will definitely help you make the right choices.

9 Things You Need To Consider 

When Buying Diamonds

Decide On Your Budget

The first factor to take into account is your budget. How much are you willing to spend on the diamond?

Since they come in all price ranges, knowing what you can afford will definitely help you narrow down the choice and keep any tendency of overspending in check. Usually, people tend to follow the ‘3-month rule’ which means that one should set a budget equivalent to ones three month’s salary to make a purchase.

So, if you have a monthly salary of $2500, you can set a budget of $7500 when it comes to buying a diamond necklace, ring, or anything similar.  However, do keep in mind that this is only a recommendation.

The real budget must only be decided based on your financial situation. So, if you cannot afford to spend $7500, then never try to set it as the budget.

Overspending on your diamond can easily punch you into deep debt that can take years for you to settle. That is definitely something that you should totally avoid.

The Four “Cs”

The next big thing you need to watch out for when buying a diamond is something called the Four Cs of diamond – cut, color, clarity, and carat.

The cut of a diamond refers to the way in which it has been shaped. This will determine how well the diamond sparkles. As a rule of thumb, you should only buy diamonds which has a cut that has been at least rated a ‘Good’.

Never buy anything less than that. Not only will the diamond have less sparkle, but you might also find it pretty tough to get good resale value in case you decide to sell it off at a future date. If possible, definitely buy a cut that has been rated ‘Very Good’

Color does not actually refer to how colorful a diamond is. In contrast, it refers to how colorless it is.

The color of a diamond can range anywhere from yellow to complete transparency. As should be obvious, diamonds that are the clearest are considered to be the most highly valued while those that tend to be colored are of less value.

The diamonds are assigned grades where, D, E, and F signify pure, clear diamonds, while X,Y, and Z represent the diamonds that have the highest amount of coloration.

Typically, most experts suggest that one must only buy diamonds which have at least been color graded as H.

Clarity denotes whether a diamond is clean and free from any defects, both inside and outside. The clarity of a diamond is rated from IF (internal Flawless) which is considered the best clarity diamond, to I3 (Imperfect 3) which is considered the lowest clarity diamond.

Now, you don’t have to be obsessed about getting a diamond with the highest clarity. Some inclusions in the diamonds are not only okay but also lends the diamond its own unique identity.

If you plan on selling it in the future, then you should only buy diamonds with a clarity grade of VS1 or higher.

Carat refers to how much the diamond weighs. If you are on a tight budget, it is recommended that you look to buy a diamond that is just shy of standard carat cut-offs like 0.5, 0.1, 1.25, and so on. It is at these carat weights that diamond prices increase the most.

As such, buying just below these levels can get you a good quality diamond that fits within your budget. So, if you are planning to buy a 1.5 carat ring, then opt for something like 1.45 carat instead of 1.5.

If you do focus on ensuring that other factors like cut, color, and clarity are all up to the mark, you will definitely end up with a diamond that is good value for money.

Trusted Seller

You must only deal with a seller who has a good reputation for dealing with diamonds. Remember that you will be investing quite a lot of money in the diamond.

As such, dealing with a shady seller may result in you owning a low-quality diamond at an exorbitant cost.

So, check the background of the seller and ensure that they have been in the business for several years. Get the opinion of your friends, relatives, and co-workers to find a good seller.

And above all, be wary of a seller who offers a diamond at a price that seems too good to be true.

Fluorescence

Fluorescence has been called as the invisible flaw in a diamond, and here is a reason for it. Unless the fluorescence is strongly observable, its effect on the appearance of the diamond is pretty minimal.

However, this does not mean that the price is not affected. Even the slightest indication of fluorescence will cause a diamond to be valued at a lesser price.

So, when going to purchase a diamond, you can get some pretty good deals if you are willing to compromise and are okay about buying diamonds with fluorescence.

Considering that a normal person will never be able to distinguish between a diamond with slight fluorescence and no fluorescence, this should be a good buying opportunity for people with limited budgets.

Shape

When it comes to shape, diamonds which are round in shape tend to be the most expensive. And as the roundness of the diamond decreases, its cost also decreases dramatically.

While around 1 carat VS1 diamond might cost you around $9000 to $9500, an oval-shaped diamond of the same weight and clarity will only cost you around $6500 to $7000.

So, if you are not too obsessed with getting a perfectly shaped diamond, you can literally save thousands of dollars. And if your budget is pretty limited, then this is your best choice.

Certification

Diamonds also come with certifications from professional bodies. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS) represent two of the most popular certification authorities in the world.

Other professional certification bodies you might come across include the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL), International Gemological Institute (IGI), and Hoge Raad voor Diamant (HRD).

As far as possible, stick with diamonds that have been certified by AGS and GIA. That will ensure that the diamond you are buying is of the highest quality.

Setting

You must also decide on the setting of the diamond. Generally, people prefer to have the diamonds set in platinum since the colors tend to match each other.

The diamond will also reflect the metal in which it is being set to some extent. Since platinum is white in color, it blends in very well with the diamond. In recent times, there has also been an increasing shift to gold.

If you do decide to set your diamond on a gold ring, then you have to understand that the diamond can appear slightly yellowish around the corners since it is reflecting the gold.

But on the positive side, this also means that you don’t have to spend too much money on a diamond that has been rated very high on the color grade since that level of color clarity will not be required when you are setting the diamond on gold.

Girdle

If you are buying a diamond that has an extremely thin girdle, then do consider setting it in a way that all its corners will be protected. In case the corners are constantly exposed to rough surfaces, then it is very likely that the girdle will be prone to chipping.

This will inevitably cause the diamond to look flawed which can negatively affect its resale value. It is to avoid such difficulties that it is recommended to protect the girdle when you set the diamond.

Conflict Free

Finally, you should make sure that the diamond you buy is ‘conflict-free’.

Since diamond is extremely valuable, it often tends to create various conflicts in areas where they are mined. Severe human rights violations, genocides, slave labor etc. can also be present in the acquisition of such diamonds. It is in this backdrop that the Kimberley process was conceptualized.

If the diamond is being sourced from a country is following the Kimberley process, then that is a guarantee that the diamond has been mined under a fair environment where no human abuse was committed and fair labor laws have been practiced.

Such diamonds are also called ‘conflict-free’ diamonds. By deciding to purchase them over other diamonds, you will be doing a good deed for this world.