what to look for when shopping for a diamond ring
Why this Diamond Guide?
One of our readers was working with Annie recently and asked her about this diamond from Blue Nile. Now her first reaction was that the diamond was stunning. but then she asked what setting information technology will go in. When the reader responded with this setting, we realized information technology would have been a terrible mistake.
Hither'due south what we'll cover in this article:
How to Pick a Diamond
Cull Your Diamond Shape
Select Your Diamond Carat Weight
Select Your Diamond Cutting Quality
Select Your Diamond Color Grade Range
Select Your Diamond Clarity Class Range
Compare Like Diamonds
Verify the Diamond Lab Certificate
Get an Good Stance
This article is for anybody looking to buy a loose diamond (either by itself or with an appointment ring as a "build your own" set) online at ane of the many online diamond jewelers.
Sometimes I forget just how difficult it is for a consumer to juggle all the information when figuring out if something is a good price. My team and I have so much experience selecting diamonds (each of u.s.a. selects hundreds every calendar month), navigating the minefield becomes second nature for united states of america.
For example, if you lot were to ask me for a 1 carat round brilliant cut diamond to put in a halo engagement ring, it would take me well-nigh xv seconds to find this gorgeous diamond on James Allen for you. Another 20 seconds, and I'd add this swell culling on Blue Nile. But searching on your own can be excruciating and filled with doubt. If yous desire a little peace of mind, experience gratuitous to contact united states for some personal advice.
If you've been around our site before, y'all'll encounter that we generally recommend buying from Blue Nile or James Allen. For an explanation of why that is, you can read our individual site reviews for James Allen and Blueish Nile.
How to Choice a Diamond
Choosing a beautiful diamond involves narrowing downwards your shape and selecting high-quality options for the 4Cs — without overpaying. You lot'll then compare private diamonds to see which one offers you the most brilliance and fire. Follow our step-by-step guide below to find a stunning diamond while staying inside your budget. Budgets tin vary a lot from one person to some other, so brand sure y'all're comfy with the money you want to spend (for example, if your budget is around 4k, hop in our $4000 diamond engagement ring article after you lot read this 9 step guide to go inspired).
We recommend reputable online diamond jewelers. Based on our years of experience, James Allen and Blue Nile accept proven to offer the best pick at the best prices (encounter the full listing of Best Online Jewelry Retailers here). Because their overhead costs are depression and they don't keep an inventory in-house, you'll discover the all-time bargain with these two retailers. Both James Allen and Blue Nile provide Hd and 360° imagery then you can compare diamonds up-close earlier purchase.
1. Choose Your Diamond Shape
The shape of your diamond is the launching bespeak of your ring's pattern. No shape is better than the other—it's upwards to your personal preference (or your partner'due south). Round Brilliants are the most popular diamond shape for appointment rings and give off the almost brilliance. Others prefer a more unique shape like a Cushion Cut or an Oval. If you're unsure what your partner prefers, you can enquire her family unit and friends.
Select a shape to narrow downwards your search and compare diamonds.
ii. Select Your Carat Weight
Is your fiance-to-exist expecting a 1 or 2 carat diamond? Are you looking for a stone that's noticeable but not over the peak? Cull the carat weight range yous're open to considering, such as a 0.95 to a 1.08 Carat diamond. As carat weight increases, so does the price.
Blue Nile
James Allen
Carat weight impacts how big a diamond looks (as does its shape and cut quality). Learn about the average diamond size people purchase to help you determine.
iii. Narrow Down on Diamond Cut Quality
The aspect that most greatly impacts a diamond'southward beauty is its cut quality. Cut grades aren't standardized beyond all retailers, but in general, we recommend simply Excellent and Ideal cut diamonds.
For instance, on Blue Nile'south site for round diamonds, y'all should limit your selection to Ideal and Astor Platonic diamonds. On James Allen, cull Ideal and Truthful Hearts cut.
Reviewer'due south Advice
My communication for cutting grade is this: If you are looking for a round bright diamond, only search for "Ideal/First-class" grade diamonds. If you are searching for a fancy shape, however, then it might pay to either include "Premium" or to disregard the cut class altogether.
This is not to say that cut grade is non important – on the contrary, it'due south of utmost importance. It's simply proverb that many jewelers don't correctly written report fancy shape cut grades, and so why filter out many results from your search which might be great choices.
4.Make up one's mind the Right Diamond Colour Course Range
The goal with diamond color is to choose a diamond that appears white. Simply you don't need to pay for a D or E diamond to get a colorless rock. In general, diamonds in the G to I range appear white just toll far less.
It is important to recall that dissimilar shapes reverberate color at different strengths, so your choice of optimal color, balancing the diamond'due south appearance with the diamond's toll, will depend greatly on what diamond shape you've called.
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Cull the diamond that y'all like amend.
Is it the J color for $4,082 or the One thousand colour for $5,500?
5. Select Clarity Grade
For Clarity, y'all should look for a diamond that's heart make clean, meaning yous tin't see any blemishes or inclusions with the naked middle. Depending on the shape, you can usually find an eye-make clean diamond in the VS1–VS2 range. There'southward no need to pay for a FL or IF diamond when you tin become a lower graded diamond for much less.
With most jewelers, y'all can see the diamond upwards close to review its clarity. For example, with James Allen's " Virtual Loupe " yous tin evaluate a loose diamond before y'all buy it. Blue Nile has also begun to offer loftier quality photography. Look at the diamond closely to see if you notice any blemishes.
For an informative overview of the unlike clarity grades, take a await at this diamond clarity chart.
Eye-Cleanliness is Paramount
In our opinion, a consumer'south goal should be to detect the cheapest (in regards to clarity; other factors matter too) "eye-clean" diamond you can find. We employ "heart-make clean" to draw diamonds that may have inclusions if you lot look at them with a magnifying drinking glass (or microscope or loupe), but the typical person can't see the inclusion with their naked eye.
We take recently adult Ringo, a patented artificial intelligence model, that can examine videos of diamonds and make up one's mind if they are eye-clean. Ringo will also filter for other parameters like making certain the diamond is well-cut, doesn't take fluorescence issues and volition match the manner setting you choose.
half-dozen. Compare Like Diamonds
Once you lot've narrowed downwardly your preferred specs for a diamond, compare like stones to determine which i to buy. Y'all'll want to consider aspects like how brilliant the diamond is, if information technology's centre-make clean, and what the toll is.
Other characteristics similar fluorescence, polish, and symmetry affect a diamond's value and appearance to some degree, although much less than the 4 C's. For an in-depth discussion of these three factors, check out these individual articles: Fluorescence , Smoothen , and Symmetry .
7. Verify the Certificate
You should consider just GIA Certified Diamonds and AGS Certified Diamonds in your search for a loose diamond.
Stay abroad from IGI , EGL , and HRD grading reports because we've found in our professional experience that their results are not reliable due to their inconsistent diamond grading. Also, do not misfile GIA reports with an appraisal by a GIA gemologist. Those are non the same affair.
Read more nigh GIA diamonds here.
viii. Get an Skillful Stance
Before making the big decision to purchase a diamond, have one of our impartial experts review your pick. We'll give your diamond a close wait to see if we recommend the purchase. Having an practiced'due south stance ensures you lot become the best diamond for your upkeep. You'll also have more confidence in what yous're buying.
ix. Make the Buy
Once y'all experience confident in your diamond, buy it online along with an engagement ring setting of your option. Follow our insider tips for how to make up one's mind the type of setting she'll love.
With about online jewelers, they offer hassle-free returns within 30 days. If you or your partner aren't 100% satisfied with the ring, you can get your coin dorsum. Near every reader that goes through our process for picking a diamond is extremely satisfied with their purchase.
If you have whatever questions throughout the diamond appointment ring process, feel gratuitous to reach out to us for diamond advice.
Blue Nile Blueish Nile is the largest and near well known net jewelry seller. They take a very large exclusive online inventory. Their high quality images are catching up to James Allens' and their prices are amazing. Blue Nile have generously offered our readers an sectional one-fourth dimension utilise coupon. (Click Here to save $100 off engagement ring settings) Delight enter your email address to receive your personal one-time use unique coupon lawmaking:
What nosotros dearest about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Bluish Nile will send y'all a paid shipping label to render the band.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the kickoff year of purchase
- Loftier quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
What we love almost them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every vi months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing inside 60 days of purchase
- Gratis band inscriptions
- All-time-in-class loftier quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- All-time-in-form packaging
Yet agape of getting ripped off?
Earlier you purchase a diamond, get personal buying communication from industry veterans. Nosotros'll assist you become the best diamond for the coin.
Ask your diamond buy question hither
DISCLAIMER: Nosotros don't utilize your email for marketing. Menses.
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Source: https://www.diamonds.pro/education/diamond-buying-guide/
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