Loose diamonds make for a great investment option, but you should not buy blind. To not overpay for it, you need to be aware of the amount of money an unmounted diamond is worth. Judging the price of a diamond based on its weight is popular, but the size is only one factor to consider and not the most important one. The cut is a more significant factor to consider when buying a diamond because it influences the sparkle the most. Clarity is also very important; a 3-carat stone with visible flaws might not have as much value as a 2-carat one with flawless grade.
Cut, color, clarity, and carat are the four characteristics of a diamond that determine its value.
Understand the 4Cs
The Gemological Institute of America pioneered the 4Cs as a means to standardize the process of diamond grading. “GIA created the first, and now globally accepted standard for describing diamonds: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight,” the institute explains. “Today, the 4Cs of Diamond Quality is the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world.”
Learning more about each characteristic will help you make an informed purchase decision.
Make Sure Diamonds are Certified
You should go for a GIA grading report because this institute is considered the most trustworthy when it comes to diamond certification. The grading report will help your diamond keep its value by making sure of its quality. The institute grades the stone based on its characteristics to form a “blueprint” of its quality and value. With this certificate, you can confidently say that your diamond has the features, which its jeweler claims when you sell it to someone else.
Make an Online Purchase
You can get a lab-made diamond for a price that is up to 40% less than its natural counterpart. Most online retailers trade in lab-grown diamonds and give this much discount on these artificial stones. If you are planning to have it for keeps, however, you may want to consider buying natural diamonds.
No matter which option you choose, buying online will earn you a good discount on it. This means you can choose a bigger carat diamond than what you would get from a physical store. Online retailers do not have to bear considerable overhead costs, which brick and mortar stores have to. They pass these savings on to customers, meaning you can get these diamonds at a great discount from an online store.