When you go to buy diamond jewelry, if you do not know what you are doing you may be scammed. How do you know you are when you are not an expert? Here are a few tips, but read up on this, because there are a few things you should learn along with what to spot when shopping to buy your diamond jewelry.
When they tell you the total carat weight, what does this mean? Many stores list the total weight of all the diamonds in their information and not list the center stone separate. You have to ask them to distinguish this for you because a diamonds total weight of the center stone is worth more than all the other diamonds totally the same weight of the center. For example if you have 8 stones surrounding the center diamond and they both weigh the same, the center diamond would be worth more. The center diamond could very well cost over $5000 while all the smaller stones, of the same weight could only cost about $1500. Ask them to make sure you know the weight of both. If they will not provide this information, then leave and go to another store that will do this for you!
Next thing to watch for, if they say it is a blue-white diamond and tell you it is more expensive than the others do not believe it. This in fact is just the opposite of it. The bluish color actually makes a diamond look milky colored and of less value. Don’t even bother with a jeweler who tells you this.
Another scam they use is called The Bait and Switch…this means an advertised diamond is sold when you get there and they want to get you to buy another diamond, which actually costs a lot more. If the advertised one isn’t available and they will not give you a rain check then find a different store.
Never take an in house appraisal. They will always tell you it is worth more than it is just to get you to buy it. Take it to someone who doesn’t sell diamonds and is not connected to anyone who does. This way you will get an honest appraisal.
Always check for loose stones because many jewelers will hide flaws under the prongs. Any damage that there is could very well make the stone more fragile after it is tightened under the prongs.
Watch out for deposit scams. Many of them will tell you that you have to leave a deposit if you want to take it for an appraisal and do not let you know it is not refundable. Get everything in writing before going. Learn all you can before you buy diamond jewelry.
Filed under Diamond Jewelry, Shopping Tips by on Jul 27th, 2008. Comment. 
Knowing how a jeweler determines how much a diamond is worth will help you in your buying. They have a system that measures the diamonds known as the 4 C’s. Cut, clarity, carat, and color. The following will help you as a guideline, so you know how to buy diamond jewelry.
First off, you will want to select a reputable jeweler. He must know exactly what he is doing. Even if it is in a mall store, you can find reputable ones.
Secondly, you must know what you want so you can tell him. Decide on the cut before you get there so you can tell him right away. Decide whether you want a pear shape, princess, oval, marquise, or heart shaped, just to name a few.
Thirdly, decide on how many carats you desire. Remember the bigger it is the bigger carat you will get.
Fourth: Decide on color. A clear, normal diamond or a specific color, like pink, blue or yellow. The diamond you pick out will be a certain grade. D has no color and a grade of Z has a yellowish tint to it.
Fifth: Decide the clarity. Clarity is the imperfections in your stone. Diamonds only have two types, inclusions and blemishes. The first one being inside your diamond, which could be flaws, cracks or specks of color and the second, is the outside on the surface. It is also judged by what can be seen with the naked eye.
Lastly you need to ask for an appraisal for the diamond you choose. You will want to always keep this with your diamond for insurance purposes.
You must remember the more carats you decide on the higher in price it will be. The 4 C’s also determine the price. Go with the smaller carats and it will be cheaper for you. If the one you decide on has some flaws, then you will want to decide if it noticeable enough to where others can see it. You do not want to buy one you are not happy with. Make sure your final decision is what you want, not what your talked into. A reputable jeweler will not persuade you just to make a sale.
If your buying a diamond for an engagement ring then keep in mind the matching band. You will more than likely purchase both together. You wouldn’t want a unmatched set. Many jewelry stores will keep the band in their safe until the day of the wedding for you. That way you won’t worry about losing it. That would be disastrous. Better safe than sorry.
Keeping all this in mind you will have no problem in when you buy diamond jewelry.
Filed under Diamond Jewelry, Shopping Tips by on Jul 27th, 2008. Comment.
Nobody is unaware of the number of the large amount of shopping possibilities that the Internet brought to our lives. Today, you can buy almost anything via the World Wide Web, and diamond jewelry is no exception.
From diamond engagement rings to sophisticated diamond settings, you can buy your diamonds on the Internet from jewelry stores situated around the world, shipping, and delivering merchandise to international clientele.
Buying on the Internet should be a pleasant and safe experience so if you want to make sure it will in fact be this way, pay attention to these simple tips to guarantee that your purchase will not be a deceptive deal.
Many web sites are just retailers connected to diamond wholesale companies, so the first thing that you should do is verify the connection between the web site, the wholesaler, and the Diamond Registry or other reputable entity that can verify legitimate sellers.
As a retailer, the web site must provide enough contact information to credit its legitimacy. Many cyber identities disappear as soon as they are created so you should not take the risk of dealing with companies that you cannot determine they really exist.
Most reputable online jewelry wholesalers and retailers include a toll-free number to help you get in touch and resolve all your doubts. Prepare a checklist and look for the following items before you decide to purchase:
* Physical address:- with street name and postcode instead of a P.O. Box.
* Telephone number:- It must be land-based and preferably with at least one toll-free line.
* Support service with telephone and fax numbers. Online support via chat or web page is optional
* Email address corresponding to the domain name of the web site. Avoid those sites using free email addresses.
* Company details. If you are about to invest a considerable amount of money make sure to verify it is really a registered business.
* Credentials. Any respectable jewelry company doing business on the Internet is a member of different industry’s trade associations.
* Testimonials. Does the company have satisfied consumers offering their testimony? Are such testimonials filled with fake information?
* Payment Gateways. How many options does the company offer and how secure are they for payment?
* Money back and product warranties. All reputable web sites offer both of these options.
Common sense is also important when buying diamonds on the Internet. Some web sites offering diamonds can look very unprofessional, but they could be the gateway to illegitimate diamond retailers.
Keep in mind that the Internet is made up of webmasters that often receive a percentage to advertise big companies, but they do not have experience to put online a great looking web display.
Within this category, you will usually find web sites with generic scripts and layouts offering a number of merchandise ranging from jewelry, watches, toys, perfume, clothing, and soap, among other items.
As a final world, always look at the bottom of your web browser for the lock pad that identifies sites in which secure transactions can be made with 100% confidence that you are purchasing from a reputable and legitimate retailer.
Filed under Shopping Tips by on Feb 17th, 2007. Comment.
Diamonds symbolize purity, love, and wealth, all of them are elements that reflect the essence of the relationship between two partners that culminates in marriage, but are never – ending qualities as everlasting as diamonds.
Since the early moment when a man makes a marriage proposal to his girlfriend, the engagement is usually sealed with a diamond ring. Engagement rings are more commonly found in a prong setting holding a solitaire diamond.
If you are planning to buy an engagement ring, the prong setting puts emphasis on the diamond regardless of its carats or size, being securely mounted in a way that allows the diamond to reflect light.
Depending on the value of the diamond, more metal can secure the gem, but maximum brilliance is only obtained using less metal. There is a variation called the V-prong setting, used mostly for diamonds with the Princess or pear cuts.
There is another variation to the prong setting that is used for engagement and wedding anniversary rings called the common prong. The metal wire in this setting is grooved at the top, usually holding two diamonds by their side. This girdle is used to give a close side-by-side diamond relationship avoiding the metallic interference or numerous prongs.
The diamond of an engagement ring always encloses a message of love, and the bezel setting is often used as a symbol of those treasured feelings that a couple shares. The bezel is a collar of precious metal wrapping a diamond. This embracing-like setting is attached to the top of the ring adding height and a different dimension to an engagement ring.
You should buy a diamond mounted in a bezel setting if you are looking for a traditional looking gem, although you can also find half-bezels. A half-bezel is more commonly associated to fancy cut diamonds and usually include an arc of precious metal around the wide curve embracing the diamond at its narrow end.
There are also other diamond rings settings that are not common to engagement rings, but preferred by people who like originality. The Channel Setting is used to set various round diamonds with an elegant, sleek appearance with greater brilliance.
The Pave setting literally means a ring paved with diamonds. This setting is more commonly found in rings with very tiny diamonds placed into small holes whether in a row or a fancy design. This setting is not common for an engagement ring but a matter of personal preferences or originality.
Other techniques used by jeweler’s in both diamond engagement rings and common jewelry include the bead setting, the cluster setting, the flush setting, and the ballerina setting, which is one of the most beautiful and traditional settings derived from the placement of tapered baguettes flowing around a center diamond.
Such baguettes are set undulating curve resembling a “tutu”, the flared skirt that is worn by ballet dancers. This setting was more commonly found as the preferred engagement ring during Victorian times. It is up to your personal taste, your budget, and the preferences of your beloved one choosing the right engagement ring for her that will possess the love you both share.
Filed under Shopping Tips by on Feb 17th, 2007.