The smart consumer's diamond buying guide....

How to Buy a Diamond Guide - Home

Everything you want to know about buying diamonds and diamond jewelry...

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My name is Bud Boland, I've been a Graduate Gemologist (GIA) for 30 years now and I've found different ways to simplify the process of buying some diamond bling! I've seen a lot of changes since getting into the jewelry business in the early 70s. I know all of this makes me sound like I'm an "old timer", but that OK, because I am.... and that's really good for you! I am here to make buying a diamond easier.

Diamonds are forever...
but the business of buying diamonds keeps on changing!

Many things about the jewelry business are very different today, such as buying loose diamonds and diamond jewelry online, so this means you can get great prices from many different sources, which is a very good thing!

my ring

Recently, I held the position as the Head Gemologist for an online jewelry retailer. I regularly talked with customers who were calling in from all corners of the world and they mainly wanted to be reassured that I was a person who could answer their questions about buying diamonds. Buying loose diamonds and diamond jewelry sight unseen on the Internet was a new experience for almost all of our customers! Once a sense of trust was established, the transaction could then proceed smoothly via email.

Because I worked with many customers who were not able to visit a local jewelry store (living in small rural areas or people in the military serving overseas) I did end up working with most of the online diamond retailers during this time.

This is why I can wholeheartedly encourage anyone who is considering buying a diamond online to look to buy from JamesAllen.com. Not only does James Allen have top notch customer service along with their prices usually being the lowest anywhere on the net but they are the only online diamond retailer with real pictures of the diamonds they sell. So you are seeing the actual diamond that you will purchase and best of all you can always contact me for a second opinion of the diamond you are considering before you buy it or I might even give a suggestion about some other diamonds that could be considered.

The experience of working for an oline diamond jewelry retailer (along with years of teaching hundreds of people about diamonds at GIA) has brought about the development of this diamond buying guide.... I knew that there must be a way to give smart consumers the essential tools to help them understand if they were getting the best possible value when they are buying diamonds. In addition, I would be able to actively help with their questions even though we would be hundreds, or even thousands of miles apart. Today with everyone having access to the Internet, it became clear that the time was right to make this online diamond buying guide a reality!

Diamond Buying - Basics

A good working understanding of the factors used in the pricing of diamonds will be necessary before you begin your diamond buying quest. I am including a quick list here which has links to full pages that explains each of these properties in greater detail.

Starting off with a brief overview of diamond's 4Cs.... Diamond Grading.

Diamond Cut- The biggest of the Cs!

Diamond Color- Determining the presence (or absence) of body color.

Diamond Clarity- What's going on inside and outside of a diamond.

Diamond Carat Weight- Bigger is better?

Here is a very interesting 10 min. video from GIA explaining the 4Cs and following a diamond through GIA's lab on its journey to receiving a diamond grading report.
Please click here and a small pop up window will show you the video.

Diamond Buying - FAQs

Over the many years that I've been in the jewelry business I've heard many of the same questions asked about diamonds and the process of buying diamond jewelry. I'm including some of them here and of course if you have a question please don't hesitate to contact me with any question you might have.

Q- What is the most important “C” out of Diamond 4Cs?

A- Of the 4Cs, I would have to say that the Diamond Cut is the most important.... a diamond without proper proportions is lifeless, in other words “it ain't got the bling!”. Diamond Cut is the only man-made contribution to a diamond's beauty and value.

There are however there some additional “Cs” to be considered.....

Cost- Before you consider buying anything, you will need to set your budget and don't stray too far form it.

Cert- short for certification this refers to the diamond grading report which has become an essential tool when buying a diamond today!

Company- of course the company you deal with is an important element... it goes back to the "trust" factor which is essential in any successful transaction.

Confidence- this comes with doing your homework before you buy!

And finally.......
Common Sense- please don't fall for any hype like “Secrets of Buying a Diamond !! - How to Save $4787.93 on Your Next Diamond !!!” or when XYZ Wholesale Diamond Cutters International claims that are giving you true wholesale pricing and that you will get ripped off unless you deal with them.

The days are gone when a jeweler could buy a diamond for $1,000 and sell it for $2,000... this hasn't happened since last century. Online diamond retailers can work off of markups of between 16 to 19% and the local retailers, because of having a much higher overhead, need to work with a higher markup.

People who sell diamonds are aware of prices in the diamond marketplace and they will try to stay competitive but they are also entitled to make a profit for the value of the services that they offer. I've seen quite a few instances where diamond buyers who were on a crusade not to get ripped off by paying the “tremendously high markups” on diamonds and jewelry. Because of this paranoid zeal in their quest they leave themselves vulnerable to being taken advantage of.... if you want to see tremendous markups look no further than women's shoes or perfume.

If you want to shop with complete confidence in quality and pricing I will always recommend that you go to JamesAllen.com, or work with your local diamond retailer and ask if they are are giving you the best possible pricing..... it never hurts to ask. You can use the prices that you find over at James Allen as a guide.

Q- How do I know if I'm getting a properly cut diamond?

A- This is where a diamond grading report will be the “disinterested third party” by placing a Diamond Cut grade on a diamond that you are considering.
While the diamond grading labs are not 100% perfect without a diamond grading report you will be buying a diamond based only on the salesperson's opinion of the diamond's qualities. Remember, Jones Jewelers “Ideal Cut” diamond could end up being Smith Wholesale Jewelers “Super Excellent Ideal Cut” diamond.
The diamond grading labs have worked on making their diamond cut grades as consistent as possible but they do take different approaches on how they reach a Diamond Cut grade. For a more detailed overview go to Diamond Grading Reports.

Q- Why are some diamonds colorless and some yellow?

A- Diamond is made of one element, carbon. Most other gemstones are a mixture of different elements. Yellow diamonds get their color from having a bit of nitrogen in their structure.
Actually the most common color of diamond is brown but most of these diamonds are of very low quality and are used for industrial purposes. Diamonds come in many different colors..... some natural, called Fancy Colored Diamonds and some that are altered in the lab, called Color Enhanced Diamonds.

Q- What the heck is an “eye clean” diamond?

A- According to their diamond clarity definitions, diamonds with clarities of Fl, IF, VVS1, VVS2, VS1, VS2, SI1, SI2, are all eye clean. This means that you should not be able to see anything in the diamond when you view it in normal light, at a distance of 8 to 10 inches without any magnification.
This is more normally used when people talk about the clarity of colored stones (all gemstones other than diamonds). When used with diamonds it is used for diamonds with borderline clarities.... trying to decide if a diamond is an SI2 or I1.

Q- How can I prevent damaging my diamond?

A- While diamond is the hardest known natural substance on earth it doesn't mean that they can't be damaged. A diamond can scratch another diamond, so when storing your diamond jewelry make sure it isn't touching any other diamonds.
A diamond can also chip or crack if it is hit in the right direction with the right amount of pressure. This is especially true when it comes to diamonds with very thin girdles and the points of some fancy shaped diamonds. So any diamonds worn on your fingers or wrists should not be worn during strenuous exercise, sports, gardening, heavy housework, etc.

Q- OK, so if my diamond gets damaged can it be repaired?

A- Most of the time, yes. It will of course need to be shown to a professional jeweler.
The diamond would need to be removed from its mounting and given to a diamond cutter. The loss in diamond carat weight will be able to be determined and a price for the work can be estimated. At this time you could opt to have the diamond sent into a diamond grading lab for a new diamond grading report as these can only be generated when a diamond is unmounted.
I do know a local diamond cutter that spends quite a bit of his time repairing Princess Cut diamonds that have had their corners chipped during setting or in normal wear.

Q- What is the Rap price list and do I need it?

A- The Rapaport Diamond Report is a diamond wholesale pricing guide that has been around since the late 70s. I could make an entirely new website just discussing the ins and outs of the “Rap sheet”... but you really don't need to give it a second thought. The pricing of diamonds is a bit more complicated than just referring to the Rap sheet because in the hands of a sharp individual, they could use it to lead people into believing that they are getting a real bargain when they are not!.... “I drove a hard bargain and I got my diamond at 20% below Rap!”
Everyone already has a great diamond price guide to work with by checking the diamond prices on a trusted online diamond retailer like JamesAllen.com, or others like Whiteflash, BlueNile, etc.

I'll be adding additional FAQs soon....

Diamond Buying Made Easier - Table of Contents

Below are links to the main sections of this site... There's a lot to learn here: just click, jump in, and explore!

Diamond Jewelry, The Basics - Buying diamond jewelry, diamond rings, loose diamonds.
The basics of buying diamond jewelry, diamond rings, loose diamonds, diamond earrings.

Diamond Jewelry - A woman's guide to buying diamond jewelry, diamond rings, loose diamonds, diamond earrings.
A woman's guide to buying diamond jewelry, diamond rings, loose diamonds, diamond earrings.

Diamond Jewelry - A guy's guide to buying diamond jewelry.
A guy's guide to buying diamond jewelry, diamond rings, loose diamonds, diamond earrings.

Diamond Cut - Diamond Cutting
Diamond Cut is the MVP of bringing diamonds to life! Learn more about the most important of the 4Cs.

Diamond Clarity - FL, IF, VVS, VS, SI, I
Diamond Clarity - Diamond Clarity are internal features, called inclusions, and surface irregularities, called blemishes... together they will determine the diamond clarity grade.

Diamond Color - Diamond Color Chart, Diamond Color Grading
Diamond Color - The Diamond Color Grading System was developed by GIA in 1953 and is now the common international language when we talk about body color in diamonds.

Diamond Carat Weight - Diamond carat weight chart
Diamond Carat Weight : The easiest of the 4Cs to understand.

Diamond Grading Reports
Diamond Grading Reports - A Diamond Grading Report will give you a report on a diamond's 4Cs- diamond clarity, diamond color, diamond cut, and diamond carat weight.

Diamond Shapes - Fancy Shape Diamonds, Diamond Cut Information
Diamond Shapes - Fancy Shape Diamonds, Diamond Cut Information

Asscher Cut Diamonds - The Asscher Cut Diamond is also know as a Square Emerald Cut Diamond
Asscher Cut Diamonds - If you are looking for an Asscher Cut Diamond, then you will need to know about the specifications, grading, and some history of this beautiful step cut diamond .

Cushion Cut Diamonds - Cushion Cut Diamond, Old Mine Cut Diamond
Cushion Cut diamonds have a classic, elegant look that makes your diamond stand out from the crowd.

Emerald Cut Diamonds - Fancy Shape Diamonds, the different diamond!
Emerald Cut Diamonds - an elegant fancy shape diamond.... come and learn some more about this classic diamond shape.

Heart Shape Diamonds - Fancy Shape Diamonds with a heart!
Heart Shape Diamonds - Some people just love the symbolism of Heart Shape diamonds... how about you?

Marquise Cut Diamonds - A fancy shape diamond designed by a smile!
Marquise Cut Diamonds can maximize carat weight; giving a much larger looking fancy shape diamond so it could be a good option if you want a bigger look for less money.

Oval Shape Diamonds - A very popular fancy shaped diamond.
Oval Shape Diamonds - a fancy shape diamond that because of it's brilliance can get a lot of attention!

Pear Shape Diamonds - fancy shape diamonds, Pear Shape Diamonds information
Pear Shape Diamonds - Combines the best of Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds and Marquise Cut Diamonds

Princess Cut Diamonds - A very popular fancy shaped diamond.
Princess Cut Diamonds - find out more about this popular fancy shaped diamond.

Radiant Cut Diamonds - A great fancy shaped diamond.
Radiant Cut Diamonds - an elegant fancy shape diamond with a whole lot of life!

Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds - Ideal Cut Diamonds, the best diamond shapes.
Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds - the standard of diamond shapes!

Where To Buy Loose Diamonds - Diamond Buying Guide, How to buy diamonds.
Where To Buy Loose Diamonds - Diamonds are everywhere, but where is the place for you to find your diamond.

Diamond Jewelry Stores - Choosing a good local jeweler.
Diamond Jewelry Stores - What to look for in choosing a good local jeweler.

Wholesale Diamonds - Is it really possible to find wholesale loose diamonds?.
Wholesale Diamonds - Is it really possible to buy wholesale loose diamonds? That's a good question!

Buying Diamonds Online - A Diamond Buying Guide, .
Buying Diamonds Online - A bit of history, a few things to watch for, and a few recommendations.

Diamond District - Buying Diamonds, A Buyers Guide
Buying Diamonds in the Diamond District - Is it possible to get a good deal? That's a good question!

Blood Diamonds - Sierra Leone's civil war and diamonds.
Blood diamonds also called conflict diamonds have a very bad image because of what happened during Sierra Leone's civil war. Many people don't know the whole story of blood diamonds and conflict diamonds.

Conflict Diamonds - Are You Buying a Conflict Diamond or Blood Diamonds? Here is some information you need to know.
Conflict diamonds also called blood diamonds have a very bad image because of what happened during Sierra Leone's civil war. Many people don't know the whole story of conflict diamonds.

Diamond Simulants - Cubic Zirconia, Moissanite, Fake Diamonds
Diamond Simulants - Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite might look like diamonds but.... I guess you could call them fake diamonds.

Man Made Diamonds - Synthetic Diamonds, Lab Created Diamonds
Man made diamonds can be an interesting alternative for you to consider buying. Before you buy a diamond, make sure you are up to speed with this man made diamond buying guide.

Fake Diamonds - Real or Fake Diamonds?
Fake diamonds or real diamonds - What does that mean? How can you tell?

Color Enhanced Diamonds - Fancy Color Diamonds
Color Enhanced Diamonds are an alternative to Natural Fancy Color Diamonds... these diamonds have been altered from their original color.

Cleaning Diamond Jewelry - Diamond Cleaning Tips.
Cleaning Diamond Jewelry - How to clean diamond jewelry for happier diamond jewelry. Cleaning diamond jewelry and cleaning diamonds for long lasting brilliance.

James Allen has a very interesting diamond website. They have.....
one of the largest and best selections of loose diamonds around,
their loose diamond prices are usually the lowest anywhere on the net,
they have top notch customer service, and best of all they are the
only online diamond retailer with actual pictures of the diamonds they sell.

Seeing is believing! Check it out for yourself.... click here!