| Those who buy diamonds today are more | | | | it to a trustworthy appraiser in order to be sure |
| cautious about their purchases than they may | | | | that the diamond which they have bought is the |
| have been in the past, and especially with the | | | | same diamond referenced in the grading report. If |
| economic recession and tightening of purse | | | | there has been some fraudulence, the customer |
| strings, those who choose to acquire an | | | | is free to return the diamond, but if all is well they |
| expensive luxury commodity are more demanding | | | | will then be able to use the grading report and |
| about assurances given as to the quality and | | | | whatever knowledge they can gain regarding |
| value of what they are buying. The diamond | | | | diamond price comparisons in order to help them |
| industry has long had difficulty regulating the | | | | know how much their diamond is worth, and |
| comparative worth of gemstone quality diamonds | | | | whether they are paying a reasonable price for it. |
| because, like most decadent luxury items, they | | | | Diamond price guides now exist for retailers and |
| are devoid of any true practical use. In the past, | | | | wholesalers who buy and sell diamonds to be able |
| our love of this sparkling gemstone has had to be | | | | to evaluate the worth of one diamond against |
| priced in an irregular fashion based mainly on | | | | another in order for them to determine |
| popularity of design, personal choice, and one's | | | | comparative retail pricing on diamonds of similar |
| access (or lack of access) to a variety of | | | | quality. However, most of these lists are not |
| diamond retailers. | | | | available for consumer use, and would be |
| Because there are now more ways of comparing | | | | impossible for the average customer to interpret |
| the physical characteristics of diamonds to one | | | | even if they were available. What exists for the |
| another, some standardization of comparative | | | | skeptical consumer who wishes to know as much |
| diamond pricing has helped make the industry | | | | as possible before attempting to purchase a |
| more stable, and make buying a diamond a more | | | | diamond either in-person or online, websites like |
| assured experience for the individual consumer. | | | | and diamonds.info offer a wealth of knowledge. |
| When one buys a diamond in any reasonable | | | | Those who are conscious of these changes in the |
| establishment, that diamond will be accompanied | | | | diamond industry, and want the most up-to-date |
| by a Diamond Grading Report, which is an | | | | information available to consumers in order to find |
| unbiased analysis of the diamond, from a scientific | | | | the best price for the diamond of their dreams, |
| laboratory. The analysis is done based on the 4c's | | | | should be encouraged to use these and other |
| (carat weight, cut, color and clarity), which | | | | sites which house information that is independent |
| describe the quality of those natural properties for | | | | from specific diamond retailers or commercially |
| which diamonds are valued. The grading report is | | | | involved sources. On these websites one can find |
| so important because it is the basis on which all | | | | honest information regarding the latest innovations |
| comparisons in diamond pricing are made. | | | | in diamond pricing, and gain knowledge to help in |
| A diamond, once bought, generally has a 30 day | | | | the selection of a diamond for any jewelry-related |
| warranty on it, and a customer has only to take | | | | purpose. |