| 1. I can't help myself but to keep on | | | | jewelry stores often have excellent search |
| emphasizing this to anyone who wants to buy a | | | | engine to save you the time and trouble of |
| diamond online: LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT | | | | searching and comparing diamonds prices. |
| DIAMONDS! Sorry, I don't mean to shout. But | | | | |
| in reality, many people are still very | | | | 4. Whether you are buying diamond offline or |
| ignorant about diamond, believe it a not, | | | | online, being comfortable with the dealer is |
| there are jewelers who are unable to | | | | very important. If you found online jewelry |
| differentiate a diamond cut from a diamond | | | | stores or retail stores with great prices and |
| shape. Everyone is so hyped up about the | | | | feel tempted to take out your card and start |
| carat weight and has totally forgotten about | | | | buying anything, cool down first. |
| the other 3 characteristics of a diamond. | | | | |
| | | | If you have been doing researching, you would |
| Still unconvinced? Here's another great | | | | have come across information on cubic |
| reason to start learning about diamonds. | | | | zirconium diamonds. These synthetic diamonds |
| Remember this saying: "Diamonds are women's | | | | are D-color graded, flawless and cut to |
| best friend."? You want to win your girl's | | | | perfection. In short, a CZ diamond is a |
| heart with her 'best friend's' help and yet | | | | 'perfect' diamond. It is brilliant, flawless |
| you do not know anything about a diamond? You | | | | and yet cheap. Their prices do not increase |
| might even get yourself scammed before you | | | | exponentially with their quality unlike |
| even present the stone to her. | | | | diamonds. |
| | | | |
| Anyway you aren't trying to get a | | | | There are also some natural diamonds which |
| qualification in gemology, so it won't take | | | | have undergone treatments to reduce its |
| you years or months to learn something about | | | | blemishes thus enhanced its appearance. It is |
| diamond. There are plenty of articles and | | | | still a low grade diamond but dishonest |
| information on the 4C of a diamond. Spend | | | | dealers may try to pass it off as a good |
| some useful time in the library or internet | | | | graded diamond and sell you at a higher |
| and learn about diamonds. Who knows, you may | | | | price. |
| become an expert in diamonds. | | | | |
| | | | Before you start swiping your hard-earned |
| 2. Prioritize the 4 characteristics. There | | | | money away, do some research about the |
| are much more about diamonds than just the | | | | jeweler as well. Ask your family, relatives |
| 4C. But at the end of the day, the 4Cs are | | | | or friend who have purchased from the dealer. |
| still the major factors influencing the | | | | Online forum is a good place to ask around |
| quality and price of a diamond. | | | | and there are plenty of sites that review on |
| | | | jewelry store online. Give the jewelry store |
| Before you start prioritizing the 4Cs, you | | | | a visit or call their hotline, talk to their |
| got to know what your girl actually likes | | | | staffs and decide for yourself if you are |
| about a diamond. If she like big one, go for | | | | comfortable with the store. |
| a diamond with big carat weight but with | | | | |
| poorer quality in terms of color, cut or | | | | 5. Always remember to ask for a money back |
| clarity. If she likes the brilliance of a | | | | guarantee. Especially if you are intending to |
| diamond and doesn't mind the size, choose one | | | | buy online, be doubly sure the store has the |
| with excellent cut and clarity. Whichever the | | | | complete details about their return policy, |
| case is, prioritizing the 4Cs will give you a | | | | which should include information about the |
| better idea of what diamonds will suit her | | | | validity period, what to do if you wish to |
| taste as well as your budget. | | | | return your purchase and their address. As a |
| | | | rule of thumb, online stores should offer you |
| 3. With your list, do some price research at | | | | no less than 21 days return policy. In fact, |
| the jewelry retail stores. Based on your | | | | most of them have a return policy of 30 days. |
| list, the dealers should be able to give you | | | | |
| a rough estimate on the market price. If the | | | | 6. Remember to ask about the grading report |
| price is out of your budget, try to go for a | | | | as well. Certified diamond should come along |
| grade lower than your expectation and you may | | | | with a grading report by reputable gemology |
| eventually find one that suits you well. | | | | organizations such as GIA or AGS. Some |
| | | | dealers certified their diamond by in-house |
| Another alternative is to purchase online | | | | gemologists and they may be using different |
| jewelry stores. Online jewelry stores make | | | | grading standards from GIA or AGS. After you |
| use of technologies to cut down on expenses | | | | have purchase your diamond, get it appraised |
| and hence they are able to offer you much | | | | again with the grading report by a trained |
| competitive prices, about 30% lower than | | | | gemologist. |
| average US retail price. The top online | | | | |