| If you have been shopping for diamond jewelry, | | | | piece of diamond jewelry. Also included, of course, |
| you have probably noticed that jewelry such as | | | | is the complete cost from mining to market of |
| engagement rings, eternity rings, diamond | | | | metals and other gemstones that make up a |
| necklaces and earrings are on the market for a | | | | piece of jewelry, as well as crafting of the piece |
| wide range of prices. In fact, the difference from | | | | itself. Diamonds are appraised and valued |
| one diamond ring to the next can easily be | | | | individually based on evaluation of the four |
| several thousand dollars. For most consumers, | | | | Cs-carat, cut, clarity and color. |
| price is an important factor in a buying decision, | | | | The price of a diamond is calculated based on |
| so it is important to understand what you are | | | | some determined value per carat. That is to say |
| paying for when you purchase a brilliant piece of | | | | that the value of a 0.5 carat diamond which is |
| diamond jewelry. | | | | valued at $3,000 per carat would be calculated as |
| As with many consumer products, diamond prices | | | | $3,000Ã-0.5 = $1,500. However, despite the |
| paid by end users are affected by the value that | | | | apparent simplicity of the (price per carat x carat |
| is added at each level of the supply chain. | | | | weight = diamond price) equation, several factors |
| Diamonds are mined from the earth in what can | | | | influence the determined per carat value of an |
| be expensive, elaborate mining operations, | | | | individual diamond. Evaluation of a diamond's color, |
| incurring an initial cost. Of course, diamonds do not | | | | clarity, and cut contribute to the determination of |
| emerge from the earth in the beautifully polished | | | | its per carat value, with diamonds exhibiting the |
| cuts commonly seen at jewelry retailers. After | | | | most attractive combination of features being |
| being mined, diamonds are typically cut and | | | | considered the most valuable and thus the most |
| polished before being sent to an independent | | | | costly., the carat weight for an individual diamond |
| laboratory for grading. Then diamonds are placed | | | | is also affected by its rarity. Since a one carat |
| on the market for purchase by wholesalers or | | | | diamond is much rarer than a half-carat diamond, |
| diamond dealers, who in turn sell them to various | | | | a one carat diamond will incur a higher per carat |
| retailers. Finally, diamonds are in retail stores and | | | | weight than an otherwise equivalent half-carat |
| ready for purchase by consumers. Each stage of | | | | diamond. Though tempting, it is inaccurate to |
| the supply chain adds some kind of value and | | | | assume that you can simply plug the carat weight |
| incurs markup, each of which are reflected in the | | | | into an equation to determine the value of a |
| end price a consumer will pay for a diamond. | | | | diamond. Each diamond must be individually |
| The cost to mine, prepare and market a diamond | | | | appraised in order for a value determination to be |
| is not the only determinant of the end price of a | | | | made. |