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Diamond Buyers' Guide |
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First, determine your budget. One general rule of thumb when buying a
diamond engagement ring is "two months salary." This is just a
guideline, it's not carved in stone and your first consideration should
be what you can comfortably afford.
Deciding
on carat size is really about striking a balance between size and
quality. If she prefers larger jewelry items, and you are working
within a budget, you can still find a larger diamond of excellent
quality by selecting one which is graded slightly lower in terms of
color and clarity.
Remember that slender fingers make small
diamonds look bigger. If she has small fingers, a 1-carat diamond will
look proportionately large -- and an even larger stone may appear
stunningly big!
Think about what sort of setting will hold the
diamond. You'll have to be sure that the setting you choose is made to
fit the carat weight of your diamond.
Learn about the 4 C's of Diamonds before you begin shopping.
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A grading report is a "blueprint" of a diamond, it tells you the
diamond's exact measurements and weight, as well as the details of its
cut and quality. It precisely points out all the individual
characteristics of the stone. Grading Reports also serve as proof of
the diamond's identity and value. A certificate is not the same thing
as an appraisal.
A
grading report describes the quality of a diamond, but it does not
place a monetary value on the gem. An appraisal places a monetary value
on your diamond, but does not certify the quality of the diamond.
There are many diamond labs that issue grading reports, but the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society Lab (AGSL) are the two most widely regarded and recognized diamond grading labs in the world.
Shopping
for diamonds with grading reports allows you to make an informed choice
about your selections, and to comparison shop. You can compare one
diamond with a particular weight and quality with other diamonds of
similar weight and quality to determine which is the better value.
If
a jewelry store offers to sell you a loose diamond without a grading
reports, keep in mind that it means you are buying the diamond based
only on the salesperson's claim about its quality, and that a trained
gemologist, like Stephen may disagree with the salesperson's
assessment. |
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