Your Ultimate Guide to Shopping For Diamonds
When shopping for diamonds, there are a lot of factors to consider before making a purchase. Here are some expert-approved tips to follow when buying diamonds.
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Your first diamond purchase is a moment you never forget. Whether itâs a pair of diamond earrings or an engagement ring, these jewelry pieces are designed to last and often mark a special occasion.Â
Diamond jewelry generally falls on the more expensive side and is considered a luxury item. With such a significant price tag attached to diamonds, itâs important to move through the shopping process with careful consideration. From the cut of the diamond to its setting style, there are many factors to think about before ultimately making a purchase. If youâre struggling to find a starting point or are unsure about how to evaluate the quality of diamonds youâve been eyeing, weâve got you covered.Â
We spoke with Olivia Landau, a fourth-generation GIA-certified gemologist and founder of The Clear Cut, to get her tips for shopping for diamonds. Keep scrolling to find a complete guide on how to select diamonds that suit your style and budget.
Before starting the process of buying a diamond, itâs crucial to have a clear understanding of the 4Cs. Each of the 4Csâcut, color, clarity, and caratâare characteristics that will help you evaluate the overall quality and value of a diamond, according to Landau.
The cut of a diamond refers to its overall shape and is one of the most important factors to consider. âThe cut determines how well a diamond reflects light, which affects its brilliance, fire, and sparkle,â says Landau. âA well-cut diamond will appear more vibrant and dazzling, regardless of its size.â She explains that round brilliant diamonds are the only style to have a cut grade, while other diamond shapes are referred to as âfancy shapesâ with a polish and symmetry designation. The cut, polish, and symmetry of these shapes will be graded as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor.
When it comes to color, diamonds that lack color are actually considered more valuable because, as Landau explains, more light can pass through them which enhances the brilliance of the stone. All diamonds are graded on a scale from Dâcolorless diamondsâto Zâdiamonds with a yellow or brown tint. While a D-graded diamond is often the most in-demand, a stone that falls in the middle can be more budget-friendly. âNear-colorless diamondsâgrades G to Jâcan also appear white to the naked eye and may offer better value,â says Landau.
The clarity of a diamond measures whether there are any inclusions or blemishes on the stone, which impacts a diamondâs overall value. These internal and external flaws are graded on a scale from Flawless (FL) to Included (I). While flawless diamonds are considered the most valuable, they are also rare, so donât count out diamonds with small inclusions when making a purchase. âMost inclusions are microscopic, so a diamond with slight inclusionsâVS1 or VS2âcan still appear flawless to the naked eye,â says Landau.
âCarat refers to the diamondâs physical weight, not size,â explains Landau. âLarger diamonds are rarer and more expensive, but carat alone doesnât determine value.â While you might have your mind set on a specific carat weight, explore a variety of sizes in different styles to find the one that works best for your needs. A large carat weight may not necessarily equate to the overall best-looking diamond. âA smaller, well-cut diamond with excellent color and clarity may appear more stunning than a larger, lower-quality diamond,â says Landau.
Once you have a solid understanding of the 4Cs, youâll want to set a budget for your diamond jewelry. In the case of engagement rings, Landau recommends discussing a budget with your partner to make sure your expectations align. Then, decide which diamond characteristics are the most important to you, whether thatâs carat weight or cut. âResearch prices based on your desired 4C balance to understand what fits your budget,â advises Landau. âKeep in mind that small adjustments in color or clarity can significantly impact price without noticeable differences in appearance.â
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After narrowing down your diamond criteria and budget, itâs time to make a few style decisions. Diamonds come in a variety of shapes, from oval to marquise, and each offers its own unique set of characteristics. Deciding on a shape is mostly up to your preferences, so here are some of the popular diamond shapes you should know.
A round brilliant diamond is one of the most classic shapes. According to Landau, the round-shaped diamond features â58 facets designed to maximize sparkle and brilliance.â Itâs a timeless and versatile shape that she says makes it suitable for any setting or style.Â
A variation of a traditional round diamond, oval-cut diamonds have an elongated round shape. Landau says this shape can create âthe illusion of longer fingers while offering a similar brilliance to the Round.â Itâs a modern and sophisticated choice that can also make a diamond appear larger.Â
Another elegant option is an emerald-cut diamond. Landau says the rectangular-shaped diamond features âstep-cut facets that emphasize clarity over brilliance,â which gives it a clean and understated appearance. She also notes that emerald diamonds highlight clarity, as the linear facets help more light shine through the stone.
Cushion-cut diamonds feature a combination of shapes. According to Landau, a cushion-cut diamond resembles a pillow with its square or rectangular shape and rounded corners. This shape offers a more vintage and romantic appearance.Â
If youâre in the market for a statement shape, consider a pear-shaped diamond. A pear diamond is âshaped like a teardrop with a pointed endâ making for a bold and unique piece of jewelry, says Landau. The eye-catching design can be worn two ways, with the pointed end facing upwards or downwards.Â
Marquise diamonds are considered a symbol of vintage glamour. Landau explains that a marquise diamond is âshaped like a football with pointed endsâ which offers a âdramatic and eye-catching effect.â She also notes that the unique style can create the illusion of a larger diamond.
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After youâve chosen a diamond shape, youâll want to decide how youâd like the stone to be set. âWhen it comes to setting styles, different diamond shapes pair best with specific designs, each offering distinct benefits,â says Landau. Here are a few of the diamond setting styles to note.Â
A solitaire setting features a diamond that is set in a piece on its own with no accent diamonds. Landau says this style âhighlights the diamond as the focal pointâ and emphasizes a diamondâs overall size and quality. A solitaire setting complements round brilliant, oval, emerald, cushion-shaped diamonds.
In a bezel setting, there is a metal frame that surrounds the whole diamond. According to Landau, âIt offers a modern, sleek look and excellent protection, making it perfect for active lifestyles.â Consider a round brilliant, oval, emerald, or antique-cut diamond with this setting style.
An east-west setting places a diamond horizontally rather than vertically. Landau notes that this setting offers âa unique and modern twist that highlights the diamondâs length.â This would pair well with oval, marquise, emerald, or pear-shaped diamonds.
In a halo setting, smaller diamonds are placed around a center diamond which creates a halo. This style will enhance the brilliance of the diamonds and make the center stone appear larger, says Landau. For an especially glamorous appearance, pair a halo setting with a round brilliant, cushion, oval, or pear-shaped diamond.
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With so many places to shop for diamonds, both online and in-store, it can be difficult to know where to buy. Landau recommends doing some research on your jeweler, determining whether they are a graduate gemologist, if they work with natural or lab-grown diamonds, and, in the case of natural diamonds, whether the diamonds are GIA-certified. Even affordable diamond jewelry can cost upwards of $1,000, so you want to work with a jeweler who has great reviews or comes heavily recommended. âChoose a jeweler who listens to your preferences and doesnât pressure you into a purchase,â advises Landau. "A jeweler who will guide you through the shopping process and understand that buying diamonds is a big purchase will help make you more confident in your decisions."
Once youâve found a diamond youâd like to purchase, check to see if it comes with a trusted grading report, such as one from the Gemological Institute of America. âFocus on the key attributes of the 4Cs, which will be detailed in the report,â advises Landau. âCheck for any comments regarding fluorescence or inclusions that might affect appearance.â Youâll also want to verify the measurements and proportions of the diamond to ensure it aligns with the overall cut grade. Landau suggests comparing grading reports for multiple diamonds to âfind the best balance of quality and value.â
Itâs important to be confident in your choice of diamonds before purchasing, so donât feel as if you need to rush into it. âCompare multiple options to see how different diamonds look in person, verify the diamondâs grading report and authenticity, consider the setting style and ensure it complements the diamond shape, and work with a jeweler you trust,â says Landau. Once all the technical decisions have been made, you should ultimately trust your instincts and go for the diamonds that feel the most right to you.Â
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