It’s my kind of exciting day: When you’re ready to shop for a diamond.
People buy diamonds to celebrate all of life’s special moments like engagements, anniversaries, birthdays and other milestones. And they usually appreciate expert advice on how to narrow down a selection of diamonds to one that is just right for them.
For me, the most trusted source online to learn about diamonds is the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). From how to buy gemstones to caring for them to protecting them, GIA is the largest, most respected nonprofit source of gemological knowledge in the world. And they sure know diamonds, one of the world’s most admired and celebrated gemstones. As a GIA graduate myself, I can offer this advice on how to buy a diamond.
4 Steps to Buying a Diamond
Start with the 4Cs
Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat. These four attributes of a diamond help you understand its value and price, as well as its actual quality.
- Diamond Color – the less color in the stone, the more desirable and valuable it is.
- Diamond Clarity – the amount, size and placement of internal “inclusions” and external “blemishes.” A diamond with virtually no imperfections is graded “Flawless” whereas a diamond with a significant number of imperfections is graded “Included.”
- Diamond Cut – the proportion and arrangement of a diamond’s facets and the quality of workmanship determine the amount of brilliance, sparkle and fire it has.
- Diamond Carat – the higher a diamond’s carat weight, the more expensive it is.
Obtain a Diamond Grading Report
It gives an assessment of the 4Cs, a diagram of clarity characteristics and a graphic representation of proportions, usually from an unbiased, scientific source in a lab, such as GIA. The report is proof of what you are purchasing, an indisputable verification of its quality.
Protect Your Investment
Get an appraisal and buy an insurance plan. Both appraisers and insurers rely on diamond grading reports to accurately evaluate the value of gems. Have your diamond laser-inscribed with its GIA report number, to provide verification if it is ever lost or stolen.
Choose a Reputable Jeweler
One who has expert training from a highly-recognized and internationally accredited program. Your jeweler should be willing and able to provide clear answers to questions in language you can understand. Your jeweler will encourage you to compare several diamonds that fall in your budget. Your jeweler will not only explain the 4Cs, they will demonstrate the differences between similar stones, too.
Let Indy Facets Help You Buy a Diamond
From my onsite, state-of-the-art Custom Design Studio and Gemological Laboratory, I have all the latest technology to truly measure and identify every characteristic of any diamond you are considering. You will get the face-to-face interaction you deserve, in a private setting where you can relax and feel comfortable.
-Shaun Goodyear
Indy Facets – Everyone’s Private Jeweler
Indy Facets seamlessly blends the expertise and full service of a traditional jewelry store with the value and convenience of a personal jeweler experience. Owner/Designer Shaun Goodyear, a 2001 Graduate Jeweler Gemologist with Design and Wax from GIA, has earned an excellent reputation as Indiana’s private jeweler for engagement rings, custom design, investment grade diamonds and more. While attending GIA, Shaun studied jewelry design and hand rendering under the world-renowned Robert Ahrens, former head designer for Van Cleef and Arpels. Let Indy Facets help you choose the perfect diamond. Visit IndyFacets.com or call 317-810-1665 to schedule your one-on-one appointment today.