Diamond Guide

How to Spot A Fake Diamond

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In this world of advanced technology it is almost impossible to simply look at a diamond and determine whether it is real or
not – especially if you don’t know much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can take to avoid buying a fake

diamond, however.

First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with them. Avoid buying diamonds or

other jewelry from jewelers that you have never dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If

no certificate exists, walk away.

Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set in low quality metals. Take a

close look at the stone. Fake diamonds are not durable – natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the most durable stone on

the planet. Look for scratches or nicks.

After purchasing a diamond, take it to another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers for an

appraisal to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly close. If you find that you have purchased a fake diamond, you may

be accused of making a switch when you return to the store of your purchase; therefore, it is important to have a certificate

for the diamond. No two stones are alike.

How to Sell A Diamond

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There are many reasons why you may want to sell a diamond that you own. Perhaps you’ve gotten divorced, or you are strapped
for cash. The reasons why don’t really matter – getting the best possible price is what counts! The way to obtain the best

price for the diamond is to not be in a rush. Slow down, and carefully consider all of your options – there are many.

First, have the diamond appraised. In fact, have it appraised by two or three jewelers to get an accurate idea of the

diamonds value. Tell the appraiser that you want the Rapaport Value. This is the wholesale value of the diamond, and it

basically tells you the highest price that you can sell your diamond for. If your diamond has no certificate, you should
consider getting a certificate from GIA. This may help you get a better price for the diamond as well.

First, try to sell the diamond yourself, to people you know. Friends and family members may be interested. If you don’t have
any luck with friends or family members, you should turn to outside sources. Absolutely avoid pawn shops! A pawn shop will

only offer you about 10% of what the diamond is worth! Also avoid offers of selling the ring on consignment. There are many

things that can go wrong, and there is no shortage of diamond scams – even in well known jewelry stores.

If the diamond is important, you should strongly consider auctioning it off through one of the famous auction houses, such as
Christie’s or Sotheby’s. If it isn’t what is considered an ‘important’ diamond or a high-end diamond, you should try to sell

it to an individual using classified ads, or even eBay. However, selling to an individual that you do not know could put you

in danger – especially if the diamond is worth a lot of money.

Your final option should be a jewelry store. It is vital that you not let your diamond out of your sight while in the jewelry

store – you might find that the diamond you walked in with is not the same diamond that you walk out with! The jeweler will

try to tell you that your diamond is of poor quality or low weight. Inevitably, there will be some problem with the diamond.

This is where your appraisal and/or certificate will come in handy.

If the jeweler is fair, they will offer you between 60% and 80% of the value of the Rapaport Value. Do not accept anything

less than this. Again, do not let the diamond out of your sight until you have been paid for it.

How to Care for Your Diamond

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Caring for a diamond takes more than occasional cleanings. Diamonds are forever, but they can be damaged if you are not
careful. By learning how to properly care for your diamond, you will ensure that your diamond is indeed forever.

First, you should take your diamond jewelry to a jeweler once a year. Have him check the mountings and prongs that hold your
diamond in place. Have him make any needed repairs. This will prevent your diamond from falling out of its setting and
becoming lost.

Diamond jewelry that is not being worn, or diamonds that are loose should be stored in a fabric lined jewel case, or in a

jewelry box where it can be kept separate from other jewelry. Each piece should have its own compartment. This will keep

diamonds from becoming scratched, and it will also keep your diamond from scratching other jewelry as well.

Remove your diamond jewelry when doing physical work. Diamonds can be chipped and scratched easily. Also avoid allowing
your diamond to come into contact with bleach or other household cleansers – this can damage or change the color of the
settings and mountings, and it may even irreversibly change the color of the diamond!

How to Buy Diamond Engagement Rings

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There is much to consider when purchasing a diamond – especially diamond engagement rings! The tradition of presenting a

woman with a diamond engagement ring when proposing began in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond ring to Mary

of Burgundy – and in most cases, the woman you plan to propose to will expect a ring to accompany that proposal!

First, determine how much ring you can afford. Most people use the ‘two months salary’ rule. This means that the ring should
cost the equivalent of two months of your current salary. Because you have other bills to pay, saving up this amount of money

may take quite a bit of time. You should consider financing. Simply go to the jeweler of your choice and tell them that you

plan to buy an engagement ring, and that financing will be necessary. Go ahead and get the credit check out of the way, find

out what your payments will be, and how much of a down payment is required.

Now, have your mother, sister, or your girlfriends best friend take your girlfriend shopping, and make sure that they gaze at
the engagement rings to get an idea of what she might like. Make sure that the jewelry store you buy the ring from will allow

you to return the ring, if that is required, or allow your girlfriend to exchange it for another if she isn’t happy with it!

How to choose the cut of a diamond

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There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut

into – unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business, but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact

on how much the diamond sparkles, but the actual cutting itself – when the diamond cutter actually cuts the diamond into a
particular shape – also matters a great deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.

However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond doesn’t refer to its shape at all. Instead, this is a reference to the

stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a

missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets.

When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different
diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut – the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.