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DIAMOND BUYING GUIDE
Price Considerations
As with anything else that you purchase, when buying a diamond, take a
good look at your budget and buy what you can afford. In general, the
equivalent of two month's salary is considered a good rule of thumb when
buying a diamond. Be wary of "sales" on diamonds. Diamond "sales"
are usually simply marketing gimmicks that are structured in such a way
that you don't truly save anything. The profit margin for diamonds is
much lower then normal jewelry. It is therefore much harder to offer deep
discounts on diamond pricing.
Educate Yourself
Know what the "4 C's of Diamond Grading" means. Educate
yourself before you begin your purchase considerations so that you know
the right questions to ask. Most jewelers are legitimate and can be trusted,
however, it is a good idea to know something about diamond value before
you start the process of finding the right diamond and associated setting.
Don't Be Afraid To Get an Appraisal And Certificate
Don't be afraid to ask for appraisal of your diamond by a certified gemologist.
If your jeweler seems hesitant about this idea or attempts to discourage
it, you may want to consider dealing with a different jeweler. Any legitimate
jeweler will not be afraid to have the diamond appraised. In any case,
be sure that you are provided with a certificate of authenticity when
purchasing your diamond.
Choose The Right Style
Choosing the right style for your diamond jewelry is a matter of personal
preference. There are many diamond shapes available and an unlimited variety
of settings from which to choose. Whether you go with a more traditional
and classic look or a more modern and cutting-edge look, be sure to get
something that the owner and wearer is going to be happy with. Solitaire
rings only have a single center stone, while other settings may have side
stones of various shapes and arrangements.
One very important consideration, in addition to the diamond
itself, is the type of precious metal from which the setting will be crafted.
White gold is the most popular type of precious metal requested for diamond
jewelry settings in today's market with platinum also resulting in substantial
sales while gold trails each of these types of metals. Combination settings
are also possible where 2 types of metals are used, such as yellow gold
and white gold. The contrast of metal types can result in very elegant
settings.
The ultimate consideration when deciding upon a diamond
and its setting is the satisfaction of the person that will ultimately
be wearing the diamond. If purchasing for someone else, look at the type
of jewelry that he/she already owns to help determine what styles they
like. Do they own two-tone jewelry (combination of yellow and white gold),
or all yellow gold, or all platinum? You can also ask his/her close friends
or family about preferences. Another possibility is to go "window
shopping" at your local jewelry store. Get him/her to point out several
pieces of jewelry and tell you what they like about them. This will help
you form a better opinion of what to buy.
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