41位行业专家揭示了他们选择和购买钻石的因素

Finding out a diamonds origin is the first thing I want to know. Where did my diamond come from? Who found my stone and what makes it special? I want a stone I can tell my grandchildren stories about. I want to wear a diamond from a business that not only abides by the Kimberly Process initiative, but also provides a diamond that is guaranteed humanely derived and traceable to the very mine where it was discovered.

The Character is in the Cut – Another diamond must-have is a well-cut diamond. The cut of the stone determines the overall size, brilliance and effect, and denotes the personal character of wearer. Any jeweler will tell you that well-cut diamond is a necessity for sparkle and scintillation and can balance out any internal inclusions or color overtones.

I personally prefer a more unique cut and I love the option of recycled and hand-cut diamonds. While these diamonds may not have the brilliance of laser-cut diamonds, they do display that special artistry and history that is rarely seen in modern day cuts.

Furthermore, cut determines the shape, and therefore, the overall appearance of the diamond and can elicit the personal style of the wearer. If you have shorter fingers like me, look for emerald or oval-cut diamonds that lengthen and balance the look of your hands. After all, I plan on wearing my diamond forever.

Warranty and Care is Key– I always encourage my clients to seek a warranty or replacement program. Ensuring that your diamond, a true investment, is secure is probably the most important factor when finalizing your decision. Personally, I will only purchase from a business that will replace a diamond with another of similar value and appearance due to loss, theft, crack, chipping, etc. Trustworthy companies that offer warranty and insurance options with partial or full coverage of the diamond are the way to go.

Diamonds are an investment as much as they are symbolic, and having a safety net for this investment is an absolute necessity. With a guaranteed warranty, I also prefer to use a company that provides lifetime diamond care. Look for a business that provides a care and cleaning program on top of a warranty. The cut may make the diamond sparkle, but keeping it clean and secure is vital.

The above three suggestions apply to all diamond purchasers.

For those who can afford to pay for one or two more quality issues within your budget, then you ought to go for GIA tripe EX or for even a bit more go for AGS 000 graded diamonds. You need not purchase the finest cut diamonds unless you want that sort of perfection.

Most consumers have no real idea about cut quality or light return and they buy simply based on what limited selection they have seen. Consumers who are more educated and more aware, have a more challenging job, but one with the benefit of potentially getting a better looking diamond.

Every client has different ingredients as to what will be the perfect diamond for them. Some want size over quality, some want quality over size and some want a balance between the two. And because I don’t stock loose diamonds I can find a stone with the right ingredients for them.

Often times people shopping for an engagement ring spend so much time focusing on the diamond and they forget that the setting is also extremely important. This ring is going to be worn everyday and the setting needs to stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Most consumers don’t understand the manufacturing process, and that there are different ways to create a ring and different levels of quality.

I explain the manufacturing process to my clients so that they can appreciate the quality of the ring they are going to be purchasing/wearing. Every single ring is custom made around the specs of the diamond that they pick. Every claw is going to be at the right height, every diamond is going to be set at the same level and we use fresh gold for every casting.

I believe it’s also important to go to a place where they aren’t pushing you on their stock. Most retailers/wholesalers keep stock and they need to move their inventory. Often times, they educate their clients based on what they have to move. It’s important to understand all the factors and be able to pick the diamond that is perfect for you. Make sure you go to someone who will educate you and give you full disclosure on what you are purchasing.

You want to feel good and confident with one of the most important purchases of your life.

It is in alphabetical order and starts with the letter D and ends with the letter Z. D, E, and F are colorless and the whitest range for a diamond. Near colorless diamonds range from G through J and as they progress, they begin to become less white and show a slight tint of yellow.

From K through Z the diamonds begin to show more yellow progressively down the scale. Although diamonds naturally occur in many different colors and shades, traditionally this spectrum which is referred to natural white diamonds are the most common.

3. Clarity. Although not as important to a diamond’s visible beauty, my choices would be based on rarity. With this being said I would not want to over compensate in this category. The clarity of a diamond is based on internal characteristics of the diamond. Generally referred to as flaws or inclusions, there can be a variety or lack of internal characteristics in a diamond.

Diamond clarity grading is done under 10x magnification and depending on the clarity grade, internal blemishes may not be visible to the naked eye. This is where I would avoid overkill. The diamond clarity from best to worst begins with Flawless. FL or Flawless it then progresses to IF or internally flawless both are extremely rare.

Then the scale moves to VVS or very, very slight imperfection. In this and following ranges. there is a number 1 or 2 assigned to each grade to show the degree of the internal characteristics. Then there is VS or very slight imperfection, SI slight imperfection and finally I or imperfect.

In the imperfect range, there are three degrees I1, I2, I3 – progressively showing more internal characteristics. Generally in the imperfect range, the characteristics are visible to the naked eye. With that being said, I would rather have a diamond in the VS1-VS2 range in which the internal characteristics are small and very difficult to see under 10x magnification.

I addressed 3 of the 4 C’s, but these are the most important in choosing a diamond. The order I prefer may be different than someone else’s. But with twenty five years of experience and after viewing tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of diamonds, I feel these make the best balance and guide when shopping for a diamond.

The 4th C, which is carat or the weight of the diamond is a personal preference when shopping. It does affect rarity but also cost. If I were on a fixed budget, I would sacrifice size before any other of my choices when choosing a diamond.

I’m reminded of the “K” color diamond story. My client Sue gave my card to her boyfriend Joe to look at diamond with. But Joe heard from his buddies that you could do far better at the LA Jewelry mart. So down he went and got her a 1ct K color SI1 diamond. It had looked great under the intense diamond lights and he hadn’t learned about color grades. Hi figured, “It looks good, it’s a carat and I can afford it.” He bought a pre-made engagement ring and had the 1 carat popped in. The engagement ring had tiny side diamonds which were G color.

The third day Sue wore her ring, her center diamond looked positively grey. She showed it to me and I said, “anytime that diamond gets a bit dirty and darkens up a bit it just looks grey.” I sold her an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and she cleaned it every other day. After they’d been married for a year, she asked for an upgrade diamond and said she’d like to pick it. We found her a beautiful G color diamond. She paid the lion’s share of the upgrade cost because a grey diamond was not what she wanted to be wearing.

A compromise colored diamond can be really disappointing and a constant reminder of wrongness. I’d choose a smaller carat size to get a better color and clarity if that was the budget.

• The Cut And Color of a Diamond:

Cut is the sole factor that stimulates a diamond’s brilliance, fire, and sparkle. A diamond’s beauty greatly depends on cut more than any other factor. Thus, it is of utmost importance for me to buy a diamond with a superior cut. Also, I feel a diamond’s color speaks volumes about this eternal stone, thus I also bear this aspect in mind while buying a diamond.

There are many other factors to be taken into consideration when buying a diamond but these factors top the list.

These reviews provide valuable information on the experiences of previous clients. There may also be valuable product information. It would be important to have a direct line of contact to the company. A simple email or phone call will often determine how easy it is to contact the company. Important when buying an expensive item of jewellery.

Following these 3 priorities, there are many further factors, relating to many other details. From the return policy, to product specification, standard of certification, diamond cut grade and warranty. Most savvy purchasers should search for a seller who provides a good balance across all factors.

When a colorless diamond is cut well, it has an amazing sparkle, and can give the appearance of being a bigger diamond than it actually is. Although some people prefer diamond cuts with less of a sparkle, such as the Emerald cut, the Round Brilliant cut still remains the most popular of all because it is beautiful, classy, and sparkles like the sun.

The final factor that would most significantly affect my choice would be the carat size. Although the cut of the diamond and the setting of the ring can significantly affect the look of your center diamond, the most useful tip to get a diamond of the size that you’d like without paying the accompanying price tag is to buy approximately the carat size that you wanted. Once you reach carat sizes of significant increments, such as 1.00 or 2.00, the price of the diamond will rise.

However, a 0.98 carat diamond looks very similar to a 1.00 carat diamond, but will cost significantly less! The same is true for a diamond that weighs 2.90 carats – it may look like a 3 carat diamond, but won’t cost it. This information is most useful to people who would like a larger diamond, although there are definitely people who this does not concern, and the shape, clarity or brand name will be of more importance.

At the end of the day, jewelry is mostly about personal taste. However, this does not mean that your diamond needs to be sub-par! Depending on the type of diamond in question, different factors will be the most important in choosing your ideal purchase. However, the most important thing to remember is that since you are the one wearing the diamond every day, and getting the most enjoyment out of it, your final selection should be exactly what you have always dreamed of – and nothing less!

Take some time to find the exact style that suits you, by browsing the main diamond merchants online and narrowing down the styles that you like. You may even find it useful to follow a favorite diamond company on social media to see what advice, offers, and news they have to offer, as the professionals are just bursting with information that they can’t wait to share with you, and help you when you need it!

As the retailer, I would mention that the number of diamonds in circulation that can be considered to be of conflict origin is far lower than movies like Blood Diamond would have you believe; especially because of the steps taken to not allow them into circulation and because there are far fewer diamond producing countries in conflict than there were a decade ago.

Finally, as the retailer I would like the customer to know that even though Zimbabwean diamonds are within the Kimberley Process, we have chosen to still not offer diamonds of this origin due to the oppressive regime that governs the Zimbabwean people.

At this point, I would hope the customer is relatively at ease in terms of our sourcing policy and I would move on to the next two most important factors.

2. What is a grading report, is it important and which laboratory should I trust?

A grading report is a document that helps to identify the characteristics of your diamond. This is an appraisal and therefore it is someone’s opinion of your diamond and not facts set in stone. For this reason, you would want the opinion of someone who is highly qualified and very strict in their standards.

The most trusted lab in terms of quality and strictness in without a doubt, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). There are other labs out there, but test after test shows that the GIA is most consistent in its grading.

As a customer, I would like to know that the retailer’s diamonds are GIA graded, else I would be paying for a diamond that may or may not be as described in its report.

3. Finally, I would like to know which factor in a diamond’s characteristics is most important.

This is not an easy question to answer as it depends on individual preferences. In my opinion, I would answer, a diamond’s “cut” is the most important factor and one where you should demand the highest grade possible; “excellent”.

Cut is one of the few factors in a polished diamond that is affected by people as opposed to time and nature. The way a diamond has been cut affects its fire, brilliance and sparkle, thus distinguishing a diamond from a less valuable alternative.

Configuring the varying quality grades of the 4Cs will help you to find a diamond that matches your preference and fits your budget. If you want a slightly larger stone, you can increase the carat weight and lower the color, cut and clarity grades to keep it within your budget. But if you value the internal quality more, then you can lower the carat size and increase one of the other 4Cs.

Make sure that you exclude the middlemen from the process and buy as closely to the source as possible. Look for companies that sell at wholesale prices – which are considerably lower than retail prices due to lower overhead costs and less spending on glossy advertising.

Lastly, only buy diamonds that have been graded and certified. For this I would recommend the GIA as it is the most authoritative gem lab, with an internationally recognized quality standard and accuracy.

Yet it all starts with carat, color and cut. You may enjoy the technology in your car, but you fall in love with the way it feels like to drive it. With diamonds: carat size, color and cut determine what it feels like to wear it.

The colour of the inclusion? Is the material shiny and transparent? Does the stone flouresce? Extra facet?

Am I going to die soon? Should I retire? Why am I doing this? I make more money in the stock market!

This is what I think about when I buy a diamond.

(one last one, What am I going to eat for lunch?)

2. Recognize that, unless you have an unlimited budget, there is a trade-off between size and quality. For example, a top grade (D or E color, Flawless or VVS clarity) half carat diamond will cost roughly the same as a lower quality (L or M color, I2 clarity) two carat stone. Once mounted into jewelry, these subtle differences become difficult to discern, so finding a balance between size and quality is really a matter of the buyer’s preferences.

3. One “C” that should not be compromised on is the quality of cut: this is what gives a diamond its life by bringing out its fire and brilliance. GIA grades the cut of round brilliant cut diamonds on a scale from excellent to poor; the difference between an excellent cut and a fair or poor cut stone is obvious.

Carat represents the physical weight of a diamond, while the dimensions (described in millimeters) tell you how large it is and allows you to compare diamonds of similar weight more easily.

Moreover, diamonds are priced per carat and not per actual size. Therefore, you can save money by shopping for a 0.93 carat that has the same specifications and dimension size as a 1.01 carat.

2. Diamond Color. There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to color. All factors being equal, diamond color can sometimes be the most costly if you move up in the color range (or can save you the most money when moving down). Because of the different grading standards of certification, (not even mentioning the jewelers that still sell diamonds that are uncertified) most buyers don’t have a clue of how a genuine, near colorless diamond (G-J) can appear.

Purchasing a near colorless diamond rather than a colorless diamond will allow you to either save money on a stone of your chosen size, or purchase a larger stone. To determine your comfortable color range, arrange to go to a local jeweler and view only GIA certified diamonds.

3. Where you buy your diamond. As important as it is to select a high-quality diamond, you also need to give equal importance to where you buy your diamond. Do they have good policies? Are they honest and transparent? How have they been rated online?

Considering some recent horror stories with local jewelers selling fake or enhanced diamonds, selecting an honest jeweler should be a concern. Don’t be impressed by the look of a store or online site. Instead, do your research and make sure you are working with a trustworthy business.

GIA or AGS Certified: Not all diamond certification labs can be compared like apples to apples. You might think you are getting a great deal on that H color, VS2 clarity diamond, but if you look closely, and you see that it is NOT certified by GIA or AGS, it might actually not even BE an H-VS2.

It might be a J-I1, in which case, it is worth exactly what you are paying for it. It might be clarity enhanced or laser drilled and filled. In which case, God help you if you take your ring in for retipping and it explodes while the jeweler is soldering the new tips on.

The bottom line is that there aren’t many really great diamond deals out there. The pricing is going to be accurate for what the diamond ACTUALLY IS. How do you know what the diamond actually is? Make sure it is GIA or AGS certified.

Cut: This is the only thing that man (or woman) does to the stone (unless it is enhanced). If you are going to invest in a diamond, choose one that is well cut. For a round diamond, GIA will tell you what the light performance is (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Poor, Fair).

For other shapes, get help from a knowledgeable diamond sales professional when choosing your diamond; proper angles and proportions of the cut can make a huge difference to the sparkle, fire and scintillation of your stone.

3) Finally, a slightly counter intuitive piece of advice: make sure you like it! Diamonds are like snowflakes; each one is different and unique. The 5 C’s and all the paperwork in the world can’t tell you if you are going to love the diamond until you see it on your finger or ear.

Use every other criteria to help narrow down your options. But of those options, choose the diamond that catches your eye. Pick the one that speaks to you. If you haven’t found that stone yet, keep looking and accept nothing less.

The third and one of the more obvious factors would be the clarity of a stone. Not only does a higher clarity stone make it more rare and sought after but it also let’s a diamond reflect light internally with out interruption. Before light gets returned back up through the table, the interior of the diamond works like a house of mirrors.

Light bounces all around and gets dispersed into colors of the prism as it exits the stone, so anything in the way will hinder that. But the type, size and number of inclusions are also important in affecting the quality of the diamond. So, seeing the stone in real life will let you see how these different factors work together in creating a lovely stone.

Sometimes if the inclusions are clear, and off to the side it may make the stone have a lower clarity grade. But if they are small enough and placed in such a way, they might not visually impact the stones beauty.

So it comes back to being able to see the stone itself and the different factors come together to make a stone a gem!