Friday, August 6, 2010

Diamond Jewelry Gifts Purchasing Tips

If you're a man, you're probably thinking of giving your bride-to-be a diamond ring and would like to ask her to marry you. The idea seems simple, all you have to do is go to a jewelry store, purchase a diamond ring, and propose to her. Realistically speaking though, this isn't always the case because when you first look at the price tag of your chosen sparkler you'll soon realize how nerve-racking it really is to purchase diamond jewelry gifts. If you are planning to buy a diamond, it is imperative that you take charge of your transaction, and in order to do so you must be well informed about the tricks of the trade in order for you to get the most for your money.

According to gemologist and diamond expert, Fred Cuellar, there are four basic things that one has to remember when purchasing diamond jewelry gifts: budget, expectations, savvy and timetable. When it comes to budget, you should be able to allocate the amount that you could afford and as much as possible should not exceed your laid budget plan; a month's salary could already suffice for you to buy a diamond. Expectations demand for you to know and understand the needs and wants of the person to whom you will give the diamond; this way you will know what type and design to pick. Being savvy is a manner with which you must be aware of the cost of sparklers in the market as well as the designs available; and for timetable, you must know when you will purchase and when you will give the diamond, but be sure to give yourself more time to analyze things so that you could be prepared in any case.

Now that you have an idea about the basics of purchasing diamond gifts, you must also be aware where to purchase your sparklers. There are two options available for you to be able to secure your diamond jewelry gifts: go online or visit your local jewelry stores. Buying online is a practical way to secure your diamond without the need to drive around since everything you need is just a click away; however, you should also consider the drawbacks associated with this practice, first you can't appraise the jewelry and second you don't know with whom you are transacting with; if this option is good enough for you, it is crucial for you to do an intensive background check so that you can be assured that you would really get the diamond you are about to purchase. The second and probably the safest option is to buy on your local jewelry shop; aside from the fact that you could appraise the diamond, long time jewelers could also answer your questions which would assist you in making your purchasing decisions.

Now for the diamond itself, you must always consider the 4Cs of diamond which stands for clarity, color, cut and carat as they are the determining factor of how the diamond will cost. Clarity refers to the absence and presence of blemishes and inclusion in a diamond. Different types of diamond are assigned with clarity grades that may range from flawless to obvious inclusions. In fact, there are so-called clarity enhanced sparklers that are treated to reduce their imperfections via irradiation, filling imperfections, or laser drilling, but they are cheaper than diamond pieces that aren't treated.

With regards to color, diamond pieces are available in different shades; however, colored diamond pieces are very rare and expensive, so it is more likely that when you visit shops you'd observe that only white and yellow sparklers are available but between these two colors, it's always best to settle for whiter diamond pieces. The yellow coloring of sparklers came from nitrogen; hence the yellower the stone, the lesser its value this is because such color makes the diamond less sharp and sparkly. When it comes to cut, diamond pieces could be cut in different ways, the most common of which is the round brilliant cut. When you look at the cut always remember that aside from indicating the stone's shape, it also determines how sparkly your diamond could become.

It is never enough for a diamond to be clear and white, because your diamond will not sparkle unless it is cut properly. Cut is especially hard to analyze, it would be helpful to know its three primary characteristics: brilliance, fire and scintillation; however, to make things much easier, you may want to consider the round brilliant cut as this is the standard diamond cut. Lastly, the carat refers to the unit weight of a diamond. Majority of diamond pieces utilized for fine jewelry often weight one carat or less; a fraction of a carat could significantly change the amount of the diamond.

If you intend to buy diamond jewelry gifts, chances are, you're having trouble with what to pick. Regardless if you want to buy a round brilliant cut diamond or clarity enhanced diamond, it is always advised to adhere to the BEST guideline which refers to budget, expectations, savvy and timetable. You should also consider the 4Cs of diamond which stands for carat, color, clarity and cut.

-Lorraine Jacobs

5 comments:

  1. Nice tips. Indeed diamond jewelry is a precious commodity since time immemorial. Good to know that there are more sites now where we can surf to find the cheapest and best offers. ProvoDiamonds.com is also another good site. You should check it out some time.

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  2. Diamonds are as varied as people are, and choosing or wearing the right diamond can make a unique statement about the person wearing it or the love of the person giving it. Diamonds are a specialization of Provo Jewelers who can provide you with that perfect diamond jewelry gift for your loved one.

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  3. I found an awesome jewelry company in Provo! They have great prices, so when anyone goes in there if they don't want to break the bank they don't have to. Thanks for the great tips. Diamonds are really important they will last all of time.

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  4. So if I see a ring online on cragislist or something, is there a way that I might be able to estimate the value without getting it appraised? Are there any rules for jewelry in general to follow? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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  5. Fred Cuellar's four things to remember about ring shopping are not the regular four things most jewelers tell you to keep in mind (they all start with "c" and are mentioned later in the article). But his are a little bit more practical, I think. When my fiance were visiting Provo jewelers to find my ring, we quickly saw how overwhelming it was. If we had known about Cuellar's tips, I think it would have been less so. Luckily, we made it through and are getting married in a month and a half.

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