Upmarket Diamonds

Upmarket diamonds

Getting what you want

If you’re looking for diamonds, you need to know your way around. The jewellery industry has been trying hard to maintain standards, avoiding fakes and the notorious “blood diamonds” which have tainted the trade, but if you’re looking for quality you have to do some research. When you’re after something special like a diamond wedding ring, the more you know, the better.

Good diamonds are expensive, and they come with quality guarantees when you’re dealing with the top jewelers. That said, you need to know a good deal when you see one. The upmarket diamond trade is very much a deal-based market. In places like New York, where it’s actually advisable to know both a top line professional jeweler and have some idea of how to get the best quality stones.

The diamond market

There’s one basic rule in buying diamonds- Only deal with the true professionals.

New stones are coming on the market all the time, and thankfully they’re very much vetted by pro dealers, diamond cutters and jewelers before they’re let loose on the buying public. This multi-tier quality control is important, because the new stones get serious professional scrutiny. If you want a flawless 2ct diamond, you can get one, if you use your industry contacts.

The diamond dealers are the horse’s mouth for acquiring top quality stones. Their business depends on quality, and if you want an expert on hand before you start spending big money, they’re the source you need. At the retail end, you can use your jeweler to make inquiries through their trade contacts about possibilities for the top of the line diamonds. Jewelers tend to be picky about their trade contacts, so you get added protection and better information.

Prices and diamonds

Prices for diamonds aren’t set in stone, excuse the pun. They vary, and at the retail point of sale, deals are common. Since the jewellery trade began, thousands of years ago, jewellers have always been able to give competitive deals, and on an upmarket level, you can get decent deals which match the price brackets.

The quick way to sort out your diamond buying is really pretty simple:

• Decide on a budget figure, and stick to it.

• Decide on a cut and a quality definition, like a brilliant cut with no flaws, and say 1ct.

The definitions actually make things a lot easier for the diamond suppliers as well as the jeweller. These are useful parameters for them, because they can factor in their own profits and leave your budget intact.

That said-

Know your prices. Check out the available deals in your price range bandwidth. This can save you a lot of time and effort, as well as money, by simply knowing what’s available.

Remember, if you pay more, you should get more. If the price above your budget looks interesting, you ought to have some incentive to buy.

Whether you’re buying diamond rings or diamond necklaces, bracelets or tiaras, be picky. Buy what you want, not simply what’s offered.

A good jeweller, cutter or dealer can find the stone you want. Be patient, and you’ll get it.

Questions? Don’t understand something someone told you about diamonds? Not sure if you should really buy that diamond? Email me at diamonds@clarityofdiamonds.com and ask!

Be sure to check out the Clarity of Diamonds home page for daily recommendations of great value diamond purchases.