Buying diamond jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of diamond jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality diamond jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online." />
Buying Diamonds Without Being Ripped Off
Buying diamond jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of diamond jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality diamond jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Diamonds
A diamond's value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of "slightly included" may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.
Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers should tell you if the diamond you're considering has been fracture-filled.
Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or pots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.
While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That's because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you're considering has been laser-drilled.
Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones.
For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com/index.html to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at
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Why would I want my diamond certified by the DCLA?
The DCLA is the only laboratory in Australia endorsed by CIBJO and the IDC (International Diamond Council.) Anybody with a DCLA certificate can contact the laboratory to ensure their diamond matches the certificate as a complete database is kept of all diamonds certified.
I want to get a diamond certified before I buy it, what should I do?
It is strongly advised that you purchase a diamond that has already been certified. Most reputable jewellers will sell diamonds that have already been certified by an independent, recognised laboratory. If you want the DCLA to certify a diamond we will gladly assist you, please give us a call for more information.
I have a "valuation" is this not the same as a certificate?
No. A valuation is only done once the stone has been set in the ring. Impurities are hidden, colour is obscured and weight has to be estimated. This makes it impossible to determine the exact characteristics ("4 C's") of the diamond. Another worrying development is the introduction of new and more sophisticated synthetic diamonds that can only be detected in a sophisticated laboratory. A valuation should only be prepared AFTER the diamond has been certified
If I buy a certified diamond, how do I know that the diamond in my ring is the one described in the certificate?
A sure fire method of ensuring this is to laser inscribe the certificate number or a personalised message on the girdle (outside perimeter) of the diamond. Alternatively you can bring your ring into the laboratory and we can verify it for you.
Can laser inscription damage my diamond?
The DCLA uses cold laser technology, which is guaranteed not to damage the diamond. Beware of stones that have been lasered using a hot laser as this could damage the diamond.
What are “synthetic” diamonds?
Synthetic diamonds or “man-made” diamonds are created in a laboratory using either HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) or CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition). The DCLA will only certify natural, untreated diamonds and therefore will not certify synthetic stones. The DCLA has acquired the only DTC DiamondView machine in Australia. This machine was specifically developed by De Beers’s research laboratories to detect synthetic diamond.
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