|
|
Buying a diamond can be one of the most exciting, confusing, rewarding and nerve wracking experiences in your life, especially if the diamond is for an engagement ring that marks a lifetime of commitment and love.
When shopping for diamonds, educating yourself as a diamond consumer is very important. The more you know about diamonds, the more likely you will get the best diamond. Here are some key points to focus on when shopping for diamonds.
Budget: What is your budget? You should know your target budget and also what the "absolute maximum" amount you can afford before you walk into any store and before the emotion of shopping takes over.
If you are shopping for a gift such as an engagement ring, pay attention to what kind of rings or jewelry your girlfriend's family, friends and associates wear. If the sisters have one carat diamond engagement rings, you have just added a valuable piece of information to the diamond buying equation.
The easiest way to shop around when buying a diamond is to look at online retailer first. Read about shapes, color, clarity, carat weight, cut, costs and certifications. Don't feel like you have to become an expert but you want to become comfortable with the terminology so you will know what questions to ask.
At this point in the process you need to focus on determining which shape is the best of the diamond shapes for you. If this is going to be a gift, this is the one thing you really need to get some feedback on from the gal. Don't make a mistake and get the one shape she really dislikes. Even if this is going to be a surprise, you can get some input in a subtle way so make that your new mission.
Now you need to go look at some diamonds in person. Check out several stores and see if you can see the differences between color grades and clarity grades. See what diamonds have the most sparkle and brilliance and collect information on those diamonds. Remember you are still in the education phase so don't give in to high pressure sales. It is very unlikely the best diamond for you is any you have just examined.
The next step is to conduct some online shopping to get a feel for what diamonds cost. We recommend using the diamond price calculator at www.DiamondSourceVA.com. This is a tool that lets you quickly find the estimated price for various combinations of shapes, color, clarity, and carat weights.
Determine what the best quality of diamond is going to be for you. Keep in mind the size factor for your girlfriend's family and social circle. What combination of color, clarity and carat weight are going to make you and your happiest? Remember that you have to balance that with the budget you targeted at the start of this process.
There are many diamond retailers who would like to sell you a diamond. You have to determine which one is going to be able to provide the best diamond at the best price and do that in a professional, comfortable and responsive manner. You probably have numerous local jewelry options and hundreds of online retailers that all claim to be the best. Find the diamond experts who tell the truth, are responsive to your questions and can search the entire wholesale market for the best diamond value meeting your requirements.
Once you have purchased the best diamond, you still need to transform it into a ring. If your girlfriend has not given you explicit directions on exactly what setting she wants for the ring, we recommend presenting it in a simple solitaire mounting. You can then let her have an active role in picking the ring she will love to have on your finger for many years and it will show her how you value her opinion and involvement. There are tens of thousands of different ring styles and it is very unlikely that you will find the one that she likes the best without her involvement.
Before you present the diamond, be sure to get the ring or piece of jewelry insured. You want the person who is wearing it to enjoy it and that means you need the piece of mind that comes with proper insurance. Store warranties are not the same as insurance and are often worthless when it comes to replacing a lost, stolen or damaged diamond so get your diamond jewelry properly insured.
Last but not least, make sure you present your diamond gift in a manner that she will remember for years to come. You have worked hard to follow the guidelines and have purchased a beauty diamond so don't drop the ball now. Spend the appropriate time and energy to make the presentation worthy of the gift and the person receiving it.
Discover more secrets in how to buy a diamond... Click Here
Wide Selection of Low Priced Jewelry
If you are looking for rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces, check out the following links for a wide selection of diamonds, pears, gemstones and more at very low prices! Free gift boxing, secure online shopping, a 30-day money back guarantee and free FedEx shipping on order over $150.
