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Buying Loose Diamonds And How To Buy Them
Buying loose diamonds these days is a popular proposition among diamond buyers. Aside from being able to set the diamond in personalized jewelry, buying loose stones and setting them in molds is actually cheaper to do than a buying a ready jewelry set. Sure, you can always commission a jeweler to customize jewelry for you, but this is an even more expensive thing to do.
In buying loose diamonds, there are two factors you must consider: you personal taste and your reason for buying. Diamonds come in different shapes – round, oval, marquise, emerald, trilliant, heart, and pear – and every shape has it with it a different personality that may or may not match your own personality.
There are also many reasons why people buy diamonds. Some people buy for love, others buy it for investment. Investment grade diamonds are always more expensive, but the reason is neither always obvious nor visible to the naked eye. You will need a grading report done by an independent grading agency to assess if the diamond is really worth its price in the market.
There are generally two places that you can buy your diamonds from: out there on the Internet in online jewelry stores and offline in jewelry stores. The main concern for both types of stores is finding reputable stores who sell real deals and who can provide a certificate for the diamond’s authenticity and quality. With online jewelry stores, the challenge is in knowing for sure if the diamond looks good in real life as in the picture.
Thus far, the most popular cut of loose diamonds is the emerald cut because it highlights the clarity of the stone. In fact, emerald cut loose diamonds have a huge, “cultish” following among buyers.
Buy Them Loose, Buy Them Small, Buy Them Bulk
The best way to buy loose diamonds is to buy small stones. When you’re at a jewelry store, ask for 10x eye loupe to examine the stone up close. But if you’re in the habit of buying loose diamonds, you’re better off buying an eye loupe and bringing it with your wherever you go. Of course, the best way check on a diamond’s clarity is to check it with stereoscopic binocular microscope, which features dark field lighting.
The best way to buy anything cheap is to buy an item in bulk. This is true for diamonds. Jewelers typically buy loose diamonds in bulk and then set them in jewelry or use them to embellish accessories.
There is actually an online clearinghouse for loose diamonds, where retailers meet with wholesalers. The retailers buy at the cost price and re-sell it for marked-up price to consumers.
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