Buying diamonds and diamond jewelry online can be as safe and simple as buying diamonds in-store. All it takes is to identify the perfect stone in a design you love from a trusted online jewelry store. Whether you are shopping for diamonds for your pleasure, as heirloom jewelry or as an investment, this diamond buying guide will help you identify the best one for you.
Since they were first discovered, diamonds have been on the most-wanted list of kings, queens and everyone who wants to be valued and cherished. If you want to communicate value to someone you love, then the best way to do it is with a diamond ring or a pair of diamond earrings. This magnifique sparkling stone has only gained value over the decades because of its "forever" qualities, including the distinction of being the hardest natural substance on the planet.
When buying jewelry with diamonds, we usually look at it from two perspectives — the design of the piece and the price. But it's also more than that. To get value for the price you pay, diamond quality matters the most. Besides the diamond's quality grading, a diamond's shape also matters.
♦ Diamond quality certification
♦ Diamond shape
♦ Design, setting, material
You have probably heard this before, but it never hurts to understand what the 4 Cs stand for before you buy a diamond because they influence diamond prices and value.
In the diamond industry, the 4 Cs are the most widely accepted grading scales used to identify the best-quality diamonds. The 4 Cs represent a diamond's cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. Each of these factors separately and together determines a diamond's quality and, therefore, diamond price.
Diamond sellers and jewellers present diamond-grade certificates from independent diamond-grading laboratories. Some of the widely accepted certificates are from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), International Gemological Institute (IGI), AnchorCert Gem Lab, and HRD Antwerp.
Loose diamonds are sold on the market in their raw and uncut form or as polished and cut stones. A rough diamond is usually cut and polished before it is sold to jewellers or used in diamond jewelry. In fine diamond jewelry, the diamond cut determines the quality of a diamond more than all the other Cs.
A well-cut diamond means the facets of the stone fully interact with light to give the best brilliance and scintillation. Precise artistry and workmanship are required to fashion a stone so its proportions, symmetry and polish deliver the magnificent return of light favouring scintillation, fire and brilliance which are the mark of a quality diamond.
Diamond cut grade is the defining feature when buying a diamond ring, earring or pendant. Diamond cut grades can range from Excellent to Poor. Most stones in the diamond market are graded Excellent, Very Good or Good. A diamond with a Poor cut grade looks lifeless and dull.
For diamonds, a higher colour grade actually indicates that it is colourless or white. Low-grade white diamonds do not look white to the naked eye. Generally, even the finest diamonds, when examined under magnification, exhibit light yellow, grey or brown hues.
In the last two or more decades coloured diamonds have become very popular. The more vivid or rare the diamond colour, the more expensive it is. Coloured diamonds come in fancy colours such as yellow (ranging from champagne to brilliant canary), brown (pale pink to cognac to chocolate), black, grey and pink. Natural red and blue diamonds are extremely rare while lab-grown diamonds can be had in any fancy colour.
Diamond colour grades in the GIA scale range from D to Z. A diamond marked D is a "colourless" diamond of investment-level quality. Such a diamond would cost more than an F or G colour diamond, even if they were of the same cut and clarity of equal carat weight. Diamonds of D, E, and F colours are more expensive.
The clarity grade of diamonds refers to the absence or presence of internal inclusions and surface blemishes that are not visible to the naked eye but can be detected when you examine the diamond closely under 10x magnification. Internal flaws bring down a white diamond's brilliance and shine.
Diamond clarity grades range from Flawless (F), IF, Very Very Slightly Included (VVS), VS to Included (I).
A diamond's weight is expressed in carats (ct.). A one carat diamond weighs 0.2 grams. We must not confuse carat weight with diamond size, although the size of the diamond does increase as its carat weight increases. If all other factors are equal, a diamond of lower carat weight, say a half-carat diamond, will appear smaller and cost less than a one-carat diamond.
Carats influence diamond price/value. Generally, the price of a diamond increases as its carat increases. It happens because diamonds have higher prices at certain "magic numbers" or benchmarks: 0.50ct., 1.00ct. and 2.25ct.
Diamond buying tip for you
There is no significant difference in size between a one-carat diamond and one that weighs 0.93 to 0.95ct. But there is a considerable difference in price between these two weight points. So, choosing a diamond that weighs just slightly under the "magic number" will save you a lot of money.
When buying diamond jewelry, one of the biggest game changers is the shape of the gemstone. However, a diamond's cut is not to be mistaken for "diamond shape". Shape refers to the form of the diamond itself. The most popular diamond shape seen on engagement rings is the classic round diamond, also called the round brilliant. Other popular fancy and modern shapes are the Princess and Cushion (square diamond), Pear, Marquise, Heart, and Emerald/Baguette/Radiant (rectangle diamond).
The ever-popular diamond shape, the round diamond also called the brilliant cut diamond. This classic cut is featured in most engagement ring designs. Many prefer round diamonds because the brilliance is maximised in brilliant cut rounds, while the appearance of inclusions is minimised. This means you can choose a mid- to low-clarity grade round brilliant diamond ring with confidence.
Princess cut
A princess-cut diamond may be square or rectangular when viewed from the top. When viewed from the side, a princess-cut diamond resembles an inverted pyramid with bevelled sides. They are the second most favoured diamond shape after round brilliant diamonds for engagement. The technical term for princess-cut diamonds is "square-modified brilliant".
The cushion-cut diamond has a square table with soft angled corners. These diamonds have many facets like the brilliant cut diamond. Cushion-cut diamonds rank third in popularity after round-brilliant and princess-cut engagement rings.
Pear-cut diamonds are a modern introduction combining the evergreen round with the pointed marquise. A pear-cut diamond stands out for its uniqueness and eye-catching elongated looks. It is trending today among young women and brides as a symbol of empowerment and strength. When cut correctly, a pear-cut diamond will have its tip aligned to the mid-point of the rounded end.
The Baguette and the Emerald Cut
Both the baguette-shaped diamond and the emerald-cut diamond are step-cut and have a long rectangular table. The baguette has sharp corners while the emerald-cut has cut-off corners. Rectangular diamonds are both sophisticated and compelling in appearance. This kind of diamond is best suited for diamonds with high-clarity grades as any blemish in the centre will be visible. Emerald cuts and other step cuts will not have the brilliance of round brilliant, princess, or cushion-cut diamonds. However, the rectangle shape is for you if you want to sport a large diamond profile with a subtle and classy look.
While the design of the jewelry and the quality of the diamonds (the 4 Cs) are very important, the diamond shape also plays a major role in diamond pricing especially when buying a solitaire or engagement ring with a larger diamond. Fancy diamond shapes have prices 10-43% lower than round-cut diamonds!
Some fancy-shape diamonds appear larger than round brilliants. Oval, pear, emerald, and marquise cuts can appear larger because of their elongated look. Rectangular cushion, radiant, and princess cuts also have the same effect. Even the square radiant cut diamond, cushion, princess, and Asscher cut diamonds can appear larger than round ones because their corner-to-corner length is larger than a round diamond's diameter.
Every woman wants a unique engagement ring with a dazzling stone. But we know buying a diamond ring can be stressful and frustrating, especially when balancing budgets, shapes, styles, and prices. But worry not; we are here to help.
Yes! They have both emotional and monetary value. You can pass them on to future generations without compromising on value; your unique diamond engagement ring might become a cherished heirloom.
This depends on personal preferences. When buying an engagement ring, most people focus on the centre diamond more than anything else. Take a minute to consider your preferred style: plain, elaborate or some combination of both. However, keep in mind that the appearance of the diamond size is relative to your finger and hand size.
♦ A solitaire diamond of 1.5ct. looks much larger on an EU size 47mm (US size 4) finger than on an EU size 57mm (US size 8).
♦ If your ring size measurements are smaller than EU size 53mm (US size 6.5), you might want to consider a 1-carat diamond or one that is under 1.50ct.
♦ If your ring size is more significant than EU size 53mm (US size 6.5), then you can go with a larger centre stone, like a 1.50ct.-2.0ct.
There is no "Best Engagement Setting" and there are no 4 Cs to grade a setting. It's purely subjective. However, a diamond's appearance depends a lot on its setting and the ring design. Engagement ring settings can be elegant such as a solitaire setting or elaborate and aesthetically pleasing such as a halo setting. Choose the setting of the diamond to maximise its beauty and keep the diamonds securely fixed.
Some of our favourite settings for diamond rings are the modern prong or claw, the classic and secure bezel, and the sparkling and luxurious pavé. Among these, the prong is a typical setting for diamonds, especially in engagement rings. Long and raised prong settings allow light to pass into brilliant cut stones, displaying them to a stunning effect. Four-prong settings give a modern appearance, whereas six- and eight-point prongs have traditional looks. Larger diamonds may require 6-8 prongs to remain secure and stable.
♦ Simple long-prong settings for solitaire rings are inexpensive and great for emphasising the diamond itself.
♦ A pavé-set ring shank adds sparkling luxury to a fancy-cut centre-stone.
♦ Antique settings like the full bezel have an old-world charm while ensuring a large diamond is held securely in place.
♦ Halo settings can create an illusion of a larger centre stone.
The good news today is that technology has initiated alternative methods to reduce the environmental cost of mining a diamond. Yes! The diamond, which is everybody's darling gem, is now created in labs. The resulting lab-grown diamonds are real, beautiful, valuable, readily available, and consequently more affordable (about 20-30% lower priced) than mined diamonds. The decision to buy a lab-grown diamond ring or a natural, mined diamond ring depends on the couple and their values, preferences, and budget. The same applies to the size, shape, colour, and quality of diamonds on your ring of choice.
We hope you find this guide informative and invite you to browse our website for diamond online jewelry. We trust you will find some of the finest handcrafted diamond jewelry here that you can buy confidently and wear joyfully. Feast your eyes on our fine selection of diamonds in gorgeous handmade designs set in recycled gold or rhodium-plated sterling silver. You will find details about each diamond's characteristics, including cut, clarity, colour, and carat weight. If you want more information on how to buy diamonds online or the diamond-buying process, you can talk to us; we love to help you and our team will gladly assist you.
Have no worries when you shop online for diamond jewelry at The Jewellery Room. Every day we have the honour of helping customers from all over the world. Our jewelry experts will do whatever it takes to find the perfect fit and size for the jewelry you're looking for. And please remember, if you are still in doubt, you can shop safely with us.
We guarantee you can always exchange your purchase within 30 days.
