How much does an engagement ring cost?
I understand how confusing and overwhelming it can be to find the perfect diamond. Your first thought is probably to search online for a general ballpark figure of what a diamond will cost, right? But you can get frustrated the longer you look at diamonds online because you will see multiple prices and you won’t know why each one costs what it costs.
The big problem with buying diamonds online is that customers cannot see the actual diamonds they choose from. They see a long list of pricing options that can range in the thousands of dollars for a diamond with very similar specifications (if not the same), making it difficult to know why it costs what it costs and whether or not it really is better. than the one on the line below him. And when they finally see it in person after the purchase, it may not be what they thought. Happens all the time.
Here are 4 secrets to getting a fantastic diamond:
Secret # 1
Why a diamond appears larger than the one next to it despite being the same carat size
Let’s say you have two 2.50 carat diamonds side by side. They both have the same color and clarity, but notice that one of them appears smaller than the other. This is likely because the thickness of the girdle makes one of the stones look small. The girdle is the widest point of the diamond when viewed from above. Diamond cutters often cut a diamond to a certain carat weight because this causes the price per carat to increase significantly. However, just because it weighs 2.50ct, it doesn’t mean it LOOKS like 2.5ct.
The ideal grades for girdles are:
– Thin
– Half
– Slightly thick
The girdles that should NOT be chosen are:
– very thick
– Extremely thick
If you choose one of the latter two, you are only paying for an additional carat weight. Let’s say your budget only allows for the smaller looking 2.50ct – In this case, the best scenario would be to get around 2.25ct which is reduced to the same proportions as the 2.50ct and you will end up paying less for the same size. The 2.25ct will probably shine a lot brighter, as the overall cut will be better.
If you go for the small 2.50ct, you will only pay for the carat weight without seeing the benefit of the larger stone.
Secret # 2
Consider “SI” clarity diamonds in addition to “VS” clarity.
Diamond inclusions come in many sizes and colors, which greatly affects the price of the diamond. (The 4C “Clarity” rating refers to the degree to which these imperfections are present and visible in the diamond.) Unless you get a “flawless” diamond, there will be some form of inclusion in your diamond. The best thing about this is that it becomes the birthmark of your diamond! The benefit is that you can always identify it as YOUR diamond (at extreme magnification, of course).
Many people come to us with the idea that they need VS clarity or higher because they are obsessed with a paper note, but the truth is this: nobody wears the certificate on their finger.
One thing I would suggest is that you consider SI clarity diamonds in addition to VS clarity. I wouldn’t suggest this if you were blindly picking a stone from an internet list based solely on the certificate as in that case you cannot see the location and size of the inclusion. However, if someone personally chooses a diamond selection for you, we will select only the best SI options. Inclusions come in a variety of shapes and colors and if we can find one where the inclusion is white, or may be hidden by a tip, or is barely noticeable to the naked eye, you will be able to get a larger size. without breaking the budget.
When I show them their SI clarity options, very often they see that they can get a bigger diamond by going SI clarity while staying close to their budget. And as long as I do my job right by getting you a beautiful diamond YES, you win!
This doesn’t mean that VS clarity options aren’t worth looking at, they absolutely are. My point is to keep your options open if someone is looking at diamonds on your behalf, as inclusions in a diamond can be of all kinds of colors and shapes. In many cases, you could pay the same price for a diamond where the inclusion is not visible that you would pay for a diamond where it is visible. Crazy, right? Obviously you would probably go for the SI clarity diamond where inclusions are not visible if it allows you to get a larger stone within the same budget as well.
I’m not saying “bigger size” is always the most important thing, BUT let’s face it here. When it comes to diamonds, in my experience, almost 10 out of 10 women would choose the largest diamond if they had the choice.
Secret # 3
Fluctuating diamond prices can benefit you.
The diamond market changes every day (similar to how the stock market changes every day). This means that if a diamond dealer purchases stones when the market is lower, those diamonds often reflect the lowest cost, which means that the margin does not change. They will get the same benefit, but YOU get a better deal than current market prices. It enables distributors to stay competitive with prices and move stocks quickly.
This is one of the benefits of working with a jewelry company that does not have a diamond inventory. It allows you to go searching for the exact stones you are looking for rather than trying to push through an inventory of stones. Also, they can get amazing deals on great diamonds for clients because when a client is ready to choose their diamond, they use my network of diamond dealers to ship the BEST stones at the BEST prices. In the end, it allows you to get a bigger diamond for the same price, making you look like the best fiancé of all time once you look inside his box of rings. Win-win for everyone.
Secret # 4
It will carry the diamond, not the certificate.
Don’t get obsessed with what’s on the Diamond Certificate. The certificate is just a sheet of paper and does NOT qualify as “Most Beautiful”.
Keep this in mind: you will carry the diamond, not the certificate.
Diamonds are usually accompanied by a qualification report issued by an independent gemological association such as GIA, EGL, AGS, etc. This will formally list all the characteristics of the chosen diamond.
You will see many diamonds at various prices and you will not know why each one costs what it costs. Many people come to us obsessed with a specific degree, but their fiancée will not wear the certificate on her finger. All you will see is whether it is beautiful, white, and shiny.
It is important for clients to know that the purpose of a diamond certificate is to identify and describe the diamond … that’s it! Many clients feel that the certificate is a guarantee or guarantee, but it is not. Even the disclosure on the certificates says: “This certificate is NOT an appraisal, warranty or guarantee.”
Color and clarity results may differ depending on when or who rates the diamond. It is not made by a machine, it is made by a human. That is why the same diamond can go to the same lab and receive different grades.
Color and clarity are the OPINION of the lab at the time, which is why color DJs fall into the “Colorless” and “Nearly Colorless” categories rather than each in its own specific category. It is a sliding scale. However, the sweet spot is to be in the DJ color category, this will ensure that you don’t see any major colors on your diamond. If you are very sensitive to seeing colors, stick to DH colors.
Dimensions alone will not tell you whether a diamond is brilliant or pretty. That is why you cannot rely solely on the certificate to determine how beautiful a diamond is.
We hope this information has helped you become a safer consumer!