TRUSTING YOUR SUPPLIER

The foundation of the broader diamond and jewelry industry has always been trust and integrity. Without these values at the apex of any business, buyers can sometimes be misguided with the diamond they are buying given the complex industry-specific knowledge required to understand a diamond. It is for this reason that we offer several useful tips for buyers when considering a diamond for their loved one.

Apply your 4Cs

Though grading a diamond can be difficult, apply your 4 Cs and understand the color, cut, clarity and carat weight of your desired stone. Compare these specifications with other industry experts and suppliers to ultimately determine if your diamond is fairly priced. Please refer to our section on the 4Cs for further information.

Request References

When purchasing or selling a diamond, one of the most important inquires one can have centers around requesting references. Before you sell your diamond on credit, or you purchase it from a supplier, ask for references in order to find out more about all other interested and relevant stakeholders.

Ask about a Certificate

Diamonds that are above a particular size (typically 0.15 carats or more) are increasingly being certified by suppliers in order to offer a customer surety on the stone they are purchasing. Make sure to ask about the diamond you are purchasing and study the certificate closely to verify it matches the stone in question.

Understanding the Lab

It is important to understand that all diamond labs have different standards for how they grade diamonds, and when purchasing a certified stone, one should understand the stringency standards of any prospective lab.

Laser Inscription

With today's advances in technology, certification labs offer laser inscriptions on certified stones. On the girdle of a diamond, labs will inscribe the serial number of the complimentary certificate in order to offer yet another check on the originality of a diamond.

Natural or Synthetic

There is rising concern that synthetic lab-grown diamonds are entering the market and being mixed into parcels composed of natural diamonds. Though this isn't as grave a concern for single stones considering the certification process, any buyer should be well aware whether his/her diamond is natural or synthetic. Considering the advances in technology, a synthetic diamond will seem no different by composition and chemical properties than natural diamonds making it very challenging for even the most apt and experienced diamond eye to decipher between a natural diamond and a lab grown diamond.

Treated or Untreated

The scarcity and exclusivity of natural fancy colored diamonds is the primary reason for its premium in today's market. However, technological advances have allowed vendors to treat stones to unnaturally infuse greater color distribution. We advise that any buyer first understand the certificate of their stone and understand closely whether the stone is naturally colored or treated.