It’s not entirely uncommon for folks shopping for diamond keepsakes for their soon to be significant others to not fully understand how many options really exist. From Princess cut masterpieces, to baguettes and even medieval style jewelry, the opportunities are limited only by one’s imagination. To help newcomers to the diamond shopping niche, we offer these suggestions to help ease the burden of all the choices that would be thrown in front of you.
Dig deep into diamond history
Weddings, special occasions, Mother’s Day or just to say I love you are common reasons that many women and men enter the diamond marketplace. However, you should only purchase precious gemstones when the mood suits you best regardless of season; falling victim to overbearing advertising pitches does little for educating consumers like yourself on properly selecting the world’s finest diamonds. Also, never should one base their diamond purchases off anyone else’s memorable experience since each gemstone selection is unique to the person receiving the gift.
It will help you to study how diamonds are processed, although it’s more important to retain in-depth information about the various cuts available so you’re not shopping blind. Though many diamonds are mined in Africa, some are mined as close as Arkansas, for example. Chocolate diamonds, which are commonly found in the Levian collections, are actually regular diamonds without the excessive processing and are said to be perfect for those wanting a cloudy appeal to emanate from their gemstone. Additional factoids such as these can be found anywhere online, so don’t be afraid to take notes before visiting your jeweler.
Control the purchase
Jewelry salespeople are specifically trained to increase the final sales amount regardless how much your budget actually is. For example, if you’re only working with $2000, expect that dollar amount to go towards a down payment as opposed to being the actual amount you spend on diamond rings. As you probably notice around Christmas, financing is what entices buyers with smaller budgets yet with good credit to purchase larger carats of diamonds – and sales staff capitalize on this weakness. One might say decisions to spend frugally change when the salesperson says your credit application was approved; we tend to call this ‘financial entrapment’.
From the moment you walk into the jewelry store, you must control the purchase. Take charge of your budget, know exactly what you can spend before finalizing the sale and make those intentions known. The more adamant you are about stating your needs beforehand, the less likely salespeople will pressure you into making purchases you actually can’t afford. Look for sales flyers and exploit those deals within the first thirty seconds of conversation; also, take your own ideas and match them with the personality of the loved one receiving your gemstone surprise.
Be an expert, even if you’re new
Along with the above information, learn the various shapes, levels of clarity and specific grades that diamonds are sold in. Most higher-end diamonds will come with a certificate of authenticity which is certified by gemologists and is even hand-numbered. After studying the diamond market long enough, you’ll have enough wisdom to discern cubic zirconias from true diamonds without blinking.
With a wealth of information available online today, there’s little excuse for anyone shopping for diamonds to not have knowledge of how diamonds are cut, what settings are available and the expected cost for various levels of clarity. Giving the gift of diamonds doesn’t have to cost millions of dollars, and arming yourself with knowledge is sensible for your shopping experience.