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 may get frustrated the longer you search for diamonds online because you’ll see multiple prices and won’t know why each one costs what it does.
The big problem with buying diamonds online is that customers can’t see the actual diamonds they are choosing. They see a long list of price options that can vary by thousands of dollars for a diamond with very similar (if not the same) specs, making it hard to know why one costs what it does and whether or not it really is better. than the one on the bottom line. And when they finally see it in person after purchase, it may not be what they thought. Happens all the time.
Here are 4 secrets to get a fantastic diamond:
Secret #1
Why does one diamond appear larger than the one next to it despite being the same carat size?
Suppose you have two 2.50 carat diamonds side by side. They both have the same color and clarity, but notice that one of them looks smaller than the other. This is probably because the thickness of the CRAP makes one of the stones look small. The belt is the widest point of the diamond when viewed from above. Often diamond cutters will cut a diamond to reach a certain carat weight because this drives the price per carat up significantly. However, just because it weighs 2.50 carats doesn’t mean it LOOKS like a 2.5 carat.
The ideal grades for Fajas are:
-Slim
-Medium
– slightly thick
The girdles that it is NOT advisable to choose are:
– very thick
– Extremely thick
If you choose one of the latter two, you are only paying for extra carat weight. Let’s say your budget only allows for the smallest looking 2.50 carats. In this case, the best case scenario would be to get around 2.25 carats cut in the same proportions as the 2.50 carats and end up paying less for the same size. The 2.25 carat will likely shine much brighter as well, as the overall cut will be better.
If you go for the small 2.50 carat stone, 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 diamonds
Diamond inclusions come in many sizes and colors, greatly affecting the price of the diamond. (The “Clarity” grade in the 4Cs 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 type of inclusion in your diamond. The best thing about this is that it becomes your diamond’s birthmark! 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’re locked into a paper grade, but the truth is this: no one carries 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 selecting a stone from an internet list based solely on the certificate, as in that case you can’t see the location and size of the inclusion. However, if someone personally selects a diamond selection for you, we would select only the best YES options. Inclusions come in a variety of shapes and colors, and if we can find one where the inclusion is white, or can be hidden with a point, or barely noticeable to the naked eye, it might get a larger size while staying within the budget.
When I show them their SI clarity options, very often they see that they can get a larger diamond if they go SI clarity and stay close to their budget. And as long as I do my job correctly and get you a beautiful YES diamond, you win!
This is not to say that the VS clarity options aren’t worth looking at, they absolutely are. My point is to keep your options open if someone is looking for diamonds on your behalf, as inclusions in a diamond can be all kinds of colors and shapes. In many cases, you could pay the same price for a diamond where the inclusion is not visible as for a diamond where it is visible. crazy, right? Obviously, you are likely to go for the SI clarity diamond, where the inclusions are not visible, if it allows you to also get a larger stone for the same budget.
I’m not saying that “largest size” is always the most important, BUT let’s be real here. When it comes to diamonds, in my experience almost 10 out of 10 women would go for the largest diamond given the choice.
Secret #3
Fluctuating diamond prices can benefit you.
The diamond market changes every day (similar to how the stock market changes daily). This means that if a diamond dealer buys stones when the market is lower, those diamonds often reflect the lower cost, meaning the profit margin does not change. They will make the same profit, but YOU will get a better deal than current market prices. It allows distributors to stay competitive with prices and move stock quickly.
This is one of the benefits of working with a jewelry company that does not have an inventory of diamonds. It allows them to go in search of the exact stones they are looking for instead of trying to push an inventory of stones. Plus, they can get amazing deals on great diamonds for customers because when a customer 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 larger diamond for the same price, making you look like the best fiancée in the world once you look inside the ring box. Win-win for everyone.
Secret #4
She will wear the diamond, not the certificate.
Don’t get hung up on 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: she will be wearing the diamond, not the certificate.
Diamonds are usually accompanied by a grade report, issued by an independent gemological association, such as GIA, EGL, AGS, etc. This will formally list all the characteristics of your chosen diamond.
You will see many diamonds at various prices and you will not know why each one costs what it does. A lot of people come to us pinned on a specific degree, but her fiancée won’t have the certificate on her finger. All she’s going to see is if it’s beautiful and white and shiny.
It is important for customers 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 – It is not. Even the disclosure on the certificates says, “This certificate is NOT an appraisal, guarantee, or guarantee.”
Color and clarity results may differ depending on when or who grades the diamond. It’s not done by a machine, it’s done by a human. This 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 DJ colors are classified in the “Colorless” and “Near Colorless” categories rather than each in their 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 in your diamond. If you are very color sensitive, stick to DH colors.
Dimensions alone will not tell you if a diamond is brilliant or pretty. This 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 more confident consumer!