What to Look When Buying Diamonds: 5 Red Flags To Watch For

Buying a diamond for the first time can be confusing for the uninitiated.

First-time buyers likely won’t know what exactly they’re looking for — or are looking at.

This forces them to trust the say-so of the jeweler they’re purchasing from.

While many jewelers are more than helpful and trustworthy, there are still a couple of bad eggs that are out to swindle their customers.

This can be especially true when you’re buying diamonds online, as there’s no physical store you can return to should you end up purchasing an overpriced stone.

To avoid being conned, it pays to know which red flags to watch out for when buying diamonds online and offline.

Additionally, being aware of the important characteristics of a good diamond will help you pick the best one that can suit both your budget and preferences.

What Matters Most When Buying a Diamond?

When it comes to selecting a diamond, deciphering its components can be tough as there are four important factors that you need to take into account: cut, color, clarity, and carat, which are more commonly known as a diamond’s 4Cs.

Each one contributes to a diamond’s beauty and overall value, and these 4Cs are considered a globally accepted standard for determining the quality of a diamond.

In a nutshell, the 4Cs pertain to the following:

● Cut: This is determined by the way light interacts with a diamond

● Color: This refers to the natural tint inherent in the stone

● Clarity: This measures how rare or pure a diamond is

● Carat: This refers to the weight of a diamond

It is important to note that while these four characteristics can be examined individually, what makes a diamond valuable is one that has a balance of them all.

However, if you were to base your purchase on a diamond’s most important facet, the cut can be the best-determining factor as this affects the diamond’s brilliance and beauty.

With a high-quality cut, you can then focus on color as the second-most important aspect and clarity as the third. In terms of color, a diamond should look white or colorless.

When it comes to clarity, a diamond should look clean, meaning it has minimal blemishes or inclusions.

Carat can be the last C on your list since a diamond’s weight will not significantly affect the stone’s appearance.

How Can You Tell What Is a Good Diamond?

All things considered, a good diamond, as mentioned, carries all of the 4Cs in its totality as each one plays a crucial role in how a diamond looks.

The example might seem crude and simplistic, but figuring out what makes a good diamond is akin to recognizing what makes a good pizza: a pizza has many ingredients and if they taste good together, then you know you’ve bought a good pizza.

The same is true for diamonds: you need to consider the 4Cs together to determine whether you’ve purchased a good diamond or not.

5 Diamond Buying Red Flags

Aside from knowing the important facets of a diamond, it will be to your advantage as a buyer to know the five important red flags that can keep you from being cheated of your money:

1. Not Being Able To See The Actual Diamond or a Real Picture

Whether you’re buying diamonds online or in a physical store, always make sure that you’re seeing the actual product or an actual picture and not stock images.

When buying from an offline jeweler, don’t just be satisfied with a peek and a brief mention of the diamond’s price.

Legitimate jewelers are often more than happy to show their customers the actual diamond, as well as educate them about what makes a particular diamond a good purchase.

If they don’t let you see the diamond magnified, it might be best to leave as the jeweler’s refusal to show you the product might mean that they’re engaged in some shady business.

Similarly, when buying diamonds online, don’t settle for stock photos.
Moreover, be wary of images that have been manipulated to reflect a brighter color or a bigger size. If possible, find an online jeweler that can give you 360-degree videos or photos of their products.

2. Inconsistent Sales Prices

The prospect of getting a discount for your purchase sounds like a swell idea. After all, who doesn’t want to get a discount?

However, be wary of deals wherein the price continues to drop or has dropped significantly.

Chances are, the diamond you’re eyeing is overpriced, to begin with.
Legitimate jewelers should be able to properly appraise and price their products.

Blue-light deals or today-only offers may indicate that the seller overinflates their prices just to get a quick sale.

3. Lack of Certification

Similar to when buying a car, you should think twice about buying a diamond without seeing any certification. At the very least, a diamond should be rated by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and have a laser-inscribed serial number with matching certification. Without this form of documentation, it’s best to consider other jewelers.

4. Poor Warranty

Warranties can say a lot about the quality of a product: if it’s short, it means the product won’t likely stand the test of time.

For diamonds, warranties that are below 10 years can be a huge red flag as it can indicate that what you actually bought isn’t as high-quality or valuable as you’re made to believe.

Additionally, jewelers online or offline should be able to provide warranties for minor cleaning services or polishing.

Lifetime warranties are preferable, though some sellers will only give this to you for a limited time. Explore your options and never settle for lousy warranties.

5. Chain Retailer or Wholesaler

Because you’re out to buy unique, quality diamonds, consider chain retailers or wholesalers as red flags as it’s more than likely that they’re selling mass-produced diamonds.

If you don’t want to buy a stone that’s a dime a dozen, consider independent jewelers instead.

Precisely because they’re an independent seller, they’re more beholden to higher standards of quality and customer service, which means that you can get diamonds that are three or four grades higher than industry standards.

Shop Wisely

Since diamonds are a big investment, always make sure that you’re working with a reputable jeweler that can thoroughly explain what diamonds are best suited to your budget and preferences.

Keep these five red flags in mind while shopping, and you’ll be sure to avoid making a regrettable purchase.

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