Buy a Diamond Ring, but Don't Be Fooled

When you buy something of value, be it a diamond ring or a house, it's always a real concern to take it for a spin. Many times when you buy a diamond ring it can be considered an easy target. Unfortunately, like most other industries, it has honest and dishonest diamond retailers. But, by knowing some of the common tricks and tactics that they use, you can avoid the vast majority of scams.

CTW

You will see a sexy ring that has a gorgeous looking diamond in the center surrounded by smaller diamonds. There might even be diamonds on the band. The label says 2 carats (ctw) however it costs much less than the 2 carat solitaire diamond next door.

CTW stands for Total Carat Weight and as the name suggests, it is the total carat of all diamonds in the ring. Your gorgeous ring might only be 0.5 carats diamond rings in Dubai of the large diamonds and 1.5 carats of all the smaller diamonds combined, giving it a total weight of 2 carats (ctw).

Since it is more difficult to find a large diamond than a small one, the bigger size is definitely better when it comes to the diamond's value. This is why a 2 carat solitaire diamond is much more valuable than a 2 carat solitaire diamond in a ring you like.

To ensure you get the best value ring, be sure to look at the diamond center's certificate of appreciation, as this will tell you the carat weight of that stone. If the store doesn't show you this, go away.

'Coup'

Did you know that jewelers are allowed to advertise diamonds one degree higher than they actually are? This means that the advertised 1 karat diamond with a color grade G and a clarity of VS1 can actually be a 0.90 carat diamond, with an H color and a VS2 clarity.

Most people say, "So what, they both look cool, right?" But at the time of this writing, the advertised premium cut diamonds are worth around $ 6,500 and the premium cut diamonds you actually get are around $ 4,300. You can purchase your own diamond studs for the price difference.

To avoid this, always insist on seeing GIA or AGS certification for your diamond. It is the only way to be sure that your diamond is exactly what they say about it.

Laser engraving

Many diamonds are laser engraved to remove any imperfections; This makes it look better, but it also makes it more fragile and less valuable. If the diamond is laser engraved, it is noted in the Certificate of Appreciation.

Blue and white diamonds

If you are going to buy a diamond ring and the attendant tries to sell you a "blue and white" diamond at an exorbitant price, leave immediately - this phrase has been effectively banned by the Federal Trade Commission. Even if a diamond is blue-white, it makes it less valuable than most others, not larger.

Diamond regions

There are certain regions which are Mecca for the average person looking to purchase a diamond ring. The most famous is the New York City Diamond neighborhood on 47th Street.

While it is where the major diamond transactions take place, it certainly does not happen at street level. Street venues are famous for the sophisticated tricks of deception that even the most experienced jeweler faces in discovering them. stay away.

Diamond change

This is the thing that everyone is afraid of. You pay for a diamond to put in your ring, and you actually get another piece. There is only one way to deal with this: prevention.

When purchasing your diamond, ask the clerk to write the carat, color, clarity and exact dimensions of the diamond on the receipt. Examine it by comparing it to the diamond certificate when picking up the ring.

If you do nothing else when purchasing your diamond ring, make sure you get the diamonds certified from a highly respected laboratory like GIA or AGS. This is the best way to protect your investment.