Are You Asking The Right Questions?

23 Questions/Considerations When Buying A Diamond:

Specs: 

Natural/lab grown, shape, carat weight, color, clarity, cut, other

If lab grown - I suggest E, VVS2, Ideal/Excellent

If natural - I suggest starting with H, VS2, Ideal/Excellent 

Desired price range:

Set your price range or limit

Adjust the size and qualitative characteristics to fit your range

Recommended labs for grading reports: 

GIA, AGS, GCAL, IGI

These labs are recognized for their quality reports

Preference for quality vs size:

Highest Quality vs largest size vs balance (larger and presents well)

A FL or IF diamond can be damaged when worn

(And that first value drop is substantial)

A VVS2 and a VS1 will look pretty much the same as FL

For larger diamonds, some I1 and SI2 diamonds present well

You have to examine them closely as some are better than others 

(Yes, the lab grade is a starting point - you want to pick the best one)

Carat weight - Below benchmark weight for cost savings OK?

In natural diamonds, you may save by buying under a benchmark.

A benchmark weight is 1.00 ct, 2.00 ct, etc - what people look for

A 0.95 ct will look similar to the eye but may cost less per carat

They cost less because more people want a 1.00 ct vs 0.95 ct

In lab grown diamonds, benchmark price advantage is minimal

Carat weight - Just in case:

If purchasing a natural diamond, consider a weight ending in .03+

Diamonds can be chipped and repolished to remove the damage

The little extra weight may prevent the recut from falling below .00 

That would drop the diamond into the lower weight category

Which would drop the value (like the benchmark note above)

If natural, are there any treatments?

Natural diamonds can be treated to look better and cost less

Be sure you know if the diamond has been treated

Some require special handling (like fracture filled diamonds)

If lab grown, any there any treatments?

Lab grown diamonds may be treated

Inquire if any special handling is recommended

Online sellers: 

Blue Nile, Rare Carat, Brilliant Earth, Brilliance, others

Not a recommendation, just noting that they sell diamonds

Add any others you have an interest in

View their selections of diamonds

We can do this together or you can do it on your own

Compare and pick the “winner”

Brick & Mortar sellers: 

Helzberg, Kay, Jared’s, others

Not a recommendation, just noting they sell diamonds

Add any others you want to know about

View their online selection of diamonds 

We can do this together or you can do this on your own

Compare and pick the “winner”

Compare the winners:

Compare the online winner with the brick & mortar winner

You will have a very good feel for the quality and the market

This will serve you well when deciding what is a great value 

Next compare those winners with the winners from Gary’s cutters

Cherry pick with Gary and ask all your questions

Have you viewed the diamond? 

First, look at the diamond without magnification

Do you see any inclusions?

Next look at the diamond under magnification

Now, do you see any inclusions?

When looking with magnification, make sure it is the standard 10x

Look once more at the diamond with your naked eye

Do you se the inclusions you saw under magnification?

If you decide on this diamond, make a mental note of the inclusions

What they look like and how they are positioned to each other

You will always know your diamond when you see it

Are there eye visible inclusions to the naked eye?

If you see inclusions, so will everyone else

Once you see the inclusions, you will always see them

Bottom line, out of pocket cost:

Only pay attention to what the diamond actually sells for

Do not be distracted by “50% Off” or other tactics

To be set in white metal, yellow metal, other (rose, two tone, multi, etc)?

Diamonds set in white metals should be higher color grades D-I

Yellow metals help conceal lower color grades J-M

You can use this to adjust the diamond size or cost

Will there be side diamonds?

Side diamonds should be close in quality to the center diamond

Diamonds too different in quality will be evident by contrast

Are the points protected? 

Marquise, pear, princess, radiant, heart… any shape with points

Be sure all the points on the diamond are protected by a prong

Points “hanging out” are subject to breaking off

Are the prongs tight on diamond and polished?

Be vigilant about the prongs holding the diamond(s)

Prongs that are slightly up or rough will snag on clothing

Prongs that snag are subject to breaking off and the diamond lost

Is fluorescence (or its absence) important?

Some people love fluorescence (I do) others do not

Select only blue fluorescence, it may make the diamond look better

Avoid yellow fluorescence, it will make the diamond look worse

Some say fluorescence makes a diamond milky

That has not been my experience - but judge with your own eyes

Consider the wearer’s profession, hobbies, activities:

Be aware of daily wear caveats - scratching or not wearing jewelry

Rock climbing, gardening, etc Nursing, working with machinery, etc

Maintenance:

Have the jewelry cleaned and checked at least once a year

NEVER wear jewelry in the swimming pool, spa or mineral bath

The chlorine/bromine will attack, weaken and perhaps discolor it

Never leave jewelry in the gym locker

Leave it securely at home or in your car’s trunk if you forget

(Just make sure no one is watching when you put it in the trunk)

Appraisal and insurance:

Have an appraisal done for the purchase amount of the jewelry

(With gold going up so fast, a margin for price increases is OK)

High valuations only cost you higher premiums

Insurance companies will only pay what it takes to repair or replace

Surprise or joint venture on custom orders?

Unless you KNOW what she likes, not including her is risky

Surprising her with the diamond is OK

Surprising her with a style you are not sure of is usually doomed

Yes, we have a way to surprise her and get it spot on.

© 2025 Gary E Megel