Your Investment in Diamond Jewlery

The skilled craftspeople who design and create diamond jewelry usually obtain these precious gems from a special wholesaler specializing in diamonds for sale. The fine gemstones that are ultimately used in
diamond engagement rings, diamond wedding bands, and other quality pieces have ideally been through a thorough lab analysis as well as a certified appraisal. You'll want to confirm this prior to your purchase of any diamond jewelry.
Gradation and Valuation

This is the first step.
Diamonds for sale must be analyzed in a qualified gemology lab (gemology is that sub-specialty within the field of geology that concerns the study of precious and semi-precious stones). These are known as the "Four Cs:"

- Carat

- Color

- Clarity

- Cut

The first of these, carat, refers to the weight and mass of the stone. A carat is approximately equal to one-fifth of a gram. Color is just that. Diamonds for sale come in a wide variety of colors that range from ice-clear to black depending on what other elements are present; pink and blue diamonds can be especially valuable. Clarity is determined by any "flaws" - interior cottony patches that are visible from the outside.

Cut is a less objective characteristic; this depends on the skill of the diamond cutter. Some cuts are more suitable for certain types of diamond jewelry; more elaborate cuts may better show off the gem's shine and brilliance, or "fire."

Appraisal

When diamonds for sale undergo an appraisal, they are being assigned a fair market value. It is very important when considering the purchase of diamond jewelry for investment purposes. Additionally, if you plan to insure pieces such as diamond earrings or even diamond wedding bands, you will be required to provide such an appraisal report for your carrier.

Gem-Quality Stones

It's important to understand that stones used in pieces such as diamond engagement rings are not the same as those used in cutting and grinding machinery. In addition, artificial diamonds are less valuable than their naturally formed counterparts.

The quality of the setting also has some effect. A cheaply-made setting does little for a gem's value, while a carefully crafted custom setting can enhance its value substantially.

Whether you are purchasing diamond earrings as a gift, are looking at diamond engagement rings and diamond wedding ring sets in anticipation of a joyous union - or are considering diamond jewelry as an investment - it's a good idea to educate yourself thoroughly in order to make sure that you are getting a fair value for your money.

Jonathon Blocker specializes in diamond engagement rings and diamond wedding bands. He is a consultant for GemFind.com, a trusted name in the jewelry industry since 1999.