Buying a diamond can be a nerve-racking experience. If you want my expert advice on buying the best diamond just drop me a note and tell me what you are looking for and how much you want to spend and I will get back to you with my personal recommendations for a beautiful stone that fits in your budget. This is a FREE service, doesn't cost you a dime extra, (in fact I am sure that it almost every case I can save you lots of money) and there is absolutely no commitment.
How to buy the best diamonds made simple
How do you choose the right diamond? There’s a lot of technical information out there about how to buy the best diamond (or best diamonds in the case of earrings). This site is a diamond guide, a short cut , that will help you narrow it down to the most important things you need to know and put it in plain English. As a very first step I highly recommend you read my Guide to Diamond Pricing for a down to earth understanding of what determines the price of a diamond and insider tips of what to watch out for when choosing a diamond. This page will take you methodically through the 4 Cs, diamond color, diamond cut, diamond clarity, and diamond carat weight, and explain why when it comes to diamonds “better” is not always the right choice. This is the page that your local jeweler doesn’t want you to read. I put up this website diamond guide to show you how to make the diamond buying process simple and understandable. This is the information you need to buy the most beautiful and brilliant diamond you can afford, at the right price.
Rapaport Releases 2011 Diamond Price Report
By · CommentsThe Diamonds.net web site run by Rapaport Diamonds (see my diamond pricing page for more info) released an interesting report summarizing diamond price activity for 2011. According to the report overall diamond prices (for a 1.00 carat diamond) rose by 19%. A closer look at the data shows that the increase was really in the first half of the year and the year where prices rose by a whopping 34% and in fact the second half of the year saw a considerable decline (11%). The report further stresses that there is a lot of uncertainty in diamond prices heading into 2012 as the overall mood toward the economy remains negative.
The truth is that while these reports are interesting to read they have little impact to the day to day buyer. In my experience people buying diamonds are buying on an as needed basis- be it for engagement or other holiday. Most people are not hedging prices and buying diamonds in advance (or postponing a purchase) because of a possible price change one way or the other.
When prices do drop it is generally a great opportunity to buy diamonds online vs. retail. The reason for this is that most online shops such as James Allen or Blue Nile are carrying a “virtual inventory” and are not locked in at a certain price. Retailers on the other hand who purchased diamonds say in March when prices were high have much less leeway to bring prices down now that prices have fallen.
Are you in the market for a diamond? Drop me a line and I will be happy to help you find a great diamond at a great price!
Looking for a large round diamond for $8000.
By · CommentsRandy,
Looking for 1 to 2 ct. round diamond. My lady says quality is most important not
size. She has picked out a classic Tiffany setting six prong. My budget is $6000
J,
Its going to be pretty tight finding a 1 to 2 carat diamond in that budget that the quality you are looking for. Here are 2 diamonds just under a carat that you should
look at. Both are excellent quality in terms of cut and are eye clean:
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/G-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1418809.asp?a_aid=4d4527e041e66
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1437853.asp?a_aid=4d4527e041e66
Let me know what you think.
Randy
Read More→
Helping Out Our Men in Uniform – Mission Accomplished!
By · CommentsThe amazing thing about the Internet is that you never know where your readers will be coming from.
I have learned of literally hundreds of cities across the US from all questions readers send in.
This time I was honored to have been of assistance to J, who while hailing from Arkansas City was serving
his country in Afghanistan and wanted to surprise his wife with a ring upon his return states side. With a little
help from the guys over at James Allen I am proud to have helped make this happen.
Randy,
Hello, I’m currently serving in the US Army on tour in Afghanistan. My
5 year anniversary is on September 2nd and I will not be there for the
special day. I will be home in November for mid tour leave. I am
writing because I never bought my wife a proper diamond engagement
ring. I bought a cheaper solitaire sapphire. I want to surprise her
with a beautiful diamond solitaire but I’m on a budget constraint. I
really don’t want to spend $1500 but that would be my absolute limit. I
don’t want to get scammed and I want the most bang for my buck. Any
suggestions?
Read More→
An interview with Pam Scott, CEO DiamondWave
By · CommentsWhile I am a big fan of of James Allen on the site I am always looking for other reliable and honest vendors I feel comfortable recommending to my readers, one such company is DiamondWave. DiamondWave is a smaller family run business that prides itself on the individual attention they provide their customers.
Recently I had the chance to chat with Pam Scott from DiamondWave and wanted to share with you some f the topics we spoke about.
Randy:
Can you tell me a little about your background before coming to DiamondWave?
Pam:
I worked for Costco Wholesale for 18 years and was in the buying dept. I started the Special Order Diamond Program and purchased all high end GIA diamonds and set the standards for diamond clarity, quality and cut that they are still using today.
I have been taught by the best in the industry on what characteristics of the diamond are, what is important.
I left Costco in 2005 for Amazon.com to be the Senior diamond buyer but the fit was not a good fit for me, I like quality merchandise and had a hard time buying cubic zirconium and 10k so we had a parting of the ways.
2006 I took a position with a top diamond site holder in NY and with the crash of the economy I left in 2007
2007 I was hired as the diamond buyer for DiamondWave which had not yet launched. I did all the diamond jewelry buying for the site as I still do today.
2008 The site sold, the new owners made me CEO and I continue to do all the diamond buying and the consulting. We are a small family owned company and take pride in our personal attention we can give each customer.
We launched in April of 2008 and have been building the business ever since.
We have access to many castings that are not seen on the site and we have our own designer for one of kinds, if we are able to do it.
Can I Buy a VS2 Clarity Diamond On Blue Nile?
By · CommentsQuestion:
I was going to make a purchase on Blue Nile when I came across your site and started re-thinking my decision. I read through you excellent guide to diamond clarity and also your recent post on why seeing the pictures of the diamonds are so important.
My question is- If I am going to get a VS2 diamond do I really need to see the photos? Isn’t this diamond going to be eye-clean in any case?
Thanks,
H
Answer:
H,
Good move holding off on the Blue Nile purchase! For a VS2 diamond you still need to see the diamond photo before making the purchase. I have seen many VS2 stones I would not recommend. Here is just one example: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1430837.asp AS you can see this diamond has some inclusions in places I would try and avoid. As you move up the clarity chart the issues become less and less but then again you are paying a premium for this. So I guess the question comes down to do you want to pay more money to buy a higher clarity grade on Blue Nile just to be sure that what you are getting is clean or spend less money on James Allen for a diamond that is equally as “eye clean”.
You also didn’t indicate what diamond shape you were looking to buy – there are certain shapes, such as an Emerald Cut that tend to show off inclusions even at higher clarity grades- in these cases you certainly need to see the photos even when looking at a VS1 diamond.
Randy
50.24 carat round VS1 diamond for “only” $10 Million!
By · CommentsFor all you guys who write in asking for the ultimate diamond for the one you love, here is a great opportunity. Rappaport has reported that Ritchies Auction house in Toronto will be putting up an amazing 50.24 Carat round brilliant cut diamond. The diamond is a VS1 clarity (amazing for a stone this size) and is expected to sell for at least 10 Million!
If this is a just a bit too rich for you blood they have many other items up for sale including a 78 carat Fancy Yellow diamond necklace and an 18 carat Fancy Yellow diamond which was appraised at “only” million!
For those of you looking for diamonds at a slightly lower price point check out my Deals section on the right sidebar or browse for yourself at James Allen
See more of what’s going up for sale here.
Q&A: Opinion of a 0.5 Carat G-SI1 Diamond on Amazon
By · CommentsQuestion:
Hello there,
I found your site on a quick google search and have enjoyed readingit! It has been very helpful.
I have been looking around for rings for the past number of weeks, andwould like your advice on the following.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0039DNW96/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=jewelry&psc=1
It seems to fit in well with what you recommend, at first I wasconsidering a smaller stone but at a higher colour and clarity, butfrom reading this site it made sense that this would be a waste oftime. The reviews on this seller on Amazon are almost always perfect.In fact I have not seen a bad one. I do not know if this ring comeswith a certificate. Do you think this is a bad thing? What would yourecommend on this?
I do not have a great amount of money to spend on a ring, as I am only still young and work part-time.
Any help you can offer will be appreciated.
Thank for for the informative site, and thanks for your help!
J
Answer:
J,
Thanks for writing in and I am glad you found the site helpful.
I looked at the diamond on Amazon. I have 2 concerns:1) As you pointed out I didn’t see any reference to a certificate so I can’t know if this diamond really is what it claims to be, a G-SI1.2) Even if it is a G-SI1 graded diamond from a trustworthy lab (AGS or GIA) without seeing a photo of the diamond you don’t know if its eye-clean and if not how bad the blemishes are. You don’t want to get a diamond with a black spot dead center on the table and that’s all people will focus on when looking at your new diamonds.
Using the price of the Amazon diamond as a base price I found this selection on James Allen. This diamond is GIA graded and is eye clean! http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/I-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1425595.asp?a_aid=4d4527e041e66. If you pair that with this setting http://www.jamesallen.com/engagement-rings/solitaire/2mm-Knife-Edge-18k-White-Gold-Solitaire-Ring.html it looks like you come in at pretty much the same price point.
Randy
Q&A: Looking for a round diamond for $4000 to $5000
By · CommentsQ: Hi, I am looking for a ring around .90-.95 carat. Possibly lower to .85 if it is worth it. I stumbled upon your site and was getting great advice so I hope you can help me here. I would like it to be Ideal cut and visible naked to the eye. I’ll spend more if the clarity and color combo is worth it for the extra $.
Thanks !
A: J,
I would not recommend spending ore for moving up in color and clarity. Here is an eye clean 0.90 H-SI2 Ideal cut: http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-SI2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1419908.asp?a_aid=4d4527e041e66
It’s right in your budget range at $4770.
Randy
Question-
I am looking for a VVS1 clarity grade diamond with a color of E or F. The size of the diamond should be between 0.5 carat and 0.75 carat. I am looking to spend around $4000 for the diamond alone. Do you have any suggestions?
LT
Answer -
Thanks for writing in. I am happy to help you out but based on your requirements for color and clarity I would first ask that you go back to the site and read 2 of my pages.
diamond clarity: http://www.selectingadiamond.com/diamond-clarity/
diamond color: http://www.selectingadiamond.com/diamond-color/
As you will see I really don’t recommend going with such a high color and clarity grade. Especially at the size diamond you are looking at any inclusions even at a VS2 and likely at an SI1 clarity grade would be eye clean – meaning you won’t see these imperfections with the naked eye.
Please read these pages and let me know if you still want the E or F diamond color and VVS1 or VVS2 diamond clarity.
Randy
Question
Thanks for the links to the pages. I did read them over and they certainly were informative but my girlfriend is concerned so I am still interested in seeing some diamonds in the ranges I sent but to compare can you also send me over 1 or 2 suggestions for lower color and clarity (not lower then VS2 clarity and not lower then H color).
LT
Answer,
Nor problem. Here are 2 links for diamonds in the original range you asked for:
This one is a 0.71 carat F-VVS2 Ideal cut for $4,420.
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VVS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1389637.asp
This one is a 0.53 F-VVS2 Ideal cut for $3,430
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-VVS1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1376814.asp
Both diamonds are GIA certified.
As for the lower quality here are my recommendations:
This is a 0.50 carat H-VS2 for $1840
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1418818.asp
and this is a 0.70 H-VS2 for $3,390 (this is my top pick)
http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/H-VS2-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1389900.asp
Both are GIA certified and are eye clean. As you can see you will be saving a good deal of money and your diamond will be just as beautiful as the higher quality ones. The only one to know the difference will be you and your girlfriend!
Randy
Why Diamond Photos Are Key to Great Looking Diamonds
By · CommentsI am sometimes asked why I recommend James Allen over other vendors, is it because I am an affiliate of theirs? Of course not. I work with many quality, honest, and reliable companies and depending on the needs of a particular person I will always send them to who I feel is the best match. The reason I promote James Allen so much on this site is because for someone who is not an expert in diamonds there is no better place to start looking then James Allen. Why? Actual diamond photos!
To understand why photos are so important take a look at my diamond clarity page and then head over to the diamond clarity chart page. After reading those pages you will understand that diamond grading is not an exact science and often a diamond will be certified at an I1 or SI2 and still be a great value. On the other hand, the diamond may have a nasty black dot smack center of the table and should be avoided. Without diamond photos there is no way of knowing!
Here is a great example. This 0.80 carat E-I1 is a great find- http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-I1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1406117.asp . Take a close look at the diamond as it appears on this page. Can you see any problems? Now use the James Allen virtual loupe and get an even closer look at the diamond clarity. Can you see any problems now? Even I had a hard time finding the inclusion (between 6 and 7 o’clock) using the virtual loupe. What this means is that even under 20X magnification the diamond appears very clean. To the naked eye this will be a clean diamond at an I1 price! This diamond was listed at $3290. Compare to this 0.79 Carat E-SI1 diamond which is listed at $4640 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1396509.asp and this 0.80 E-VS1 diamond listed at $6210 http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/E-VS1-Premium-Cut-Round-Diamond-1378789.asp . In other words the guy who bought that I1 clarity diamond saved himself between 30% and 48% for a diamond that nobody will be able to distinguish from the higher priced diamonds! This type of sale would not have been possible without being able to see the actual diamond photos as provided by James Allen. This is what bang for the buck is all about.
If you want a recommendation for a diamond that meets your needs at a great price – feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help.