Buy your Diamond from a Reputable Diamond Dealer

What does this mean? How do I tell if the diamond dealer is reputable or not?
Buying a diamond can be a scary undertaking these days. There is an abundance of information available to consumers, but not all of it is accurate. This is probably one of the most important considerations to make when buying a diamond. There is alot more to diamonds and their prices than just learning about the diamond's cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. Every diamond is unique, no two diamonds are the same and to fully understand them requires lengthy study, specialised equipment and years of experience.

Diamond Certificates

A diamond certificate documents the complete quality and description of the diamond, it includes information on shape, carat weight, clarity, fluorescence, colour grade, measurements, proportions and finish grade. A diamond cetificate also confirms that the diamond is natural and is not synthetic or man-made.

There is also the undeniable fact that some diamonds are treated or enhanced in some way, and these diamonds are very difficult, and in some cases impossible to identify, without the correct laboratory equipment.

Synthetic diamonds are the latest threat to the uneducated consumer. If you are buying a diamond with out a recognised certificate (IE; a certificate recognised by either the WFDB, IDC, or CIBJO) it is possible that it may not be a Natural diamond at all.

These are a couple of reasons to insist that your jeweller supplies you with a diamond grading certificate from an officially recognised laboratory.

A diamond certificate enables you to buy diamonds with confidence.

A diamond certificate or diamond grading report is only as good as the laboratory who issued it. 

Diamond certificates from respectable labs, meaning GIA, HRD, AGS or DCLA, are totally necessary if you want to compare diamonds intelligently. Laboratories such as GIA, HRD, AGS and DCLA issue grading reports of the highest international standards. All of these diamond grading laboratories utilise strict procedures, have the most advanced equipment, and affiliations which meet the strict requirements for recognition by international trade organisations.

It is up to you, the consumer, to verify the credentials of a diamond grading laboratory and the diamond dealer.

Be even more cautious of website dealers who issue their own 'in house diamond certificates' or 'manufacturer's grading reports' as these simply are NOT independent certificates and they are NOT from a recognised laboratory.

Diamond grading laboratories which grade to IDC International Diamond Council rules, do not just use the opinion and expertise of one person. They must grade the diamond and have the opinion and consensus of three qualified diamond graders before the grade is applied to any diamond.

Valuations or appraisals are NOT the same as a diamond certificate or grading report. 
It is important to remember is that a grading report or diamond certificate does not include an appraisal, or any kind of statement about the monetary value of the diamond.