"Buying a Diamond Ring!"

Tips and Ideas - We found most jewelers are honest hard working and professional. They are willing to spend the time to educate you about the different styles of diamonds and diamond quality, providing you are serious about buying and not wasting their time.

Will you be misled when buying your diamond? Most likely not, when dealing with a professional jeweler.

Don't be fooled - Be an educated customer and go to a Professional Jeweler. This is the perfect time to create a personal relationship with a local or independent jeweler.

Lower grade diamonds are usually sitting, pre-mounted in the jewelry case and look pretty good to to people like you and I. Lower-grade diamonds look as good as higher-grade diamonds to the novis. You'd have to be a gemologist to recognize the difference. This is when you need that personal relationship, and trust the professionalism of your jeweler. This makes your wedding day that much nicer.

Exercise Caution! When a person enters a jewelry store, what do they find? Usually "blazing spot lights," so bright that even poorly cut, off-color diamonds sparkle like magnificent gems. When jewelers and gem professionals buy diamonds themselves, they do so only with "fluorescent lamps," and so should you. But that's not all... The diamonds you'll more than likely look at will already be mounted; the problem is that mountings can hide major flaws, as well as make the diamond appear whiter and brighter than it truly is.

You can protect yourself. As previously mentioned, most jewelers are honest, hard working professionals. When considering a purchase, be sure the seller guarantees in writing the specific quality grades. Also, insist you have the right to have the stone analyzed by either the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.), the inventor of the diamond grading system itself, or the International Gemological Institute.

Remember, be an educated consumer. Consider a local or independent jeweler that you can get to know and have a professional relationship with. A person you are comfortable with. Not only for an engagement ring, but for all your jewelry needs for the future.