- Learn about diamonds
Sometimes, I just can’t help myself but to keep on emphasizing this to anyone who wants to buy a diamond online: LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT DIAMONDS! Pardon me, I don’t mean to shout. But the fact that many people are very ignorant about diamond yet want to buy them through the internet is driving me crazy.
Believe it a not, there are jewelers who are unable to differentiate a diamond cut from a diamond shape. Everyone is so hyped up about the carat weight and has totally forgotten about the other 3 characteristics of a diamond.
It won’t take you years or months to learn something about diamond. There are plenty of articles and information on the 4C of a diamond. Spend some useful time in the library or internet and learn about diamonds. Who knows, you may become an expert in diamonds. - Prioritize the 4 characteristics
There are much more about diamonds than just the 4Cs. But at the end of the day, the 4Cs are still the major factors influencing the quality and price of a diamond.
Before you start prioritizing the 4Cs, you got to know what your girl actually likes about a diamond. If she like big one, go for a diamond with big carat weight but with poorer quality in terms of color, cut or clarity. If she likes the brilliance of a diamond and doesn’t mind the size, choose one with excellent cut and clarity. Whichever the case is, prioritizing the 4Cs will give you a better idea of what diamonds will suit her taste as well as your budget. - Do a price research
With your list, do some price research at some of the online jewelry stores. Based on your list, you should have a rough estimate of the market price of the diamond you are looking for. If the price is out of your budget, try going for a grade lower than your expectation and you may eventually find one that suits you well. - Do some background research on the jewelry stores
If you have been doing researching, you would have come across information on cubic zirconium diamonds. These synthetic diamonds are D-color graded, flawless and cut to perfection. In short, a CZ diamond is a ‘perfect’ diamond. It is brilliant, flawless and yet cheap. Their prices do not increase exponentially with their quality unlike diamonds.
And there are also some natural diamonds which have undergone treatments to reduce its blemishes thus enhanced its appearance. It is still a low grade diamond and dishonest dealers may try to pass it off as a good graded diamond and sell you at a higher price.
So, before you start swiping your hard-earned money away, do some research about the jeweler as well. Ask your family, relatives or friend who have purchased from the dealer. Online forum is a good place to ask around and there are plenty of sites that provide reviews on jewelry store online.
Give the jewelry store a call, talk to their staffs and decide for ourself if you are comfortable with the store. - Always ask for a money back guarantee
There are risks in very form of transactions, so do buying diamonds. Protect yourself and minimize any risks by making sure that the store has the complete details about their return policy. It should include information about the validity period, what to do if you wish to return your purchase and their address.
As a rule of thumb, online stores should offer you no less than 21 days return policy. In fact, most of them have a return policy of 30 days. - Choose jewelers who provide grading reports
Certified diamonds will come along with a grading report by reputable gemology organizations such as GIA or AGS. Some online jewelry stores certified their diamond by in-house gemologists and they may be using different grading standards from GIA or AGS, while others may not provide the grading reports. Diamonds from top online jewelry stores generally comes accompanied with a grading report.
After you have purchased your diamond, you should get it appraised again with the grading report by a trained gemologist. The grading report will be very helpful in ascertaining whether the diamond you have bought is up to the specifications shown on the report.
Monday, January 28, 2008
6 Helpful Tips on How to Buy a Diamond
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Auscert (SGTL) Still
a NON Compliant Diamond Grader
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The above information was sent to us by Anthony Bates of Auscert, one of the non compliant pseudo diamond grading laboratories in Australia.
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I have been requested by Mr. Bates of Auscert to keep up to date with our facts and findings.
This is one of those rare moments where I will agree with him and I thank him for bringing this to my attention.
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The old pictures and information on the DiamondSure(tm) and DiamondView(tm) came from De Beers the company responsible for manufacturing both these instruments and De Beers was named as the source of this information.
The new pictures come from the GIA British site. Previously only De Beers marketed these two products but now they are available for sale from GIA who has been appointed a retail distributor.
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During the course of the last year we have subjected Mr Bates to justifiable scrutiny.
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Gemological Qualifications?
Until only recently we believe Mr Bates has finally acquired a gemological qualification offered by GIA for those who need a diamond grading qualification quickly in the shortest space of time. We are not sure exactly which course it was suffice to say it was a diamond evaluation course not equivalent to residence course which is part of the esteemed graduate gemologist qualification which takes six months and a lot more money.
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It is encouraging to see Mr Bates, who previously would never reveal his gemological credentials to us in the past, has finally become slightly more educated.
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Colour Grading Diamond Master Set?
We still have no confirmation of Auscert's (SGTL) diamond master set that a laboratory requires for colour comparisons. The Colorimeter which we believe Auscert uses is unacceptable.No respectable laboratory that requires recognition would seriously use a colorimeter for ascertaining accurate colour grades on their diamond grading reports.
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The colorimeter is simply a convenient indicator of colour. Those who use it rarely practise and train their eyes and colour grading skills by constantly comparing real diamonds with real diamonds.
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However there is still a problem.
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Mr Bates and his sidekick Monica Crofts continue to falsely claim they are an independent diamond grading laboratory yet both of them are trading in jewellery and gemstones.
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Mr Bates has a retail jewellery business and even has the chutzpah to list the Auscert logo on his retail jewellery website.
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Hardly independent is it Mr Bates ?
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Under the CIBJO Diamond Blue Book guidelines to avoid a conflict of interest both gem or jewellery traders and vendors are not permitted to certify diamonds.
The world jewellery and diamond governing bodies such as CIBJO and the WFDB do not permit jewellery or diamond dealer members to have cross ownership or interests in laboratories.
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Can you imagine buying a diamond from a diamond vendor who certifies his own diamonds ? To understand why this is unethical read more here .
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Monica Crofts has a coloured gemstone business.
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I quote Mr Bates on Gemex 23rd August 2006:
"Simply, we are not a CIBJO approved Laboratory, thus we can do whatever we want. We are not answerable or legally bound to any of their codes of ethics or rulings from the blue book"
I further quote Mr Bates on Gemex 24th August 2006:
"I have never hidden the fact from anyone that I run a very small and exclusive design studio. When and if I require diamonds I will source them from many avenues in order to gain the best deal for my clients, At a retail level I have absolutely no preference of one type of cert over another"
Yet on the Auscert website of which Mr Anthony Bates is the Director it clearly says "We don't even sell diamonds! " and "Auscert is completely independent. We do not sell diamonds, nor are we affiliated with any manufacturers of diamonds".
Mr Bates has resented our exposure but it is very simple.
Either you are an independent diamond grader or you are a diamond/gemstone/ jewellery trader.
Attempting to gain credibility by attaining qualifications and upgrading a " lab " with recognised instruments might be admirable but all is negated and certainly NOT independent.
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Professional Liability
Assuming Auscert ( SGTL ) has finally acquired suitable instruments for determining the differences between synthetic and natural diamonds, what of the thousands of diamonds that were graded and tested by the previously unqualified Mr. Bates ? ; not to mention inaccurate colour grades which under world trade organisations' guidelines require a minimum of three people to assess real diamonds against a real diamond master set.
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Ridiculous Correspondence
Both Messrs Bates & Croft have written to me requesting I remove information that they obviously are uncomfortable with.
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They have requested I do not show or publish their letter to me.
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I understand completely. I would be embarrassed also.
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However Diamond Imports have been emailed by Mr.Bates that Auscert is allowing other Australian " labs " the use of their instruments if required.
How benevolent.
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"If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise... "
Rudyard Kipling
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Since there is only one recognised compliant diamond grading laboratory in Australia that has correctly colour graded diamonds and tested for synthetic diamonds since it's inception,that is DCLA in Sydney, with all due respect we are rather hesitant in using Auscert's questionable services while they continue to trade in gemstones and jewellery and falsely claiming they are independent.
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Who Uses Non Compliant Diamond Grading Certificates?
Without naming any of our competitors the potential diamond buyer should seriously question why would a diamond vendor sell diamonds with a non compliant diamond grading certificate ?
More importantly if an Australian diamond vendor ,and in particularly a diamond website that conspicuously has all the logos from non compliant labs on their websites and the DCLA logo is missing, ask yourself why ?
The reason is either they have been banned because they are unethical or DCLA are tough diamond graders that will not compromise their reputation or be bullied into submission by a diamond vendor disappointed with a grading report.
This is the reason why there are those diamond vendors and drop shippers who now sell diamonds with their own in-house grading reports or manufacturers' grading reports because they are not real diamantaires who are able to buy wisely and become frustrated when a DCLA diamond certificate downgrades their diamonds.
Buying Diamonds In Melbourne Australia
The Melbourne diamond scene for years has been like a small village of misfits. There is no place like it in the world.
Basically if someone farts they all hear it.They all know each other. They all bitch about each other. Gossip mongers, friends one day enemies tomorrow there is no accountability.Most of the older established diamond dealers have moved on or passed away.
There are a handful left that I still have respect for but basically Melbourne has been over run by the "cowboys". A new breed of diamond merchant that has no respect for the time honoured principals of ethics and pride.Unprofessional, uneducated and uncaring.
All they want is your money without considering the long term future relationships that can develop future business.
The fact that we receive more complaints about Melbourne than any other part of the country confirms our suspicions that the diamond buyer must at all times exercise caution when purchasing a diamond from those who hide behind their facades.
The main offenders are website dealers who offer very little knowledge or service.
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