A diamond is a significant purchase and today it is easier than ever to buy one. Unfortunately it is also easier than ever to make an expensive mistake causing you to overspend and get stuck with a diamond you shouldn’t have purchased. There are lots and lots of websites offering huge inventories of diamonds to browse and purchase, and some of them are offering deals that appear too good to be true. Seeing a cheap diamond online can be very enticing and you might think you are getting a great deal on a beautiful gem, but Buyer beware!
One of the major problems with shopping for a diamond online is that shopping for a diamond online causes you to focus too much on the grade and lab report. A lab report is provided by a lab like GIA after they have evaluated the diamond. It gives measurements of the stone and provides the grader’s opinion of the color and clarity of the gem. But remember, a lab report is just an opinion of a single lab tech on any given day. A lab report will not tell you if the diamond is full of life and sparkle, or if it is dull and milky. I can show you two diamonds with the same lab grade, but they look drastically different from each other. I have seen the same diamond receive one grade, then get sent back into the lab and come out with another grade. A lab report is an important piece of information, but it is just context for the total picture. You must, MUST see the stone in person to see if it sparkles with intensity. Think of it this way; If I just gave you the measurements of a woman, could you tell me if she was attractive?
The best way to see the best diamonds is to work closely with a trusted jeweler, a professional who can guide you to that perfect diamond; One that maximizes beauty and doesn’t blow your budget. Jewelers are trained to look at diamonds and spend their entire day looking at and evaluating them. They know how to tell the difference between a diamond that is full of life and one that is lifeless and dull. They know what to look for and select the absolute best gems for their own inventories and clients. Diamond dealers know this and provide their best diamonds to jewelers who will purchase them quickly for inventory and clients. Do you know where the rest of the diamonds end up for sale? That’s right, they end up online! These websites offering huge inventories of diamonds are “clearing houses” for diamond rejects, diamonds that have been rejected by professional jewelers and dealers for their own clients.
The bottom line is this: I do not advise shopping for a diamond online. There are 2 main reasons for this: 1. You HAVE to see the diamond in person, not focus on lab reports and pics. You wouldn’t marry someone based solely on their measurements would you? 2. Online diamond stores are clearing houses for diamonds that have been rejected by professional jewelers and dealers. You do not want to select among rejects for your diamond.
As the old saying goes: “Buy the person, not the thing.” You can buy a diamond in lots of places, buy it from someone you trust, who genuinely loves what they do and truly wants what is best for you. That is worth something, there is value in having a local expert on your side. In Kansas City the best diamonds and gems are available for you at Kroman Jewelry. I would love to be your local expert and help guide you to your perfect diamond. Contact me now to get started.
