THE 4CS OF DIAMONDS
THE 4Cs OF DIAMONDS
CHAPTER 8
Now on to the secret 5th C, that dreaded cost of those beautiful sparkling stones. Each aspect of cut, clarity, color, and carat-weight affects the price of a diamond. When setting a budget it’s vital to decide which of the 4 C’s you care most about. Deciding on a higher carat weight could mean sacrificing color and clarity to allow for meeting your budget.
Which came first: the markdown or the markup? If you’ve been shopping for a diamond, you’ve probably been a bit confused by all the gimmicks and 50% OFF SALES. Today it seems almost every jeweler is offering huge discounts below retail. What is retail anyway? For most jewelers, it’s merely a fictitious, inflated price that they can in turn drastically discount. They do this to lure you into thinking that you’re saving money. Newsflash… you aren’t.
DIAMOND COST
Two diamonds of identical cut and weight could have over 230 different combinations of colors and clarities alone. Each of these combinations has a distinct value. If two jewelers were given the same diamond to sell, odds are they would not sell it for the same price. Why? Does the price you pay for a diamond always relate to its quality? Absolutely Not! Higher quality demands a higher price, but paying a higher price does not guarantee you’re getting higher quality! Nearly every jeweler claims to have the finest quality at the best price. Everyone knows this is impossible. The bottom line to buying a diamond is this: no matter where you purchase, demand a laboratory certificate from a trusted source like the GIA.
Never rely on the accuracy of a jeweler’s appraisal, regardless of their reputation. If the diamond is accurately graded, jewelers should not object to providing a laboratory certificate. If it is not accurately graded, they will likely refuse. Today as never before, consumers have at their disposal all the information needed to eliminate the guesswork, gimmicks, and unreasonable profits from buying a diamond. Hopefully the brief diamond education you’ve received here, coupled with the expert opinions of our non-commissioned Anglo staff will make for a comfortable and fun diamond buying experience!
