Along with buying a house or a car, buying diamond jewellery is regarded as one of the most important purchases a person will make in their lifetime.
So, whether it’s an engagement ring, earrings or diamond pendant, you’ll want to ensure the diamond you are purchasing is from a reputable GIA-certified jeweller with hundreds of glowing reviews.
This not only allows you to buy with confidence, but provides you with peace of mind knowing your diamond was valued correctly.
But, how do you know if the Melbourne jeweller you’re purchasing from is a credible source, providing quality diamonds?
From tips on how to choose your jeweller, to setting a budget, our Buyer's Guide to Choosing the Perfect Diamond covers everything you need to know before making the big purchase.
Choose Your Jeweller First
With an endless number of jewellers around these days, it can be difficult to know who is advising you correctly, and whether the information you’re receiving about the diamond is from a reliable source.
As it’s always recommended to shop around when making a large purchase, such as an overseas holiday, a credit card or piece of furniture, shopping around for the ideal jeweller should be no different. And these days, one of the easiest ways to cut down the search and to choose the best jeweller can be done without even leaving the comfort of your own home.
By looking closely at online reviews, you’ll be able to see what are other people are saying about their experience with that particular jeweller. Once you’ve narrowed it down to only a few, make appointments to go in, browse and experience these jewellers for yourself.
A good jeweller should be able and happy to answer any of your questions, without hesitation. They should be informative, provide you with outstanding customer service, and must know what they are talking about with pure confidence.
Do Your Research
It’s imperative you do your research before buying a diamond, so you know that you’re asking the right questions to your jeweller. Some important things to consider before purchasing are; what colour diamonds the jeweller stocks, as this will determine the quality of the stone, (read more about this below), ask the jeweller to see only GIA certified diamonds, or if they have any industry associated memberships, such as the JAA (Jewellers Association of Australia) and GAA (Gemmological Association of Australia), ask to see these too.
It’s also important to ask the jeweller about return or refund policies, in case your fiance-to-be or partner wants to choose a different style of ring or jewellery than the one you initially selected for them.
Some jewellers offer a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, or a change of mind policy, and other jewellers may have similar offers too, so it’s important to ask prior to purchasing for peace of mind.
Set Your Budget
Just like you would when buying car or purchasing an important household item, you need to set your budget. The only difference here is, whether it’s a diamond engagement ring or diamond jewellery, selecting a diamond is a meaningful and more personal purchase.
Taking all this into consideration, each individual’s budget is going to be different to the next, therefore it’s important to set a personal budget before going into a jeweller.
You may be overwhelmed by the beauty of the diamonds in front of you and by what the jeweller insists you buy, but at the end of the day, you’re making the purchase; it’s your wallet.
Having a fair idea about what style of ring or jewellery you’re after prior to visiting the jewellery store always helps as once this decision has been made, the quality and cut of the diamond will vary, depending on your budget.
Get a Second Opinion
When making such a personal purchase, bringing someone along to provide a second opinion on the diamond is always a good idea. Whether you’re wanting to pop the big question, or it's a special occasion, ask a close friend or family member to come to the jeweller with you - someone who knows your partner (or the person you’re buying for) well enough to assist you with buying this purchase.
Know About The 4c’s
Having a basic understanding of what the 4 C’s are prior to purchasing your diamond will help you to understand exactly what you’re purchasing and how the stone is valued in the first place. The 4 C’s, also known as Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat, help to determine the quality and shape of your diamond, and thus reassure the confidence behind your purchase.
Cut - The cut of the diamond refers to the shape of the stone. The proportions of the diamond and its ability to return a large amount of light enable the stone to sparkle. Which is why many people believe the ‘cut’ of the diamond is deemed the most important factor.
Clarity - The clarity of the diamond refers to the number of inclusions in the diamond itself. Higher quality diamonds are free of impurities, whereas lower quality diamonds have a larger number of impurities that can be seen by even the untrained eye. A diamond with the highest clarity range is deemed Flawless to VSS (Very, Very Slight inclusions). This means no inclusions in the diamond can be seen by the naked eye and that the diamond is extremely clear.
Colour - In the jewellery world, diamonds are graded on a D to Z scale, with D being the highest colour grade (the whitest). As the colour decreases down through the alphabet, the diamond becomes more yellow and the price starts to decrease.
Carat - The carat refers to how much the diamond weighs. As the diamond’s weight increases, so does the size and price.
Need Assistance Choosing the Perfect Diamond?
At SH Jewellery, our team are highly trained and are able to provide accurate, helpful advice when choosing the right diamond for your partner. On top of this, all our diamonds are GIA Certified, and more than 95% of our diamonds in our showroom are cut to grade "Excellent".
This means that every diamond we personally source, has been fully inspected and chosen for the ideal proportions, providing superior light performance. So, you can rest assure the diamond you select has undergone strict quality control to ensure the stone will have maximum brilliance and sparkle, for many years to come.
Simply visit our SH Showroom in Springvale and take advantage of a free consultation to discuss your jewellery and diamond requirements. So that we can better serve you, we recommend that you book an appointment for your consultation, especially for weekend times.
Book a phone consultation
Book an in-store appointment
Alternatively, contact our team, or shop our collection of engagement rings online today.
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