Diamonds, Diamonds, Diamonds

There are plenty of things to love about diamonds.  The sparkle, the romance, and the symbol of love everlasting to name a few.  I love diamonds of all shapes, sizes and colors.  As an artist diamonds are an awesome material to work with for many reasons.  First, is the wide range of colors they come in. Black Diamonds are some of my favorite...

Second is their sheer durability, which is why they are such a practical choice for engagement rings....

 

Shopping for a diamond can be both exciting and terrifying.  People don't know what they are looking at , who to trust and what they should be paying for a stone. 

Here are a few tips that may help you in your pursuit:

1. Do your research. Go to www.gia.edu and what their video on the 4 C's. It will give you a great deal of information about stones and how the 4 C's work together to determine the value of a stone.

2. Decide the shape, color and clarity you want for your stone. Don't be afraid of shape...something other than a round can be fun and unique! I recommend that my clients purchase stones no lower than SI1 in clarity and no lower than H in color.  

3. Work with a store you trust.  Get a recommendation, read reviews, etc.  You may pay a little more with a smaller store, but the level of service is worth the extra money.  So often mass produced goods, and diamond depot style companies may offer low prices, with no follow up, no creativity, and extra charges for sizing, repairs, etc.

4.  Finally Check out the Rapaport Price List for accurate pricing on stones. 

Hope this helps a little in your pursuit to buy a beautiful stone.  Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to create a custom ring from Samantha Louise Jewelry.