Diamonds have a mystique about them; they are stunning to look at, they are cut beautifully to enhance any piece of jewelry, and when the sun catches them, they flash like miniature suns. However, if you are planning a diamond purchase, you need to know the truth about diamonds. All the television ads that portray diamonds as the ultimate gift of love, the romantic magazine ads that tell us that a diamond is the only gem that is the perfect gift can mislead us. The truth about diamonds is a little more complicated than this image of the perfect expression of perfect love.
Learning the Truth about Diamonds
There is nothing sinister here; just some basic truths and information about diamonds before you take out your credit card. First, make sure that the stone you are purchasing really is a diamond. This is especially true of diamonds sold on eBay and estate auctions. Before you buy, insist that a certified gemologist examine the gemstone. This is certification will tell you the stone’s carat weight, its color and clarity, and its flaws, if any. A seller who will not do this for you may not be telling the truth about the diamond you are hoping to purchase.
What looks like a diamond is not always a diamond. In the Depression era, many people were too poor to buy a diamond. Instead, rings made of fine crystal served as engagement rings. If you happen across one of these rings, the seller should inform you of its true composition. Crystal jewelry from the Depression years is quite beautiful; simply make sure you know the truth about this diamond “substitute.”
Similar to the crystal jewelry of the past, cubic zirconium is quite lovely; only a gemologist can tell the difference between a diamond created by nature and a diamond created in a laboratory. The truth is that they are both diamonds; one is natural and one is artificial. Again, just make sure you know what you are buying.
Another myth to keep in mind is that many diamonds are not clear stones. The gem’s physical and chemical make up is what determines a diamond, not the color. Created by untold years by nature from carbon molecules, diamonds can be any color in the rainbow. The truth about these diamonds is not that they are “trash” diamonds as some believe, but are stunning in color and clarity. One of the most beautiful diamonds in the world is a large violet diamond bought by the late Richard Burton for the love of his life, Elizabeth Taylor, to match her eyes.
This is great advice. It's really important to know what you're buying, especially when it comes to diamonds. That's why it's a good idea to only get diamonds that have been graded by independent laboratories and come with grading reports. GIA is a non-profit diamond grading lab that invented the industry standards for diamond grading, so getting a certificate from them is a good bet... you can use it for insurance purposes, and it will help your diamond retain its value if you ever need to resell it. Good luck!
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