Who Else Got a Bad Diamond Deal? Here's How YOU Prevent It
by Joel Bleurocque
http://www.fivecdiamond.com
If you've ever been in the market for a diamond, either to
sell or to buy one, everyone's biggest concern always is
whether or not you're getting a good deal. And it can be
quite difficult to find an honest place to do business
with. But what if you would be able to judge a diamond's
worth by looking for 4 characteristics, and recognize
value like an expert through the eyes of a layman?
What are they? They're called the 4 C's, and they are Cut
(the shape of the diamond), Clarity (the lack of spots,
cracks and flaws in a diamond), Color (less color means
more value) and Carat, which of course is the weight of
the diamond.
So the first one is cut. Is your diamond round and
equally wide as it is tall? That's called a round and
brilliant cut, and it's the most valuable cut there is.
When your diamond is either flatter or taller in shape,
it becomes less valuable. This goes for every diamond
there is, except for a triangular cut, which can also be
very valuable because it is in fact very rare.
Clarity is a bit harder to judge because you can't always
see it with the naked eye. However, it's possible to get a
very close estimate simply by holding your diamond against
a lot of light. Do you see any spots, marks of flaws in it?
If it looks as clear as water, your diamond is very
valuable. If it looks polluted and has spots, cracks or
flaws in it, value decreases.
Color also matters a lot. Contrary to popular opinion,
some colors are very valuable. Exceptions like a black
diamond can be worth a lot of money... however, generally
speaking, the more transparant a diamond is, the more
you're going to pay for it. Who doesn't want a clear,
sparkling stone?
And the last, probably most sought after charateristic of
a diamond is the one we all know as "Carat". If you think
1 carat is a pretty good size for the average diamond,
you're wrong. 95% of women will never own a diamond that
size; it's rare.
These are the 4 most reliable characteristics when you
go shopping for a diamond. It's not enough to taxate
them yourself, but it's enough to know what you're talking
about and not be scammed.
All that's left to judge is whether it's real or not.
If a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is. When
you see the words CZ, Labcreated or simulated in the
shop, then you should know that even the best
labcreated diamonds are hardly worth anything compared
to the real thing.
Especially if you're buying a wedding ring or engagement
ring, it's best to steer clear of simulated diamonds and
go with a natural. Even if you can't tell, she'll
eventually find out. Besides, the value of these kinds of
diamonds quickly decreases, and you don't have to be an
expert in diamonds to spot a fraud. Getting a good deal
on a natural diamond isn't hard; you only have to know
enough to call bluff when a trader is overpriced.
Happy shopping!
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