How to Buy Loose Diamonds

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Buying lose diamonds is probably the best way to buy diamonds.

If you are looking through jewelry stores or diamond dealers always ask for a 10X (ten times) Loupe so you can examine the interior of a stone.

A Loupe is a special microscope made specifically for looking in diamonds and other stones. 10X refers to the magnification properties of the loupe. What you find should correspond to the certificate that should come with a stone.

All diamonds are assigned a clarity grading using a microscope with the magnification power of ten times so using one of these should ,enable you to see the inclusions detailed on the certificate. If there are more inclusions than noted on the certificate it may not be the same diamond but one of a lesser quality.

Get the jeweler to let you check the diamond against a master comparison set.The master set should have been previously graded by the Gemological Institute of America. The stone should be positioned against another of the same or similar color so you can compare it. In addition while looking at loose diamonds ask the jeweler to explain the cuts grade to you. If you are looking at a diamond with a round brilliant cut, ask to see some examples

The most common shapes for lose diamonds in alphabetical order are:

• Baguette
• Emerald
• Heart
• Marquise
• Oval
• Pear
• Princess
• Radiant
• Round Brilliant

Of these the Round Brilliant is considered by most people to be the best as it tends to show off the most brilliance and sparkle. Other shapes such as the pear, oval and marquise are usually design to maximize the carat weight. In all purchases of diamonds ensure that there is a standard certificate from one of the laboratories listed on Weight of Diamonds.