Diamond Jewelry Buyer's Guide

Diamond jewelry is among the most popular forms of jewelry. Commonly associated with romance, jewelry featuring diamonds is appreciated for its brilliance, style and meaning. Despite diamond jewelry's popularity and constant presence in our society, picking the right piece is not as simple as what many might assume. Confronted with the nuances of contemporary styles and budgeting, not to mention personal tastes, it's no wonder how diamond jewelry shoppers can feel overwhelmed when trying to find that perfect set of wedding bands, a ring or bracelet. As a result, Zales has prepared this Diamond Jewelry Buyers Guide to give you a sound understanding of what to look for when making a purchase. After all, buying diamond jewelry should be enjoyable!

To maximize the pleasure of your purchasing experience, it's helpful to develop a broad understanding of diamond jewelry, which includes a brief history and the basic questions you should answer before beginning your shopping trip. Afterward let's look more closely at diamonds themselves with a review on the 4 Cs of diamond quality and conclude with a diamond jewelry glossary that will educate you on all the terms you need to know when researching your purchase.

Diamond Jewelry: A Brief History

Diamond jewelry has charmed generations of people across the world for centuries. Traditionally only available to the rich and famous, diamond jewelry has become an aspirational item that is as important for the message it conveys as its brilliant appearance. The event that awakened the world's appreciation of diamond jewelry was the 15th century wedding of Maxmilla of Austria to Mary of Burgundy, where the groom gave the bride a brilliant diamond engagement ring . Until that time, the arduous processes of mining, cutting and polishing diamonds followed by crafting diamond jewelry was not actively pursued, but Maximilla started a trend that continues to grow in popularity today. Although owning diamond jewelry has historically made an inference about the class and social stature of the wearer, today it suggests emotional themes of commitment, durability and beauty commonly associated with romantic relationships. Understandably, when shopping for diamond jewelry, it's important to make a sound choice.

Selecting Diamond Jewelry: Basic Considerations

The first step in understanding how to buy diamond jewelry is the consideration of a handful of basic questions that should guide you through the purchase process and make your search much easier. Here are five basic questions that should help you narrow your search for diamond jewelry:

Diamond jewelry is available in a variety of forms and it's important to understand the occasion to select an appropriate piece of jewelry. A diamond engagement ring, wedding band set or some other form of bridal jewelry is appropriate for engagements and weddings, but for little else. For those that appreciate the elegant look and brilliance of diamond jewelry, a pendant, a bracelet or a 3 stone diamond ring often makes an excellent gift. Lastly, consideration should be given to when and how the jewelry will be worn to ensure that any piece of diamond jewelry can be worn in the way in which it was intended.

Selecting a budget for buying diamond jewelry is deceptively easy; simply evaluate your finances before starting the shopping process to determine the amount that can be comfortably spent. Many allow substantial purchases like diamond wedding bands to cloud their judgment, which creates regret. Frequently buyers start their search without a budget, which forces them into making a difficult decision when confronted with a beautiful piece of diamond jewelry that captures their imagination. Having an established budget in mind before your first shopping trip will prevent anxiety and make the entire experience more enjoyable.

Diamond jewelry can be found in an almost unlimited number of styles, so after determining your desired jewelry type and budget, it's wise to develop a solid understanding of the styles you prefer. Clearly, this process is much less complicated for those that are shopping for themselves, but for those buying diamond jewelry as a gift it can be much more difficult. Here are a few questions to consider that should help uncover jewelry preferences:

What Types of Diamond Jewelry Do They Currently Have?

What Would Look Good With Their Current Wardrobe?

Are There Friends and Family Who Can Offer Suggestions?

Arming yourself with details about the preferred style and any related characteristics will give you necessary information to save time and effort when looking for the perfect piece of diamond jewelry.

Although most commonly associated with the purchase of engagement rings jewelry size is important regardless of the type. In fact, there is no form of jewelry that shouldn't be considered for size. Rings require an exact measurement and should be taken earlier in the day before any swelling or irritation of the fingers. Bracelets require obtaining the diameter of the wrist and adding ¾' to 1'. Sizing necklaces can be much more problematic; there are a variety of styles not to mention personal preferences, so when in doubt confirm that sizing can be changed if necessary. Lastly earring length should be considered, especially when considering longer types like chandeliers and hoops.

The key to assessing the value of diamond jewelry is understanding the principles of diamond valuation itself. Commonly known as the 4 Cs, the grading scale focuses on the comparison of a diamond to a comparably sized perfect example.

Diamond Color – Each diamond is graded using a scale created by one of the leading gemological industry organizations. An ideal stone is colorless, however most stones posses some form of color.

Diamond Carat – The size of the diamond can dramatically affect the value of the stone and the diamond jewelry in which it's used. Generally the larger the stone the greater value, however other factors also affect value too.

Diamond Clarity – The presence of imperfections, or a stone's clarity, is a large component of assessing the value of diamonds. While diamond jewelry buyers can see imperfections that appear as small cracks or miniscule flecks of black carbon, these blemishes often can't be seen with the naked eye.

Diamond Cut - A diamond cut is a style or design guide used when shaping a diamond for polishing and doesn't refer to shape. Normally most consider the actual shape and appearance of the stone itself, rather than its ability to shine, but the Cut refers to the symmetry, proportioning and polish of a diamond and impacts its brilliance; this means if it is cut poorly, it will be less luminous.