Buying Diamonds On The Internet

Editor: Christian DiCamillo
G.G. (Graduate Gemologist GIA)
Member, NAJA

I know, I know, everybody who buys a diamond knows more than the one selling it or appraising it. Slow down people, you’re not exactly there, many are still in the crawling stages, others may be ready to walk, but all in all, it takes a lot more studying and “hands on” experience to be at that level. I still learn daily, there is way too much to know to learn it online or from what others have written.

Heck, I listen to my boss when he speaks and still can’t absorb everything he says, but what I do know is this, he is not trying to mislead me or misinform me of whatever the issue at hand may be.

Now, my experience from the net has been great, but every once in a while I will bump into the one who knows it all. When appraising, I have no interest in what company makes a sale, I have no interest if I have to rework the diamond to reassure you that it is the diamond that you saw when you made the decision to buy it, granted there is an accompanying certification, which anyone buying online should have with their purchase.

My number one and only concern is that you get the best diamond for the price that you paid. I have seen online purchases that have been too good to be true, but guess what, they have all turned out to be 100% accurate. I know the old saying about “If it’s too good to be true”, but in this day and age, with all of the competition and the mere fact that there is nothing involved in travel due to the online convenience, weather conditions outside or the pain the booty sales person telling you anything that’s on a tag or a cert just to make a sale, in your face and then get an attitude when you walk away, why not give it a shot? THAT’S where you’re friendly neighborhood independent appraiser comes in (just for the record, that’s me! Oh, and ahhh pick me, pick me, love to make it fun for ya, not all about serious stuff, life’s too short to be too serious all the time peeps, friendly reminder to lighten up, and yes, I do know what I am talking about too).

Read the forums, do your homework, but to try to know it all will simply confuse you, all of those damn numbers, all of those percentages, angles, facets, crystals, clouds! Ahhhhhh, it’s insane, better off trying to figure out Troy Aikman’s quarterback rating for his career than to figure out if the diamond is an ideal cut.

Also, let’s not forget all of the new technology, this scope, that scope! Remember, the key here peeps, let’s et the appraiser (remember him/her, the one you hired, the one who doesn’t receive a kickback of ANY sort from any company, that would compromise any independent appraiser’s ethics) do their job and inform you of exactly what you should be concerned with and believe me, there aren’t many in most stones I see. If there were it would be disclosed to you. If there was any laser drilling done, or if any chips, or durability factors, they would let you know.

Nothing has to go through specific tests to get this done, it’s all part of the job. Lighten up, take a deep breath and remember, it’s sent to me with no obligation to you from most Internet companies, so what the hell, roll the bones and give it a shot. You already have seen from site to site what is available, what the pricing differences are, and I’m sure you compared what a comparable stone sells for, so obviously you’re interested in it, and if you feel comfortable with the price, send it on over to me and let’s get ya engaged! In my opinion, and it’s rarely humble, feel safe on the net, sure beats the heck out of that sales person who knows what he/she reads off of a paper and not a thing about the 4th C, CUT!

Now, what to write next week…. hmmmmm? How about Lab vs. Lab? I live for controversy. Let’s ROCK!