subject: Diamonds Grading And Buying Guide [print this page] They diamond is a girl's best friend, but these friends are quiet pricey and their value is judged by a grading report. Many people just go and buy this precious stone, without seeing its grading report. Now a grading report of course clarifies that the gem is genuine, but it explains a lot more about the stone. It tells you about the quality, beauty and pricing of the stone. Some grading reports even share a history of the stone, which further adds to its value. This history is also very useful to verify the claims of the seller. Another important reason to have a grading report is for insurance purposes. If you lose your gem, which had a history attached to it or came from some royal family, then you would want it replaced by one that is of an equal quality.
If you go for a diamond that weighs less than 1 carat, then it should not be very expensive and is often not graded either. Although, if the diamond is 1 carat or more, be sure to always ask for a grading report. It is even recommended to even get the stone removed from its setting and have a report done by a reputed lab, before buying it. None of the reputable labs would make a report on a previously mounted diamond. GIA/Gem trade labs in US do most of these reports. Additionally a grading report would help you decide between many stones, if you are able to understand the differences each factor makes. Although, if one stone seems more pretty to you than the other, then you can use the report as a tool for bargaining and get what you want at a fair price.
Reading the report correctly is an important factor in purchasing diamonds, but if you are unable to do this, then you can make some very costly mistakes. One mistake that most people make when judging the quality of a diamond by its report is that they see just two factors, color and clarity. These two factors alone cannot help you make a sound decision, but they can make you take a costly one. Another common problem is that people seem to neglect the condition of the diamond, after it has been reported. If the jewel is not in the same condition as said on the report you may want to get its price lowered, which would be to your advantage.
Reading the report is not a very hard task either. Firstly, you need to check the date of the report and see if the report actually belongs to the diamond, you chose. Additionally if the diamond experiences wear and tear after the report, then it is not of the same worth as mentioned. You would also want to check the name of the laboratory on the report and if it is not a well-known one, then you better get it checked by GIA as well. Once you have checked everything for authenticity, you can proceed with purchasing the diamonds, without any worries.
