I suggest that you only buy a diamond that has a report issued by an independent lab, such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America). If you are not experienced, there is really no way for you to tell if the diamond you are looking at is really what the jeweler says it is. In the absolute worst case, you might be buying a synthetic diamond, such as a cubic zirconium, instead of a real diamond.
If you’ve found a diamond that you really like, but it doesn’t have a report, you should ask the jeweler to send it to a lab, such as GIA for evaluation. This is a standard request and if your jeweler refuses it, you should do your business somewhere else, since something fishy may be going on.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
This is so true… after doing tons of research on engagement rings, I would definitely recommend getting a GIA diamond grading report. GIA invented the 4 Cs, and it’s the most technologically advanced diamond grading laboratory. Even a jeweler can’t tell the 4 Cs of a diamond with the naked eye (or if it’s been altered!), so you definitely want to get a third party certification from a laboratory. For such a big purchase, you want to know what you’re buying!