A deBebians jewelry expert shows off an assortment of GIA certified diamonds. Photo Source: deBebians
Recently, I was assisting a customer with a GIA certified loose diamond search and it really got me thinking. She had done a lot of research online and had read all types of things about what to look for in your perfect diamond. After chatting with her, I realized she was pretty much only concerned about getting an excellent cut grade round brilliant diamond with excellent polish & excellent symmetry. This type of diamond is often referred to as ‘triple X’ or ‘triple excellent’. I also realized she had read so much online that she was scared about clarity and was only considering VS1 or higher clarity diamonds. She was convinced that any round diamond less than VS1 clarity would definitely have eye visible inclusions. Believe me, I am all for helping each customer get exactly what they want (or what they think they want). However, as a GIA graduate gemologist and someone who has been in the business for 16 years, I sometimes find it interesting (or disheartening) what my clients read and learn about online. You have to remember that there is a lot of misinformation out there and that you should consult an actual gemologist or diamond expert when you are looking to make a loose diamond purchase. Even consult with more than one to get multiple professional opinions. I have noticed that some ‘expert’ advice you find online is from people who have perhaps done some research on their own, purchased a diamond and now feel they are qualified to give ‘expert’ advice. My advice is to pay attention to these ‘experts’ and take everything they say with a grain of salt. You may find some very good information out there from non-gemologists, but you may also come across some information that isn’t accurate. Do your research and talk to some real experts before making such a large purchase.