Purchasing a diamond ring should be a pleasure. The process of selecting the right stone, and designing the perfect setting, should be part of the experience of creating the perfect gift for the person you love. But too often, it’s stressful. This is a big investment – how do I know I’m not being ripped off? Here are the questions to ask when you are considering buying a diamond engagement ring.
Is the diamond GIA certified?
Your diamond must come with a certificate, ideally from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA is an independent organization that grades diamonds. They created the framework of using 4C’s (colour, clarity, cut and carat weight) to assess diamond quality. Your certificate will include a full assessment of the diamond’s 4Cs, in addition to a unique identifying number. Your GIA certificate will give you an objective assessment of the value of your stone, using internationally accepted standards.
Am I encouraged to seek quotes?
A first consultation should be commitment-free. You are about to make an important purchase. Sometimes you need to visit a few stores and review your options before you find the right stone. This is perfectly OK – in fact, it should be encouraged. You know you can trust your diamond consultant if they encourage you to look around because it means they are confident in the true value of the product that they are selling.
Be careful with the mass-market jewellery shops as the employees are usually under heavy pressure to sell you anything to offload their inventory.
What do past clients have to say?
Ask around. Look on Google, search Instagram or Facebook and see what past clients are really saying about the store, the experience and the diamonds. Integrity is hard to fake, and negative feedback is impossible to hide in this age of social media.
I would have never expected that buying an engagement ring would be such an exciting and stress-free experience, however, Paul from Claremont diamonds certainly made it exactly that! Paul was incredibly helpful and professional throughout the entire process. All the way from the initial consultation, where Paul took a great deal of time in getting to know me and asking relevant questions (sometimes over a beer or two) about my now fiancé and our relationship journey, to the congratulation and celebration when I finally popped the question.
At no point did I ever feel pressured or overwhelmed by the decisions I was making and Paul genuinely went above and beyond to ensure I was happy with the diamond and final ring design. Like most men in long term relationships, I certainly had an idea of what my fiancé liked based on numerous Instagram direct message hints from her.
However, I can honestly and confidently say that what Paul delivered far exceeded anything I dreamed of. Engaged and ready to plan a wedding, my fiancé (who clearly loves her ring – obvious by the amount of ring selfies she’s taken and the fact she hasn’t stop staring at it since the proposal) and I are extremely happy and highly recommend Paul and the team at Claremont diamonds.
Should I look for a discount?
Walk straight past stores advertising sales with massive discounts! A quality diamond is valued based on its GIA grade, and this value is relatively fixed on the international market. Sorting through dozens of poor-quality diamonds at 30-50% off will give you a headache, but not save you money.
At the end of the day, you want to look for a diamond consultant that takes pride in their work. If they believe in the true value of what they are selling, they will be able to help you source the best stone, offer you a fair price, and help you to create a beautiful piece of jewelry.
At Claremont Diamonds, we believe that choosing an engagement ring shouldn’t be as overwhelming, confusing, and impersonal as mainstream mass-producing jewellery companies make it seem. You work one-on-one with your own jewellery designer to craft the perfect ring for your unique love story, lifestyle, and values. Come in knowing nothing about diamond rings, and leave feeling educated, empowered, and proud of what you’ve created: a one-of-a-kind engagement ring you designed just for your love…because the story of your engagement is one you’ll tell for the rest of your life, make it a good one.
Your love is one-of-a-kind. Your engagement ring should be too. We would love to take the stress and pressure off you. Book an appointment to see one of our design especialist.