Glittering
atop fine jewellery and sparkling on our hands, we often think of diamonds as
valuable yet merely beautiful creations that are a blend of nature's creations
and man's crafting. However, diamonds are also becoming pretty popular tools
for investment purposes as well. It is not the jewellery, the precious metal
used, the brand or the store name, but quite simply the stones that offer a
viable investment tool. They are even purchased to pass down as heirloom assets
that go down one generation to the the next. If you are looking to purchase a
diamond as an investment, loose
diamonds from New York or other diamond capitals of the world will give
you much more value for money than purchasing from a retailing jewellery store.
Loose
diamonds are also a better way to save money on diamond jewellery itself, since
it often costs less to purchase a loose stone separately and then have it
fitted and designed into a piece of jewellery, experts say. This can
effectively cut out the margin retailers put on the stones since you will be
able to shop for the diamond yourself and compare prices from various sources.
Let us take
a look at a few basics when it comes to purchasing loose diamonds
-
Educate yourself about the 4 Cs –There is no point buying premium loose
diamonds in New York or elsewhere if you do not know what exactly you are
purchasing and why the stone is priced the way it is. A buyer be it for
investment purposes or for jewellery, must know what the basic four C's of
diamond shopping are and how they affect the quality and valuation of the
diamond. The carat weight, cut, colour and clarity all play a huge role in what
your diamond will look like and will be worth. Carat is the weight of the stone
and often a good indicator of the size as well. The colour of the diamond will
range from entirely colourless to those with less than perfect colourlessness;
and off course you will also find a variety of naturally coloured diamonds like
blue, pink, yellow etc.
Clarity is the absence or presence of natural
inclusions and flaws within the diamond, with a flawless one being the most
desired. And the cut is how the diamond is faceted and also can indicate shape
like a brilliant round cut, emerald cut, princess cut and more. Educate
yourself well. Strangely enough medium quality diamonds are said to be easier
to sell rather than the absolutely premium ones, since those will have a very
limited buyer base.
Purchase single stones – Sometimes people purchase a diamond
jewellery set thinking they can sell it at a future date when the prices go
up. However, rather than buying sets, from an investment point of view it may
be a better idea to buy single stones, as these are easier to sell and price.
Check for authenticity – Whether you are buying from a store or an
online retailer always checks for authenticity. Ensure that you procure a
certificate and a stamp of authenticity from a known standardising body. Opt
for reputed sellers who know the business, whether online or not.
