{"id":10622,"date":"2013-06-09T13:14:41","date_gmt":"2013-06-09T17:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/?p=10622"},"modified":"2025-04-22T15:41:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T19:41:48","slug":"diamonds-are-a-rip-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewelry-secrets.com\/Blog\/diamonds-are-a-rip-off\/","title":{"rendered":"DIAMONDS ARE A RIP OFF"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Diamonds<\/div>\n

Diamonds really are a Rip Off!<\/h2>\n

\nAfter all, they are just another Rock<\/strong> from the Earth! <\/p>\n

They are WAY too Expensive<\/strong>! <\/p>\n

\nYou don’t know what you’re Buying! <\/p>\n

You Feel like Jewelers are Ripping you off! <\/strong><\/p>\n

You Spend all that Money on a Diamond that only Dulls up and Chips! <\/p>\n

\nNot to Mention, the Resell Value is CRAP!<\/strong><\/p>\n

So Are Diamonds a Rip Off?<\/h2>\n

\nA lot of people think they are.<\/p>\n

\nLet’s look at the Main Reasons why Diamonds are a Rip off <\/strong>and what I have to say about it…<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. It’s just a Rock from the Earth<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. The Same Exact Quality is Different Prices<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. You Don’t Know what you’re Buying<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Grade Bumping!<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. All Certs are Not Created Equal<\/strong><\/li>\n
  6. Diamonds Aren’t Forever<\/strong><\/li>\n
  7. Cut is Always Skipped over<\/strong><\/li>\n
  8. What’s Fluorescence?<\/strong><\/li>\n
  9. Multiple Colors & Clarity<\/strong><\/li>\n
  10. Approx. Carat Weights<\/strong><\/li>\n
  11. Inclusions GROW!<\/strong><\/li>\n
  12. The Appraisal and Retail is too High<\/strong><\/li>\n
  13. Diamond Warranty Void<\/strong><\/li>\n
  14. Return Policies<\/strong><\/li>\n
  15. Resell Value<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \nThat’s Quite a Long List of Rip Offs!<\/strong> <\/p>\n

    But what do they all mean, and are they Just?<\/h2>\n

    \nMaybe, Maybe not!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nLet’s take a closer look…<\/strong><\/p>\n

    1) It’s just a Rock from the Earth<\/h2>\n

    \nReally it is!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nIt’s a Rock Created in the Earth over a Billion years ago. So why did Diamonds become so Famous that we use it over any other Gemstone or Rock?<\/p>\n

    It’s Durability!<\/h2>\n

    \nDiamond is the King of Gems<\/strong> because it’s 4x Harder<\/strong> than the next Most Hardest Natural Gem, which is Corundum, or Ruby & Sapphire!<\/p>\n

    \nDiamond’s Absolute Hardness is 1600<\/strong>, where as Corundum is just 400<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

    \"Diamonds<\/p>\n

    \nSo it’s Harder than any other Gem. So what?<\/strong> Does this really make a Difference?<\/p>\n

    YES!<\/h2>\n

    \nBecause nothing else Natural is Harder, Nothing can Wear Diamond away<\/strong> (Except for another Diamond).<\/p>\n

    \nDiamonds won’t Erode or Scratch up<\/strong> like all the other Stones will. When they say Diamonds are Forever. They mean it! <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nChances are that the Diamond you wear on your Finger today, will look Exactly like it does for another Billion years!<\/p>\n

    That’s Impressive!<\/h2>\n

    \nNothing else that you ever Buy in Life will last as long<\/strong>. It will certainly out live you.<\/p>\n

    \nTake the Price of a Diamond and Divide it up into a Whole Lifetime and see what it comes out to be… Pennies!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nLook at how much you Spend on a Car that only lasts you Ten Years or so… If you’re Lucky!<\/p>\n

    \nThat’s Money Spent and Gone, but your Diamond will still be here.<\/p>\n

    Diamond IS KING!<\/h2>\n

    \nDiamond Demands the Price of Luxury. In fact, not too many years ago, Diamonds were Reserved for nothing but Royalty, Kings and Queens.<\/p>\n

    \nDon’t you Feel Special?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    2) The Same Exact Quality is Different Prices<\/h2>\n

    \nIt’s True. A 1.00 Carat, SI1, G<\/strong> Diamond in one store may be $5,200<\/strong>, while that Same Exact Quality at another store may Sell for $7,000<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \"Same<\/p>\n

    What Gives?<\/h2>\n

    \nShouldn’t all Diamonds of the same Clarity, Color and Cut be the Same Price?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    NOPE!<\/h2>\n

    \nHere’s why…<\/p>\n

    \nEvery Diamond is Different!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nEvery Single Diamond has traits that no other Diamond in the World has. They are all Unique<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nDiamonds are like People. They all have Different Features, Sizes, Shapes and Characteristics.<\/p>\n

    \nOne of the Biggest Differences that separates Diamonds is CUT<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nCut can Affect the Price of a Stone Greatly. To the Naked Eye, a Stone may look Very Similar. But when you look at the Proportions, Symmetry and Percentages, you’ll see that Tiny, Minute Differences can Affect the Overall Beauty and Sparkle of the Stone<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

    \nPlus, there are many more Aspects about a Diamond that go into the actual Price. Not only Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight, but things like: Measurements, Cutting Style, Shape<\/strong>, Culet Thickness, Girdle Thickness<\/strong>, Polish, Symmetry and Fluorescence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nThey all Play a Role in what that Stone sells for.<\/p>\n

    \nYou have to Compare EVERY Aspect<\/strong> in order to Understand why one Diamond is Priced much higher than another.<\/p>\n

    \nAnd, every Jeweler is different too. Some work on Lower Margins<\/strong>. Stores and Vendors buy and Sell Stones at Different Prices. The Price they get will usually Dictate what the Selling Price will be.<\/p>\n

    \nSo if they get a Really Good Deal on a Diamond, they’ll usually Pass those Savings onto you.<\/p>\n

    But you have to be Careful!<\/h2>\n

    \nDiamonds Sold Way Cheaper than other Similar Stones are usually Cheaper for a Reason!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nThe Cut (or Make) of the Stone may be off. It could have Strong Fluorescence (as we’ll get into later). It could also be Chipped!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nYou have to look at the Stone well. View it under 10x magnification<\/strong> so you can Scrutinize the inside and outside Surfaces. A Good Deal might Not be Worth it!<\/p>\n

    3) You Don’t Know what you’re Buying<\/h2>\n

    \nDo you Eyes Glaze over when the Salesperson says “This Diamond is an SI2, with a Good Cut, H Color, & IGI Certification<\/strong>“?<\/p>\n

    \nMany do!<\/p>\n

    \nYou’re not Alone!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nThere’s a lot to Learn about Diamonds. And if you’re like Most People, you only Learn about Diamonds the Day you Buy One<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nYou Walk into the Jewelry Store, look at a Couple of Stones, and Listen as the Salesperson goes over the Topics with Crazy Letters and Numbers. It goes in one Ear and out the other<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nCan’t they make it Simpler?<\/p>\n

    Actually, they Did!<\/h2>\n

    \nGIA Developed the 4C’s back in 1949<\/strong> to Standardize Diamond Grading in the Jewelry Industry. They made the 4C’s that pretty much all of America uses to Purchase, Grade and Sell Diamonds with.<\/p>\n

    \nThey made it as Simple as Diamonds can be<\/strong>. :)<\/p>\n

    \nIf you take a Couple of Minutes to study the 4C’s Chart, you’ll see, it really isn’t that Bad.<\/p>\n

    \"4C's<\/p>\n

    Carat Weight<\/h2>\n

    \nCarat Weight is Simple<\/strong>. How Big of Stone are you Buying? 1\/2 Carat? 3\/4 Carat? 1.00 Carat?<\/p>\n

    \nCarats Break down just like Pennies to the Dollar<\/strong>. 1\/2 Carat is 50 Points. 1 Full Carat is 1.00 Points.<\/p>\n

    \n1 Carats are the “Dream” Carat Weight!<\/strong> :)<\/p>\n

    \nBut, the Actual Average Selling Diamond size is only 38 Points<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

    \"Diamond<\/p>\n

    Color<\/h2>\n

    \nColor is Simple as Well<\/strong>. Is your Diamond Pure White, Off White or does it have a Tinge of Yellow in it?<\/p>\n

    \nI Recommend a White Diamond<\/strong> like (G or H<\/strong>), but if you can, get a Pure White Diamond instead (D, E or F<\/strong>), because Pure White Diamonds are Very Bright and Very White!<\/p>\n

    \"Diamond<\/p>\n

    Clarity<\/h2>\n

    \nClarity is all about the Flaws and Imperfections in the Stone. And, actually it’s also the Placement, Size and Color of these Flaws that Determine the Clarity Grade given<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \nThe Clarities Most Commonly Found on the Market are VVS, VS, SI and I Clarity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    \"Diamond<\/p>\n

    The Most Affordable Clarities are SI & I<\/h2>\n

    \nMost People don’t Notice Inclusions in a Diamond unless they are really Big and Black<\/strong>. Then they Tend to Stick out like a Sore Thumb.<\/p>\n

    \nThe Best Advice I can give<\/strong> is to Stick with a Diamond Clarity of at least SI1 or higher (if you want a Good Diamond<\/strong>). That way, the Inclusions (Birthmarks<\/strong>) in your Stone Remain Microscopic and WON’T<\/strong> be seen with the Naked Eye.<\/p>\n

    \nYou have to Magnify them (with a Microscope<\/a> or a 10x Jeweler’s Loupe<\/a>)!<\/p>\n

    \nAnd that’s Good! <\/strong>:)<\/p>\n

    Cut<\/h2>\n

    \nCut Gets Trickier! <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Diamond<\/p>\n

    \nThe good thing is, GIA made Cut so Easy with their Latest Improvements and Revisions to the 4C’s, that it only takes a Second to Determine if the Stone is Cut Well, or if it’s Poor!<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \nYou see, Cut used to be all about Numbers. It was Percentages, Proper Angles and Degrees, and it came across Pretty Complicated<\/strong>. It usually went right over Customer’s Heads.<\/p>\n

    You had to be a Mathematician to Grasp it all!<\/h2>\n

    \nSo GIA Developed NEW Cut Standards<\/strong> in 2005 that makes Cut so Much Easier for Customers, and Jewelers to Understand.<\/p>\n

    \nThey did all the Hard Work for us.<\/p>\n

    \nGIA Classified every Angle, Proportion and Facet of a Diamond, as well as how Beautiful the Stone was and how much it Sparkled<\/strong>, and divided it into 5 Neat Little Categories: <\/strong><\/p>\n