Diamond Dealer Q and A: Can you tell
me how to choose a dealer? What questions should I ask
to make sure I will not get cheated?
Below are 11
questions you should ask your jeweler if you prefer to look around
on your own.
If you want to save
time, our expert staff have already rated the top dealers.
The results are published in our unbiased Dealer Ratings.
Eleven
Questions to Test Your Jeweler
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Ask a jeweler these
questions (or find out for yourself) to see if the store measures
up to the necessary standards. Selling diamonds requires specific
contacts and special knowledge that most jewelers never develop.
A jeweler must answer YES to ALL of these questions if you want
to get a great price for a quality stone. If not, consider buying
your diamond from someone else, even though that retailer may
be an excellent, reputable source for other jewelry. Happy hunting!
FOR LOCAL STORES AND WEB DEALERS:
1 -- Will you show me the Rapaport wholesale diamond
price list for the diamond I choose?
2 -- Does each diamond come with a grading certificate
from one of the respected independent gem labs (GIA, AGS, or
EGL)?
3 -- Do you offer a written, 30-day, money back guarantee?
4 -- Have you properly handled all outstanding complaints
with the Better Business Bureau? (Call the BBB in your area to
find out.)
5 -- Will you give me the full price if I want to
trade the diamond later for a larger size?
6 -- Do you specialize in loose diamonds and fine
jewelry (rather than birthstones, class rings, crystal, and sports
watches)?
7 -- Has your company been in the
diamond business for at least 2 years?
FOR LOCAL STORES ONLY:
8 -- Do you have a microscope (not
just a loupe) so I can easily see the diamond under magnification?
9 -- Do you have a set of diamond
or CZ master color grading stones to compare the color of the
diamond I choose?
10 -- Do you have a GIA graduate gemologist
in-house to answer my diamond questions?
11 -- Do you have a full-spectrum
diamond light for color grading (instead of the regular display
lights that artificially enhance color)?
Call Around
Now make some calls
and find a jeweler who can answer YES to all of these questions.
If you find one, spend a little time there asking questions about
quality and learning a little about the 4 Cs. We will discuss
how to make quick decisions about the 4 Cs in the next issue.
Can't Find A Good
Dealer?
If you can't find anyone
who qualifies as a good diamond dealer, you should read our Dealer Ratings -- revealing the best diamond
sites on the Web. We spent many months analyzing and rating the
top 10 diamond sites for prices, customer service, selection,
search engines, etc. You will save hundreds or even thousands
of dollars with the right dealers, not to mention many hours
of research time.
Why a good dealer should
be your first priority and your first step in a diamond hunt.
Robert Hensley
President
Diamond Helpers
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