Is it Safe to Buy Diamonds Online?

So, is it safe to buy diamonds online? Yes and no. It is only safe if you follow these essential and simple rules:

EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT DIAMONDS

This may sound like an obvious tip but it is very important to understand the differences between diamonds. All diamonds vary based on four characteristics that you should be aware of. They are commonly known as the 4 C's:

1. Cut – Here we are talking about the proportions of the diamond as opposed to its shape. If the angle at which the diamond was cut is not perfect, the brilliancy and scintillation of the diamond won't be optimal.  For instance, if the base of the diamond is too deep, light will be absorbed inwards instead of being reflected. Think of it as the diamond's sparkle. Usually, a diamond's cut will be referred to as Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. We recommend that you leave out Fair and Poor and aim for Very Good or better.




2. Clarity – Here we are talking about the number and the size of tiny inclusions within the stone or on the surface of the stone. The diamond's clarity is referred to as FL (Flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1 VVS2 (Very, very small inclusions), VS1 VS2 (Very small inclusions), SI1 SI2 (Small inclusions) or I1 I2 I3 P1 P2 P3 (Inclusions, visible to the naked eye). These inclusions can block the light and affect the brilliancy of the diamond. Flaws are also visible to the naked eye starting from I1. Therefore, we do not recommend that you buy anything rated lower than SI2. You should preferably aim for VS2 or higher.




3. Color – Diamond color is usually rated using the letters D through Z. The rating D is the best color as it represents a colorless diamond. On the contrary, the rating Z is a brownish yellow. The rule is quite simple, the closer the diamond is to colorless, the more valuable the diamond will be. We do not recommend that you buy anything worse than J. So the only acceptable choices are D, E, F, G, H, I.




4. Carat – Carats always refer to the weight of the diamond. Therefore, it also refers to the size of the diamond, as diamonds always have the same density. We strongly recommend that you find the size that you want in real life and then buy it online. If you buy your fiancee a .30 carat diamond and she is expecting a 1.0 carat diamond, you may get in trouble!

CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONLINE RETAILER

Only buy from a reputable online retailer that only sells certified diamonds. The most common certifications are GIA and AGS. The certificate will ensure that you are getting the 4 Cs that the vendor advertised. You can research a certain online retailer's reputation by looking at their reviews. For Canada, http://www.redflagdeals.com/deals/main.php/ratings/retailers/  provides an excellent source of reviews. Due to possible customs charges, outlandish shipping fees and possible legal warranties, it may be better to make the purchase from a retailer that is based in your country. It is also important to confirm that the vendor offers a 100% free 30 days return policy. That is the norm for good online retailers of certified diamonds. 

LAST MINUTE TIP

Finally, we always recommend making your purchase through a credit card. If you have problems with a retailer and have exhausted all possible recourses with the company, it may be possible to fall on your credit card company for assistance. For example, VISA and MasterCard both offer purchase and fraud protection for certain tiers of their credit cards. Consult your credit card issuer for actual terms of service and carefully read the insurance policies as some clauses exclude protection for jewelry.

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