Before You Buy a Diamond, Read This
An honest guide to choosing a solitaire: the 4Cs, certificates and the questions to ask before you pay.
Every week, someone walks into our showroom and asks me the same thing: "How do I know I'm getting a good diamond?" It is the right question. A diamond is often the most meaningful purchase a family makes, whether it is for an engagement, a wedding or a milestone. So let me share how I explain it, and you can try each idea yourself below.
This guide is mostly about the solitaire, a single certified diamond, because that is where these four qualities matter most. Diamonds are graded on four qualities, known as the 4Cs: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. Tap through them.
Build your solitaire
Solitaire or diamond jewellery?
These two get mixed up all the time, and it affects how you should judge a piece.
Solitaire
One main stone, usually with its own grading certificate. Judge it by the 4Cs and the report.
Diamond jewellery
Many small diamonds set together, often priced by their total weight and not certified one by one. Judge it by design, finish and total carat weight.
So a ring marked "0.50 ct total weight" is not the same as a single 0.50 ct solitaire. Always ask which one you are being shown.
Find your solitaire
Answer four quick questions and I'll tell you what I would prioritise if you were standing at our counter.
Solitaire finder
My checklist before you pay
Ask for a grading certificate
A report from a recognised lab such as IGI or GIA states the diamond's grades and measurements. Check that the report number matches the stone, and compare it with your invoice.
Look for the BIS hallmark on the gold
In India, gold jewellery should carry the BIS hallmark with its unique HUID number. This confirms the purity of the metal that holds your diamond.
Carat and karat are not the same
Carat (ct) is the weight of a diamond. Karat (K) is the purity of gold, such as 14K or 18K. Many buyers mix them up, so ask for both to be written clearly on the bill.
Ask about exchange and resizing
A good jeweller explains these policies before you buy, and puts them in writing.
Buy with knowledge, and wear it with joy.— Hrithik Jain