Buying Loose Diamonds
Q.We have decided on a ruby rather than the traditional diamond. How can I, a truly inexperienced gem shopper have any way of knowing if a ruby is a good one? I know what cut styles I like and that I want one that is a deep color but how much should I expect to pay for a decent quality ruby? Are they measured in carats like diamonds? In other words, if a jeweler offers me a ruby of a particular carat weight (if that is how it is done) for say $150, is there any way I can get a sense of whether that is a reasonable price or if it must be a low quality stone? Any help on this topic would be appreciated! And if anyone in the greater Seattle, WA area is reading - any suggestions for good jewelers?
A.Absolute dos and dont's for getting good value for your money. Don't buy from a mall jeweler. I looked at several major mall jewelers and none of them had prices that compared with what you could get at places like the New York or Boston Jewelry Districts or a gemshow. If you don't have access to a jewelry district or a good gemshow, it could very well be worth the plane trip to go to one. Only buy loose diamonds. As others have mentioned, the setting can mask inclusions that lower the value of the diamond. However, if you buy loose diamonds, you can make this work for you (more on that later). Spend some time looking at loose diamonds under magnifiers and just looking at loose diamonds in general. Diamonds have three properties: size, color, and clarity. Decide what's important to you and what you're willing to sacrifice. For example, if neither you nor your fiancee can see the difference between a D color stone and a G or H color stone, do you want to pay extra for the D color? If you drop down to a G color stone from a D, you'll be able to get a bigger and/or clearer stone for the same amount of money.
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