How to Buy a Diamond

See our CURRENT SPECIALS

Commissioning bespoke diamond jewellery is an exhilarating and unique experience. However, in order to make an informed decision it is important to educate yourself beforehand to become familiar with the 4cs of diamonds.

Each diamond is just like a snowflake or a fingerprint: distinctly unique. At Daniel Prince we can save you weeks of research because we do all the hard work for you. We do not present you with hundreds of thousands of stones in an endless list of virtual diamonds. Our experts will cherrypick the finest cut diamonds available from our network of cutters and dealers just for you based on your requirements and / or budget.

Your goal when buying a diamond should be to get the highest quality that your budget will allow. Don't simply try to get the largest possible diamond for your money because this will mean sacrificing quality (e.g. sparkle) in favour of size and ending up with an inferior stone. Balancing all factors of carat, grade and cut is the best approach to choosing a quality diamond. Looking at a diamond merchants inventory can seem daunting, even to a trained gemmologist! Which is why our experts will sort the wheat from the chaff for you beforehand, a diamond should shout "WOW!" across the room, after all, what is the point of a huge rock if it resembles a piece of glass?!

Viewing Loose Diamonds - The Fifth C (Comparison)

The Internet is without doubt a very valuable tool when it comes to research, but it is very important to be able to view your diamond before you purchase it. By comparing a selection of loose diamonds side by side with your own eyes, you will gain a far greater appreciation of the 4C’s, which will allow you to make a more informed choice. Most people are surprised to see just how little difference there is between each colour and clarity grade even though the prices vary greatly.

Daniel Prince invite you to come in for an obligation-free diamond appointment, where we will show you a range of stones to illustrate the 4C’s with real diamonds, and answer any questions you may have.

let us hand-pick your perfect diamond for you!
When purchasing diamonds it is important to know that the overall beauty of the stone is influenced first and foremost by the diamond-cutter (the other characteristics are determined by nature alone). Of each of the 4Cs it is the quality of the diamond cut (or “Make” as it’s known in the trade) where the diamond-cutter genuinely expresses his skill. Contrary to what some diamond merchants would like you to believe, every single diamond is unique and prices can vary wildly (even if they appear identical on paper) which is why we always hand-pick every single diamond according to the quality of “Make” rather than simply its certificate. Contact us today to arrange a private consultation at our Hatton Garden workshop.
Diamond Certificates
A Diamond Grading Certificate should be considered as the diamond's "birth certificate." All of its characteristics, including the Shape, Colour, Clarity and Carat Weight are posted on it, along with specifications such as Polish, Symmetry, Girdle, Culet Size, and Fluorescence as well as the diamond dimensions. In addition to this, the location and position of each flaw and imperfection are also accurately mapped and shown on the certificate, so any trained gemmologist can tell immediately if the diamond you have purchased actually matches its certificate, and as an added safeguard, most diamonds now have the certificate number LASER inscribed onto the girdle (outer edge) of the diamond.
The above gemmological labs are amongst the most widely recognised in the industry, there are many others such as EGL, IGI etc but we tend to supply stones that have been independently certified by one of these three labs as a rule.
goto Diamonds: The Four Cs