By Joshua Thomas
Engaged couples may be paying too much for low quality diamonds in Provo. Many may not be aware of what determines the quality and price of the stones.
The price of a diamond is largely determined by four basic characteristics: cut, clarity, color and carat.
Guy Wins, a fifth-generation diamond cutter, said all four characteristics of a diamond are important.
“A well cut or well proportioned diamond is rare to find and has an extraordinary impact on the brilliance and overall beauty of a diamond,” Wins said.
Wins said that the cut of a diamond can increase or decrease the price of a diamond as much as 40 percent.
“Color and clarity are also very important and add to the beauty of a diamond, but many people cannot tell the difference in diamonds that range from ‘E’ to ‘J’ and flawless to small inclusions in clarity,” Wins said.
He said that what people usually notice first, besides the price, is the size of a diamond and how much it sparkles.
“A diamond that is well cut with lower grades of color and clarity can be more beautiful and cost less while a poorly cut diamond with higher grades of color and clarity can be less beautiful and cost more,” Wins said.
Richard Wilson, owner of Wilson Diamonds, said some jewelers do not mention cut because they do not have many well-cut diamonds.
Marleni Polo, a recently engaged student at Utah Valley State College, said most jewelers she talked with never mentioned how well cut their diamonds were before she bought one.
“They told me the color, clarity, and size, but they never mentioned the cut,” Polo said.
One way to be assured of the quality of a diamond is through a diamond certificate. However, some people have found loopholes in the system. Wins said only certificates from internationally recognized laboratories are considered valid assessments of a diamond. These laboratories include the Gemological Institute of America, the European Gemological Institute, the International Gemological Institute, and the Diamond High Council.
Wilson said that these institutes are trustworthy.
“Other laboratories may falsify or exaggerate the qualities of a stone in order to get business,” Wilson said.
He also said that “in-house” certificates were not of much use either because jewelers could falsify or exaggerate the qualities of a diamond.
“The certificate can verify the qualities of a diamond, but it does not ultimately determine the price,” Wins said.
Even though a jeweler might present an internationally recognized certificate with a diamond, consumers may still have reasons to doubt.
“Some jewelers have been known to switch certificates of higher quality diamonds with lower quality stones, and make substantial profits. Who’s going to know?” Wins said.
One way to avoid this is to have a diamond appraised by an independent appraiser not connected with the jewelry store. Wins said buyers can also send a diamond back to one of the recognized laboratories and have it regarded, which would cost around $40 and guarantee the quality of the diamond.
Consumers can avoid many of the pitfalls of a diamond purchase by following a few simple guidelines.
Wilson said that people should not be afraid to do a little homework and to ask tough questions. He said people should have the jeweler put the price quote and grade of a diamond in writing.
Wins said that a good diamond purchase depends on who you buy from. He said a reliable company should have a solid track record of honest dealings, be well established in the industry, and have top priority to the inventory of a major factory.
“A successful purchase depends on the trust and relationship you have with your dealer,” Wins said.
