Loose diamonds

Trends are changing, and going out to buy a huge diamond in a ring isn’t the most popular thing to do anymore. Sure, it’s still common, and many people enjoy looking over already-set gems in stunning gold or silver bands, but the growing availability of loose diamonds is changing the jewellery marketplace. The Internet is becoming a popular place for sourcing out loose diamonds cut to express more individuality. But how do you shop for them? 

Before you begin shopping, you should have an idea of what type of ring you have in mind. The setting you want can hide imperfections, or, on the other hand, it may require a stone without flaws. Also, the color of the metal can affect the look of loose diamonds. A stone that has a yellowish cast can end up looking much darker when paired with a gold metal. Knowing the size of stone you’d like means you won’t have to sift and sort through different shapes unnecessarily.

When you’re viewing them at a retail store you’ll notice that they are kept in clear containers. A solid or coloured container will affect the color of the stone and won’t let you see the true clarity of the loose diamonds. Also, the bottom of the container should be a piece of white foam so as to help show off the true color of the diamond. Sometimes, the containers show off loose diamonds of similar size and shape, in case clients want to make a set that includes earrings and a ring. Ask to see the loose diamonds outside of the container; gem dealers should always have magnifying glasses or loupes available for close-up viewing.

Like stones already set in rings, you should look for the four ‘C’s’:  Color, carat, clarity and cut. Color refers to the shade or hue of the gem, carat refers to the size of the loose diamond, clarity refers to flaws and imperfections that can reduce the value, and cut refers to the actual cut of the gem. All four ‘C’s’ can affect whether loose diamonds can be set in a chosen setting, how they’ll look against the preferred metal, and the end-result market value of the ring, so be sure to do your homework to know the anatomy of loose diamonds.

The cost of these stones is far less than a stone already set in a ring, for the simple reason that the labour of crafting the ring and setting the stone isn’t included in the selling price. Anyone shopping for loose diamonds with the intention of having them set should keep in mind that, while you’re paying a lower price for your gem, you’ll need to budget in the further cost of having your ring crafted. Most jewellers will be happy to work with you to custom-make your ring with loose diamonds, but they’ll charge you accordingly, so make sure that special, individual ring you want doesn’t end up breaking your budget.