Ask Dr. Diamond – Q&A Volume 1

Archive of recent questions and answers…


10 Responses to “Ask Dr. Diamond – Q&A Volume 1”

  1. I bought an 88 cut diamond solitaire (H, S1, .6 or .7ctw)and paid 2800 US. Never having previously puchased jewelry, DID I PAY TOO MUCH?

    • Steve,

      It’s a good deal, and I’m not just saying that because we sell the 88 cut. You won’t find a .6 on our site for that price, and in fact, we’re not allowed to sell the loose stones at all.

  2. Hi!
    I’m looking for an engagement ring and I was wondering should I buy a 1 carat diamond with I1-2 clarity and G color,or go for a smaller stone 0.75 carat with SI1 clarity and G color,or a 1 carat D color with SI3 clarity?
    Thanks for your time,
    Robert

    • Robert,

      If possible, look at the stones to make your decision. If not (online sales), I would go with a smaller stone at better color and clarity than take anything in the SI3 to I1 range. Also, try to come in just below the popular sizing options if you can. As an example, if you’re considering a .75…look for .71 plus or minus a few points. You’ll save money.

  3. have purchsed diamond earrings from you in the Caribbean. Lost one. What can I do to get it replaced? Who do I contact?

    • Carole,

      Just call us at 800-515-3935. If it’s a simple stud style, we should be able to get you an exact replacement.

  4. Hi I purchased a tanzinite and diamond ring from diamond internation in St.Marrten in January and one of the diamonds has fallen out what do I do?

    • Diane,

      Sorry to hear that. Call 800-515-3935. They’ll have you send it in for repair.

  5. Dear Dr. Diamond,

    My husband & I are planning on a cruise & are thinking about purchasing a tanzanite stone. I know the 4 C’s when it comes to buying diamonds. Is there an equivalent system when buying tanzanite’s?

    • Mary,

      Great question!

      Buying tanzanite is a lot like buying diamonds, although the 4 “C’s” we associated with diamonds change a little when referring to tanzanite. Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight are the same for either, but Color (as you might imagine) is the factor that separates tanzanite.

      For tanzanite, the more intense the representation of violet within the color, the more valuable the stone. Some buyers prefer a higher ratio of blue to purple (violet) as it often creates an equally rich depth and are generally less expensive. That falls into the category of personal preference. For professional grading purposes, the scale goes from a higher concentration of blue at the lower value end to a higher concentration fo violet on the higher value end. Once you cross the line into stones with a greater ratio of violet color, the intensity of that color is a determining factor in the value of the stone. A tanzanite with an intense violet color will be of greater value than a more transparent violet-blue stone as well as an equally intense blue-violet stone. If you want some prime examples of this, take a look at the tanzanite section of ShopDI.com. We make every effort to display our jewelry in a manner that shows the true color of the item being sold. You can see that some items have a very light purple hue that is much closer to transparent like a colored crystal while others have a very solid color. All other factors being equal, the more solid and rich the color within the violet-blue range of stones, the higher the price.

      You can learn more at The Tanzanite Foundation, which offers a handy guide to understanding the grading terminology created specifically for tanzanite.

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