Should we be in the market to buy a diamond it is important to consider the requirements for both right choice for financial investment and the matter of personal taste, if it is for sentimental purposes.

Although a superficial knowledge of the range of diamonds on offer in the marketplace can be quite daunting, it is good to have a solid grounding regarding the market value of genuine stones and also the common signs to recognize a good quality as well as an inferior diamond.

Firstly, diamonds are marketed worldwide and are registered on a system established in New York to determine accurate market value to the industry. These values are the main reference for diamond merchants and the Rapaport Diamond Report as it is called, is revised every month. Most wholesale dealers confine their trading prices to these guidelines and prices will not vary more than a few percent throughout the world. This provides a certain stability, which generally allows the buyer to have confidence in the price being asked. But this is the basic wholesale price, to which must be added import duties and sales taxes, which differ in various countries.

As a consumer we must then relate to the retail price, which will certainly vary. It is difficult to compare prices in the marketplace as the quality of a stone will differ and without a true comparison we have only each jeweler’s certificate and report to refer to when trying to determine value. The quality of the diamond is vital to both monetary value and its practical suitability in an item of jewelry.

Although there are synthetic diamonds produced, they are not generally of gem size and used mainly in industry. But there are many synthetic stones, which are of excellent quality and even compare with some diamonds in their brilliance. However, the only way to avoid the problem is to trade directly with a diamond dealer in order to be certain that every stone is genuine and without flaws.

The shape of a diamond is very important as well as its ‘cut’. The latter will determine its brilliance. Generally the round stone with its complex faceting such as the ‘Princess’ is most popular but this varies with fashion. The color of the stone remains most popular in its pure translucency so the white diamond still holds supremacy in this regard. However, there are tinted diamonds found naturally and these are becoming more and more popular. But the techniques for coloring diamonds are evolving, as is a method of concealing flaws. So beware of these factors. Any commercial gain in value is bound to receive a technological push.

The weight of a diamond is measured in ‘carats’. This establishes its value so the deeper proportioned stones will be of higher value and cost and the shallow shaped stones naturally will be cheaper and often will be as appropriate for use once set in an item of jewelry.

The information on the certificate of each diamond offered for sale will also give the diameter and this is possible to check against the stone you are considering as some discrepancies can occur here. The standard diameter for a 1-carat diamond is 6.5 mm.

Most diamonds however, will have a degree of fluorescence. Request the fluorescence test, which if it gives a strong reaction is not as favorable as another because the stone may vary its color under different conditions and daylight.

If you are shopping for a diamond already set in a ring it is likely that you have no option but to rely upon the integrity of the dealer and this will make your choice easier as it will be confined to the aesthetics and pure pleasure in its appearance, already displayed in the setting of your choice. A diamond will always be beautiful in the eye of the beholder.

But if you are shopping for an investment diamond, you must be more discriminating, Seek all the information you can before you buy a stone that you can count upon in time will return you more dollars than you paid.