There are a number of techniques that diamond traders use to analyze and compare diamonds. Recently one of our customers needed to replace her showcase engagement ring diamond. Her busy schedule prohibited her from coming into our partner showroom, so we opted to go through the process of comparing diamonds remotely, taking HD video of her options and letting her pick. This video is a sample of what she used to determine which diamond she would pick as an upgrade to her engagement ring.

http://www.vimeo.com/3261882

Is it feasible to buy second hand or used diamonds safely? Insiders in the diamond trading industry are scrambling to figure out what diamond prices are going to do in the coming months and years. We’ve watched diamond prices skyrocket over the past few years as the value of the US dollar weakened.  The past 6 months have seen a decline in diamond value and a virtual halt to gem quality diamond production.  Furthermore, many second hand diamonds and used jewelry are being made available at tremendous discounts (relatively speaking) as consumers look for ways to get cash by selling into the market.
If the Obama administrations’ plan to flood the US economy with dollars triggers the type of inflation most economists expect, we expect diamond values to once again rise. If there is limited supply due to the lack of polished good production, this should also bring the price of diamonds higher. This will also make those second hand diamond purchases a tremendous investment for those who chose to buy such. The question for dealers is, how much cash are you willing to convert to inventory?

It’s a strange thing. The past few years have brought a new degree of genuine “commodity type” behavior for diamonds.  Declining value of the US dollar triggered large and consistent increases in the value of most stones, as it did with other commodities.  A weakening global economy and subsequent strengthening of US currency precipitated declines in diamond values.
Now we have banks calling notes so diamond manufacturers are forced to liquidate inventory just to stay solvent.  This desperate attempt to exercise inventory coupled with the publics’ scramble to pawn engagement rings for cash has brought about a bit of a glut in product… especially for certain shapes and sizes.

However, the freeze in capital has also halted manufacturers’ ability to produce new inventory.
My goal as a New England based B&M and national online discount retailer of full cut certified diamonds…  buy as much as possible at substantial discount of the bread and butter 1-3 carat goods, preferably certified, and hold until things turn around.

I hope we see things start to mend in 6-12 months, but this very well could be a 2-4 year  correction.  Whether the global markets genuinely heal or inflation hits, I figure we as a company will be primed to make great margin on what we bought “very right” now.

Matching Fancy “Canary” diamonds for Three stone ring.
We’ve been working with one of our clients to fabricate a gorgeous three stone “Bostonian “ style engagement ring. A large 3ct look showcase princess cut diamond with matching fancy yellow side stones.
Matching is a process fabricators and diamond dealers undertake while building finished jewelry where multiple diamonds are used to complete a piece’s theme. In this case the side diamonds for this ring are a critical component to the overall look of the engagement ring, and ensuring that the side diamonds’ face up measurements are virtually identical is only one step. We also have to match perceptible clarity and–even more critical with fancy colored diamonds–the intensity and evenness of the color.
Fancy yellow diamonds have a value grading standard just like white diamonds. The only difference is, the deeper and more intense the yellow, the more valuable the diamond.  Starting with Fancy Light Yellow, the value of diamonds increase with respect to their color the further up the color scale you move.  Fancy Light is followed by Fancy, then Fancy Intense and lastly Fancy Vivid on the GIA fancy yellow grading scale.
With this particular ring, we initially opted for matching yellow princess cut diamonds. They kept the princess cut theme. However, the cut of yellow princess cut diamonds can sometimes lesson the diamond’s color intensity b/c of their relative shallow build. So fancy yellow radiant diamonds were the next option. We found a matching pair of GIA fancy yellow radiant cut diamonds that were perfectly matched. However, the client’s taste required we at least offer the option of one greater intensity level for comparison purposes. This is where things get tricky.
The rarity of perfectly matched Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds has proven to be profound. Our partner resources are vast and we deal with hundreds of diamond manufacturers from all over the world. But the quest for two matching Fancy Intense Yellow GIA certified sub 1ct square radiant diamonds proved elusive.
The video here shows comparison in varying states light yellow, fancy yellow and fancy intense yellow. See if you can spot the difference.
http://www.vimeo.com/3093828

http://www.vimeo.com/2943871

5 Carat Halo Test from Adamaunt Diamonds on Vimeo.

As we continue to revamp and grow our various web presences, one of the anticipated additions to our online diamond and jewelry services will be high resolution video review of various jewelry  and diamonds available through the network.

This jewelry review video will be a helpful service for diamond and jewelry shopping clients. Not only will the objective critiquing of these diamonds and finished pieces help guide consumers as they shop, but it will give jewelry shoppers insight into the various techniques diamond and jewelry professionals use themselves when they scrutinize goods. Knowing how dealers evaluate diamond and jewelry quality and value is critical but unfortunately too often a lacking component to the average buyers jewelry shopping experience. We aim to correct that with the help of these online jewelry reviews.

The diamond and jewelry review video’s will be tested over the coming weeks and we expect them to be launched in beta form by mid January.

Do not buy diamonds sight unseen!!
We have been involved in internet diamond marketing and sales for over 7 years. We’ve had quite a bit of success in our efforts, and have clients all over North America and even a few overseas. The reasons why our founding partners wanted to market and sell diamonds online are many, but the primary reasons where because large public organizations like Blue Nile and Ashford were having great success do so, and gobbling up market share that we knew we could win over if we only had the chance.
The idea of buying diamonds over the internet sight unseen seemed like a feasible idea because of the relative reliability of certain third party diamond grading standards. Objectively graded diamonds…. Certified diamonds could have their specs listed on diamond website databases and consumers could confidently browse and shop diamonds based on specs. The idea was a good one and it worked for us and continues to work for many online diamond brokering organizations.
But there’s a problem. The problem is that there are inherently subjective components to diamond grading. So even though you may be shopping for the most strictly graded certified diamonds there is still a chance that those subjective qualities of that graded diamond are not going to meet your expectations.
Diamond professionals and those involved in buying or trading gem quality diamonds will very very rarely buy diamonds sight unseen. And if the pro’s won’t, neither should you. Use the internet and the online diamond company databases to browse and learn, but when it comes time to buy, you should see the stone in person and with a professional, in various lighting environments to scrutinize it’s characteristics and establish it’s true value. Hands on in person diamond viewing is a critical component to shopping for diamonds… even certified diamonds.  Boston Diamond Exchange web site provides vast diamond inventories that you can browse online. When you’ve located diamonds of interest call or email us and see if an in person viewing can be scheduled. You’ll be glad you did.

The diamond district in Boston is an area on Washington street where there is the strongest concentration of diamond, watch and jewelry professionals in New England. The Diamond District in Boston is not nearly as large or as renown as say the New York Diamond District or the wholesale diamond markets in Tel Aviv Israel. But for New Englanders the Boston Diamond District or Jewelers Building in Boston has more than enough resources to score a deal on a loose diamond, custom engagement ring or any other quality gem jewelry piece your heart fancies.  The Boston Diamond Exchange web site pools resources of tier 1 diamond and jewelry vendors throughout New England and their resources creating in essence a virtual Jewelers Building.  At this early stage, the site’s primary focus is to provide resources for diamond and jewelry shoppers to browse full cut certified loose diamond options that the network has access to, community forums to share and discuss jewelry and diamond related issues, and quick and direct access to professionals to answer questions. All this is so that when you come visit any one of our partners in the Boston Diamond District or other locations  you have an efficient diamond and jewelry shopping experience.

Helping clients resell their gold and diamonds has always been an important part of our business.  There are usually three different reasons one would want or need to sell their engagement ring. The typical reasons include broken engagement or divorce, looking to upgrade their diamond or rebuild the engagement ring mounting, or due to difficult financial circumstances and there’s a need to liquidate any tangible asset they can for cash. My ability to assist with clients need to “dump” their diamond engagement rings as of late has become quite the commodity and  I dare say one whose value might one day rival that of the diamond itself.

The universal down swing in the global economy, tighten of credit markets, job loss are some of the many reasons clients have been scrambling to our partners to get cash for their stones. It’s an interesting phenomenon and one that may flood the wholesale market with unwanted inventory and thus cause a drop in diamond prices.
Little tip to consumers out there: if you are in the market for an engagement ring and you’re looking to get the biggest bang for you buck, you may want to consider buying a second hand diamond. Chances are if a dealer does have a second hand license and access to cash, he’s been using these past two months to buy off the street and for ridiculously low prices perfectly good, well cut and in some cases certified diamonds.

The notion of buying a “used” diamond is to some, anathema, but take it from an insider, diamonds are a commodity for the most part, and they don’t wear or lose value over time.  So rather than limit yourself to that “new” GIA certified diamond that the dealer bought himself for 20-30% off Rap, you may ask to see “second hand stones” that he bought for 50-70% off rap and is willing to sell to you for 30 back.