Loose Diamonds or Diamond Rings?

So, you have decided you want to purchase an engagement ring.

You have also realised that you can get more for your money purchasing online.  After all, you understand that you need to buy certified diamonds, and with this certification, you can compare like for like diamonds from various online jewellers and make your informed decision.

You see that on certain websites, you can buy just a loose diamond.  What a good idea you think.  Save money on the loose diamond and then you can get the ring mount made locally to your precise specifications, so you can oversee the complete production.  Alternatively, you can buy a loose diamond from one internet retailer, and then get another internet retailer to sell you one of their ring mounts, and set your existing diamond for you.  Cost saving completed.

HOWEVER, you need to bear this in mind when deciding upon what route to take.

Yes, certain diamond retailers online will offer you the opportunity to purchase certified loose diamonds, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. After all, many people realise that diamonds, historically, never lose value and so represent an excellent financial investment in their loose form.

Problems can arise, however, when you try to get your loose diamond set by another party.  Whilst diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man, diamonds can chip and break, especially during the setting into jewellery process.  Different diamond shapes are more susceptible to breaking, especially those shapes of diamonds which have points or corners such as princess cut diamonds, marquise cut diamonds and pear cut diamonds for example.  If a third party is setting your diamond for you, it is unlikely they will offer you insurance for your diamond if it breaks, and so you run the risk of losing the value of your diamond forever.  Imagine the stress put on a diamond having platinum claws folded over it - there is a fine line for a diamond setter between puttling too little force on the metal and diamond (resulting in the diamond being loose in the setting), and putting too much pressure on the metal and the diamond, with the end result being breakage.

It is often simpler, therefore, to buy a complete diamond ring online.  This way, you know you are saving money, and you don't run any risk of losing the value of your diamond trying to cut corners.