By Ruth Donaldson, Heirloom London.
Weddings on Female First
Diamonds: square-cut or pear-shaped, these rocks don't lose their shape, but do they keep their value? Short answer - over time, a good diamond will appreciate. However, my general advice for anyone thinking about investing in diamonds is that there is more to be gained if you have a reason for owning a stone beyond its value as an asset. Think of diamonds the way you'd think of fine art and antiques, and seek out stones that can be enjoyed in jewellery; when it comes to value; it makes no difference if diamonds are kept in a safe or in a ring or pendant so long as they are secure.
But how can you find a good diamond if you don't know much about stones, or the industry? The best way is via an expert.
Find a trustworthy source
Here the saying "it ain't what you know, it's WHO you know rules supreme. Good diamond brokers are hard to find; the fact they are good means they don't have to advertise. You should definitely avoid companies offering 250,000 stones and with 'investment' written all over their websites.
Don't be surprised if you're challenged before you're actually allowed any diamond access. If you're speaking to a good broker, they'll want to know something about you and your background before they'll let you anywhere near high value stones. A lot won't deal with the general public.
Consider the Brand
Buying diamond jewellery from the luxury brands like Cartier or Graff will always add a brand value to your piece. If you are choosing a stone from a lesser known brand, the stone quality becomes more important.
Diamond Tips
Value is determined by scarcity. That's why as diamonds increase in size the price increases disproportionately. A two carat stone may fetch around £25,000, but a four carat stone may cost around £150,000. The simple reason for this is that there are far fewer good quality four carat stones than there are two carats.
What does a good diamond look like? That's one for the experts. Where the inclusions on a stone are, the symmetry of the shape, the cut quality and the colour all contribute. That said, we work on how good the stone looks out of the light, not just in it and this is a good rule of thumb for anyone!
For coloured diamonds, keep a watchful eye on the colour evenness and intensity. An intense yellow should be that - not the colour of straw.
A certificate doesn't guarantee a good stone. It just appraises the features of the diamond. I've seen stones where, if you paid attention to the certificates, you wouldn't buy them - and yet they are amazingly beautiful.
With stones it IS a personality contest - unless you are simply looking for the biggest possible.
Finally, if you aren't a diamond expert - don't pretend to be one! You place yourself in a position to be sold a lower quality stone at a higher price, and by the time you find out, you're going to struggle to argue the case if you've set yourself up as someone who knows all there is to know about diamonds. Always get expert advice and work with a reputable company. That way you'll purchase a quality stone, at a fair price. And it will not only look beautiful, it will also be an investment.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Engagement ring obsessive Ruth Donaldson is the founder of Heirloom London, a unique personalised jewellery buying service. Sourcing from the finest stones and best designers to present the perfect piece for you or your loved one, Heirloom makes fine jewellery simple. http://www.heirloom.london
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