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It is entirely
 safe to buy diamonds online. One of the largest online retailers, James Allen,
 was recently&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachellebergstein/2017/10/18/signet-bought-diamond-retailer-jamesallen-com-for-328m-back-in-august-whats-next/#533395c06f14" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sold
 for $328 million</a>. On the surface, it might look like just a website,
 but it is a comprehensive corporation on the backend. If it was unsafe to buy
 diamonds online and James Allen did not have a large volume of transactions,
 why would Signet buy it for that amount?

The online diamond
 industry has revolutionized the diamond trade. In the past, local retailers would
 rip off customers because they were unaware of how to compare diamond prices
 due to the lack of access to any source for reference. Today, buyers can easily
 compare diamond prices on 4 to 5 websites and know how much a
 diamond is worth in a given range, say a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/round-cut-diamonds">Round cut diamond</a>,
 VS1, F Color, GIA Graded, Excellent Cut, and with No Fluorescence.Paying attention
 to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/comparing-diamond-prices-seven-important-factors/">seven factors while shopping
 for diamonds online</a>&nbsp;is crucial. They will be explained in the
 subsequent factors, but let us discuss some important methods that can help you
 determine whether an online business is safe. These methods can help you assess
 any online business, not just jewelry.

Buying Diamonds Safely

The first fundamental
 element to look for in a website is a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate or
 inscription. As shown below, it is either a green&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTPS" target="_blank">https</a>&nbsp;or a lock
 sign next to the website's domain name. The domain should state https, not
 http, especially on the checkout page. While anyone can get an SSL certificate,
 it is still essential for the security of your credit card information. It
 encrypts your credit card information so that it cannot be stolen by the vendor
 or anyone else as you enter it into the website's order page.Do they Accept Credit Cards and PayPal?

If the website accepts
 credit cards and PayPal and has legitimate business bank accounts for wire
 transfers, it is a helpful indicator that the business is legitimate. No bank
 in the U.S. would issue business bank accounts without verifying a business's
 proper identity and documentation. Notably, the U.S. government treats diamond
 dealers like banks. Therefore, they must institute comprehensive anti-money
 laundering (AML) programs, which banks must verify before approving their
 business accounts.

Some folks may still
 trick banks. If you are still unsure about a business and cannot help the deal
 they are offering you, go with PayPal as it will give you money-back guarantee
 protection if something goes south.

Who are they affiliated with?

The third element is
 the website's affiliation with third parties, such as the Better Business
 Bureau. To qualify for BBB, you must have one year of industry-specific
 experience and business registration documents. While vendors have to pay a
 monthly fee to remain accredited, it is still a fantastic verification tool for
 buyers because it shows that the seller is serious about their reputation and
 is also committed to high-quality customer service, especially if they do not
 have many negative reviews online.

The Art of Telling Fake Reviews from Good Ones

Reading reviews is the
 most critical factor. However, while doing so, you must keep the following
 three points in mind:

<ol start="1" type="1">
 <li class="MsoNormal">These days, service providers can get you fake reviews. Therefore, to verify legitimate reviews, look at reviews on
 multiple platforms, like Google, BBB, Yelp, Facebook, and
 industry-specific review sites, like wedding wire, or third-party marketplaces,
 such as Amazon/Etsy, if they sell products there.</li>
 <li class="MsoNormal">Look at the date range of the reviews. It may be more
 helpful to see 30 positive reviews of a vendor over three years than 100
 reviews in one or two months. The primary question to ask is how long they
 remain consistent in their customer service.</li>
</ol>

Finally, make sure you
 review their policies and feel comfortable with the terms of the sale.

Verifying a Reliable Website

While shopping for a
 diamond online is safe, it can only be a sound idea if you fully know what you
 are doing. The good news is that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has
 made our life easy by introducing a standard method for assessing the quality
 of a diamond. It can help us determine the prices of diamonds because they have
 become a commodity.

The industry's
 standard is called the 4Cs: Carat weight, Cut, Color, and Clarity. In addition,
 we also use three other vital factors in determining the price of a diamond.
 These are the shape of a diamond, the presence of fluorescence, and how it is
 graded or certified by a third party.

The shape of the
 diamond affects the price simply because certain shapes require bigger rough
 diamonds than others and look visibly larger. For example, a well-cut
 round-shaped diamond is usually 6.5 millimeters in overall diameter when cut
 and polished, whereas a square princess cut would be 5.5.mm. We have developed
 comprehensive guidelines for each shape of a diamond. Please refer to them for
 reference.

The carat weight of a
 diamond is straightforward; the larger the stone, the more expensive it is.
 However, the prices of diamonds jump significantly as they get more prominent
 because of the scarcity element. For example, a 2-carat stone is much scarcer
 than a 1-carat stone, implying that the former will be two times the price of
 the latter.

The cut of a diamond
 is significant because it determines the level of brilliance and fire.
 Unfortunately, stones are often badly cut due to the poor skills of the cutter,
 but in other instances, dealers will purposefully cut stones deep to save rough
 diamonds and sell you a 1-carat stone that should be 0.8 carats if cut well.

White&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-color/">Diamonds with no color</a>&nbsp;are
 preferred over ones with a yellow tint. Therefore, the absence of color gives a
 diamond a higher value. D-F color range diamonds are considered colorless,
 while G-J is near-colorless, followed by other color ranges until Z. D is the
 highest color grade. G is an excellent color grade for maximizing quality and
 size. Colors up to I or J are still good for maximizing the budget.

Clarity is also
 essential in a diamond as it examines the level of inclusions, such as black
 carbons or crystals. Clarity ranges from Flawless and Internally Flawless
 (FL/IF) to Very Very Slightly Included 1/2 (VVS1/VVS2), Very Slightly Included
 1/2 (VS1/VS2), Slightly Included 1/2 (SI1/SI2), and Included 1-3 (I1-3). FL and
 VVS ranges are considered extremely high quality. VS ranges are also eye-clean
 and beautiful diamonds. SI1/2 are excellent budget options and can often be
 eye-clean, depending on the type and location of inclusions.

Fluorescence in a
 diamond can rarely affect its appearance (making it hazy or oily) but is not
 often a negative factor. Fluorescence can make yellowish diamonds (H and above
 color) appear whiter because of its blue color, which is complementary to
 white. However, it is generally considered a negative factor, especially in the
 D-G color range, and can affect the price of a diamond. Please refer to
 our&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.petragems.com/education/diamond-fluorescence/">guidelines on fluorescence</a>&nbsp;for
 reference.

Now you must be
 wondering how grading/certification affects a diamond's price. Firstly, it
 costs money, and a dealer must wait for a month or two for a lab like GIA to
 grade a diamond. The cost for grading is naturally added to the final value of
 the stone. Secondly, since some labs are not as consistent/strict as GIA,
 dealers will sometimes grade their diamonds by them to get better results and
 offer higher prices. However, you are not getting better prices, but inferior
 diamonds graded higher than their actual quality. We recommend always going
 with GIA, though the American Gem Society Labs (AGSL) can also be a decent lab
 if you find a good deal.

Diamond Factors to Consider

There are four scenarios that people have considered over the last 10+ years when buying diamonds:Scenario 1: The buyer is only interested in the highest quality of the 4Cs, which they consider investment grade. This range includes FL-VVS1 range, D-E color, GIA/AGS graded, excellent/ideal cut, and no fluorescence. If the buyer can afford it, this is a fantastic option.Scenario 2: The buyer wants to maximize their budget and still get the best-looking stone, but quality is still a preference. They would go for something like an F/G color, VS1-SI1 clarity, no to faint fluorescence, GIA/AGS graded, and excellent to very good cut with great proportions. These stones are an ideal choice because they are in high circulation and easy to resell.Scenario 3: The buyer wants the largest possible stone within a good color, clarity, and cut range. They would go for a larger SI1-SI2 diamond (preferably eye clean), H-J color, medium to strong blue fluorescence, GIA/AGS graded (IGI/HRD would be fine too), and good to excellent cut as long as the stone still has good brilliance and fire.Scenario 4: Buyers in this category do not mind overly compromising on one of the 4Cs to get a big stone. Here, the recommendation is to compromise on color so that the buyer can still get a clean stone with optimal brilliance. To make the best choice, the buyer should look for an L-Z stone with VV/VS clarity, medium to strong fluorescence, and a good cut to get the most fire and sparkle.In conclusion, it is safe to buy diamonds online as long as the buyer ensures they buy a GIA or AGS-graded diamond from a reputable site. A firm return policy and a long-term commitment from the jeweler are also critical. If the buyer needs further advice or help finding a diamond, they can contact Sharif through the website's homepage for assistance and guidance.

4Cs Balance & Prioritization

Given that a company
        like Samuel Jewelers was recently caught allegedly selling synthetic diamonds
        as natural stones locally in retail stores, i

Is Buying Diamonds Online Safe in 2023?

Sharif Khan

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