Choosing the right diamond store is the first step in getting good value for your money. Dallas features hundreds of these stores. Each prides itself on offering high-end jewelry, including the Dallas Diamond Direct, Diamond & Gold Warehouse, Robbins Brothers, and Mariloff Diamonds & Fine Jewelry.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a diamond store. First, a diamond is a gemstone that is best purchased when cut and polished. Having insights on a specific color, cut, clarity, or carat weight is also important. 

However, it may take much work to walk into a jewelry store in Dallas and find your preferred diamond ready for purchase. In most cases, you'll need to make prior arrangements with the store to ensure they have the right stone for you. 

Ideally, opt for a store with an extensive in-house diamond inventory. Many local stores do not have inventory and get stones from other dealers on a memo (a term used in the diamond industry for borrowing the diamond; when sold, the store pays the dealer).

The supply chain of the diamond industry works as follows:

• Large corporations such as De Beers mine the stones.
• These diamonds are sold to dealers, who then cut and polish them.
• After cutting the stone, they are sold to jewelers to be sold to you.

When shopping for a diamond at your favorite local retailer, here is what to watch out for:

First, does the store offer professionally graded diamonds? A diamond must have been graded in a reputable lab to pass as professionally graded. We only have a few reputable diamond grading companies, but notable ones are the GIA and AGS. If you find a store whose diamonds have GIA or AGS certification, there is a possibility that it is a reliable store. Other labs have been associated with gross inconsistencies in their jewelry-grading systems. It would be best if you avoided any diamond that does not bear a grading certification from the GIA or the AGS.

Remember that the importance of proper grading cannot be overstated. Therefore, it does not matter where the shop sources its jewelry; the first mark of quality should be a GIA or AGS certification. 

If you are on a budget, lab-grown diamonds offer great value and are very popular among young buyers.

We have already covered a few tips for locating the finest diamond stores in Dallas. Many of the city's jewelry establishments boast a compelling selling point: their staff is recognized for their amiable demeanor and willingness to assist.

Numerous intricacies come into play when embarking on a diamond purchase. Particularly for those who may not possess a discerning eye, subtleties like blemishes can easily elude notice. Consequently, your best action is to seek out a store that goes beyond mere profit-seeking. Look for establishments that feature a dedicated customer support desk where you can pose inquiries and have them promptly addressed.

Discovering a store that willingly provides crucial diamond-related information before your purchase is certainly reassuring. This facilitates the process of determining whether a particular stone is the ideal match for your preferences. However, outstanding customer service is not the sole factor that elevates these stores above their counterparts.

The following are more reasons you should consider purchasing all your diamonds in Dallas from any of these outlets:

Reasonable Warranty and Favorable Returns Purchases

In some instances, you might discover that the diamond delivered differs from what you expected. Therefore, you would wish to return the jewelry and have it replaced or refunded.

This is where a good return policy and warranty come in. For instance, Blue Nile offers free returns, though you must ensure that the jewelry you return is not damaged.

Conflict-free Diamonds

Another reason for buying diamonds in Dallas is that reputed local jewelers sell conflict-free diamonds, part of their broader effort to foster ethical business practices. For starters, most stores do not source their diamonds from conflict-torn countries like the DRC, nor do they get their jewelry from the black market. Instead, they obtain all their diamonds legitimately through responsible mining activities.

Interactive Diamond Displays

If you have purchased diamonds before, you understand how treacherous it is to sift through hundreds of diamonds trying to locate your favorite stone. Luckily, it does not persist anymore. High-end jewelry stores in Dallas now deploy interactive pictures and videos on their online displays, which are essential in helping you hone in on your desired stone.

Custom-made Jewelry

Here is another critical reason why the above-recommended stores should be your go-to jewelry outlets for your diamond shopping needs in Dallas. We already highlighted the importance of custom-designed engagement rings. They save much of your time—the time you would otherwise spend trying to get the store to recreate the stone to your specifications.

Fortunately, most stores in Dallas understand the significance of custom-made jewelry. Having been in this industry for years, they have carefully collected and collated customer tastes data. Whether you are looking for in-house ring designs or designer engagement rings, you can trust them to deliver.

After locating your ideal diamond store, the next step is price comparison. Though all the jewelry outlets listed above deal in high-end diamonds, each store prices its gems differently. The best place to compare diamond prices is online. The websites of reputable diamond stores usually feature online calculators that you can use to estimate the cost of your preferred jewelry.

Before utilizing these calculators, you must have already pinpointed your preferred gemstone. Furthermore, when conducting price comparisons, ensure that all other variables remain consistent. For instance, if your quest involves a 2-carat blue diamond, diligently assess prices across numerous establishments while adhering to identical parameters. This meticulous approach often reveals substantial divergences in pricing.

Negotiating after familiarizing yourself with a store's general pricing for your desired diamond can prove advantageous, though it necessitates finesse. Navigate the art of haggling persistently yet courteously as you strive to secure an agreeable cost for your coveted gemstone. While anticipating a favorable deal from your transaction, bear in mind that the store also operates with profit margins in mind. As such, avoid driving the price down to rock-bottom levels.

A pivotal recommendation when negotiating the price of a diamond in Dallas is to be equipped with cash. An error commonly made by jewelry purchasers is attempting to haggle over gemstone prices without the necessary funds. Recall that the valuations of precious metals are subject to fluctuations, often contingent on seasons and occasions. Picture yourself in a scenario where you negotiate diamond prices shortly before Valentine's Day, only to postpone your purchase despite a favorable offer. The likelihood is that, upon revisiting the store on Valentine's Day, you might encounter elevated costs – assuming the desired stone is even available.

For reference, check our article, Diamond Quality Factors, for thorough insights.

Purchasing diamonds in Dallas can be an exhilarating endeavor, though the outcome largely hinges on your choice of shopping destination. Opting for online diamond shopping also presents a fantastic avenue. This approach grants you ample time to meticulously compare a myriad of stones before finalizing your order. The virtual realm further empowers you to peruse the lineage and testimonials of jewelry establishments before committing to a purchase. Perhaps most appealingly, this method extends the convenience of placing an order from virtually anywhere you may find yourself.