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Diamond
Color
In
spite of the complexity of grading diamonds, professionals
still often agree on color grades. You should, however, expect
buyers and sellers to have strong disagreements, particularly
when the color lies between two grades. After all, thousands
of dollars can be at stake. For example, the wholesale price
difference between a five-carat, internally flawless I and
J color round diamond is listed as $5500 per carat (as per
the September 1991 Rapaport price guide). In other words,
the difference of only one color grade that the average consumer
can't see could mean a difference in wholesale cost of up
to $27,500 for a five-carat diamond.
Does
the lack of objectivity mean that color grades are worthless?
Of course not. Thanks to the establishment of international
color grading systems, it's easier now to do comparison shopping.
You can discuss minute nuances of color and negotiate purchases
with people thousands of miles away.
Gemological
laboratories are aware of the limitations of diamond grading,
so they normally have more than one person examine each diamond.
You need to be aware, too, of the limitations. If a jeweler
tells you a stone is a G color and a gem lab calls it an H
color, you shouldn't assume that the jeweler is incompetent
or dishonest. If, however, a jeweler calls an un mounted K
color diamond a G color, you would probably be better off
doing business with another jeweler.
An
awareness of the limitations can also help you realize that
some jewelers' prices may appear to be higher than other jewelers'
when, in fact, they might be lower due to stricter grading.
This is one reason why many jewelers don't like to quote prices
over the phone. If they are strict graders, they know that
their prices will be unfairly compared to other stores that
over grade their stones.
When you get a diamond back from an appraiser or gem lab,
keep in mind that color grading is subjective. The report
or certificate is not necessarily the last word. It is at
best an stones than in independent, expert opinion.
Adeep
cavity
Impossible
to distinguish
Alphabetical
letters ranging
Rays
vary according
Chemical
or plastic
Indication
that color
The
wholesale price
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