Buying Diamonds Online vs. Jewelry Stores:

Online shopping is a great way to find loose diamonds. Companies like Blue Nile and James Allen are well-known for offering better prices than their retail counterparts.

They also offer a broader selection of diamonds and jewelry. Blue Nile has more than 600,000 natural diamonds available at this publication.

In contrast, James Allen has almost 400,000 earth diamonds and approximately 45,000 lab-grown diamonds.

Suffice to say that it's difficult for most mom-and-pop jewelry stores to compete with that kind of purchasing power. In that case, this article focuses on the benefits of shopping online.

When shopping online, it is crucial to work with a trustworthy vendor. We've seen many internet sites come and go throughout the years. Some of them are better than others, so we'll focus on the ones that provide the best quality and overall experience.

Essential Tips for Online Diamond Buying:

It goes without saying that you're looking for the best price, and that is why you're shopping for online diamonds. Since you cannot see the diamond sparkle in person, stick with vendors who offer hassle-free returns.

Best Round Brilliant Diamond Proportions:

We recommend that you use the advanced filters that enable you to fine-tune the selection criteria when shopping for diamonds online. We also recommend strictly adhering to these proportions if you're buying a round brilliant:

This range of proportions produces a high volume of light return and a virtual balance of brilliance and dispersion. However, it is still necessary for the cutter to create a higher degree of optical precision for maximum light performance.

Buying Loose Diamonds Online:

You need to know the trustworthiness of online vendors if you want to purchase diamonds online. From our perspective, a few key players set the bar high, and then there is everybody else.

Low-quality sellers may sell diamonds at higher prices, offer a limited selection of diamonds, or not have certificates from top-tier gemological laboratories. Under those circumstances, you could end up spending a lot of money on a diamond that is worth only a fraction of its price.

Shop with a recommended retailer in the diamond industry to ensure that you don't experience buyer's remorse or get burned. The top places to buy loose diamonds for 2022 are as follows:

James Allen:

Incredible overall customer experience.

James Allen is a great place to purchase diamonds and diamond jewelry online. They strive to provide the best customer service possible, so you can be satisfied with your purchase.

James Allen's imaging technology makes it possible to inspect each diamond in great detail. Every diamond comes with a 360-degree high-resolution video. You can rotate the images left and right at various degrees of magnification to identify the inclusions.

They also offer a wide range of diamonds of practically every quality. They're all are conflict-free and come with an AGS, GIA, or IGI diamond grading report (AKA, certificate).

There is also an extensive selection of James Allen Lab Grown Diamonds if you decide to go that route. Most people prefer natural diamonds, but lab-created diamonds are becoming more popular because they cost less.

James Allen strives to provide the best customer service and overall experience. They offer excellent 24/7 customer support, free shipping worldwide, and hassle-free 30-day returns.

Examples of the Best James Allen Diamonds:

James Allen offers a wide selection of natural and lab-grown diamonds. You can buy loose diamonds or purchase an engagement ring, earrings, or pendant.

Here are some of our top picks from James Allen:

Blue Nile:

They are known as the 800-pound Gorilla in the room because they offer the largest selection of GIA-certified diamonds online.

Blue Nile, founded in 1999, is one of the first businesses to offer online diamonds. Their business model operates on virtual inventory from suppliers who give them the exclusive rights to sell their diamonds online.

Blue Nile has strong relationships with these suppliers, allowing them to offer an incredible inventory of loose diamonds at affordable prices.

They offer 24/7 customer service, expert advice, 30-day hassle-free returns, and lifetime warranties.

The majority of diamonds in their inventory feature high-quality 360-degree high-resolution videos. Consequently, we would not buy a diamond online without seeing it under these circumstances. It's the only way to see how evenly light reflects throughout the diamond.

Those clarity images also enable you to choose an eye-clean diamond. Or, at the very least, select a diamond with clarity characteristics that you find appealing.

Top Picks for Blue Nile Diamonds:

Here are some Blue Nile Diamonds with proportions within the range we recommend above:

Brian Gavin Diamonds:

Exclusive Collections from Brian Gavin:

The one thing that all of these collections have in common is the fifth-generation diamond cutter, Brian Gavin. His name is synonymous with high-performance diamonds and high-tech advancements in diamond cutting.

In that case, you can buy with confidence, knowing that every diamond they produce is cut to the highest standards possible. Here are some examples of Brian Gavin's stunning diamonds:

The Pinnacle of Perfection:

One of the critical factors distinguishing Brian Gavin Diamonds from the competition is their patented polishing process. The fact is that nobody can produce ideal cut diamonds of the same quality without violating the patent terms.

Unlike virtual dealers like Blue Nile and James Allen, Brian Gavin Diamonds have their own inventory. They can also cut-to-order diamonds in the carat weight, color, and clarity combination you prefer.

It's worth mentioning that Brian Gavin Black and Signature diamonds cost more than standard ideal cuts. That's because it takes up to four times longer to achieve a higher degree of optical precision.

In that case, the diamonds are more expensive, but the light performance is also better. You can use the ASET, and Hearts and Arrows Scope images to verify the superior level of precision.

Loose Diamond Buying Tips:

These tips will help you make the most of your purchase of loose diamonds.

Choose a Reputable Vendor:

Shop with industry-respected vendors to ensure you get a high-quality and reasonably priced diamond. Blue Nile, James Allen, and other trustworthy vendors sell lab-graded diamonds at fair prices.

Select Your Favorite Diamond Shape:

Narrow down the field of possibilities, start by selecting a shape that you find appealing. Many popular diamond shapes are available, including the modern Round Brilliant and classic shapes such as Cushion, Emerald, Oval, Pear, Princess, and Radiant Cuts.

Don't Sacrifice Cut Quality:

There are four pillars of diamond grading: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat. It's essential to be familiar with the 4C's when shopping for diamonds. This will ensure that you don't pay too much for poor-quality diamonds.

The Cut is the most critical factor of the Four C's. It can be challenging to discern slight differences in clarity, color, and carat weight, especially in mounted diamonds.

In contrast, it is nearly impossible to conceal a poorly cut diamond. For that reason, we recommend only AGS Ideal or GIA Excellent cut diamonds.

Focus on Eye-Clean and Near-Colorless Diamonds:

It's essential to remember that diamond grading occurs in laboratory conditions, under specific lighting, and magnification. Under those circumstances, it's relatively easy to distinguish slight differences in clarity or color.

In contrast, there is a limit to what is visible to the naked eye under normal conditions. In that case, slight differences in Color and Clarity are not likely to be visible.

Generally speaking, we recommend VS2 clarity diamonds in the color spectrum of D-E-F colorless to G-H-I-J near-colorless. That combination of characteristics creates a look that most people find appealing. After all, it should face-up eye-clean and white under standard lighting.

Some people prefer diamonds that are warmer in color, and that is a matter of preference. Be aware that the color of the metal that touches the edge of the diamond can influence your perception of color by one grade.

For example, a G-color diamond set in white metal prongs looks more like F-color. In contrast, a G-color diamond set in rose gold, or yellow gold prongs, is likely to look closer to H-color.

You might drop to SI1 clarity to afford a larger diamond or decrease cost. However, most SI-1 clarity diamonds are not eye-clean in our experience. In other words, we rarely need magnification to see the inclusions in SI1 clarity diamonds.

In contrast, we need 10x magnification to locate the inclusions in VS-2 clarity diamonds. Consequently, the inclusions within VS1 clarity diamonds and higher will not be visible without magnification. In that case, you don't need to spend more on clarity since it won't be readily and immediately visible.

Diamond Grading Reports and Certificates:

It's also worth mentioning that the AGS is the only laboratory that uses ASET to measure diamond light performance. The AGS Diamond Quality Document (DQD) shown above provides the ASET 30 and ASET 40 scans. In that case, you can judge the light performance of Black by Brian Gavin Diamonds online.

Compare Diamonds From Multiple Sites:

Diamonds can look dramatically different even though they have the same grading characteristics. For example, you will see dramatic differences between G-color and VS2 Clarity, 1-carat round diamonds depending on the proportions and degree of optical precision.

In that case, it pays to compare the images for several diamonds side-by-side and pick the one that reflects light more evenly. Look for high contrast brilliance across the arrows pattern and throughout the body of the stone.

Compare ASET and Ideal Scope images and eliminate diamonds that exhibit a moderate amount of light leakage. Also, beware of diamonds that have black obstructions under the table facet.

Once you have settled on a ring style, you can compare several diamonds of similar grades to find the one you like. Be aware that each vendor caters to a specific niche, so the diamond cut qualities and performance will be different.

For example, Brian Gavin is the King of Cut, specializing in ultra-super ideal cut diamonds. In contrast, Blue Nile and James Allen focus on a broader market and offer standard ideal-cut diamonds. Notably, James Allen True Hearts diamonds fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

Establish A Budget and Stick To It:

It is easy to spend a lot on diamonds and continually adjust your budget upwards. For that reason, it's essential to set a budget before you start shopping for diamonds.

We do not adhere to conventional theories about how much you should spend on a diamond engagement ring, such as 2-3 months' salary. From our perspective, the true meaning of an engagement ring is the love that it symbolizes.

In that case, you should designate an amount that you feel comfortable spending on an engagement ring. Then, buy the most spectacular-looking diamond you can afford in that price range.

Of course, it helps to know how much high-performance diamonds cost. It's also essential to realize the degree of sparkle and light performance factors in diamond prices.

In that case, it's not reasonable to think that you can buy an ultra-super ideal cut diamond for the cost of standard GIA Excellent. Similarly, you wouldn't expect to buy a Porsche GT3 RS for the price of a standard 911 non-turbo.

Ask an Expert to Review the Details:

Suffice to say that some people in the industry know more about diamonds than others. In fact, there is a vast difference in experience between the affiliates that promote diamonds online.

Likewise, there are differences in the performance that results from various degrees of diamond cut quality. Subtle factors such as slight differences in proportions, optical precision, and inclusion type can dramatically affect the price.

In fact, the elements of cut quality can affect diamond prices by up to sixty percent. In that case, it's a good idea to have an expert review the characteristics before you buy.

It makes sense to take advantage of the insight that decades of industry experience provides, then you can make the final decision. Contact Us for personalized assistance from a diamond buying expert. You can also check out these diamond buying guides.

Loose Diamond FAQS:

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about buying diamonds online:

What is a loose diamond?

A loose diamond is a cut and polished diamond that has not been set into jewelry. In other words, the diamond is not yet set in an engagement ring, pendant, earrings, or jewelry items.

Is it a good idea to buy loose diamonds?

Many people prefer to buy loose diamonds because it gives them more control over the quality. It also enables you to evaluate the characteristics of the diamond under magnification or judge light performance using ASET, H&A, or Ideal Scopes.

Are loose diamonds a good investment?

Although loose diamonds can be bought for investment purposes, they are not the best option. First, you have to sell something quickly and easily to recoup your investment. Second, most places that buy loose diamonds prefer to buy from conflict-free suppliers they can verify.

Where is a good place to sell loose diamonds?

Although you can sell loose diamonds in pawn shops and local jewelry stores, it is not recommended. These stores will pay a lot less than the market, so your chances of being ripped off are high.

You can also sell your diamonds privately on Craigslist and eBay, but the risk of being scammed is high. You're also unlikely to get a fair price.

A trusted online jeweler is the best way to sell loose diamonds. Several of our clients have sold their diamonds to WP Diamonds and highly recommend them.

CONCLUSION: The Best Places to Buy Loose Diamonds.

The most important thing you need to know when buying diamonds online is where to buy with peace of mind. We recommend the companies herein because they have proven consistency and high-level customer service histories.

Not only do they offer a wide range of high-quality certified diamonds, but their dedication to customer satisfaction is outstanding. In that case, we highly recommend:

For high-performance heart and arrows diamonds, we recommend:

We hope that the information in this diamond buying guide is helpful. Shopping for engagement rings is fun and exciting. The best place to buy an e-ring is online due to availability, price, and a wealth of information.