Is it safe to buy a diamond online?

It seems a little risky but buying a diamond online is certainly safe when you’re armed with a little diamond education. Buying a diamond online can be a very pleasant experience. Instead of being coerced by a salesman at a local jewelry store during such an important purchase, use the internet to your advantage and arm yourself with diamond knowledge before you buy a loose diamond. After you’ve done a little research and learned about diamonds, all you will need to see and understand is actually provided on the diamond grading certificate that comes along with a diamond. You can get a copy of the GIA, EGL, or AGS certificate before you buy the loose diamond, this is essential because the certificate will provide all of the pertinent information you need in making an informed choice as a consumer. There is no way a consumer(with no diamond grading or gemology experience) can look at a diamond or diamonds in person and make a rational, informed buying choice. As long as the internet jeweler has a 30-day return policy like ours than there is nothing to worry about. Most diamond purchases done online are paid for with a credit card, therefore the safety of the chargeback is always there for the consumer. On the other hand, if you were to buy a diamond or diamond jewelry at your local jewelry store with a personal check, cash, or money order but decide not to go through with it…you may have to go through a lengthy legal process to try and get your money back. In addition, diamonds sold online are hands-down much cheaper than diamonds sold at local brick-and-mortar jewelry stores therefore saving the consumer from ridiculous retail markups. Moreover, when you buy a loose diamond online, you can also save quite a bit of money since there are no state taxes on the purchase.

Is 14k, 18k, or platinum best as an engagement ring setting?

Should I buy a 14k gold, 18k gold, or platinum engagement ring setting?

We’ll start with 14k and 18k gold. Both of these metals are perfect for engagement rings. Both 14k and 18k gold ring settings are much less expensive than platinum ring settings. 14k gold, whether it be yellow or white, has a 58.33% gold content and the rest of the alloy is other harder metals such as nickel, copper, palladium or zinc. 18k gold, whether it be white or yellow has a gold content of 75% with the rest of the metal or alloy mixture being other hard metals. So, 14k gold, whether it be white or yellow, is harder than 18k gold, therefore being a more secure choice for diamond engagement rings. Platinum on the other hand is very rare and it’s the hardest(60% more dense than gold) jewelry metal. Platinum is much stronger, heavier and more expensive than gold. Platinum won’t tarnish and will keep its shine for a lifetime. Platinum is not only expensive due to its rarity, hardness and shine, it’s also expensive because it takes an extremely skilled craftsman to work with platinum or make platinum engagement ring settings.

3-Step Engagement Ring Buying Guide


When you are lucky enough to be in the position of shopping for a diamond engagement ring then you must do homework on how to buy a diamond engagement ring. You want to make sure you are making an informed buying decision after you comparison shop and settle on that perfect loose diamond and engagement ring setting. The diamond engagement ring consists of two main parts, the center diamond and the engagement ring setting. It’s wise to learn about both parts, this will help you make an informed decision when choosing your loose diamond and engagement ring setting, in turn creating the completed perfect engagement ring. Below is a 3-step quick guide to buying an engagement ring the smart way.


Step 1. Learn about the Diamond 4c’s

You must learn about the four c’s in order to make an informed diamond buying decision. The four c’s are the most important part of buying a diamond engagement ring, these four factors determine the value of a diamond; they are color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. With an understanding of the four c’s you will be able to find a balance amongst the four, in turn finding the best possible loose diamond for your budget. If you still have questions regarding diamonds, after you’ve read about the four c’s, please see our well-written diamond guide for in-depth answers to almost any question regarding diamonds.

Step 2. Set your Budget

Once you’ve become familiar with the diamond 4c’s and understand what diamonds you can afford, it’s then time to set the budget. The conventional way to go about this is to spend two months of a yearly salary, some in the engagement ring industry will say 6% of a yearly salary. No matter what you spend, make sure to start with a budget and seek the absolute best quality GIA, EGL, or AGS certified loose diamond and ring setting for your budget. Remember, the diamond engagement ring represents your endless love and devotion towards her.

Step 3. Build your perfect engagement ring

Building a diamond engagement ring that will take her breath away is not as hard as you might think, it can be done in a few clicks. Many couples have talked about getting engaged and many couples have even talked about what kind of diamond engagement ring the future bride likes. If you haven’t spoken about the diamond engagement ring with her yet then you might want to ask her family and friends if she has ever mentioned a certain style or diamond shape. When you are shopping for an engagement ring, take into account her personal style, lifestyle, the shape of her fingers and hands, and her ring finger size. With your newly found diamond knowledge from step 1, you can now make an informed buying decision (based on the four c’s), choosing a loose diamond that suits her likes, your likes and your budget. Build the perfect diamond engagement ring at Edwardjamesandco.com, the best in the business. We have the best priced GIA, EGL and AGS loose diamonds on the net. We offer high-end antique style ring settings, solitaires, eternity bands and more!