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Most of us are true novices when it comes to shopping for
diamond rings and other jewelry. There’s a lot that goes into
the process of evaluating the relative worth of diamonds,
primarily centered around what are called the ‘4 C’s’ (clarity,
cut, color, carat-weight). Unless you’ve bought a number of
diamonds, chances are you’re more or less clueless. That’s
certainly a common occurrence, so don’t feel bad!
Here are three easily remembered tips for the next time diamond
ring shopping confronts you. Print this out or jot them down and
keep in your wallet or purse. Assuming you remember you did so
when the moment arrives, you’ll be armed with the basic
knowledge necessary to avoid being taken to the cleaners by a
clever jewelry shop salesperson.
Tip #1 - Always Get a Guarantee
This is a must. Never ever, under any circumstances, take the
word of a diamond jewelry “expert” in a store on the value of a
diamond (loose or in a setting). The shifty ones prey on excited
customers who are novices and, thus, prone to making impulse
purchases. Even if the seller offers official-looking paperwork
as proof of the diamond’s quality, demand an ironclad written
guarantee. If they balk, leave and shop elsewhere.
Tip #2 - Don’t Let Size Decide
If there’s one enduring myth about buying diamond rings and
other jewelry, it’s that big diamonds are always worth more. In
fact, the exact opposite is often true! Remember the ‘4 C’s’
mentioned earlier. Carat-weight is just one of four. A simple
example will suffice to illustrate this point. If you have the
choice between a large diamond that rates lower on clarity and
color than one with the same cut that’s smaller but has a higher
rating on clarity and color, choose the smaller option. The
overall quality of the smaller diamond almost always makes it
worth more as a long-term investment than the lesser quality big
one. The bottom line: only let carat-weight decide if the
clarity and color of two diamonds are identical (or at least
very close).
Tip #3 - Ignore the Ring
This one trips up a lot of impulse buyers who fall in love with
the ring setting, to the point of virtually ignoring the diamond
it holds. If you remember one simple fact, you might be able to
keep a rein on your emotions: diamonds are forever; settings can
be changed easily. Don’t let the ring itself distract you from
the primary concern, which is the quality and long-term value of
the diamond that the ring merely holds in place.
Of course, at the end of the day, you have to really love what
you’re buying. If you see a diamond ring you just have to have,
you can ignore all of this and go for it. If you have the
monetary means, why not, right? But, for the vast majority of
us, following the simple tips outlined above will prevent a
disaster in the making. Good luck!
© John Schwartz http://www.diamond-rings-1.com (all rights
reserved)
1. Write a list of everything you want in all 8 areas of your
life. Physical environment, Health, Friends/Family,
Work/Business, Partner/Relationship, Fun/Recreation, Personal
Development, Finances. When you can clearly see everything you
want, your choice of focus is more balanced.
2. List all the things you don’t want to have and then turn them
around to identify what you do want. It’s often easier to
identify what you don’t want and this enables you to focus on
what you do want.
3. Define your vision, i.e. what you see as possible and then
remove from your lists anything that doesn’t fit. Your unique
vision comes from within you, allowing you to focus on what’s
really right for you personally.
4. Remove from your lists anything you feel pushed to do either
by yourself or others. When you only have things you feel pulled
and drawn towards, it’s more exciting and easier to achieve.
5. Tell yourself the truth about what you really want. There’s
often a lot of fear involved in being truthful, even with
ourselves. Face up to this fear and by being truthful, you’ll
have a clearer picture of what you really want.
6. Stop trying to choose what to focus on and step back by
taking time for yourself to either read, be with friends, laugh,
play, have fun, discover and dream. These activities allow for
new possibilities, different perspectives and a freedom to make
choices based on clarity, rather than pressure.
7. Don’t allow the negative feeling “I can’t” stop you from
going for what you really want. Most things are achievable by
most people and by taking one small step forward, you’ll see
that “I can” is a real possibility.
8. Focus your time, energy and attention on what you do want,
rather than what you don’t want. You’ll get more out of whatever
you focus your attention on.
9. Narrow down your list of what you want to one specific thing
for now, by numbering all the items and then set up a draw sheet
as used in sports tournaments. Your emotional and instinctive
sides will come into play and leave you with one specific item
to focus on.
10. Identify at least one step you can take immediately towards
achieving this item. As you initiate the action, decide on the
next step and keep on until you’ve achieved what you really
want. Taking actions, even small ones, builds your momentum,
confidence and moves you towards your goals.