A loose diamond, one not set in a ring, another type of jewelry or mounting, is the best type of diamond to know its true worth. Diamonds must be loose to be graded fully, otherwise, the value can only be estimated by a buyer. It is very difficult to know the 4 Cs of your diamond’s grading
— Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat, when it is mounted in some way.
If you want to sell a diamond, have it removed from its setting by a professional jeweler.
The difficulty of calculating a diamonds worth
There is a lot of things to know about diamonds, different aspects that define its value and desirability.
Did you know that all diamonds are NOT clear like glass? Most diamonds are brown or yellow in color. Jeweler’s and consumers favor colorless diamonds. There are diamonds in deep hues of red, orange, green, blue, pink, purple, and violet. If you have one of those, you’re in luck, they are very rare and sell for high prices!
Unlike other gems, diamonds have a set international market price similar to gold. But pricing a diamond is much more complicated than gold. While an ounce of gold is the same as any other ounce gold, diamonds are graded on four factors, the “4 Cs,” to determine their value.
The Four Cs of Diamond Pricing
Having an understanding of the 4 C’s is necessary as a buyer or seller of a diamond. The 4 Cs of diamond grading — Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat is the basic grading factors that begin estimating a diamonds value and its quality.
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COLOR
Diamond color is actually a lack of color. The more colorless a diamond is, the better.
The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) grades diamonds from D to Z, with D being the most colorless, and Z containing noticeable brown or yellow tint.
This range of diamond color distinctions are very hard to detect to the untrained eye, but will greatly influence diamond quality and price.
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CLARITY
The Clarity grade evaluates how clean a diamond is from both inclusions (characteristics that occur inside the gemstone or flaws, and blemishes (external flaws that affect the clarity characteristic of a diamond.) Clarity is graded by the GIA from FL (Flawless) to SI2 (Slightly Included 2.)
One reason diamonds are very popular is how they react with light. Imperfections inside and outside the diamond can interfere with its optical properties.
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CUT
The cut refers to the shaping of a diamond, but NOT the shape. It is the characteristic that has the greatest impact on its beauty. A rough diamond has no shine, it only sparkles when it is cut expertly. The proportion, symmetry, and polish determine how light bounces off each angle and facet.
The grade for a diamond cut ranges from poor to excellent. Precise artistry and workmanship deliver the brightness, fire, and scintillation that makes them so enticing.
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CARAT
A carat is the weight of the diamond, one carat defined as 200 milligrams. Larger diamonds are rarer so price increases with carat weight. However, two diamonds of equal carat weight may have different prices depending on the three other factors of the 4Cs: Color, Clarity, and Cut.
Each carat can be subdivided into 100 ‘points’ allowing for precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. Your jeweler may refer to a diamond that weighs 0.25 carats as a ‘twenty-five pointer.’ Weights greater than one carat are expressed in carats and decimals. A 1.08 carat stone would be described as ‘one point oh eight carats.’
How much is your loose diamond is worth
You can see from the above discussion of how a diamond is priced that its complicated to determine how much your loose diamond is worth. How are you supposed to know the quality grades for the color, clarity, and cut of your diamond without some expertise in diamonds? You can learn about the quality of our loose diamond by getting a “Diamond Certification.”
Diamond Certification is a document, or grading certificate, from an objective 3rd party lab that describes the diamonds 4Cs and other aspects. If your diamond doesn’t have one, which it should if you purchased it from a reputable dealer, then you need a grading certificate. This can be provided by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or another reputable grading lab.
Once you know the weight of your diamond (carats) and how the color, clarity, and cut are graded, you can look for ones with similar gradings. Retail prices of similar diamonds will give you an idea of how much your diamond could be worth. There is a lot of information online, just start an internet search, or visit your local jewelry shop.
However, the amount you will really get if you want to sell it to a jeweler will be less. That’s because a jeweler can purchase diamonds in bulk at wholesale prices, which are much lower. A diamond similar to yours can be bought by them for much less from a diamond dealer, so they aren’t going to give you the full price.
Here is a general idea of how much your diamond may be worth knowing only carats. Bigger diamonds are often worth more. But remember a diamond's value is measured using all of the 4Cs, and not just carat weight, but this will give you a range of the possible worth.
- 0.5 carat diamond $1,500
- 1 carat diamond $6,250 to $17,250
- 2 carat diamond $21,000 to $67,500
Where to Sell Your Loose Diamond
Deciding to sell a loose diamond can be an emotional decision, especially if it is an heirloom, something your grandmother or other special person bequeathed to you. But you really need the money so you want to get the best price for it. You don't want to find that your treasured possession was lost for a paltry sum when you find out its real worth later.
Do your research first, learn how a diamond is priced, and before you go to see anyone about selling your loose diamond, make sure they have GIA certified gemologists available for an appraisal. Your diamond buyer should be informed about the market and able to answer any questions you have about diamonds.
Sell your diamonds to Goldstein Diamonds
If you’ve decided to sell your diamond, we will buy it! Goldstein Diamonds is a GIA-certified jeweler always looking for quality stones of any size. We offer confidentiality and immediate payment and accept trade-ins. Contact us today and let’s get you a fair price for your loose diamonds!
