The Loose Diamonds Advantage

In fact, there are many people who consider the best way to purchase precious gems, such as diamonds, is loose and before they are mounted in their settings.

Acquiring loose diamonds actually offers several advantages as compared to buying them in earrings, rings, watches and other fine diamond jewelry with the gems already set.

The first advantage is simply in terms of lower cost. Loose or unmounted diamonds can often be purchased less expensively than those that have already been placed in a setting.

Part of the reason for this is that the expense for the precious metal used for the setting must also be covered, even when the primary reason for the diamond purchase is for the stone and not the gold or silver setting.

Another good reason to consider buying unmounted diamonds instead of stones that have already been fashioned into items of diamond jewelry is that it is much easier to judge the quality of the gemstone when it is not in a setting.

Various types of settings can often hide flaws in the stone which would diminish the value. But if you cannot detect the flaw because of the way that the diamond is mounted, then you could unwittingly be buying a stone of inferior quality.

All diamonds are classified for quality, and therefore value, by checking for four different aspects of the stones. With the use of a magnifying device such as a jeweler's loupe or a microscope, these characteristics of color, clarity, cut, and carat can be determined.

It's the color and the clarity, as well as the quality of the cut that can be examined through magnification.

Many times people prefer to purchase unmounted diamonds so that they can have the gem set into the fine jewelry design of their choice.

This is common for people who prefer to wear custom diamond jewelry that is distinctive and personalized.

There are many cuts of loose diamonds that you can choose from if you want to purchase diamonds for fine jewelry, or simply as an investment.

The most common shape that you will be able to find is the round brilliant cut, but the emerald, princess, baguette, heart, oval, marquise, and radiant cuts are also available.