Buying A Diamond A Cut Above The Rest

Cut Above The Rest (NAPS)—No matter how you cut it, buying a diamond is a major investment. To get the best diamond for your dollar, shop only with reputable diamond dealers whoprovide a gradingcertificate. HowTo Buy A Diamond This free kit offers valuable advice on shopping for diamondsonline. You may be surprised to learn that the Internet can be a virtual gold mine for diamond shopping. Shopping on the Web can offer competitive pricing, convenience and privacy. Some online jewel- ers even offer design-your-own- ring features. If you plan on using a mouse tofind a stone, it’s a smart idea to research the followingcriteria: ASparkling Warranty. Try finding sites that offer at least a 30-day guarantee on every dia- mond they sell. Otherwise, they might not be worth owning. A Guaranteed Investment. Some sites guarantee that the stone you buy will appraise at a higher value than the purchase price. Diamond.com guarantees that its stones will appraise at 150 percent of the sale price when brought to an independent appraiser. e A Ringing Endorsement. Look for sites that sell diamonds certified by independent laboratories such as the Gemological Insti- tute of America (GIA). The GIA in particular only certifies diamonds of the highest quality. e An Online Safety Net. Shop only at sites with technology that protects personal information like your credit card number. For more information and a free kit on buying a diamondonline,log on to www.diamond.com, orcall 1-888-DIAMOND.