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Buying a diamond engagement ring
can be a risky business! For most of us an engagement ring is the
third most expensive purchase we are likely to make, after our home
and car. However I can guarantee you know much more about buying
a house, or a car than you do about buying a diamond ring! This
lack of knowledge opens up the opportunity for dishonest people
to take advantage of you.
This generally takes the form of selling you a poor quality diamond
ring for a higly inflated price.
How can you avoid the pitfalls?
There are some basic precautions you can take, which will significantly
reduce the risk. Some of these include:
Get Educated - Research the subject of buying diamonds, in exactly
the same way you would if you were buying a car. There is no substituted
for this, and if you are willing to make the effort you can have
more knowledge of the subject in 2 hours, than 95% of your fellow
consumers.
Buy from a reputable source - Whether you decide to make your purchase
online or at a Jewelry store, make sure you have some background
on the store. Visit the store and ask the salesman questions to
gauge his level of knowledge. I would suggest you avoid the Jewelry
districts, simply because the competition is so fierce that it breeds
questionable practices and half truths amongst the occupants.
Never buy a diamond without a certificate - Without a certificate
you could quite easily buy a piece of glass set into an engagement
ring setting and be non the wiser, but up to $5000 poorer. However
a certificate alone does not guarantee a better deal, you need to
be proficient in understanding exactly what it is telling you, and
how each factor that is covered affects the price and quality of
the ring.
Understand the 4 C's of diamonds - Most people know something about
the 4 C's of diamond buying including, Cut, Clarity, Carat and Color.
However very few people know how to each of the 4 factors interact
to determine the price and quality of a diamond.
If you follow this advice you significantly reduce your chance of
being fleeced by a dishonest salesman. Treat your purchase as a
significant financial purchase. Set your budget up-front and do
not go too much above or below the price you've set yourself. Try
not to get to emotionally involved in the purchase and the outcome
should be favorable.
About the Author
Peter Vine is the author of "Diamond
Ring Secrets" the first easy to read guide to buying the perfect
diamond engagement ring. Get a free chapter from the book at:
http://www.diamond-ring-secrets.com
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