By Gary A.
Edited by Brian M.
Published Aug 8, 2024
Edited on Dec 6, 2024
Buying wholesale diamonds from a diamond dealer can work out cheaper, but do you know how to sort the good from the ‘not worth it’?
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The oval diamond, emerald diamond, cushion diamond, princess diamond, radiant diamond. The world of diamonds is filled with these beautifully cut, undyingly fiery diamonds that radiate beauty, mystique, brilliance, and romance.
Formed over millions of years underground, every second of their lifespan has been spent crafting these qualities – first naturally, then through expert craftsmanship – all to ensure just one moment of pure magic when the box is opened and your partner sees the diamond for the first time.
This is why the process of choosing a diamond is taken so seriously. Even on a smaller budget, you want to make sure that the diamond you choose is beautiful enough to take the breath away, with just the right qualities and just the right sparkle to perfectly symbolise your love and commitment.
When you start that long journey, however, the first thing you will wonder is how exactly you can find that perfect diamond. You might fall in love, for instance, with the cushion diamond, with its gorgeous rectangular shape and its unique high crown.
But if you were to choose a 3 carat cushion diamond – to really emphasise the shape and maximise the sparkle – you could be set back nearly $50,000, or maybe more. For many buyers, this kind of pricing is untenable within their set budget. So what can you do in that kind of situation, where your budget and limitations mean you have to look for a diamond that you haven’t fallen in love with?
Before we dive deeper into the specifics, here are some practical tips to help guide your decision-making process:
Now that you’ve got these practical tips, use Jeweler AI below to find the perfect engagement ring that suits your style and budget:
The first thing we would tell you is not to look for it. There are multiple ways to buy a diamond that might be outside of your budget range, financing being one of them. But before you think about financing, you can always look into the wholesale market, which can offer diamonds at a far reduced cost compared to retail prices.
For those unaware, the wholesale diamond market refers to the sector of the diamond industry where diamonds are bought and sold in large quantities directly from diamond suppliers. Wholesale diamond dealers, of course, have a direct partnership with manufacturers or suppliers, bypassing the need for retailers and selling their diamonds at a far more competitive price as a result.
They still adhere to industry standards, meaning each diamond is graded and certified, only the direct sourcing and bulk purchasing nature leads to diamonds selling for lower prices, with a wealth of variety and selection. Additionally, buying wholesale provides access to rare and unique diamonds that might not be available in typical retail settings. This can be particularly advantageous if you’re looking for something truly distinctive. Exploring wholesale options allows you to find the perfect diamond that matches your criteria without compromising on quality or breaking your budget.
You’ll be well aware that wholesalers typically sell to businesses such as jewelry stores, diamond retailers, or manufacturers, but that doesn’t mean you are left out of the equation. Through online wholesale platforms, buyers like you can browse a diverse collection just in the same way you would for any other diamond dealer – with the possibility of buying an individual diamond at a far lower price.
In other words, that larger carat cushion diamond could be found for a price more closely matching its market value, without the markup that’s added by retail stores to cover overheads and profit margins. Not only this but you’ll be given more flexibility to create a custom piece of jewelry that matches your individual style and preference – or your SO’s style and preference, more importantly!
We should also add that – by shopping online – you can get more comprehensive information and resources to help you make an informed decision. Whether that’s with detailed certifications, high-resolution images, and even 360-degree videos of each diamond, you’ll get a level of transparency which isn’t always possible when shopping in person. Just because it might be a wholesale diamond, doesn’t mean you’re scrimping on quality. On the contrary, you’re being given the option to buy your dream diamond at a competitive price, with the same peace of mind that you’re getting authenticity and quality.
Buying a wholesale diamond, however, cannot be done by walking into a wholesale store and simply picking up a diamond that looks good. As mentioned before, the way into the wholesale market has been awarded by online platforms, many of which have no distinction between retailer diamonds and wholesale diamonds – only matching you with the perfect diamond for the perfect price.
Diamond brokers and custom jewelry designers will work closely with wholesale diamond dealers, but to browse diamonds freely, the online world has put the emphasis back on the buyer. On our site, for instance, we have a complete online inventory that will hopefully lead you to a beautiful diamond that is also affordable. Shopping for diamonds in 2024 is no longer syphoned off for buyers, it’s all-encompassing and designed to make dreams a reality.
The concept of buying diamonds online might put a few people off, of course, but you don’t need 10x magnification to see the benefits! With so many diamonds on the market, it’s important to get a full, 360 view of what’s available, and that’s exactly what a platform like ours will give you. Not only this but by browsing through our diamond collection in the comfort of your own home, you won’t be feeling any time pressure to knuckle down and make a purchase. Everything is done at your own pace, with all the information available for you to educate yourself.
It’s important to remember, after all, that the emphasis of buying that dream diamond is on you, and no one else. You have to have a vision in your mind – a clear idea of what you want your diamond to look like, with its qualities and characteristics falling in line with your desires and your budget. This starts with understanding the 4Cs. In the diamond world, the 4Cs refer to the cut, color, clarity, and carat of a diamond – characteristics that will determine its beauty, elegance, brilliance, and sparkle.
We have written in-depth about the 4Cs elsewhere on the site, but to give you a quick description, the cut refers to the proportions, symmetry, and polish of a diamond, all of which have been carefully crafted by an expert jeweller. Click here to find out more.
The color of a diamond refers to the presence or absence of color, graded on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (a light brown or yellow color). Diamonds with less color are rarer and typically more valuable, while diamonds with color can be cheaper due to their inability to reflect light more effectively. Our full guide is available here.
Diamond clarity refers to any internal or external imperfections, known as inclusions and blemishes. This is graded on a scale ranging from ‘Flawless’ to ‘Included’, with varying degrees of clarity in between. Read our full guide to clarity.
We spoke before about carat weights and how they can affect the weight of the money you’ll need in your pocket! But while the carat of a diamond will directly influence the price, it’s not just the size of the diamond that does so. The carat of a diamond will also impact its overall brilliance and sparkle, with larger diamonds having more surface area for light to enter and reflect. Click here to find out more.
Even when shopping from a wholesaler, these are things you will have to think about, as well as the look of the engagement ring overall. During your shopping journey, you’ll come across a range of styles, settings, and metals to pair with your chosen diamond, and each one must be carefully evaluated and – once again – fall in line with your personality and budget.
Going back to what we were discussing, however, this could be made a lot easier with a wholesaler offering the diamond itself at a strong, competitive price, which can leave room for you to explore customisation and appropriate pairings with the perfect band.
The important thing is to leave your options open and really immerse yourself in the online shopping space. Some beautiful diamonds will be sold by wholesalers, some beautiful diamonds will be available only from retailers. As a buyer, you have the space to browse intensively and come to a decision that isn’t rushed, pushed, or dictated by limited options. That’s the beauty of diamond shopping in the digital age we live in!
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