Why Your Diamond Can Be A Great Investment
A kiss on the hand can be quite sentimental…but diamonds are a girl’s best friend! This can be especially true if you’re caught in a cash crunch! These gems are great at holding value and can make a terrific investment that can help you out financially later in life. Pawn diamond Boca Raton.
If you’re in the process of buying a diamond, whether you are looking for one to invest in, or one to mark a special occasion, it’s a good idea to do some research in advance. There are certain things that will factor in when considering which diamonds will hold their value best and which are most worth the money you are spending. Keeping that in mind, here are some things to consider when purchasing your gem.
The Four C’s
Anyone who has done any sort of research on diamonds will have heard of the four C’s. These are the most important characteristics to understand when buying a diamond. With that in mind, let’s find out more about the cut, clarity, color and carat of these rocks and why they are so important in determining your gem’s value.
Cut: The cut of your diamond is the most important element to consider when determining the value of your diamond. A diamond that has the right cut will create sparkle and fire while those that do not will appear lifeless and dull. A diamond that is cut too deep will make the gem appear smaller than it actually is.
The cut of a diamond is rated on a scale of poor/fair, good, very good and ideal. Go for the best possible cut you can afford to get the most out of your diamond purchase.
Color: After cut, the color of your diamond will be the next most important factor to consider. Ideally, a diamond will be colorless, while lower quality diamonds will appear yellowish in color.
Diamond color is rated by letters with D being a nearly colorless diamond. Diamonds that rated G or H will be nearly colorless as well, but color will be more noticeable as you start to descend through the color chart.
Clarity: The clarity of the diamond refers to the imperfections that may be present on the surface and internally within the diamond. Imperfections on the surface are known as blemishes while internal ones are called inclusions. Diamonds with the least amount of inclusions and blemishes are highest in clarity grade.
The clarity of the diamond is also rated on a letter chart, but in this case, each letter is an abbreviation of the amount of inclusions (or lack there of) that are featured. For example, the highest clarity rating is FL or flawless. As we go down the scale, other ratings are IF (Internally Flawless), VVS (Very Very Slightly Included), VS (Very Slightly Included), SI (Slightly Included), I1 (Included) and 13-12 (Heavily Included).
Carat: The carat of a diamond refers to the diamonds weight, although many get confused and think it refers to the diamond’s size. Although the carat of the diamond is important, it should also be considered alongside it’s cut. A larger carat diamond with a poor cut can make it appear smaller than a small diamond with a high grade cut.
To save money when buying a diamond, use a method called ‘Buy Shy’. Using this method, you buy a diamond that is slightly under the next full carat. For example, buying a diamond with a 1.9 carat will save you a lot of money as compared to buying one that is a full 2 carats. However, the diamonds will look pretty similar in size.
Other Things to Consider When Buying a Diamond
Though the 4 Cs are the most important factors to consider when buying a diamond, there are other characteristics that contribute to the gem’s value as well. These include:
Shape: Diamonds come in a variety of shapes and the one you choose for your diamond may come down to a matter of personal taste. However, the diamond shape you choose will affect the value of the diamond.
Round cut diamonds are the most popular cut and this is, in part, because they show incredible brilliance. Therefore, diamonds that feature this cut are the most expensive and the most valuable. Other valuable cuts include the marquis, oval, pear, heart and princess cuts with the emerald, Asscher, cushion and radiant cuts falling slightly lower on the scale.
Setting: The setting of your diamond will also add to its value. Diamonds are typically set in platinum, white gold, yellow gold or rose gold settings. Because platinum is the most expensive of these metals, a diamond set in platinum will be the most valuable.
Yellow gold settings will work well in offsetting diamonds that are yellow in color while a rose gold setting will work nicely as setting for diamonds that are slightly pink.
Certification: When buying a diamond, it should come with a certificate. This will serve as an assurance that the gem you are buying has been analyzed and graded for quality. This certificate can add value to your diamond if you decide to sell or put your diamond up for loan somewhere down the line. It will help the buyer to determine what the diamond is worth.
Lab Grown vs. Natural Diamonds
Traditionally, diamonds are produced in the earth, mined and then cut to be placed into jewelry. More recently, technology has developed a way to lab produce diamonds. This can be done using one of two methods including High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD).
Though many people desire natural diamonds because they are so rare, lab produced diamonds are less expensive and the difference between the two is not visible to the untrained eye. In fact, the quality of lab diamonds is always improving, and they are graded and certified to the same standards as mined diamonds.
What Makes Diamonds Valuable?
Obviously, the four C’s will factor in heavily when considering what makes a diamond valuable, but it is more than that which needs to be considered.
Many believe that diamonds are rare and therefore worth a lot of money. But the truth is, diamonds are not that rare. In fact, they are the most commonly found naturally occurring gem. The ability to manufacture them in labs makes them even more common.
So what makes diamonds so valuable? The answer is quite simply, market demand.
A good example of this dates back to the 1800’s when a large supply of diamonds was discovered in South Africa. Fearing this would cause the value of diamonds to decrease, diamond manufacturer, De Beers decided to buy the diamonds, releasing them in quantities only necessary to fulfil demand. By creating the illusion that supply was limited, De Beers was able to create a monopoly and sell the diamonds for a higher price.
De Beers was also responsible for marketing the diamond as an engagement ring gem in times when rubies and sapphires rings were more popular for engagements This also helped to fuel demand.
However, it is more than DeBeers clever marketing that made the diamond such a sought after stone. The gem has long been considered a valuable stone and Ancient Greeks even believed it to have mystical powers. These are all characteristics that make it the popular gem it is today.
Your Diamond as an Investment
If you are in a cash crunch, your diamond can help you out financially.
Diamonds will always be considered a worthwhile investment and the gems will always be in high demand. This will make it an easy item to sell to a pawn shop or to other buyers.
While some women will be eager to sell an engagement ring…for obvious reasons!…others will want to hold on to it because it may contain sentimental value. Either way, your ring can be a great way to get you out of a cash crunch.
A pawn shop can offer loans for your diamonds or buy it outright, whatever you prefer. Here is a bit about how it works.
How the Pawn Shop Process Works
When you take your diamond to a pawn shop, the broker will appraise it for you. He or she will then offer you a price for your item.
In the case of a loan, the broker will offer you a loan that will be for a percentage of what your item is worth. He will then work out the terms of the loan. The terms may vary according to what pawn shop you are working with, but basically, you will be making regular payments until the loan is paid off. These payments will include the principle as well as fees and interest rates.
Once the loan is paid off, you will be able to get your item back. If you are unable to pay off your loan, the shop will keep your item, but the failure to pay off the loan will never reflect as a poor score on your credit or end up going into collections.
Finding the Best Pawn Shop for Your Diamond
When you decide to sell your diamond, or any other luxury item, remember, not all pawn shops are created equal. You want to find a pawn shop that offers the best values and low interest rates for your items. This way, you will get the highest loan amount possible and make minimal payments.
If you are in the South Florida area, and are looking for a pawn shop that offers high values and low interest rates, Boca Raton Pawn is an obvious choice.
Boca Raton Pawn is a pawn shop that specializes in luxury items. Their expertise guarantees that they will always have a good idea of what your item is worth. They also know exactly how to treat your item when it is in their possession so that you know you will get it back in excellent condition.
BRP also offers excellent service assuring you will get in and out quickly with the maximum amount of cash in hand. And if you are looking to sell discreetly, they can help to that end as well. Just call ahead to make a private appointment and their sales staff can see to it that your transaction is handled with the utmost discretion.
And BRP isn’t just a great place to sell and get loans for your luxury items, it’s a great place to buy high end goods as well. Come down to our shop to check out what we currently have in stock. Our great customer relations mean we always have a steady selection of goods coming in and out so pop by to see what’s new.
Not located in the South Florida area? Check out our web site for the latest in stock!
What to Know Before Selling at BRP
If you are thinking of selling or getting a loan at BRP, there are a few things you should know in advance in order to make your experience as pleasant as possible.
BRP specializes in luxury handbags, watches and jewelry so these are the items we are most likely to accept.
We also prefer certain brands. These brands are listed on our web site. Please check out our listings in advance before bringing your item into our store.
If you have a certificate or receipt from your original purchase, you should bring that with you when selling. If we are not able to verify that your item is authentic, we may not be able to accept it.
Finally, as with the selling of any item, make sure what you are selling is in good condition and proper working order. Items that have visible damage or are not working properly will not yield higher values and may not be accepted for purchase at all.
Now that you know more about our shop and the pawning process, you are ready to get the best possible value for your diamond or other luxury good. Hopefully this will improve your financial situation and get you back on your feet. Good luck making your high end items work for you.