Jewelry Education
Carat Weight
This is the size of the diamond measured in carats. Carat weight is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a diamond. Since diamonds are measured by carat weight, and not size (or diameter), two diamonds of the same weight could have different sizes. Why? If a diamond is cut too shallow it will be wider and appear larger. Likewise, if a diamond is cut too deep (bottom heavy) it will appear smaller when looking from the top. This is why cut is so important. You want to make sure the diamond is cut to proper proportions.Clarity
A diamond that is virtually free of interior or exterior inclusions (commonly reffered to as flaws) is of the highest quality, for nothing interferes with the passage of light through the diamond. To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist. Small inclusions neither mar its beauty nor endanger its durability.Flawless: No internal or external flaws.
Internally Flawless: No internal flaws. Very rare and beautiful diamonds which are quite expensive.
VVS1, VVS2: Very, Very Slightly Included: Very difficult to see inclusions under 10x magnification. An excellent quality diamond.
VS1, VS2: Very Slightly Included: Inclusions are nearly impossible to view to the unaided eye for most diamonds. Exceptions to this rule could be when the diamond is viewed from the bottom, or for diamond shapes that are not brilliant cut and have larger facets which makes it more difficult to conceal the diamond's flaws. For the most part VS diamonds are very clean.
SI1, SI2: Slightly Included: Inclusions are visible under 10x magnification, SI clarity diamonds are usually of the best value since inclusions are typically not visible to the naked eye and prices are reasonable when compared to prices of the VS2 qnd up clarity grades.
SI3: Slighty Included-EGL: SI3 is an EGL grade that has also been adapted by other grading labs. It is not recognized by GIA or AGS. For the most part, an SI3 graded diamond is usually comprable to a "good" I1 clarity by GIA. When shopping for an SI3 graded diamond online, it's always a good idea to buy a stone where you've seen a clear picture and the diamond dealer has assured you it's of a good quality.
I1: Included: an I1 clarity diamond will have a visible flaw which can be seen with the naked eye, but there should only be one major flaw which is not too obvious from a little distance. If our budget only allows for an SI3 or I1 clarity diamond, be sure to examine it thouroughly before purchasing and make sure you can not see any inclusions which you may later regret. A good I1 clarity diamond can still look decent however a poor I1 clarity could look terrible.
I2, I3: Included: These diamonds will have inclusions visible to the naked eye, and will have many black spots from the black inclusions and appear cloudy from the white inclusions, feathers and cracks.
Color
Not including fancy colored diamonds, most diamonds fall within a totally colorless to light yellow color grading scale as shown below:D-F: Colorless: perfect or almost perfect color.
G-H: Near colorless: An excellent choice for a bright white diamond with a fair value.
I-J: Slightly Tinted Yellow: This diamond may "face up" white when mounted, especially in white gold or platinum. Having a well cut diamond will allow more whie light to be reflected through the table and help it's face up appearance as well.
K-M: Light but noticeable yellow or brown tint. Not recommended for larger diamond stone purchases, especially in engagement rings unless your jeweler has been able to inspect the stone and ensure it will still look nice face up.
In our opinion if a customer is looking for a white sparkly diamond, out of the 4 C's, Color and Cut are the two most important characteristics of a diamond. Do not compromise on color unless you've seem some of the warmer shades and are happy with their appearance. An "H" color or better is usually best.
Cut
Many people confuse cut with the shape of a diamond. Most round diamonds are cut round with a full 58 facets, and a good cut, or make, has more scintillation and more sparkle. The shape of the diamond, however, is largely a matter of personal preference and does not directly affect the value. It is the work of a master cutter that allows the diamond to be cut in such a way as to permit the maximum amount of light to be reflected through the diamond, and that's a great reflection on you. It is the cut that enables a diamond to make the best use of light.Frequently Asked Questions
Why shop At Luxe?
Most of our customers tell us they shop with us because shopping at a retail store or a diamond website have much higher prices. Although every diamond is made by mother nature to be unique and they're all beautiful in their own way, at the end of the day a diamond is a diamond and you want to be sure you're getting a fair price, and that's something only a diamond wholesaler with a vast supply source such as ours can provide. Most retail stores only have a handful of diamonds to pick from. Most online websites have several thousand. Luxe has over 2 million diamonds to pick from, and we email you a price list of diamonds directly when you submit your diamond request online.
Is buying a diamond online from Luxe safe?
Shopping for diamonds online from us is very safe because every diamond we sell is independently certified by a laboratory such as the GIA. Not only that, we make sure every diamond is personally inspected to be sure you will be 100% satisfied. Luxe is also a member of many reputable organizations and is committed to the highest level of customer service.
How long do I have to wait for my diamond list once I submit my request?
We are committed to emailing you your wholesale diamond listing as fast as possible! We are in our office M-F from 9AM to 5PM Pacific Standard Time (12PM to 8PM Eastern) and answer all diamond requests within 1 business hour! All requests after hours or on the weekend will be answered promptly the next business day. Click here to send your diamond request.
Should I get a diamond that is graded by GIA, AGS or EGL?
We usually recommend our customers to purchase a GIA graded diamond because they are the most respected and consistent lab for diamond grading which is very important when buying a diamond sight-unseen. AGS is a very good alternative for ideal cut diamonds. EGL graded diamonds are also available, but we recommend you call us and ask to have the diamond inspected prior to purchase. Please email us or call 888-LUXE-WHO for more information.
What cut grade do you recommend?
When you submit your request for a diamond, your list will contain a column indicating the cut. We recommend getting an "Excellent" or "Ideal" cut diamond for round shape. We recommend getting "Very Good", "Excellent" or "Ideal" for all other shapes. If you have any additional questions about diamond cut, please email us or call 888-LUXE-DIA for assistance.
Will I be billed for Taxes or Shipping?
We are located in Los Angeles, CA and are required to collect a 9.75% sales tax for all jewelry and/or loose diamonds shipped to California. If you are located outside of California we will not collect taxes on your purchase. Shipping is free of charge on all purchases. Please email us call 888-LUXE-WHO for more information.
Payment Options
We accept all major credit cards as well as wire transfers. We are charged service fees to process credit cards, therefor we are happy to pass along a 2.8% savings to all our clients who opt to use a wire transfer instead of a credit card. Please email us or call 888-LUXE-WHO for more information.
Shipping Options
All our parcels are shipped free, either by Fedex or US Post. Every package is 100% fully insured by a third party insurance company against loss or theft. Please note that we can only ship to the billing address if using a credit card. If you require a different shipping address, a wire transfer payment is required at which time we can ship to any address you perfer. Please email us or call 888-LUXE-WHO for more information.
International Orders
We ship all our international orders via Fedex to any destination they service. Please note, that we can only accept wire transfer payment for international orders. Please email us or call 888-LUXE-DIA for assistance.
Exchange / Return Policy
We sell wholesale and retail to to the public with very little overhead, unlike traditional retailers. However we understand consumers need some flexibility when purchasing diamonds online. Although most wholesalers do not offer any refund or exchange policy, our policy is to give all our clients a 30 day period to inspect their loose diamonds. If they are not 100% satisfied with their purchase, they can return or exchange it. All exchanges are subject to a 10% re-stocking fee, and refunds are subject to a 20% re-stocking fee. Please note that all jewelry or custom items are non-refundable and can only be exchanged subject to a 20% re-stocking fee. Luxe Wholesale Diamonds always strives to offer the most competitive prices possible, so please email us or call 888-LUXE-WHO for any assistance buying a diamond so we can ensure you get the right diamond the first time and have a smooth transaction.