Frequently Asked Questions
Is a diamond a good financial investment?
What is the difference between a certified diamond and a non-certified diamond?
Where are diamonds certified?
How are diamonds graded?
What are fancy diamonds?
What is the difference between a precious and a semi-precious gemstone?
The History of the Diamond as an Engagement Ring
Where is Schneider Gems located?
How does Schneider Gems differ from a retail store?
What private client services do you offer?
How do you become a Schneider Gems private client?
Is a diamond a good financial investment?
Because of the rarity of stones, diamond prices have steadily increased for over 20 years. As a result, they tend to hold their value so many people buy high quality diamonds in order to diversify their investment portfolio. It is extremely unlikely that diamonds will ever entirely lose their value, however, the market is unpredictable so it's impossible to predict how it will change in the future.
What is the difference between a certified diamond and a non-certified diamond?There is no physical difference between a diamond that is certified and one that is not. A certified diamond has been graded by an independent and accredited diamond gem lab, and their quality assessments are included in a tangible grading report. These reports are used by appraisers to determine the replacement value of the stone. A grading report also allows the buyer to make an informed choice while comparison shopping between stones that have similar qualities. On the other hand, an uncertified diamond is not accompanied by a diamond grading report, and therefore its quality is based only on the word of the seller. An uncertified diamond is not necessarily a bad diamond, it can be as beautiful as its certified counterpart, but there is no guarantee that the appraiser will appraise your diamond at the same level at which the jeweler who sold it to you did.
Where are diamonds certified?Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and American Gem Society (AGS) are considered the global industry leaders in diamond grading among diamond dealers. Many other independent labs exist, however, their standards are not as high as GIA and AGS so their reports do not command the same level of respect. Therefore, if you are in the market for a certified diamond, make an effort to buy only GIA- or AGS-graded diamonds.
How are diamonds graded?A diamond is graded on its cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
In diamonds, cut is the primary determinant of value, followed by clarity and then color. Diamonds are designed to sparkle, to break down light into its constituent rainbow colors (dispersion), chop it up into bright little pieces (scintillation), and deliver it to the eye (brilliance). In its rough crystalline form, a diamond will do none of these things, it requires proper fashioning. Every diamond gets its brilliancy and scintillation by cutting and polishing facets to allow the maximum amount of light to enter through its top so it can be reflected and dispersed back through its top. The cut refers to these proportions of the diamond, as well as its shape. Common shapes are round brilliant, emerald, princess, oval, cushion, pear and marquis.
Color refers to the shade of the stone, as diamonds naturally come in every color of the rainbow. When people think of diamonds most envision the white diamond which is rated from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow). A white or colorless gemstone allows the diamond to cleanly reflect and refract light, so the whiter (or more colorless) the gemstone, the more rare, and the higher the price. The exceptions are some colored or fancy diamonds.
The clarity of a diamond is determined by the amount and location of flaws in the diamond when viewed under 10 power (10x) magnification. Most diamonds contain very tiny birthmarks known as inclusions which can interfere with the light passing through the diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the more brilliant the diamond will be. A diamond that is free of inclusions is very rare, and therefore, very valuable. GIA rates clarity grades in diamonds from Flawless to Imperfect 3.
The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 points, so a diamond of 75 points weights .75 carats. As the carat weight of a diamond increases so does its rarity, and therefore, its price. However, two diamonds can be of equal carat weight, but their value can differ greatly due to their cut, color, and clarity.
In gemstones that have color, including colored diamonds, it is the purity and beauty of that color that is the primary determinant of quality.
What are fancy diamonds?The most common use of the term fancy diamonds relates to the cut or shape of the diamond, more specifically, fancy refers to any diamond cut other than round brilliant including: emerald, princess, oval, cushion, pear and marquis.
The second "fancy" reference is to diamonds that have a prominent color, such as canary yellow, brown, pink or blue. Some diamond colors are much more rare and valuable than others, such as blue, pink and light green. Deep pink is particularly rare.
What is the difference between a precious and a semi-precious gemstone?Gemstones have been placed into the categories of precious stones and semiprecious stones since the mid-1800s. The term precious stone was reserved for four types of gems: diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. All other gemstones were placed in the semiprecious stone category.
The semiprecious stone category includes stones such as: agate, amber, amethyst, aquamarine, chalcedony, citrine, garnet, jade, jasper, lapis lazuli, onyx, opal, peridot, tiger's eye, tanzanite, topaz, turquoise, tourmaline and many other gemstones that have been popular for making jewelry and ornamental objects
Use of the terms precious and semi-precious in a commercial context is, arguably, misleading in that it implies certain stones are intrinsically more valuable than others, which is not always the case.
The History of the Diamond as an Engagement RingOnce you get engaged, the tradition of giving a ring to the woman who has promised to become your bride goes back centuries. However, presenting the future bride with a diamond engagement ring is a relatively recent development; diamond engagement rings first became popular in the 1930s. By 1965, 80% of all new brides in the United States wore a diamond engagement ring. Diamonds have come to signify dedicated, enduring love due to their formidable strength and enchanting beauty. The most popular cut for diamond engagement rings is the round brilliant. Runners up include the princess cut, the emerald cut and the oval cut, with the cushion cut quickly gaining popularity.
Where is Schneider Gems located?Schneider Gems is headquartered in a private office located in Boca Raton, Florida at 1515 North Federal Highway, Suite 217. The private office offers a discrete and secure environment so our clients feel comfortable. Feel free to contact us by email at js@schneidergems.com or by phone at 561.391.3580 to set up an appointment.
How does Schneider Gems differ from a retail store?Schneider Gems is a wholesaler, and we work with many retailers behind the scenes by providing stones or facilitating transactions between other diamond dealers. However, we do sell to directly to select private clients on a relationship basis as an adviser and advocate through all facets of your family's jewelry estate -- from your first diamond investment to your legacy timepiece. Our clientele is extremely savvy and appreciates value and a 'good deal', understanding that retailers often markup the price close to 300%. The services we offer go further than the typical retailer, so most of our client relationships are long term and have lasted through several generations.
What private client services do you offer?Diamond, jewelry, timepiece sales - In addition to offering inventory exclusive to Schneider Gems, we can locate a specific diamond, engagement ring, pendant, earring set, wedding band, necklace, bracelet, or watch through our international network of trusted colleagues. Our sources span the globe from Israel to the Far East, South Africa and beyond.
- Investment Services - Schneider Gems offers investment services for clients interested in buying and selling diamonds and/or timepieces.
- Custom Design - Schneider Gems works with you on custom designed pieces from engagement rings to necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
- Appraisals -Schneider Gems facilitates appraisals on purchased or estate pieces.
- Estate Purchases - Schneider Gems purchases estate watches and jewelry.
- Repairs, resetting and restoration - Whether a simple cleaning or a complicated resetting, Schneider Gems makes your jewelry look like new.
Most of our new business is generated through referrals. However, if you are interested in speaking with us, you may contact us by email at js@schneidergems.com or by phone at 561.391.3580.
