Diamond and jewelry questions, answered honestly

Send us photos or bring the ring to our Dallas office. We evaluate the stone and the metal, explain what we see, and give you a written offer. You decide whether to accept. You can start on our sell your jewelry page.

No. A grading report such as GIA helps and can improve your offer, but uncertified diamonds can be evaluated too. Bring any certificate, receipt, or appraisal you have.

The quality and size of the stones, the type and weight of the metal, the maker, the age and condition of the piece, any certification, and current market demand.

An appraisal is a written estimate of value, usually for insurance, based on replacement cost. A purchase offer is the amount a buyer will pay now, which is normally lower than replacement value.

It is not required. An appraisal is useful if you want an independent opinion of value, but a buyer will still make its own evaluation.

You can sell to a jeweler or diamond buyer for a direct offer, use consignment or an auction for a possibly higher price after a longer wait and fees, or sell to a pawn shop for speed, usually at a lower price. Compare more than one written offer before deciding.

Gather certificates and receipts, take clear photos, check metal stamps inside the band, and do not clean or repair anything first. Then ask for the offer in writing.

It depends on your situation, including what you paid and how long you owned it. Ask a tax professional.

Estate jewelry is any previously owned jewelry, from antique pieces over 100 years old to recent pre-owned fine jewelry. See what we have on our estate jewelry page.

Antique generally means 100 years or older. Vintage generally means at least 20 years old but under 100. Eras include Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro, and mid-century.

These are older, hand-cut styles with a different look from modern round brilliants, often with a smaller table and a larger culet. Collectors value them for their character.

A maker’s mark from a respected house can add significantly to value and helps confirm a piece’s origin and period.

Do not clean or sell anything yet. Photograph each piece, note any stamps, keep any paperwork, and get a written evaluation before making decisions.

No. Cleaning or polishing can damage delicate pieces and hide details that help identify them.

Send us photos. Condition affects value, but the stones and metal in a damaged piece often still carry value.

Cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. Together they determine most of a diamond’s quality and value. Cut affects sparkle, color is graded from D (colorless) downward, clarity measures internal and surface features, and carat is weight.

A grading report is an independent lab’s description of a diamond’s characteristics. Well-known labs include GIA, AGS, and IGI. Reports from different labs are not always equally strict.

Some diamonds glow under ultraviolet light. Fluorescence can slightly affect appearance and price, and it is noted on grading reports.

It refers to diamonds not used to finance armed conflict. The Kimberley Process is the international certification system for rough diamonds, and reputable sellers can explain their sourcing.

No. Even experts need testing equipment. A grading report or laboratory testing will state which it is.

For a significant stone, yes. A report from an established lab lets you verify what you are buying and compare stones fairly.

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties as natural diamonds. They are made in a lab instead of mined, and they are priced lower.

Origin and price. Natural diamonds formed in the earth over a very long time. Lab-grown diamonds are made in weeks using controlled processes. A report or testing identifies which is which.

Less than natural diamonds, and prices have been falling as production grows. Buy a lab-grown stone for what it is, not as an investment.

If budget and size matter most, lab-grown offers more for the money. If natural origin, rarity, and long-term value matter most, choose natural.

Insurance appraisals estimate replacement cost. Fair market value appraisals estimate what a piece would sell for between informed parties. They produce different numbers, so be sure which one you need.

A detailed description of the piece, stone measurements and grades, metal and weight, photographs, the purpose of the appraisal, and a value.

Every few years, because metal and diamond prices change and insurance values can fall behind.

No. A certificate describes a diamond’s characteristics and does not state a price. An appraisal gives a value.

Karats measure gold purity out of 24. 14k is 58.3 percent gold, 18k is 75 percent, and 24k is nearly pure.

Look for stamps inside the band or on the clasp, such as 14K, 18K, 750, or 950 for platinum. A jeweler can also test the metal.

Yes. Metal value moves with the market, so the gold or platinum portion of an offer can change from week to week.

Ask for a grading report, whether the stone is natural or lab-grown, whether it has been treated or repaired, the return policy, and for everything in writing.

Yes. Call us to arrange a time to see a piece in person, or ask for additional photos.

Yes. We offer certified natural and lab-grown diamonds, as well as estate jewelry.

A family-owned diamond business founded in 1968 by Bernard Spiro z”l at the Israel Diamond Exchange. We serve private buyers, retail jewelers, and wholesale traders.

Dallas, Texas at 12801 North Central Expressway, Suite 501, and at the Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan, Israel. You can call us at (214) 217-0187.

Yes. Call us to ask about jewelry appraisals.