Customer Reviews

Diamond Ring Buying Guide: How to Evaluate, Identify, and Select Diamonds & Diamond Jewelry (Newman Gem & Jewelry Series)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is definitely a great resource to have when you're buying a diamond. I picked this up near the end of my search, so I had come to know most of the basic diamond information like acceptable table ranges, clarity and color ranges. The photos were extremely helpful because no other source I have come across provides you with full color close ups and defections of inclusions. What's a knot, feather, facet? What do they look like? Are they bad?

*Princess Cut*
I was looking for a princess cut diamond (the square one) and unfortunately this book mostly focuses on rounds. That's important insofar as the acceptable table and depth proportions are slightly different for princess cuts (FYI-get below 80%, around 70% is even better). Don't disregard the dimensions! At first I only judged size by carat weight, but a lot of that weight can sit below the diamond-hence you want a lower depth percentage. For example, a 2.0 carat princess cut that's 7.11 x 7.14 will look bigger than a 2.30 carat that's 6.69 x 7.30. With princess cuts, you also want to be as square as possible-anything with a length to width ratio bigger than 1.04 starts looking rectangular.

Another thing to keep in mind is the difference in Gemological Certificates. I found out early that an EGL G SI1 is just not the same as a GIA G SI1. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples here. There should never be a $1000 difference in price for the same cut, color and clarity. I found GIA much more consistent and rigid than EGL and eventually just ruled out the EGL certified diamonds. Try it yourself: ask to see the same size, color and clarity in GIA and EGL, 9 times out of 10 the GIA is more colorless and has fewer inclusions.

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Unlike diamond websites, this book isn't trying to sell you diamonds. It just lays down the facts about what to look for when buying diamonds and rings.

Newman's book is loaded with color pictures and info that you won't find on the Internet. For example:
1. Lots of close-up photos of diamonds with different clarity grades to help you learn to judge clarity yourself
2. Microscope photos of diamond inclusions.
3. Close-up photos of diamonds with a variety of cutting defects as well as examples of well-cut round and non-round diamonds. These pictures are far more helpful than diagrams I've seen on the Internet.
4. Diamonds of different colors and color-grades
5. Pictures showing how to detect diamond imitations along with tests for spotting fakes
6. Close-up photos of fracture-filled and laser-drilled diamonds and good info about diamond treatments
7. A wide variety of settings and ring styles from basic solitaire rings to unusual designer styles
Thanks to Newman's book, I was able to understand what I was looking at when jewelers showed me diamonds through their microscopes. And contrary to what one reader wrote, Newman doesn't make it sound like every jeweler is out to cheat you. She just helps you know when you've found a good jeweler and a good diamond. This book is worth far more than it costs. Don't go diamond shopping without it.

My fiance and I had searched out jewelery stores and were looking for an engagement ring that was unique. We finally found one, purchased it and started having problems with the jewelery store (the store had ruined my ring 3 times before I demanded a brand new one). I should have read this book before we bought my ring.
The book is written in an outline style, a very easy read. Pictures of actual diamonds and flawed diamonds are pictured in full color, so you know exactly what to look for and what to look out for. Photos of diamond inclusions are described, I always knew that a VS2 diamond had 'inclusions' but 'what' exactly IS an inclusion? Newman has large close-up photos of the inclusions and describes them, and how the inclusions are graded.
Metal selection and comparison is also included as well as short 'chapter quizzes' so you can see if you are up to par with the jewelers that you will soon be dealing with.
All photos of jewelery designs are credited to the designer, so if you see a piece you like, you will be able to locate them easily.
I would reccomend this book to any couple or individual that is thinking of making a diamond purchase, because it is an investment that will last a lifetime.

It's amazing how Newman makes diamond learning so easy and fun. She outlines what to look for when buying all types of diamonds, and gives clear, concise explanations of all the price factors, not just the 4 C's. Then she illustrates her points with lots of helpful photos. You'll learn things about diamonds from this book that you won't find elsewhere.
But this book is more than just a top-notch diamond book. It helps you choose the right ring mounting and setting style for your needs. It gives tips on buying custom-made rings and it has information on gold and platinum that I haven't seen elsewhere.
I've been to a lot of jewelry stores, but none were able to explain diamonds as well as this book. In fact, if you read this book, you'll know more about diamonds than many of the salespeople. You'd be making a big mistake if you bought a diamond without first reading the Diamond Ring Buying Guide. It helped me save a lot of money

The Diamond Ring Guide was a great place to set groundwork for buying the engagement ring. I had done a ton of research on the web but once I got this book it truly made things clear.
It very easily lays out questions you want to ask and things to look for in a diamond. Most importantly it helps you decide what is important to you (and her!).
I especially liked the section about watching out for shadey characters trying to take you- gave some great tips on dealing with sales people.
I brought this book along with me to 7 different jewelers, as all the book reading in the world can only prepare you so much - you have to go see the real thing. Had a few sales people see I meant business when the saw I had the book and cut down on the "BS" factor. More often than not was reffered to the owner or manager.
I feel I got a great deal and a great ring. I know my fiancee loves it and her friends envy the ring and diamond on it. Much credit goes to this book. If you aren't 100% sure what to ask, this will help you out big time!

Just reading this book in one afternoon will put you ahead of most jewelers trying to sell you rings behind a counter. They are sales oriented, and you are quality and consumer oriented - and if you don't know the facts, you'll play right into their hands. Thats why I was so thankful for this book. Renee Newman really knows how to make diamond shopping consumer friendly and while shopping for a diamond for my fiancee, I was amazing just how many salesmen didn't even know the basic information outlined in this book. It is such a huge investment, the engagement ring, and if you really want to be intentional and really make it meaningful, not just a duty get out of the way - take the time to get to know the facts. You'll feel more confident, like I did, and so if you're going to ask her to be yours forever, you're going to need to be well-equipped. Thanks a lot Renee!

I highly recommend it for the first time buyer, though if you have purchased jewelry before like myself, it might depress you when you find out how much you have been gouged in the past. I just used it to buy a loose diamond that appraised at 30 % more than what I bought it for. I am very happy.

This book has in-depth explanations of how to value and identify diamons of high quality and helps you to wade through all of the pitfalls of trying to buy jewelry ANYWHERE, from Macy's to Zales, from the streets of Antwerp to on-line. A must have.

I bought three books about diamonds: "How to Buy a Diamond (5th edition)," by Fred Cuellar; "Diamond Ring Buying Guide (6th edition)," by Renee Newman; and "Diamond: a Journey to the Heart of an Obsession," by Matthew Hart. If you only buy one book, pick "How to Buy a Diamond," by Fred Cuellar. You'll learn almost all you need to know to buy a diamond and not pay thousands of dollars too much. Not only does Cuellar clearly explain the "4 C's" and other aspects of diamonds, he gives practical advice, e.g., buy SI1 clarity, H or I color, and a .99 carat weight rather than 1.01 carats, and your diamond will look fine to everyone and you'll save $$$$. I especially enjoyed Cuellar's chapters on how jewelers scam customers, and his chapter on court cases in which he was an expert witness. These mysteries will keep you turning the pages past your bedtime!

"Diamond Ring Buying Guide" has better photos and more detailed information, but doesn't have the practical advice or entertaining stories of Cuellar's book.

Both books are missing two chapters. First, I'd like to see a chapter about alternatives to diamond rings. E.g., a Celtic engraved ring without a gem can be more beautiful than a plain gold ring with a big diamond (yawn). Or rings with colored gems can look more beautiful than a diamond rings. These books have chapters about cubic zirconia, which Newman snubs and Cuellar, as usual, gives the practical advice "if you can't see the difference, maybe you shouldn't spend the extra money."

The other missing chapter should be about the human rights problems associated with African diamond mines. Some mines are run by warlords using essentially slave labor, with the diamonds traded for weapons. Then there's the DeBeers cartel...and more. After reading Hart's book you'll insist on buying a diamond from a Canadian mine (or buy a gem other than a diamond).

In my Opinion "How to Buy a Diamond" by Fred Cuellar is a much more educational and useful book than this one but this book is a very short read and has great pictures that I felt gave me something that "How to Buy a Diamond" didn't. If you only have time for one book get Fred's book, if you have time for both then get them both.

This book was recommeded by some online diamond buying guide. We studied this book and took it with us to the jewelry store. Even the top diamond salesmen were impressed with this book. It was very helpful and answered many of our questions about the 4 Cs. We wound up getting a gorgeous ring made and at a very fair price.