CHOOSING
THE RIGHT DIAMOND

Before you buy a diamond...

Buying a diamond for the first time can be daunting, emotional and definitely one of the most exciting purchases you'll ever make. We want to help you get the most beautiful diamond, for the best value, that will say all the
words you want it to for your special someone.

We've put together some valuable knowledge for you, so you will be ready to make an informed and confident decision.

Read on!

The A. B. "C.C.C.C's" of diamond knowledge – the 4 C's.

The 4 C's are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. These are the four distinguishing characteristics that determine the grade and the price of the diamond.

The cut refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond and can affect the value of the diamond by more than 50% or more.

The color refers to the degree to which a diamond is colorless.

Clarity grading tells you how many natural identifying internal characteristics the diamond has.

Finally, the carat refers to the weight, and therefore the size, of the diamond.

Not all diamond grading reports are created equal!

A diamond is graded based on its color, clarity and cut. But while this may seem pretty straightforward, how each diamond earns its grade isn't as simple.

Panowicz only recognizes and uses the world's most respected grading laboratories, the American Gem Society (AGS) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). AGS and GIA grade diamonds upon the strictest standards of diamond grading. Both groups are non-profit organizations, dedicated to accurate, ethical reporting. G.I.A literally 'wrote the book' on diamond grading and is known the world over as the foremost authority in gemology.

There are many other laboratories, certificates and reports for diamond grading, but they can vary wildly.

If you're better at buying diamonds, you're better at selling them, too.

At Panowicz, we personally hand pick the brightest, the most beautiful and best-valued diamonds for you, our customers, rejecting the rest. We have long-term, personal relationships with many gemstone cutters and suppliers, allowing us to source a vast variety of goods! We are proud to carry the largest selection of diamonds that the South Puget Sound area has to offer.

The true experience of diamond buying stems from the fun that comes along with being able to touch, feel and compare multiple diamonds at one time. When shopping for a diamond you may think "hey this diamond looks pretty nice" when it sits solo, but being able to compare it to another diamond lets you truly see it, and maybe that first diamond doesn't sparkle quite the same as your eye first beheld.

Don't always believe the "sale" price

At every turn, you see advertisements of "sales galore." Everyone loves the idea of getting a bargain and the satisfaction of knowing they got a great deal. Here's the truth; Too often, jewelry stores mark their diamonds up to inflated, unrealistic prices so they can either bring the price down during a sale, or have you negotiate the price down while shopping. We don't bother with all that hoopla, shenanigans and hoop jumping, and you shouldn't have to either.

At Panowicz, you get our best price and a great value every day. That's the way it should be.

Still hungry for more knowledge?

Visit us in store at Panowicz Jewelers or read more on our "Diamond Smarts" page.