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Diamonds may not be as rare as you think

Posted at 5:24 PM, Feb 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-10 18:45:42-05

Trying to find the right engagement ring for your special someone can be daunting. Add the fact that diamonds are now being mass produced in laboratories, and the fear of not getting the best bang for your back adds to the overwhelming search.

The good news is that you can save yourself a lot of trouble with just a little bit of education.

What’s trending now?

The biggest trend changing the industry is customization. More jewelers are beginning to give their customers free reign in order to find the right ring by designing and manufacturing it themselves.

Visionary Jewelers in Overland Park is one of those places.

"This is the one piece of jewelry they're going to have for the rest of their lives and they don't typically want what everyone else has,” said Jeff Weidenmann, gemologist and co-owner of the store located at 135th and Metcalf.

Production can take two weeks. Rendering can take two to six, depending on how committed the shopper is during the process. Prices also stay competitive, according to Weidenmann.

What you should know about diamonds

No. 1 - that they are now being easily mass produced synthetically in labs.

The technology has been available for decades, but now the process is so perfect only a very expensive machine can tell the difference between a real diamond and a synthetic one.

A trusted jeweler should not only be upfront about what kind of diamond you’re looking at but also be able to show you the official grading report that comes with it.

Typically, "You can purchase a round, one-carat diamond for $1,500 or $15,000 and anywhere in between, depending on the quality of the stone,” said Candy Lyles, gemologist and co-owner of Visionary Jewelers.

Lab diamonds typically cost about 30 percent less than a natural one.

Diamonds aren’t the only girls’ best friend

There’s also moissanite, a lesser known precious gem that is gaining in popularity.

Can you tell which engagement ring is a diamond and which is moissanite?

It’s tough, but when looking under a loop (a magnifying glass your jeweler should have) a trained eye should be able to see inclusions, or “birthmarks” in a diamond which a cubic zirconia (CZ) or a moissanite won’t have. A CZ will also have flashes of orange and more rounded facets while not having the crisp look of a diamond.

Moissanites are becoming more popular because they won’t wear down as easily as a CZ but also look very similar to a diamond.

Typically, if the cut is the same size and quality, a CZ can go for $50, moissanite toward $500 and a diamond anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000.

Note: In the photo above, the oval ring on the right is moissanite.

Where’s the love for sapphires?!

Something else you may not know - some natural sapphires can be more rare than natural diamonds, yet cost less.

What’s more valuable is a sapphire that hasn’t been heat-treated. About 95 percent of the precious gems are heat-treated on-site at the mine in order to bring out the color.

What should you buy?

Whatever is in your budget! But if you want the best gem for your money, always look for solid color, clarity and spark that comes out of the diamond - and of course, a most trusted source.

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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com.

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