Getting engaged is one of the most important times of your life, besides your actual wedding date. While the love between two people is what matters most, the engagement ring is very significant with many meanings. Perhaps it is a family heirloom, passed down through generations of your family. Maybe the ring is something you’ve been carefully saving for, hoping to purchase the ring of your partner’s dreams. Regardless, it is a symbol of never-ending love.

An engagement ring is a love letter. They’re not known to be great investments. They’re often chosen with much emotion and the resale market can be tough. Of course, most people see an engagement thing as a “forever” purchase. They don’t think about the resale value, but they should. A high-quality ring can be passed down in a family for generations if kept in good condition. And while we hope it never happens, engagements can fall apart and most engagement rings are not returnable. Instead of fearing the worst, the best thing you can do as a consumer is to make sure you’re spending your money on this investment wisely.

What Do I Need To Know?

Much like the highly emotional purchase of a car, a diamond engagement ring’s value depreciates steeply after the initial purchase. However, if you buy a high-quality engagement ring and it is well-maintained, the ring will keep a relatively consistent value over time.

Most people think that the bigger the engagement ring, the better it is or the more expensive it is. This logic is not true. The quality of the diamond and the band that holds the stone is far more important than how big the ring is. In fact, you can buy a ring with a large stone (2 carats or more) that is very low quality for a relatively inexpensive price. However, that ring will not hold its value over time. Below, we’ll explain why quality trumps quantity and why you need the help of an expert when buying or selling a brand-new or vintage diamond ring.

How to Buy a Ring That Will Keep Its Value

Whether you’ve decided to buy a new or vintage diamond engagement ring for your fiancée, it’s important that you know the quality of the ring that you’re buying.

To ensure quality, you’ll want to buy a GIA certified diamond. There are many institutions out there that rank diamonds, but this certification means more than any other. They have the highest standards and are looked upon very favorably by other jewelers. This is step one in ensuring that if you need to resell this engagement ring it will retain its value.

How Does GIA evaluate a Diamond?

Each certified diamond is rated on the “4 C’s.” These “C’s” are color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. The Gemological Institute of America created this rating standard, and the higher a diamond is in all these categories, the higher quality it is and the more it is worth.

• Carat: The larger the carat number, the bigger the diamond.
• Color: Diamonds that are colorless are the most valuable. The scale goes from D to Z, with D being a colorless diamond with no visible discoloration and Z being a diamond that has shades of yellow or even brown.
• Clarity: While no diamond is perfect, some come close. The clarity scale has 11 grades, with most diamonds falling in the “very slightly included [flaws]” and “slightly included” categories. Perfect is (F) or flawless and has no visible imperfections. An F diamond means high quality, but also high price.
• Cut: The cut of a diamond is what makes it bright, full of sparkle and shine. The cut is rated from excellent to poor. The most common cut is a round brilliant cut diamond with 57-58 facets.

The best quality diamonds will rank highly in all categories. For example, you might find a large diamond with a beautiful cut, but if it has many blemishes or has a yellowish shade, it will have less value than a diamond that ranks more consistently.

Why Buying a Vintage or Antique Ring is a Smart Choice

Vintage engagement rings are stunning. The attention to detail and craftsmanship of a vintage ring cannot be replicated today and ensures that your fiancée is getting a ring that likely no one else will have. Art deco style rings and old mine cut or old European cut stones are stand-outs and you really can only find them in antique rings.

You’ll also get more value for your money. A previously-owned engagement ring will cost you less money up-front and will keep its value even after years of use. However, you must see an expert to ensure the quality and authenticity of the diamond you’re buying. When you visit Atlanta jewelry buyer Verma Jewelry, you’re working with a group that specializes in buying family heirlooms, estate sale jewelry and antique engagement rings.

Where Can You Sell Your Ring to get the Best Return

If you want to get the most money for your engagement ring, take it to an expert engagement ring buyer who specializes in buying pre-owned or vintage jewelry. We have these experts at Verma Jewelry in Atlanta. They will validate the authenticity of your engagement ring in front of you and recognize its true value.

Stay away from pawn stores, flea markets or companies that have no storefronts and ask you to mail your jewelry to them. These places want to make the most money off you and will often offer you about 20% of what your item is truly worth.

Why Selling to An Experienced Buyer of Diamonds Provides The Best Return on Your Investment

A jeweler who has been in the business for years knows the industry and knows the quality of fine jewelry. They can give you the fair market value of your item and they do not have to guess. An experienced, reputable jeweler deals with GIA certified diamonds each day. At first glance, they can see an item of true quality.

They also will follow industry standards in determining the value of your ring. Each piece is carefully inspected, focusing on cut, clarity, color and carat size. Regardless of their interest in buying your ring, this jeweler will tell you what the ring is truly worth.

Verma Jewelry has been a trusted jewelry buyer in Atlanta for more than 30 years and has offices nationwide. The large majority of the jewelry that Verma’s experts inspect for sale come from people who have been referred by former customers. The company operates on a mission to be the number one buyer of fine jewelry in the world. They are highly educated, knowledgeable and most importantly, believe that the customer is number one.

The world of fine jewelry resale is confusing at times. It is often hard to figure out who you can trust with your investment and if you’re being offered a fair price. Verma Jewelry has a strict grading and pricing policy that has been the foundation of the company for three decades. Simply put, you can trust these jewelers.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment to see jewelry we currently have available or would like to schedule a consult for your own jewelry, please give us a call at 404-996-1118.