Jewelry Buying Guide Diamonds

Jewelry Buying Guide

Diamonds

Diamonds

There is nothing more captivating than the raw beauty of a diamond. This rare and precious gem is one of our most prized and sought-after natural resources. Its transparency, depth, and fiery brilliance make it different than any other gem on earth. As early as the 15th century, diamonds have been offered as a symbol of enduring love and affection. And their timeless allure is the reason they still remain so popular today. Whether it's for an anniversary, a birthday, or just because, there is no more beautiful gift than diamond jewelry.

Costco Diamond Collection

Buying Diamonds at Costco

At Costco, we base our strict standards for diamonds on those set by the renowned Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Each piece of jewelry is thoroughly scrutinized for diamond quality, as well as overall manufacturing and craftsmanship. Costco's team of Gemologists, all of whom have graduated from a GIA program, inspect for diamond color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. When purchasing diamond jewelry from Costco, you can be assured you will receive quality jewelry at an unparalleled value.

We guarantee that all diamonds supplied by Costco Wholesale have a clarity to be "VS2" or better and color to be "I" or better as outlined by the industry standard in the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grading guide. Costco sells diamonds with a cut grade of Good to Excellent.

Although treating diamonds is an accepted practice among many jewelers, Costco only sells natural and untreated diamonds.

Certifications

All diamond jewelry items from Costco come with some type of certification or documentation. Depending on the characteristics of the item, it may come with one or more of the following reports:

Costco Article of Description

When you purchase an article of jewelry with a diamond of less than 1.00ct, you will receive an Article of Description written by one of our Gemologists, with a degree from GIA, detailing your jewelry piece.

GIA Diamond Grading Report

When you purchase an article of jewelry with a 1.00ct center diamond or larger, you will receive a Diamond Grading Report from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) detailing and mapping the diamond.

Jewelry Grading/Gemological Report

When you purchase an article of jewelry with a 1.00ct center diamond or larger, it will also include a Jewelry Grading/Gemological Report describing the jewelry piece. This report will not have a monetary value listed, however, you can contact the company that issued the report and request an insurance appraisal. In this case your Costco purchase price will be documented as the insurance replacement value.

Diamond Quality Standards

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the world's foremost authority on diamonds and gemstones. GIA has established the internationally accepted standard for diamond grading and pricing. Every diamond with a GIA Diamond Grading report has been thoroughly evaluated by no less than four expert gemologists and diamond graders. Their certifications are valued for their accuracy, consistency, and integrity.

Until the middle of the twentieth century, there was no agreed-upon standard by which diamonds could be judged. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created the first, and now globally accepted standard for describing the four essential characteristics of diamonds: Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight. Today, the 4Cs of Diamond Quality is the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world.