Diamonds are among the most expensive purchases most of us will ever make in our lifetime, so you definitely want to know that you are getting the quality that you pay for.
If you’re looking around online then you might be wondering, does James Allen have good diamonds?
In this article, we will go into the details and tell you all that you could possibly need to know about the diamonds you can find at James Allen, so you can be sure that you’re getting the real deal.
Table of Contents
What Is James Allen?
Before we get into the specifics of the diamonds they sell and how you can determine their quality, we should take a look at the company itself.
James Allen is one division of the Signet Jewelers group, which is the largest retailer of diamond jewelry in the world. They have many other divisions under that umbrella as well, including H. Samuel, Kay Jewelers, Zales, Goodman Jewelers, Ernest Jones, and more.
One thing that makes James Allen a little unique is the fact that they are almost exclusively an online company, with only two physical stores in the country: one in Washington D.C., and one in New York City, where they also have their head offices.
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What Diamonds Does James Allen Sell?
Although most people buy diamonds once in their lifetime, for an engagement, there are a number of different reasons why you might be shopping around for the world’s most famous precious stones.
At James Allen, they don’t just sell diamonds, in fact, you can buy:
- Engagement Rings
- Wedding Rings
- Loose diamonds
- Fine Jewelry (Earrings, Pendants, Bracelets, etc.)
- Gemstones (Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, etc.)
Are James Allen Diamonds High Quality?
When you’re looking at diamonds, the idea of quality is incredibly important. There are a lot of low-quality stones out there – not to mention the outright fakes that appear on the market.
At James Allen, though, all of their diamonds are evaluated and rated by professionals so that you know the exact quality you are paying for. They also all come with a GIA, AGS, or IGI certification to prove their authenticity.
To give you true peace of mind, James Allen diamonds are lab certified and examined by a gemologist. You can even speak to their G.I.A Graduate Gemologists directly if you have any questions, and they offer a Real-Time Diamond Inspection too.
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What Is A Real-Time Diamond Inspection?
One of the most reassuring services that James Allen offers is their Real-Time Diamond Inspection. It is the first service of its kind in the industry and it really does make all the difference when you’re shopping online.
During the service, their experts will share their screen so that they can:
- Show you the attributes of any diamonds you are looking at
- Use Super Zoom magnification to show the most intricate details
- Answer any questions
- Identify points of interest in the diamond
- Review the specifications and grading certificate with you
If you have any doubts at all about the quality of the diamonds that they sell, this level of inspection and transparency really does put those aside.
What Do GIA, AGS, and IGI Mean?
When you’re not an expert in the diamond trade, it can be hard to know what all of the different terminologies mean.
The GIA, AGA, and IGI acronyms that you will see on the James Allen website are actually referring to three of the most significant and well-respected diamond grading bodies in the industry.
The GIA is the Gemological Institute of America, the AGA is the American Gem Society, and the IGI is the International Gemological Institute.
They are widely known for having the highest possible standards when it comes to diamond grading, and they create reports that detail all of the key characteristics of a diamond.
What Do The “Four Cs” Mean?
You will also see the term “Four Cs” quite often in diamond circles, and this is basically referring to the four main features that are graded.
- Carat (Size)
- Color
- Clarity
- Cut
The cut of a diamond determines how well it reflects light. The better the cut, the more bright and vibrant the reflected light will appear, while poorly-cut diamonds are quite dull and gloomy.
Every diamond on the James Allen website is graded on all four of these features, and they have all been certified by one of the three independent grading organizations.
What Other Features Of Their Diamonds Does James Allen Describe?
It’s not just the Four Cs that James Allen will tell you about when you are shopping, either.
For every single stone, you get a full description of everything you need to know: from symmetry to fluorescence to polish, and of course the specifics of the dimensions as well.
You really do get an absolute wealth of information on each diamond, so you can really tell exactly what you are paying for.
Does James Allen Sell Conflict-Free Diamonds?
For many people, the idea of buying diamonds is complicated by a lot of the negative implications that have encircled the industry for years.
Fortunately, you can now buy diamonds that are completely conflict-free. This means that they were not obtained through any human rights abuses, civil war, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation.
All of the diamonds that James Allen sells are conflict-free, and they even go beyond the government requirements.
They cut and polish many of their diamonds themselves, they only purchase from professional members within the trade, and they have contracts with their suppliers that guarantee they are always conflict-free.
What Is The Difference Between Earth Diamonds And Lab-Created Diamonds?
You can buy both “earth diamonds” and “lab-created diamonds” at James Allen, but what is the difference between them?
Well, earth diamonds are naturally formed and are the traditional choice that many people opt for, but lab-created diamonds are a slightly more recent man-made phenomenon that offers a bit more for your money.
Lab-created diamonds give you up to 30% more size at the same price, and they are identical in terms of their appearance and chemical composition. Even a professional could not tell the difference between the two.
Whether you purchase a lab-created or an earth diamond at James Allen, you will get exactly the same level of detail on its quality and attributes.
How Are Lab-Created Diamonds Made?
To make these diamonds, scientists start with a very small amount of specific chemicals (known as a “diamond seed”).
They then expose this seed to high temperatures and pressures that replicate the process that would naturally occur underground.
Over time, the diamonds will form and grow, much as they would outside of a lab.
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Does James Allen Have Other Colors Of Diamond?
While most diamonds that we’re used to are almost completely colorless, there are many other colors out there.
While the level of visible color on a traditional diamond actually reduces its value, the amount of color on a “fancy color” diamond only increases its worth.
The color generally occurs due to the presence of trace elements while the stone was forming, and they are incredibly varied and beautiful.
At James Allen, you can buy fancy color diamonds in almost any color that you can think of, including yellow, pink, purple, red, blue, green, orange, brown, black, and gray.
Though the colors may be different, the level of quality and grading is just the same on these diamonds as it is for the other stones on the site.
Conclusion
So, does James Allen have good diamonds? They certainly do. You can find some very high-quality stones on their site, and every single one is lab tested and professionally graded by an independent, official body like the GIA, AGA, or the IGI.
You get a lot of detailed information about any diamond that you might consider buying from James Allen, and they even offer a Real-Time Diamond Inspection service to show you exactly what you are paying for.
References
https://www.jamesallen.com/faq/
https://www.gia.edu/fancy-color-diamond-description
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