Does Macy’s Sell Real Diamonds? (Are They Fake or Not)

Lindsey, do you know if Macy’s sells real diamonds, or are they GIA certified? This is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

Macy’s has a large jewelry department. One walk through it and you’ll find yourself dazzled by all the pretty shiny things with diamonds. But are any of those diamonds real?

Macy’s sells real diamonds in store and online. Not all of their diamond options are certified, nor are they top tier. Though Macy’s has a wide selection, that’s only if you shop online. There are far less options to choose from in-store. 

In this article, we’re looking into the diamonds sold at Macy’s. We’ll tell you what you should know before you buy one and how to find the diamond right for you.

Keep reading to find out more about the diamonds at Macy’s.

Does Macy’s Sell Real Diamonds?

Macy’s has plenty of real diamonds to offer. They offer both certified and uncertified diamonds in many of their stores.

They also sell fake diamonds and other gemstones, but it’s usually quite obvious which are the fake ones.

The diamonds kept in the glass jewelry counters are real. Most of them, if not all though, are lab-grown, not natural. 

Read also >> Are Macy’s Diamonds Certified? (Ring Review, GIA + More)

Natural vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds

So, you may have wondered what the difference is between natural and lab-grown diamonds. Natural diamonds are formed in the Earth’s crust in a few parts of the world over the course of billions of years.

Lab-grown diamonds are created in special laboratories and take only about 6 to 10 weeks to grow. They’re formed from the same material that natural diamonds are made of but are man-made.

Lab-grown diamonds are graded on the same properties. They are typically less expensive but are valued based on their grades just like natural diamonds.

What Are Diamonds Graded On?

You may have heard of the 4 Cs with regard to diamonds. These are the factors that diamonds are graded on regardless of whether their natural or lab-grown. 

The 4 Cs are–clarity, color, cut, and carat. Look below for a description of each factor.

• Clarity – The clarity indicates how many inclusions the diamond has. Inclusions are flaws inside the stone. Clarity is described as FL, IF, VVS, VS, SI, or I. FL is the clearest. It means there are no visual inclusions even at 10x magnification. I is the worst grade.
• Color – The color of a diamond is descriptive of the way it looks. It may be tinged with yellow, brown, or something else. Most people want a diamond that lacks color. The scale goes from D to Z, with D being the nearest to colorless.
• Cut – Cut is very important. It’s what determines how much light gets into the stone to create the sparkle. The cut should be symmetrical and show precision from a skilled diamond cutter. Cut is described by brightness, fire, and scintillation.
• Carat – The carat is the weight of the diamond. This is what describes the size. The larger the diamond carat is, the larger the stone. Price typically increases as the carat goes up.

Are Macy’s Diamonds GIA Certified?

Macy’s sells a lot of certified real diamonds. Some are GIA certified while others are certified with the IGI. In terms of reputation, GIA is the better certification.

GIA stands for Gemological Institute of America. The organization has been around since 1931. It is the most trusted gemstone rating institution in the world.

The IGI has a similar mission but without the same reputation, the GIA has. IGI stands for International Gemological Institute.

They grade on much the same things as the GIA, however, their grades are thought of as less consistent and less valuable.

Read also >> Where to Buy GIA Certified Diamonds (11 Best Places)

Read also >> How Long Does GIA Certification Take? (Here Is What To Do)

Is a Macy’s Diamond a Good Buy?

Macy’s runs a lot of sales on items from all departments. Jewelry is no exception. You’re bound to find something on sale at the Macy’s jewelry counter no matter when you visit the store. 

Here’s the thing you should know. Sales aren’t always what they seem to be. When you look at the regular price, it’s sure to be well above the sale price. But that’s not what you need to look at. 

Some Macy’s sale prices do make for good deals. When you find a diamond on sale, don’t decide to buy it just because it’s priced so far under the regular price.

Do a little research first. Look up what the market price is for the piece you’re considering. If it’s still priced below the market average, then you know its a good deal.

How Do You Know If a Diamond Is Real?

You can test a diamond to see if it’s real by dropping it in a cup of water. Diamonds are dense. They do not float. A real diamond should drop to the bottom of the glass. If your stone floats, it’s fake.

One test, that’s not quite as reliable but works fairly well, is the fog test. Just like you would huff breath on a mirror or lense to fog it up, you can try that with your diamond. 

If you breathe on your stone and the fog instantly disappears, it’s more likely real. If the fog sticks around for a few seconds, it’s likely fake.

The condensation that creates the fog doesn’t stick to a real diamond the way it would to a fake one.

You can also look for inclusions or flaws in your stone. Nearly all diamonds, natural or lab-grown, have flaws.

If you look at your stone under a magnifying class or microscope and you can’t find any inclusions, it’s probably a fake. 

Read also >> Do Real Diamonds Shine? (All You Need To Know)

Read also >> Do Diamonds Shine In The Dark? (Real, Fake, VVS + More)

How Much Do Macy’s Diamonds Cost?

Macy’s sells real diamonds for a broad range of prices. Smaller diamonds cost less than large ones. Also, jewelry that has many diamonds that equal a higher carat weight in total costs more than pieces with less.

Macy’s diamonds sell from just a couple hundred dollars up to tens of thousands of dollars. GIA certified diamonds typically cost the most.

Also, while most of Macy’s diamonds are lab-grown, the natural diamonds they offer cost more than those grown in laboratories.

Read also >> How Much Is a 1 Carat Uncut Diamond Worth?  

Read also > > Irradiated Blue Diamonds Price (Current Price Chart)

Can You Return Diamonds to Macy’s?

Macy’s does accept returns for diamonds. You should always save your receipt, especially for something as valuable as diamonds.

You can return items within 60 days of the purchase date if you have proof of purchase. 

Make sure you return the jewelry with any packaging it came with. It should also be in the same condition as when you originally purchased it. 

Are Macy’s Diamonds Conflict Free?

Macy’s only sells diamonds that are reliably sourced. Their diamonds meet all requirements under United Nations’ World Diamond Council Kimberley Process to be rated as reliably sourced, as well as conflict free. 

Where Is the Best Place to Buy Diamonds?

The best place to purchase diamonds is somewhere you trust. Macy’s customers should feel good about the jewelry and gemstones they buy from this company.

You should try to stick to reputable retailers and jewelers that you know something about. Don’t purchase diamonds from anyone or any store you know nothing about.

Where Can You Buy Loose Diamonds?

Generally, you have to find certain jewelers that sell loose diamonds. It used to be that most jewelers kept a decent inventory of loose stones in their shops. It’s not the same today.

There aren’t nearly as many jewelers that keep loose stones in-store. You’ll likely have to design your jewelry with a stone or stones on order if you’re looking to customize a piece.

Final Thoughts

Macy’s does sell real diamonds. Most of the stones are lab-grown. Some come with authenticity certificates, while others do not. 

Be aware that diamonds on sale at Macy’s aren’t always as good of a deal as you may think. Always check the sale price against the market average for the level and size of the diamond you’re considering.

You can get a good deal, but diamonds should be bought thoughtfully.

References

https://www.theknot.com/content/how-to-tell-diamond-real-home-tests