diamondearringsfaq.com

The difference is probably in the quality of the diamonds. Diamonds are graded according to cut, clarity, color and caret weight. The .50 ct diamonds were probably closer to kitty litter quality than the 1/3 caret. Diamonds that you buy in a popular retail store are not investment grade diamonds, they are for ornamentation only.

If you would like to learn about diamonds, GIA has an on-line tutorial - How to buy a diamond. Check the upper right hand portion of their homepage.

Lots of advice columns say never to buy jewellery new. I would cruise the pawn brokers, and see what they have.

Any diamond under 1 carat has no real value. You might as well buy zirkonium.
As higher you go over 1 carat and as better the four C’s are (cut, carat, clarity, color), as more value you get and keep.
The tiniest inclusion, not visible with the eye and color are the top quality issues.

Before purchasing a diamond, you should expect to review a copy of its certificate as proof that it has undergone an unbiased, professional examination.

A diamond certificate, also called a diamond grading report, diamond dossier®, or diamond quality document, is a report created by a team of gemologists. The diamond is evaluated, measured, and scrutinized using trained eyes, a jeweler’s loupe, a microscope, and other industry tools. A completed certificate includes an analysis of the diamond’s dimensions, clarity, color, polish, symmetry, and other characteristics. Many round diamonds will also include a cut grade on the report.

Every loose diamond should have one by either the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL). These two laboratories are among the most respected laboratories in the diamond industry, and are known for their consistency and unbiased diamond grading systems. Diamonds that are accompanied by these grading reports are the most highly valued in the industry.

So dont think of it as being ripped off, you buy the best you can for what you can afford.

I hardly agree that you should buy any diamond at a pawn shop… they are usually crooks and would do anything for a buck. I agree that any diamond that you purchase should come with a lab report. They can be complicated to read for a novice. Here is a great resource for describing how to read a report and what to look for in a diamond purchase:

There should be a certifiticate look here for some nice earrings