Customers Ask: Where Do Jewelers Get Their Diamonds?

I get this question a lot from customers, especially those who are in the market for a diamond engagement ring. These days, you have many options for purchasing diamonds. You can shop at independent and chain jewelry stores, as well as Warehouse clubs like Costco, and department stores. You can even buy diamonds from online diamond suppliers.

But where do diamonds come from? And how do jewelers get their diamonds? Maybe I should refine the question to where I, an independent jeweler, get my diamonds. Working with an independent jeweler with your diamond purchase offers you a lot of choice in terms of where you get your diamond.

There’s an incredible journey behind each diamond. Here’s a snapshot of the supply chain of a typical diamond that is newly mined: after the diamond is mined, it’s sent to a cutting house, where it’s cut. Diamonds don’t come out of the ground with all of those beautiful facets! There are cutting houses around the world, but the most notable are in Belgium, India, and Israel.

After the diamond is cut, a diamond dealer will sell the stones directly to jewelers. Sometimes I attend a trade show and buy diamonds from dealers who have booths where there are many diamonds on display to choose from. (So much sparkle!) I try to stock up on beautiful diamonds that I think customers might like. Round diamonds are always popular, but in the past ten years, princess cut (square) diamonds have seen increased popularity.  More recently, oval shaped diamonds and cushion-cut diamonds are in high demand.

Does your Jeweler Sell Conflict-Free Diamonds?

Regardless of the cut or price I always ensure every diamond I purchase is conflict-free. Most reputable jewelers can tell you the diamond’s history and guarantee that it’s ethically sourced, conflict-free. In 2003, the Clean Diamond Trade Act was passed to ensure the U.S. participate in the Kimberley Process. The Kimberley Process is a system designed to preventing conflict diamonds (also know as blood diamonds) from enter the diamond supply chain. Every rough diamond must be accompanied by a government-issued certificate. We strictly adhere to these requirements and only supply diamonds with proper certification.

Your Jeweler Can Order Any Size or Shaped Diamond

I have a lot of loose diamonds on hand that I can show customers, but sometimes I meet a customer who wants a diamond that I don’t have. How do I get my diamond then? I simply phone my diamond dealer and ask if they have anything that meets the requirements. Then they ship the diamonds overnight to me and I present the stones to the customer so they choose what they like. Because I specialize in custom design, sometimes this process goes back and forth a few times.

And that’s okay. You should never feel pressured to make a purchase. At Caesar’s, you can take as long as you like to choose exactly what you want because I want you to be 100% in love with your jewelry.

Repurpose Your Diamonds

What if you don’t want a new diamond? Some customers are interested in finding out: where do jewelers get their diamonds from if a you want a repurposed stone?

Some people want a vintage, repurposed, or estate diamonds. If that’s the case, then a jeweler can buy vintage or repurposed diamonds from diamond dealers who specialize in estate jewelry. I usually purchase loose repurposed diamonds, but sometimes I come across a stunning estate ring that I can’t pass up and so I buy the entire ring. I don’t necessarily have a customer for the ring, but who knows? Somebody might walk in tomorrow looking for a vintage diamond ring, and that ring might be the thing for them.

It all depends on what you want. That’s why working with an independent jeweler, like Caesar’s Designs, can be beneficial. You have the choose of new or vintage diamonds for a ready-made piece, an estate piece, or something custom that you design yourself. You can take your time to find just the right diamond for your taste and your budget.

This is the part of a series of posts answering common jeweler questions. Please continue to ask questions like: Where Do Jewelers Get Their Diamonds?