Diamond Quote Checklist

Use this checklist before you buy a diamond.

A diamond quote can look simple: carat, color, clarity, certification, and price. The truth is that two diamonds with the same headline grades can perform very differently. Before you buy from an online seller, local store, or marketplace, use this checklist to protect your budget.

1. Certificate details

• Is the diamond graded by GIA, IGI, GCAL, or another known lab?
• Do you have the report number, not just a screenshot?
• Does the report match the seller's listing exactly?
• Is the diamond natural, lab-grown, treated, or a simulant?

2. Cut, shape, and measurements

• For round diamonds, check cut grade, polish, symmetry, table, depth, crown angle, and pavilion angle.
• For oval, pear, marquise, emerald, radiant, cushion, and asscher cuts, check measurements, ratio, depth, table, bow-tie, windowing, and face-up size.
• Do not judge only by carat weight. Millimeter dimensions decide how large the stone actually looks.

3. Clarity and durability

• Ask where the inclusions are located, not only the clarity grade.
• Be careful with chips, cavities, surface-reaching feathers, knots, heavy clouds, or inclusions near corners and points.
• For step cuts like emerald and asscher, clarity is easier to see than in many brilliant cuts.

4. Color, fluorescence, and setting match

• Color tolerance changes by shape, metal color, and personal preference.
• Yellow gold can be more forgiving than white gold or platinum.
• Fluorescence is not always bad, but it should be reviewed with the full diamond details.

5. Price and total ring cost

• Ask for the diamond price and setting price separately.
• Confirm what is included: certification, setting labor, resizing, appraisal, shipping, insurance, warranty, and timeline.
• Compare similar certified stones, not only the cheapest listing.

What to send Palermo Havana

• The diamond link or seller quote.
• The GIA, IGI, or other certificate number.
• Photos, videos, screenshots, or 360 links.
• Your preferred shape, budget, ring style, and timeline.

Want a second opinion? Send the quote for a free diamond quote review, or book a free ring consultation.

Palermo Havana & Co. helps you compare diamonds with private-jeweler guidance, certified diamond knowledge, and a made-to-order ring path built around your actual budget.