6 Diamond Myths

1. A diamond is an investment.

Yes a diamond can be an investment. Get a high quality, 3ct + diamond and yes the price will go up (or at least more or less keep up with inflation). However most people for their engagement ring or regular jewellery get diamonds much smaller than this.

The truth is these diamonds are not really that rare and therefore the likelihood of the value going up is quite low. Also consider this, for your diamond to be valuable you must be able to re-sell it. Have you ever heard of the second hand diamond market? No…because most people don’t want to buy a second hand diamond. Also something is only an investment if you plan on selling it a later date.

Our Advice – Purchase your jewellery based on what you can afford, don’t be pressured into spending more because you think its an investment. At Ahimsa London we are open and honest about the truth. You buy our jewellery because you will enjoy it, because it is luxurious and glamorous. Not because you plan to resell it later on.

2. A certified diamond is an ethical one.

A Kimberley certified diamond means that your diamond has not come from a conflict zone. However, this does not mean it is ethical. For example, a diamond from a Zimbabwean mine will be Kimberley certified, but Zimbabwean mine owners are notorious for human rights violations, slavery and child labour. Children as young as 5 are forced to work in these mines, women are kept as sexual slaves to be used by the mine owners, the whole industry can be pretty horrific.

Another issue is traceability, diamonds from conflict zones are often mixed non conflict diamonds before they are certified and therefore knowing the exact origin is near on impossible.

Our Advice – Diamonds made in a Lab are often sold as mined diamonds by unscrupulous dealers, however mined diamonds are never sold as lab made ones, as mined diamonds are more expensive. The only way to guarantee conflict and cruelty free diamond is to buy a lab made one.

3. Lab Made / Man Made Diamonds are fake.

Lab made diamonds are chemically and physically exactly the same and mined diamonds.

It’s like comparing the ice in your freezer to ice formed on a mountain. One is formed by nature and one is formed by technology. You would not say the ice from the freezer is fake or not real would you?

However there are many man made stones that are not ‘diamonds’ and should never be called diamonds. Cubic zirconia, mozzinate and hybrid stones are not diamonds. None of these stones have a pure carbon structure that is found in diamonds. They are often referred to as imitation diamonds, diamond simulants

Our Advice – If you want a real diamond which is made in a lab, make sure you use a reputable company, based in the UK. Double check the terminology and be extra vigilant when looking at stones. If you are unsure, always ask! If you are buying anything more than 0.5ct make sure it comes with a certificate from a reputable lab. All diamonds sold by Ahimsa London are 100% pure carbon lab grown diamonds and all stones over 0.5ct come with certification included.

4. You should spend 2-3 months salary on an engagement ring.

This is a very common myth which originated from an ad campaign by the diamond industry to convince males to save a month’s salary back in the days of the great American depression. Since then it has inflated to 2-3 months salary. This was aimed at a time when men predominantly worked and women were homemakers and an engagement ring was seen as an indicator of earning potential. Thankfully times have now changed, women are as much a part of the workforce as men, so our thinking regarding this needs to change.

Here at Ahimsa we believe you should only spend what you are happy to spend. This can be different for everyone. You may have debts, dependants, contractual job with no steady income etc.

We do not want our customers to be straddled with debt just before they start their new lives together, or have to dig so deep into their savings that they are left vulnerable.

Our advice: Keep a budget that you are comfortable with, there are no rules here. Speak to your partner if possible. You are about to start a life together, so this is a decision you can make together.

5. The ring has to be a surprise.

Engagement rings are costly, are you sure you know what she likes? You are about to spend a considerable amount of money. Making a mistake could mean your partner wears a ring they do not really like or they never wear it. You may end up getting a new design which again is an extra cost. Or in the worst case scenario they say NO because of the ring!!! (I joke…I hope!).

It is recommended that you at least have an idea of the sort of designs and styles that are liked by your partner. If you are passing a jewellery shop you can always bring up a casual conversation of rings.

Our Advice – For your proposal use a replica /cheaper ring (normally you can get one for around £30), then afterwards shop together for that perfect ring. This has become very common nowadays.

Ahimsa London are always happy to help. We offer many services to find the perfect ring from bespoke designing to separate consultations so an element of surprise is still there.

6. Buying Diamonds online is not wise.

This is just not true. Yes there is a risk to buying anything online, but these can be minimised if you follow some basic guidance. In the UK we have some of the strongest consumer laws and actually you have MORE rights shopping online than compared to shopping in store.

This is why it is important to buy from UK registered companies. It is much harder to take action against a company outside the UK. You may also have to pay VAT and Duty on top of the purchase price if it comes from outside the EU.

Most websites are now all secure so your personal details are generally safe and banks by law have to protect you against identity theft.

Our Advice – Follow these simple rules.

Ensure that you only buy from UK registered companies.
A UK registered company will display their company name and number clearly on their website. These details can be checked on companies house.

Ensure the website is secure
– a must for all online shopping. If it’s not secure then don’t enter any of your details. You can normally tell it’s secure as your internet browser will display a lock if it is. You will also get a warning if the website is not secure.

Look for reviews of the website/company
outside of their own website. A reputable company will have reviews on third party websites like Google & Trustpilot.

Give them a call
. A genuine company will be happy to answer as many questions as you have. It is also easy to spot a company pretending to be in the UK when you speak to them