)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Diamond Education
Buying a diamond can be overwhelming at times. Learning about diamond basics, such as the 4Cs, will give you more confidence in making your purchase. Rest assured, we're always here to help.
How to Buy a Diamond
Whether you purchase a diamond through us or elsewhere, we genuinely think that everyone should make an educated and informed decision. With a diamond being a lifelong purchase, we want you to be informed.
Find a Reputable Jeweler
Buying a diamond is one of the most significant purchases you will make in a lifetime. Starting with a trustworthy and reputable jeweler is the first step to ensuring that you're getting a quality experience and product.
Compare Similar Diamonds
Once you have a general idea of size and shape, it's best to compare a similar range of diamonds. Many factors play a role in a how a diamond appears so it's best to see how each diamond looks & sparkles with your own eye.
Know What You're Getting
It's important to ensure your diamond comes with an official diamond grading report, especially one with stringent standards like GIA or AGS. More than just an outline of the 4Cs, this document is proof of what you're buying.
The 4Cs of Diamonds
A basic understanding of the 4Cs can help you understand how a diamond's value is determined:
1. Cut
Perhaps the most crucial of the 4Cs, cut is the only human contribution to a diamond’s beauty. A well-cut diamond will have more sparkle and brilliance.
2. Color
A diamond’s color actually refers to its lack of color. Diamond color is graded on a D-to-Z scale, with D meaning no detectable color and Z meaning light color.
3. Clarity
Clarity refers to the inclusions and blemishes that occur naturally in a diamond. Graded on a scale from Flawless to Included, diamonds are graded by their lack of inclusions.
4. Carat
Carat refers to a diamond’s weight. Generally, the higher the carat weight, the larger a diamond appears.
We Hand-Select Each & Every Diamond
At Murphy Jewelers, we personally hand-select each & every diamond before it’s allowed in our stores so
you can start your search confidently and choose only from the best. That’s what we call peace of mind from shopping at a 110 year old family business.
Why We Don’t Sell Our Diamonds Online
We never buy a diamond without seeing it with our own eyes first, and neither should you. As thorough as a diamond grading report can be, it doesn't tell the whole story and there is no substitute for seeing a diamond in person. For instance, two diamonds with the same color and clarity can look different in person and vary substantially in price. It takes a trained expert to help decipher the complexities of a diamond. As a family jeweler, we strongly believe that you should know what you're buying and our team is ready to help.
Natural vs. Lab-Grown
A popular topic in today's jewelry world, here are some key questions between natural and lab-grown diamonds to help you make an informed diamond shopping decision.
What are natural diamonds?
Natural diamonds originated billions of years ago underneath the Earth's surface when carbon crystallized under extreme heat and pressure. They remained there for millions of years until volcanic activity blasted them upwards towards the surface.
What are lab-grown diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are made by humans in a laboratory or factory using machinery and sometimes chemicals to force carbon to crystallize. Although appearing the same to the naked eye, we can easily distinguish between the two using a proper tester.
Do you sell both types of diamonds?
At Murphy Jewelers, we only sell natural diamonds because we believe in selling something of value to you. It's our belief that lab-grown diamonds appear to be a volatile market, with prices of lab-grown diamonds falling by more than 70% between 2016-2022. Conversely, natural diamonds have appreciated in value by 3% on average for the past 35 years making them a trustworthy purchase and investment, in our opinion.
Ready to Propose?
After 110 years, helping couples get engaged is still our favorite thing to do.
Diamond FAQs
What are the 4Cs of a diamond?
The 4Cs are cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.
What is a diamond certification?
Also known as a diamond grading report, a diamond's certification comes from an independent lab (such as GIA or AGS) that offers a non-biased report on the diamond's unique characteristics, such as the 4Cs.
Are Murphy Jewelers diamonds certified?
Yes, all new diamonds purchased at Murphy Jewelers come with a certified diamond grading report. Not all grading reports are created equal though, as some can be loose in their grading, so we work only with the strictest labs, most notably GIA and AGS.
How do I choose a diamond budget?
Forget the 3 months salary rule. We believe that you have to do what is best for you and your future family. Right now, the average engagement ring (diamond + ring mounting) in America costs $6,000, which might give you a rough starting off point. Next, it’s all about establishing what is important to you, whether that’s size, quality, etc. Once you know what’s important to you, we’re confident that we have a large selection to find exactly what you’ll love in a price that’s well within your comfort zone.
Visit a Store
We have three stores in Pennsylvania with trained and trustworthy diamond experts ready to help:
Hamburg
16 Jetson Drive, Hamburg, PA 19526
Pottsville
115 W. Market Street, Pottsville, PA 17901
Lehigh Valley Mall
948 Lehigh Valley Lifestyle Center, Whitehall, PA 18052