Hatton Garden-based jeweller gives top tips for investing in diamonds

Tony French, the in-house Diamond Consultant at Diamonds Factory, the UK's leading Hatton Garden jeweller, shares his expert knowledge on the five most important things to look for when investing in diamonds, whether it's an engagement ring, diamond wedding bands or bridal jewellery such as a necklace or pair of earrings.

1 - Use cut, weight and colour to determine value
When investing in diamonds, it's incredibly important to consider the colour, weight, and shape of your diamond, as this can play a huge part in ensuring the growth in value of your purchase. Although trends in investing change over time, a round-cut of your diamond will more often than not always be the most sought after. The cut of your diamond is extremely important, because it can influence the sparkle and therefore, the overall value. The same can be said for the intensity of some colours, such as blue, red, pink and green, etc. Regarding weight, the heavier (bigger) stones will often increase in value by a larger percentage.

2 - Provenance
It goes without saying that owning jewellery or diamonds that come from an important public figure will bring significant value. However, here's the important part, if you can own a piece that has significant history, or was owned by a celebrity or person of interest, it's an absolute must to have proof of this. Not only will this increase an item's overall value, but this will likely gain traction within a field of interest such as fans of that person.

3 - Find the source
Identifying and evaluating the source of the diamond is one of the most important things you can do when investing in diamonds. Try to buy diamonds that have not been owned by too many people. I'd always recommend buying from suppliers like ourselves or other vendors who buy directly from the source who have had them certified. Firstly this will allow you to have a greater amount of transparency, which is crucial when purchasing such a valuable item. Secondly, you should see an immediate increase in value in your diamonds, as establishing a source will enable traceability.

4 - Certification
Ensure that your diamonds are certified by a credible lab, and you have the evidence to prove so (a written document with specific grading details about your diamonds). It's important to remember that not all labs are the same, and many labs are better than others. Proving certification will make your stones easier to insure and, personally, give you peace of mind knowing you have got what you have paid for. Don't forget to keep this paperwork in a safe location.

5 - Be patient
An item is more likely to increase in value over a few years than a few days so I would consider having your jewellery professionally valued regularly.

To shop for big-day jewellery, visit www.diamondsfactory.co.uk or call 020 7138 3672.