A loose diamond is a diamond that is available to buy alone, i.e. without a setting. Loose diamonds are most commonly purchased to be set into an engagement ring or other diamond jewelry, however, there are also people who choose to buy loose diamonds simply for investment purposes.

The old-school, brick-and-mortar process of buying a pre-set engagement ring has the advantage of offering immediate gratification. This perk is far outweighed by the benefits of buying loose diamonds. 

First-time buyers may feel that buying a loose diamond means more work – this is not true. Good vendors selling loose diamonds ensure that the process is straightforward. From choosing the diamond to mounting it in the setting and arriving safely at your door, the best companies will offer support at every step of the journey (without the pushy sales patter). These simple steps are all you need to successfully shop for loose diamonds. 

Loose diamonds aren’t necessarily cheaper than their mounted equivalent, however, they have the advantage of offering buyers a ‘complete view’ – no inclusions hidden by prongs or color concealment against a setting. Buying a loose diamond online will be considerably cheaper than buying from a store.

Diamond prices and personal budgets are going to be the greatest influences on your search. No compromises, no nasty surprises – buying loose diamonds online offers complete clarity and gives you total control over your budget. 

People often ask the price of 1ct loose diamonds, for example, but whether the diamond is loose or in a setting, every quality characteristic will influence the price. Where possible, diamonds should be assessed on a stone-to-stone basis. You can also use our diamond price charts and calculators to get a better idea of how to set your budget.

Before we get onto the ‘how’ you may first consider the benefits of buying a loose diamond.

Quality: Buying a loose diamond allows you to closely analyze the color, clarity, and cut of the stone. Settings can be used to mask color and hide inclusions and while this may be beneficial, it is essential that you are not overlooking inclusions that compromise durability. There may also come a time that you wish to re-set your diamond and the lower color and clarity grades will present themselves. We provide laboratory certificates and high-res diamond images and 360 HD video for all of our in-house diamonds, so you can know everything you need to know about your diamond before it is placed in a setting.

Budget: You can use our filter tools to search for loose diamonds with specific qualities. Not only does this allow you to refine your diamond in terms of appearance, but it also allows you to work precisely within your budget, taking the time to balance quality and price to find the diamond of your dreams. Staying within a comfortable budget is one key to having a brilliant diamond buying experience.

Designer Settings: Buying a loose diamond allows you huge flexibility when it comes to choosing a setting. Our collection of superb quality designer engagement rings offers exceptional craftsmanship and unique styling to pair perfectly with a diamond of your own choosing.

Selection: Our unique inventory of diamonds offers a greater selection than a traditional brick-and-mortar experience.

Ready to begin? Why not browse our full inventory of loose diamonds? Your diamond journey starts here.

If you are shopping online and see loose diamonds for sale, the first question you must ask yourself is whether the diamonds are certified. All of our diamonds carry GIA or AGS certification; as the world’s leading gem labs, their grades are accurate and consistent – settle for nothing less. For customers interested in obtaining in-depth information related to the cut quality and light performance of their diamond, the AGSL report provides a far better analysis.

Providing the diamond is certified, your next step is applying The Four C’s. This is where personal preference and budget will come into play, but here is our advice for conducting your search.

There are a plethora of benefits to buying loose diamonds online and it will almost always be the cheapest option. At James Allen you can inspect your diamond with a diamond and jewelry expert in real time, allowing them to help you make the best choice.

Purchasing a loose diamond versus a complete ring can save you money and allow you to select the quality you want, such as color, clarity, cut, and more. Natural diamonds are timeless and can be an excellent investment, and it is essential to know and verify the quality you are receiving.

I'm sure lots of questions come to mind when thinking about purchasing a loose diamond - How am going to wear it? Or how am going to propose with it?

Well, firstly - the loose stone is easier to inspect than a pre-set diamond. Moreover, if you choose the loose diamond, you can then create a unique and custom setting for your ring.

RJ Gems and Jewel's sells loose diamonds through one of our retail stores located in Surat(India). This website (rjgemsandjewels.com) only sells "complete" engagement rings online. A "complete" engagement ring combines a loose center diamond set in one of our designer mountings.