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Diamonds:
What are the four C’s?
Carat Weight
Carat Weight is one of the most important considerations with respect to rarity, value, and consumer preference. In fact, Carat Weight, or how much the diamond weighs is the most significant value factor in a diamond. more »
Clarity
Diamonds form naturally deep within the Earth under tremendous pressure and extreme heat, and as a result, most contain internal or external features even in their polished state called clarity characteristic, no two diamonds are alike. more »
Color
Diamonds come in the widest variety of colors of any gem material. Most gem quality diamonds however are desired for their lack of color. In fact, the closer a diamond is too colorless, the more rare and valuable it is. more »
Cut
When the term "cut" is first introduced, most people think of the diamond's shape. However, "cut" refers to the diamond's proportions and finish. Cutting is the contribution made by man transforming the rough diamond crystal into a faceted, polished gem. more »
Where do diamonds come from?
The origin of a diamond starts hundreds of miles below the surface of the earth. Molten rock heats pure carbon under immense pressure and the diamond crystal forms. Over time, volcanic activity pushes the diamond closer to the surface of the earth, usually along with a mineral called kimberlite. Kimberlite deposits form in vast pipes beneath the ground and stretch to the surface where they are noticeable by the bluish hue they give to the ground. It is these kimberlite pipes that diamond miners look for when searching for diamond deposits.
Originally, diamonds were only mined from primary and secondary deposits - those that are at or just below the surface of the earth. The largest of these deposits were found in southern India about the 9th century BCE, and for centuries India remained the world’s primary source of diamonds. This changed in the 18th century with the discovery of large diamond deposits in Brazil in 1725. Over a century later diamonds were discovered in South Africa, and so began the leadership of South Africa in the diamond trade.
Today diamond mines are found throughout the world. The current leading nations in diamond production are still found in Africa, but other nations are beginning to produce diamonds in the volume in which African nations have been operating for the past century and a half. Three of the world's leading diamond producing countries are in Africa: Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The non-African leaders in diamond production include Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, Russia, and Australia.
Are your diamonds “blood” or “conflict” diamonds?
We do not carry blood diamonds nor do we support blood diamonds. We are a member of Stop Blood Diamonds and a portion of our sales are donated to Hands For Africa.
How do I know that your diamonds are conflict-free?
Liberty Diamonds is committed to trading in only conflict-free diamonds that have been properly certified by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and have been purchased from legitimate sources.
It is our strict policy not to engage in business transactions with any company or individual where any possibility exists of diamonds origins not conforming to the current US laws on conflict diamonds.
What is the Kimberley Process?
The World Diamond Council was formed in 2000 to help stop the trade of conflict diamonds. Governments as well as nongovernmental organizations have adopted the Kimberley Process to police trade lines and aide in banning the sale of conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process, which came into operation on January 1, 2003, is a system to ensure every rough diamond crossing the border is certified conflict free by a strict system of forgery-resistant documents and serial numbers. This process has helped make more than 99% of all diamonds traded in the industry conflict free.
What is the importance of a diamond certificate?
A diamond certificate assures all customers of a diamond’s value and quality. The report you receive includes a detailed listing of the key characteristics of each diamond, which includes the 4C's and makes it almost impossible to falsify. The certificate symbolizes the credibility of the stone under consideration.
Do you provide gemological certificates for your diamonds?
Yes we do provide gemological certificates but not for all products. The only products that do come with certificates are the loose diamonds. The lab that issues the gemological certificate will be indicated when you are placing your order.
Is there a difference in diamond certificate grading laboratories?
The standard in the industry is GIA and for accuracy AGS is on par with GIA and than we got EGL which tends to be inconsistent as it competes against the two previously mentioned. Always try to compare EGL next to GIA certified diamonds so you understand and see why it’s cheaper. As a diamond seller it never made sense why so many people will not consider a GIA graded “J” color though will consider an “H” with the EGL certificate. As the same diamond graded by both labs will produce inconsistent results, one making it more saleable to the unexpected shopper than the other. Not to mention the many in house certs that are anagrams of the popular certificates to confuse people like "AIG", and "EGL Intl" (no affiliation with EGL USA) and appraisals from gemologist that are not reputable or adhere to any guidelines or regulations. What was your experience when comparing certs?
Ordering:
Can I order through your website?
Yes. We have a fully functional secure checkout process that you can use to purchase any of our loose diamonds, engagement rings or fine jewelry.
What type of payments do you accept for online orders?
Liberty Diamonds accepts all major credit cards, wire transfer and paypal.
Is shopping with Liberty Diamonds Secure?
At Liberty Diamonds, complete security for customer transactions is our primary concern. All information provided by you is securely transmitted to us using Go Daddy SSL security, a standard method accepted in the industry for your payment gateway. You can click our Go Daddy Certificate at the bottom of the page to view this independent 3rd party's verification that our site is indeed secure. When you purchase from us we are very confident that you will be extremely pleased with your diamonds or jewelry. In case of any doubt about the product you receive, we offer a 30-Day money back guarantee and 30-day Exchange Policy. Click Here to read all of the details about our Return & Exchange Policy.
I am a little skeptical about making a large purchase over the internet. Is there anything you can tell me that will reassure me it is safe shopping on an online jewelry store?
We at Libertydiamonds.com understand your apprehension. Anyone who conducts business on the internet should be very concerned with internet fraud. Libertydiamonds.com is a verifiable U.S. company, which has been conducting business from Irvine, CA since 1982. We are members in good standing of the Better Business Bureau and have a 5-star rating on yelp.com. Although we have an online store, we have a physical location that you are welcome to visit and we invite you our your friends to come visit us at our store located in the Skypark Circle in Irvine, CA or feel free to schedule an appointment at our Los Angeles, CA office anytime.
Why are your prices so low?
We have access to the largest selection of high quality diamonds from wholesalers all over the country and we deliver these savings direct to you, our customer.
Are online items available for viewing?
Select are items are available for viewing. It is best to send us a message with the item# to find out if it is available for viewing. You could also call us directly at 866-LDC-6789
Where do you ship?
We ship to all addresses within the United States and APO/FPO addresses
Do you ship internationally?
Not currently but stay tuned for that in the near future. In the meantime, we ship to addresses within the United States.
What if I need help placing an order?
If you would like any assistance placing your order, please us call toll free at 866-LDC-6789 or request a live chat on the link at the left side of the page between the hours of 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (PST), Monday through Friday.
Can I ship to an address other than my billing address?
Currently we do not ship to alternate shipping addresses to avoid fraudulent transactions.
What if I need an item sooner than the date listed on the website?
Rush orders are available. Please call our Irvine location at 866-LDC-6789
What is your return policy?
To ensure you have enough time to consider your purchase, Liberty Diamonds offers a 30-day Return and Exchange policy. Click Here to learn more about our Return and Exchange Guarantee.
Will my personal information be shared with any third parties?
No. We do not share our customer’s information with any other companies and promise to keep your information private and confidential at all times.
What are your store hours, and how can I contact you?
We have two locations, one by appointment only and the other is listed on our Contact Us Page. You could also contact us through the Contact Us page as well as get directions to our store.
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