Set the purpose, shape and budget
Start with the jewellery design or business requirement, then choose an outline. A round brilliant, elongated oval and step-cut emerald offer different visual patterns. Share a preferred shape and one acceptable alternative if you are flexible. Set a budget with a currency, and say whether it covers the loose stone or the complete jewellery piece. Ask the supplier to state which taxes, delivery and setting costs are included in any quotation.
Compare millimetres as well as carats
Carat measures weight, not visible size. Request length, width and depth in millimetres alongside carat weight, especially when comparing different shapes. An existing setting may have precise fitting requirements: confirm those with the jeweller before choosing a stone. Read the report’s colour, clarity and finish information together, then compare appearance. A larger carat figure alone does not describe a better match for your design.
Check disclosure and the actual report
The quotation and supporting document should identify laboratory-grown origin clearly. Verify the report number with its issuing laboratory and compare the stone’s listed measurements and weight. Ask about any growth-method or treatment information recorded by the issuer. Do not assume that every laboratory or report date uses the same terminology.
Since October 2025, GIA’s qualifying colourless-to-near-colourless laboratory-grown assessment uses Premium or Standard overall descriptions. Older reports and other laboratory formats may differ. Read the document offered for the specific stone; do not translate one issuer’s assessment into another’s grades.
Request a video of the stone being offered
Ask for a clear face-up view and slow movement of the actual stone under identified, ordinary lighting. Compare shortlisted stones with similar exposure and scale. Look at the pattern of light, contrast and any visible characteristics that matter to you. A polished campaign image or shape illustration cannot establish the appearance of a particular diamond. Ask the supplier to identify which stone each video represents.
Write a brief that can be quoted
Include your preferred shape, carat range, target measurements, budget and currency, quantity, report preference, destination and required date. Add any setting constraints and the details you can compromise on. Request the current availability, stone-specific documentation, itemised quotation, payment terms and applicable return conditions in writing. A requested date is a requirement to discuss, not a confirmed delivery promise.
Separate a personal purchase from a trade order
For a personal purchase, prioritise the appearance you enjoy, setting compatibility and the total cost of the finished piece. For wholesale or matched parcels, also define the number of stones, acceptable measurement and quality ranges, matching priorities and documentation needed for each item. Clarify whether the offer is for individually identified stones or a parcel specification. Those details make competing quotations easier to compare without assuming identical supply or terms.