Guide to diamonds and gemstones

### How does Diamond Trade work? Diamond Trade is a specialized catalog for certified natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and gemstones. You choose a category, filter by the key characteristics, and open a specific product to review photos or video, certificate details, price, estimated dispatch date, and technical specifications. The platform is built for jewelers, workshops, and retailers, but it can also help individual clients make an informed decision when buying a specific stone. ### Is the platform only for professional clients? Not only. The pages are arranged so you can quickly compare many stones by shape, carat, color, clarity, certificate, and price. This is useful for professional buyers, but it also helps individual clients understand a stone's parameters and request guidance before purchasing. For higher-value orders, specific stone requests, or company purchases, additional customer verification, invoicing details, or data confirmation may be required before fulfillment. ### What products can I find? The catalog includes natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and gemstones such as sapphire, ruby, emerald, tanzanite, tourmaline, topaz, and more. Availability is updated often, so the selected stone should be confirmed before final fulfillment. For each product, we show the key details for making a decision: shape, carat, color, clarity, cut or treatment, certificate, image, video when available, price, and estimated dispatch date. ### How should I use the filters effectively? The best approach is to start with the category: natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, or gemstones. Then narrow the selection by certificate, shape, carat, and budget. If you are buying for a specific piece of jewelry, shape and size are often the first practical limits. For diamonds, review color, clarity, cut, polish, symmetry, and fluorescence. For gemstones, start with the stone type: sapphire, ruby, emerald, tanzanite, tourmaline, topaz, aquamarine, garnet, opal, spinel, or another gemstone, then compare color, treatment, shape, carat, and certificate. ### Are all stones certified? Diamonds often include a certificate from an independent gemological laboratory such as GIA, IGI, HRD, GCAL, or another lab, depending on the item. For gemstones, documentation may differ depending on the stone type and the available laboratory report. The product page shows the laboratory and certificate number when available. When the laboratory report is available online, the certificate number opens the report for additional verification. ### How should I read the main characteristics? For diamonds, the main reference is usually the 4Cs: carat, color, clarity, and cut. Carat describes weight, color indicates the color grade, clarity describes inclusions, and cut affects how the stone reflects light. Additional details such as polish, symmetry, fluorescence, measurements, table, depth, girdle, and culet help with a more precise assessment. For gemstones, stone type, color, treatment, shape, carat, and documentation are often the key factors. ### What is the difference between a natural and a lab-grown diamond? A natural diamond is formed in nature, while a lab-grown diamond is created in a controlled technological environment. Both can have certification and clearly defined characteristics, but they differ in origin, price, market perception, and personal value for the buyer. If you are buying for jewelry, a lab-grown diamond often gives a larger visual size for the budget. If origin, rarity, and traditional market perception matter more, a natural diamond is usually the more suitable choice. ### How are pricing and VAT shown? Catalog pricing is structured so that you can clearly see the item price and the price per carat. Where applicable, prices are shown excluding VAT, while final tax treatment is calculated based on the delivery country, customer type, and the applicable regime. For Bulgaria, VAT may be charged under the current rules. For transactions outside Bulgaria, tax treatment depends on the specific country, customer status, and validity of the submitted data. This is not accounting advice; for a specific case, consult an accountant. ### What happens after I add a stone to cart? The cart stores the selected items and shows the total before payment. On the final checkout page, taxes, currency, shipping, and available methods may be updated based on the delivery country and the details entered by the customer. Before dispatch, availability may be confirmed and the stone prepared for shipping. If the selected item is no longer available, we will provide clear feedback and, where possible, suggest a close alternative. ### How long does delivery take? The product page shows an estimated dispatch date. It indicates when the stone is expected to be prepared and handed over for shipping, not necessarily the final delivery date. International deliveries are handled through FedEx. Total transit time depends on the country, address, courier processing, holidays, and any customs procedures. ### Are shipments insured? Higher-value shipments can be insured for the declared value. This is important for diamonds and gemstones because the item is physically small but high in value. Specific conditions depend on value, destination, courier requirements, and shipping method. For special shipments, confirmation is provided before fulfillment. ### Can I request a specific stone if I do not find it in the catalog? Yes. If you do not find the exact stone you need, you can send a request with shape, carat, color, clarity, certificate, budget, deadline, or intended use. This is useful when searching for a stone for an engagement ring, earrings, replacement, collection, or professional order. The more precise the brief, the better the selection can be. If the search is too narrow, we may suggest close alternatives. ### Is the platform suitable for jewelers and workshops? Yes. Diamond Trade is especially convenient for jewelers, goldsmiths, ateliers, designers, and retailers who need to find the right stone for a specific request. Filters, certificates, price per carat, photos, and technical data are organized so that a professional buyer can compare many stones clearly and without unnecessary distractions. ### Is there a minimum order quantity? Not always. In many cases, a single stone can be ordered. Some categories, special requests, matched pairs, or unusual conditions may be subject to additional requirements. If a minimum quantity, deposit, special timeline, or another condition applies, it should be clarified before fulfillment. ### Is a temporary reservation possible? In some cases yes, depending on the item and current availability. A reservation is valid only once it has been expressly confirmed. Temporary holds are time-limited. If the hold expires, the stone may become available to other buyers again. ### What happens if a stone is no longer available? Availability may change because sought-after stones are often reserved quickly. If a stone becomes unavailable after an inquiry or order, we will inform you and, where possible, suggest a close alternative. For time-sensitive orders, availability confirmation is an important step before final fulfillment. ### Can I return or cancel an order? It depends on the order stage, product type, and specific conditions. For stones that have been reserved, prepared for dispatch, found through a custom request, or already shipped, cancellation may be limited. If there is a material discrepancy, wrong item, or certificate issue, the case is reviewed individually. For specific consumer rights and applicable rules, the store policies and current law should be followed. ### How can I get assistance? If you need professional support, are looking for a specific stone, or want a second opinion between several options, contact us at **[omar@diamondtrade.bg](mailto:omar@diamondtrade.bg)** or use the contact page. It is helpful to include the product link, budget, deadline, intended use, and preferred characteristics. That keeps the conversation specific and speeds up the selection.