In the next 12 months, Paresh will travel hundreds of thousands of miles to three continents and review thousands of diamonds. Welcome to the life of a professional diamond buyer.

With more than 20 years of experience and the jewelry industry’s most prestigious and respected professional credential – the GIA Graduate Gemologist distinction – Paresh is a proven, respected, and certified expert in his field.

Paresh travels extensively to international diamond trade markets in Belgium, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, and other destinations. Meeting directly with siteholders – the companies that obtain rough diamonds from mine operators and then cut and polish the stones to final form – he gains access to stocks of diamonds at advantageous prices. True, working with diamond brokers – middlemen that buy from siteholders – is faster and more convenient. But it would result in higher prices and less selection.

"When I am inspecting diamonds offered to us, my primary focus is the brilliance of the stone," Paresh explains. Brilliance is determined primarily by the quality of the cut, and also by the color of the stone. Brilliance is the first thing you notice about a diamond – it’s the flash of fire and color that catches your eye and gives a diamond its life. Even the cleanest and whitest stone will look dull and lifeless if it has been cut with deviations from exacting proportions.

Although grading certificates from recognized labs such as GIA can be a useful reference tool when it comes to evaluating diamonds, the certificate alone doesn’t tell the full story. As Paresh observes, "Grading a diamond is a subjective process – especially when it comes to clarity. I reject many diamonds that look good on paper, because when I inspect them, they don’t meet my standards.

In fact, Paresh rejects about 20% of the diamonds he inspects. Think about that. We work very closely with our suppliers and they have an excellent understanding of our standards. But just the same, Paresh passes on 1 in 5 diamonds they offer us. Those diamonds look good on paper, but they just don’t measure up to our requirements. So we leave them behind for someone else to sell.

Aren't you glad you’ve got Paresh on your team when you choose an Endless Embrace engagement ring?