A diamond valuation at Diamond Brothers takes four steps. You submit a short online form with the details of your natural diamond or jewellery, choose between an in-person meeting and a free insured FedEx pickup, gemologists grade the stone using the 4Cs against current market prices, and you receive an offer. If you accept, payment reaches your bank account within one day. The valuation itself is free, and you are under no obligation to accept the offer.
What Happens in Each Step of the Valuation?
Step 1: Submit the form. Start on the sell now page and share what you know about the piece: the type of jewellery or loose stone, any certificates, and photographs if you have them. This gives the valuation team a first picture of what they will be assessing.
Step 2: Once the piece is received, a Diamond Brothers gemologist evaluates it to determine its characteristics and value. You can have your piece assessed in person by meeting an associate during their regular travels across Europe, by visiting the Antwerp office on Hoveniersstraat, or by sending it via insured FedEx shipping, arranged and paid for by Diamond Brothers. Full details of the process are available on the how to sell page.
Step 3: The stone is graded. GIA-trained gemologists examine the diamond under magnification and grade it on cut, colour, clarity and carat weight, then set that grading against current international market prices rather than retail prices. Stones collected by pickup receive a valuation the same day they arrive.
Step 4: Receive the offer and payment. You receive the offer with no obligation to accept it. If you do accept, payment is processed within one day, directly to your bank account.
What Do Gemologists Check During a Valuation?
Four characteristics carry most of the value: cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. Cut decides how much light the stone returns, colour is graded from D downwards, clarity records the inclusions inside the stone, and carat weight sets the base of the price. How these grades translate into a selling price, and why the resale figure differs from the price a retailer would charge, is explained in our guide to market value versus resale value.
Beyond the 4Cs, the gemologist checks the certificate if one exists, the condition of the stone, and the setting it sits in. A GIA, IGI or HRD certificate speeds the process up because the grading is already documented. A full breakdown of the factors that move an estimate up or down is in how to estimate the value of your diamond.
Natural Diamond Pricing: Current Trends
A valuation reflects the market on the day it is made, and the market in the first half of 2026 has been moving. After natural diamond prices fell through 2025, the trade press has reported a measured recovery across the first six months of 2026, with larger stones holding up far better than smaller ones. The direction matters when you are deciding whether to sell now or wait.
| Period | What the 1-carat market did | What held its value best |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | A measured recovery began after 2025's decline, though the 1-carat index eased about 4 percent across the quarter | Premium stones in the D to F colour range with VS clarity and above |
| March 2026 | Retailers shifted toward higher-value natural stones ahead of the bridal and gifting season | Certified stones and larger sizes drew the firmest demand |
| April 2026 | The 1-carat index softened slightly while the 3-carat category edged up | Stones of 2 carats and above stayed exceptionally firm |
| H1 overall | Commercial grades stayed roughly 15 to 30 percent below their 2022 peak; larger and rarer stones recovered | 5-carat stones rose around 8 percent quarter on quarter early in the year |
Figures describe market direction reported by trade sources including Rapaport, PriceScope and industry analysts across the first half of 2026, and are shown as percentage movements because the published indices are quoted in US dollars. Your own offer is set against live prices on the day of valuation, not against these averages.
Two forces sit behind the firmer tone. Supply is tight, with global production forecast to hold near a level roughly 30 percent below its peak of nine years ago, and demand has concentrated on larger, certified, higher-grade stones. For a seller, the takeaway is direct: a well-graded larger natural diamond is meeting stronger demand in 2026 than a small commercial stone, which is exactly what a valuation will reflect.
What If Your Natural Diamond Has No Certificate?
A missing certificate does not stop a valuation. Diamond Brothers buys certified and non-certified natural diamonds, and larger stones without papers can be certified through the company without additional charges, which protects their value in the sale. The background on the valuation team and its credentials is on the about us page.
Which Type of Natural Diamonds and Jewellery Can Be Valued?
The valuation covers loose natural diamonds of all shapes and sizes, diamond rings from engagement rings to vintage and designer pieces, old cuts and semi-cuts, broken stones, melee parcels of small stones, and diamonds removed from jewellery. Lab-grown diamonds and semi-precious stones are not purchased, so the valuation service applies to natural diamonds only.
How Should You Prepare for the Valuation?
Three things improve the outcome. First, gather every document you hold: certificates, receipts and past valuation reports all support the grading. Second, photograph the piece clearly for the form, in daylight and against a plain background. Third, resist cleaning or repairing the piece aggressively; describe its condition as it is and let the gemologist assess it. Wider preparation advice sits in our guides to selling diamond jewellery for the best profit and when to sell diamonds at a profit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a diamond valuation take?
Stones collected by insured pickup are valued the same day they arrive. In-person valuations are completed during the appointment.
Is there a cost to the valuation?
No. The valuation is free of charge, including the insured FedEx shipping when you choose to send the piece in.
Do I have to accept the offer?
No. The offer carries no obligation. If you decline, your diamond or jewellery is returned to you.
What are the payment options?
Payment is processed within one day of acceptance and sent directly to your bank account.
Do you buy lab-grown diamonds?
No. Diamond Brothers buys natural diamonds only, certified or non-certified, including old cuts, broken stones and melee parcels.
A valuation costs nothing, commits you to nothing and gives you a documented figure from gemologists who price against the international market rather than a shop window. If you are ready to find out what your natural diamond is worth, start with the form and the process begins the same day.
