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How to Read a Wholesale Diamond Inventory List Like a Pro

A jewellery retailer receives access to a professional diamond inventory feed for the first time.

Instead of polished product pages with lifestyle photography and descriptions such as:

“An exceptional natural diamond selected for timeless brilliance”

the screen looks more like financial software.

Thousands of rows appear.

One line might read:

RD | 1.02 | G | VS2 | EX | EX | EX | NON | GIA | -21.5

Another:

OV | 1.51 | H | VS2 | — | EX | VG | FNT | GIA | -28

Then there are:

stock numbers,

certificate numbers,

measurements,

table percentages,

depth,

fluorescence,

seller locations,

price per Carat,

Rap discounts,

availability codes,

videos,

BGM indicators,

and comments.

To somebody used to retail jewellery, it can look intimidating.

To an experienced diamond buyer, however, each row is a compressed commercial profile.

Within seconds, the buyer can understand:

what the stone is,

how large it is,

how it was graded,

how it is finished,

where it sits relative to market pricing,

whether it is immediately available,

and whether it deserves further inspection.

That speed matters.

Modern professional platforms such as Rapaport Trade allow buyers to filter diamond inventory by weight, shape, Colour, Clarity, Cut, grading report, location, seller, media and numerous advanced characteristics. Rapaport’s current accepted listing fields also include measurements, fluorescence, polish, symmetry, certificate number, stock number, availability and pricing information.

But there is an important distinction:

being able to read the row is not the same as knowing whether the diamond is good.

An inventory list helps you eliminate unsuitable diamonds quickly.

It does not replace:

the grading report,

proportion analysis,

images,

video,

supplier verification,

or visual evaluation.

For jewellery retailers and brands sourcing natural diamonds through Dalila Diamonds, learning to read wholesale inventory efficiently means being able to move from thousands of listings to a shortlist of genuinely relevant stones without relying entirely on the supplier to make every decision.

Quick Answer: How Do You Read a Wholesale Diamond Inventory List?

Start from left to right: identify the shape and Carat weight, then Colour and Clarity, followed by Cut, Polish and Symmetry, fluorescence, laboratory, certificate number, measurements, pricing and availability. For Round Brilliant diamonds, a listing such as “1.02 G VS2 EX EX EX NONE GIA” generally describes a 1.02 ct G Colour VS2 diamond with Excellent Cut, Excellent Polish, Excellent Symmetry, no fluorescence and a GIA grading report. After reading the basic row, verify the grading report, dimensions, proportions, inclusions, media, seller and actual market price before buying.

A useful rule is:

the inventory row tells you whether to investigate the diamond; it should not be the only reason you purchase it.

What Is a Wholesale Diamond Inventory List?

A wholesale diamond inventory list is a structured database of available diamonds.

It may appear as:

a supplier website,

CSV or Excel feed,

API feed,

trade marketplace,

ERP export,

PDF stock sheet,

or private dealer inventory.

Unlike retail product pages, the purpose is not primarily presentation.

The purpose is comparison at scale.

A professional buyer may need to compare hundreds or thousands of stones across:

Carat,

shape,

Colour,

Clarity,

Cut,

price,

certificate,

and availability.

Putting every diamond into a long retail description would make professional buying extremely slow.

Inventory systems compress those details into structured fields.

Rapaport Trade, for example, currently allows search across diamonds, parcels and melee and provides filters from basic specifications to more specialised characteristics.

A Typical Inventory Row

A simplified natural-diamond row might look like this:

RD | 1.02 | G | VS2 | EX | EX | EX | NON | GIA | 1234567890 | 6.48×6.44×3.97 | -21 | $6,250/ct

At first this looks like code.

Break it apart and it becomes straightforward.

FieldMeaningRDRound Brilliant1.021.02 CaratsGG ColourVS2VS2 ClarityEXExcellent CutEXExcellent PolishEXExcellent SymmetryNONNo fluorescenceGIAGIA report1234567890Report number6.48 × 6.44 × 3.97Measurements in mm-2121% below applicable Rap reference$6,250/ctSeller price per Carat

The terminology varies between suppliers.

One system might use:

RBC

instead of:

RD.

Another may use:

instead of:

NON

for no fluorescence.

Another may write:

3EX

instead of listing three separate EX fields.

That is why retailers should understand the underlying concepts rather than memorise one supplier’s exact interface.

Step 1: Read the Shape

Shape is usually one of the first fields.

Common abbreviations may include:

CodeShapeRD / RBCRound BrilliantOVOvalPS / PEPearEMEmeraldCUCushionRADRadiantMQMarquisePRPrincessASAsscherHSHeart

However, abbreviations are supplier-specific.

Always confirm the platform’s field definitions if something is unclear.

On Rapaport Trade, shape is one of the mandatory diamond-listing fields.

Shape Changes How You Read the Rest of the Row

This is extremely important.

If the stone is:

Round Brilliant

you may see a recognised overall Cut grade.

If it is:

Oval,

Pear,

Emerald,

Cushion,

Radiant,

or another fancy shape,

the inventory row may have no overall laboratory Cut grade at all.

GIA currently assigns its standard overall Cut grade to standard Round Brilliant diamonds in the D-to-Z Colour range. Fancy shapes generally do not receive that same overall GIA Cut grade. Rapaport Trade therefore disables the Final Cut filter for fancy-shaped diamonds where labs typically do not provide such a grade.

That means this:

OV 1.50 G VS2 EX EX

usually should not automatically be interpreted as:

Excellent Cut,

Excellent Polish.

You need to know which columns you are looking at.

It could mean:

Excellent Polish,

Excellent Symmetry

with no formal Cut grade.

Do Not Read Fancy Shapes Like Rounds

This is one of the most common beginner errors.

A buyer sees:

Oval 1.50 G VS2

and assumes that because:

Polish = Excellent

Symmetry = Excellent

the Oval must have an “Excellent Cut.”

That conclusion does not follow automatically.

With fancy shapes, evaluate:

length-to-width ratio,

outline,

depth,

table,

bow-tie,

facet pattern,

windowing,

face-up spread,

and actual visual performance.

The report alone does not tell the entire story.

Step 2: Read the Carat Weight

Carat is weight.

1 Carat = 0.20 grams.

On an inventory list:

0.50

means:

0.50 ct.

1.03:

1.03 ct.

2.17:

2.17 ct.

Simple—but the commercial implications are not.

Carat Thresholds Affect Pricing

Diamond pricing changes significantly around commercially important weight thresholds.

Examples:

0.50 ct

0.70 ct

1.00 ct

1.50 ct

2.00 ct

3.00 ct

0.99 ct

and

1.00 ct

diamond can look extremely similar physically but sit in different pricing categories.

Therefore, experienced buyers scan Carat quickly when comparing wholesale inventory.

Do Not Assume Carat Equals Visual Size

Two 1.00 ct diamonds can have different diameters.

One may measure:

6.50 mm.

Another:

6.25 mm.

The deeper diamond may carry more weight below the visible face.

That is why measurements matter.

Rapaport Trade treats measurements as a highly recommended listing field alongside Cut, Polish, Symmetry, fluorescence, lab and certificate number.

Step 3: Read the Colour Grade

For D-to-Z colourless-range diamonds, common inventory grades include:

and lower grades depending on the market.

The closer to D, generally the less visible body colour under the grading system.

But higher Colour is not automatically the best retail value.

For example:

a G Colour diamond may be an excellent choice for a platinum engagement ring.

An H or I Colour stone could offer strong value in yellow gold.

Wholesale buying is about choosing the appropriate grade for the customer—not automatically the highest grade.

Fancy-Colour Diamonds Use Different Fields

A natural Fancy Yellow, Pink or Blue diamond should not simply be entered into the ordinary D-to-Z Colour field.

Rapaport Trade explicitly requires fancy colours to be entered through its dedicated fancy-colour fields.

A fancy-colour inventory line may include:

Fancy Light,

Fancy,

Fancy Intense,

Fancy Vivid,

plus primary and modifying hues.

These require a different buying method from standard colourless diamonds.

Step 4: Read Clarity

Common clarity abbreviations include:

VVS1

VVS2

VS1

VS2

SI1

SI2

and lower categories where applicable.

A beginner may think:

VVS1 > VS2,

therefore VVS1 is always the better purchase.

Gemologically, it is a higher clarity grade.

Commercially, however, the answer depends on:

price,

inclusion location,

visibility,

shape,

durability,

and customer expectation.

An eye-clean VS2 may be a significantly stronger retail proposition than a much more expensive VVS stone.

Do Not Buy Clarity by Code Alone

Two VS2 diamonds can contain completely different inclusions.

One might have:

small crystals near the girdle.

Another:

a noticeable dark crystal under the table.

Same clarity grade.

Different customer experience.

This is why inventory platforms increasingly include additional fields related to:

black inclusions,

eye cleanliness,

and BGM characteristics.

Rapaport Trade’s current fields include black-inclusion indicators and advanced filters such as Eye Clean and No BGM.

Step 5: Understand EX EX EX / 3EX

This is one of the most common wholesale codes.

For a standard Round Brilliant:

EX EX EX

generally means:

Excellent Cut

Excellent Polish

Excellent Symmetry.

This is often shortened to:

3EX

Triple Excellent.

Rapaport Trade defines 3X as Cut, Polish and Symmetry all being Ideal or Excellent in its filtering system. GIA likewise notes that “Ex Ex Ex” or “Triple Ex” is commonly used for a diamond with Excellent overall Cut, Excellent Polish and Excellent Symmetry.

Triple Excellent Does Not Mean Every Diamond Is Identical

This point is essential.

Two Triple Excellent Rounds can still have different:

table,

depth,

crown angle,

pavilion angle,

star length,

lower-half length,

girdle,

and overall optical character.

GIA’s Cut grading incorporates several factors, including brightness, fire, scintillation, weight ratio, durability, polish and symmetry.

Therefore:

3EX is an excellent filter. It is not a substitute for deeper evaluation.

Step 6: Read Polish

Polish describes the condition and quality of the diamond’s facet surfaces.

Typical codes include:

EX = Excellent

VG = Very Good

G = Good

F = Fair

P = Poor

GIA describes polish as the quality and condition of facet surfaces, including blemishes associated with polishing or wear.

For premium bridal inventory, retailers often prefer:

Excellent

Very Good.

But price and the complete stone still matter.

Step 7: Read Symmetry

Symmetry describes how accurately facets and the overall shape align.

Common codes:

Rapaport Trade accepts these and several intermediate value formats in its listing system.

For a Round Brilliant:

Excellent Symmetry

is commonly desirable.

For fancy shapes, symmetry should be considered alongside actual outline.

An Oval can have:

Excellent Symmetry

and still have an outline a customer dislikes.

Step 8: Read Fluorescence

Inventory feeds often abbreviate fluorescence.

Common forms include:

NONE / NON

FNT

MED

STR

VST

for:

None

Faint

Medium

Strong

Very Strong.

Exact supplier coding can vary.

Rapaport Trade treats fluorescence intensity and fluorescence colour as dedicated listing fields.

Is Fluorescence Bad?

No.

Fluorescence should not automatically be treated as a defect.

The commercial effect depends on:

strength,

Colour grade,

actual appearance,

market preferences,

and whether the stone shows undesirable effects.

A buyer should therefore avoid a simplistic rule such as:

“Never buy Strong fluorescence.”

Instead:

inspect the diamond,

understand the market discount,

and determine whether the visual result is acceptable.

Example

Diamond A

1.00 G VS2
3EX
None
€X

Diamond B

1.00 G VS2
3EX
Medium Blue
€X minus 6%

If Diamond B looks excellent and the end customer has no objection, it may offer attractive value.

The discount itself is not enough to decide.

Step 9: Read the Grading Laboratory

Common lab abbreviations include:

GIA

HRD

IGI.

For Dalila Diamonds' European buyers, these three will appear frequently.

The lab matters because it affects:

grading confidence,

customer expectations,

resale liquidity,

and sometimes wholesale pricing.

GIA Reports

GIA natural-diamond reports include quality assessments covering Carat, Colour, Clarity and additional details such as Polish, Symmetry and fluorescence. For standard Round Brilliant D-to-Z diamonds, they also include a GIA Cut grade.

Do Not Stop at the Lab Name

You should also read:

certificate number,

certificate date,

report type,

laser inscription where applicable,

and report comments.

The inventory row should be connected to a verifiable grading report.

Step 10: Verify the Certificate Number

A professional inventory line often includes a report number.

For example:

GIA 1234567890.

Before committing to a meaningful natural-diamond purchase, verify that:

the report exists,

the listed grades match,

the measurements match,

and the stone corresponds to the report.

Do not rely solely on whatever values were typed into the supplier feed.

Even professional platforms can contain listing errors.

Rapaport Trade explicitly provides a process for reporting incorrect listings.

Step 11: Read the Measurements

A Round might show:

6.45 × 6.42 × 3.96 mm

An Oval:

9.10 × 6.35 × 3.90 mm

An Emerald Cut:

8.20 × 5.60 × 3.60 mm

Measurements help you understand:

face-up size,

shape,

ratio,

and sometimes whether excess Carat weight is hidden in depth.

Length-to-Width Ratio

For fancy shapes:

ratio = length ÷ width

Example:

Oval:

9.10 ÷ 6.35

≈ 1.43.

A client wanting a highly elongated Oval may prefer:

1.45–1.50.

Another may prefer:

1.35–1.40.

The inventory list can help filter those preferences immediately.

Example Oval Comparison

DiamondCaratMeasurementsRatioA1.508.70 × 6.401.36B1.509.10 × 6.301.44C1.509.45 × 6.201.52

All weigh:

1.50 ct.

They will not look the same.

Step 12: Read Table and Depth

Wholesale listings may include:

Table %

Depth %.

These are particularly useful when filtering Round Brilliant diamonds.

Example:

Table: 57%

Depth: 61.5%.

But do not turn one proportion into an automatic pass/fail decision.

Diamond Cut is created by an interaction between several proportions.

GIA’s Cut system considers multiple design, craftsmanship and optical factors rather than a single table or depth number.

Crown and Pavilion Angles

More advanced feeds may also show:

crown angle,

pavilion angle,

crown height,

pavilion depth,

girdle,

culet.

These are valuable for buyers who use tighter Round Brilliant proportion criteria.

However, paper filtering should still be followed by visual confirmation.

Step 13: Understand Rapaport Pricing

A wholesale inventory may show:

Rap Price

Cash Price

Price/ct

Discount %

Total Price.

These are not necessarily the same number.

Rapaport Trade currently defines Cash Price as the price per Carat in US dollars that the seller is prepared to accept for cash on delivery/order. It also accepts a Cash Discount percentage relative to the Rapaport list; for example, -0.30 represents 30% below the Rapaport Price List.

What Does “-20 Rap” Mean?

If the applicable Rap benchmark is:

$8,000 per Carat

and the diamond is:

20% below Rap,

the indicative price becomes:

$6,400 per Carat.

If the diamond weighs:

1.10 ct,

total:

$7,040.

But remember:

a larger discount is not automatically a better stone.

Why Two Diamonds Can Have Different Rap Discounts

Compare:

Diamond A

1.00 G VS2
3EX
None
strong proportions
attractive inclusion

Rap -17

Diamond B

1.00 G VS2
3EX
Strong fluorescence
deep proportions
central dark inclusion

Rap -30

The second stone is cheaper relative to the benchmark.

That may simply reflect the market recognising its disadvantages.

Step 14: Read Price Per Carat and Total Price Separately

Suppose:

Diamond A:

1.00 ct × $6,000/ct

$6,000.

Diamond B:

1.25 ct × $6,500/ct

$8,125.

Do not compare only:

$6,000 vs $6,500.

That is rate per Carat.

Your actual inventory capital requirement is based on:

total cost.

Step 15: Read Availability

This is an increasingly important field in digital inventory.

A diamond being listed does not always mean it is sitting in the seller's safe and immediately available.

Rapaport Trade’s current availability values include:

G / Guaranteed Availability

M / On Memo

STPS / Subject to Prior Sale

NA / Not Available.

That distinction matters enormously.

Guaranteed Available

Rapaport says a diamond marked Guaranteed Available should be readily accessible to the seller for sale or viewing at the stated location and should not be on hold.

On Memo

The diamond may currently be with another trade party.

That means:

listing exists

but

immediate access may not.

Subject to Prior Sale

Another buyer could acquire it before your order is confirmed.

Why Availability Must Be Confirmed Before Promising a Customer

Never tell your customer:

“Yes, this 2 ct Oval is available.”

simply because the listing appears on screen.

First:

confirm with supplier.

Then:

reserve where possible.

Only then:

promise availability.

Professional platforms actively require sellers to refresh inventory, but real-world inventory can still move quickly. Rapaport Trade currently requires listings to be refreshed at least weekly, with stale listings expiring after seven days, and asks sellers to remove sold stones promptly.

Step 16: Check Seller Location

Inventory may show:

Antwerp,

Mumbai,

New York,

Dubai,

Hong Kong,

Tel Aviv,

or another location.

Seller location affects:

delivery time,

shipping,

customs,

insurance,

currency,

and potential customer deadlines.

For a European retailer, an Antwerp-held diamond may have different logistics from the same specification located outside the EU.

But Seller Location Is Not Mining Origin

A diamond listed:

Location: Antwerp

does not mean:

mined in Belgium.

Similarly:

Location: Mumbai

does not mean:

mined in India.

Location generally refers to where the stone or seller inventory is commercially located.

Mining origin must be evaluated separately.

Step 17: Check Images and Videos

Rapaport Trade allows sellers to provide diamond images and video, and its item pages can display grading-report details, media, seller information, price and availability.

Use the media.

For Rounds, look at:

brightness,

pattern,

dark areas,

inclusions,

and overall appearance.

For Ovals:

bow-tie,

outline,

shoulders,

facet pattern.

For Emerald Cuts:

windowing,

step pattern,

clarity visibility.

For Cushions:

facet architecture,

outline,

crushed-ice vs chunkier appearance.

A Listing Can Be Excellent on Paper and Weak in Video

Example:

1.50 G VS1 Oval

beautiful certificate.

Excellent Polish.

Excellent Symmetry.

Great price.

Then the video shows:

strong dark bow-tie

and awkward shoulders.

That can eliminate the stone immediately.

Conversely, a Less “Perfect” Paper Specification Can Look Better

1.46 H VS2 Oval

slightly lower grades.

But:

beautiful outline,

strong spread,

minimal bow-tie,

eye-clean.

For many customers, that may be the better engagement-ring diamond.

This is where professional buying moves beyond spreadsheet filtering.

Step 18: Understand “Make”

The word make is traditional diamond-trade language rather than one universal laboratory field.

When dealers talk about:

good make

fine make,

they are usually referring broadly to how well the diamond has been fashioned:

proportions,

finish,

outline,

visual balance,

and commercial desirability.

Do not expect every supplier platform to contain a column literally called:

Make.

Modern structured platforms more often break those observations into fields such as:

Cut,

Polish,

Symmetry,

measurements,

table,

depth,

and advanced visual characteristics.

“Make” Is Not a Laboratory Grade by Itself

A supplier saying:

“very good make”

is giving a trade opinion.

You should still evaluate:

the report,

proportions,

video,

and actual stone.

Do not treat dealer shorthand as independent certification.

Step 19: Understand BGM

Some professional inventory platforms use:

BGM

for:

Brown,

Green,

Milky

appearance-related characteristics.

Rapaport Trade currently allows buyers to filter for No BGM.

This can be useful because a diamond can technically receive attractive 4C grades while still showing undesirable appearance characteristics not obvious from a simple:

Carat + Colour + Clarity

search.

No BGM Does Not Replace Viewing

It is another filter.

Not a guarantee of exceptional appearance.

Use:

data + report + media + supplier judgement.

Step 20: Check Treatment Status

Natural diamond does not automatically mean untreated natural diamond.

Professional listings should disclose relevant treatments.

Rapaport Trade currently requires Treatment as a mandatory listing field where applicable and accepts values for treatments such as laser drilling, irradiation, clarity enhancement/fracture filling, colour enhancement and HPHT, as well as untreated.

For Dalila Diamonds' core natural-diamond wholesale positioning, buyers should confirm whether the required product is:

natural untreated,

natural treated,

or another category.

Never leave this ambiguous.

A More Advanced Inventory Row

A richer listing may look like:

OV | 1.54 | G | VS2 | EX | VG | FNT | GIA | 248XXXXXXX | 9.23×6.34×3.91 | 62.0 D | 59 T | No BGM | Eye Clean | ANT | -24.5 | $7,450/ct | GA

A professional buyer might interpret:

Oval

1.54 ct

VS2

Excellent Polish

Very Good Symmetry

Faint fluorescence

GIA report

specific measurements

depth and table

No BGM

eye-clean supplier indication

located in Antwerp

24.5% below Rap

$7,450 per Carat

guaranteed available.

That is much richer than:

“1.54 ct G VS2 Oval.”

The Order You Should Read a Listing

For fast professional scanning, use a consistent sequence.

First Pass: Eliminate

Shape
Carat
Colour
Clarity
Lab
Price

If any are outside the customer brief:

remove.

Second Pass: Quality

Cut / Polish / Symmetry
Fluorescence
Measurements
Table / depth
Advanced characteristics

Third Pass: Verification

Certificate
Images
Video
Seller
Availability
Location

Fourth Pass: Commercial Decision

Price per Carat
Rap discount
Comparable inventory
Total landed cost
Retail margin

This workflow prevents buyers from wasting time deeply evaluating irrelevant diamonds.

Example: Customer Request

Customer wants:

1.00–1.10 ct

Round Brilliant

G–H

VS2

GIA

Excellent Cut

No more than Medium fluorescence

Budget:

€7,000 diamond.

Inventory returns:

100 diamonds.

Do not open 100 reports.

Filter first.

First Filter

Shape:

Round.

Carat:

1.00–1.10.

Colour:

G–H.

Clarity:

VS2.

Lab:

GIA.

Cut:

Excellent.

Now perhaps:

28 stones.

Second Filter

Polish:

Excellent.

Symmetry:

Excellent.

Fluorescence:

None–Medium.

Now:

Third Filter

Preferred dimensions/proportions.

Now:

Fourth Filter

Price.

Now:

Final Review

Reports.

Images.

Videos.

Supplier.

Availability.

Now perhaps:

3 strong customer options.

That is professional inventory buying.

Never Sort Only by Lowest Price

The cheapest diamond may be cheapest for a reason.

Sorting low-to-high can still be useful.

But the correct question is:

What am I giving up for this price reduction?

Possibilities include:

weaker Cut,

lower face-up spread,

undesirable fluorescence,

less favourable inclusion placement,

older report,

weak marketability,

or availability uncertainty.

Never Sort Only by Biggest Rap Discount

Same problem.

-35

stone is not automatically better value than:

-20.

The market may be discounting it appropriately.

Never Sort Only by Highest Clarity

A VVS diamond is not automatically the strongest retail purchase.

A customer may prefer:

larger Carat

better Cut

over microscopic clarity differences they cannot see.

Never Sort Only by Certificate

GIA,

HRD,

or IGI

does not tell you whether:

the proportions are beautiful,

the Oval bow-tie is attractive,

or the Emerald Cut has windowing.

The report supports the buying process.

It does not replace it.

Inventory Red Flag 1: Missing Certificate Number

For a diamond claimed to have an individual grading report, ask why the number is absent.

There may be an innocent reason.

But you should not make a serious buying decision without verifying the report.

Inventory Red Flag 2: Listing and Report Do Not Match

If the inventory says:

G VS2

and the certificate says:

H VS2,

stop.

Even if it is a data-entry error:

resolve it.

Inventory Red Flag 3: Measurements Look Unusual

A 1 ct Round with a surprisingly small diameter could indicate excess depth.

Investigate.

Inventory Red Flag 4: Too-Cheap Without Explanation

If comparable diamonds trade around:

€8,000

and one stone is:

€5,800,

do not immediately celebrate.

Ask why.

Inventory Red Flag 5: No Media on a Fancy Shape

Not every supplier provides video.

But buying:

an Oval,

Pear,

Cushion,

or Emerald

blind from certificate data alone can create unnecessary risk.

Ask for:

video or additional imagery.

Inventory Red Flag 6: Availability Is Unclear

The customer has an appointment tomorrow.

The inventory says:

STPS.

Confirm the stone immediately before promising anything.

Inventory Red Flag 7: Incomplete Treatment Information

For natural-diamond sourcing, treatment status must be clear.

Inventory Red Flag 8: Strong Fluorescence Without Visual Confirmation

This does not mean reject the diamond.

It means inspect it.

Inventory Red Flag 9: Unusually Old Report on a High-Value Stone

An older report may be perfectly valid.

But ask:

has the diamond been re-polished?

damaged?

reset?

Does the inscription still correspond?

Inventory Red Flag 10: Supplier You Cannot Verify

A beautiful inventory row is worthless if the supplier is unreliable.

Check:

trade identity,

location,

seller history,

commercial terms,

and payment/security process.

Rapaport Trade includes rated-seller filtering among its current search options.

Read Availability Before You Build the Customer Proposal

A retailer may find:

Diamond A — GA

Diamond B — M

Diamond C — STPS.

If the customer appointment is:

tomorrow,

Diamond A may deserve priority even if Diamond B looks slightly better on paper.

Wholesale buying is not purely gemological.

It is operational.

Read Location Before You Quote Delivery

Antwerp-held:

possibly fast for European buyer.

Mumbai-held:

different shipping/customs timeline.

New York-held:

different again.

Do not promise:

“48-hour delivery”

before checking where the diamond physically is.

Read Price Before You Fall in Love with the Stone

Gemologists can become emotionally attached to beautiful diamonds.

Retailers cannot ignore economics.

Before presenting the diamond to a customer, know:

supplier cost,

currency,

shipping,

insurance,

import implications,

setting cost,

and required gross margin.

The best diamond in the database is useless if it cannot fit the customer’s real budget.

Retailer Margin Example

Wholesale diamond:

€5,500.

Shipping/insurance:

€100.

Total landed diamond cost:

€5,600.

Setting:

€900.

Total direct product cost:

€6,500.

Target retail:

€9,500.

Gross profit before operating expenses:

€3,000.

The inventory-row price is only the beginning of your retail economics.

How to Compare Three Diamonds

Customer wants:

approximately 1 Carat Round,

G–H,

VS2,

high-quality Cut.

FactorABCCarat1.010.961.03ColourGGHClarityVS2VS2VS2CutEXEXEXPolishEXEXEXSymmetryEXEXEXFluorescenceNoneNoneMediumDiameter6.42 mm6.38 mm6.49 mmPrice€7,200€6,250€6,700Retail logicExact 1 ctValueLarger appearance

There is no automatic winner.

Customer A may care about:

1.00 ct threshold.

Customer B:

budget.

Customer C:

visual size.

This is why the inventory list should create options, not just rankings.

Fancy-Shape Inventory Requires a Different Comparison Table

For Ovals:

FactorPriorityCaratYesColourYesClarityYesMeasurementsVery importantRatioVery importantBow-tieVisualOutlineVisualPolishImportantSymmetryImportantOverall Cut gradeUsually unavailable from GIAVideoEssential where practical

GIA’s current grading approach does not provide its standard overall Cut grade for fancy shapes the way it does for standard Round Brilliants.

Emerald Cut Inventory Requires Clarity Awareness

Emerald Cuts have large step facets.

Inclusions can be more visible.

Therefore:

VS2

in one Emerald Cut

may look extremely clean,

while another may show an inclusion more clearly depending on location.

Use:

report + video.

Cushion Inventory Requires Facet-Pattern Awareness

Two Cushions can share:

1.50 ct

VS2

Excellent Polish

Excellent Symmetry

and still look radically different.

One:

chunky antique-inspired.

Another:

crushed-ice.

Another:

brilliant-style.

Your customer may strongly prefer one.

The inventory row will not always capture that sufficiently.

Reading Inventory for Matched Pairs

Matched pairs are another specialist task.

You need to compare:

Carat,

measurements,

ratio,

Colour,

Clarity,

outline,

and visual performance.

0.50 ct Pear

and

0.50 ct Pear

are not automatically a pair.

One could be:

7.0 × 4.5 mm.

Another:

6.5 × 4.8 mm.

They will look mismatched.

Reading Inventory for Melee

Melee inventory may be listed by parcel rather than individual reports.

Common fields may include:

shape,

size in mm,

total Carat,

Colour range,

Clarity range,

piece count,

price per Carat.

For example:

RD | 1.5 mm | 10 ct | G–H | VS–SI | Natural

That is production inventory, not centre-stone buying.

Read Inventory Differently for Every Business Model

Bridal Retailer

Prioritise:

marketable centre stones.

Bespoke Jeweller

Prioritise:

custom-search flexibility.

Online Store

Prioritise:

live availability and media.

High Jewellery

Prioritise:

rarity and visual quality.

Production Brand

Prioritise:

repeatability and calibrated parcels.

The same wholesale database serves different buying strategies.

Virtual Inventory Is Not the Same as Owned Inventory

Some suppliers allow retailers to display inventory feeds on their own sites.

Rapaport Trade currently supports RapLink feed functionality for virtual inventory listings.

That can dramatically expand customer choice.

But the retailer must manage:

availability,

price updates,

supplier reliability,

and fulfilment.

The Virtual Inventory Problem

Customer sees:

1.50 G VS2 Oval.

Clicks:

Buy.

Meanwhile, another dealer bought the stone.

Now the retailer has sold something it cannot deliver.

This is why inventory synchronisation matters.

Availability Confirmation Workflow

Before final customer payment:

Confirm supplier.
Confirm stone.
Confirm price.
Confirm location.
Confirm report.
Reserve/block where possible.
Then finalise transaction.

Do not reverse that order.

How Dalila Diamonds Can Make Inventory Easier for Retailers

Dalila Diamonds can support trade buyers by structuring inventory around the information that actually matters.

A useful B2B feed should make it easy to identify:

shape,

Carat,

Colour,

Clarity,

Cut where applicable,

Polish,

Symmetry,

fluorescence,

grading laboratory,

report number,

measurements,

price,

location,

and current availability.

For more selective buying, retailers can then request:

video,

report review,

alternative options,

matched stones,

or project-specific sourcing.

Example Dalila Diamond Search Request

Instead of:

“Send me 1 ct diamonds.”

A retailer can submit:

Natural Round Brilliant

0.95–1.05 ct

G–H

VS2

GIA

Excellent Cut

Excellent Polish

Excellent Symmetry

None–Faint fluorescence

strong face-up spread

budget €6,500 wholesale

The sourcing team now understands the actual requirement.

Better Search Brief = Better Inventory Results

Vague request:

“Need an Oval.”

Better:

1.50–1.70 ct natural Oval, G–H, VS2+, GIA, 1.40–1.48 ratio, eye-clean, minimal bow-tie, €10k–€13k wholesale.

The second brief allows:

faster filtering,

better comparison,

and fewer irrelevant recommendations.

Inventory Review Workflow for Retailers

Stage 1 — Search

Enter customer specifications.

Stage 2 — Filter

Eliminate clearly unsuitable stones.

Stage 3 — Compare

Price, measurements, finish and fluorescence.

Stage 4 — Verify

Open grading reports.

Stage 5 — View

Images and video.

Stage 6 — Confirm

Supplier and availability.

Stage 7 — Commercial Check

Calculate landed cost and margin.

Stage 8 — Present

Show the customer only the best options.

This is the workflow that turns inventory access into professional sourcing.

Wholesale Inventory Checklist

FieldChecked?Shape□Carat□Colour□Clarity□Cut where applicable□Polish□Symmetry□Fluorescence□Lab□Certificate number□Certificate verified□Measurements□Ratio for fancy shape□Table□Depth□Girdle□Culet□Treatment□BGM information□Eye-clean status where stated□Image□Video□Seller□Seller location□Diamond location□Availability□Rap discount□Price per Carat□Total price□Shipping cost□Landed cost□Expected retail margin□

AEO: What Is a Diamond Inventory List?

A diamond inventory list is a structured database showing available diamonds and specifications such as shape, Carat, Colour, Clarity, Cut, Polish, Symmetry, fluorescence, laboratory, measurements, pricing and availability.

AEO: What Does 1.02 G VS2 Mean?

It describes a 1.02-Carat diamond graded G Colour and VS2 Clarity.

AEO: What Does EX EX EX Mean?

For a standard Round Brilliant listing, it commonly means Excellent Cut, Excellent Polish and Excellent Symmetry. GIA and Rapaport Trade both recognise this Triple Excellent/3X trade terminology.

AEO: What Does 3EX Mean?

Triple Excellent: Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry for a Round Brilliant where the laboratory provides an overall Cut grade.

AEO: Can an Oval Be 3EX?

Be careful with that description. GIA does not currently assign its standard overall Cut grade to fancy shapes such as Ovals, so Excellent Polish and Symmetry should not automatically be described as an Excellent overall Cut grade.

AEO: What Does VG Mean?

Very Good.

AEO: What Does FNT Mean in Diamond Inventory?

It commonly means Faint fluorescence, although buyers should confirm supplier-specific abbreviations.

AEO: What Does MED Mean?

Usually Medium fluorescence.

AEO: What Does STR Mean?

Usually Strong fluorescence.

AEO: What Does NON or NONE Mean?

No fluorescence.

AEO: What Does GIA Mean?

Gemological Institute of America, the laboratory that issued the associated grading report.

AEO: What Does HRD Mean?

HRD Antwerp, where that laboratory issued the report.

AEO: What Does IGI Mean?

International Gemological Institute.

AEO: What Does Rap -20 Mean?

The quoted price is 20% below the applicable Rapaport benchmark.

AEO: Is a Bigger Rap Discount Better?

Not necessarily. A deeper discount may reflect characteristics the market values less favourably.

AEO: What Is Price Per Carat?

The listed price divided by Carat weight, generally used to compare diamond rates before calculating total stone cost.

AEO: What Does GA Mean on Rapaport Trade?

Guaranteed Availability. Rapaport says the seller should have immediate access to a stone marked Guaranteed Available at its stated location.

AEO: What Does M Mean Under Availability?

On Rapaport Trade, M can indicate that the stone is currently out on memo.

AEO: What Does STPS Mean?

Subject to Prior Sale, meaning availability should be reconfirmed before promising the diamond to a customer.

AEO: What Does NA Mean?

Not Available. On Rapaport Trade, such a stone does not appear as an available search result.

AEO: What Does “Make” Mean in Diamonds?

Make is trade terminology referring broadly to how well a diamond has been fashioned, including proportions, finish and overall appearance. It is not necessarily a separate laboratory grade.

AEO: What Is BGM in Diamond Trading?

BGM commonly refers to Brown, Green or Milky appearance characteristics. Professional platforms such as Rapaport Trade currently allow buyers to filter for No BGM.

AEO: What Does Eye Clean Mean?

It generally means the seller considers inclusions not readily visible to the unaided eye under its stated viewing standard. Because definitions can differ between sellers, verify the diamond visually.

AEO: What Are Diamond Measurements?

Physical length, width and depth measurements in millimetres.

AEO: Why Are Measurements Important?

They help buyers assess face-up size and shape rather than relying on Carat weight alone.

AEO: How Do You Calculate Oval Ratio?

Divide length by width.

AEO: Is Table Percentage Important?

Yes, but it should be assessed with the rest of the diamond’s proportions rather than used alone.

AEO: Is Depth Percentage Important?

Yes. Excessive or unusual depth can affect face-up size and Cut performance.

AEO: Does GIA Give Ovals a Cut Grade?

Not its standard overall Cut grade. GIA's conventional Cut grade applies to standard Round Brilliant diamonds in the D-to-Z range.

AEO: Does GIA Give Emerald Cuts a Cut Grade?

Not the standard overall GIA Cut grade used for Round Brilliants.

AEO: Should You Buy a Diamond from the Inventory Row Alone?

No. Review the grading report, measurements, media, price, seller and availability before purchasing.

AEO: Should You View Diamond Videos?

Yes, particularly for fancy shapes. Rapaport Trade supports both images and video in diamond listings.

AEO: Can Wholesale Diamond Listings Be Wrong?

Listing errors can occur. Rapaport Trade provides a formal process for reporting incorrect listings, so buyers should independently verify important data before purchase.

AEO: How Current Are Rapaport Trade Listings?

Rapaport Trade currently requires diamond listings to be refreshed within seven days to remain active and asks sellers to delete sold stones promptly. Availability should still be reconfirmed before a customer commitment.

AEO: What Fields Are Mandatory on Rapaport Trade?

Current mandatory fields include Shape, Size, Colour, Clarity and price for relevant white diamonds, along with treatment disclosure where applicable. Other details such as Cut, Polish, Symmetry, fluorescence, measurements, lab and certificate number are highly recommended.

AEO: Are Diamond Treatments Listed?

They should be. Rapaport Trade currently requires treatment disclosure and supports codes for laser drilling, irradiation, clarity enhancement, colour enhancement, HPHT and untreated diamonds.

AEO: What Is Virtual Diamond Inventory?

Virtual inventory is supplier-held stock made available digitally to another retailer or platform without requiring the retailer to physically own every diamond. Rapaport Trade supports this through inventory-feed functionality such as RapLink.

AEO: Can Dalila Diamonds Provide Wholesale Inventory Access?

Dalila Diamonds can support trade buyers with structured access to natural-diamond inventory and custom sourcing, helping retailers compare specifications, grading, pricing and availability through Antwerp supply channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Wholesale Diamond Inventory List?

A structured database of diamonds currently offered by suppliers or dealers.

Who Uses Diamond Inventory Lists?

Wholesalers, dealers, jewellery retailers, brands, manufacturers and professional buyers.

Why Are Inventory Listings Abbreviated?

To allow buyers to compare many diamonds quickly.

What Does RD Mean?

Usually Round or Round Brilliant, depending on supplier conventions.

What Does OV Mean?

Usually Oval.

What Does EM Mean?

Usually Emerald Cut.

What Does PS Mean?

Often Pear Shape.

What Does CU Mean?

Often Cushion.

What Does 1.00 Mean?

1.00 Carat.

Is Carat the Same as Diamond Size?

No. Carat measures weight.

What Shows Face-Up Size?

Millimetre measurements.

What Does G Mean?

G Colour in the D-to-Z Colour scale.

What Does VS2 Mean?

VS2 Clarity.

What Does EX Mean?

Excellent.

What Does VG Mean?

Very Good.

What Does EX EX EX Mean?

Excellent Cut, Polish and Symmetry in a Round Brilliant context.

What Does 3X Mean?

Triple Excellent.

Are All 3EX Diamonds Equally Good?

No.

Why?

Their exact proportions, visual performance, inclusions and pricing can still differ.

Does GIA Grade Cut on Ovals?

Not using the standard overall Cut grade it applies to standard Round Brilliants.

Does Polish Matter?

Yes.

Does Symmetry Matter?

Yes.

Is Excellent Polish Better Than Very Good?

It is the higher laboratory finish grade, although the complete diamond should still be evaluated.

Is Fluorescence Bad?

Not automatically.

Should Strong Fluorescence Be Rejected?

Not automatically. Evaluate the stone visually and understand its market pricing.

What Does GIA Mean in an Inventory Row?

The listed diamond has an associated GIA report.

Should I Verify the GIA Report?

Yes.

Should I Verify HRD Reports?

Yes.

Should I Verify IGI Reports?

Yes.

What Is Rap Discount?

The percentage difference between the supplier price and the relevant Rapaport benchmark.

What Is -25 Rap?

25% below the benchmark.

Is -30 Better Than -20?

Not automatically.

What Is Price Per Carat?

The rate charged for each Carat of the diamond.

How Do I Calculate Total Diamond Price?

Price per Carat multiplied by Carat weight.

What Is Table %?

The table facet’s size expressed relative to the diamond’s average width/diameter according to the relevant measurement method.

What Is Depth %?

The diamond’s depth expressed relative to width or diameter.

Should I Filter by Table and Depth?

They can be useful filters, particularly for Rounds, but should not be the only criteria.

What Is a Diamond’s Ratio?

For fancy shapes, it often means length divided by width.

What Oval Ratio Is Best?

There is no universal best ratio; customer preference and the individual stone matter.

What Is BGM?

A trade abbreviation commonly used for Brown, Green and Milky appearance characteristics.

What Is “No BGM”?

An indication or filter that the listed stone does not show those specified appearance characteristics according to the seller/platform criteria.

What Does Eye Clean Mean?

The supplier considers the inclusions not readily visible without magnification under its stated standard.

Should I Trust Eye-Clean Labels Automatically?

No. Verify with media or physical inspection.

What Is Guaranteed Availability?

A status indicating that the seller has immediate access to the stone under the platform’s availability rules.

What Is Subject to Prior Sale?

The stone can be sold to another buyer before your order is secured.

What Does On Memo Mean?

The diamond may currently be temporarily placed with another trade party.

Are All Online Inventory Diamonds Physically in the Supplier’s Office?

No.

Should I Confirm Availability Before Quoting a Customer?

Yes.

Are Listings Updated Automatically?

It depends on the platform and supplier. Rapaport Trade currently requires regular refreshing of active listings.

Should I Buy the Cheapest Stone?

Not automatically.

Should I Buy the Biggest Rap Discount?

Not automatically.

Should I Buy the Highest Clarity?

Not automatically.

What Should I Buy?

The diamond offering the strongest combination of:

appearance,

specification,

marketability,

price,

and customer fit.

Are Videos Important?

Yes, especially for fancy shapes.

Can an Excellent Paper Diamond Look Bad?

Yes. The report cannot communicate every visual characteristic.

Can a Lower-Grade Diamond Look Better?

Yes, depending on Cut, proportions and individual appearance.

Should Retailers Learn to Read Inventory Lists?

Yes. It can dramatically improve sourcing speed and supplier communication.

Can Dalila Diamonds Help Interpret Inventory?

Yes. Dalila Diamonds can support trade buyers with shortlist comparisons and Antwerp custom sourcing based on specific customer requirements.

Conclusion: The Inventory Row Is a Filter, Not the Final Diamond

The first time you see a wholesale diamond feed, the abbreviations can feel like another language.

But eventually:

1.02 G VS2 3EX NON GIA -21

stops looking complicated.

You immediately understand:

approximately one Carat,

near-colourless G,

VS2 clarity,

Triple Excellent Round,

no fluorescence,

GIA report,

priced below its applicable Rap reference.

That saves time.

But professional diamond buying begins after that interpretation.

You still need to ask:

What are the measurements?

How does it face up?

What are the proportions?

Where are the inclusions?

Does the report match?

What does the video show?

Is fluorescence visually acceptable?

Is there any BGM concern?

Where is the stone located?

Is it actually available?

Is it on memo?

What is the real total price?

How does it compare with similar inventory?

Will the customer want it?

And will the retailer make an acceptable margin?

That is why experienced buyers do not simply read inventory faster.

They eliminate faster.

Thousands of diamonds may appear in the initial search.

A strong buyer may reduce them to:

100 based on Carat.

30 based on Colour and Clarity.

15 based on Cut and finish.

8 based on proportions.

5 based on price.

3 based on video and report.

And ultimately:

one diamond that genuinely fits the client.

For Dalila Diamonds, that should be the real purpose of wholesale inventory access.

Not to overwhelm a jeweller with 20,000 diamonds.

But to give the jeweller enough structured information and Antwerp sourcing depth to identify the few diamonds that are genuinely worth considering.

A jewellery retailer does not need to memorise every trade abbreviation overnight.

It needs a repeatable method:

read the specifications, verify the grading, inspect the appearance, confirm the availability, compare the economics and only then make the purchase.

Once that process becomes familiar, a wholesale inventory list stops looking like rows of codes.

It becomes exactly what it is:

a professional map of the market—and the buyer who knows how to read that map can reach the right diamond much faster than the buyer who sees only numbers.

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