Archive for February, 2009

Using A Diamond Clarity Guide To Help Understand The Quality Of A Diamond

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

Before buying a diamond jewelry item it makes sense to first of all know the diamond clarity rating of the diamond being used because clarity of a diamond is one of its most important aspects. The diamond clarity rating helps many people find out about the level of clarity (obviously) as well as the presence of flaws in the diamond such as inclusions and it also establishes whether the diamond in question is eye-clean or not.

Look For The Imperfections

A diamond clarity guide can help show you whether a particular diamond has blemishes or inclusions and though using a microscope can help you find out about these flaws you will do well to follow a diamond clarity guide to ensure that you know how to look for the imperfections.

Normally, diamonds that sparkle brightly may on the face of it appear to be free from blemishes, but there are also blemished diamonds that do sparkle as well. However, according to some diamond clarity guides you will learn that many of the imperfections found in a diamond are normal and are in fact quite hard to identify with the naked eye.

Nevertheless, it is flaws such as inclusions that are more worrying and the more of them that are present in a diamond the more it will affect the diamond’s price. According to diamond clarity guides, diamonds that are deemed to be eye-clean will not on the face of it show any imperfections though at the same time these diamonds are generally of a cheaper kind, especially if they have been processed in order to make them look perfect.

Inclusions affect the diamond from its inside while blemishes mar the surface of the diamond, and so it is necessary to follow the advice of a good diamond clarity guide because only then will you understand the importance of having to also look at GIA charts to find out the rating for different diamond’s in terms of their clarity and in addition understand just how these ratings affect the determination of a diamond’s perfection.

For example, for a diamond that is graded as FL you can expect, according to a diamond clarity guide that such a diamond is without any flaws and hence is perfect. Next, comes the IF graded diamond that refers to diamonds that are flawless on the inside but which might have external flaws.

For more diamond clarity information you would do well to check out the GIA clarity scale that provides eleven different grades of a diamond’s clarity each of which shows prospective diamond buyers how much or how little a diamond is flawed. The ratings help you identify the better (and more costly) diamonds from the cheaper and less perfect diamonds. A diamond with a rating of I and below is cheaper and progressively will be more flawed.

All About The Fundementals Of Name Brand Jewelry For Women

Friday, February 27th, 2009

In Spain, women who accept men’s proposals receive diamond engagement rings just like women in many countries around the world. This could be very charming to look at but have you ever thought about gifting diamond watches for men and women which are not only functional but good looking too? People are crazy about these pieces which are created by some of the most renowned names of the industry and various jewelers focus on the various types of such jewelry.

Tacori, for example is a designer known for its diamond jewelry meant for weddings and mixes the classical and modern styles with deftness. For some of the most colorful and exotic pieces depend on Hildago creations whereas engagement rings from the 130-year old company Christian Bauer are available from select outlets and their diamond jewelry is made only to order. If you think than any diamond is good enough for these flawless pieces, think again because only those diamonds which are approved for clarity and color can find their place on these items. When traveling be sure use jewelry travel boxes for safe keeping of your expensive jewelry. By using jewelry travel boxes they offer a higher degree of security. Here are some tips for using the jewelry travel box.

Both men and women admire and wear diamond watches as a jewelry item. It is a fact that the earliest wrist watches were actually diamond bracelets which had a small timepiece attached to it. The first of its type was seen nearly 430 years ago, as a gift from Earl of Leicester to Queen Elizabeth I which was a tiny clock round in shape and studded with diamonds which was suspended from a wristband. Chances are that this was the first genuine diamond timepiece for ladies.

Men however opted for pocket watches till the First World War since they felt that wristwatches looked good only on women. The construction of the airplane paved the way for the creation of the first wrist watch for men. This was the case as during the initial years of the aircraft, the pilot had to use both his hands for controlling since fuel gauges were absent. Hence there was a necessity for a timepiece which would help the pilot to track his range and simultaneously gauge how much fuel was left at the same time would not have to leave the controls simply to grab at his pocket watch.

Interestingly, the growth in popularity of diamond engagement rings was parallel to that of men’s wrist watches, happening about the same time. Cartier of France, Citizen from Japan and Movado from Switzerland are the world’s three top diamond watch makers. When you hear the words ‘runs like a Swiss watch’, remember, the products of the last company is behind this praise. Movado who has been engaged in this business now over a century has on offer over 200 varieties of diamond watches to choose from, each distinctly different from the other.

Evaluating The Value Of A Diamond

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Way to find the best price in diamond stud earrings

The brightest diamondfor the lowest cost. For people who can afford it, we recommend a brilliant cut diamond of G-H color and “eye-clean” clearness. This should be a reasonably priced diamond, but earrings of this quality will produce the same stunning shower of light as those costing thousands of $ more. There are 3 straightforward reasons : first, it is the glorious cut that breathes life and glint into a diamond. Second, most pros agree a G-H color would appear drab when mounted, so spending more for D-E-F color diamonds isn’t needed. Third,a diamond of SI2 lucidity is “eye-clean”, meaning it has no failings visible to the bare eye, but costs a lot less than the higher clearness grades. Fantastic bargains with only a slight compromise in beauty can be discovered in the I1 Lucidity range as well, whilst the cut is good and the color is in the G-H range. For folks who are cheaply, don’t feel abashed to buy diamonds of a lower quality.

The errings will flicker

All diamond earrings flicker when they are worn on a lady’s ear, and let’s accept it : for a similar price, a lot of girls would rather wear one carat studs of a lower quality than 0.5 carat studs of a better quality. Fast Fact : there are some good sites to buy diamond stud earrings. Our top advice, however goes to a specialty site. They sell the same color, lucidity and cut grades for approximately 25% less than the common “sale” price in a retail jewellery store ( and other net stores ), and they back it up with a price comparison tool that permits you to view costs for earrings of the same quality on several other major web jewellery sites. You may also have the safety of their free insurance against loss of any kind for a complete year. Selecting the right Color :The best diamonds are drab, rare and costly.

On the GIA grading scale, D-F are thought to be drab, G-I near drab and any grade J or below shows an increasingly yellowish tinge.

Fast Fact :

When viewing a diamond ring or any diamond, look immediately into the center : if there are dark facets in the middle or a dark ring round the center, or if the diamond seems opaque, it is doubtless due to poor cut. Brilliance, Dispersion and Scintillation

Outside the preference for a whiter stone, however, the color of a diamond does not affect its lightness or sparkle. Fast Fact : Most gurus agree that, when mounted, diamonds in the “G-H” range appear drab, and represent a much better price than “D-F” stones which command noticeably higher costs. Selecting the right Lucidity : Diamonds with less failings ( inclusions ) aren’t common and so more highly valued. In a lot of cases, these issues don’t take away from the fantastic thing about the diamond as they are invisible to the bare eye. Fast Fact : Any grade “SI2″ or above has inclusions that are “eye clean”, not visible to the bare eye.

Diamond By: C.A.S

Effective Guidelines For Choosing Engagaement Rings and Wedding Bands That Match

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Your bride will probably want to have ring that complements her engagement ring when you go to choose your designer wedding rings. Unfortunately, while designer wedding rings that are elaborate may be attractive, they may not sit well next to the engagement ring and may actually draw attention from it.

The ideal of any marriage should be the commitment two people make to be together through good times and bad, and vintage engagement rings when placed on the finger is the symbol of this. There are a number of customs where presenting gifts to the engaged couple is quite normal and only ends when the engagement rings are final given with the vows. Nowadays, a modern approach to this tradition is to bestow an ‘eternity’ ring as a final gesture to the commitment of a lasting relationship and marriage.

It is now becoming more popular to buy engagement rings that are engraved so if you and your husband are buying matching vintage engagement rings, why not have them both engraved with a message personal to you both just to give them that unique feel. Plain engagement rings suit some people but if you want your vintage engagement rings to reflect your own individual styles, then why hot have the edges engraved. There’s really no wrong answer as to what style of ring you should choose.

Never forget how important you vintage engagement ring is and that it is not like any other jewelry you posses. Therefore, never accept anything but the best quality rings you can afford or find. For something as important as your marriage, the vintage engagement rings you purchase should not be the ones you found at the lowest price because it makes a mockery of your vows and the meaning of the engagement rings.

If you are spending a great deal of money on your vintage engagement rings, you will want to be sure that they fit perfectly. At the same time you both choose your vintage engagement rings, have your engagement ring fingers measured by the jeweler and don’t leave the fit to chance. By doing this simple thing you can ensure that the situation where the engagement ring either doesn’t fit or so loose it starts to slip off, doesn’t happen.

Therefore it is important that you allow the jeweler enough time to complete your engagement ring order by your engagement day. So as soon as you have planned when you are to be married, go out and choose you vintage engagement rings and allow at least a couple of months for the rings to be adjusted.

Having an extensive choice of styles and designs for your vintage engagement rings is good but it can take quite some time to choose which suits you and your husband the best. Follow your instincts with the look and design of your vintage engagement rings, while asking yourself if it will be a design you’ll be comfortable wearing every day and will endure the test of time and not fade out with the fads. The most important thing to remember is that your vintage engagement rings are symbolic of your everlasting love. Your engagement rings will be a reminder of this statement and you should both feel pleasure in wearing them every day.

Diamond Cut: A Very Critical Aspect

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Diamonds are found in a rough and uncut shape and so need to be cut in order to get the right size and shape. Among the different shapes into which a diamond can be cut there are round and oval as well as princess and pear as well as heart shapes that are rather popular and much in demand. A proper diamond cut helps ensure that the diamond looks beautiful and it also helps the diamond to spew fire as well as shine with brilliance.

Round Diamonds

Round diamonds have the unique ability to reflect light from the top of the diamond and so this shape is the much in demand. A diamond cut shows how much light can be reflected from the top of the diamond and in fact a great cut will ensure that more light leaves the diamond thereby making the diamond appear more brilliant as well as eye-catching.

Most gemologists consider the diamond cut to be the most important aspect of a diamond and so this is one feature that must be inspected closely before buying your diamonds. Without a doubt, a poor diamond cut will create a dull appearance even when the diamond’s clarity as well as color is absolutely perfect.

A poor diamond cut will also means that insufficient amount of light will leave the diamond from its top and so there is less brilliance and little fire in the diamond. On the other hand, the right cut will ensure maximum light exits the top of the diamond and this makes the diamond more beautiful and certainly very valuable as well.

When you go shopping for a diamond, you will generally hear the jeweler describe the carat weight as well as clarity and color of the diamond and little will be said on the subject of diamond cut because cut is a subject that is hard to explain to customers. Nevertheless, you should become aware of the grading of the diamond cut to ensure that you are buying the right diamond.

As a matter of fact, just an estimated three percent of all diamonds (polished) are believed to have an ideal diamond cut and these diamonds are sure to be exquisite as they reflect as much as ninety-six percent of light.

It also helps to learn more about the princess cut diamond as these types of diamonds have, over the recent past, grown in popularity and so is much in demand. The reason why these diamonds are so much sought after is that they lend them very well for personalization.

Emerald Cut Diamond: Unique And Excellent

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

An emerald cut diamond is generally cut to form a rectangular or even square shape that also includes corners that are diagonally cut. Most such diamonds have between two and four rows that consist of facets (parallel) that veer toward the stone’s center point. This kind of cut was mostly used for emeralds and that is how the term emerald cut was coined. Another unique aspect of the emerald cut diamond is that the table of the diamond is flat which a factor is that helps in highlighting the diamond’s clarity.

More Expensive

An emerald cut diamond is also usually more costly as compared with other diamond cuts and the reason is that such diamonds have fewer impurities as well as inclusions thereby adding to their value. Typically, this kind of cut should require the length to width ratio to fall between 1.30 and 1.40. An interesting feature related to the emerald cut is that during the seventies many successful businesses used this particular diamond cut in their company logos.

As with the other diamond cuts, before buying an emerald cut diamond it is recommended that you review its clarity which should not be less than SI1. Among the most famous of all emerald cut diamonds, the Darya-I-Nur was renowned throughout the world as it was also believed to be the world’s largest pink colored diamond. It had an estimated weight of between one hundred and seventy-five to one hundred and ninety-five carats and of course its color was pink.

The popularity of the emerald cut diamond can be attributed to the beauty of this cut as well as to its high value because these diamonds are quite rare and not so readily found which is why owning such a diamond has an added appeal. Furthermore, an emerald cut diamond has its own very unique characteristics and the rectangular shape helps in highlighting the diamond’s clarity which in turn helps to give the diamond greater value.

Another very unique diamond cut is the Asscher diamond cut that too is very unique and this style of diamond cut owes its name to the person that invented this kind of stone. Each emerald cut diamond is unique and so you can be sure that the one that you buy will not be duplicated in any other diamond. For those people that love to sport clear cut diamonds there is perhaps no better choice than the emerald cut diamond.

The Asscher Cut Diamond Provides An Antique Feel

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

The Asscher cut diamond is unique that owes its name to Joseph Asscher the person that invented this particular stone way back in the year 1902. This diamond cut has as many as seventy-two facets and the diamond is shaped as a square though thanks to its parallel step facets as well as depth of corners it can be likened to an octagon as well.

Sparkling Diamonds

The true beauty of the Asscher cut diamond lays in the fact that such a cut helps make a diamond sparkle like no other diamond cut. Even though the Asscher cut diamond was very popular during the early twentieth century, its popularity today too is very high despite the appearance of other diamond cuts. As an engagement ring, the Asscher cut diamond makes for a very popular choice because of the type of brilliance that is obtained from this particular diamond cut.

Another reason why Asscher cut diamonds are so much sought after is because they provide a feel of an antique jewelry piece, which can be ascribed to the fact that the style incorporated in its heydays has not changed much and so this diamond cut has a decided antique feel and value as well.

The Asscher cut diamond is of course quite similar in appearance to the emerald cut diamond though it is also a forerunner of the emerald cut diamond. At the time that Joseph Asscher developed his unique cut, there was also a change taking place in the method of cutting diamonds. Still, the Asscher cut diamond continues to keep its very original square shape though at the same time it also means that the table is small while corners are more dramatic.

You can easily find an Asscher cut diamond at most good antique shops and mostly the stones will be of a larger size with many being of as many six carats in weight. You can be sure that a properly cut Asscher cut diamond will provide outstanding brilliance and the dispersion obtained too is second to none. The only sad thing about the modern Asscher cut diamond is that the original cut has been compromised in order to suit contemporary designs.

The radiant cut diamond, though the term might sound a trifle trite, refers to a particular shape of diamonds that helps ensure greater brilliance of the diamond. In fact, this type of diamond cut is more contemporary and only became known in the year 1977 when it was first developed and then patented.

Taking A Look At Black Diamonds

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

the diamond jewelry

For many centuries, the first thing that sprang to mind when the word “diamonds” was mentioned was a mental image of those gloriously sparkling, pure clear gemstones that are known to adorn so many pieces of fine jewelry. However, these days when people are in the mood to shop for some diamond jewelry they are likely to encounter color options in these stones, including the black diamond.

There was a time when a diamond of this darkest color was considered to be damaged, flawed, imperfect and virtually worthless. But that opinion has changed significantly and black diamonds are quickly becoming one of the unique league of gems that are being more and more sought-after, precisely because of their rarity and their exquisite uniqueness.

For those who think of the typical diamond jewelry and fashion jewelry bling that incorporates standard diamonds as just “ordinary,” a black diamond may be just the thing they are looking for to set themselves apart. While it might seem odd to characterize any kind of fine jewelry that features a radiant diamond as common, when trying to stand out from the crowd these days, black diamonds can help do just that.

If you are in the market for black diamonds, then you should know that they are not all “created equal” and some care and attention needs to be given to the various characteristics of this unique gemstone. As with any type of rare gem, it is important to be sure about the quality of the stone before making a purchase.

First of all, it should be known that black diamonds can vary in color and might appear to be light gray or smoky, dark gray or pure black. What give these diamonds their tint and smoky color is inclusions of various types of minerals in the stone. The most common mineral inclusions in these black beauties are various iron oxides, such as hematite, sulfide, or magnetite.

The higher the concentration of oxides, the darker and richer the tone, from a light gray all the way to black. This tinting is caused not by impurities, but by the inclusions, and black diamonds are typically opaque. However, there are some specimens that are semi-transparent or even translucent, and these are extremely rare and even more valuable.

Carbonados are a classification of black diamonds which have virtually no value in terms of the gem in the jewelry industry. Even though they might be labeled as black diamonds, carbonados are very porous and they are much more common, and therefore carry less value than the gem-quality stones. In fact, the most common use for carbonados is as an abrasive and they are often used to cut and to shape the high-quality diamond stones.

You won’t see a huge inventory of black diamond jewelry in most jewelry store cases because a black diamond can be quite a bit more expensive than the standard variety that we know and love. A good way to make the most of one of these black or gray diamonds to is have one set as the main stone in a piece of jewelry art, and then surround that stone with others that are less expensive. In this way, the overall cost is kept down while allowing the black gem to be highlighted.

Diamond Charm Bracelet: Why it Makes the Perfect Gift

Monday, February 16th, 2009

It can be hard to come up with gift ideas all the time. Maybe it is your friend’s birthday, your anniversary, or Christmas, but one gift idea that always goes over smoothly is the diamond charm bracelet. The diamond link bracelet with charms is a perfect gift for anyone in your life who is truly special and who really deserves it.

The diamond charm bracelet makes the greatest gift because it is classy and yet not overboard, so you do not look like you are trying too hard. Now that you have decided that this is the type of gift you want to get, you only have to worry about deciding on where you are going to go to do your purchasing.

You want to make sure that you are dealing with only the most reputable company, so that you get a diamond charm bracelet of the highest quality, but without paying an arm and a leg. There are a few jewelry stores in particular that meet this quota, and which you are going to want to check out for yourself.

Blue Nile

One of the best companies that you can go through for a diamond charm bracelet is Blue Nile. There is a great advantage that comes from shopping at Blue Nile, and their philosophy is simple, and that is to offer high quality diamonds and fine jewelry at outstanding prices. You will find extraordinary pieces here, and always at the best possible prices.

They are always there to help, so if you ever have any questions about your jewelry shopping experience, you can contact one of their customer sales team members and they will be more than happy to help you out.

Jewel Basket

There is also the Jewel Basket which you may be interested in shopping at. They have graduation charms, symbol charms, gold charm bracelets, modular charms, sterling silver charms, wedding bands, and so much more. They are always getting new items and so you can keep coming back to see what is new and exciting.

Find that perfect diamond charm bracelet and you will make someone in your life very happy, and they are sure to never forget this gift. This is a perfect gift idea that works well for almost any occasion, and one that you are going to feel great about when you hand over to someone else. Just make sure that you choose the right one.

Diamond Circle Necklace: Why it is so Popular

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

One diamond jewelry piece that has been incredibly popular over the past couple of years is the diamond circle necklace. We have seen lots of celebrities sporting this look, including Sarah Jessica Parker in the hit TV show and movie, Sex and the City. The diamond circle necklace is great for a couple of reasons.

For one, you can wear it with casual outfits, but then you can also dress it up and it looks great for formal occasions when you need to look your best. It is therefore very versatile, a piece that you can wear almost every day and make great use of.

Now if you are looking for a diamond circle necklace, just make sure that you look for the best diamond clarity, so the necklace will sparkle and shine and draw you all the attention that you are looking for. There are a few companies in particular that specialize in this jewelry piece and which you will want to check out.

Cartier

One jewelry company that you are definitely going to want to head to if you want a diamond circle necklace is Cartier. They are one of the most well known names in the jewelry industry, and one that you can always trust in. Their jewelry pieces are exquisite, and they actually have a few of the diamond circle necklaces for you to choose from.

You can check out their entire selection online, and they are always updating so they will always have new, beautiful pieces that you can look at.

Birks

Birks is another high quality fashion jewelry store that you can go through if you are looking for a diamond circle necklace. Besides this they also offer bridal jewelry, engagement rings, wedding bands, anniversary bands, pearl jewelry, gold jewelry, watches, men’s jewelry, and so much more.

You can always trust in the Birks name to give you just what you want when it comes to jewelry, but their circle diamond necklace is definitely one of their favored pieces. This is an 18kt yellow gold pave circle diamond pendant necklace that is exclusive to the company and which features round cut diamonds with a total carat weight of .45, color grade G and clarity Sl1.

These are both great options, but know that the circle necklace is so incredibly popular, you can find it at almost all jewelry stores. The most important thing is that you ensure you are getting the best quality diamond.

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