My Pink Diamonds

Guys who are ready to ask for a woman’s hand in marriage will inevitably attempt to figure out how much money they should spend on a diamond engagement ring, what the diamond will cost them and whether they will be able to afford a diamond engagement ring for their fiance. Most people have heard the expression that diamond engagement rings cost two months’ salary.

Where did the two months of salary idea come from?

The origin of the two months’ salary began with DeBeers, the largest diamond producer and diamond marketer in the world. In 1947, DeBeers decided to promote diamonds following the depressed wartime market. DeBeers launched a marketing campaign with a New York advertising firm. A copywriter penned the famous slogan “A diamond is forever” that is now synonymous with Diamonds.

De Beers wanted to bring diamonds to the masses, make them seem more affordable, instead of the wealthy and select few only being able to buy them. Accordingly, the price of a diamond for an engagement ring was set at approximately two months of salary.

This was a concept that everyone could understand, it was aimed at the groom-to-be and therefore made buying a diamond for an engagement ring achievable no matter whatever his salary was. No longer did people think of diamonds as being something which they could never afford, they now had a figure to relate to in simple terms – two months salary.

Thus the two months salary became the norm and in the mind of the groom it was the predetermined and acceptable price for a diamond engagement ring. As a general guide grooms usually spend between 10 – 20% of their annual salary on a diamond engagement ring.

There is no right or wrong amount to spend on a diamond engagement ring and many men do spend more than two months’ salary on their fiances engagement ring. Lets face it when the wedding and honeymoon are over; What is left? What will she wear every day as a memory?

The Rings! – A symbol of Your Love and Comittment

At Diamond Imports – www.diamondimports.com.au – we have an exceptional range of certified loose diamonds that create stunning diamond engagement rings.

You may copy this article and place it on your own website, as long as you do not change it and include this resource box including these live links to Diamond Imports http://www.diamondimports.com.au

Copyright © 2008 Diamond Imports Pty Ltd

http://www.diamondimports.com.au

Diamonds are big business across the globe and Australia in particular has a huge diamond industry operated by dependable traders who are part of the Diamond Dealers Club of Australia. Not everyone who deals in diamonds is a member of the Diamond Dealers Club. There is a strict screening of applicants to the club to make sure that they are dependable, ethical, and financially secure. This means that only the leading diamond dealers and merchants qualify for membership.

Diamonds, they say, are a girl’s best friend, hardly surprising when you consider the amount of work that goes into mining them, and how much these diamonds are worth on the open market. However, it has not always been a simple matter to find a diamond engagement ring in a style that you want but, it is possible to buy a loose certified diamond and then have it set in a custom designed engagement ring for that special person.

Diamond Imports are a renowned founding member of the Diamond Dealers Club of Australia and are well known for their expertise in the jewellery industry and for the quality of their diamonds. As one of Australia’s foremost dealers in diamonds the company is noted for the cut and quality of their diamonds – more importantly Diamond Imports make it their business to ensure that their clients have the knowledge to make an informed decision when choosing diamonds.

If you want value for money and a better quality diamond then you should buy a loose certified diamond and then have it made into a ring – this way you will enjoy the uniqueness of the engagement ring as well as the quality of the diamond.

It is a simple matter to have a beautiful diamond that you want made up in a ring design of your choice because Diamond Imports sells certified loose diamonds and also have their own team of master jewellers. The company only deals in quality diamonds which are independently guaranteed and certified by compliant, internationally recognized diamond grading laboratories. In the Australian diamond business the name Diamond Imports is associated with the best quality and finest cut diamonds.

Diamond Imports will provide knowledge and education about their quality stones for customers looking to buy diamonds. They deal in loose diamonds, certified diamonds, wholesale diamonds as well as custom made diamond engagement rings, wedding rings and other jewellery.

When you have your loose diamond made into the ring of your choice by a reputable dealer such as Diamond Imports you won’t have to just settle for a ready made ring or deal with a harried shop assistant who may not always be able to tell you very much about the diamond – when you buy your diamond from Diamond Imports you can rest assured that they will provide you with all the information you require concerning your diamond as well as a stunning hand made engagement ring.

Buying a diamond that is going to be made into an engagement ring is something that, hopefully, you only do once, so you want the best quality diamond you can afford. The cut of a diamond is extremely important and it is what gives a diamond its sparkle, fire and brilliance. The most popular cuts for engagement rings are round brilliant cut and princess cut diamonds. There are other fancy shape diamonds which are unique and very beautiful, these include the pear and oval cut, asscher and cushion cuts as well as radiant, trilliant, marquise and emerald cut diamonds.

The price of the loose diamond that you buy is determined by its clarity, cut, carat weight and color as well as the shape of the stone. When you buy loose diamonds that have been independently certified you can be assured of the quality and you don’t have to depend on the pre-set designs on offer in most jewellery stores. Even those jewellers that carry loose stones have only a very limited number to choose from, which means you are restricted to the carat weight, color and cut that they have on offer.

When you buy a diamond from a reputable diamond dealer like Diamond Imports you can be sure of the highest quality diamonds and a good selection of certified diamonds which you are able to compare and view before buying. This means that you always have a reliable investment and you buy diamonds with confidence.

Diamond Imports is Australia’s Leading Wholesaler of Excellent Cut Diamonds and Loose Certified Diamonds – http://www.diamondimports.com.au

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A certified diamond is a diamond that has been graded, tested and examined by a team of independent fully trained gemologists who then issue a Diamond certificate for that diamond.

A diamond certificate is a blueprint of a loose diamond that has been certified.

A diamond certificate can also be called a diamond grading report or diamond dossier. The diamond certificate documents the diamond’s exact measurements and weight, as well as the details of its cut and quality. It precisely points out all the individual characteristics of the stone, inclusions and any flaws.

When shopping for loose diamonds it is extremely important that you buy a certified diamond. You can compare one certified diamond with a particular weight and quality with other certified diamonds of similar weight and quality to determine which certified loose diamond has the better value.

A diamond certificate allows you to make an informed choice when buying loose diamonds. 

A certified diamond provides consumers with confidence, security and increases comfort levels while making a decision on which loose diamond to purchase. Before purchasing a loose diamond, you should expect to review a copy of its diamond certificate, as this is your only guarantee of the quality and value of that diamond. Certified diamonds help provide consumer confidence.

A diamond certificate documents the characteristics of the diamonds quality; the colour, cut, clarity & carat weight of the diamond are verified by an independent company with no conflict of interest between buyer and seller.

The true test to evaluate a diamond is to view it in person and compare it with other diamonds. Nothing beats seeing a diamond in person to determine whether it is a ‘good’ diamond to your eye or not. Diamond appreciation is a very personal thing and different people will prefer different things about different diamonds. At the end of the day all the numbers and photos in the world mean nothing if you do not like the diamond in person.

Many jewellers and diamond dealers will use terms like Hearts and Arrows, Ideal, Excellent, Russian Cut, Belgium Cut, Fine Make and others to describe their diamonds, with the intention of portraying them as ‘better’ than others. Be wary of accepting these terms as is. They are especially dangerous when assigned to diamonds by the jeweller or diamond dealer themselves without third-party independent support.

There are many different diamond grading laboratories available to the diamond-buying public. Some of the more well known grading laboratories are: GIA (Gemological Institute of America), DCLA (Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia), AGS (American Gemological Society), HRD (Hoge Raad Voor Diamant; Diamond High Council), EGL (European Gemological Institute) and the IGI (International Gemological Institute).

Each of these diamond grading laboratories has their own criteria and method of grading loose diamonds, but they all operate within a high set of parameters, in regards to grading a diamond’s attributes and dimensions. Be aware that as each grading laboratory has its own methods, each grading laboratory also has its own expense guides for preparing a certificate and these grading laboratories differ in their standards and level of strictness.

It is important to keep in mind the fact that not all diamond grading laboratories are as well respected or as stringent in their grading as each other. Diamond grading laboratories should always be independent of any diamond retailers or wholesalers, to avoid any conflict of interests or bias. Diamond Certificates are only of value when they are issued by an independent accredited diamond grading laboratory. Always make certain to identify the source of the certificate or diamond grading report. If you have not heard of the laboratory, it could very well be associated in some way with the store, jeweller or diamond wholesaler itself, and so have a vested interest in aiding the sale.

Before you buy a diamond you should always, as a first priority, insist on an independent diamond grading certificate from an accredited laboratory to support any added claims about a diamond.  

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Independently Certified Diamonds – Highest Quality Certified Diamonds

Copyright © 2008 Diamond Imports Pty Ltdhttp://www.diamondimports.com.au

When you start to think about buying a diamond, you naturally will want the best diamond that you can afford and a beautiful stone you will treasure forever. Diamonds can be found in a range of shapes, sizes, qualities & colours. If you are about to buy a diamond for an engagement ring, you may want to consider spending the commonly accepted guideline of two months’ salary. However you should spend as much as you can comfortably afford. Buying a diamond is not like buying a car which will depreciate over time, they endure generations and are passed down in your family as an heirloom. Remember, diamonds ARE forever.

When buying diamonds, make sure you buy the best quality diamond that is within your budget. Do not buy a diamond just because it has been “discounted”or the diamond dealer is offering a “special price”. These “sale” prices and deals are nothing more than marketing hype and will not result in any real savings to the price of a diamond. The price of diamonds is controlled by international market conditions and the availability. Unlike other jewellery items, diamonds do not go on sale because they do not have huge profit margins or over inflated prices.

Do not confuse a diamonds carat weight with the size of a diamond. Two diamonds that have the same carat weight could have very different diameter measurements and appearance in actual size. A poorly cut 1.00ct diamond may look like a 0.75ct diamond from the top because they have the same diameter measurements even though their carat weights are different.

Diamonds are sold by their carat weight. A diamond cutter always tries to retain as much carat weight and as few inclusions when cutting a diamond. Sometimes the cut of a diamond might be sacrificed in order to produce a diamond with a higher carat weight. Diamonds that have a higher cut quality – excellent, ideal and very good cut diamonds – will sparkle with far more brilliance and fire than poorly cut diamonds which have a lower cut grade.

The value of a diamond is determined by its exact quality as defined by the 4C’s: Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat-Weight. It is the sparkle or brilliance that gives a diamond its unique quality. Many people become overwhelmed when they start searching for a diamond. It seems that the fear of either buying a diamond that is not very good quality or paying too much can cause people to go on a quest to become a diamond expert overnight. Getting knowledge and educated about diamonds and the 4C’s – Cut, Colour, Clarity & Carat Weight – is a big first step towards buying the right diamond.

Before you start diamond shopping, it is best to have an understanding of what you are buying and the process behind buying a diamond. Today on the internet there is no shortage of information available, especially when it comes to learning about diamonds. Here are a few important steps when embarking on the purchase of a diamond –

Gain a basic understanding of the qualities of a fine diamond.

Learn about diamonds, do your homework before you start looking. There are many good websites that offer comprehensive Diamond Education sections where you are able to learn about diamonds and The 4C’s – cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. These are the criteria that diamonds are graded and valued upon.

Set a personal budget.

This will dictate a lot of the parameters for the diamond you are searching for. Then obtain a realistic idea of what diamonds cost and the various diamond prices. Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds are the most popular shape of diamond for engagement rings however they also are higher priced than a fancy shape diamond. Setting a personal budget will save you a lot of time and it will help you to not over extend yourself financially.

Decide on the diamond specifications.

What shape of Diamond do you prefer? Remember that diamonds are cut in many different shapes besides Round Brilliant and Princess Cuts. Fancy Shape diamonds such as Asscher, Cushion, Emerald, Oval, Pear, Marquise, Trilliant and Radiant Cut Diamonds all make unique engagement rings and create beautiful jewellery when set in individual designs. Once you have decided on the shape of the diamond you wish to buy then start deciding on your other preferences such as the carat size, the diamond colour, the diamond purity and the diamond cut quality.

Insist on a Diamond Certificate.

A diamond certificate or diamond grading report documents the complete quality and description of the diamond, it includes information on shape, carat weight, clarity, fluorescence, colour grade, measurements, proportions and finish grade. A diamond certificate also confirms that the diamond is natural and is not synthetic or man-made. Diamond Grading Laboratories such as GIA, AGS, HRD & DCLA are all internationally recognised and compliant grading laboratories.

View the diamond in person where possible.

Compare the quality of the diamond next to other diamonds before you purchase. Cut is the only factor that man can control. Cut refers not only to the shape and style of the diamond, but its proportions, symmetry, and finish or “make”. Cut determines the brilliance and fire of the diamond and is actually one of the most important aspects to consider when choosing your diamond.

We understand that when searching for the right diamond the task can at times be daunting and very confusing. Just comparing diamonds on price alone is not nearly good enough, you need to be able to compare the diamonds next to each other to see which diamond is the better quality and appeals to you the most.

You may copy this article and place it on your own website, as long as you do not change it and include this resource box including the live links

Copyright © 2008 Diamond Imports Pty Ltd

http://www.diamondimports.com.au

Diamonds earrings have always been a popular choice for men to give to the one they love. Also, women choose these earrings because these are sturdy and beautiful. Therefore, before setting out to buy the pair that you have coveted, see if these are worth your money.Diamonds earrings are expensive—a fact in life, really. Before you buy diamonds earrings, it is better to do some background research to determine which cut or shape should you buy. Diamonds are far too expensive for you to make instant decisions.Four Cs.There are four Cs that you have to watch out for when you set out to buy diamonds earrings. The value of the diamond depends on these 4 Cs; thus, the value of the earrings depends on the 4 Cs too.Carat. This is a familiar term to most of us because this is how gold is categorized too. However, although a lot of people are familiar with the word, not many know what it actually means. Carat is the measure of the weight and mass of the diamond. The higher the carat, the more expensive the diamond gets; thus, the more expensive your diamonds earrings will be. Oftentimes, this is used as the main factor that would determine the value and the popularity of the diamond. For example, the Tiffany Yellow Diamond is recalled mostly as a large octahedron that weighed 287 carats (uncut) then was cut to 128 carats. This diamond is known as the largest golden-yellow diamond. It became popular more because it was large than because it was yellow.Clarity. Diamond, the hardest material of natural origin, is so hard that only another diamond can scratch it. However, in the process of its turning from ordinary carbon into diamond, there are certain defects in its crystal lattice so that various imperfections can be found either inside or on its surface. The internal defects are called inclusions. Of course, diamonds earrings made of material with no defects will be far more expensive than with even a single defect. The more defects, the lesser the price.Color. Loose Diamonds are commonly transparent and colorless. However, colored ones are rarer and are, therefore, more valuable. In general, diamonds earrings made of darker and more intense coloration will be more expensive than lighter ones. Also, blue, pink, and green ones are more expensive than yellow and brown ones.Cut. Perfectly cut diamonds are very expensive. Moreover, those cut to different shapes would be more expensive. For example, lily cut or heart-shaped diamonds earrings will be many times more expensive than those with circle cuts.However, imperfect diamond earrings will actually work to your advantage because, naturally, these will have lesser value than a perfect one; thus, you will be able to own a diamond that is affordable but still beautiful. Furthermore, these imperfections will act as unique fingerprints to determine your diamond. Also, jewelers have a way of hiding the imperfections so that the inclusions will not be visible especially to untrained eyes.Always, it will be the size, the color, and the cut of the diamond that will determine its beauty. Those with higher clarity are more expensive; but since clarity does not really have an impact on the diamonds earrings’ beauty, it is better that you don’t choose your earrings based on this criterion.When you have decided to buy your diamonds earrings, be careful in storing them. Remember that diamonds can scratch other diamonds, so make sure that they do not come in contact with each other.For more information read our loose diamonds guide – how to buy loose diamond.

Most advertising campaigns by De Beers feature their famous slogan “A Diamond is Forever.” Consequently, women seldom sell a diamond and often feel uncomfortable buying diamonds previously owned by other women. There is a sentimental aspect to diamonds that is very different from other tangible assets like boats, houses or automobiles. However, there are occasions when consumers need to sell their diamonds and, unlike the used car market, there is not a well-developed method for consumers to sell their diamonds.

As a consumer, you face some unique challenges when trying to get the best price for your diamond in a safe and comfortable manner. Your starting point is to know exactly what you are selling. This is much easier if the diamond has a grading report from a major laboratory like the GIA or AGS. You have more of a challenge if there is no formal grading report. In this case, you need to find an independent appraiser who can evaluate the diamond and determine its quality and potential value.

Once you know your diamond’s specifications, you can find the current retail asking price by checking with online retailers to see what similar diamonds are selling for in today’s retail market. It is unlikely you will be able to get the going retail price for your diamond. Selling your diamond at 80% to 90% of that amount would make it sell quicker. Be realistic about your expectations. The lowest cost online retailers, not the expensive jewelry stores with double the price, set the value of your diamond.

You now know your target price and simply have to figure out how to find the right buyer for your diamond. There are several options available to sell your diamond and you need to determine which is best for maximizing your money and safety while minimizing your time and effort.

Your first thought might be to go to the closest jewelry store or pawnshop and sell them the diamond. The key to remember here is that they do not need your diamond. They can get all the diamonds they want on the wholesale market. The only reason they will buy your diamond is if the price is a fraction of the wholesale price. They hope you need the money bad enough to take 25%-50% of what you could be getting for your diamond elsewhere. They might offer you a little more if you “trade up” to something in their display case. However, this often results in you paying more for the new diamond and receiving less for your diamond than if you sold it elsewhere.

Several online brokers specialize in buying diamonds and estate jewelry from consumers. They typically have you ship the diamond to them so they can determine the amount they will pay you. All too often, this amount is much less than their preliminary estimate so you must either pay the return shipping, or accept their price. If your main priority is getting money fast, this is a valid option. If your main priority is getting top dollar for your diamond, there are better selling methods available to you.

Auctions like eBay are very popular for selling jewelry items but there is so much low quality jewelry listed, it is hard for potential buyer to find your quality diamond. You are competing with jewelry retailers whose entire business is selling on eBay so they are experts at writing the descriptions (often with exaggerated quality), taking impressive pictures and shipping their items. Even if a bidder does find your item, the odds of getting your target price are slim to nil because other retailers are advertising items with similar descriptions for about half the amount you want. Notice I did not say they are advertising similar quality, just similar descriptions. Do a search for diamond rings with GIA grading reports and you will see the vast majority of diamond rings have paperwork from sources you have never heard of before.

Other effective ways to find a buyer are classified ads in local newspapers and bulletin boards at church or work. The challenge is reaching enough people to find at least one buyer willing to pay your price. You have to be careful when doing this kind of transaction, especially if selling to a stranger. Do the transaction in a safe place and be sure you have a valid form of payment. You do not want to hand over your diamond and end up with a phony cashiers check or bad personal check.

Some jewelry stores and online retailers will sell your diamond on consignment. Online retailers with a local presence have an advantage in that they have large numbers of diamond shoppers on their website plus walk in traffic that can see your diamond in person. They also have lower overhead and prices so you can get a bigger share of the selling price. With jewelry stores often marking up prices over 100%, your share is likely to be less than half of the selling price.

Just be sure to get a written description of the item you are giving on consignment and the minimum amount you will accept for your diamond. All too often sellers are not being able to get their jewelry items back from a store or only receive a fraction of the amount they expected from the sale. However, if you have patience and a low priced, trustworthy retailer to broker your diamond, you have an excellent chance of getting an excellent price for your diamond without the hassle and safety issues of selling it yourself.

When buying loose diamonds, it is very important that you yourself know how to judge a real diamond from a fake diamond. You must also know how to gauge the different types of diamonds so that you wind up buying loose diamonds that are of the highest quality that you can get for the price you pay. And that means knowing the 4 C’s involved in the purchase of loose diamonds – these are namely the Cut, the Clarity, the Color, and the Carat of each diamond that goes through inspection.

When a loose diamonds expert describes the cut of each diamond, he is referring to how the diamond was cut so that its brilliance is stunning to the naked eye. The cut of the diamond will allow this gem to reflect light much better compared to the badly or poorly cut diamonds. When you encounter an artisan who has mastered the fine art of cutting diamonds, he can literally transform each diamond that passes through his hands into a masterpiece. But a novice or untalented artisan who gets even the best rough diamonds will produce badly cut diamonds that would never pass scrutiny at any time.

The clarity of loose diamonds becomes apparent when each stone is handled under 10-power magnification. This helps the artisan see if the loose diamonds have any surface flaws because surface flaws will diminish the brilliance of the final product. The rating for diamonds based on clarity start at “completely flawless” (which means these are the loose diamonds of the highest caliber) and culminate with “noticeably imperfect” (which means these are the loose diamonds with the lowest possible rating a gemologist can give). The “completely flawless” loose diamonds will sparkle the brightest under light.

The most desirable color for any loose diamonds is crystal clarity with zero color. But in reality, diamonds come in a host of colors aside from being just clear diamonds. You can get diamonds that may start at color yellow then progress to brown, and even some loose diamonds that have rare colors such as blue, green, and pink. (If you have ever heard of the famed “Pink Panther” diamond, then you probably know this is true.) There are other colors too for diamonds, dubbed “fancies.” The highest possible rating based on color is D (for those diamonds that are crystal clear with zero color) while the lowest possible rating is Z (for those diamonds that are colored a robust yellow.) It is believed that a diamond with zero color sparkles the best, especially when you compare it with colored diamonds.

All loose diamonds are measured in terms of carats when their weight is considered. Each carat is made up of 100 points. If, for instance, you have a diamond that merits 75 points then it is said that diamond weighs .75 carats. It does not automatically follow that two diamonds with equal points (meaning they have equal carats) have equivalent value though. Carat weight only helps you determine which diamonds have the biggest size but total quality per diamond is measured by combining each of the 4 C’s during appraisal. That is why you can get diamonds of superior quality which are much smaller than other diamonds of lesser quality.

So before you set out to buy loose diamonds, it would be best to become proficient at judging loose diamonds based on these 4 C’s first. If not, you should get loose diamonds from reputable gemologists instead.

As lips whisper the sacred vows and the tintinnabulation fill the ambience around, all eyes gazes on the fingers of the bride and groom as they exchange the engagement rings and get bonded forever. Engagement rings hold special significance in a wedding and in most cases diamonds are women’s best friends.

Again, engagement Rings look the best when they are studded with perfect cut diamonds reflecting their eternal beauty and brilliance. So, before you gift your loved ones the most precious stone in the form of engagement rings ensure that you are buying internally flawless diamonds that meet the cardinal rule of 4Cs including cut, carat, color and clarity.

Diamond engagement rings come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Diamonds can be round shaped that are supposedly the best shape to reflect utmost brilliance; or the other shapes include square, rectangle, oval shape or pear shape. Emeralds cut diamonds are rectangular shaped and they are considered to be the ultimate style statement in terms of sophistication. In the heart diamond rings, the diamond stones are either elongated or flat and mostly set in Platinum. However, it is the pear shaped diamond rings that refracts maximum amount of light and dazzles with its brilliance.

The three stone studded radiant diamond rings make a wonderful wedding anniversary gift too. In these kinds of diamond rings three matching diamonds are put in a horizontal row with the middle position taken by a big-sized diamond.

The three stones in these hold a very special meaning; they symbolize the past days lived together, the present moments of togetherness and also hold a hope for the future. If this isn’t amazing, there are other varieties that include but not limited to cluster rings, solitaire rings. Where in a diamond solitaire ring is a ring with only one perfect cut diamond stone that sets it apart from the crowd.

The solitaire diamond rings are simple yet stylish and are available in varied shapes that harmonize well with the fashion sense of any woman. Again, the cluster setting engagement rings is made as a large piece from many small stones.

Before you buy diamond engagement rings ensure that you buy the stone backed with authentic certification such as GIA or AGS as the market is filled with many scammers. You should always try to avoid buying Moissanite diamonds, as there will be lot of jewelers who would try to dupe you by selling them as real ones.