My Pink Diamonds

Retail Jewelry Stores
A common belief is that all jewelers are out to get you and that you’re going to pay too much for a diamond or engagement ring. This is true for all industries and businesses, not just the jewelry industry. There are good businesses and there are not so good businesses. There’s always a chance to pay more than you have to when buying a car, electronics, jewelry, or whatever. The key is to do your homework and find a jewelry store that you know is creditable; sometimes a referral from a friend is the best place to start. Now it’s true that most jewelry store prices will start off listing higher than many of the on-line businesses, but you have to consider all things. Who will size your ring when it needs to be done? How much will it cost when you have it done? How long will you be without your ring? There is a huge amount of convenience when buying local because many jewelers do all their work in-house. This means no waiting and sometimes you can actually have your ring sized or altered on the spot. Imagine proposing to your girlfriend and then telling her she has to wait 2-3 weeks before wearing it because it has to be shipped back to the on-line jeweler for sizing!
Other benefits are the warranties that come along with the purchase from a local jeweler. I had a customer come to our retail showroom not too long ago with a ring he bought from Bluenile. He brought his fiancé in to be fit for the ring and we sized the ring for $75.00. 2 weeks later she came back and said that she chose to have the ring sized too small and needed to be sized again. Another $75.00! Now they’re up to $150 in additional fees and they’ve only owned ring 2 weeks. Imagine the expenses you’ll accumulate over the lifetime of the ring! Another issue is the replacement of missing diamonds; today’s engagement ring styles are very complicated and can be set with intricate diamond combinations. These tiny diamond accents are prone to falling out. When you need to have a small diamond accent replaced you could pay $75.00 to $150.00 in repair costs. Do you see the repair costs adding up? Most local jewelers value your business; in effort to keep you happy they’ll take care of any costs associated with the upkeep of your ring. If you think I’m being one sided don’t worry, I have a lot of positive things to share with you about buying on-line also.
One of the other benefits of shopping locally is the ability to see and examine the diamonds before buying. A big misconception is that all diamonds are graded exactly the same way and that an SI2 on-line is the same as an SI2 in a store. Truth is that every diamond is uniquely different and some diamonds are better than others even if the grades are identical. There are good VS2’s and there are bad VS2’s how do you know which one you have? I’m assuming of course that you know what a VS2 is, if you don’t you can visit http://therealscooponbuyingdiamonds.blogspot.com and I’ll be happy to explain it further to you. You really need to see the diamond first hand and look at it under a microscope to be able to compare one to the next. You can have two diamonds graded exactly the same but one may be poorer a version of the same clarity grade because it was graded by two different people with different opinions. This of course greatly affects the value of the diamond and you’re not aware of it unless you see them first hand. Shopping locally empowers you by allowing you to compare one diamond to next in real life situations.
Now if you say “That’s all well and good but I still want the best deal I can get” and the bottom line price is still you’re biggest concern then simply be honest with the people you’re shopping with. Truth be known, most jewelers are flexible in their pricing. You just have to communicate your needs with them properly so they know where you stand. They don’t read minds and if you want the best deal you can get for a diamond then say that to them. You can’t get what you don’t ask for and nobody is going to volunteer this unless you ask for it. If you tell the local jeweler that you have been shopping on-line and you want them to match the price, they’ll probably do it. The best strategy is to bring the Internet listing from the website that you are shopping with and give it to the jeweler. Ask them to show you a diamond of the same size, clarity and color, this way you are comparing apples to apples. In some cases they’ll match the price and you’ll get the best of all worlds including warranties, service, price and convenience.
There are no magical formulas or pixie dust that allows one on-line jeweler or retail jeweler the ability to buy a diamond for less than their competitors. Retailers and on-line jewelers pay the same amount for a diamonds and the going rate is the going rate. So your local jeweler has the ability to sell the diamond at the same price as the Internet jeweler, you just have to give him reason to. The best advice I can give you is “Don’t make them jump through hoops”; if they’re going to give you a great deal don’t make them work hard for it. Otherwise they may lose interest in the sale and say “No Thanks!”. Be honest and fair with them and you may be surprised at how helpful they can be.
Internet Jewelers
Ok I know you have been waiting for this, so here it is… Yes you can buy a diamond for less on the Internet! You’ll also save the sales tax. But you need to know that not all Internet jewelers are created equal and you really need to become familiar with whom you are dealing with. Lets start with some important issues. First, you should know that most Internet jewelers don’t own their own diamond inventories. What they do is create computerized lists from diamond wholesalers and suppliers from around the country and place these lists on their websites. Now the problem with this is that these Internet jewelers have never seen the diamonds that they sell so they don’t know what they are giving you. If you see a diamond listed on their site and ask them to describe it to you they have to call the supplier who owns the diamond and have them describe it to them first so they can describe it to you. That’s fine as long as you are aware of the process.
Now, there are Internet jewelers who do own their inventories and actually hand select the diamonds that go on their website. The benefit is that these Internet jewelers have the ability to weed out problem stones because they get to see the diamonds before they buy them for resale. Allow me to give you an example of a problem diamond, take an SI1 diamond for instance. By definition, an SI1 diamond should not have imperfections that can be seen to the naked eye. However, I’ve seen GIA certified SI1 diamonds with imperfections that were plain as day when viewing the diamond to the naked eye. How does the Internet jeweler that’s selling computerized lists of diamonds know what kind of SI1 he/she is selling? They don’t! That’s why its important to choose an Internet jeweler who owns their inventory and hand picks each diamond personally. The benefit is that you can call them and ask them to describe the diamond to you to be sure that it’s not a problem diamond. When wholesalers have problem diamonds that retail jewelers and Internet jewelers (that own their inventories) won’t buy, they list them on Internet websites because there’s nobody to verify the problem.
In the end you suffer because you unknowingly buy the problem diamond. What’s the solution? Work with an Internet jeweler that can hold the diamond in their hand and inspect it for you. Or work with a smaller yet trustworthy Internet jeweler who has a pulse on all the suppliers that they work with so they can verify the validity of the diamond grade. The larger Internet jewelers like Bluenile undoubtedly have a harder time weeding out the problem diamonds because they sell so many diamonds from these published virtual lists. You’re diamond purchase is just another number to them while the smaller Internet jewelers can spend more time with you on the phone answering your questions and sorting through their diamonds. Another benefit to shopping online is the lack of pushy salespeople to deal with. As with many retail environments you’ll occasionally run in to the hard-core salesperson at local jewelry stores. If you’re the type of person who likes to move at his/her own pace and doesn’t like to be pressured then the Internet jeweler is a great option. If you find an informative site you’ll have the time to gather information about diamonds at your own pace without the pressure of having to make a quick decision. You’ll also cover a lot of ground very quickly because you can compare thousands of diamond prices with the click of a mouse. Shopping locally can be a long laborious process while spending hours at each location before going on to the next store.
If you choose to buy your diamond online require several things from your Internet jeweler. First is a no-frills return policy, the standard for an established and creditable Internet jeweler is 30 days. Next is gemological certification, this is important because you want to be assured that the diamond is graded as fairly as possible. I would only choose the Internet jewelers that display the BBB-Online Seal. The Better Business Bureau is a great consumer advocacy group and won’t allow any website to display the seal unless their identity has been verified. They’ll also remove the seal if the Internet site is abusing the use of the seal or is using unfair business practices. In the end you’ll have to decide what’s more important, price or guarantees. Some people would never buy a diamond from an Internet jeweler and some hate shopping locally. There are no secrets or shortcuts but you have to take the time to understand that there are pros and cons to both options. Nobody can say what’s best for you and your fiancé but you.
Good Luck Shopping and feel free to contact me for any information about diamonds or diamond engagement rings!
Andy Moquin
President – Andrews Jewelers Inc.
CEO – Rokstok.com
http://www.andrewsjewelers.com

Learning how to choose the diamonds is essential so that you will get the superb diamond engagement ring for your money. People who are looking for diamond engagement rings should start with the Four C’s of diamonds since these are the benchmarks on how diamonds are graded and valued.The Four C’s of the diamond industry are the Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat of the diamond. When purchasing a diamond engagement ring, it is now a common practice to choose the diamond first before selecting the base and the settings for the engagement ring band. The Cut The first C that you need to consider when purchasing that important diamond for the engagement ring is the Cut. Many mistake cut for the shape of the diamond which comes in variations. Shapes of loose diamonds include marquise, pear, heart, emerald, princess, cushion, and round brilliant. Among these shapes, the common choices are the princess and the round brilliant. However, as mentioned earlier, the shape of the diamond is not the criteria for grading the cut. The Cut of the diamond refers to the expertise and skill involved in the actual cutting and polishing of the diamond. This also refers to the degree of symmetry the diamond has in relation to its table (the flat surface area of the diamond) and the depth (the length from table to the tip). Furthermore, a diamond’s cut is also valued on the number of angles and facets which can affect the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. A diamond with a excellent cut grading is one that will be able to show an excellent light performance. Light performance refers to the way light ‘dances’, refracts and reflects as it passes through all the facets of the diamond. Diamonds with symmetrical and well-angled facets will exhibit an excellent light performance. This performance of light will show the diamond’s brilliance, fire, and sparkle (collectively known as “bling” or “the gaga factor”). There are a number of scientific ways to measure a diamond’s ‘bling’ or light performance. Diamond traders are currently administering a wide variety of visual scopes to know the brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. Substandard cut diamonds are usually unsymmetrical and can leak light which makes it appear duller than diamonds of high quality cut. If you are going for a diamond engagement ring with more “bling”, the round brilliant diamond is right for you.The ClarityA diamond’s clarity scoring is a measure of the number of blemishes and inclusions (also known as flaws) that a diamond has. Although, the clarity of the diamond does not greatly influence/affect its brilliance, the greater the blemishes or inclusions a diamond has, the poorer is its value. However, a diamond that has minimal inclusions is still a beautiful diamond if the inclusions cannot be seen by the unaided eye. Remember that there is no such thing as a perfect diamond and that most loose diamonds in the market nowadays possess inclusions or blemishes. As some jewelers point out, the inclusions of diamonds is one way of identifying a diamond because the patterns that these inclusions form act as the diamond’s fingerprint. When purchasing a diamond for an engagement ring, it is ok to choose one that has a few inclusions just as long as these are only visible under magnification. The ColorColorless diamonds are scored using a letter scale which starts from a D rating (truly colorless) to a Z rating (brownish). A top quality diamond is one that is close to being colorless as possible. This means that it is graded within the D-F color bracket.When you choose a diamond within the D-F color bracket, you should have it set on white gold or white platinum to further enhance its colorless quality. The CaratThe carat weight of the diamond is one of the critical considerations in how a diamond is priced. Most diamonds that are used for engagement rings average from .50 carat to 1.25 carat. However, there are people who desire their diamond engagement rings to stand out and therefore buy a stone with a higher carat weight. You must remember that a high quality diamond does not necessarily have to be a larger stone. The size of the diamond is not an assurance of its quality. The quality of the diamond for your engagement ring is rated by the combination of all the factors that were discussed in this article. It is up to you, as the buyer, to determine which of these grading criteria you are going to prioritize and base your buying decision. No matter what diamond you choose with, as long as you made an educated decision and used the diamond wisdom given you, you will still end up with an attractive diamond engagement ring.

Hollywood beauties showcased the timelessness of diamonds, accenting their signature evening frocks with diamond jewelry. The result was purely ethereal: elegantly dressed willowy maidens polished with the incessant sparkles of their expensive blings. A myriad of diamond encrusted earrings, a diamond necklace here and there, an occasional flash of a diamond ring, and the charm of diamond bracelets on the wrists all added up to another unforgettable event.Academy award winner for best actress Kate Winslet accepted her award donning a 28 carat diamond pear shaped earrings and a 117 carat multi-cut diamond bracelet and a diamond ring, all by elite diamond jewelry designer Chopard. Another Chopard loyalist was Penelope Cruz who accentuated her vintage Balmain ecru gown with a 69-carat cushion cut diamond necklace, a 21 carat diamond ring and an 11 carat diamond stud earrings.Best actress nominee Anne Hathaway opted for Cartier, glamorizing her Armani Prive with a diamond dragon brooch at the rear of her gown, a diamond watch bracelet, diamond rings and earrings, another diamond brooch on her hair amounting to $1 million worth of diamonds. The fashionable Natalie Portman showed up in a sorbet pink strapless evening gown by Rodarte and wore with it a pair of brilliant 6 carat diamond dangling earrings by Kwiat.Sex and the City darling Sarah Jessica Paker chose a dazzling Dior Haute Couture evening dress, accessorized by her all-time favorite Fred Leighton diamond jewelry: a gold diamond bangle, diamond flower earrings and a 9 carat cushion cut diamond ring. Even the eclectic but equally stunning Gwen Stefani walked the red carpet in a classic black Channel dress, Roger Vivier shoes and diamond stud earrings by Bulgari.Freida Pinto, star of “Slumdog Millionaire”, strut her stuff in an electric blue tulle gown with intricate beading and embroidery. With this, she wore diamond jewelry from Martin Katz. The significant highlight of her evening garb was an Indian diamond ring encrusted with a 150-year old diamond stone. Marisa Tomei was radiant in her white Versace dress, which she paired with vintage diamond jewelry from Van Cleef and Arpels.Angelina Jolie came dressed in a striking black Elie Saab frock in the company of her gem of a husband Brad Pitt. She chose to accessorize her all black gown with fabulous 115 carat emerald drop earrings by Lorraine Schwartz. Schwartz is currently the big name in diamond jewelry and has a staunch following of clientele including US First Lady Michelle Obama.Indeed diamonds exude beauty and elegance beyond the ordinary. Diamond jewelry can never be out of place on a woman’s body, Hollywood actress or not.

Wedding is a very important part of our life. It is considered the second beginning of our life. Two souls are made one for lifetime by this ceremony. It is really an auspicious and blessing episode of our lives. Everyone wants to make this ritual of life something different and more glorious than others. You will surely have an idea of your perfect marriage ceremony in your mind and you are planning your wedding like that. Everything in that list bears an importance that was completely new to you. This is because you want your marriage 100% perfect and devoid any kind of blunder. Wedding jewelry sets are an important part of your wedding plan. You can not ignore this part, not at all. Jewelry is something that should be according to your choice and wish.In wedding jewelry sets you can not ignore your wedding ring set. Engagement ring and wedding ring comprise the wedding ring set of yours. Without these two things your wedding jewelry set can not be completed. Now you can make you wedding ring and your engagement ring similar to each other or make them differently. You can make your engagement ring and wedding ring designed like a ban. For its simplicity wedding bands and engagement bands have been liked by couples now a day. Your wedding ring set can be totally made up with gold or platinum. You can make your wedding ring set even more beautiful with a diamond or a Safire, or a ruby or an emerald. The choice is yours as it would be better to choose that matching with your wedding dress and ambience. You and your partner should consult before making the final choice as your wedding ring set that is rings for you and for your partner should complement each other. Some couples prefer matching wedding ring set as it looks so cute and complementary. Matching wedding ring set with engraving the respective names on the rings has also been the trend of now. For preparing the matching rings jewelry makers apply a method which can be identified with both styles. Neither the style of masculinity nor the style of feminine is dominant in these types of rings. That is they are matching and they can be worn by both men and women. Your matching rings can be handmade. You can choose the thickness of the band and the embellishments to distinguish your ring set from the many others that are around.As it is matching so you and your partner both have to choose the design of the ring and the matching factor. It can suit yours’ personality. The color and style and size of ring do not suit everybody so it is very important to have a look at all these things. Different people suits different colors and also wear different types of clothes and accessories. There are practical implications as well. People are now prefers to have a design which is easy to clean and handle.

Wedding ring set   are important because it compiles the both ring for you and for your beloved. Therefore buying a wedding ring and making a right choice is crucial and tough. You can buy a matching wedding ring set which consists of same styled ring for men and women. Or you can choose a set which has contrasting but complimenting rings for bride and groom.     In wedding jewelry sets you can not ignore your wedding ring set. Engagement ring and wedding ring comprise the wedding ring set of yours. Without these two things your wedding jewelry set can not be completed. Now you can make you wedding ring and your engagement ring similar to each other or make them differently. You can make your engagement ring and wedding ring designed like a ban. For its simplicity wedding bands and engagement bands have been liked by couples now a day. Your wedding ring set can be totally made up with gold or platinum. You can make your wedding ring set even more beautiful with a diamond or a Safire, or a ruby or an emerald. The choice is yours as it would be better to choose that matching with your wedding dress and ambience. You and your partner should consult before making the final choice as your wedding ring set that is rings for you and for your partner should complement each other. Some couples prefer matching wedding ring set as it looks so cute and complementary. Matching wedding ring set with engraving the respective names on the rings has also been the trend of now. For preparing the matching rings jewelry makers apply a method which can be identified with both styles. Neither the style of masculinity nor the style of feminine is dominant in these types of rings. That is they are matching and they can be worn by both men and women. Your matching rings can be handmade. You can choose the thickness of the band and the embellishments to distinguish your ring set from the many others that are around. As it is matching so you and your partner both have to choose the design of the ring and the matching factor. It can suit yours’ personality. The color and style and size of ring do not suit everybody so it is very important to have a look at all these things. Different people suits different colors and also wear different types of clothes and accessories. There are practical implications as well. People are now prefers to have a design which is easy to clean and handle. When looking for a wedding ring set it is important to make sure that both you and your partner’s hand suits the rings. Different people suits different colors and also wear different types of clothes and accessories. There are practical implications as well. A person who needs to clean their ring because of work will need a simple design that is easy to clean.It is usually a good idea to choose the thickness of the band and the embellishments to distinguish your ring set from the many others that are around.

The newest tendency to arrive in the diamond jewelry industry is The Right Hand Diamond Ring. What was once unheard of (a woman buying her own diamond ring) is now one of the most popular trends to hit the fashion scene.

A diamond ring was always worn on the left hand ring finger. Diamond rings are thought of as the traditional engagement rings or wedding rings, which are always worn on the ring finger of the left hand.

The Right Hand Diamond ring is marketed to financially independent women because they symbolize success, self-assertiveness and freedom, which is sort of the opposite of what the left hand diamond rings symbolize with love, commitment and union.

Right hand diamond rings are designed differently than the engagement rings. The stones are often smaller and there are generally more stones than a single one that we normally see with wedding rings.

Right hand rings came about because of the obsession for women to gain what the left hand rings stood for. The right hand rings are to show women they can be successful and independent without needing a partner in their life.

The modern woman strives to distance herself from the June Cleaver, submissive housewife icon that plagued women for ages. It plays on their independence and their feminist side that says you don’t have to be married to feel valued or loved.

Marketing possibilities have broadened for diamond rings. They use to market to men, the person spending money on the engagement ring. But today, they’re honing in on advertising campaigns that cater to a woman’s sense of self worth. The Right Hand Diamond Ring can be worn by married women as well as single women.

It isn’t just about being single when you’re talking about empowerment. It symbolizes strength in spirit, which married women can have as well as the successful single woman. These rings have also gained popularity simply because they are smart looking and something new to try out. A trend everyone’s enjoying.

Also, on a related note, the most familiar diamond look alike to most customer’s, is cubic Zirconia. Recently, Moissanite has also gained popularity and has often been mischaracterized as a diamond, although it is sold and retailed as a replacement.

Right hand rings can make the perfect gift for any strong spirited woman in your life, so browse the wholesale markets and find one that matches her personality.

Loose diamonds are commonly used for diamond jewelry manufacturing. They are widely used to embellish bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces and yes – watches, too! The presence of a diamond in any piece of jewelry makes it significant, not only in value but also in style. A ladies diamond watch is no exception – it gives the wearer an element of class.Hotel chain heiress and ultimate fashionista Paris Hilton has recently joined forces with Abazias, one of the biggest names in the diamond jewelry industry, to design her own signature collection of ladies diamond watches. The collection will be composed of 4 signature watches, made of genuine leather alligator straps and all of 1000 diamonds in each piece. Priced a whopping $100,000 to $250,000, the Paris Hilton watches are today’s ‘it’ diamond watches. The most expensive among the four designs is the “Pink is Love” piece which happens to be her personal favorite as well. Brandishing a blush-pink alligator strap, this diamond watch contains in its design over 6 carats of pink diamonds, 6 sapphires and more than 3 carats of white diamonds. Meanwhile the “Canary” design substitutes yellow diamonds with the pink while the other 2 designs named “Cotton Candy” and “Snow White” features white diamonds exclusively. For those with a more conservative bank account, there is no cause to fret. Paris Hilton also launched a substantially lower priced collection of fashion watches with the beginning price of only $29. Sans diamonds, this collection is definitely friendlier on the pocket! The ultimate fashion addict will be pleased to sport the Paris Hilton look with an elegant signature timepiece.The difference between investing on diamond jewelry and a diamond watch is that the latter is a more functional piece. Simply put, a diamond watch is essential because it has another purpose on your body apart from the fact that it beautifies. Typically, the diamonds are embellished on the face of the watch. In some cases, loose diamonds are contained inside the watch, and can be moved about upon each movement of the wrist. This is an interesting diamond watch design that became popular in the 1990’s. A diamond watch is a sound investment, as well as a remarkable gift. The status that it gives to the woman is inimitable because of its value and elegance. It can also be paired with just about anything in a woman’s wardrobe, just as diamond jewelry can also be worn with any type of clothing. Diamonds are the most versatile, graceful and enduring gems. No wonder they have been cited as a girl’s best friend! Paris Hilton can say Amen to that, indeed.

Awesome surroundings, bride dressed in her virtuous white gown looking beautiful as an angel and groom standing by her side willing to commit any term to be bonded with her, perhaps we all have witnessed this at several weddings. The entire atmosphere of the place seems nervous yet heavenly till they put wedding rings on each other’s fingers and say” I do”.

 

Now series of questions would be cropping in your mind as what we are referring with this discussion? The purpose of referring to this chaste ceremony is discussing the significance of wedding rings. What about wedding rings? Where and how to get them? What sort of wedding rings should one buy? Well, I do stands in assertion for all the pledges and vows one takes at the time of the wedding, which we guess couples do not hear most of the times on the wedding day. Perhaps that is why women have become smarter by getting the copy of vows framed for reminding their husbands about the vows later if need arises. Cutting out the humor lets come to our main trump of the ceremony-wedding rings.

 

The tradition of wedding ring signifies commitment and epitomizes marriage. This custom is celebrated in most of the countries in distinct manner like somewhere the brides would wear wedding rings in right hand while at other places it is worn customarily in the left hand in ring finger. But the only interesting fact to realize would be are they all the same everywhere? To put some light on this issue we would like to discuss few countries like Europe, France and Greece.  The reason for including these countries is that they all follow diverse ways as per their wedding customs are concerned. Initiating from Europe Christians prefers to keep the designs simple preferably in gold or platinum and ring exchange takes place just before the wedding. However they encourage engraving of date and name of couples on rings to attach more sentimental value to them apart from being pieces of jewelry.

 

Where as countries like Greece and France follow different design patter in rings like three bands entwined together signifying trust, love and optimism in a relationship or so0me interlocking designs.  And if we take more examples you would observe women wearing engagement and wedding rings together or they have some custom made wedding bands denoting value of marriage in life. Now the useful outcome of all these customs would be getting to know, what style and designing have been universally adapted by people?

 

Well to make one familiar with trendy designs one cannot miss on Celtic bands. They are different kind of knotty designs that has shapes and depict varying phases of marital relationship in life. These designs are generally very attractive and elegant. One really needs to search and find source to order these classic rings for wedding for his marriage. Remember these could be expensive spending, so please make sure that you purchase them from reliable source, true dealers and possess a money back value card.

 

We guess, so far we have almost discussed the variations and styles couples can choose as their wedding rings.

 

Your wedding day is perhaps the most crucial moment of your life and anyone might be interested in spending part of his lives saving to purchase his wedding ring. After all said and love is blind and lovers are well known to go to extensive lengths to please their love. It is certainly not out of common practice to incur in timeless beauties and elegant pieces as they are equally important for both partners and symbolize each other’s love through out their life, but do you really know how to be smart buyer?

 

To begin with we would like to stress on the style you wish to adapt for your ring. Whether you prefer a simple elegant band or a complicated design or a single diamond ring or even some custom made ring that you feel would be unique to your wedding bond. There is nothing wrong in wearing what you feel most about, the only aspect that matters is that it should be comfortable on your finger to be worn in casual routine and even the ring shouldn’t be delicate to get spoilt with regular wearing.

 

Next in question comes the metal you choose for your wedding ring. If we go by tradition gold bands were most appropriate rings for wedding and even till today people still prefer the old traditions. But then there were very limited choices and now sky is the limit as far as choices are concerned. Your choice for the metal would rely chiefly on your budget, for instance if you choose a white metal wedding ring instead of gold you would be spending less as gold rates have hiked tremendously in recent months. Similarly platinum ring would even cost you more than gold although the look would not offer much difference as compared to white gold. Then you have another choice amongst precious stone wedding rings which look very chic and absolutely classy. There are just few cautions in precious stone rings like they cannot be used for everyday wearing or the darker stones are usually very expensive etc. Although precious stones offer varied choices like ruby, topaz, emerald, sapphire yet diamond remains favorite amid most of the buyers.

 

You would also need to have appropriate know how about diamond purchasing and be aware of its genuine quality. Just as a precautionary measure we would like to alarm you about fraudulent cases where dealers have offered diamonds at low rates to couples that after words were recognized as pieces of fake diamonds or glass itself. So if you plan to purchase diamond rings and for that matter any precious stone ring make sure you purchase from a genuine dealer as you will only then get the value you paid for. Another approach people attach to precious stones recently is their birth stones. Trend has it to purchase precious stones suited to your birth time in metal settings to bring more prosperity and blessings for the newly wedded couple. So keeping this in mind you can contact a gem stone consultant and get precious stone weddings rings made for the impending wedding day.

 

Trends have definitely taken a twist when we observe couples opting for even tattooed wedding rings for the ceremony so as to bring religious touch to rings and being chic at the same time. As we said earlier also there could be no restrictions and nothing called wrong choices as far as rings for wedding are concerned. One significant aspect any couple should keep in mind is their wedding ring is not another ring they buy or change everyday and looking at the optimism of relationship you buy this sort of ring for your spouse just once. And for this ort of shopping perhaps you need to follow an array of advices.

 

We would say you sit together and decide what metal and color you would prefer your ring in. whether you prefer complimenting engagement and wedding rings because that way you can choose a simple ban as wedding ring and a little louder version for engagement. The point we are trying to make here is discuss and coordinate your choice so when you go for shopping you are not influenced by sales person and moreover it certainly saves fights and time. Another advantage of discussing before hand is you can make your choice considering the prices of metals in choice like gold, platinum and even diamond if you can afford to spend lavish on it.

 

Its really important to give your search ample time like if you wish to get your rings custom made or use loose diamonds for certain setting it takes at least two-three months, perhaps it would be even better if you start window shopping for this few months before only. Whilst making choices think practically like buy something that suits your life style although this does not mean that you have to follow a set pattern and cannot afford to be different. Well, be sure that you choose something that’s easy to maintain and does not loose its finishing with causal wearing. Most of the couples wear their wedding rings on regular basis and if you make some vague choices you might as well end up loosing on that.

 

Just one more piece of practical wisdom we would love to share with you. Do not buy a much fitted ring. Though we hate to say this but your size keeps fluctuating after marriage so a little comfort size will always please your fingers. There are other relative issues like comfortable shape, rounded edges and firmly fitted stones that matter in purchasing of these rings. As we said in the beginning it’s not a matter of expensive metal, big diamonds or loud designs perhaps they are apart of purchasing but on top of all this it’s your bond that’s most important and exactly what wedding rings should signify!

The most common diamonds that are used in engagement rings are the colorless types. Diamonds that belong to this category are the white or the colorless diamonds that are graded on a scale of D to Z. The more colorless diamonds are rated more valuable than those that are yellowish or brownish. Most people choose a colorless diamond for their engagement ring because these stones produce the most brilliance and sparkle when properly set on a metal ring that will further enhance their colors. White or colorless diamonds will sparkle more if set on white platinum or white gold. Diamond colors, meaning and recommended settings. However, a new trend is now arising when it comes to engagement rings. The use of colored diamonds are now becoming more and more popular since Ben Affleck gave Jennifer Lopez a pink diamond for an engagement ring. So if you are looking for an engagement ring that will be unique and will stand out, why not consider using fancy diamonds? Fancy diamonds are the colored loose diamonds. They come in intense colors and are much more expensive than their colorless counterparts. Rare colored diamonds, as the name implies, are hard to find stones such as pink, purple and brown. Some common colors of diamonds are yellow, blue and orange.Like roses, where each color has a different meaning; colored diamonds are also considered to convey different emotions. Yellow or canary shade diamonds expresses joy, happiness as well as wisdom. Choosing a metal for an intensely yellow stone differs on the desired effect. A yellow gold ring will further enhance the intensity of the yellow color and will make the stone and the ring appear as a whole. On the other hand, setting yellow diamonds on white platinum, white gold or blackened silver will draw attention to the stone because of the contrast. Pink diamonds represent love, joy, beauty and romance. A pink stone also symbolizes femininity and delicacy. The best metal to use in setting pink stones is pink gold. Some associate black as a symbol of illness and death but in diamonds, black represents sophistication. Black stones can be set on white platinum for contrast and can also be set alongside small colorless diamonds. Diamonds that have intense blue colors represent peace, spirituality, youth and loyalty. Green diamonds represent wealth and also jealousy. Red diamonds show confidence and power and also romance. Purple diamonds, because of its extreme rarity, means luxury, opulence, and royalty. Colored diamonds are not as brilliant as their colorless counterparts. Because of this, the round brilliant cut is not recommended for colored stones. Most colored loose diamonds are used for princess cut engagement rings or the emerald cut engagement rings. Because of they do not sparkle as much, most people prefer to have their colored diamonds set in white or pale metal rings so that the contrast will make their stones stand out more. The color of the diamonds comes from the crystallization process. The different colors of diamonds come from the different materials that surround them while crystallization is taking place. Yellow diamonds are formed when high amounts of nitrogen are absorbed within the lattice of the diamond during crystallization. Blue diamonds are formed when boron, instead of nitrogen, is absorbed. Some of the colors of diamonds did not come from the absorption of other elements. Red diamonds are formed when the carbon chains that make up the stone becomes twisted during the crystallization process. Green and pink diamonds are also formed this way. Colored diamonds are valued differently. The price value of these colored stones depends on the intensity and the rareness of the color. Naturally occurring colored diamonds are very rare to find. They are so rare that most jewelers may not even have the chance to sell one in their stores. Most colored diamonds are more expensive than their colorless counterparts. A small purple diamond, because of its extreme rareness, might value significantly higher than a colorless stone with a high carat weight. So if you want your diamond engagement ring to be unique, you should choose a colored diamond for it.

Diamonds are measured in Carat Weight. One carat weighs 200 milligrams. If a diamond is referred to as four grains, this also means that it is a one carat diamond. The word Carat comes from the word carob. A carob is a bean that grows on a tree in the Mediterranean. In times past, if a diamond weighed the same as a carob bean, it was one carob, or one carat.

However, in the far east, where Carob trees do not grow, rice was used to measure the weight of a diamond. If a diamond weighed as much as four grains of rice, it was four grains, or one carat as we know it to be now. The majority of diamond purchases are for diamonds that are 1/3 of a carat.

Beware when shopping for diamonds that are already set or mounted. If more than one diamond is used in the piece, the tag on the jewelry will give the CTW or Carat Total Weight, it does not tell you the carat weight of each stone in the piece. You need to ask the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in the piece to truly understand what you are buying.

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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All About the Clarity of Diamonds

Clarity is an important aspect of a diamond, and it is important to know how to grade the clarity of a diamond before you buy one. It is actually quite easy to learn how to grade the clarity of a diamond. There are basically two things that you must understand: Diamonds with visual inclusions and blemishes, and those that are «eye clean» meaning that there are no inclusions or blemishes that can be seen with the naked eye. From there, the clarity of a diamond is further broken down into subcategories.

Many people mistakenly think that diamond clarity refers to how clear it is. This isnТt so. Clarity actually refers to the internal and external imperfections of the diamond. The best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL or IF, Flawless or Internally Flawless, meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect, with a grade of I-3 being the worst.

Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which means that the diamond is very, very slightly imperfect; VS1 and VS2, meaning the diamond is very slightly imperfect; SI-1 and SI-2, which means that the diamond is slightly imperfect.

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Are Diamonds Really Rare?

When you walk into a jewelry store and see all the diamonds in all of the various settings that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that diamonds are indeed rare. Most people don’t even stop to consider how that diamond came to be sitting in that jeweler’s case! There is quite a bit of work that is done before a diamond is ready to sell to the general public!

For every one million diamonds that are mined, only one will be found that is a quality one caret diamond. In order to find a two caret diamond, about five million diamonds must be mined. More than two hundred tons of ore must be mined to find one small diamond, and even then, more than 80% of the diamonds that are mined are only good for industrial use, such as diamond drill bits.

So, the next time you visit your local jewelry store, ask to see the one carat diamonds. You should look at this diamond with new Appreciation, knowing that it truly is one in a million!

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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Bonded Diamonds

Before you start shopping for diamonds, consider dealing with a bonded jeweler. Bonded jewelers sell bonded diamonds, and there are very few bonded jewelers in the world. In fact, out of all of the jeweler’s in the world, only about 5% of them are bonded. Buying a bonded diamond will cost more than buying a non-bonded diamond, but when you look at what you get with the bonded option, you will see that it is well worth the extra expense.

First, bonded diamonds have a buy back policy for the life of the diamond. No matter how long you have had the diamond, you can take it back to the bonded jeweler and sell it back to him or her, for a 100% refund. If a jeweler does not offer a 100% buy back guarantee, for the life of the diamond, then you should take a closer look at the diamond to see what is wrong with it.

Bonded diamonds also have a breakage policy. If the stone breaks or chips, the bonded jeweler will replace it with a new one, one time. No jeweler would ever offer such a policy on any stone that was not 100% natural, so just the offer of such a policy should give you piece of mind concerning the quality of the diamond. Bonded diamonds are natural and untreated.

Bonded diamonds increase in value, with a fixed appreciation rate that is designed to keep up with inflation. This means that a diamond that is worth a certain amount of money today will be worth more in the future, as the price of diamonds continues to rise. This generally does not apply to buy backs, however. It typically applies to trade-ins.

Alternately, by purchasing a bonded diamond, you are protected against the possibility of a market crash. If a market crash occurs, the value of diamonds will drop. However, the bonded jeweler guarantees to refund you the difference between what the diamond is now worth and what you paid for it before the market crash.

It may be difficult to find a bonded jeweler in your area, but if you can, this is who you want to deal with, as opposed to dealing with an un-bonded jeweler. Specifically tell the jeweler that you are only interested in bonded diamonds. You can find a bonded jeweler in your area by using various online resources, or by calling the local jewelry stores.

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Buying Diamonds Online

With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems, as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful, sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds, especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, youТve found a diamond that you love, and youТve found the lowest price, but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the sellerТs return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds, preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

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Choosing The Cut of A Diamond

There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut into, unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business, but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on how much the diamond sparkles, but the actual cutting itself, when the diamond cutter actually cuts the diamond into a particular shape, also matters a great deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.

However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond doesn’t refer to its shape at all. Instead, this is a reference to the stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets.

When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut, the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.

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Colored Diamonds

Fancy colored diamonds are all the rage these days. Gemologists have developed new ways to create versions that are affordable for the average person – by treating less desirable diamonds. These less desirable diamonds are treated with irradiation followed by intense heat. This turns brown and yellowish diamonds into beautifully colored diamonds that you can afford. This produces stunning greens, blues, yellows, reds, purples and other colors. These colors are considered permanent, but there is a possibility they could change during repairs if a high heat is used.

Treatments like irradiation make it possible for more people to own these vividly colored diamonds. Most natural colored diamonds are rare and also extremely expensive. When shopping for colored diamonds you need to assume that any affordable fancy color diamond has been treated. Ask about the stones origin and request to view a lab certificate to verify authenticity.

Synthetic colored diamonds are another option if owning a colored diamond is something you desire but cannot quite afford. They are real diamonds, but they are created in a lab.

Natural fancy color diamonds get their coloring from different trace elements present in the stones, such as nitrogen, which produces a yellow diamond. Diamonds can be colored by exposure to radiation during its creation. An example of a diamond affected by radiation is a Green diamond.

Another way that a natural colored diamond gets color is by its inclusions. Regarded as flaws and undesirable in a colorless diamond, inclusions give unique tones and brilliant flashes of color in a fancy color diamond. Remember that Natural fancy colored diamonds are very expensive, any colored diamond labeled to be sold as natural should be accompanied by a certificate from a respected grading lab.

A “fancy” diamond is a natural diamond that has color. These colors vary from red, green, purple, violet, orange, blue and pink, and most shades between. Fancy color shades vary from faint to intense.

The most famous diamonds in the world are Color diamonds. The Tiffany Diamond, which is yellow and the Hope Diamond which is blue are colored diamonds. Color diamonds have an amazing financial track record. The value has never decreased on wholesale level in more than 30 years. Blue and pink diamonds have doubled every 5 years of a strong economy. In the 1970’s you could have bought a very high quality blue diamond for about 50K and today the very same stone would be worth between 2 and 3 million.

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Diamond Brands and What They Mean

Diamonds are one of the few products that simply cannot be «branded.» Even though there are different cuts, different grades, and different values placed on each and every diamond in existence, no diamond is any specific brand, just as gold is not a specific brand.

Branding is actually based on who owns the diamond. For instance, if DeBeers owns the diamond, it is a DeBeers Diamond, but it is still just a diamond. If the diamond was cut by a specific well known cutter, then it might be branded in that way as well, but it usually isn’t. It is still branded based on who owns it at the time. So basically, when it comes down to it, diamond brands mean absolutely nothing at all.

Do not allow a jeweler to try to talk you into paying an exorbitant price on a diamond because it is a specific brand. This is a bit of trickery used by unscrupulous jewelers when they know that they are dealing with people who don;t know much about diamonds. Remember that diamonds are not actually branded, unless mother nature has her own brand!

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Diamond Certificates

A diamond certificate is also known as a Diamond Grading Report. This report comes from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and you should require this report when you are purchasing a diamond.

With a diamond certificate, you can verify the color, cut, carat, weight, and clarity of the diamond. You don’t have to worry about a diamond dealer telling you anything less than the truth, because the certificate comes from the GIA, not the dealer. You may be required to pay for the certificate, but the cost is usually low, and in many cases, it will help you negotiate a better price on the diamond, or keep you from purchasing a lower quality diamond altogether.

If you buy a high quality diamond, and then later decide to sell the diamond, you will need to have the certificate, or you will have a hard time selling it to someone else. Furthermore, you can use the Diamond Grading Report to look up the wholesale value of the diamond in question. Use the guide that is used by the diamond cutting industry.

With the Certificate, or Diamond Grading Report, there wonТt be any doubts when you are trying to purchase a diamond. You can easily find out what the diamond is worth. This will prevent you from overpaying, and it can prevent a seller from under-charging as well.

A copy of the Diamond Grading Report should be given to your insurance company as well, when you insure the diamond. This provides absolute, unquestionable proof of the value of the diamond should it be stolen in the future. Insurance companies cannot argue with the report.

Avoid diamond dealers who seem reluctant to provide a certificate! Also avoid sellers who tell you that a certificate diamond will cost you more, the only additional cost should be the cost of the certificate, which is low. If the dealer doesn’t want to provide a certificate, then you don’t want to do business with that dealer.

Don’t accept certificates from Gemological Laboratories other than GIA. There are many fly-by-night Gemological labs these days, but in the end, GIA has been established as the most respectable and trustworthy, not to mention oldest, of the lot. So avoid dealers who don’t want to use GIA for certification purposes as well.

Don’t buy an expensive diamond without paying the extra cost of the certificate. If a dealer tries to convince you to make the purchase without the certificate, or if they want to use a company other than GIA, you can be sure that the dealer has probably greatly inflated the price of the diamond, they have something that they are hiding from you.

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Diamond Grading Reports

You’ve been told that having a certificate or a diamond grading report is important, and as a responsible consumer, you get one, unfortunately, you probably won’t understand a word of what is on that diamond grading report, unless you are a jeweler.

On the color grading scale, D, E, and F mean that the diamond has no color. G, H, and I means that it has very little color. J, K, and L means that the diamond has a slight yellow color. P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, and X means that the diamond is a darker shade of yellow. Z means that the diamond has a fancy color, other than white or yellow.

On the color grading scale, D is the most valuable, and X is the least valuable, however diamonds that get a Z rating are the rarest and most expensive diamonds in the world.

There are many aspects to a grading report. Figuring it all out can be very confusing. You should talk to a jeweler you trust, and have them explain everything on the diamond grading report to you.

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Diamond Scams

When it comes to diamonds, there are numerous scams to avoid. Most scams are minor, but there are some major ones that come up from time to time concerning the buying and selling of diamonds. Scams occur simply because most people who buy diamonds, for whatever reasons, don’t know that much about diamonds. Therefore, they are easily fooled.

A common scam that most jewelry stores participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam. The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a ring, only states the total carat weight of all diamonds in the piece, instead of listing the total weights separately for each diamond.

This leads consumers to believe that the main diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it is. Ask what the total carat weight of the center stone is. Also beware of fractions. Jewelry stores are allowed to round off diamond weights. This means that if the jeweler tells you that it is a 14 carat diamond, it is probably between 4 and 14 carat, but closer to 14.

Jewelry stores often run «fluorescence» scams to varying degrees. Referring to a diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very unique and special, but in fact, this type of diamond is of lesser quality, even though the jeweler will try to make you think you are getting something special. Jewelry stores also like to show their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask to see the diamond in a different, darker type of lighting as well.

Some truly unscrupulous jewelers target those who want appraisals on diamonds that were given to them as gifts or that were purchased elsewhere. They will try to tell you that the diamond is worthless, or worth less than it actually is worth, and offer to take it off your hands or trade it for a much better diamond, along with the cash to make up the difference. This is called low balling. Get a second, third, and even a forth opinion before taking any action.

Another common dirty trick is to switch the diamond you have chosen and paid for with one of lesser quality and value when you leave it to be set in a piece of jewelry, or leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only way to avoid this is to do business with one trustworthy jeweler. Avoid jewelers that you have not done business with in the past.

There are many more scams that jewelry stores commonly pull on unsuspecting consumers. Just use your best judgment, and purchase your diamonds with the utmost care and consideration.

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Famous Diamonds

Among the most well known diamonds is the Hope. This 45.52 carat steel blue diamond is currently on display at the Smithsonian. The legends of the ill-fortune and curse bestowed on the possessor of the Hope Diamond are many. This diamond was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958. The Hope was originally a rather flat, blocky110-carat rough.

The Dresden Green stands out among the natural colored diamonds. It is the largest green diamond in the world weighing 40.70 carats. This diamond is historic, large and has a natural green color with a slight blue overtone. These facts make it virtually priceless. The Conde Pink is a pear shaped and weighs 9.01-carats. This pink diamond was once owned by Louis XIII.

The Tiffany Yellow diamond a beautiful canary-yellow octahedron weighing 287.42 in the rough (metric) carats discovered in either 1877 or 1878 in South Africa. The gem after cutting boasts the extraordinary weight of 128.54 carats. And until recently, was the largest golden-yellow in the world.

The Koh-I-Noor ( Mountain of Light ) is now among the British Crown Jewels. This diamond weighs 105.60 carats. First mentioned in 1304, it is believed to have been once set in Shah JehanСs famous peacock throne as one of the peacocks eyes.

The Agra is graded as a naturally colored Fancy Light Pink and weighs 32.34 carats. It was sold for about 6.9 million in 1990. Since this sale, it has been modified to a cushion shape weighing about 28.15 carats.

The Transvaal Blue is pear cut. This blue diamond weighs 25 carats. It was found in the Premier Diamond Mine in Transvaal, South Africa.

The Great Chrysanthemum was discovered in the summer of 1963, in a South African diamond field. This 198.28-carat fancy brown diamond appeared to be a light honey color in its rough state. However, after cutting, it proved to be a rich golden brown, with overtones of sienna and burnt orange.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond. Cartier of New York purchased this diamond at an auction in 1969 and christened it “Cartier.” The next day Richard Burton bought the diamond for Elizabeth Taylor. He renamed it the “Taylor-Burton». In 1978, Elizabeth Taylor put the diamond up for sale.

Prospective buyers had to pay $2,500 each to view the diamond to cover the costs of showing it. Finally, in June of 1979, the diamond was sold for nearly $3 million dollars.

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How Diamonds Are Cut

In their most natural form, diamonds are, well, quite ugly. They have no luster or shine, and in fact, look like nothing more than broken glass. A diamond must be cut, and then polished before it actually becomes a thing of beauty.

Diamonds are cut with saws, into round shapes. From the rounded shape, other shapes may be cut, such as heart shapes, but the shape is less important than the quality of the cutting that is being done. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose light, and it will not sparkle and shine very well.

Each facet of the diamond must be carefully cut into the geometrical shapes that allow the diamond to sparkle and shine, then the entire diamond is cut into a specific shape, such as an emerald cut or a princess cut diamond.

Once the cut is done, the diamond is put into a dop, which resembles a cup with another diamond, only a diamond is strong enough to smooth the edges of another diamond. Once the diamond has been cut and shaped, and had the edges smoothed in the dop, it is polished on a scaif or a diamond polishing wheel.

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How Diamonds Are Mined

We seldom think about how the diamonds we wear came to us. Natural diamonds, as opposed to synthetic diamonds or fake diamonds, are mined from the earth. There are currently two methods of mining diamonds: Pipe Mining and Alluvial Mining.

When pipe mining is used, the diamonds are extracted from the earth through volcanic pipes. These are not man-made pipes. These are natural pipes in the ground. Shanks are put into the ground next to the pipes, and tunnels are driven into the deepest parts of the pipe. The diamonds are not sorted out at the mine. Instead, huge rocks that are full of diamonds are brought out of the mine and moved to a screening plant for separation.

The Alluvial mining method is done in riverbeds and on beaches. Walls are built to hold back the water and the sand on the bank or beach is moved with a bulldozer until the level of earth that diamonds can be found in is reached. Again, the diamonds are not sorted here. Instead, the sand that contains the diamonds is bulldozed into trucks, and taken to screening plants.

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How Diamond Prices Are Determined

Pricing most products is quite easy. Determine how much it costs to make the item, how much it costs to market that item, and then mark it up by 15, 30% or more. Simple, right? Well, pricing diamonds isn’t quite that simple. There are many factors that are considered when diamonds are priced.

Diamond prices are determined first by adding the cost of the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond, and all other costs necessary to turn the rough diamond into a marketable diamond. Depending on the importance of the diamond, an independent company may be called in to certify the grade of the diamond based on color, cut, clarity, and weight.

At this point, the diamond becomes more expensive each time it changes hands, until it finally reaches a retailer, where the price is raised a bit more. Before reaching the retailer, however, the diamond must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, to the independent grading company, and then to the Primary market. Once it has reached the primary market, it will be purchased by diamond dealers and wholesalers, and from there it will be sold to retailers.

As you can see, the earlier you can purchase a diamond in the process, the lower the cost of the diamond will be, but not the value. The value is based on what the diamond will sell for in the market place, through a retailer.

If you own a diamond, and you have no idea how much it is worth, you can have it appraised, but the appraisal may not be accurate. You will be better off obtaining a certificate through GIA, Gemological Institute of America. With the information on this certificate, you can use a cutterТs guide to accurately determine what your diamond is worth.

There are also many diamond price calculators available. These can be found on the Internet, and many diamond dealers use these as well. You must realize, however, that before you can accurately price a diamond, without a Diamond Grade Report, you need to know quite a bit about diamonds, such as different cuts, clarity, color, and weight, and how each of those aspects adds to the value of a diamond, or decreases the value of the diamond as the case may be.

Again, you will be better off if you get a Diamond Grading Report on the diamond, and use that information to look up the price in one of the guides that the diamond cutting industry uses. This will give you the most accurate value of the diamond in your possession, or of the diamond you are considering purchasing.

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How to Buy Diamond Engagement Rings

There is much to consider when purchasing a diamond, especially diamond engagement rings! The tradition of presenting a woman with a diamond engagement ring when proposing began in 1477 when Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, and in most cases, the woman you plan to propose to will expect a ring to accompany that proposal!

First, determine how much ring you can afford. Most people use the Сtwo months salary’ rule. This means that the ring should cost the equivalent of two months of your current salary. Because you have other bills to pay, saving up this amount of money may take quite a bit of time. You should consider financing. Simply go to the jeweler of your choice and tell them that you plan to buy an engagement ring, and that financing will be necessary. Go ahead and get the credit check out of the way, find out what your payments will be, and how much of a down payment is required.

Now, have your mother, sister, or your girlfriends best friend take your girlfriend shopping, and make sure that they gaze at the engagement rings to get an idea of what she might like. Make sure that the jewelry store you buy the ring from will allow you to return the ring, if that is required, or allow your girlfriend to exchange it for another if she isn’t happy with it!

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How to Care for Your Diamond

Caring for a diamond takes more than occasional cleanings. Diamonds are forever, but they can be damaged if you are not careful. By learning how to properly care for your diamond, you will ensure that your diamond is indeed forever.

First, you should take your diamond jewelry to a jeweler once a year. Have him check the mountings and prongs that hold your diamond in place. Have him make any needed repairs. This will prevent your diamond from falling out of its setting and becoming lost.

Diamond jewelry that is not being worn, or diamonds that are loose should be stored in a fabric lined jewel case, or in a jewelry box where it can be kept separate from other jewelry. Each piece should have its own compartment. This will keep diamonds from becoming scratched, and it will also keep your diamond from scratching other jewelry as well.

Remove your diamond jewelry when doing physical work. Diamonds can be chipped and scratched easily. Also avoid allowing your diamond to come into contact with bleach or other household cleansers, this can damage or change the color of the settings and mountings, and it may even irreversibly change the color of the diamond!

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How to Clean your Diamonds

Through our day to day movements our diamonds get smudged and soiled. Even when we are not wearing them, they collect dust. Lotions, soaps, our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime on diamonds and inhibit their brilliance.

Want to keep that Brilliance and Shine?

Diamonds require cleaning so that maximum amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.

You can use an small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry. Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and place your pieces in the mixture. Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds. You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. You can use a small kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them while rinsing under warm water. Use a lint free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.

If your diamonds are in need of a stronger cleansing, you may want to soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of half and half water and ammonia. Once they have soaked for 30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings with a small brush. Then replace the pieces to the solution and swish them around in the mixture before removing them to rinse and pat dry.

If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, many department stores sell liquid jewelry cleaners. Most are kits, with everything you need included. You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions.

And if you find yourself more the «high-tech type», even in your diamond cleaning routine, there are multiple ultrasonic cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency to create a cleaning motion. All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using.

Only you can choose the cleaning method right for you. But, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and sparkling. Between cleaning, try not to touch your clean diamonds with your fingers or handle your jewelry by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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How to Sell A Diamond

There are many reasons why you may want to sell a diamond that you own. Perhaps you’ve gotten divorced, or you are strapped for cash. The reasons why don’t really matter, getting the best possible price is what counts! The way to obtain the best price for the diamond is to not be in a rush. Slow down, and carefully consider all of your options, there are many.

First, have the diamond appraised. In fact, have it appraised by two or three jewelers to get an accurate idea of the diamonds value. Tell the appraiser that you want the Rapaport Value. This is the wholesale value of the diamond, and it basically tells you the highest price that you can sell your diamond for. If your diamond has no certificate, you should consider getting a certificate from GIA. This may help you get a better price for the diamond as well.

First, try to sell the diamond yourself, to people you know. Friends and family members may be interested. If you don’t have any luck with friends or family members, you should turn to outside sources. Absolutely avoid pawn shops! A pawn shop will only offer you about 10% of what the diamond is worth!

Also avoid offers of selling the ring on consignment. There are many things that can go wrong, and there is no shortage of diamond scams, even in well known jewelry stores.

If the diamond is important, you should strongly consider auctioning it off through one of the famous auction houses, such as Christie’s or Sotheby’s. If it isn’t what is considered an «important» diamond or a high-end diamond, you should try to sell it to an individual using classified ads, or even eBay. However, selling to an individual that you do not know could put you in danger, especially if the diamond is worth a lot of money.

Your final option should be a jewelry store. It is vital that you not let your diamond out of your sight while in the jewelry store, you might find that the diamond you walked in with is not the same diamond that you walk out with! The jeweler will try to tell you that your diamond is of poor quality or low weight. Inevitably, there will be some problem with the diamond. This is where your appraisal and/or certificate will come in handy.

If the jeweler is fair, they will offer you between 60% and 80% of the value of the Rapaport Value. Do not accept anything less than this. Again, do not let the diamond out of your sight until you have been paid for it.

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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How to Spot A Fake Diamond

In this world of advanced technology it is almost impossible to simply look at a diamond and determine whether it is real or not, especially if you don’t know much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond, however.

First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with them. Avoid buying diamonds or other jewelry from jewelers that you have never dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists, walk away.

Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set in low quality metals. Take a close look at the stone. Fake diamonds are not durable, natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the most durable stone on the planet. Look for scratches or nicks.

After purchasing a diamond, take it to another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers for an appraisal to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly close. If you find that you have purchased a fake diamond, you may be accused of making a switch when you return to the store of your purchase; therefore, it is important to have a certificate for the diamond. No two stones are alike.

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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Insuring Your Diamonds

Insuring a diamond takes a bit of thought, planning, and shopping around. Diamond insurance isn’t like purchasing car insurance. It is quite different. Depending on the state that you live in, there are basically three different types of policies that will cover diamonds, and all insurance policies that cover diamonds are considered Marine type policies.

The first type of insurance policies for diamonds is an Actual Cash Value policy. If the diamond is lost or damaged beyond repair, the insurance company will replace the diamond at today’s market value, no matter how much you paid for the diamond to begin with. This type of insurance policy for diamonds actually is not that common.

The most common type of insurance for diamonds is Replacement Value insurance. The insurance company will only pay up to a fixed amount to replace the diamond that was lost or damaged beyond repair. This does not mean that they will pay that amount, it means that they will pay up to that amount. In most cases, the diamond can be replaced at a lower cost.

The third type of coverage offered for diamonds is Agreed Value. This is sometimes called СValued At.Т This type of coverage is very rare. In the event that the diamond is lost or damaged beyond repair, the insurance company simply pays you the amount that you and the company agreed upon. This is the best type of insurance to have, but it is rarely offered. If you can’t get Agreed Value coverage, Actual Cash Value coverage should be your next choice.

Your rates will be determined by the value of the diamond, the type of coverage that you select, and the area that you live in. If you live in an area with a high crime rate, you can expect to pay more for your diamond insurance coverage. It is important to remember that insurance agents are not qualified jewelers, and jewelers are not qualified insurance agents. It is best to get a certificate for your diamond, and to provide the insurance company with a copy of that certificate. This leaves the insurance company less room for arguments over the actual value of the diamond.

Don’t rely on separate coverage to cover your diamond. For instance, if you diamond is stolen from your home, it is probably covered on your home owner’s insurance policy, but the diamond probably won’t always be in your home, and once it leaves your home, there is no coverage.

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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Selecting Diamonds

Diamonds are graded for certification by laboratories using grading criteria. Four of these criteria are critical to understand when making a diamond purchase or investment. Known as the «Four CТs» these criteria are: color, cut, clarity and carat.

Color is the result of the composition of a diamond and it does not change. When a jeweler is describing the color of a diamond they are referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Because a diamond with no color allows maximum light to pass through, colorless diamonds are preferred for their sparkle.

Cut refers to a diamonds reflective quality. Most diamonds are cut with 58 facets. The brilliance of diamonds is heavily dependent on the cut. The different angles and the finish of a diamond determine its ability to reflect light and cause its brilliance and fire.

Remember that the cut of a diamond can have an impact on its durability as well as its beauty. Some cutting faults can make a diamond prone to breakage. A diamond that is cut too thin can also cause light to leak out of the back and the diamond will lose some of the sparkle and appear not to shine. So, as you can see the Cut is probably the most important of the Four C’s.

During the formation process, inner flaws, or inclusions occur in most diamonds. The number and size of these inclusions determine what is referred to as the clarity of a diamond. Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance and therefore are rarer and highly priced. To be considered «flawless», a diamond must have no surface or internal imperfections visible upon being viewed by a skilled diamond grader using10 power magnifications.

Carat is the unit of weight by which diamonds are measured. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. A carat is divided into 100 segments called points. 150 points would equal one and a half carats.

When you go to the store to make that all important diamond purchase, do not be shy! Ask questions, get the answers needed to make an informed purchase. Shopping for certified diamonds enables you to make an informed selection. Knowing the «four CТs» allows you to comparison shop and purchase the best diamond at a fair price. But, before making a purchase, shop around and decide what shapes and styles really appeal to you. Enjoy your diamond for years to come!

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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Synthetic Diamonds

The first synthetic diamonds were produced by General Electric in 1954. A synthetic diamond is basically a rock that has the durability, refractive index and hardness of a natural diamond, but it is made by man. A synthetic diamond should not be confused with stimulant diamonds, such as glass, cubic zirconia, or moissanite.

Although the technology for synthetic diamonds came into play in 1954, no synthetic diamonds were ever seen on the market until the 1990’s. This was due to the fact that it took many years for General Electric to produce a synthetic diamond that could compare with the quality of a natural

Diamond, and when they figured out how to do it, they found that it cost more to produce a synthetic diamond than it did to mine and cut natural diamonds.

Finally, a small company by the name of Gemesis Corporation figured out a way to produce synthetic diamonds that were of the same quality as natural diamonds, at a cheaper price. Today, Gemesis produces synthetic white diamonds, and colored diamonds as well. These diamonds sell for about 1/3 of the cost of a natural diamond, but there is a shortage of them, and they are hard to find. In fact, it seems that synthetic diamonds are rarer than natural diamonds!

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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What Are Dirty Diamonds?

A dirty diamond is one of two things: a rough diamond, or a diamond that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Rough diamonds are uncut and unpolished, hence, they are dirty. But that type of dirty diamond will soon be cut and polished and sitting in a beautiful jewel box in a display case. Then someone will purchase it, and before long, it will become a dirty diamond once again.

Diamonds become dirty. When you wash your hands with a diamond ring on, soap scum clings to it. When you put on hand lotion, it gets grease on it. Shower with your diamond earrings or necklace, and again, you get soap scum. In one short day, your brand new diamond could be dirty!

Purchase an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner the same day that you purchase your diamond jewelry, and use it every single day, without fail. The clarity of the diamond changes when the diamond is dirty, it loses its sparkle. By taking one minute each day to clean your diamond jewelry, you can avoid this, and your diamonds will never be dirty!

For any questions please contact us http://www.amazing-wedding-jewelry.com

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Where Diamonds are Mined

Argye mine located in the Kimberley region in the far north east of Western Australia. Owned by Rio Tinto, this mine is the world’s largest single producer of volume of diamonds. However, due to low proportion of gem quality diamonds it is not the value leader. It does produce 90-95% of the world’s supply of pink diamonds.

Diavik is also owned by Rio Tinto, located in Canada it is a very large mine. It is located north of Yellowknife and south of the Artic Circle on an island. The island is connected by an ice road. It is also an important part of the regions economy employing more than 700 people and producing more than 8 million carats annually.

Ekati diamond mine is owned by BHP Billiton and located south of the artic circle in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The Ekati is CanadaТs first operational diamond mine. Diamonds mined here are sold under the Aurias trade name Authenticity is verified through Canada Mark service. CanadaMark service is also owned by BHP Billiton Diamonds, Inc.

Baken diamond mine is located along the lower Orange River in South Africa. It is owned and operated by Trans Hex. The average size stone for 2004 was 1.29 carats. In 2004, this mine produced a 78.9 carat D color flawless diamond that sold for more than 1.8 million dollars (US)

as well as a 27.67 pink diamond that was sold for over 1 million US dollars.

Merlin is the second of only two diamond mines in Australia. No longer operating it was owned by Rio Tinto and sold to Striker Resources, who has explored the possibilities of reopening the mine.

Orapa is the world’s largest diamond mine. It us located 240 Km west of Francistown. The mine is owned by «debswana» which is a partnership between DeBeers and the government of Botswana. This mine operates 7 days a week. It maintains pre primary and primary schools for its employeeТs children. There is also a 100 bed hospital and game park. This mine began production in 1971 and is the oldest mine owned by the Debswana Company.

The Premier mine located in Cullinan, South Africa produced the largest gem diamond ever in 1905. The Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106.75 carats. This mine also produced the Golden Jubilee diamond which weighed 545.67 carats. This mine is owned by the De Beers Company and was renamed The Cullinan Diamond Mine in 2003 in celebration of its centennial.