The Four Important "C"s to Consider When Purchasing a Diamond

If you are planning to invest in a quality piece of diamond jewelry, are you aware that there are several things that need to be considered before your final purchase? The four key "C's to consider are: color, clarity, carat and cut.

Cut: How a diamond is cut is vital to its brilliance and reflective factor. Make sure that you are looking at a diamond either in natural sunlight or in an very well lit area. Observe how the light enters the stone and reflects back. When a diamond is cut proportionatley, light entering from the top will reflect from one facet to another and then will bounce outward. A good quality diamond will show a sparkling reflective surface and this is when you see that incredible fire, known as brilliance.

Color: While fancy diamonds (naturally occurring colorful diamonds) are rare, the average consumer purchases the transparent/colorless diamond. Fancy diamonds range in color from red, blue, yellow, pink and purple. These diamonds also command a very high price. Colorless diamonds allow more light through which = more sparkle and fire. The highest rating for such a diamond is D. The most valuable diamonds are rated D to F. The scale rates color down to Z.

Clarity: Is the stone clear or does it have flaws or cloudy areas? It is rare to find a diamond that has no flaws, since most of them do. Small minute crystals are called inclusions. Inclusions affect the beauty and value of a diamond. If there are many inclusions that can be seen with the naked eye, then it is a poor quality stone with less sparkle, while a stone with minute inclusions that can be noticed with a jeweler's loop has more sparkle and value. Diamonds that are perfect are graded as IF = internally flawless, VVS1-VVS2, very very small inclusions, VS1-VS2, very small inclusions, SI1-SI2 - small inclusions, I1,I2, I3-visible numerous inclusions.

Carat - This refers to the weight of the diamond. For example 100 pts = 1 carat, 75 pts = 3/4 carat, 50 pts = 1/2 carat, 25 pts= 1/4 carat.

If you have a set budget, rather invest in quality than size. Down the road, you can always upgrade to a larger diamond, or even add more diamonds if the design allows.

Several years ago one of our customers purchased a beautiful 1/2 carat diamond engagement ring--it was exquisite. On their 5th wedding anniversary, we remodelled the ring by adding smaller diamonds giving the ring a 1 carat total weight in diamonds. It went from 1/2 a carat to a full carat with VVS quality diamonds--not to mention its value on today's market.

Shop around, ask questions and you will make the right choice.

The Difference Between "Man-Made" and "Synthetic" Gemstones

Often the average consumer interchangeably uses the words man-made/simulated and synthetic gems thinking that it means the same, however, there are significant differences between the two.

The Egyptians were the first to produce man-made gems from glass. While the term man-made is commonly used, the term simulated gems means the same thing. These laboratory created gems look like the actual stone, especially in color, but do not have the characteristics of a genuine gemstone, i.e. crystal structure, stone hardness, natural inclusions. These stones are usually made from plastic or glass. A good example would be cubic zirconia which is a good impostor for genuine diamonds.

Synthetic gemstones, while they imitate the color of the actual gemstone, also have the similar characteristics of the gems. These characteristics include having the exact same crystal structure, transparency, natural inclusions, optical and chemical properties.

Until the proper equipment was developed to test the genuine from the fake, it was difficult even for seasoned gemologists and jewelers to differentiate. Today, there are sophisticated tools to distinguish the real from the faux.

As an example, we have a tool that we use to distinguish a cubic zirconia from a diamond. When it emits a small beep upon touching the surface of a diamond, we know that it is definitely 'a girl's best friend'. When a skeptical young lady comes in to have her diamond tested and the tester does not emit a sound, my message is, "boyfriend, you better start running for the hills'.

Pearl and Diamond Jewellery Are Building Blocks for Future Purchases

I recall when my parents had their retail jewellery store and parents, grandparents and godparents would come in to purchase dainty little pearl stud earrings. As a small child, I could not appreciate the significance of such a purchase for a little girl or young woman.

I do remember some of the conversations for the reasons that people purchased pearl earrings; "My daughter is turning 16, and this is her first pearl jewellery", "Our granddaughter was born in June, and pearl is her birthstone", another customer, who enjoyed purchasing fine jewellery for his wife and daughters, put it simply, and I never forgot his reasoning..."When I buy pearl jewellery for the women in my life, I am buying a piece that they will keep forever and I can buy complimenting pieces for them".

Pearl and diamond jewellery are classic pieces that can be worn everyday, with every outfit, every occasion, everyday, 24-7. They are timeless and stand the test of time from generation to generation.

They are neutral colored pieces of gems and can be mixed with other gem jewellery. They are the building blocks for future pieces, i.e. pearl earring = pearl ring, pearl strand, pearl ring, pearl brooch, pearl pendant.

One key factor to remember is that quality of gem is more important than size. An example would be the choice between purchasing a 5 pt. fine quality diamond versus a 10pt. poor quality diamond. If you invest in a high quality smaller diamond, I promise you that the stone will sparkle and will be noticed from a distance, versus a larger one that has no life (brilliance).

Rather wait, and save your money, and when the time is right, invest in a quality piece that you will treasure for a lifetime.

Choosing the Right Signature Ring For Yourself

A signature ring, is a ring that you wear everyday, or almost everyday. It's like your second skin--a part of you, your "signature" mark.

Firstly, you have to decide what type of precious metal suits you i.e. gold/silver/platinum. If you already wear i.e. gold jewellery and own quite a few pieces, then most likely, you would choose a gold ring.

Do you want a ring with a gemstone, or do your want a ring with a contemporary design? If you choose a gemstone ring, check out the hardness of the stone on the Moh's scale of hardness, before purchasing. A ring that will be worn everyday, should be a hard stone. Decide, which color works for you. Look at the colors in your wardrobe. Which stone would compliment the colors you wear often?

Hint--diamonds are the hardest mineral, and can be worn with everything, as they are a neutral color--and boy do they sparkle.

Size of a gemstone should not be the focal point, as the quality is more important.

Look at settings, since bezel settings protect a stone better, while a prong setting maximizes the beauty of a stone, but also can get caught in fabrics.

Look at your lifestyle, work style. If you work from home, or are a stay-a-home mom, you may choose something more simpler. If you work outside the home, you may choose a more flashier ring.

Also, choose a ring that can be a building block for other pieces of jewellery. For example if you choose a sapphire ring, down the road you can purchase a sapphire earring, pendant, etc.

Choose a ring that reflects your personality, individuality, spirit.

Innovative Ways With Wedding Bands

While a wedding band is symbolically worn on the 4th finger of the left or right hand--you certainly are not "married" or limited how you can wear these rings.

Acquiring a small band that securely fits your baby finger is a classic look. I have seen numerous people wear bands on their opposite hand and quite often that is
all they wear on that hand. For some individuals, it might be a treasured and beloved inherited ring that once belonged to someone very special.

The classic tri-color puzzle band is another popular ring that many people wear on their pinky--some actually buy it for that purpose.

If you have a band that does not fit your pinky, why not wear it as a pendant by simply putting a chain through it.

You can also modify the band by adding diamonds and recreating it as an eternity band. If you have a plain gold band, this newly revitalized diamond band would be a beautiful complimenting ring beside your existing gold band.

Depending on the size of the band, you could have a gemstone or initial set in the center, a bale added and worn as a pendant.

If the band is wide enough, you could have it sawn in half. You could keep one for yourself, and give the other half to a loved one. You could also wear one on your wedding finger, and the other half on a pinky. As well, add diamonds to the one half.

An experienced jeweler can work wonders in revitalizing an older band.

Unlimited creativity....a few ideas.....a new way of looking at bands.