Category: Jewelry

TOP 20 DIAMOND BUYING TIPS

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TOP 20 DIAMOND BUYING TIPS 1)  Buy just below whole carats (0.91ct, 1.9ct, etc.) and save hundreds or thousands of dollars. 2) Princess, Cushion, Oval, Emerald (and other fancy) shapes are generally less expensive than a Round cut diamond with the same carat weight. 3) To save money on an engagement ring, try a Mosaic setting. 4) To maximize your budget, consider an ‘Eye-Clean’ diamond (VS2 or higher), in which inclusions are invisible to the naked eye. 5) If your budget is more suited for a smaller diamond, get a Halo setting (small diamonds around the center stone).  Halo setting is a great way to make the center stone appear larger. 6) A well cut diamond can make the diamond appear larger. 7) Even if a diamond has the highest color or clarity grade, it will appear dull if the cut is poor. 8) Consider setting diamonds with a color […]

Why Are Diamonds Expensive?

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People say diamonds are a girls best friend.  But they are only rocks with carbon atoms that were exposed to high temperature and pressure for billions of years.  And ultimately these carbon atoms were turned into what we call diamonds. A diamond is the hardest material on the earth and the most expensive gemstone as well. Diamonds are not rare but high-quality diamonds that can be used in the jewelry are rare. Most of the diamonds found from the earth are not even a passable size and quality, and are used for industrial purposes. So coming up with diamonds with an acceptable carat weight, color and clarity are hard to find. After all the hard work of digging for diamonds from the earth’s crust, it’s time to convert the rough stone into a shiny and elegant diamond. Diamond cutting is the process that requires modern technology, equipment, and expert hands.  Once the […]

History of Diamonds

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Diamond name is derived from the Greek word “adamas”, which translates to “unconquerable.” What is a diamond? There are many views about diamonds. Most people think of a diamond as a beautiful gemstone used to make beautiful jewelry. We explain what your diamond really is? Technically Diamond is an allotrope, or a form, of the element carbon (a diamond is actually carbon in its most concentrated form). Within a diamond, the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. This arrangement of carbon atoms essentially means that the diamond expands outward at the same rate in all directions during its initial growth.                                                         Diamond is the most concentrated form of pure carbon in the […]

Your Salary vs World’s Most Expensive Diamonds

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We have all seen pictures of the enormous diamond engagement and wedding rings that top celebrity superstars like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez have been photographed wearing, but how much do these diamond rings cost and can you ever afford one, and if so how long would it take for you to save up to buy a diamond ring like that? According to the US Census, the median household income is $51,017. Using this average salary, this is how long it would take the average American to buy one of the world’s top ten most expensive diamonds, assuming that one’s entire income would go towards saving up for a ring!   Allnatt Diamond. The Allnatt Diamond estimated worth is $3 million, and would take the average American almost 59 years to buy this diamond. The Allnatt Diamond is named after Major Alfred Ernest Allnatt, a previous owner of the diamond. The […]

How To Read A Diamond GIA Certificate

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What is a GIA certificate? GIA stands for Gemological Institute of America. The GIA created the 4 C’s grading system and also has the strictest grading standards of the leading labs (other labs are IGI, AGS, GSI, EGL) but GIA is also the most consistent. An accredited independent gemological laboratory like the GIA issues a diamond certificate or diamond report. The certificate includes grades for the diamond’s carat, cut, color and clarity. The grades are very subjective since an individual looks at each diamond under a loop (10x magnifying glass) and is the opinion of the individual at the lab. Other information such as the diamond’s polish, symmetry, fluorescence, and a graphical depiction showing the location of the diamond’s inclusions is also included in the certificate.   Once you have the diamond engagement ring GIA certificate/report, first look at the Cut grade. This is the one of the most important […]

Am I Buying a “Blood” Diamond?

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You have probably seen or heard about the blockbuster movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon Hounsou showing the horrific diamond trade in Sierra Leone. Or you may even vaguely remember a Time Magazine article documenting the return of the blood diamond. What exactly is a conflict or “blood” diamond? Conflict diamonds are rough diamonds that are illegally traded to fund conflicts in war-torn areas, in particular wars in central and western Africa. The diamonds are extracted from mines using impoverished men, women, and children, and even in some cases slaves, who are forced to use primitive and backbreaking methods to extract diamonds from the mines. So now that you know what a conflict diamond is, how do you know if the diamond you are buying is from a conflict-free zone? Due to public outcry and the flood of conflict diamonds entering the market, a global process has been […]

How Do I Know What Diamond Shape To Pick for an Engagement Ring?

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Congratulations, you are ready to make the most important commitment of your life, marriage! You found the woman of your dreams, but how do you find the diamond engagement ring of her dreams? If you are looking to surprise your future fiancé, but have no idea what type of engagement ring she would like, here is some advice on how to figure out her style, without letting her know what you are up to. 1) Research. If you are a novice at buying diamond jewelry, start doing your research now. Understand the different types of diamond shapes and be comfortable enough to see a diamond and know its shape. A good resource to use is diamondhedge.com. This diamond price comparison site provides a useful tutorial on the 4 “Cs” of diamonds, shape, clarity, carat, and color. It’s also a great resource to find the best price once you narrow down […]

3 Secrets for Getting An Engagement Ring

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3 Secrets for Getting An Engagement Ring A diamond engagement ring is the third largest purchase the average person will make in their lifetime (behind a house and a car).  A one-carat diamond can cost a few thousand dollars to over $15,000. Most people have heard of the “4 Cs” of a diamond – carat, cut, clarity, and color, but don’t understand how these factors impact the pricing and look of a stone. It’s a stressful process searching for an engagement ring but here are 3 great tips when shopping for an engagement ring: BUY BELOW WHOLE NUMBERS If you are looking for a 2-carat or 1-carat diamond, one trick is to buy a stone that is slightly lower than the whole number (i.e. consider getting a 1.9 carat or 0.9 carat stone). Visually, no one will be able to tell the difference between a 2 carat or 1.9 carat […]