Diamond Buying AdviceDiamond Advice and Helpul Information on Choosing a Diamond

Let me tell you a story. This author’s story:

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband bought me a beautiful anniversary band; one center marquise diamond, flanked by two smaller marquise diamonds on either side. Fast forward three years later…

Getting ready to go to work on the first day after maternity leave…Dressed in a black skirt, and feeding my newborn a bottle; for some reason, I decide to look down at my ring finger. To my absolute horror, I discovered that the middle diamond was missing…Originally secured by two, apparently fragile prongs, a big gaping hole lay where there had once been a marquise stone. Panicked, I didn’t move. Suddenly, looking down, out of the corner of my eye, as I held my small son in the crook of my arm, I caught a small sparkle of light refracted from the loose diamond that sat squarely in the middle of my lap. Had I not looked down; or had I not worn a black skirt that particular morning, all would have been lost. I quickly snatched up the diamond and took the ring off. My husband took it to the jeweler later to have it re-secured.

A few years later, I lost the diamond again. Unfortunately, this time, it was not recovered. Is there a lesson in this? You bet. Prong settings do make a difference! Please keep the following in mind:

• A thin prong with a “hook” configuration can be easily pulled away. This configuration is not advised.
• Prongs should hold the diamond securely and have virtually no “wiggle room”
• Four prongs are more secure than two. Six prongs are more secure than four
• Have your ring examined by a professional jeweler at least yearly

It is hoped that my personal tale of heartache will not be yours, and also to serve as a reminder that it is possible to have the right diamond ring….but with the wrong prong. Check with your trusted jeweler to discover which prong is best for you.

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The presentation of an engagement ring is one of the monumental steps taken in the transformation of a relationship; immediately elevating it from an informally casual, to a decidedly serious stage. With so much time, money, effort, and emotion put into the selection and purchase; it only stands to reason that the presentation should be just as memorable and just as charming.

Each engagement should be special; and each day usually finds many a prospective groom wracking his brain in the pursuit of discovering that one unique or novel way to make his all-important presentation a memorable one. Along with the usually expected special dinner or surprise location, we have discovered yet another clever way to present an engagement ring…to supplement the surprise factor… in one of the most charming ways possible… a lighted ring box.

What nicer way could there be, than to be presented with a sparkling diamond engagement ring by a dimly lit restaurant table side; or on a darkened night beneath a shimmering moon. Yes, believe it or not, there are ring boxes available that are fitted with LED devices; specially designed to illuminate the engagement ring at the precise moment the box is opened. One will find that boxes of this type are available in price ranges that are surprisingly affordable. Do you prefer velvet or leather?

Of course, the cost is largely based on the materials used; and so varies from vendor to vendor. Also, please in mind that it should complement the ring and not detract from it, and that real radiance emanates…through love.

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Picking out a diamond engagement ring is a very exciting and memorable experience. The more you know about diamonds the better you will be at finding the perfect diamond to fit your budget. To be able to choose a good quality diamond you must first understand the 4 C’s. The 4 C’s are cut, color, clarity and carat weight.

When a jeweler talks about a diamond’s cut they are not referring to the shape. The shape refers to the general appearance of the diamond. They are talking about the angles and proportions that are made when a rough diamond is transformed into a polished diamond.

The cut is probably the most important and the hardest to figure out when it comes to choosing a diamond.  The brilliance of the diamond depends heavily on its cut. The cut gives a diamond the brightness that shines throughout the diamond. Because the cut is so important there are several grading methods that have been developed to help determine the cut.  The grades are Ideal, Very Good, Good and Fair/Poor cuts.

The Ideal cut is intended to maximize brilliance and usually is more expensive.  Very Good cut diamonds will reflect most of the light that enters them creating a good deal of brilliance. The Good cut diamond can offer an excellent cost savings to you if you are trying to stay within a budget. The Good cut offers quality and beauty for a reasonable price. Most reputable jewelers stay away from cuts that are Fair to Poor, because this cut only reflects a small portion of light.

Most diamonds will contain some type of flaw or inclusions that happened during the formation process.  The number, size and visibility of these flaws determine the clarity of the diamond.  Diamonds that have less flaws or imperfections will create more brilliance and therefore are highly prized and pricier.

When it comes to diamonds, no color is the most desirable. This is because it allows the most reflection of light.  When jewelers are grading the color of a diamond, they refer to a professional color scale.  The scale begins with the highest rating of the letter “D” for colorless and a color scale continues all the way to Z. You will notice that there may be a very faint hint of yellow apparent in diamonds graded J through M. These grades of diamonds look very nice in a gold setting.

The carat is the unit of weight by which a diamond is measured.  Large diamonds are less common than small diamonds. The larger the diamond is, the higher the price.  To decide on the carat size you first need to determine your budget.  Deciding on the carat size is about striking a balance between size and quality.

These are just a few things that you should know when you are deciding on which diamond engagement ring to buy the love of your life.  It’s wise to shop around and do your homework and learn all you can about diamonds and pricing.  This is just a simple overview to give you an idea of what you need to look for.  You can do your own research and find out more about the 4 C’s and Diamond Certificates so you can make a knowledgeable decision on the ring for your fiancé.

by Lawrence Reaves

Photo by paulmcdee

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Apparently, this is what works for Tori Spelling and her husband Dean McDermott. McDermott reset the anniversary gift bar, by deciding to start a tradition of his very own… presenting his wife with a new diamond anniversary ring each year. This year, she was double-diamonded, with a ring duet, composed of one brilliant yellow diamond set alongside a dazzling white diamond. The couple has decided that each year’s ring become part of an heirloom collection to be eventually passed on their children.

One would think that with this year’s selection , she would be set … (at least until Christmas!) But no way! Tori continued to tap into this newfound jewelry bonanza; as Mother’s Day arrived a mere three days afterwards, and she was given a gold necklace and pendant. The pendant, engraved with the letters “L” and “S”, which represented the initials of their two small children, will no doubt eventually become part of the overall collection in the years to come.

Those who are inspired by this, should take note: While this high dosage of diamonds may be a difficult pill to swallow for the average person; the sentiment is one that, on a smaller scale, can be easily be kept. A quality diamond jewelry piece, such as a diamond journey necklace or a diamond anniversary band, given in recognition of a milestone year, will be just as much appreciated by a beloved one; perhaps even more so.

Also, the gift of a diamond necklace or bracelet does not have to be limited to anniversaries only. Never mind the frequency. Dare to be different! In so doing, one will find that an unexpected surprise can be a truly delightful experience for any recipient. Why not just try it for yourself…and see!

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The summer season is almost upon us, and so we believe that it is time for another reminder:

Many of us do not know where to begin when looking to buy diamond jewelry. When examining a pretty “diamond” ring, one can easily see how beautifully it sparkles. See how brightly it shines! But…is it a diamond, or is it “something else“? Is it Moissanite or Cubic Zirconia? Before getting caught up in the excitement of the moment, sometimes the best first thing to do is to simply: ask. Any jeweler worth his or her reputation should be able to tell you. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is not the policy that one would want to fall victim to. This specific caution is issued due to the fact that many synthetic stones of today, have the initial “look and feel” of genuine diamonds and many are being sold as such. Buying an engagement or wedding ring is a serious undertaking. Aside from its being a matter of the heart; it is also a matter of the wallet! However, sad to say, long after the purchase has been made, and upon closer inspection; many of these “gems” have been uncovered as being fakes.

Another wise thing to do, would be to take a look at the setting. Is it of a fine quality befitting a genuine stone? Next, take a look at the actual stone itself with the naked eye. Is it cloudy? Does it have any obvious inclusions or scratches. Are chips or nicks easily apparent?

These steps are only just for starters. For true peace of mind, one may want to have the selected jewelry independently appraised, and/or be provided with a certificate of authenticity. Got to be real!

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Remember, when you were growing up, the simple little disc charms that your mother wore? Remember how they dangled from her bracelet; set with tiny little birthstones, representing each one of her children, and how proud she was to show them off? Or how they were used to entertain a certain (hint, hint) wriggly toddler as he (or she) sat on her lap; or on occasion, jiggled around to soothe a crying baby.

Perhaps your grandmother or favorite aunt wore such bracelets themselves. Well now, there is a fresh twist on this timeless custom. One of the newest , as well as cutest, items to arrive on the sentimental jewelry scene has been: The Moppet. While the official definition of ‘Moppet’ refers to a beloved child, these particular Moppets are, affectionately worn; jewel (or birthstone) encrusted charms, representing the special (or beloved) little ‘Moppets’ in your life. They arrive in likenesses of either girls or boys. Some don baseball caps, while others are adorned in bows and pigtails. In fact, some even have cute little built-in “accessories” of their very own! These delightfully unique charms arrive in either silver or gold, and are designed to be worn dangling from a charm bracelet or suspended from a necklace. The faceless little darlings are so adorable, that one can almost picture a barely suppressed impish grin or giggle. Why not consider picking up one or two of them to give to a few of the special ladies in your life.

Moppets are provided by Danforth Diamond, your engagement ring experts.

Oh, we almost forgot….the Muppets…What has one got to do with the other, you may ask? With the exception of extreme cuteness….Absolutely nothing! Let’s just say a little Moppet told us to say this:

Minah Minah…

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Photo by Stewart Leiwakabessy

It appears that the bar is continually being raised when it comes to finding rare diamonds…especially colored diamonds. In this particular case, the diamond we speak of is a gorgeous 7.03 carat, practically perfect blue diamond. To attain this almost absolute perfection, it was cut from an original 27 carat stone. Blue diamonds (second in scarcity only to red diamonds) are some of the rarest precious stones that can be found. What makes this particular diamond especially awesome, is that it is said to be internally ‘flawless’; an uncommon quality when it comes to diamonds…period.

The blue diamond (currently in a ring setting, and as of yet unnamed), will be the main attraction at an upcoming fine jewelry auction, and is scheduled to be auctioned off in Geneva, Switzerland by Sotheby’s sometime in May. It is estimated that it will command a price somewhere within the 5 to 8 million dollar (US) range.

The diamond, hailing from South Africa, and found in the Cullinan mine; was extracted by Petra Diamonds. This particular mine has had the reputation of regularly yielding high quality diamonds for quite some time now.

During these uncertain financial times, the price of diamonds of the highest quality remain somewhat steady; as they are timeless and remain mostly unaffected. Although fairly rare, diamond jewelry of color can be found at reputable jewelers located in less than exotic places. Of course, one would not expect to find a world class, museum quality, diamond just sitting around in a mall; but just think: Any diamond can truly be a one-of-a-kind diamond in its own right, when given to a one-of-a-kind-person. Although a reputable jeweler will certainly be able to assist you in finding the diamond; it‘s up to you to find the person. Now that’s what you can call rare!

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/97695/rare-blue-diamond-gets-preview-at-sotheby-s/Default.aspx

http://news.aol.com/article/blue-diamond-auction/436116

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