Diamond Buying AdviceDiamond Advice and Information on Choosing a Diamond

“Pssst…I just happen to have a few extra “diamonds” swishing around in my purse. Wanna buy one?”

What may appear to some as being an unlikely (as well as outrageous) scenario; actually happened to someone recently in the Silicon Valley. It seems that there are currently scam artists running around, casually attempting to do this very thing; in at least one case, with apparent success In this particular instance, the victim happened to be an elderly woman whom one of them approached to ask for directions. Working in tandem with a male accomplice; a female scammer produced five “diamonds” from out of nowhere and offered to sell them to the elderly woman. The male accomplice coincidentally had a friend in a nearby Medical Center (who just happened to be an “appraiser”). After taking them in to his friend, he came back in with the “official” price. The “appraiser” had placed a value on the gems as being slightly over $10,000 each. However, the female scammer offered a discount, in that she would settle for a price of $7,000 each. After a little more back and forth discussion, an even lower price of $6,000 was soon settled upon.

The male accomplice then convinced the elderly victim to share the cost of one of the diamonds with him. She would pay half ($3000), and he would pay the other half. The woman then withdrew $3000 from her bank, handed it over to the man, and then gave his accomplice a ride to a shopping center. The man promised to wait for her to come back; after assuring her that he would have the diamond when she returned.

Of course, when she did return, he was nowhere to be found. As of this date, these persons have still not been apprehended.

Sadly, this is apparently not an isolated incident; and so we offer the following sound advice: Whether in-person or online, seek only a trusted jeweler, or certified appraiser when purchasing fine jewelry. Safeguard your assets, as well as your peace-of-mind .

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_13359685?nclick_check=1

Micro-set diamonds can, at times give the illusion that the diamond it surrounds is much larger. Micro-set diamonds are very tiny diamonds that are individually set. These diamonds are so small, in fact, that using a microscope is required to precisely place them within each small prong. The process involved in creating a micro-setting has been said to be a bit more intense than that of creating a pavé diamond setting.

When combined with larger gems, the result is oftentimes a creation that is absolutely stunning! Aside from giving the appearance of a larger carat size; micro-set diamonds can often provide a perfect “frame” for showcasing a gem of high quality

Depending on the quality of the diamonds and/or skill of the jeweler; jewelry that employs the use of a micro-set could, quite possibly be held under closer scrutiny. A poorly constructed micro-set diamond jewelry piece could prove to be somewhat difficult to repair; and in the long run…especially costly. That being the case, some purchasers have insisted that prior to buying jewelry with this kind of setting, it first be placed in an ultrasonic machine. The reason? To see if it can withstand the vibrational waves used for intense cleaning. Ultrasonic machines use either a mild cleaning solution or warm water ONLY, and so the vibrational energy used by the machine should NOT be able to easily dislodge any well constructed jewelry piece. It is at this point where many decide whether or not to proceed with the sale.

Although diamond rings are the usual way that micro-setting is employed; pendants, bracelets and brooches can also be created this way, oftentimes with absolutely spectacular results! Wow!

Once upon a time, in the faraway land of the U.K. there once lived a dashing gentleman by the name of Robert Charlton. Mr. Charlton was very fortunate in business, as well as a collector of all things fine and beautiful; women being among them. Unfortunately, Mr. Charlton was a married man.

A framed photo of Robert Charlton in the Kibworth Golf Club, Leicester Photo: JR-PHOTOS.COM

Fortunately, however, for his wife, Elizabeth (dear woman) he was also a man of conscience; conscience to him translating into jewelry…fine jewelry…diamond jewelry. As Mr. Charlton happily philandered his life away, and indulged in as many dalliances as his generous heart desired; the courageous and long-suffering Mrs. Charlton turned a blind eye and sought comfort in rolling around in the countless pieces of jewelry… rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces galore, he gave to her as peace offerings.

Mr. Charlton eventually passed away in 1979, at the ripe old age of 63, leaving Mrs. Charlton to grieve in her sea of carats. As each of us know, most fairy tales do not last forever. She eventually died at age 90, leaving the cache of jewelry marking her husband’s infidelity to her beloved daughter Marie. Marie, in turn, ended up selling over 40 pieces of the sentimental jewelry for £286,000.

Among the pieces were: A 32 carat diamond necklace, a large solitaire diamond pendant and a huge diamond solitaire ring. It also seems that Marie inherited her mother‘s same ‘blind eye’ as she too appeared to be aware of her father’s affairs. What a shocking and tragic trail he left in his wake; eventually leaving both his wife and his daughter to cry “all the way to the bank” (or to the appraiser). Take note girls and see what real trouble looked like just a few short decades ago: A real Mr. Irresistible! The End.

Commonly known in the industry as “treated diamonds“ or “enhanced diamonds“, many less than perfect diamonds on the market have been given such overhauls, so as to improve their appearance, both outwardly and inwardly.

The procedure(s) involve processes designed to downplay any visible inclusions or any other imperfections that most natural diamonds are prone to having. Infrared laser treatments, which are now readily available, can be used to improve a gem’s clarity, as well as change the color, if so desired. If done correctly, many of these treatments are foolproof enough, so as to often result in the diamond’s obtaining a higher grade! Oftentimes, only by looking at them under a high powered microscope, can the diamond’s secret be revealed. As to be expected, diamonds that have undergone this type of process are not as resilient as diamonds left in their natural state. In fact, some have, in a few instances, “cracked” under pressure.

While this may appear to be a breakthrough for the modern jeweler, many “old school” gemologists and fine jewelers are purists, and so vehemently oppose using any of these processes; as they believe that any “enhancements” should be a direct result of the diamond cutter’s expertise, used in combination with the diamond‘s own natural qualities.

While it is not illegal to sell “enhanced” diamonds; by law, (specifically by the United States Federal Trade Commission), a jeweler is under obligation to disclose to any potential buyer that the gem has indeed been enhanced.

What you, as a consumer need to know is this: This may just be the type of diamond that you are looking for! Do your homework! Be aware of what you are purchasing! You may find that, as long as all is disclosed, you may be surprised .

Instead of being tricked…you may be in for a treat!

Whether we like it or not, it appears that one of the most historically well known diamonds in world , the beautiful Hope Diamond, will be soon getting a makeover. Famed jeweler, The House of Harry Winston has decided that the diamond, which is now languishing , lonely and bored behind a thick, bullet-proof glass case in the Smithsonian Institute, is long overdue for having a cosmetic overhaul.

The Hope Diamond, is not known for being a party gal; as she has never, in her most recent past, been seen around town being wined and dined by any of the well-to-do Washingtonians. Although the striking deep blue 45.52 carat beauty has been said to be technically owned by The House of Winston; in recognition of the 50th anniversary of its being donated to the Smithsonian Institute, they are kindly requesting that the American public vote on one of three possible new and exciting setting choices.

They are: “Journey of Hope”, “Embracing Hope”, and “Renewed Hope”.

According to the information last made available, we will have until September 7, 2009 to cast our vote. Given the infamous history and nature of this particular diamond, we are not sure who would volunteer to wear it. Just think about it; would you? Up until now, the plan for the dramatic ‘reveal’ has been set for March 2010. However, those who like the setting ‘just the way it is, thank you’ will not have to worry, as this reset is temporary and does have a “Cinderella-like” timestamp on it. At the close of 2010, she will revert back to her original, ho-hum circle of white diamonds setting, and then back to her place behind a Smithsonian plate glass window to continue being “all dressed up and nowhere to go”.

Source

Real diamond lovers are well known for seeking out unusual, as well as, one-of-a-kind characteristics in a gem; oftentimes searching near and far until the jewel of their dreams is found . One of the most interesting and rare type of diamonds that can be found, are known as chameleon diamonds. This name is derived from the fact that, depending on temperature and various types of light exposure, this diamond is subject to changing color; ranging from a soft yellow to unusual shades of green.

Remember the mood rings of the 1980’s, and how they would change from black to various other colors? Well, think of this as being a similar type of reaction, but on a more expensive level.

These types of diamonds are so rare, that most of us will never have an opportunity to even see one. Those of us who are fortunate enough to see one, will note that the best way to observe this unusual phenomena is to, at first limit its exposure to light for a few days, then later bring it again out into the open, and allow it to experience the change. The change often will not be a dramatic one, but, although subtle it should, at least be a noticeable one. In reality, for the vast majority of us, the price of a diamond of this kind is cost prohibitive and more of a curiosity than anything else.

Genuine diamonds of this type are accompanied by a GIA certificate, and will have a designation of “chameleon“ noted in its authentication documents. If it is the unusual you seek, this may just be the change you may be looking for.

We have all heard of the quote, “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” but did you know that this was simply one slogan to the most successful marketing campaign of all time?

DeBeers, the world’s major diamond producer wanted to sell more diamonds so they came up with a major marketing campaign that sold us on diamond engagement rings and diamond solitaires for wedding rings and how all of this was part of our Anglo-Saxon heritage and tradition.

They even came up with the idea that the guide to how much you should spend on an engagement ring was three months pay – get this straight, they just came up with that idea and painted it as a tradition and the modern consumer market lapped it right up.

The truth is you do not need to spend a small fortune on an engagement ring nor on a wedding ring, and certainly it does not have to be a diamond.  Many women actually prefer an alternative to diamonds and it is not unusual to see other precious gems being used instead of them.  Even better, modern technology has given us man-made diamonds which are far cheaper and also have an added bonus not usually associated with diamonds and jewelry manufacture – they are eco-friendly!

Man-made diamonds are indistinguishable from naturally occurring diamonds, and sometimes they perform even better in certain diamond tests because imperfections and flaws can be removed by the production process.

Moissanite is an example of artificial diamond which cannot be readily distinguished from naturally occurring diamonds – so good is it, that a special piece of machinery had to be developed just to be able to tell the two apart.  In terms of the qualities which really count in a piece of jewelry – the brilliance, fire and luster – moissanite is better than diamond while it is only marginally less harder than diamond itself.  A major factor which does differentiate the two is that moissanite is far less expensive compared to real diamonds and yet, a jeweler would not be able to tell the two apart!

Another alternative to real diamonds is cubic zirconia, which is the crystal form of zirconium dioxide – a synthetic material which is very durable and has a very close appearance to diamond.  It is very cheap to make in comparison to a diamond and lends itself to being cut and shaped into glittering gemstones.  Since the mid-seventies it has been the most commonly used diamond-alternative but with the development of moissanite it now has competition.

Using real diamonds may be what you wish to have in your rings but there is nothing in wedding tradition that says this is how it has to be.  Getting engaged and married is a very expensive exercise and many couples end up deep in debt as a result of their marriage and wedding expenses – it is not a good start to married life to be saddled with debt!  You can ensure you have the same look and feel as real diamonds by using an alternative so don’t be railroaded into the marketing trap that “Diamonds are Forever!”

By Jill Renee

Do you like wearing diamonds but don’t want anyone to see them?

As unbelievable as it may seem, there are really people who exist on this planet who feel this way. There actually exists jewelry designers who have crafted their ring and necklace designs with secret compartments containing the precious stones. We know…by now, you are scratching your head and saying, “huh?” Why in the world would a person want to wear diamonds and not let them be seen?

Apparently, this is the “answer”: It seems that there are a few of those among us; secret diamond wearers if you will; who like the feeling of wearing such expensive baubles, but do not necessarily want to invite casual onlookers. And so, as a repellent, they cleverly choose to wear their diamonds on the inside of their jewelry. One such design has an inscription on the outside that reads: ‘Diamonds inside’. The diamonds can only be seen by peering at them through little pricks in the metal or via a tiny little glass window located on the inside. However, the wearer is always kept aware of their presence with the soft swishing sound that they make as they move around encased in their enclosed ’prison’. Pretty nifty, huh?

Lest you think that this is an isolated anomaly; research will show that there are actually a number of designers who do this on a regular basis. There also appears to be a somewhat less frivolous reason for doing so in a few cases. It seems that sometimes a designer will incorporate a few precious stones under the band of a particular style of ring as a trademark. In this way, it discourages counterfeiters who attempt to make copies, but are unable to foot the expense of the surplus jewels.

One thing you can know for sure: This diamond lover prefers to wear hers on the outside.

So many diamonds to see, and so little time. Still looking for a nice diamond for your intended? We know how difficult it is to make a decision, but following is only one, among many possibly wonderful suggestions:

Easily fitting the criteria of unique and beautiful diamond cuts is the semi-classic cushion-cut. A cushion-cut diamond is so named due to its striking resemblance to a pillow; especially when viewed from topside. Usually shaped somewhat square with softened corners, one of the main traits of this diamond cut is that it makes good use of the less frequently used larger facet. The design is brilliance enhancing , and makes the most of a diamond’s best features. Despite its modern appearance, this popular diamond style has been around for over a hundred years.

Dimension and clarity play an important role in defining the diamond’s overall ‘look’. Since each diamond has its own ‘personality’, as well as its own uniqueness, one will find that, depending on depth and clarity, one cushion-cut diamond can look somewhat different from another with the same cut.

A diamond of this cut can be extremely versatile when it comes to selecting a suitable setting. Either a simply tasteful or intriguingly exquisite setting will suit this diamond just fine. This diamond looks great in a plain setting of gold, (either white or yellow) as well as platinum. Just a bit of practical advice: If you are in the market for a diamond…any diamond; take the time to carefully look it over and think about the recipient; think about how it will represent, you, the giver. If the vibe (along with the financing, of course) is right, then you can surely feel confident enough to make one of the best memorable selections of a lifetime.

From Danforth Diamond, engagement ring experts.

LifeGem, a Chicago based human hair remains recycler, has somehow obtained the honor of converting some of “The Gloved One’s” remains into diamonds! Yep, that’s right. You may recall that during Michael Jackson’s filming of a Pepsi commercial in 1984, his hair caught fire. Well, someone had the foresight to gather the singer’s singed locks and put them into safekeeping for ‘whatever‘. In a strange twist of fate, ‘whatever’ has appeared in the form of a visionary who foresaw a touching (and let’s not forget profitable) opportunity.

The visionary’s name? John Reznikoff. This is the same man who was able to obtain some of Beethoven’s hair. Beethoven’s ‘hair diamonds’ were sold for $200,000 on eBay. (One has no choice but to wonder how he makes these connections). LifeGem’s top representative, and CEO, Mr. Greg Herro, has confirmed that the now deceased Jackson’s burnt hair has the potential for producing approximately ten diamonds, each less than a carat in weight.

In a secret patented process, using intense heat, the hair will be reduced to carbon and then transformed into diamonds. This process is estimated to take somewhere between six and nine months. Seems the distribution of at least a few of the finished product has already been decided. The names of Jackson’s children, as well as parents have come up as being among the potential ‘lucky’ recipients.

Hmm…great minds think alike. Become the next visionary: Next time you go for a haircut, it might not be such a bad idea to ask the stylist to place your hair clippings in a ‘to go’ bag. One never knows…they may turn out to be diamonds in the rough.