The “Diamond Dip” is an annual part of the South Carolina Oconee Medical Center fundraiser. This year however, they have a bit of a mystery on their hands. The winner of a 3K diamond has not come forward for their lovely prize!

This is a real diamond

Turner’s Jewelry in Seneca, South Carolina gave the beautiful diamond for the South Carolina Oconee Medical Center Fundraiser. The glittery fundraiser attracted hundreds who were thrilled to dig through a bowl of “gems” and select one – with the hope of finding a genuine 3K diamond hidden somewhere in the bowl. The bowl was filled with hundreds of cubic zirconium “gems” – as we diamond lovers know these can look lovely and sparkly – but just are not the real thing!

To us this sounds like a fun and exciting game. Digging through a bowl of sparkly wonderfulness – there is nothing quite like it. Imagining if you could win a big and beautiful 3K diamond – all while helping a local charity continue their good works in your community. Sounds like a complete win-win situation for everyone concerned!

After guests dug through the bowl, Mark Turner and his staff from Turner’s Jewelers would use an electronic tester to confirm each “gem.” But at night’s end there was no winner – and in going through the contents of the bowl they also discovered that the diamond was missing! This means that some lucky winner may have the diamond – and simply doesn’t know it.

We hope all of those guests from the South Carolina Oceanee Medical Center event check their purses, pockets and other locations for those “gems.” One of them could be that winner. Take it back to Turner’s Jewelry for confirmed testing – then you’ll know for sure if you’ve got a winner on your hands!

Try our tips to tell if a diamond is real:

• Shine a light through the stone. If you can just see a “halo” around the edges, this is probably a diamond.

• Diamonds are strong heat conductors. Breathe on the diamond and see if it “fogs.” You won’t see condensation from the fog on a diamond.

• Remember: A jeweler at times cannot tell the difference between a genuine diamond and a “cultured” diamond. Careful examination and new tests done by jewelers can help prove it is genuine.

Part of the fun of this prize of course is that this diamond because so very much “your own” in every way. You’ve won it and hand-selected it. Or some might say that it hand-selected you! The idea that you found it in a bowl of cubic zirconias – makes one feel very lucky indeed. Would you have jewelry made for yourself? Or would you give it as a gift to that special loved one in your life? Or would you save it for someone special that you haven’t met yet?

Diamond lovers – we have to ask: what would you do if you won a beautiful 3K diamond? Would you have it designed into a pendant? Ring? Purchase another lovely sparkly diamond for matching earrings? Or create some magnificent sparkly custom diamond jewelry of your very own? There are so many fun decisions to make for that lucky winner! Let’s take a moment and imagine for ourselves – what would we do if this was us. What would you do if you discovered you’d won a stunning and sparkly 3K diamond?

Source: http://www.israelidiamond.co.il/english/News.aspx?boneId=918&objid=6529, http://www.wisegeek.com/how-can-you-tell-if-a-diamond-is-real.htm

Diamond Advice

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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.

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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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Probably a fake diamond.

Pretty, isn’t it? But is it real? It sparkles, it flashes, it behaves like the real thing…but is it? In view of some of the most recent scientific and technological advances, sometimes it can be extremely difficult to distinguish a real diamond gemstone from a synthetic, lab-created stone. However, with a bit of detective work, it can be done. When an investment is made for such a costly purchase as an engagement ring or wedding ring, peace of mind can, and should be of utmost importance.

One way to determine whether or not a diamond is genuine, is to weigh it. Synthetic diamonds weigh about 1.5 more than the “real thing.” This can easily be determined by having it verified on a gram or carat scale. Another simple thing would be to examine the stone externally f

or any obvious scratches or blemishes. Diamonds are among the hardest substances found in nature, and can usually only be scratched by another diamond. Also, by taking a look at the depth of the brilliance, one can be given clue as to whether or not it is the “real thing.” With a genuine diamond, light is more refractive, and will cause the diamond to sparkle from all sides, whereas most synthetic stones will have a sparkly surface and no depth…all “razzle dazzle” with no substance. Heat is also rapidly dispersed with a genuine diamond, and so a heat probe can also flush out any fakes in almost no time at all.

However, if you want to be absolutely, 100% sure, a trusted jeweler, or professional gemologist (Gemological Institute of America, GIA) can provide a certificate of authenticity.

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