| When you are shopping for an engagement ring | | | | much more valuable that white or bluish diamonds. |
| and jewelers start talking about "certified loose | | | | The Appraisal |
| diamonds, "what does that mean? Essentially, it | | | | While the gemologist only assigns a grade to the |
| means that the diamonds have been examined | | | | diamond, the appraiser uses this information in |
| and graded by professional gemologists working | | | | addition to some more subjective criteria in |
| under laboratory conditions, then are turned over | | | | determine the gem's monetary value. One of the |
| to independent appraisal firm at which a final | | | | qualities that determines this is cut. |
| monetary value is determined. Ideally, these | | | | Princess Cut Diamonds |
| examinations and appraisals have been performed | | | | Princess cut diamond engagement rings have |
| by firms that operate independently of a | | | | been a popular choice for many years. This is an |
| particular diamond merchant or retailer for | | | | oval cut that is used to accentuate the diamond's |
| reasons that should be obvious. Read on and find | | | | fire and brilliance ?" in short, to make it sparkle. |
| out how these gems become certified loose | | | | Princess cut diamonds have many facets to |
| diamonds. | | | | reflect the light and require a great deal of skill to |
| The Gemologist's Job | | | | do properly. Incidentally, despite the name you'll |
| A gemologist is someone who is typically trained | | | | find these cuts mounted on men's' diamond rings |
| and has a degree in geology, or rock science. As | | | | as well as women's princess cut diamond |
| such, this person is quite knowledgeable about | | | | engagement rings. |
| minerals of all kinds. | | | | Emerald cut diamonds are quite different from |
| The job of the gemologist is not to place a | | | | those used in princess cut diamond engagement |
| monetary value or price on gems. It is to assign a | | | | rings and other pieces. Emerald cut diamonds |
| grade. To do this, the gemologist must evaluate, | | | | accentuate clarity more than fire; they do not |
| measure and grade diamonds in objective terms, | | | | sparkle as brilliantly. One can however peer into |
| examining it for: | | | | the very depths of emerald cut diamonds. These |
| - Carat | | | | are actually more popular for mens diamond rings |
| - Clarity | | | | than princess cut diamonds. |
| - Color | | | | When the mens diamond ring or women's |
| Carat is a unit of weight and mass, roughly | | | | engagement ring is mounted with certified loose |
| equivalent to 0.2 grams. Clarity and color also | | | | diamonds, you are assured of maximum value. |
| determine the diamond's grade; a diamond with | | | | Certified loose diamonds come to the jeweler |
| visible flaws will receive a much lower grade than | | | | with a certificate of authenticity, which you have |
| one that is crystal clear, and some diamond colors | | | | a right to examine when considering a jewelry |
| ?" such as pink and purple ?" are exceedingly rare. | | | | purchase. |
| Some diamond colors such as pink and purple are | | | | |