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