| Celebrating a Special Occasion with
| |
| | make will look lifeless, it will lack the
|
| Jewelry
| |
| | sparkle and personality we identify with
|
| Nothing more personal than our response
| |
| | diamond. In addition, stones are often
|
| to color. Color is the new language of
| |
| | cut to make them appear larger. But a
|
| passion, and nothing captures it better
| |
| | stone that looks much larger than another
|
| than distinctively styled jewelry.
| |
| | of the same weight will not be as
|
| Leave her speechless with our brilliant
| |
| | beautiful as a smaller stone that is
|
| colorless and fancy colored diamond or
| |
| | properly cut.
|
| bold brilliant gemstone jewelry styles.
| |
| | Differences in cutting can also affect
|
| Jewelry and Gems; The Buying Guide
| |
| | the durability of a diamond. Some cutting
|
| Diamonds
| |
| | faults weaken the ston and make it more
|
| The magic of diamonds.
| |
| | susceptible to breaking or chipping.
|
| The diamond has been one of the most
| |
| | Fine cutting requires skill and
|
| coveted gems in history. Uncut diamond
| |
| | experience, and takes more time. For all
|
| adorned the suits of armor of the great
| |
| | these reasons, a well cut diamond
|
| knights; cut diamonds have adorned the
| |
| | commands a premium and will cost much
|
| crowns of kings and queens throughout the
| |
| | more than one that is cut poorly.
|
| ages. Today the diamond is
| |
| | There are many popular shapes for
|
| internationally recognized as a symbol of
| |
| | diamonds. Each shape affects the overall
|
| love and betrothal and is the recipient
| |
| | look of the stone, but if the stone is
|
| of increasing interest as a source for
| |
| | cut well, beauty and value endure no
|
| investment.
| |
| | matter which shape you choose.
|
| The diamond has been credited with many
| |
| | - Round brilliant cut (The most popular
|
| magical powers, superior strength,
| |
| | shape)
|
| bravery and courage. At one time it was
| |
| | A modern round brilliant cut diamond has
|
| considered the emblem of fearlessness and
| |
| | 58 facets, 33 on the top, 24 on the
|
| invincibility; the mere possession of a
| |
| | bottom, plus the culet (the "point" at
|
| diamond would endow the wearer with
| |
| | the bottom, which normally is another
|
| superior strength, bravery, and courage.
| |
| | tiny facet). Round brilliant cut stones
|
| It was also believed that a diamond could
| |
| | that are small in are referred to as
|
| drive away the devil and all spirits of
| |
| | "full cut" to distinguish them from
|
| the night.
| |
| | "single cut" stones that have only 17
|
| During the 1500s diamonds were looked
| |
| | facets, or "Swiss cut" with only 33
|
| upon as talismans that could enhance the
| |
| | facets. Older pieces of jewelry, or
|
| love of a husband for his wife. In the
| |
| | inexpensive pieces containing numerous
|
| Talmud a gem that, from its description,
| |
| | often contain these cuts instead of full
|
| was probably a diamond was worn by the
| |
| | cut stones. They have less brilliance and
|
| high priest and served to prove innocence
| |
| | liveliness than full cuts, but with fewer
|
| or guilt. If an accused person were
| |
| | facets are easier and less expensive to
|
| guilty, the stone grew dim; if innocent,
| |
| | cut. Jewelry containing single or Swiss
|
| it shone more brilliantly than ever.
| |
| | cut stones should sell for less than
|
| The Hindus classed diamonds according to
| |
| | jewelry with full cuts.
|
| four castes. The Brahmin diamond
| |
| | When a round brilliant cut diamond is cut
|
| (colorless) gave power, friends, riches,
| |
| | well, its shape displays the most
|
| and good luck; the Kshatriya (brown
| |
| | liveliness because it enables the most
|
| champagne) prevented old age; Vaisya (the
| |
| | light to be reflected back up through the
|
| color of a "kodali flower") brought
| |
| | top. This means that round brilliant cut
|
| success; and the sudra (a diamond with
| |
| | diamonds will have greater brilliance,
|
| sheen of a polished blade, probably gray
| |
| | overall, than other shapes. However,
|
| or black) brought all types of good
| |
| | shape is a personal choice, and other
|
| fortune. Red and yellow diamonds were
| |
| | shapes can also be very beautiful. New
|
| exclusively royal gems, for kings alone.
| |
| | shapes also appear, some of which compare
|
| Diamonds have been associated with almost
| |
| | very favorably to round stones for
|
| everything from producing sleepwalking to
| |
| | overall attractiveness.
|
| producing invincibility and spiritual
| |
| | As a rule of thumb, if the top portion
|
| ecstasy. Even sexual prowess has been
| |
| | (crown) appears to be roughly 1/3 of the
|
| strongly attributed to the diamond. There
| |
| | pavilion depth (distance from girdle to
|
| is a catch, however, to all the mythical
| |
| | culet), the proportioning is probably
|
| powers associated with this remarkable
| |
| | acceptable.
|
| gem. One must find the diamond
| |
| | Types of diamond proportioning
|
| "naturally" in order to experience its
| |
| | The proportioning, especially the height
|
| magic, for it loses its powers if
| |
| | of the crown in relation to the depth of
|
| acquired by purchase. However, when
| |
| | the pavilion, and the width of the table
|
| offered as a pledge of love or
| |
| | facet in relation to the width of the
|
| friendship, its potency may return,
| |
| | stone, is what determines how much
|
| another good reason for its presence in
| |
| | brilliance and fire the stone will have.
|
| the engagement ring!
| |
| | Several formulas for correct
|
| - What is Diamond?
| |
| | proportioning have been developed for
|
| Chemically speaking, a diamond is the
| |
| | round diamonds. Stones that adhere to
|
| simplest of all gemstones. It is plain
| |
| | these very precise formulas are
|
| crystallized carbon, the same substance,
| |
| | considered to have an "ideal" make an
|
| chemically, as the soot left on the
| |
| | will cost more than other diamonds
|
| inside of a glass globe after the burning
| |
| | because of the extra time and skill
|
| of candle, or the substance used in lead
| |
| | required to cut them, and because more
|
| pencils.
| |
| | diamond "rough" is lost in cutting.
|
| The diamond differs from these in its
| |
| | There are several slightly differing
|
| crystal form, which accounts for the
| |
| | formulas for cutting an "ideal" stone,
|
| desirable properties that have made it so
| |
| | but each results in an exceptionally
|
| highly prized, its hardness, which gives
| |
| | beautiful stone. Generally speaking,
|
| it unsurpassed wearability, its
| |
| | diamonds that are cut with smaller tables
|
| brilliance, and fire. Nonetheless, while
| |
| | exhibit more fire; those with larger
|
| diamond is the hardest natural substance
| |
| | tables exhibit more brilliance. The
|
| known, it can be chipped or broken if hit
| |
| | latter seems to be more in fashion today.
|
| hard from certain angles; and if the
| |
| | But, as common sense may tell you, both
|
| girdle, the edge of the diamond that
| |
| | can't excel in the same stone. A larger
|
| forms the perimeter, has been cut too
| |
| | table can create greater brilliance but
|
| thin, the girdle can chip with even a
| |
| | will cause some reduction in fire; a
|
| modest blow.
| |
| | smaller table area can increase fire but
|
| White (or more correctly, colorless)
| |
| | may reduce brilliance. The ideal would be
|
| diamonds are the most popular, but
| |
| | a compromise that would allow the
|
| diamond occurs in every color in the
| |
| | greatest brilliance and fire
|
| rainbow. When color is prominent the gem
| |
| | simultaneously. No one has come to
|
| is called a fancy or master fancy
| |
| | agreement, however, on what the
|
| diamond.
| |
| | percentages should be, since some people
|
| - How to determine the value of a
| |
| | prefer fire to brilliance, and vice
|
| diamond, the four Cs?
| |
| | versa. This is why there are several
|
| The factors used to determine the quality
| |
| | different types of proportioning found in
|
| and value of a diamond are referred to as
| |
| | diamonds, and best is usually a matter
|
| the "four Cs." In terms of their effect
| |
| | personal preference.
|
| on the value of a diamond, in order of
| |
| | When purchasing purchasing a round
|
| importance, they listed as follows:
| |
| | diamond, ask how the make would be
|
| 1. Color (body color)
| |
| | graded: ideal, excellent, very good,
|
| 2. Clarity (degree of flawlessness)
| |
| | good, fair, or poor. A diamond with a
|
| 3. Cutting and proportions (often called
| |
| | "fair" or "poor" make should sell for
|
| the make)
| |
| | less than a diamond with a "good" make. A
|
| 4. Carat weight
| |
| | diamond with a "very good," "excellent,"
|
| - Finding the right combination.
| |
| | or "ideal" make will sell for more.
|
| Keep in mind, however, that the key to
| |
| | Your eye will be responsible for making
|
| being happy with your diamond purchase is
| |
| | the final determination. In general, when
|
| understanding how each of these four Cs
| |
| | you look at a diamond that has a lot of
|
| affects beauty and durability, cost, and
| |
| | brilliance and fire, the cutting and
|
| the stone as a whole. It may sound
| |
| | proportioning probably are acceptable. A
|
| complicated at first, but when you begin
| |
| | stone that appears lifeless and seems to
|
| looking at stones you'll see it really
| |
| | be "dead" or dark at the center probably
|
| isn't. With a little experience, you'll
| |
| | suffers from poor cutting and
|
| decide which Cs are most important to
| |
| | proportioning. The more time you take to
|
| you, and know to look for to get the
| |
| | look at and compare diamonds of different
|
| right combination, one that meets your
| |
| | qualities and prices, the better trained
|
| emotional and financial needs.
| |
| | your eye will become to detect
|
| The importance of Cut and Proportion.
| |
| | differences in brilliance and fire,
|
| It's important to distinguish exactly
| |
| | lifelessness and dullness.
|
| what "cut" means when referring to
| |
| | Diamonds exhibit somewhat different
|
| diamonds and other stones. Cut does not
| |
| | "personalities" depending upon the make.
|
| means shape. The selection of shape is a
| |
| | An "ideal" make will exhibit one
|
| matter of individual preference. No
| |
| | personality, while another diamond with
|
| matter which shape is selected, its
| |
| | different proportioning will exhibit
|
| cutting must be evaluated. differences in
| |
| | different personality. A diamond cut with
|
| cutting can affect a diamond's beauty,
| |
| | an ideal make will cost more, but that
|
| durability, and cost, the latter by as
| |
| | doesn't mean everyone will prefer stones
|
| much as 50%, or more.
| |
| | cut to ideal proportions. A diamond does
|
| The cutting and proportioning of a
| |
| | not have to be cut to "ideal" proportions
|
| diamond, the stone's "make", is
| |
| | to show strong fire and brilliance, to be
|
| especially important because of its
| |
| | beautiful or desirable. Many prefer a
|
| effect on the fire (the lovely rainbow
| |
| | diamond with a wider table than is found
|
| colors that flash from within) and
| |
| | in an "ideal."
|
| brilliance (the liveliness, the sparkle)
| |
| | No matter what the proportions are,
|
| exhibited by the stone. Proper cutting
| |
| | before making a final decision on a
|
| and proportioning release the full beauty
| |
| | particular stone, ask yourself whether or
|
| that sets diamond apart from all other
| |
| | not you think it is beautiful. If you
|
| gems. A stone with an excellent make will
| |
| | like it, don't allow yourself to be
|
| be exciting, while a stone with a poor
| |
| | overly influenced by formulas.
|
