how to tell is a diamond is real

2010-09-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

How to tell is a diamond is real would depend
on several factors.it is almost impossible
tell when you simply look at a diamond and
determine whether it is real or fake -
especially if you don't know much
about diamonds. There are some steps that
you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond,
however.

First,how to tell is a diamond is real.
only deal with reputable jewelers,
and when you find a reputable jeweler,
stick with them.Avoid buying diamonds
or other jewelry from jewelers that you
have never dealt with before in the past.
Ask to see the certificate for the stone.
If no certificate exists,walk away.

1.Look at the setting that the stone is in.
Fake diamonds,such as zirconias,are usually
set in low quality metals.Take a close look
at the stone.Fake diamonds are not durable
-real diamonds, on the other hand, are the
most durable stone on the planet. Look for
scratches or nicks.

2.Diamonds reflect light in shades of white
and grey.If a stone reflects rainbow colored
light, it is not a real diamond.

3.Diamonds disperse heat quickly.So when
you exhale onto a real diamond, the fog
caused by your breath should disappear
almost immediately.If it lingers, then you
are dealing with a fake diamond.

4.Diamonds are the hardest naturally
occurring material on earth, and though
they're not immune to damage, it takes
a lot to make a scratch on them.So if a
stone has excessive nicks and scuffs,
it's a sign that it's probably a fake.

5.Finally how to tell is a diamond is real
after purchasing a diamond, take it to
another jeweler for appraisal.
In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers
for an appraisal to make sure that the
appraisals are all fairly close. If you
find that you have purchased a fake
diamond,you may be accused of making a
switch when you return to the store of
your purchase; therefore, it is important
to have a certificate for the diamond.
No two stones are alike.i hope you now
know how to tell is a diamond is real.

How to Find Right Diamond Carat Weight For Engagement Rings

2009-01-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

Diamonds usually rule the couples' minds when shopping
for engagement rings. They can pick up a loose stone and
ask the jeweler to shape it according to their specifications
of shape and size to set it on the ring. However, carat
weight of the diamond must first be known to them for
a perfect ring in terms of its appearance and costs.

Carat weight of diamonds is mainly responsible for
making the stone costly or less expensive. One carat
equals to 200 milligrams of actual weight. But when
you buy the diamond of less than one carat, the
measurement is expressed in points, with 100 points
making one carat and each point is one-hundredth or
0.01 of a carat. This terminology gains important for
the couples because the jeweler will talk to them this
way. So, the couple must know what exactly the weight
of the diamond is, the jeweler is telling them for the
engagement ring. For instance, if he tells you that the
diamond weights 5 points, it means it is five
one-hundredths of a carat.
The prices will be set accordingly.The couples must
also be aware of the difference between carat weight
and total carat weight to determine the total cost of
engagement rings. Total carat weigh refers to the sum
total weight of all the smaller diamonds that you choose
for the rings. As a rule, know that one carat diamond
will cost you much more than say three to four stones
that are smaller in size but their total weight is equal
to one carat.

This is the reason for solitaire diamond engagement
rings being expensive than the ones that consist of
smaller stones, such as a three stone ring.But if you
wish to own a solitaire ring, still you can reduce its cost
to larger extent. To do so, instead of purchasing one
carat diamond, go for a little lesser one with a weight
of 90 points. Such a stone will have the same high glitter
and fire at a lower cost. Similarly, when intending to
buy a 2 carat diamond, a little lesser weight of the stone
will serve the same purpose at less expensive costs.
You must also be aware about the costs involved in
cutting the diamonds in different shapes.
There is a lot of labor and skill spent on shaping the
stone as per the specifications. A simple square or
rectangle shape can be carved out at lower costs. A
shape of heart or pear needs extra skills and becomes
expensive for engagement rings.But know also that
a less expensive smaller diamond can be set in such a
way that it looks larger on the ring. So, the key to low
cost engagement ring is to purchase a lower priced
smaller diamond and give it a setting that will give it
a larger look. And finally, with all the knowledge about
diamonds in mind, never rush to purchase the stone.
Compare numbers of jewelers on their website and see
which ones are offering the stone and engagement rings
at competitive prices.

Diamond Engagement Rings - How To Buy And Avoid Scams

2009-01-03T04:15:00.000-08:00

You should be as educated as the salespeople to play on a level
playing field as you shop. You should always ask to view the
diamond through a 10x viewing loupe. If the jeweler gives you
any bogus excuse why you can’t, then leave immediately. Any
legitimate jeweler would supply a loupe for you to inspect a
diamond, which you the consumer have a right to do.

You should also ask to see the GIA certificate or AGS
certificate for your diamond. If they make up excuses or
cannot produce this important diamond grading document,
then you should assume the worst and leave, as they probably
have something to hide.

Avoid synthetic Moissanite diamonds unless that is specifically
what you want. Some jewelers will try to rip you off by claiming
they are real diamonds. To head this off, look through a 10x loupe
and if you see double facets or a doubled diamond table reflection,
then you most likely have a Moissanite synthetic diamond.

A good way to spot Cubic Zirconia fake diamonds is to view a
newspaper placed behind the diamond. If you can read the print,
then it’s a fake Cubic Zirconia diamond. A real diamond scatters
the light so you should not be able to see the news print through
the diamond.

Another trick jewelers can pull on you is to show you a yellow
diamond and claim it’s a nice white diamond because they show
it to you in front of a black background so you cannot easily see
the color. You should also view your diamond in front of a white
background to better detect any yellow coloring in the stone,
and verify it against a color chart.

You also need to avoid jewelry store scams such as pricing
codes. Some jewelers don’t post a price on their diamond rings,
they post a cryptic code which they must decode for you. This
opens up the doorway to deceit and lies. If you look dumb, they
might quote you a much higher price than a buyer who they
know is informed. You should walk out of any jewelry
store that does not post the exact price on the tag.

Diamond Jewelry Store - How Diamond Prices Are Determined

2008-12-09T04:45:00.000-08:00

Whether you are a diamond jewelry store owner or you are a consumer looking for the right diamond jewelry for your loved ones, knowing how diamond prices are determined will always be an advantage.
When it comes to pricing most products, it is quite simple. By determining how much is the cost price and how much it costs to market the product, and mark the total up by at least 15% to 30% or more to earn profits. Pricing diamonds is not quite as simple as pricing other products. There are many factors that need to be considered before launching them to the market.
The first thing that diamond prices are determined is by adding the cost of the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond and all the other cost to turn a rough and unrefined diamond into a marketable diamond. After turning it into a marketable diamond, the company may need to call an independent company in to certify the grade of the diamond based on its weight, clarity, cut and colour.
As diamond changes hands, it becomes more expensive. When it reaches the retailers the price is again increased a little bit more. As you can see from here, before a diamond reaches the retailer, it must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, then to the individual grading company, and lastly to the primary market. From the primary market, jewelry store owners and retailers will then purchase the diamond and sell it to the consumers. Therefore, the earlier you can purchase a diamond in the process, the lower the cost of it will be.
If you have recently just bought a diamond and do not know how much does it worth, you can send your diamonds for appraisal, but take note that the appraisal may not be accurate. A more accurate way to determine the price of your diamond is to obtain its certificate and use the cutter's guide to determine a more accurate worth for your diamond.
You can also surf the Internet and locate many diamond worth calculators. Before you can calculate the worth of your diamond using those calculators, you need to know the cuts, clarity, colour and weight of it. With this information, the calculator will be able to determine an accurate worth of your diamond.
Again, the best way to determine the price of a diamond is to get a Diamond Grading Report and use the information in it to look up the price in one of the guides that your diamond cutting industry uses. With the right worth in mind, you will be better informed about the value that you have paid for the diamond in your possession, as well as of the diamond jewelry that you are considering purchasing.

Online Diamond Jewelry Store - Tips When Buying Diamond Jewelry Online

2008-12-09T04:42:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, there are a lot of scams around which make buying diamond jewelry from online jewelry store almost impossible. However, scams do not always need to be associated with online shopping. As long as you are careful, you will still be able to find bargains and quality diamond jewelry from the Internet.
One of the reasons why people choose to buy diamond jewelry from the Internet is because online jewelry stores are able to offer lower prices when compared to local jewelry store due to low overhead costs. But if you come across an online store which offers jewelry at an unbelievable low price, it may be an indication of a scam.
One of the best things when buying jewelry from the Internet is that you will have an unlimited selection of diamond jewelry. A local jewelry store has a limited storefront, which means that you will have a limited selection. However, online stores have huge disk space, which enable them to list almost unlimited selection of jewelry.
One thing to note before shopping online for diamond jewelry, you will need to learn as much as you can about diamonds. Cut, colour, clarity and carat weights are things that you need know about. Once you are knowledgeable about diamonds, you will be able to spot any scams out there.
As you have a wide selection of choices on the Internet, take your time to browse around. Do not purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, when you found a piece that you like, look for similar piece that is for sale on other online stores. By doing some comparison shopping, you will be sure to find the best bargains.
After you have found a piece that you love with the lowest price, do not purchase the diamond yet. Find out about the seller's credentials and his return, refund and upgrade policies. Also do check whether the seller provides his business address and phone number so that you will be able to call them instead there is any problems with the diamond that you have ordered.
Lastly, you should ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA and EGL before making the purchase. A good practice is to request the diamond jewelry seller to send the diamond to an escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service will appraise your diamond and sends the diamond back to you and sends the money that you have paid them to the seller. This is the surest way to protect you from any online jewelry scams. However, make sure that you find a reputable escrow service.

Your Cutting-Edge Diamonds Resource

2007-07-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

We Welcome you to your comprehensive Diamonds resource.

Our mission is to give you the facts you need about Diamond
— fast — so you can get on the road to taking action right away`.

This blog as been design to provides you with ton of information
about Diamonds. In addition, you will find extensive information
on leading Diamond to help you on in your quest.

Please have a look at our articles, products, resources, and additional
information on Diamonds located throughout the blog.

We will continue to strive to provide only quality articles, so if there is
a specific related topic that you would like us to cover, please do leave
a decent comment.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our Diamond niche blog.

recommened resources

Selecting Diamonds

2007-07-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

Diamonds are graded for certification by laboratories using
grading criteria. Four of these criteria are critical to understand
when making a diamond purchase or investment. Known as the
“Four C’s” these criteria are: color, cut, clarity and carat.

Color is the result of the composition of a diamond and it does not
change. When a jeweler is describing the color of a diamond they
are referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds.

Because a diamond with no color allows maximum light to pass
through, colorless diamonds are preferred for their sparkle.Cut
refers to a diamonds reflective quality. Most diamonds are cut
with 58 facets. The brilliance of diamonds is heavily dependent
on the cut. The different angles and the finish of a diamond
determine its ability to reflect light and cause its brilliance and
fire. Remember that the cut of a diamond can have an impact
on its durability as well as its beauty. Some cutting faults can
make a diamond prone to breakage. A diamond that is cut too
thin can also cause light to leak out of the back and the diamond
will lose some of the sparkle and appear not to shine. So, as you
can see the Cut is probably the most important of the Four C’s.
During the formation process, inner flaws, or inclusions occur
in most diamonds. The number and size of these inclusions
determine what is referred to as the clarity of a diamond.

Diamonds that are clear create more brilliance and therefore are
rarer and highly priced. To be considered“flawless”, a diamond
must have no surface or internal imperfections visible upon being
viewed by a skilled diamond grader using 10 power magnifications.
Carat is the unit of weight by which diamonds are measured. One
carat is equal to 200 milligrams.A carat is divided into 100 segments
called points. 150 points would equal one and a half carats.

When you go to the store to make that all important diamond
purchase, do not be shy! Ask questions, get the answers needed
to make an informed purchase. Shopping for certified diamonds
enables you to make an informed selection. Knowing the “four C’s”
allows you to comparison shop and purchase the best diamond at a
fair price. But, before making a purchase, shop around and decide
what shapes and styles really appeal to you. Enjoy your diamond for
years to come!

How to Care for Your Diamond

2007-07-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

Caring for a diamond takes more than occasional cleanings.
Diamonds are forever, but they can be damaged if you are
not careful. By learning how to properly care for your
diamond, you will ensure that your diamond is indeed
forever.

First, you should take your diamond jewelry to a jeweler
once a year. Have him check the mountings and prongs that
hold your diamond in place. Have him make any needed
repairs. This will prevent your diamond from falling out of
its setting and becoming lost.

Diamond jewelry that is not being worn, or diamonds that
are loose should be stored in a fabric lined jewel case, or in
a jewelry box where it can be kept separate from other
jewelry. Each piece should have its own compartment.

This will keep diamonds from becoming scratched, and it
will also keep your diamond from scratching other jewelry
as well.Remove your diamond jewelry when doing physical
work. Diamonds can be chipped and scratched easily. Also
avoid allowing your diamond to come into contact with bleach
or other household cleansers – this can damage or change the
color of the settings and mountings, and it may even irreversibly
change the color of the diamond!

How to Clean your Diamonds

2007-07-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

Through our day to day movements our diamonds get
smudged and soiled. Even when we are not wearing
them, they collect dust. Lotions, soaps, our natural
skin oils, can cause film and grime on diamonds and
inhibit their brilliance.Want to keep that Brilliance
and Shine?

Diamonds require cleaning so that maximum amounts
of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all
it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that
diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.

You can use an small soft brush such as an eyebrow or
lip stick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry.
Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild
detergent and place your pieces in the mixture.Then
brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush
while they are in the suds. You will need to make certain
that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them.
You can use a small kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer
to contain them while rinsing under warm water.Use a lint
free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.

If your diamonds are in need of a stronger cleansing, you
may want to soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of half
and half water and ammonia. Once they have soaked for
30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings
with a small brush. Then replace the pieces to the solution
and swish them around in the mixture before removing
them to rinse and pat dry.

If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and
ammonias, many department stores sell liquid jewelry
cleaners. Most are kits, with everything you need included.
You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right
for your diamonds and other jewelry.

Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions.
And if you find yourself more the “high-tech type”, even in
your diamond cleaning routine, there are multiple ultrasonic
cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency
to create a cleaning motion. All machines are not the same, so
please read the instructions before using.Only you can choose
the cleaning method right for you.

But, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant
and sparkling. Between cleaning, try not to touchyour clean
diamonds with your fingers or handle your jewelry by its edges.
This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.

How to Buy Diamond Engagement Rings

2007-07-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

There is much to consider when purchasing a diamond – especially
diamond engagement rings! The tradition of presenting a woman
with a diamond engagement ring when proposing began in 1477
when Archduke Maximilian presented a diamond ring to Mary
of Burgundy – and in most cases, the woman you plan to propose
to will expect a ring to accompany that proposal!

First, determine how much ring you can afford. Most people use
the ‘two months salary’ rule.This means that the ring should cost
the equivalent of two months of your current salary. Because you
have other bills to pay, saving up this amount of money may take
quite a bit of time. You should consider financing. Simply go to the
jeweler of your choice and tell them that you plan to buy an
engagement ring, and that financing will be necessary. Go ahead
and get the credit check out of the way, find out what your
payments will be, and how much of a down payment is required.

Now, have your mother, sister, or your girlfriends best friend take
your girl friend shopping, and make sure that they gaze at the
engagement rings to get an idea of what she might like. Make
sure that the jewelry store you buy the ring from will allow you
to return the ring, if that is required, or allow your girl friend
to exchange it for another if she isn’t happy with it!

Insuring Your Diamonds

2007-07-02T21:25:00.000-07:00

Insuring a diamond takes a bit of thought, planning, and shopping
around. Diamond insurance isn’t like purchasing car insurance.
It is quite different. Depending on the state that you live in, there
are basically three different types of policies that will cover
diamonds, and all insurance policies that cover diamonds are
considered Marine type policies.

The first type of insurance policies for diamonds is an Actual
Cash Value policy. If the diamond is lost or damaged beyond
repair, the insurance company will replace the diamond at
today’s market value, no matter how much you paid for the
diamond to begin with. This type of insurance policy for
diamonds actually is not that common.

The most common type of insurance for diamonds is
Replacement Value insurance. The insurance company
will only pay up to a fixed amount to replace the diamond
that was lost or damaged beyond repair. This does not mean
that they will pay that amount – it means that they will pay
up to that amount. In most cases, the diamond can be replaced
at a lower cost.

The third type of coverage offered for diamonds is Agreed Value.
This is sometimes called ‘Valued At.’ This type of coverage is very
rare. In the event that the diamond is lost or damaged beyond repair,
the insurance company simply pays you the amount that you and the
company agreed upon. This is the best type of insurance to have, but it
is rarely offered. If you can’t get Agreed Value coverage, Actual Cash
Value coverage should be your next choice.

Your rates will be determined by the value of the diamond, the type
of coverage that youselect, and the area that you live in. If you live in
an area with a high crime rate, you can expect to pay more for your
diamond insurance coverage. It is important to remember that insurance
agents are not qualified jewelers, and jewelers are not qualified insurance
agents. It is best to get a certificate for your diamond, and to provide the
insurance company with a copy of that certificate.This leaves the
insurance company less room for arguments over the actual value of the
diamond.Don’t rely on separate coverage to cover your diamond.

For instance, if you diamond is stolen from your home, it is probably
covered on your home owner’s insurance policy – but the diamond
probably won’t always be in your home, and once it leaves your home,
there is no coverage.

Where Diamonds are Mined

2007-07-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

Argye mine located in the Kimberley region in the far north east of
Western Australia. Owned by Rio Tinto, this mine is the world’s
largest single producer of volume of diamonds. However, due to
low proportion of gem quality diamonds it is not the value leader.
It does produce 90-95% of the world’s supply of pink diamonds.

Diavik is also owned by Rio Tinto, located in Canada it is a very
large mine. It is located north of Yellowknife and south of the
Artic Circle on an island. The island is connected by an ice road.
It is also an important part of the regions economy employing
more than 700 people and producing more than 8 million carats
annually.

Ekati diamond mine is owned by BHP Billiton and located south
of the artic circle in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The
Ekati is Canada’s first operational diamond mine.Diamonds mined
here are sold under the Aurias trade name Authenticity is verified
through CanadaMark service. CanadaMark service is also owned
by BHP Billiton Diamonds, Inc.

Baken diamond mine is located along the lower Orange River in
South Africa. It is owned and operated by Trans Hex.The average
size stone for 2004 was 1.29 carats.In 2004, this mine produced a
78.9 carat D color flawless diamond that sold for more than 1.8
million dollars (US), as well as a 27.67 pink diamond that was sold
for over 1 million US dollars.

Merlin is the second of only two diamond mines in Australia. No
longer operating it was owned by Rio Tinto and sold to Striker
Resources, who has explored the possibilities of reopening the mine.

Orapa is the world’s largest diamond mine. It us located 240 Km
west of Francistown. The mine is owned by “Debswana” which is a
partnership between DeBeers and the government of Botswana.
This mine operates 7 days a week. It maintains pre primary and
primary schools for its employee’s children. There is also a 100
bed hospital and game park. This mine began production in 1971
and is the oldest mine owned by the Debswana Company.

The Premier mine located in Cullinan, South Africa produced the
largest gem diamond ever in 1905. The Cullinan Diamond weighed
3,106.75 carats. This mine also produced the Golden Jubilee diamond
which weighed 545.67 carats. This mine is owned by the De Beers
Company and was renamed The Cullinan Diamond Mine in 2003 in
celebration of its centennial.

What Are Dirty Diamonds?

2007-07-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

A dirty diamond is one of two things: a rough diamond, or a
diamond that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Rough diamonds
are uncut and unpolished – hence, they are dirty. But that type
of dirty diamond will soon be cut and polished and sitting in a
beautiful jewel box in a display case. Then someone will purchase
it, and before long, it will become a dirty diamond once again.

Diamonds become dirty. When you wash your hands with a
diamond ring on, soap scum clings to it. When you put on hand
lotion, it gets grease on it. Shower with your diamond earrings
or necklace, and again, you get soap scum. In one short day, your
brand new diamond could be dirty!

Purchase an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner the same day that you
purchase your diamond jewelry, and use it every single day,
without fail. The clarity of the diamond changes when the
diamond is dirty – it loses its sparkle. By taking one minute
each day to clean your diamond jewelry, you can avoid this,
and your diamonds will never be dirty!

Synthetic Diamonds

2007-07-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

The first synthetic diamonds were produced by General Electric in 1954.
A synthetic diamond is basically a rock that has the durability, refractive
index and hardness of a natural diamond – but it is made by man. A
synthetic diamond should not be confused with stimulant diamonds, such
as glass, cubic zirconia, or moissanite.

Although the technology for synthetic diamonds came into play in 1954,
no synthetic diamonds were ever seen on the market until the 1990’s.
This was due to the fact that it took many years for General Electric to
produce a synthetic diamond that could compare with the quality of a
natural diamond – and when they figured out how to do it, they found
that it cost more to produce a synthetic diamond than it did to mine and
cut natural diamonds.

Finally, a small company by the name of Gemesis Corporation figured out
a way to produce synthetic diamonds that were of the same quality as
natural diamonds, at a cheaper price. Today, Gemesis produces synthetic
white diamonds, and colored diamonds as well. These diamonds sell for about
1/3 of the cost of a natural diamond, but there is a shortage of them, and they
are hard to find. In fact, it seems that synthetic diamonds are rarer than
natural diamonds!

How to Sell A Diamond

2007-07-02T21:08:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons why you may want to sell a diamond
that you own. Perhaps you’ve gotten divorced, or you are
strapped for cash. The reasons why don’t really matter –
getting the best possible price is what counts! The way to
obtain the best price for the diamond is to not be in a rush.
Slow down, and carefully consider all of your options – there
are many.First, have the diamond appraised. In fact, have
it appraised by two or three jewelers to get an accurate idea
of the diamonds value. Tell the appraiser that you want the
Rapaport Value. This is the wholesale value of the diamond,
and it basically tells you the highest price that you can sell your
diamond for. If your diamond has no certificate, you should
consider getting a certificate from GIA. This may help you get a
better price for the diamond as well.

First, try to sell the diamond yourself, to people you know.
Friends and family members may be interested. If you don’t
have any luck with friends or family members, you should turn
to outside sources. Absolutely avoid pawn shops! A pawn shop
will only offer you about 10% of what the diamond is worth! Also
avoid offers of selling the ring on consignment. There are many
things that can go wrong, and there is no shortage of diamond scams –
even in well known jewelry stores.

If the diamond is important, you should strongly consider auctioning
it off through one of the famous auction houses, such as Christie’s or
Sotheby’s. If it isn’t what is considered an ‘important’ diamond or a
high-end diamond, you should try to sell it to an individual using
classified ads, or even eBay. However, selling to an individual that you
do not know could put you in danger – especially if the diamond is worth
a lot of money.

Your final option should be a jewelry store. It is vital that you not let
your diamond out of your sight while in the jewelry store – you might
find that the diamond you walked in with is not the same diamond that
you walk out with! The jeweler will try to tell you that your diamond is
of poor quality or low weight. Inevitably, there will be some problem with
the diamond. This is where your appraisal and/or certificate will come in
handy.

If the jeweler is fair, they will offer you between 60% and 80% of the value
of the Rapaport Value. Do not accept anything less than this. Again, do not
let the diamond out of your sight until you have been paid for it.

How Diamond Prices Are Determined

2007-07-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

Pricing most products is quite easy. Determine how much it
costs to make the item, how much it costs to market that item,
and then mark it up by 15 – 30% or more. Simple, right? Well,
pricing diamonds isn’t quite that simple.There are many factors
that are considered when diamonds are priced.

Diamond prices are determined first by adding the cost of the
rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond, and all other
costs necessary to turn the rough diamond into a marketable
diamond. Depending on the importance of the diamond, an
independent company may be called in to certify the grade of
the diamond based on color, cut, clarity, and weight.

At this point, the diamond becomes more expensive each time
it changes hands, until it finally reaches a retailer, where the
price is raised a bit more. Before reaching the retailer, however,
the diamond must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher,
to the independent grading company, and then to the Primary
market. Once it has reached the primary market, it will be
purchased by diamond dealers and wholesalers, and from there
it will be sold to retailers.

As you can see, the earlier you can purchase a diamond in the
process, the lower the cost of the diamond will be – but not the
value. The value is based on what the diamond will sell for in the
market place – through a retailer.

If you own a diamond, and you have no idea how much it is worth,
you can have it appraised, but the appraisal may not be accurate.
You will be better off obtaining a certificate through GIA –
Gemological Institute of America. With the information on this
certificate, you can use a cutter’s guide to accurately determine
what your diamond is worth.

There are also many diamond price calculators available. These
can be found on the Internet, and many diamond dealers use
these as well. You must realize, however, that before you can
accurately price a diamond, without a Diamond Grade Report,
you need to know quite a bit about diamonds, such as different
cuts, clarity, color, and weight – and how each of those aspects
adds to the value of a diamond, or decreases the value of the
diamond as the case may be. Again, you will be better off if you
get a Diamond Grading Report on the diamond, and use that
information to look up the price in one of the guides that the
diamond cutting industry uses. This will give you the most
accurate value of the diamond in your possession, or of the
diamond you are considering purchasing.

How Diamonds Are Mined

2007-07-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

We seldom think about how the diamonds we wear came to us.
Natural diamonds, as opposed to synthetic diamonds or fake
diamonds, are mined from the earth. There are currently two
methods of mining diamonds: Pipe Mining and Alluvial Mining.

When pipe mining is used, the diamonds are extracted from
the earth through volcanic pipes. These are not man-made
pipes. These are natural pipes in the ground. Shanks are put
into the ground next to the pipes, and tunnels are driven into
the deepest parts ofthe pipe. The diamonds are not sorted out
at the mine. Instead, huge rocks that are full of diamonds are
brought out of the mine and moved to a screening plant for
separation.

The Alluvial mining method is done in riverbeds and on beaches.
Walls are built to hold back the water and the sand on the bank
or beach is moved with a bulldozer until the level of earth that
diamonds can be found in is reached. Again, the diamonds are
not sorted here. Instead, the sand that contains the diamonds is
bulldozed into trucks, and taken to screening plants.

How Diamonds Are Cut

2007-07-02T20:48:00.000-07:00

In their most natural form, diamonds are – well – quite ugly.
They have no luster or shine, and in fact, look like nothing
more than broken glass. A diamond must be cut, and then
polished before it actually becomes a thing of beauty.

Diamonds are cut with saws, into round shapes. From the
rounded shape, other shapes may be cut, such as heart
shapes – but the shape is less important than the quality
of the cutting that is being done. If the diamond is poorly
cut, it will lose light, and it will not sparkle and shine very
well. Each facet of the diamond must be carefully cut into
the geometrical shapes that allow the diamond to sparkle
and shine, then the entire diamond is cut into a specific
shape, such as an emerald cut or a princess cut diamond.

Once the cut is done, the diamond is put into a dop, which
resembles a cup with another diamond – only a diamond
is strong enough to smooth the edges of another diamond.
Once the diamond has been cut and shaped, and had the
edges smoothed in the dop, it is polished on a scaif or a
diamond polishing wheel.

Famous Diamonds

2007-07-02T20:42:00.001-07:00

Among the most well known diamonds is the Hope.
This 45.52 carat steel blue diamond is currently on
display at the Smithsonian. The legends of the ill-
fortune and curse bestowed on the possessor of the
Hope Diamond are many. This diamond was donated
to the Smithsonian in 1958. The Hope was originally a
rather flat, blocky 110-carat rough.

The Dresden Green stands out among the natural
colored diamonds. It is the largest green diamond in
the world weighing 40.70 carats. This diamond is
historic, large and has a natural green color with a
slight blue overtone. These facts make it virtually
priceless.The Conde Pink is a pear shaped and weighs
9.01-carats. This pink diamond was once owned by
Louis XIII.

The Tiffany Yellow diamond a beautiful canary-yellow
octahedron weighing 287.42 in the rough (metric) carats
discovered in either 1877 or 1878 in South Africa. The
gem after cutting boasts the extraordinary weight of
128.54 carats. And until recently, was the largest golden-
yellow in the world.

The Koh-I-Noor ( Mountain of Light ) is now among the
British Crown Jewels. This diamond weighs 105.60 carats.
First mentioned in 1304, it is believed to have been once
set in Shah Jehan‘s famous peacock throne as one of the
peacocks eyes.

The Agra is graded as a naturally colored Fancy Light Pink
and weighs 32.34 carats. It was sold for about 6.9 million in
1990. Since this sale, it has been modified to a cushion shape
weighing about 28.15 carats.

The Transvaal Blue is pear cut. This blue diamond weighs
25 carats. It was found in the Premier Diamond Mine in
Transvaal, South Africa. The Great Chrysanthemum was
discovered in the summer of 1963, in a South African diamond
field. This 198.28-carat fancy brown diamond appeared to be
a light honey color in its rough state. However, after cutting, it
proved to be a rich golden brown, with overtones of sienna and
burnt orange.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond.
Cartier of New York purchased this diamond at an auction in 1969
and christened it "Cartier." The next day Richard Burton bought the
diamond for Elizabeth Taylor. He renamed it the "Taylor-Burton”.
In 1978, Elizabeth Taylor put the diamond up for sale. Prospective
buyers had to pay $2,500 each to view the diamond to cover the
costs of showing it. Finally, in June of 1979, the diamond was sold
for nearly $3 million dollars.

Diamond Grading Reports

2007-07-02T20:33:00.000-07:00

You’ve been told that having a certificate or a diamond grading
report is important, and as a responsible consumer, you get one
– unfortunately, you probably won’t understand a word of what
is on that diamond grading report, unless you are a jeweler.

On the color grading scale, D, E, and F mean that the diamond
has no color. G, H, and I means that it has very little color. J, K,
and L means that the diamond has a slight yellow color. P, Q, R,
S, T, U, V, W, and X means that the diamond is a darker shade
of yellow. Z means that the diamond has a fancy color – other
than white or yellow. On the color grading scale, D is the most
valuable, and X is the least valuable – however diamonds that
get a Z rating are the rarest and most expensive diamonds in
the world.

There are many aspects to a grading report. Figuring it all out
can be very confusing. You should talk to a jeweler you trust,
and have them explain everything on the diamond grading
report to you.

Diamond Certificates

2007-07-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

A diamond certificate is also known as a Diamond Grading Report.
This report comes from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA),
and you should require this report when you are purchasing a
diamond.

With a diamond certificate, you can verify the color, cut, carat,
weight, and clarity of the diamond. You don’t have to worry
about a diamond dealer telling you anything less than the truth,
because the certificate comes from the GIA – not the dealer.
You may be required to pay for the certificate, but the cost is
usually low, and in many cases, it will help you negotiate a
better price on the diamond – or keep you from purchasing a
lower quality diamond altogether.

If you buy a high quality diamond, and then later decide to
sell the diamond, you will need to have the certificate, or
you will have a hard time selling it to someone else.
Furthermore, you can use the Diamond Grading Report to
look up the wholesale value of the diamond in question. Use
the guide that is used by the diamond cutting industry.

With the Certificate, or Diamond Grading Report, there
won’t be any doubts when you are trying to purchase a
diamond. You can easily find out what the diamond is worth.
This will prevent you from overpaying, and it can prevent a
seller from under-charging as well.

A copy of the Diamond Grading Report should be given to
your insurance company as well, when you insure the diamond.
This provides absolute, unquestionable proof of the value of the
diamond should it be stolen in the future. Insurance companies
cannot argue with the report.

Avoid diamond dealers who seem reluctantto provide a
certificate! Also avoid sellers who tell you that a certificate
diamond will cost you more – the only additional cost should
be the cost of the certificate, which is low. If the dealer doesn’t
want to provide a certificate, then you don’t want to do business
with that dealer.

Don’t accept certificates from Gemological Laboratories other
than GIA. There are many fly-by-night Gemological labs these
days, but in the end, GIA has been established as the most
respectable and trustworthy – not to mention oldest – of the
lot. So avoid dealers who don’t want to use GIA for certification
purposes as well.

Don’t buy an expensive diamond without paying the extra cost
of the certificate. If a dealer tries to convince you to make the
purchase without the certificate, or if they want to use a company
other than GIA, you can be sure that the dealer has probably
greatly inflated the price of the diamond – they have something
that they are hiding from you.

Diamond Brands and What They Mean

2007-07-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

Diamonds are one of the few products that simply cannot
be ‘branded.’ Even though there are different cuts,
different grades, and different values placed on each and
every diamond in existence, no diamond is any specific
brand –just as gold is not a specific brand.

Branding is actually based on who owns the diamond.
For instance, if DeBeers owns the diamond, it is a
DeBeers Diamond – but it is still just a diamond. If
the diamond was cut by a specific well known cutter,
then it might be branded in that way as well – but it
usually isn’t. It is still branded based on who owns it
at the time. So basically, when it comes down to it –
diamond brands mean absolutely nothing at all.

Do not allow a jeweler to try to talk you into paying
an exorbitant price on a diamond because it is a specific
brand. This is a bit of trickery used by unscrupulous
jewelers when they know that they are dealing with
people who don’t know much about diamonds.
Remember that diamonds are not actually branded –
unless mother nature has her own brand!

Colored Diamonds

2007-07-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

Fancy colored diamonds are all the rage these days.
Gemologists have developed new ways to create
versions that are affordable for the average person -
by treating less desirable diamonds. These less
desirable diamonds are treated with irradiation
followed by intense heat. This turns brown and
yellowish diamonds into beautifully colored
diamonds that you can afford. This produces
stunning greens, blues, yellows, reds, purples
and other colors. These colors are considered
permanent, but there is a possibility they could
change during repairs if a high heat is used.

Treatments like irradiation make it possible for
more people to own these vividly colored diamonds.
Most natural colored diamonds are rare and also
extremely expensive. When shopping for colored
diamonds you need to assume that any affordable
fancy color diamond has been treated. Ask about the
stones origin and request to view a lab certificate to
verify authenticity.

Synthetic colored diamonds are another option if
owning a colored diamond is something you desire
but cannot quite afford. They are real diamonds,
but they are created in a lab.

Natural fancy color diamonds get their coloring
from different trace elements present in the stones,
such as nitrogen, which produces a yellow diamond.
Diamonds can be colored by exposure to radiation
during its creation. An example of a diamond affected
by radiation is a Green diamond.

Another way that a natural colored diamond gets color
is by its inclusions. Regarded as flaws and undesirable
in a colorless diamond, inclusions give unique tones and
brilliant flashes of color in a fancy color diamond.

Remember that Natural fancy colored diamonds are
very expensive, any colored diamond labeled to be
sold as natural shouldbe accompanied by a certificate
from a respected grading lab. A "fancy" diamond is a
natural diamond that has color. These colors vary from
red, green, purple, violet, orange, blue and pink – and
most shades between. Fancy color shades vary from
faint to intense.

The most famous diamonds in the world are Color
diamonds. The Tiffany Diamond, which is yellow
and the Hope Diamond which is blue are colored
diamonds.Color diamonds have an amazing financial
trackrecord. The value has never decreased on
wholesale level in more than 30 years. Blue and
pink diamonds have doubled every 5 years of a
strong economy.In the 1970’s you could have
bought a very high quality blue diamond for about
50K and today the very same stone would be worth
between 2 and 3 million.

Choosing The Cut of A Diamond

2007-07-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from.
The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is
cut into – unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business,
but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond
sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear,
princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has
an impact on how much the diamond sparkles,but the actual
cutting itself – when the diamond cutter actually cuts the
diamond into a particular shape – also matters a great deal.
If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.

However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond
doesn’t refer to its shape at all. Instead, this is a reference
to the stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity,
and other aspects of the diamond.Common cutting problems
include a missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond
that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets.

When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose
the shape that you like the best, but then look at several
different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the
best cut – the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.

Bonded Diamonds

2007-07-02T19:58:00.000-07:00

Before you start shopping for diamonds, consider dealing
with a bonded jeweler. Bonded jewelers sell bonded
diamonds, and there are very few bonded jewelers in the
world. In fact, out of all of the jeweler’s in the world, only
about 5% of them are bonded. Buying a bonded diamond
will cost more than buying a non-bonded diamond, but
when you look at what you get with the bonded option,
you will see that it is well worth the extra expense.

First, bonded diamonds have a buy back policy for the life
of the diamond. No matter how long you have had the
diamond, you can take it back to the bonded jeweler and
sell it back to him or her, for a 100% refund. If a jeweler
does not offer a 100% buy back guarantee, for the life of the
diamond, then you should take a closer look at the diamond
to see what is wrong with it.

Bonded diamonds also have a breakage policy. If the
stone breaks or chips, the bonded jeweler will replace it
with a new one – one time. No jeweler would ever offer
such a policy on any stone that was not 100% natural, so
just the offer of such a policy should give you piece of mind
concerning the quality of the diamond. Bonded diamonds
are natural and untreated.

Bonded diamonds increase in value, with a fixed appreciation
rate that is designed to keep up with inflation. This means that
a diamond that is worth a certain amount of money today will
be worth more in the future, as the price of diamonds continues
to rise. This generally does not apply to buy backs, however. It
typically applies to trade-ins.

Alternately, by purchasing a bonded diamond, you are protected
against the possibility of a market crash. If a market crash occurs,
the value of diamonds will drop. However, the bonded jeweler
guarantees to refund you the difference between what the diamond
is now worth and what you paid for it before the market crash.

It may be difficult to find a bonded jeweler in your area, but if you
can, this is who you want to deal with, as opposed to dealing with
an un-bonded jeweler. Specifically tell the jeweler that you are only
interested in bonded diamonds. You can find a bonded jeweler in
your area by using various online resources, or by calling the local
jewelry stores.

Are Diamonds Really Rare?

2007-07-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

When you walk into a jewelry store and see all the finest diamonds
in all of the various settings that are for sale, it is difficult to
realize that finest diamonds are indeed rare. Most people don’t
even stop to consider how that finest diamond came to be sitting
in that jeweler’s case! There is quite a bit of work that is
done before a fine diamond is ready to sell to the general public!

For every one million finest diamonds that are mined, only one
will be found that is a quality one caret diamond. In order
to find a two caret diamond, about five million fine diamonds
must be mined. More than two hundred tons of ore must
be mined to find one small fine diamond, and even then, more
than 80% of the diamonds that are mined are only good for
industrial use, such as fine diamond drill bits.

So, the next time you visit your local jewelry store, ask to
see the one carat finest diamonds. You should look at this
diamond with new appreciation – knowing that it truly
is one in a million!

All About the Clarity of Diamonds

2007-07-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

Clarity is an important aspect of a diamond,
and it is important to know how to grade the
clarity of a diamond before you buy one.It is
actually quite easy to learn how to grade the
clarity of a diamond. There are basically two
things that you must understand: Diamonds
with visual inclusions and blemishes, and
those that are ‘eye clean’ meaning that there
are no inclusions or blemishes that can be
seen with the naked eye. From there, the
clarity of a diamond is further broken down
into subcategories.

Many people mistakenly think that diamond
clarity refers to how clear it is. This isn’t so.
Clarity actually refers to the internal and
external imperfections of the diamond.
The best diamonds, of course get a grade
of FL or IF – Flawless or Internally Flawless
– meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1,
I-2 or I-3 means that the diamond is
imperfect, with a grade of I-3 being the worst.

Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which means
that the diamond is very, very slightly imperfect;
VS1 and VS2, meaning the diamond is very
slightly imperfect; SI-1 and SI-2, which means
that the diamond is slightly imperfect.

Buying Diamonds Online

2007-07-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds,
buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable!
However, you actually can purchase diamonds online,
without any problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase
the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase
from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is
price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and
wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However,
you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too
low is a sure indication of a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing online is the
unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are l
imited to the selection in the stores in your general
area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must
use a great deal of care and consideration before
handing your money over to someone that you cannot
see and have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can about
diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat
weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds,
it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you
know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start
shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that
you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar
diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to
find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest
price, start doing your investigation. You know about
diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and
you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite
a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional
jewelry associations that they belong to.View and print
the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also
inquire about additional services, such as settings and
mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for
customer reviews on this particular company around
the Internet. Alsocheck with the BBB Online to see if
there have been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent
laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should
see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable
escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one
that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their
possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow
service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond
to the escrow service.The escrow service has the diamond
appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money
to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…
again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

About Diamond Weights

2007-07-02T18:38:00.000-07:00

Diamonds are measured in Carat Weight.
One carat weighs 200 milligrams. If a
diamond is referred to as four grains, this
also means that it is a one carat diamond.

The word Carat comes from the word carob.
A carob is a bean that grows on a tree in the
Mediterranean.

In times past, if a diamond weighed the same
as a carob bean, it was one carob, or one carat.
However, in the far east, where Carob trees do
not grow, rice was used to measure the weight
of a diamond. If a diamond weighed as much as
four grains of rice, it was four grains – or one
carat as we know it to be now.

The majority of diamond purchases are for
diamonds that are 1/3 of a carat. Beware when
shopping for diamonds that are already set or
mounted. If more than one diamond is used in the
piece, the tag on the jewelry will give the CTW or

Carat Total Weight – it does not tell you the carat
weight of each stone in the piece. You need to ask
the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest
diamond in the piece to truly understand what you
are buying.