June 30, 2009
Handle With Care
Take a look in your jewelry box. Or is your jewelry in a drawer? Is it in a pile in a drawer? Are the chains tangled and mangled? Well, you’re probably not alone.
Some jewelry seems to thrive in that environment. It’s almost fun to pick through the mess to find that one bracelet you want to wear today. But it’s probably not so fun for the jewelry. And, if you’ve ever looked into a fisherman’s tackle box, even he shows more care for his jigs, tubes, and grubs than you’re giving to your chains, charms, and rings!
Should you buy a tackle box for your jewelry? Possibly – only make sure the lining is soft and fuzzy!! Keep your various items sorted and away from each other. Even those fashion pieces deserve some TLC. Not only will you locate what you want faster – you’ll keep everything shiny as new – as long as you also keep it free of perfumes, lotions, and hairspray. Can’t do without those? Of course not. Tomorrow we’ll get some advice from “Mr. Clean”!! …Dii
June 29, 2009
As The Jewelry World Turns
A very fascinating celebrity, Christie Brinkley, (a model of my era) has launched a line of jewelry. Along with her promotion of fabric and fitness equipment, she now adds a line of fashion jewelry to her list of accomplishments.
Reportedly, she collaborated with retailer Ross-Simons to create the collection. The jewelry will be available in catalogs, some retail stores, and online at Brinkley’s Web site.
With each new designer of jewelry, brands are created and promoted to stir interest in and encourage the purchase of adornment. Gifts from a loved one or gifts to ourselves – we like to remember special events with jewelry. It makes us feel good when we wear it.
In one article about her collection, Christie says, “I’m excited to bring my ideas and personality to the line…” Perhaps her thought and feelings contribute to the overall joy we get when one of those pieces chooses us!!
The designer – whether a celebrity or not – provides us with the opportunity to discover and enjoy either a ring, a bracelet, a necklace, or a pair of earrings. Don’t spoil that happiness by misplacing, damaging, or losing your favorite pieces. Do you need insurance? Maybe, maybe not. But there are steps you can take to keep your jewelry beautiful and safe for many years. Read on tomorrow…Dii
June 26, 2009
Want an Answer To That Question?
Don’t hesitate to ask questions of the jeweler. Demand professionalism, honesty, and ethical business practices.
Q: Are you a member in the American Gem Society?
A: Yes, we’ve been members since [ date ]. We are among a select group of jewelers nationwide that have met the strict standards for American Gem Society membership. Our dedication to ethical business standards is your assurance that you are shopping with a jeweler you can trust..
Q: Do you have any professional credentials from the American Gem Society?
A: Yes, my title [either Registered Jeweler, Certified Gemologist, or Certified Gemologist Appraiser] was earned by having both gemological education and industry experience. Our store has [#] titleholders on staff. And, my AGS title must be renewed annually through continuing education, proven ethics, and a recertification exam. This means you can be confident in our up-to-date knowledge and professionalism.
Q: Do you know how to determine the grade of a diamond?
A: Yes, in order to achieve my title, I had to pass a diamond grading class to prove I understand and can explain the value factors to our customers. It’s not enough to just read a report to you. It’s important that I can interpret the report and advise you on the value of the diamond – as well as verify the diamond to the report.
Q: Do you guarantee the quality of your diamonds?
A: Yes, with every diamond, you receive a Statement of Replacement Cost documenting our grading of the diamond and its value – whether it has an independent lab report or not. In fact, only AGS stores can offer a true guarantee backed by the integrity of the AGS Laboratories. This is called a Diamond Quality™ Certificate.
Q: How do you know if it’s a “real” sapphire?
A: We have an Accredited Gem Lab supervised by our Certified Gemologist. The gemological equipment in our lab and the expertise of our credentialed gemologist, is your assurance of our knowledge in gemstones – knowledge that you need to make your purchase with confidence.
Only American Gem Society members are held accountable by a Grievance and Review Process within the Society guidelines. Any consumer or jeweler can file a complaint with the CEO of the AGS. (www.AmericanGemSociety.org) You deserve the correct answers – delivered with integrity. Questions? Have a great weekend…Dii
June 25, 2009
Mind Your Qs and As
Usually, if you know what questions to ask, you don’t know the correct answer, but the manner of answer is answer itself! For example, if I ask my accountant if a certain deduction is possible, I expect she will tell me yes or no. Although I have to trust her to give me the correct answer, I wouldn’t feel too secure if her answer was, “Gee, I don’t know”. I would expect her to follow up that line with, “but, I’ll find out”.
A good jeweler may not have all the answers, but listen to the response and the manner in which it is given. Is the answer helpful or misleading? If you aren’t a good judge of character, ask a friend for a recommendation. Then, you might ask the jeweler some of these questions.
Q: Can you tell me about clarity-enhanced diamonds?
A: Yes, and it’s also important to tell you how they are different from unenhanced diamonds – how they are priced (less than non-enhanced diamonds) and what additional care you must take if you decide to purchase one. (A jeweler may choose not to sell clarity-enhanced diamonds, but they should be able to tell you about them).
Q: I saw a diamond on the Internet for a lot less than your diamonds. Why?
A: The Internet lists diamonds for sale with their report information; however, wouldn’t you like to see the diamond and how it looks before you make a purchase? Tell me about some of the diamonds you’ve been researching and let me show you how they compare. Many times the lowest price is not the best value.
Q: Of the 4Cs – cut, color, clarity, or carat weight – which is the most important?
A: When it comes to choosing a diamond, different people may have different ideas on what is most important to them. But when it comes to the beauty of a diamond, cut is the most important. Let me show you how cut affects the brightness and fire of a diamond.
More Q&A tomorrow. Dii
June 24, 2009
It Is What It Isn’t
You made a diamond purchase – it has a grading report – aka “Cert”. The report has the diamond’s weight, color letter and clarity grade. It might even comment on the quality of the cut. (Many don’t). The seller says you can take them “anywhere” to have them appraised and he guarantees they will appraise for at least what you paid. Sounds good, huh?
What if the appraiser agrees with the weight and the price paid, but not the color and clarity grades? You paid the right price, but didn’t get the grades that are on the “cert”. Are you happy? I’ve had customers in this situation and they were happy that the price matched what they paid. Incredibly, they were not so upset that the color and clarity grades were a bit “different” and chose to keep the item rather than take it back. They didn’t get what they paid for. Remember, just because it’s a “Cert” doesn’t make it right. These are opinions – just like a doctor’s diagnosis. You want to use the Doctor with the most correct opinions!!
Who’s the appraiser and who’s the seller? What are the credentials of each? Who do you believe? It’s all just so overwhelming, right? It’s easier to trust the seller – before the sale. Do your homework, shop around, ask questions, and demand that he or she has the education and reputation to deserve your business.
Tomorrow – questions to ask your jeweler. Dii
June 23, 2009
No Excuses – Give Me a Reason!
Diamond stud earrings are one of the “staple” items many jewelry stores carry. They make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, apologies, and congratulations.
For a nice pair of diamond stud earrings with a total weight of .50carat (that’s .25ct or ¼ ct each), you can expect to pay over $500. There are many combinations of cut, color, and clarity, so you can pay more or less. But pay attention to the cut – that’s where the beauty comes from.
Let’s say your budget is $500. Would you be impressed if the price tag said:
“Was $1500, Now $695”? Would it make you consider raising your budget? Maybe…
But why would anyone sell something for $695 if it’s worth $1500? Especially if they have to restock the item. Chances are the cost of the earrings (from the supplier) won’t be less – and it might be more. With an item that sells over and over, the jeweler wants to restock it so that it can sell again and again.
One thought is, the more you buy (a jeweler here) the less you have to pay. And that’s true. Big volume purchases can save the jeweler some money. So, how is the consumer going to know what’s a good value from what’s not a good deal?
To begin with, shop at a reputable firm with a knowledgeable sales staff who can explain the value factors that justify the price. Don’t be taken in by sale prices just because of the markdown. There’s another reason why the item would be “on sale” (forever). Find out why tomorrow. …Dii
June 19, 2009
Seeing Is Believing
Diamond characteristics shouldn’t be thought of as flaws. When a diamond is cut to retain weight with no regard to beauty, I call that a flaw – a cutter’s flaw – or poor workmanship. Nature’s marks are documentation of the diamond’s history – and that history goes back thousands of years and miles below the earth’s surface. I call that fascinating.
Previously, I mentioned the girdle of the diamond could be laser inscribed to help identify it. Without a laser inscription, the girdle is still a good place to look for one of nature’s marks – called a natural. This is part of the original surface of the diamond rough, left on the diamond by the cutter. As long as it doesn’t distort the outline of the diamond, it’s really a mark of the cutter’s expertise. And, it’s a mark that you can see with a microscope and your jeweler can document for you on a report. In fact, some jewelers have the ability to take a picture of it for you! How neat is that!?
Another common characteristic is a crystal – another mineral that is trapped inside the diamond during its formation. Geologists have identified garnet, peridot, and ruby inside of diamond! (Other minerals too) What you won’t find is the notorious “carbon spot”. Although diamond is carbon, and a crystal might be black, it won’t be carbon. (FYI) You can locate and identify a single crystal or several. They will be unique to your diamond.
One other common characteristic is a feather – a break in the diamond. This sounds both ominous and humorous. It’s sounds better than fracture (which it could be) or calling it a cleavage (which could be confusing), and may not always be accurate. So, years ago, the term feather was introduced. (FYI – some diamond graders use the term, gletz).
Some feathers actually can take on the likeness of a dancer – or a star – or other imaginary figures. Whatever they may look like to you, they are unique to your diamond. And, usually only found with the aid of a microscope. (Unless you have a lower clarity diamond).
The inside world of diamonds – fascinating, useful, and unique. Let’s go shopping!!
Next week, just what is a sale price? …Dii
June 18, 2009
Inside Out
Diamonds are truly remarkable. A cutter takes a rough “pebble” and places 58 tiny facets (sometimes more; sometime less) in a geometric pattern that directs light to play games with your eyes. Of course, some cutters are better than others – some diamonds are more beautiful than others. But cut quality is another post…
Inside the diamond, Mother Nature usually leaves her mark. Like some birth marks, they can be a size, color, or shape in a certain location and suddenly, they become beauty marks! But in diamonds, Mother’s marks are of a size, number, color, type, and in a location that results in a clarity grade – one of the 4Cs of diamond grading. Some people call these marks flaws or imperfections; diamond graders call them inclusions; I call them characteristics. And they can be very interesting and useful!!
Just like too much of a good thing, too many “characteristics” in a diamond will interfere with the light and lower its beauty. With just a few, they cannot be seen without the aid of magnification. And, they can be identified as unique characteristics of your diamond!
Choosing a knowledgeable jeweler who has a microscope, can be a good step towards knowing your diamond – inside and out. Ask to see the inside world of your diamond – make note of an interesting characteristic – and you will always know it’s your diamond. Don’t leave it with a jeweler that can’t or won’t show you. It’s cheap insurance and its priceless information. Tomorrow – what you can look for in your diamond. …Dii
June 17, 2009
Beam Me Up Scotty!
Laser technology began in the 70’s with barcodes and scanners to read them. We now have compact discs (CDs), laser pointers, laser printers, laser surgery, and laser light shows. For diamonds, we use laser technology to inscribe numbers, letters, or logos on the girdle. The girdle is the setting edge of a diamond – which can be bruted, polished, or faceted.
The girdle is a thin edge – if it’s too thick, it’s difficult to set the diamond and other problems can develop (but that’s another post). I mention the size only to amaze you that man can print a message on it. If you are purchasing an engagement diamond, you can have the date of your wedding and “I LOVE YOU” or some such message.
Some diamonds, that have been graded by a professional grading laboratory, have a number inscribed on the girdle. This number corresponds to the number on the grading report. This can be helpful for identifying your diamond – in case of a loss – or that it matches the report – or that your diamond is delivered to you after a cleaning or repair.
It takes magnification to see it – and it doesn’t affect the clarity of the diamond – so your jeweler can show it to you with their microscope. They don’t have a microscope? You can struggle with an eye loupe, or find a jeweler with a microscope. This number can put your mind at ease.
Can it be polished off? Yes, but not with the type of polishing equipment in a repair shop. Those polishing machines are for metal – it takes a diamond to polish a diamond, along with a skilled cutter who knows what he’s doing. They aren’t easily found in every town! Then, it would take a special laser machine to put a number back on the girdle. I think you can feel confident it’s your diamond!
Your diamond doesn’t have a laser inscription? There are other ways to know your diamond. Tomorrow – the inside story. …Dii
