April 22, 2011
Royalties
The news has a daily report on the upcoming nuptials of William and Kate. They have even reported on her purchase of underwear!!
What’s really important is what William is getting her as a wedding present. A tiara, a necklace of diamonds?? Will the bride wear traditional pearls? Inquiring minds want to know!
Her ring – Diana’s engagement ring – is one of the most talked about and copied designs. Magazines and television ads are offering copies at a bargain price. Just what are you getting? Surely not a natural sapphire. It may not even be surrounded by natural diamonds!
Read the fine print – know what it is! And, if you have any questions, talk to a Certified Gemologist – someone who knows about gems. Have a great weekend… Dii
April 18, 2011
Handle With Care
Today is the deadline for filing in your taxes. I’m sure you all took a lot of care preparing them in hopes of limiting your liability and/or maximizing your return!
To limit damage to jewelry and maximize its life and beauty, here’s a bit about jewelry care. Let’s begin with fashion jewelry that isn’t “gold” – meaning it may be gold colored or plated, but it isn’t what is referred to as karat-gold. Much of this is plated with a thin layer of gold (or something yellow or silver-colored). The amount of coating varies; all of it will eventually dull and/or “rub off”.
Again, a soft, chamois-type material will wipe off the residue from body oils or perfumes. This is best – or you might dampen the cloth for a stubborn mark. Water and a gentle cleaner may not immediately remove the plating, but repeated or prolonged use will eventually affect the finish. If there are “stones” in the piece, water and the cleaner may be the only way to clean them.
For karat gold or platinum jewelry, a combination of a soft brush and a gentle cleaner is great. A chamois-type polishing cloth is even helpful to brighten the metal. You’d think gold was durable enough for anything, but there are some considerations. For example, the alloy used to make yellow gold white, usually nickel, can be affected by the chemicals in a pool, hot tub, or kitchen sink.
It’s best to remove gold jewelry before enjoying swimming, soaking, or dishwashing! Just like it’s best to get your taxes in by the end of today!! …Dii
April 15, 2011
Color Care
There are cleaning cloths – a soft, chamois-type material that will wipe off the residue from body oils or perfumes. Water and a gentle cleaner is a better way to clean away soap residue and hand lotion. Be careful and use only a very soft brush to reach around the gemstones. I use a baby’s tooth brush. That’s as gentle as it gets!!
Color gemstones can be treated or enhanced too. So, think gentle. No ammonia, no toothpaste! And, for questions on a particular gem, you should speak with your jewelry professional for his or her advice. If they don’t know, find someone who cares. Or write me your particular question at www.AmericanGemSociety.org. Click on Ask an Expert. …Dii
April 13, 2011
No More Tears
Some of you may remember the commercials for baby shampoo that advertised, “No more tears”. The key word for the product was “gentle”. The same can be said for jewelry cleaner. There are many commercial cleaners on the market, but, just like shampoos, not all have the same ingredients and could bring tears to your eyes if you use it on some of your jewelry. What is gentle? How gentle do you need to be?
When jewelry is set with diamonds or gemstones, you need to consider the type of gemstone and if it has been treated or enhanced. Diamonds are the “hardest thing known to man”, but, they can receive some “enhancements” that leave them vulnerable to time and the elements of jewelry cleaning. Although they may be enhanced in their appearance (initially), improper care and cleaning can leave them far from enhanced.
These diamonds are technically called, fracture-filled diamonds. The breaks in the diamond are camouflaged to make them appear to “disappear”! Sounds like a fantastic process – and it truly is remarkable – but be careful. They’re worth less and they require more care. Next – color gemstones… Dii
April 6, 2011
Diamond Tips
I like to wear diamonds on my fingers – but not sure about on my fingernails! For those of you who find this desirable, Cherish…ME in Dubai offers the most expensive manicure in town: 10 carats of diamonds on the tips of your digits which costs $51,000 (not including $$ tip) and requires a team of experts to deliver this exclusive treatment.
What’s the value of the diamonds? Umm, let’s figure it out. According to the picture, they appear to be bright, but pretty tiny. Let’s say they’re the best you can find…
Highest quality melee at $1650. per carat = $16,500.
Leaves the cost of labor = $34,500.
Plus airfare, hotel, etc. ???
My tax refund is a bit short this year – perhaps I’ll settle for a basic French tip and go shopping for a new diamond ring… Dii
April 4, 2011
Fire & Ice
Most things are destroyed in a fire – the first to go would be the ice!! However, ‘ice” of another type – a diamond – can survive the flames! Regarded as the hardest substance known to man, diamonds create stories that fire cannot destroy!
Historical news from a 1936 Nebraska newspaper reported on a happy ending to a hotel fire. Four diamond rings containing six diamonds were not only found in the ash, but with minimal cleaning and polishing, were restored to like-new condition. Although the story is 75 years old, those diamonds are now an heirloom with a story. How many 1936 cars do you see on the road today?? …Dii
