August 31, 2011
Bright Rainbows of Sapphire
Another month bites the dust – and with all the icky weather around this country, I’m sure many would like to just say, “Bite me” to Mother Nature. But, we can’t afford to fool with her, so let’s just hope for a better September.
Birthday babies have sapphires as their birthstones, so choose a cheery color – they’re not just blue, ya know. How about a sunny yellow to brighten your day? How about gettin’ tickled pink? Let a Certified Gemologist or Certified Gemologist Appraiser, a credentialed member of the American Gem Society show you the rainbow of colors for sapphire. …Dii
August 29, 2011
Look What’s In The Sky – With Diamonds
- Swinburne Astronomy Productions
What’s denser than (earth) and bigger than (earth) and doin’ a neutron dance around a spinning star? It’s a rock; it’s a planet; it’s a DIAMOND!!
It’s also about 4000 light years away – so pictures definitely NOT at 11. Maybe by Christmas? Let’s ask Santa… Dii
August 22, 2011
Doggie Diamond Treat
Many commercial dog treats include beef, bone or poultry meal, wheat or flour, and other stuff I don’t really recognize. But there are dogs that are not too picky and may gobble up anything that fits in their mouth.
Honey Bun
This is so true about a small pup in Georgia, Honey Bun, who fished a couple of diamonds off the desk of her jewelry-store owner while he was waiting on a customer. Upon his return, uh-oh!
It didn’t take too long to figure out the case of the missing diamonds – and in a couple of days the evidence reappeared. Both pup and diamonds are fine. As for the diamonds, I’d like to know about their quality, but I’m not sure I would want to know their “journey into jewelry”!! TMI …Dii
August 17, 2011
Tips for SELLING Jewelry
You’ve got something you don’t want. Or, you’ve got something you can live without because you need the money. Where do you go? Who do you talk to? How do you get the most money for what you have to sell – especially when you don’t know what your jewelry is worth!!
This is when you really have to find someone to trust. And that can be difficult – if you don’t already know a trustworthy jeweler or know someone else who knows one. There’s a commercial on television that says to ask a neighbor for a good recommendation for a plumber. That can work for a jeweler too. But, if you don’t have a “good neighbor”, let me introduce you to an American Gem Society jeweler. And, here are a few questions you can ask to find out if selling your jewelry is a good idea:
What can I hope to get for this?
You may have seen a similar item in a store; however, resale value is going to be a lot less than a current retail price.
Why is the offer so much less than what I paid a few years ago?
Consider this: jewelers want to sell jewelry – not buy it, so the offer is going to be less than they can sell it for. Also, jewelers have relationships with established suppliers, so to justify spending additional dollars; they want to pay less than they would pay their suppliers.
Will I get more from another jeweler?
Some jewelers offer a trade-in value for jewelry which is higher than a cash offer, but you must choose another item from the store. You don’t get any cash.
How do I know the offer is fair?
Take the item to a certified appraiser first. This will cost money, but you will have a complete description of your jewelry along with a value. The appraiser can even provide multiple values – replacement value and what you can expect when selling it. In some instances, you may want to sell it to a friend or through an internet seller. This appraisal will help substantiate the asking price.
August 15, 2011
Diamond Assets
Question: How will I know if the AGS loose diamond that I just bought will be the diamond that will be in the setting I just bought?
Answer: Knowing your diamond and your diamond jeweler are equally important. The jeweler should be able to show you something about the diamond — such as a laser inscription or internal characteristic — which you can find again after it’s been mounted.
Are you having it set by the jeweler who sold you the diamond? Does your jeweler have a microscope to show you the characteristics? Does your jeweler have professional credentials, such as a Registered Jeweler, or Certified Gemologist title? These credentials not only confirm their gemological education, but membership in the American Gem Society assures you of ethics and consumer protection.
The American Gem Society can also evaluate the performance of the diamond — and show you a pattern of light return that can be documented before setting and then verified after it’s mounted. This “ASET map” is a unique characteristic that only your diamond can show.
For more information, visit an American Gem Society member. Dii
August 12, 2011
Gold Conversions
Question: How is ‘dwt’ converted to ounces for the sale of gold?
Answer: To convert dwt (pennyweight) to ounces, divide by 20. Keep in mind, 14 karat is only 14/24 gold. This too must be figured before the gold value can be determined. Then, there are costs to refine the gold. When “old gold” is purchased, hundreds of pieces will be sent to a refiner – rather than individually. This divides the refining costs among the total weight.
It’s important to visit someone you trust if wanting to sell your gold or jewelry. Have them show you the weight on a scale so that you understand what you are giving up and what you are receiving in return. Dii
August 10, 2011
Now Performing! Emerald Cut Diamonds
Question: I am interested in purchasing an Emerald cut diamond. I am curious as to what are the ideal specs to look for in an emerald? My girlfriend likes the rectangular, elegant, classy look of the stone. Any information will be helpful! Thank you for your time!
Answer: The American Gem Society has the only grading laboratory with standards for grading the performance of fancy shaped diamonds. These include the princess, oval, and emerald cut shapes. After research by the AGS Laboratory team and an optical physicist, AGS has patented a grading system based on ray tracing technology and the measurement of light return in each diamond. Although proportions “drive” that performance, the AGS concluded that there are hundreds, if not thousands of proportion-combinations that will yield a beautifully performing diamond.
For an emerald cut diamond, the length to width ratio is important not just for light performance, but for your personal taste too. If the diamond is twice as long as it is wide, it may seem a bit long in the l:w ratio. By viewing a collection of diamonds, you and your girlfriend can choose a shape which is most pleasing.
The thickness of the girdle usually doesn’t affect the light performance of a diamond; however, it can greatly affect the weight. If the girdle is very thick, you’re paying for weight that you can’t see face up! If the girdle is extremely thin, depending on the setting, it could be more susceptible to chipping.
Another consideration in the overall quality of the cut, is the symmetry of the facets and the polish on those facets. A professional diamond grader evaluates these characteristics using magnification — seeing more than you might see — but understanding how these can affect the overall value.
Color is important with all diamonds; however, the broad facets of an emerald cut can more easily reveal the body color of a diamond. If your girlfriend likes white gold or platinum, a diamond with body color (and many have this) will show yellow in the ring. Again, seek the advice of a professional and have them show you the subtle differences in color and how they affect the value of the diamond.
Cut quality can affect the value of a diamond by as much as 50% or more, so seek the advice of a credentialed jeweler/gemologist. Dii
August 8, 2011
See-thru Gemstone
From the Files of the Expert
Question: I just bought a 5.2 carat wt. oval cut aquamarine ring. Is it okay that when you look at the stone from certain angles, you can see through it, i.e., I can see my finger underneath? Thanks.
Answer: Not always “okay”, but this is seen with many aquamarines. It’s known as “windowing” — and the aquamarine tends to show it more than some of the other gemstones; however, it is partly due to the physical properties of the mineral, beryl, (aquamarine is a variety of the mineral beryl) and a result of the proportions of the stone – or the angles of the facets in relation to each other.
When fashioning the gemstone, the cutter must take care to balance the loss of weight against the loss of light return and the saturation of the color. You can learn more about gemstones and their cut quality from a Certified Gemologist or Certified Gemologist Appraiser. Visit www.AmericanGemSociety.org Click on Find a Jeweler. Dii
August 4, 2011
Fashion or Freaky?
Diamond contact lens! OUCH!! Diamonds are “rough” and I don’t want anything like that near my baby blues. Maybe Lady Gaga or some other outrageous character 
would like these. Not me, thank you very much! TFFM Dii
August 1, 2011
Gold Rush
I would have never purchased gold at $1200 per ounce. And who would have thought it would go over $1600 per ounce? However, with Washington coming to an “agreement”, it looks like more people will “sell” and the price could fall.
About a year ago, I sold some old jewelry and got cash for my gold. Then I went out and bought new jewelry! With these high prices, maybe I should go through the box again and scrap some more!!
