September 27, 2011
Gaga for Diamonds
Diamonds are forever – and forever in your tooth once you drill and set! Reportedly, Lady Gaga is going to set at least one marquise diamond in one of her teeth. I can only imagine…
What color will she choose? Will she match the color of her smile to the color of the diamond? Or choose a fancy color that matches that hair? Oh wait, she changes the color of her hair from time to time…
What clarity will she choose? Don‘t want a “flawed” diamond to mess with that smile!
Depending on the size of the tooth, she might not have to get a very large diamond…
It all comes down to cut. Even marquise diamonds must be cut to return light and sparkle. Hope her jeweler knows…
…Dii
September 23, 2011
Cyber Diamonds
You can use your laptop, ipad, or smart phone to find a diamond, but is that what you really want to do? Do you want to remember one of the most important and memorable decisions of your life taking place in front of a technical device?
Don’t get me wrong – using the internet to do research is a good thing. And, if it weren’t for the internet, I wouldn’t be here now! Although purchasing many other items online may be the wave of the future, it seems that the majority of grooms-to-be still prefer to visit brick and mortar stores when finally selecting and purchasing a diamond engagement ring.
According to a survey by TheKnot.com, only 9% of US grooms bought diamond engagement rings online, preferring to conduct the purchase in person. Look for a jeweler who can answer your questions, show you a selection of diamonds, and help you create a beautiful memory. Have a great weekend. …Dii
September 16, 2011
Turn Up The Heat
Oh – the spa. It can rejuvenate you and make your skin sooooo soft! You look and feel so good!! If you wanted to relate this treatment to gemstones, the purpose is similar. Some gemstones are treated – or enhanced – to make them prettier!
It’s fairly common with a number of gemstones – not common in others. So, the jeweler has a responsibility to tell you about the treatment and how it will or won’t affect the care of the gemstone.
Take sapphire and ruby as an example. These two gemstones are commonly heated to enhance their color. No dyes – just heat. And, they don’t require any special care to stay beautiful! Some have other treatments which might require special care. Be sure to know the difference!
There are unheated sapphires and rubies – some which you wouldn’t make the effort to pick up; some so beautiful and rare, but more expensive than your budget allows.
Heat can be a good thing – as long as you understand. Have a great weekend. …Dii
September 14, 2011
Fakin’ It
If you’re looking to purchase the look of bling without the bucks of bada-bing, you have some options. Just be careful – all those options are not the same cha ching!
You may have heard of CZ – actually, it’s synthetic cubic zirconia. It’s grown in a laboratory and shouldn’t be confused with zircon. No relation. It looks like a diamond – especially from across the room the first few days you wear it. After that, soap scum dulls it (which you can clean off) and after a few months, scratches dull it more (which you could have polished off, but the stone would have to be removed from the ring, (trying not to damage the prongs), sent to a lapidary (where do you find one of those?), and then have a jeweler reset it into your ring. Cha-ching, cha-ching! Not a realistic solution.
You could just buy another CZ. They’re not very expensive. You can purchase a 2-carat diamond-look-a-like for about $25 – $50. But think about replacing it every year – which isn’t expensive until you pay a jeweler to take out the scratched one and set a new one in your ring. Most people keep wearing the dull, scratched stone instead.
Another diamond look-a-like is synthetic moissanite. It’s harder than the CZ, so you won’t scratch it as easily – probably getting years of wear out of it. It’s very dispersive, which means you see lots of rainbow colors – or fire – as the light hits it. Diamond does this – moissanite just does more of it. So, an astute jeweler might be able to tell it’s not a diamond, but your average friend can be fooled!
It costs more to manufacture synthetic moissanite than CZ, so expect to pay more for it: About $800-$1000 for that 2-carat synthetic moissanite. Hey, a nice 2-carat diamond is going cost you about $8000-$10,000 or more! Both come in many sizes, shapes and even colors! Not every jeweler sells synthetic moissanite – or CZ – so you may need to shop around. Either can be set in a gold mounting – so there’s no need to have your finger turn green!
Some people don’t mind fakin’ it – for others, only the real thing will do… Dii
September 8, 2011
Liz’ Luv
Diamonds may be known as a girl’s best friend, but for Elizabeth Taylor, they were the love of her life! One in particular is the Krupp diamond. A 33-carat emerald cut, she was known to wear it often, including in many of her films. It was first owned by actress Vera Krupp, who spent her post-performing years on a ranch west of Las Vegas.
If you’re interested in placing a bid, the diamond goes to auction at Christies in New York this December. And, at 33+ carats, it’s quite a bit larger than Kim’s. :-0 …Dii
September 2, 2011
What Do You Know About Fire & Ice?
You can’t always believe what you read – especially on the Internet. I came across a “chart” defining the 4 Cs of diamond grading, which contained some misinformation about the factor of Color and how it “inhibits its ability to reflect light” and that “noticeable color will not have the same fire as colorless or near colorless diamonds.”
This is soooooooooooo not true. The polish of the facets can inhibit the reflected light – since reflected light is coming off the surface of the diamond.
And, it’s the overall quality of the cut – including the proportions of the diamond – which can affect how much “fire” is seen in a diamond. If cut with light performance in mind, pink, blue, yellow and really all colors of diamond (except black) will show fabulous flashes of color, known as fire or dispersion. The cut style can affect the display of fire too. For example, an emerald cut, with its broad facets, will usually show less fire than a round brilliant cut (again, depending on the overall cut quality).
That’s why the cut quality of a diamond is more important than the other factors of color, clarity or carat weight – to the beauty and the value of a diamond. Research proves that cut can affect the value by 50% or more. So when you’re looking at diamonds, be sure you’re talking with an expert. Search for a Registered Jeweler, Certified Gemologist, or Certified Gemologist Appraiser of the American Gem Society. Ask to see an AGS Ideal® cut diamond. …Dii
