August 2005 Archives
GIA New Cut Grade System Starts: Jan. 1, 2006!
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world's foremost diamond grading and research laboratory will be issuing its new Diamond Cut Grading System reports on January 1, 2006, for round brilliant cut diamonds, D-to-Z in Color and Flawless-to I-3 in Clarity. GIA's new reports will include a cut grade accompanied by color, clarity, and carat weight.
GIA is also making available its Facetware (TM) cut estimator tool for assessing diamond cut quality. The tool requires user input for total depth, table size, crown angle, pavilion angle, star length, lower-half (lower-girdle facet) length, girdle thickness, and culet size, as well as the diamond's polish and symmetry grades. Available free for use it can be found here: GIA New Cut Grade System For Diamonds
This is an extremely informative and useful tool/tutorial which should be used and read by all consumers.
World's Biggest Tanzanite Gemstone Found.
Tanzanite-One said it has found the world's largest tanzanite gemstone weighing 16,839 carats! in the foothills of Tanzania's Mount Killimanjaro.
Tanzanite in rough form.
Polished Tanzanite.
The new find comes on the heels of Tanzania's push to re-channel profits generated from tanzanite mining back into its local economy.
What makes this find even more remarkable is that tanzanite production is unpredictable and inconsistent due to bad mining practices.
Another financial obstacle facing the industry is the value added tax (20 percent) that is added on gemstones, including those intended for export. The tax prevents inter-dealer trade and mining, which in turn makes is more difficult to establish a local cutting industry.
Tanzania is looking to duplicate the development of local manufacturing industries of South Africa and Madagascar. Both countries are increasingly opposed to exporting raw materials outside of the country and are insisting that the majority of rough gems be earmarked for local manufacturing.
Diamond Week In Review: 8/5/05.
Big week in the world of diamonds as the foremost gemological laboratory in the Industry, GIA (Gemological Institute of America) finally, after 15 years of research, introduced their new Cut Grade for Diamonds.
The new Cut Grade system will evaluate diamond proportions of the round brilliant shape and assign a grade of either "Excellent", "Very Good", "Good", "Fair", or "Poor".
The new system will begin as of January 1, 2006.
More information on how the Cut Grade works and which proportion combinations will result in the best grades can be found on the GIA website. The link is here:
GIA New Cut Grade System For Diamonds
Hey Raffy!
You used the wrong finger!
Golconda Diamonds: What Are They?
The Golconda diamond mines are located in south central India in what today is the state of Hyderabad. This region was the first known source for rough diamonds from approxiamtely the 4th century B.C. until 1730 when diamonds were discovered in Brazil.
The defining characteristics of Golconda diamonds and what sets them apart and in a class by themselves are their incredible transparency, "whiteness", and purity.
Both the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the world reknowned Gubelin Gem Lab characterize diamonds displaying the finest white color and transparency as type IIa, signifying that they are free from nitogen and are therefore chemically pure and colorless. The term "Golconda" has come to define diamonds of the finest white color and transparency.
Some descriptive terms used to define Golconda diamonds have been; "whiter than white", "like a clear river stream", and brighter than bright".
Golconda diamonds are very, very rare in today's market and if you do come across one it will usually be at a Christie's or Sotheby's auction.
Bring LOTS OF CASH!
Buying Gold and Platinum Jewelry: What You Need To Know.
Shopping for Gold or Platinum jewelry? Excited about getting her that special engagement ring? Blinded by the beauty of all those gorgeous rings in the jeweler's tray? A bit confused by all of the choices?
Don't blame you. It can be daunting.
Beyond the mesmerizing surface bling-bling, here is what you need to know about the correct composition of Gold and Platinum jewelry products:
1. Make sure that jewelry containing gold or platinum is correctly marked in compliance with the law.
2. The item's karatage must be identified to you in some way (verbally, through signage, etc.).
3. If an item is stamped to indicate the quality of metal it contains, it must have a trademark in close proximity to the quality mark. (A trademark is a symbol stamped next to the quality mark and may be initials or a logo to identity the make of the item.)
4. Items containing 950 parts per thousand (95%) may be marked as platinum.
5. Items that are 85% or 95% platinum must be marked with the platinum content. Examples: 900Pt, 850Pt.
6. Items containing less than 85% platinum must detail the platinum group metal. Example: 750Pt200Irid. Total parts must equal 950 (95%).
Note: Platinum group metals are: Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Ruthenium and Osmium.
Gold
10 karat gold is the minimum fineness of gold that may be sold in the U.S. Jewelry under 10kt fineness may not be sold as gold.
Jewelry is made of many different types of gold: solid gold, gold plate, gold filled, gold overlay, gold electroplate, gold flashed/washed or rolled gold plated.
Platinum Rings
Platinum is a heavier and denser metal than white gold and is more expensive than gold which contains a combination of alloys. Platinum rings are extremely appealing for the following reasons:
* Platinum is incredibly durable (much more so than white gold.)
* Platinum will hold your loose diamond or gemstone more securely than white gold which is a softer, more pliable metal.
* Platinum develops a beautiful sheen or patina over time.
* Platinum rings are hypoallergenic and will resist tarnishing better than gold.
Gold Rings
Gold rings are much less expensive than platinum rings and have the following characteristics:
* Gold will not scratch as easy as platinum.
* Because gold also contains other alloys its color will fluctuate depending on the purity of the gold that is used.
* Gold will tend to fade eventually and will require repolishing.
In Depth Analysis
Platinum
Platinum is valued as the finest metal for jewelry. It is the strongest metal and weighs twice as much as its gold counterpart. Additionally, the exceptional weight and density of this precious metal make it extremely attractive and desirable, and will increase its value significantly. Platinum engagement rings, and platinum diamond rings, have taken the market by storm due to the fact that the sheen or patina of the metal does a better job than gold of highlighting/contrasting the beauty of the set diamonds. The platinum metal is part of a group of six metals including; platinum, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, and osmium. These metals are all extremely similar to platinum in their chemistry, density, and weight. As a matter of fact, they are often difficult to distinguish from each other. Platinum jewelry is also unique in that it is the only metal that is of 90% to 95% purity.
Gold
Gold in its purest form is an extremely soft and pliable metal. Because it is so soft and malleable it cannot be used in jewelry since it would disfigure with normal wear. Because of this problem jewelers resort to an alloyed gold known as karat gold (different from "carat" measurement used to characterize diamond weight) Adding alloys to the gold will make the metal tougher and harder so that it may be used in jewelry applications. It will also result in different colors depending on the different combinations used. White gold contains approximately 10-20% nickel, with combinations of platinum, zinc, copper, and palladium. This combination makes white gold a tougher metal than yellow gold. The amount of gold in any given combination is described by karat number. Examples of these numbers would be 14k, 18k, or 24k. The number indicates how many components of pure gold are included in the 24 components that make up the alloy. The following chart illustrates these combinations:
10k = 10/24 = 41.67% purity of gold
14k = 14/24 = 58.33% purity of gold
18k = 18/24 = 75.00% purity of gold
24k = 24/24 = 100% pure gold
Tutorial on Loose Diamond Shapes
When choosing a diamond ring for that special woman in your life, one of the most important choices you will have to make is the shape of the diamond itself. Every diamond shape has its own unique look and should therefore be carefully considered before making a purchase. Many women focus on choosing a diamond ring that flatters the shape and length of their fingers.
We have put together some information on the most popular diamond shapes in the marketplace today.
Round Brilliant Cut Diamond
The round diamond is the most traditional and popular of all diamond shapes. Approximately 80% of all loose diamonds being sold in the marketplace are round cut diamonds. A round cut diamond has a total of 58 facets, 33 on the top portion called the crown and 25 facets on the bottom called the pavilion. A round diamond that is cut to ideal cut diamond parameters will be the most beautiful and brilliant of all the diamond shapes. It is for this reason that round diamonds are most often set in solitaire, four-prong engagement ring settings to showcase their brilliance.
The round cut diamond has evolved tremendously over the years and has rightfully earned its place today as the most desired and sought after of all of the diamond cuts. At exceldiamonds, we offer the pinnacle in round diamond perfection with our featured SuperbCert Hearts and Arrows Diamonds. We also carry an amazing expert selection of the finest round ideal cut diamonds available today at discount diamond prices.
Princess Cut Diamonds
The princess cut diamond is the second most popular diamond shape after the round diamond. Traditionally, the princess cut diamond has been a diamond shape that does not allow for maximum beauty and brilliance. This is partially due to its four corners which will allow too much light to leak out of the diamond instead of being directed back to the eye in the form of brilliance. Many diamond companies and manufacturers have attempted to combat this by creating modified square diamonds with tapered edges. The problem with this approach is the fact that it destroys the beauty and elegance that has always been associated with a true square diamond. It is for this reason that we decided to create the perfect princess cut diamond, focusing on maximizing the diamonds brilliance without deviating from the traditional square diamond shape. We have accomplished this with our SuperbCert Signature Princess Cut Diamonds. Read about it here.
Oval Cut Diamond
The oval cut diamond is actually an elongated brilliant cut diamond and is traditionally set with two smaller diamonds flanking the center diamond on either side. Although the oval diamond is not as popular as a stand alone diamond in a solitaire engagement ring, it is very sought after in a three-stone diamond engagement ring. When the oval diamond is cut well, it has tremendous brilliance and fire.
Because of its elongated shape and curvature, it is considered a very classical and elegant diamond. The type of setting you choose for your oval-shaped diamond will greatly impact the impression it gives. Choosing a pave diamond ring for your oval diamond, or smaller flanking diamonds will greatly enhance the overall look.
The oval diamond ring is a timeless engagement ring that flatters the shape of the hand and will always remain in style.
Marquise Cut Diamond
Of all the fancy diamond shapes, the marquise diamond is the diamond of choice for royalty and is quite possibly the most regal and elegant of them all. The diamonds elongated shape makes the fingers appear longer. The unique structure of the marquise diamond makes it approximately twice as long as it is wide, with beautiful tapered points on each end. The shape and structure of the diamond will make it appear larger than what it actually weighs in carats. This is due to the large surface area of the stone. Therefore, you can actually a purchase a smaller marquise diamond engagement ring than you would in a different diamond shape, and have it appear significantly larger to the eye.
An important consideration with a marquise diamond is the length to width ratio of the stone. This will determine how brilliant and sparkly the diamond will appear to your eye. If a marquise cut diamond is cut properly, it will have excellent brilliance. Otherwise, it will exhibit a “bow-tie” effect in the center of the stone where you will see a dark black (bow-tie) area with an obvious lack of brilliance.
The ideal length to width ratio for a marquise diamond is considered to be 1.8: - 1 or 2:1
Emerald Cut Diamond
The emerald cut diamond, (cut similar to a precious emerald gemstone) also known as a step cut diamond (for the way it resembles a set of steps) has fewer facets than the more popular round diamond. The diamond is rectangular or square in shape with tapered corners. While the round diamond has 58 facets, the emerald cut has only 25. Because the light entering into the diamond has fewer surfaces to reflect off of, there is noticeably less fire in emerald cut diamonds. As a direct consequence, inclusions within the emerald diamond as well as lower color grades will be much more visible to the naked eye. It is therefore important to consider a higher color and clarity grade when purchasing an emerald cut diamond.
By now you must be asking yourself; why should I even consider an emerald diamond engagement ring?
Well, the truth is that the emerald diamond while not as fiery as other diamonds is exceptionally sophisticated and very sought after. Unlike many other fancy shaped diamonds which look somewhat similar, the emerald diamond has a completely unique look of its own.
Women who prefer the emerald diamond are not really looking for a diamond that will blow people away with maximum brilliance and fire. Rather, they are looking to make a clear statement about their creativity and individuality. In this capacity the sleek and beautiful look of this popular heirloom diamond cannot be duplicated.
The emerald cut diamond ring today has become increasingly popular with celebrities and the fashion elite.
Asscher Cut Diamond
The Asscher cut diamond is a kind of derivative of the emerald cut diamond in a square shape with a total depth that is typically greater than the modern emerald cut diamond. The diamond is named for Joseph Asscher, founder of the Royal Asscher Company, established in Amsterdam in 1854. A master diamond cutter of world repute, Joseph created his Asscher cut in 1902. His unique diamond cut became an instant sensation and was incredibly popular for many years. Even though it is very rare to find an original Asscher cut diamond today, some were passed down from generation to generation and are purchased as jewelry estate pieces.
Asscher is also known the world over for being the cutter of the world’s largest (known) diamond; the 3,205 carat Cullinan Diamond. Asscher was commissioned by British King Edward VII with the cutting and faceting of this monster diamond. The project took him approximately 6 months where he did nothing but study and analyze the diamond rough to determine how best to cut the stone. Ultimately, Asscher created 3 individual and perfectly flawless diamonds from the rough; all of them famous.
The revival of this kind of art deco style diamond jewelry has been the catalyst to bring the Asscher cut diamond back to the forefront of today’s diamond buying public.
A unique aspect of the Asscher diamond is that there are no set proportions or “numbers” with which to cut the diamond. Sure, the diamond does have a basic square outline and step facets, but that is it. The diamond cutter will craft each Asscher diamond with intent on maximizing light performance and beauty. The result is a diamond of incredible beauty and timeless appeal.
Heart Shape Diamond
One of the most delightful of all diamond shapes, the heart shape diamond hides its true complexity behind a veneer of romance. Heart shaped diamonds are actually pear shaped diamonds with a distinctive cleft on top instead of the rounded edges.
It is incredibly difficult to cut a piece of diamond rough into a beautiful (polished) heart shape diamond. It requires a great degree of skill and even one mistake on the part of the diamond cutter will make the difference between a visually stunning vs. a lifeless diamond.
Like pear shaped diamonds, the specific length or width of the heart diamond can change. However, in order for a heart shaped diamond ring to be valuable, it must exhibit proper symmetry. This means that the diameter across its widest perimeter (known as the "shoulders" of the heart) should be equal to its length. The way to measure length is by running a vertical line from the cleft to the tip of the diamond.
The interesting thing about the heart shaped diamond is that just like it promotes the notion of individual romance, it is also gauged for beauty and brilliance in a much more personal and subjective way.
Pear Shape Diamonds
“Teardrop of the Gods”, the pear shape diamond is considered an exquisite diamond for use in quality jewelry and designer engagement rings. The pear shape diamond is exceptionally beautiful and elegant and can be set in a solitaire engagement ring or even a diamond ring with side stones.
The pear shaped diamond is essentially a fusion of the marquise and oval diamonds, combining the “best of both worlds”. You get the beautiful rounded edge on top of the diamond, as well as the distinctive taper on the bottom. A pear shape diamond engagement ring is an assertion of impeccable taste and refinement.
Radiant Cut Diamonds
A cross between a round cut and emerald cut diamond, the radiant cut diamond can be quite beautiful and brilliant. The radiant diamond is typically comprised of 70 facets and is either square or rectangular in shape. Although its popularity has somewhat faded over time, finely cut radiant diamond engagement rings have recently become popular again.
Cushion Cut Diamonds
Cushion cut diamonds gets its moniker from the aesthetic appearance of the stone. The cushion diamond is often crafted for maximum weight retention and is considered an excellent choice when set in a micro pave diamond or halo diamond engagement ring setting. Because the cushion diamond usually appears larger than its actual weight, it is an ideal diamond choice for many who would like the look of a larger diamond at a better diamond value.
Cushion cut diamonds are extremely beautiful when used and incorporated in lavish diamond engagement rings, like antique or vintage diamond wedding rings. Designer jewelry companies will often showcase their dazzling and expensive diamond jewelry set with cushion cut diamond of all sizes.
The cushion cut diamond has garnered a tremendous fan club for its classy look and beauty in jewelry pieces and is considered to be one of today’s “hot diamonds”.
The Art of Diamond Cutting.
Diamond Cutting-Overview
The most important aspect of a polished diamond is the quality of the diamond “cut”. The cut of a diamond is the one thing which is entirely manipulated by the diamond cutter and will determine the visual beauty of the diamond. A well cut diamond will have tremendous brilliance regardless of its color and clarity grades. Conversely, a poorly cut stone will appear dull and lifeless even if it has a top diamond color and diamond clarity grade.
For all diamond shapes, the diamond cutter has two objectives which will often conflict: to save the greatest possible amount of the weight of the rough diamond (so as to allow for a larger and more expensive polished diamond) and to create a diamond which is brilliant and valued in the marketplace.
Poorly proportioned stones retain more weight while the best proportions will demand greater loss of weight. Therefore, faceting a diamond for maximum weight retention means that the diamond cutter will sacrifice less of the diamond rough but will end up with a diamond of poor brilliance and significant light leakage. Faceting a diamond for maximum brilliance means that the diamond cutter will sacrifice more carat weight in the rough in order to create a visually stunning polished diamond. Our SuperbCert Signature Super-Ideal Cut Diamonds as well as our expert selection of Ideal Cut Hearts and Arrows Diamonds have all been crafted to achieve maximum beauty and brilliance, with no regard whatsoever for weight retention.
Cutting Process
The stunning ideal cut diamond your wife has in her engagement ring looks very different from what it looked like when it was originally mined from way beneath the earth's surface!
There are a few basic steps that are required in order to transform a piece of diamond rough into a 58 faceted (polished) round brilliant diamond. These steps require a tremendous amount of skill and patience on the part of the diamond cutter. Many difficult calculations and decisions must be made by the cutter before the work begins.
Planning/Marking
The initial step is to choose the shape and size of the final diamond (s) which will be created from a particular piece of diamond rough. This can be a very complicated decision, since it can involve tradeoffs to avoid inclusions which will make the diamond (s) smaller but less included and possibly more valuable. Once a decision is made the diamond rough is marked accordingly.
Cleaving/Sawing
Diamonds can be cleaved or sawn. The expert must decide which option to choose. Cleaving the diamond only takes a few seconds. It involves a chisel and hammer and it must be done with the grain of the diamond otherwise the stone will break in a way that will ruin it.
Most diamonds are sawn. The sawing process involves a special blade coated with diamond dust which spins at high speed to gradually cut through the stone. There is also a relatively new laser technology that is used to saw rough diamonds. Once this part has been done, the diamond is sent back for checking and then passed to the next phase called bruting.
Bruting
Bruting is the process of giving the rough diamond its basic round shape. During the bruting stage, one diamond is forced against another on a special rotating wheel. This is the only way to actually form the shape of the diamond; by having it manipulated by a second diamond.
Polishing/Faceting
Polishing is the very last step of the diamond cutting process. In this phase, the final proportions are applied to the rough diamond through a series of stages. In the initial blocking stage, the diamond cutter carves 18 facets into the diamond upon which all of the other facets will be built. This is a very crucial stage since it will have a huge impact on the final cut quality of the diamond. In the next stage, the diamond is given to a girdle polisher who creates facets on the girdle of the stone. Finally, in the brillianteering stage the diamond is given to an expert who polishes the final facets into the stone. The degree of precision with which the remaining portions of the diamond are cut, will have a great impact on the beauty and brilliance of the finished product.
Barry Gutwein, President of ExcelDiamonds and the vision behind our SuperbCert Signature Hearts & Arrows Diamonds is a third generation master diamond cutter with 30 years of hands-on bench experience in the evaluation, cutting and polishing of diamonds.
To view our SuperbCert Ideal cut diamonds click here.
What is a Diamond??
A Diamond is a crystal made up of 99.95% pure carbon atoms arranged in an isometric, or cubic, crystal arrangement consisting of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms. It is this unique arrangement of the carbon atoms that makes diamond look and act differently from other pure carbon minerals such as graphite.
Actually, a diamond is the hardest known naturally occurring material, scoring 10 on the old Mohs scale of mineral hardness. One major misconception however, is that a loose diamond cannot fracture or break. The reality is that unlike a diamond’s hardness, which only denotes resistance to scratching, toughness relates to its ability to resist breakage from falls or impacts. Because a diamond has certain specific cleavage plains, it is indeed possible for a diamond to chip or fracture if hit with just the right impact in certain spots. It makes no difference if the diamond is loose or has already been set in a beautiful engagement ring. You must always be vigilant in protecting the integrity of your diamond ring.
A Little Diamond History
Diamonds were formed thousands of years ago under enormous heat and pressure deep in the earth. Great volcanic eruptions many years ago forced the earth containing diamonds to the surface where they were scattered along rivers and into the oceans.
The earliest diamonds were discovered in India, in around 800 B.C. These deposits were rich enough to supply most of the world's diamonds until the eighteenth century.
Only about one-fifth of all mined diamonds could be considered of gem quality. On average, 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed to produce a one carat diamond of gem quality. When the mining operation is completed, sorters look at rough diamonds, separating them into small piles by shape, size, and quality.
The earliest record of diamond-polishing is Indian, dating back to the fourteenth century. The earliest reference to diamond cutting is in l550 in Antwerp, the most influential diamond center of the time, where a diamond-cutters' guild was subsequently established.
Today, approximately 90 percent of all diamond jewelry, including diamond engagement rings, wedding engagement rings, and diamond rings, are made from diamonds mined in African countries. The remaining diamond rough is mined in Australia, South America, Canada and Russia.
The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas" which means unconquerable. This was a reference to the eternity of love. In the year 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy. Most diamond experts agree that this marked the beginning of the tradition of diamond engagement rings. The reason a woman wears her diamond engagement ring on the third finger of her left hand dates back to the Egyptian belief that the vena amoris (vein of love) ran from the heart to the top of that particular finger.
In 1939 De Beers created the criteria for loose diamonds to asses the gem quality by a combination of four factors. These are called the 4C's, referring to the diamonds Cut, Color, Carat and clarity.
Diamonds as Symbols
According to tradition the Greeks believed diamonds were tears of the gods, while the Romans believed they were splinters of fallen stars. Many long dead cultures have attributed divine or mystical powers to these magnificent and brilliant diamonds as a way of explaining its special beauty and brilliance.
The earliest symbolic use of diamonds was as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues. The diamonds themselves were thought to be endowments from the gods and were cherished. The exact point at which diamonds assumed their divine status is not known, but early texts indicate they were recognized in India since at least 400 BC. In western culture, diamonds are the traditional emblem of fearlessness and virtue.
“A diamond is forever”
Every single sparkling diamond has its own personality, its own breathtaking display of brilliance, fire, and scintillation. When a loose diamond is cut to ideal cut diamond specifications there is no precious gemstone that can compare to its dazzling beauty. Each diamond has its own unique internal characteristics and idiosyncrasies. Quality diamonds such as the Hearts and Arrows Diamonds, and diamond and platinum jewelry retain value over time more than any other fine jewelry and precious metals.
Because a diamond is the hardest substance known to man, it is truly “forever”; withstanding the tests of time and lovingly passed down from generation to generation to be cherished and adored.
Small wonder then that today, diamonds are used to symbolize eternity and love, being often seen adorning engagement rings, wedding rings, and wedding jewelry. What better way to symbolize and encapsulate the beauty and lifelong commitment of a couples union, than with a timeless and beautiful diamond engagement ring.
Buying a Loose (Un-mounted) Diamond First
When shopping for the perfect engagement ring or anniversary ring, you will ask yourself whether it pays to buy the loose diamond separate from the ring setting, or to buy the diamond engagement ring as a complete (pre-fabricated) set. Some may argue that it is too much of a “hassle” to buy the loose diamond and ring setting separately.
While you may have your own preferences, we at exceldiamonds advocate choosing a loose diamond first and then selecting the engagement ring to compliment the diamond. We also provide you in our online diamond store with the opportunity to build your own diamond engagement ring.
There are a few important reasons to consider making your diamond purchase your first and top priority:
1. The loose diamond is truly the most important part of your diamond engagement ring. The diamond is not only the most expensive part of the diamond ring, but is also that which determines the overall beauty of the engagement ring. A properly cut ideal diamond is going to sizzle with fiery beauty and brilliance that will be seen from across the room.
2. Diamonds come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and clarities. More importantly, not all loose diamonds are created equal. Depending on the precision of the diamond cut, many diamonds will look beautiful and brilliant, while many may seem dull and lifeless. The size, color, clarity, and cut of the loose diamond will all have an effect on the price you will pay for the stone. By purchasing the diamond loose, you are enabling yourself to choose the diamond that is best suited to your exact specifications for size, color, clarity, and budget. Usually, when a diamond store puts together a diamond engagement ring to sell as a finished product, they will match together a certain uniform standard for the diamond specifications. Their objective is usually to piece together a diamond ring that will entice the consumer, while affording them the highest possible profit on the sale. However, when you take charge and select your own loose diamond, you will find that you can actually save quite a bit of money and still get a visually stunning diamond at the same time. This can be accomplished by selecting a diamond with hearts and arrows precision and ideal diamond specifications which will make it exceptionally brilliant regardless of its threshold for size, color and clarity.
3. Evaluating a diamond to assess it's precision, quality and beauty, is best accomplished in its un-mounted state. When the diamond is loose it can be evaluated by yourself or a qualified independent diamond appraiser using the latest diamond evaluation and grading tools. The diamond can be inspected from every single angle to make certain that it is indeed of the quality and beauty that you desire. This is something that cannot be done with the same degree of effectiveness once the diamond has been set in a ring.
At Exceldiamonds, we understand the difficulty in purchasing a diamond online “sight unseen”. It is for this reason that we provide the most comprehensive level of information possible, including an impressive array of actual diamond photographs, precision analyses, and diamond documentation geared to inform and educate our customers. We only offer the highest quality diamonds, hearts and arrows diamonds, and super-ideal cut diamonds at discounted prices.
We put you in the driver’s seat by empowering you to choose your very own loose diamond from our selection, and to have it set in one of our beautiful discount diamond engagement rings. We even give you the opportunity to have our loose diamonds independently appraised by a qualified diamond appraiser in your area prior to purchase. There is no financial obligation on your part whatsoever.
After you have made your diamond purchase with us you have a complete 10-day inspection for a full money back guarantee.
On the following pages you will get into the “nuts and bolts” of what a diamond is really made of and how to recognize and appreciate quality cut diamonds.
Gold Near 8 Month High As Oil Surges!
Gold traded near an eight-month high after rising yesterday as crude oil prices advanced to another record and the dollar weakened, boosting bullion's appeal as a hedge against inflation and an alternative investment.
Crude oil rose to a record $66.05 a barrel in Asian trade today, after a fire at a Sunoco Inc. pipeline heightened concern U.S. refineries may struggle to meet second-half fuel demand. Investors buy gold in times of inflation, which erodes the value of fixed-income assets such as bonds.
Gold for immediate delivery rose as much as $1.40, or 0.3 percent, to $447.30 a troy ounce. It traded 10 cents higher at $446.00 an ounce. It reached an intraday high of $447.42 an ounce yesterday, the highest since $450.95 was posted on Dec. 8, 2004.
Gold for December delivery rose 10 cents to $451 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange in after- hours trading. Yesterday, it rose as much as 2.4 percent to $452.70, the highest in eight months.
How this will affect jewelery prices remains to be seen. Continued rise in Oil prices coupled with political instability in Iraq and Saudia Arabia over the next few months will surely translate into increased prices for Gold and Platinum jewlery as we head into the very important Christmas shopping season.
Stay tuned, folks.
Diamond Week In Review: 8/12/05
Excellent turnout and buying activity at last week's annual JA Summer Diamond and Jewelery show held at New York's Javits Convention Center.
Retail jeweler Traffic was up by 10%+ with increased purchasing by retailers for their inventories in their expectation of a strong Fall and Christmas buying season by consumers.
Strong demand for rounds in 2 carat+, I color +, SI-2 clarity +. Princess Cuts steady, Asscher, Oval, and Radiant Cuts strong.
Gold and Platinum prices surging as Oil prices hit all time high of $65.00/barrel amid fears of increasing political instability in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Diamond Breaks!
Nasty collison between Met outfielders Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron chasing fly ball in San Diego.
Cameron suffered broken nose and cheekbone fractures.
Get well, Mike.
Want Imelda Marcos' Diamonds? Step Over Here, Bud!
The Phillipine Daily Inquirer today reports that the Phillipine government is ready to auction off the diamond jewelry once owned by Phillipine First Lady, Imelda Marcos.
The Philipine government expects to recover around $10 million from the sale. It said the collection included a yellow gold 30.71-carat diamond-studded bracelet with a central marquise cut diamond crafted by Bulgari. When appraised by Sotheby's in 1990, it was reportedly valued conservatively at from $800,000 to $1.2 million.
The jewelry, now being held in escrow in a Phillipine Central Bank vault, has been independently appraised and found to be genuine.The Phillipine government is finalizing the conditions and details of the auction, including the venue and date of the auction,with the expectation that the auction and sales will be consummated by the end of 2005.
Gem and Diamond Appraisers have described the jewelry pieces as "works of art" because of their exquisite designs, breathtaking size, and the superb quality of the gems.
Now in her early 70s, Imelda Marcos faces several graft cases before local Phillipine courts. The cases are linked to her stint as housing minister and governor of Metro Manila.
The Phillipine government has recovered Marcos-linked assets in the Philippines amounting to P50 billion and $683 million from Swiss bank accounts.
But, hey guys!! What about her SHOES!!?? Probably worth more than the diamonds and gems!
Ruby Gemstone: Power, Passion, Life!
Ruby: Rough and Polished state.
Ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral, one of the hardest minerals on Earth which also includes Sapphire. Pure corundum is colorless. Slight traces of the color creating elements such as chrome, iron, titanium or vanadium are responsible for the colour. These gemstones show an excellent hardness. On the Moh’s Scale they achieve a hardness of 9, second only to diamonds. Only red corundum may be called Ruby, any other color is referred to as Sapphires. The close relationship of Ruby and Sapphire has been known since the beginning of the 19th century. Up to that time, also red Garnets or Spinells were thought to be Rubies – and due to this misclassification the so-called "Black Ruby” as well as the "Timur Ruby” decorating the British Crown Jewels are probably actually no Rubies at all, but Spinells.
For thousands of years Ruby has been considered on of the most valuable gemstones on Earth. It meets all of the requirements for a precious gemstone: Wonderful colour, excellent hardness, and excellent brilliance. It is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in the finer qualities.
Ruby consists of aluminium oxide and chrome as well as smallest proportions of other trace elements - depending on the respective occurrence. In really fine colours and good clarity this gemstone is rare. This scarcity is due to the colour-creating element chrome. Although chrome gives the Ruby its wonderful color it also causes a multitude of fissures and tiny irregularities inside the crystals. Only very few ruby crystals grow undisturbed to considerable sizes and crystallize to form a perfect gemstone. Therefore, fine Rubies are quite scarce in sizes above 3 carats. Rubies with hardly any inclusions are extremely valuable and in good colors and larger sizes will bring top prices at auctions.
India was considered as the classical country of Rubies. The history of Rubies in India spans over two thousand years. The term "corundum” which is used today is derived from the Sanskrit word "kuruvinda”. In the Sanskrit language Ruby is called "ratnaraj”, which translates as "King of Gemstones”.
Today, in addition to India, quality Rubies are mined in Burma,Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Tanzania.
New Designer E-Rings by Vatche!!
Hey Everyone!!!
I just got word from Max Krause; Dir. of Sales & Marketing over at Vatche (www.dvatche.com) that they now have a new line of designer wedding rings and diamond engagement rings which we will be featuring (in our capacity as an authorized retailer) on our retail diamond and jewelry website very shortly.
Some of these designs cater to the latest styles of wedding rings worn by celebrities and "fashion-istas" (is that a word?) all over the world.
Here is a peek.
Judah
Piaget Watches Are Hot in Malaysia!!!
Rapaport NewsWire reports that Swiss watch and jewelry house Piaget, expects to see a sales growth of 15 percent in Malaysia in 2005.
Sales have grown by 10% in the past four years.
Piaget has been in Malaysia since 1992 and currently has one boutique and four retail outlets, Including Cortina Watch and Sincere Fine Watches. All of them are in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia is an interesting market for Piaget because of the potential growth in Piaget's product range with a price tag of $478 and above.
This was the reason why Piaget chose to unveil its new range of products in Malaysia, with next stop would be in Singapore. In Malaysia, 60 percent of the company's customers are local, while the remaining 40 percent are tourists.
Asia as a whole is Piaget's biggest market with Japan as the main market, followed by United States and West Asia.
More Designer Engagement Rings by Vatche!!!
Hey Everyone,
Thought you might like to see a few of of the breathtaking new diamond engagement rings by Vatche!!
This is part of a brand new collection that we are featuring on our website (as an authorized Vatche retailer) from this outstanding designer.
Enjoy the eye candy!!!!
