Archive for Diamonds
Diamond Engagement Rings – Advice From An Expert
Posted by: | CommentsEven though the majority of guys who are looking to purchase a diamond engagement ring are trying to keep their girlfriends from knowing, partly to keep it a surprise and partly to keep the price a secret, the better way to go is to have your girlfriend select her own engagement ring. By doing this, you will not have to concern yourself about guessing her style and her preference. However, for those of you who do want to select a ring on your own, you need to understand how to best go about it.
Take the time to find out exactly what your girlfriend likes and what she dislikes. You might want to begin by paying attention to the jewelry she already wears, which will give you an idea of her style. Prior to shopping for the ring, you should understand the kind of jewelry she prefers. For instance, is she into big and chunky, simple, traditional, or modern? Have there been times in the past when she has casually mentioned she would like a particular style?
If you need verification of your girlfriend’s style and preferences, you might want to take her to a jewelry shop. If she wants to know why you are there, simple tell her you want to get yourself a present. Let her browse the jewelry in the cases and listen carefully when she tells you she likes a piece. If she does not say anything in the store, you will need to ask her if there was something that jumped out at her prior to leaving.
If you are completely clueless as to what you should buy your girlfriend, you can just go with a basic diamond ring. These are timeless classics. You might think that a diamond engagement ring will be too expensive, however there are some that will fit into any budget. The cost of a diamond is dependent upon its grade, and the grade is dependent upon the carat, cut, color, and clarity of the diamond. As such, you can pick one out that is not flawless, but is beautiful just the same. And you will stay within your budget.
Picking out the ideal ring for your girlfriend is not your only concern. You are also going to have to find out her ring size. To do this, you will need to get a hold of a ring she currently wears on the ring finger of her left hand and determine its size. Another way to get her size is to take one of her gloves to the store with you. Another suggestion is to draw around her hand, pretending you are just doing it for fun.
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Diamond Earrings – Advice From An Expert
Posted by: | CommentsHow do you choose diamond earrings that look great and are good value for money? What follows are some pointers on how you should go about choosing your new diamond earrings…
Clarity – The first of the four C’s is clarity. Now you may be wondering what exactly is clarity? Well, clarity refers to whether or not there are flaws in the diamond. A diamond that is free from flaws will reflect the light and shine brighter than a diamond that contains flaws. Other diamonds that contain many flaws are generally used for purposes other than jewelry. The highest class of diamond is the F-class. F-class diamonds are found to be flawless.
Color – This color does not refer to diamonds that have an actual color, like blue or pink. This color category refers to how much yellow is present in the diamond. Most diamonds that people can afford to be will have some yellow tint to them, but ideally the diamond will be as clear as possible. The color of the diamond is rated on a scale from D to Z. Diamonds that are given a D rating are completely colorless, or free from the yellow tint. It is best to find diamonds as close to the end of this spectrum as possible.
Cut – There are many basic cuts; round, oval, square, marquis, and emerald cuts. More intricate cuts shine more, and also cost more. These cuts cost more because they require much more attention to the angles of the cuts and because they contain many more cuts than the average diamond. The more cuts a diamond has the more it will reflect the light.
Carat – Large diamonds are harder to find than smaller diamonds; therefore, they cost more than smaller diamonds. Carat measurement actually refers to how much a diamond weighs. Each carat is equivalent to 0.2 g. Many people get caught up in the carat weight of the diamond, but it should be remembered that carat weight does not have anything to do with the actual quality of the diamond.
Finally, purchasing diamond earrings is a big investment, and it is a purchase that should be well researched and thought out. While we have provided the basics of diamond shopping, there is still much that can be learned about the four C’s. By knowing everything possible it will be easier to find the perfect diamond earrings that you can cherish forever.
Diamond Rings – Advice From An Expert
Posted by: | CommentsThe cut of a diamond is the most important factor to consider when determining which diamond ring to buy. Essentially, the only way to determine which of two identically priced diamonds is the best bargain is to know the rating of each stone’s cut. The ability of a diamond to reflect and refract light, making it sparkle, is determined by the precision of every cut in the diamond. Failure to reflect light back to the surface of a diamond is caused but cuts which are too shallow or too deep, thus allowing light to escape the opposite side or the bottom. These are marks of a poorly cut diamond. Allowing light to bounce off all sides without escaping is a end result of a diamond being well-cut and displaying the correct number of facets and angles in the correct proportions.
The use of the term “good color” usually conjures up visions of rich bright colors however, with diamond rings, this is not the case. The most desirable diamond rings are actually referred to as being colorless, but these are both very rare and very expensive. At the other end of the scale are yellow diamond rings, which are much more common and affordable. Clarity is the term to describe a diamond’s interior features, and in order to be able to conduct an inspection of the stone, you will need a jeweler’s microscope. The tiny ripples, specks, and indentations on the inside of a diamond are imperfections that are called inclusions. High quality cut and color can offset slight imperfections making it appear just as lovely as a flawless diamond although the diamond with the least number of imperfections has the highest value.
Diamond weight is calculated in points and carats, with 100 points making up a carat. When talking about pricing, there is a big difference between one carat total weight versus the weight of one stone, and a one carat diamond is much more valuable than a grouping of several smaller diamonds which, when combined, add up to one carat in total weight. Knowing the “per carat cost” of a diamond will give you the true diamond price and a high carat weight diamond may appear impressive. The clarity, cut, and color of a diamond will have to be analyzed in order to determine a diamond’s actual value, with a large carat weight being of secondary concern.
Tips for Taking Care of Diamond Engagement Rings
Posted by: | CommentsDiamond may be the hardest naturally occurring material known to man, but that doesn’t mean you can avoid cleaning it and making sure it looks its best now and for the generations to come. There are some basic steps for making sure you look after and acre for your diamond which you should understand and practice when you have been given a diamond engagement ring.
Basic Cleaning and Care Tips
Here are some basic tips to keep your diamond engagement ring in perfect condition:
· Clean your diamond engagement ring at least once a week to ensure the diamond and metal retain their sheen and sparkle;
· Remove your ring before you start on household chores or working in the yard – this will stop it from accumulating dirt, getting scratched and even worse, loosing it;
· Make sure you arrange insurance for your ring, not just in case of loss or theft but for repair if it becomes damaged or the diamond setting becomes loose;
· Never wear your ring when engaging in sports – you can injure another player as well as damage it;
· Make sure you have your ring appraised by a professional who will certify the value of the ring which will help you in the event of a claim on yoru insurance policy;
· Don’t take your ring off or place it near the sink, the bathtub or drains;
· Don’t wear your ring while you are applying make-up or using skin creams and lotions;
· Never wear your ring while swimming, whether in the pool, lake or the sea because the water will cause shrinkage of your finger and the ring can slip off;
· Store your engagement ring in a separate box apart from other jewelry because it will scratch other items or be damaged by them; and
· Never wear your engagement ring while using chemicals such as bleach or cleaning agents because they can cause discoloration.
How Do I Clean the Ring?
It is a myth that you can use ordinary soap and water to clean your ring – many ladies think their ring is getting a good clean when they are washing their hands, but this is far from the case. Soap and water will help to dull the piece and the diminish the attraction and beauty of the ring.
To clean your diamond engagement ring you will need a mild detergent (don’t use a concentrated detergent) and a soft-bristle brush. Using plenty of water, make a weak detergent solution and immerse the ring – take the toothbrush (and be sure it has soft bristles) and use this to work free dirt and grime which has accumulated in and around the setting. If you are really concerned, you can buy a specially created cleaning solution from almost any jewelry retailer. If you are confident, you can use ammonia to clean the ring and gemstone but, you must be extremely careful that your stone does not have any fracture within it because this will cause the stone to appear cloudy and misted over.