Archive for the ‘The 4 C's’ Category

 

The 4 C’s of Diamonds

Friday, May 8th, 2009

There are several factors that determine the value of a diamond. These factors, called “The Four C’s”, stand for clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Before you purchase a diamond, you should familiarize yourself with the four C’s and how they work to assess the value of your precious stone.

 

 

Clarity

 

Clarity refers to the purity and clearness of a diamond. The number, size, location and nature of any imperfections found determines what clarity grade the diamond has. These imperfections are called inclusions if found internally and blemishes if the flaws are external.

 

 

If you purchase a diamond that has been disclosed as “clarity treated” prior to the sale, you should be aware of the two methods that can be used to enhance the clarity of a diamond – laser drilling and fracture filling.

 

 

Laser drilling involves drilling a tiny hole into the diamond, whereby the bulk of the imperfection can be removed. Fracture filling is used to fill in tiny cracks and flaws in a diamond with a clear, glass-like substance. This treatment is not permanent and will wear away over time.

 

 

Color

 

A diamond’s color involves assigning a grade to the diamond based on how much color is visible in the stone. Diamonds can range in shade from nearly colorless to yellow. They can also have slight tints of yellow, gray, or brown. Pink, blue, green, red, and intense yellow diamonds are also available but are exceptionally rare. As such, these “fancy” diamonds greatly enhance the value of the stone.

 

 

Some diamonds have been color treated before sale and should be disclosed as such. Color treated diamonds undergo a method of irradiation treatment followed by heat treatment to influence the color of the stone. In most cases, this method is not recommended because of the risk of the diamond changing color over time.

 

 

Cut

 

Proportions, finish, polish and symmetry combine to describe the cut of a diamond. Additionally, these factors help assess the brilliance of the stone (how well the diamond reflects light.)

 

 

Well cut diamonds will always be much more valuable than poorly cut stones, and as such will command a premium price. Because of this, diamond cutters take great care to cut diamonds to reflect the most light possible.

 

 

Carat Weight

 

Carat refers to the actual weight of the diamond, not the visual size. Carat weight is determined based on a 100 point system where 1 carat is equal to 0.20 grams. The larger the carat weight, the more valuable a diamond will be. For example, a 1 carat diamond will always be worth much more than 2 half-carat diamonds, because the 1 carat diamond is harder to find.

 

 

Clarity, color, cut and carat weight are all very important to determine the value of a diamond. Each factor must be taken into consideration when assessing the value of a stone. When taken together, the four C’s are a very accurate depiction of the worth of your diamond and can help you find the perfect stone for your needs.

 

 

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Engagement Ring True Stories

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The true love that is symbolized by a diamond engagement ring is something that is unique to this special type of ring, and it is interesting to hear some of the different stories that people have to tell about their own engagement ring experiences. We have spoken to many people over the years who have been willing to tell us their personal engagement ring stories, and we will endeavor to share some of them with you here. From stories about losing a platinum and diamond engagement ring and finding it the day before the wedding, to winning the money for the perfect custom engagement ring at the race track, we have heard them all. But not really. I’m sure that we will hear more, because truth is indeed stranger than fiction, especially when you are talking about engagement rings. But a friend shared his engagement ring experience with me a while ago, and I found it to be a good story.

 

When this friend of mine first fell in love with the woman who was to become his wife a couple of years later, he was a young guy who was still attending college. Of course this means that he didn’t have very much money. It was truly love at first sight for both of them, and within a couple of months they started talking about getting married. They discussed the perfect engagement ring, going to online jewelry stores and researching the diamonds and precious metals. They learned about the 4Cs of diamond quality, and about the way that quality diamonds are certified by the The Gemological Institute of America. They discussed whether they would prefer a large diamond or if such an engagement ring might be too pretentious. Then they explored the precious metals, learning about the various gold alloys, silver, platinum, palladium, titanium, and tungsten engagement rings. They even considered whether or not my friend should wear a man’s engagement ring. In the end, they did locate the engagement ring that was perfect for them. They had a lot of fun dreaming about the future, and this was just one of the many things that they discussed. They also imagined a nice wedding, and what it would be like to have a family and buy their first house. They were, after all, two young people who had fallen in love.

 

On Spring break when they were seniors in college they went to Las Vegas. They had a wonderful time, and their love was brimming over. They couldn’t wait. They knew it was kind of a rash decision, but they went to a wedding chapel and they got married.

 

Because they had very little money, they had no ring. And things were tight for them for the next couple of years. But two and a half years later, while both of them were working rather low paying jobs while looking for a break, my friend, who went to school for drama, landed a role in, of all things, a Las Vegas Strip production of a Broadway play. The salary was phenomenal. He went online and bought the ring that they had decided on those years before when the two of them were just dreaming.

 

It came via next-day courier, and he surprised her with the news about the role in Las Vegas, and then, he produced the ring. When I heard that story, I had to think that indeed, dreams really do come true. Especially when there is love in the dream.

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Finding Unique Engagement Rings

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Every relationship is unique, and the reason why an individual would want to marry another is because for some reason this particular person stands out to them among all others. When you think about “love at first sight,” it is as though there is some type of special glow around a certain someone, and they are like a magnet of attraction, not to everyone, but to a special someone. The very reason why two people would want to get married is because each of them feels as though the other is something unique, a one-of-a-kind friend and lover that they want to spend the rest of their lives with.

 

So when it is time to get engaged, and you start shopping for the ideal engagement ring, you should be looking for a ring that is as unique as your relationship. No lady wants to be sitting next to a couple at dinner and notice that the woman at the next table is wearing the very same ring that she is. So when you are shopping for an engagement ring, it is not that you need to outspend the next person and get a diamond the size of a medium egg as an expression of “one-upsmanship.” What is important is to find a diamond engagement ring that is original in design and that is consistent with your personal taste.

 

Most engagement rings that are at the lower end of the pricing scale are mass produced, and though they may be attractive in their own right, they are not going to be very interesting, original, or unique. It all depends on the taste of the wearer, but when you start to consider intricate and fancy cuts, unusually colored diamonds, and designer arrangements, you can get creative and find an engagement ring that is singularly appealing to you. If you are of the mind, you can actually sketch out a design and present it to the right jewelry designer and create a ring that is completely unique to you and the symbolic expression of your relationship with your partner.

 

It is hard to reinvent the wheel and there are of course tried and true general engagement ring designs, but when you understand the different nuances in carat, cut, color, clarity, (what they call the 4Cs) and imagine the many variations that can be employed, the possibilities are almost endless. Choosing the perfect engagement ring that matches your personal taste and sense of style is something that may require a little patience and some comparison shopping, but the search will be worth it. After all, this ring is going to be worn for a lifetime, and there are few choices that are going to stick with us more consistently than the engagement ring choice that we make. If you get tired of a jacket that you bought a couple of years ago, it’s easy to put it into mothballs and buy a new one. But an engagement ring is a lifetime commitment, and it is important that you make a choice that you can live with for the long haul.

 

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