Ideal Cut Diamonds

Diamond Cutting and the Effect on Value

2008-05-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Rough diamonds come in several basic shapes. The most common shape is in the form known as an octahedron. The octahedron resembles two Egyptian pyramids placed base to base, that is the usual crystal form of a diamond. A rough diamond is rarely found in the perfect octahedral shape. Another rough shape found, especially in Brazil, is the cube. Often times the rough diamonds shape is a bit distorted, or have lost edges or edges have failed to develop. Diamond cutters will have to deal with very irregular shapes at times. The history of improving the appearance of the rough diamond is exceedingly interesting. The earlier facetted stones were usually very similar in shape to the rough piece from which they came. In the past only when a defect had to be covered up did the cutter apply lots of facets.

The methods of the diamond cutter has not changed much over the years, but the shape of the finished product has. The ancient rubbing together of stones by hand is very rarely done. Another way to diamond cut is by attaching one of the stones in wax as a handle, while the other is rotated at a moderate speed in a specially constructed lathe type machine. The facets are sometimes polished in the same manner.

The object of the slow laborious process of cutting and polishing the rough stones is to obtain as much of a total reflection of light as possible, used to dazzle the beholder. A very popular cut is the round brilliant. The brilliant serves to refract and reflect the light that falls upon it, which also takes place dispersion of white light into prismatic colors. Rarely does a cut reduce the carat weight of the stone more then fifty per cent.

There is no definite form which will totally reflect light falling upon it from every direction equally. From trial and error and experience, cutters make shapes that give maximum possible effect for light that enters the stone from the front. Cutting the stone only a few degrees different from the angles of the ideal shape, results in a decrease or increase of the brilliancy of the stone, and hence the value.

To obtain total reflection of light within the brilliant, the back of the stone must be cut so that no considerable amount of light should strike it more steeply than 24 degrees from a perpendicular to the surface at the point where the light strikes. Anybody with knowledge in geometry and trigonometry can calculate what angle the back should have, after an angle has been chosen for the top. Some good angles for a diamond are 35 degrees for the top and 41 degrees for the back. Angles cut more or less will most likely lead to less light being reflected, equaling a far less brilliant piece.

Although poorly cut stones are less brilliant than well cut stones, the market is full of lumpy stones. There are many reasons for these so called lumpy stones. Diamonds are sold by weight and have been going up in price over the years. Anything that will allow a dealer to quote a lower price per carat makes sales easier. A smaller nicer diamond will cost more per carat than a larger less finished one. Not only will a larger stone weigh more, but it will also be less labor intensive. To the average buyer, price per carat is what is compared, so it makes sense for dealers to carry some large lumpy stones.

About the Author:

Mitch Endick is a short article writer for the popular jewelry site JewelerWeb.com. He provides informative advice on buying rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and watches. The site also has information on diamonds,birthstones, gemstones, pearls, gold, sterling silver, and platinum.

Simulated Diamonds, a Smart Girl’s Best Friend!

2008-05-26T09:49:00.001-07:00

As Kate Hudson says, “Frost Yourself” in the movie how to loose a guy in Ten days, Women love diamonds…….women love to be frosted and the best, most affordable way is through simulated diamonds.

Simulated diamonds are not composed of the same material with the very expensive diamond but they have the look that is IDENTICAL TO A FLAWLESS DIAMOND.

The 4 C’s of the real diamond are the ff:

Cut it is the most important characteristic of a diamond. It is what determines the brilliance of the diamond and how the light comes to reflect the many facets it has. The cut in simulated diamonds are considered ideally cut or the perfect cut reflecting the full brilliance.

The Color, Simulated diamonds are D in the color scale. Diamonds that are D in color is extremely rare because it is the highest color grade.

Clarity, simulated diamonds are very clear they have no inclusions, it is rare to find a diamond that has no inclusions and not to mention very pricey.

Last on the list would be the carat weight…..that is self explanatory, the bigger the diamond the more expensive however, simulated diamonds are a fraction of the price.

To women, the bigger the sparkle, the better. Simulated diamonds are what a perfect diamond should be. The fashion trend of today is that of big colorful jewelry with a lot of brilliance. Channel has launched its blue collection for the year with a lot of accessories; the most popular colors are the blue shade of blue sapphire and aquamarine. Blue is the color picked for 2008 by the designers. A chunky Cocktail ring with a lot of sparkle is very popular that you see it in several of the fashion magazines with the gemstone encrusted dangling earrings.

You just have to shop and find the biggest sparkle with the smallest expense to go with it! Remember No one in the world would know that you are wearing a simulant because it looks real! Lastly, buy the jewelry set in at least 14k gold so it will last a lifetime and Frost Yourself!

About the Author:

www.MyRussianStars.com

Simulated Diamonds, a Smart Girl’s Best Friend!

2008-05-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

About the Author:

www.MyRussianStars.com

Diamond Jewelry - Making The Right Choice

2008-05-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

Buying diamond jewelry is confusing. It isn't easy to tell good stones from bad - that is, without special training and a jewelers' loupe. Gemologists use a diamond ranking system. By understanding this system, and what the letters mean, you can choose the perfect diamond. Read on to learn about the "4 Cs" -- color, cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Color

Completely colorless diamonds are the most valuable, and the rarest. Most "clear" stones contain small amounts of color. A one-letter designation classifies diamonds according to the amount of color, if any, they contain. The highest rating for colorlessness is D, with E and F close behind. These colorless stones are very rare. The scale continues past near-colorless (G-J), faint yellow (K-M), very light yellow (N-R), and to light yellow (V-X). Diamonds graded from G to I have virtually no color visible to the untrained eye. Color choice may be more important when placing the stone in a sterling silver, white gold, or platinum setting, where a diamond's yellow tint would be more noticeable.

Cut

Cut does not refer to the overall shape of the stone (as seen in round or pear-shaped gems). Rather, cut refers to the reflective quality of the diamond. A well cut diamond catches and reflects the light, with a brilliant sparkle. Poorly cut diamonds have less sparkle. The cut of a diamond is rated to help consumers choose a stone. These grades are:

- Ideal
- Premium
- Very Good
- Good
- Fair and Poor

Your choice is determined by your budget and preferences.

Clarity

Diamonds are natural materials, and it is common for them to contain small imperfections. Inclusions are imperfections inside the gemstone, while blemishes affect the outside. Jewelers use a 10x loupe (a magnifying device) to inspect and grade stones. The grading is as follows:

- F: Flawless. Almost unimaginably rare.

- IF: Internally Flawless. There may be some surface flaws, but the diamond is perfect inside. This is very rare.

- VVS1 - VVS2: This is actually two grades of Very Very Slightly Included. These stones have tiny inclusions not easily detected by trained professionals.

- VS1 - VS2: Two more grades, Very Slightly Included. Small imperfections are hard to spot.

- SI1 - SI2: Two grades of Slightly Included, with small imperfections a little easier to see with magnification.

While the value of a diamond increases with its clarity, it's important to know that the imperfections contained in grades F through SI are not visible to the naked eye. There are also three grades of Included (I1 - I3), which contain imperfections that can be visible.

Carat Weight

Diamonds are measured in carats, with one carat equal to 0.2 grams. The largest cut diamond in history is Cullinan1, Star of Africa, weighing in at a whopping 520 carats. Currently, it is set in the scepter of King Edward VII - worthy of royalty indeed! Your budget (or scepter) may be smaller, so don't let size be the only factor you consider. The setting you choose has to comfortably fit the stone, neither too small nor too large. Also, precious stones look larger when worn by someone with small, slender fingers.

The four Cs - color, cut, clarity, and carat weight - are important considerations when buying diamond jewelry. With this information, you can begin to make sense of confusing letter grades. Need more help? Please feel free to contact me.

About the Author:
Sara Berkley is an author for GonnaLuvIt, and an expert in fine diamond jewelry and cz jewelry. GonnaLuvIt carries one of the largest selections of silver jewelry on the net.

diamond jewelry india , diamond jewelry manufacturer

2008-05-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

Everything you wanted to know about diamonds and the global diamond business, industry, and trade.

Djewels is a complete on-line shopping portal that provides information on the exploration activities of Diamond Industry. The site allows users free access to information about new discoveries, exploration projects, corporate financing, and acquisitions and provides complete market information.

Our site http://www.djewels.org sells fine quality and ideal cut diamonds, diamond jewelry including engagement rings, ring settings, diamond and fashion earrings, pendants and bracelets.

Djewels, the company who is pioneered in using latest techniques, implementing newer ideas, cost & manpower management was originally founded in 1985, and started wholesale readymade Jewellery business, under the brand name of Djewels. Having more than 19 year's family experience in Diamonds, Color stones and Gold Jewellery business, the company has set so many new quality standards.

With 19 years of experience, the Djewels is specialized in the manufacturing of good quality Diamonds & Diamond Jewellery. The founder of Djewels Pvt. Ltd., is a well known and highly respectable in the Diamond industry worldwide, he is also a qualified / certified gemologist.

Djewels offers bouquets of very special services to all customers. Honesty, Accuracy, Hospitality, perfect price and above all Customer satisfaction.

Djewels on-line shopping literally takes you behind the scenes of the worldwide diamond business - to the diamond bourses and the cutting centers including a map of Indian diamond calendar of events and conferences; jewelry trade shows, dealers information about polished manufacturers and exporters; the history of diamonds, and more.

If you have any queries Please contact feel free our website: http://www.djewels.org/forum.asp

Thanks

(Swapan Kumar)

About the Author:
The founder of Djewels Pvt. Ltd., is a well known and highly respectable in the Diamond industry worldwide, he is also a qualified / certified gemologist.

How to Choose a Right Diamond and Engagement Ring?

2008-05-26T09:13:00.001-07:00

Diamond

Diamond is a crystalline form of carbon.Its rarity makes it extremely valuable and precious. The combination of the 4Cs, namely Cut, Clarity, Carat and Colour, determines the value of a particular diamond.

Cut

While nature determines a diamond's clarity, carat weight and colour, the hand of a master craftsman is necessary to release its fire, sparkle and beauty. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light will reflect from one mirror-
like facet to another and disperse through the top of the stone, resulting in a display of brilliance and fire.

Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose light that spills through the side or bottom. As a result, poorly cut stones will be less brilliant and beautiful and certainly less valuable. A well cut or faceted diamond, regardless of
its shape, scintillates with fire and light, offering the greatest brilliance.

Ideal Cut Diamond

Every angle, proportion, and facet in a cut diamond contributes to its light reflection, so variations in any or all of them have a definite effect on the beauty of the diamond. An Ideal Cut round brilliant diamond is one which is cut to
an exact mathematical proportions and angles, to create a diamond of irresistible beauty.

Super Ideal Cut Diamond

Masterly craftsmen continuously strive to obtain the most ideal cut to release the maximum brilliance and fire from a diamond. The Super Ideal Cut, with the following three qualities surpasses the Ideal Cut in creating a diamond of
unequalled magnificence.

Super Ideal Cut Diamond

Perfect Cut Proportion

Super ideal cut proportion is similar to the ideal cut proportion, except in the extra 1% on the table length and the depth.

Perfect Symmetry

Perfect Symmetry refers to the identical and exact size and angle placement of each facet. Only with this quality, can the diamond release an even radiance. Without perfect symmetry, the facets cannot reflect the same level of
brightness, which reduces the diamond's brilliance.

Perfect Polish

Polish refers to the finishing of a diamond. The surface of a perfectly polished diamond is flat and smooth, allowing light to reflect evenly through every facet.

Super Ideal Cut Diamond

When a diamond meets all of the above three criteria, 8 perfect arrows and 8 perfect hearts can be observed with a special scope. These are significant proofs of a super ideal cut diamond.

Clarity

The greater a diamond's clarity, the more brilliant, valuable and rare it is. Virtually all diamonds contain identifying characteristics, yet many are invisible to the naked eye. Under the scrutiny of a jeweller's 10X magnifier, natural
phenomena called inclusions may be seen. These are nature's birthmarks.

The number, colour, type, size and position of the birthmarks affect a diamond's value. Major inclusions can interfere with the path of light that travels through a diamond, diminishing its brilliance and sparkle and therefore its value.

Carat

Carat is the measurement of a diamond's weight.

One carat is equal to 0.2 gram or 100 points. Because large diamonds are found relatively infrequently in nature, diamonds' worth go up almost exponentially with their weight.

Colour

Diamonds can be classified into "colourless diamonds" and "fancy coloured diamonds". Colourless diamonds are graded by colour, starting at D and continuing through the alphabet. Truly colourless stones, graded D, are treasured
for their rarity and value, and are highest in quality. Fancy coloured diamonds in well defined colours that include red, pink, blue, green and canary yellow are particularly rare and very highly priced.

Shape

Diamonds are cut in many fancy shapes. As the shape and distribution of inclusions vary with each raw stone, diamonds are cut into different shapes in order to avoid flaws and to minimize the wastage. People often choose
different shapes according to their own preferences. The following are the most popular shapes in the market:

Round Brilliant

The round brilliant cut diamond is by far the most popular shape, and accounts for about 3 out of 4 diamonds purchased today. It is designed to produce the greatest brilliance and reflection of light.

Princess

Princess cut is the second most popular shape on the market. Its table appears as a square-like rectangular shape. The pavilion of princess shape is cut according to that of the round brilliant, which increases the brilliance of the
diamond but also increases the use of materials.

Oval

The Oval shape is an extension of round brilliant, it looks larger than its actual size because of the elongated shape. Rings set with oval diamonds are suitable for ladies with small hands or shorter fingers.

Heart

Heart shape is a symbol of romance. It bears some similarity to the pear shape. To avoid significant inclusions, the cutter often prefers cutting the heart shape to the pear shape. This shape is seen frequently in pendants, but is suitable
for most any purpose.

Emerald

The Emerald cut is not a brilliant cut, but is called a step cut. Step cuts are comprised of larger facets, which act like mirrors. Because of the angle, size and shape of the facets, the emerald cut shows less brilliance and fire than the
brilliant cut diamonds. However, the emerald cut stone reveals a classic and aristocratic elegance and beauty not seen in other cuts. Because of the open and large nature of the facets, it is highly recommended that you consider
staying at higher colour and clarity grades.

Marquise

An elongated shape with 2 pointed ends just like the eye of a horse. This special shape is especially suitable for people with unique style.

Pear

Pear shape combines the best of oval and marquise but the appearance is much softer. Pear shaped diamond ring can accentuate long and slender fingers. It is also beautiful for setting pendants and earrings.

About the Author:
Over 30 years on Fine Jewelry and diamond industry and worked for various multi-national and listed Jewelry retailers in Asia Pacific such as Bridal one, Chow Sang Sang, Wedding grown, BelleDiamond, Emphasis and Duo.

Picking The Right Diamond... And Setting

2008-05-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

Deciding to propose to the special somebody in your life is a huge decision, one that will lead you down a path of even more decisions. Of course, the first thing that needs to be decided after you've decided to propose is what type of engagement ring to get. Between diamonds and settings there are so many choices that it can be overwhelming. Hopefully this can be cleared up.

The Diamond

While you're probably more than familiar with the 4 C's of diamonds, there are other things to consider when choosing a diamond, chief amongst them, the shape. Here we'll focus on the shape and two of the C's; cut and carat. Clarity and color can be saved for another day.

The Shape
With so many shapes out there it can be confusing as to the actual differences, so let's simply talk about each of them and their individual merits.

Round - the most basic of diamonds, and the only shape not considered "fancy," this shape is very much how it sounds - a rounded diamond in the shape of a circle.

Princess - arguably the most popular shape, this squared diamond has only grown in popularity while still being a relatively new shape. The princess diamond tends to find its way into solitaire engagement rings more than any of the other shapes.

Emerald - a rectangular shaped diamond, this shape is reflective of a classic and aristocratic elegance. Unlike other diamonds, the emerald shaped diamond is not a brilliant cut but rather a step cut, being comprised of larger, planar facets that resemble stair steps and act like mirrors.

Marquise - long and slender, this shape, originally commissioned by Louis XIV of France, is wonderful for maximizing the carat within the setting. The marquise shape will accentuate the length of the fingers and works well on a person with longer fingers.

Oval - as the name implies, this diamond shape is a very simple oval. This shape works very well with smaller hands and shorter fingers, giving them the illusion of added length.

Pear - a hybrid shape combining the best elements of the oval and marquise shapes, it resembles nothing so much as a teardrop. Typically used in pendants and earrings, this shape compliments short to average length fingers, helping to give the illusion of longer fingers much like the oval shaped diamond does.

Heart - essentially a pear shaped diamond with a cleft at the top, the heart shaped diamond is the ultimate symbol of romance. This shaped diamond is frequently seen in pendants but is more than acceptable as a choice in a ring.

Radiant - this square or rectangular shaped diamond does an excellent job of combining the elegant and classic appeal of the emerald shape with the brilliance of the round shape.

Trillion - a wedge of brilliant fire, the trillion shaped diamond was first developed in Amsterdam. Traditionally a triangle shaped diamond, the amount of point at the corners is often open for interpretation, but these diamonds work well as both a compliment to a center stone, a unique center stone in themselves, or as a pair of earrings.

Baguette - very reminiscent of the emerald shaped diamond, this shape of diamond is frequently used as side stones to a larger center stone. Much like the emerald shaped diamond, the baguette shape doesn't feature nearly the sparkle of brilliant shaped diamonds, but does offer a classic beauty that is hard to match.

The shape is only the first part of what to look for, at least initially, when considering a diamond for an engagement ring.

The Carat

Carats are essentially a way to measure the weight of diamonds. While the use of the carat measuring system may date back to ancient Oriental bazaars and the carob seed, in the present we know that the more carats in the diamond, the bigger it is.

While the size of the diamond that you get can be determinate on a number of factors, not the least of which is cost, the Setting and Mounting that you choose can also have an influence on the size of the diamond that you get for your ring.

The Cut

Of the 4 C's of a diamond, the cut is the only part that is actually influenced by humans, nature getting to decide on the carat, clarity, and color of an individual diamond. Cut refers to the angles and proportions a jeweler creates when taking a rough diamond and transforming it into a beautiful, polished diamond. The cut of the diamond should not be confused with the shape of the diamond. A well cut diamond will reflect light from one mirrored facet to another internally, finally dispersing and reflecting the light through the top of the stone, giving it that sparkle that diamonds are beloved for.

There are a few ways that diamonds are graded for their cut, all of which are influenced by the diameter, table, crown, girdle, pavilion, cutlet, and depth of the stone, and those include:

Ideal - this is the best cut available and represents the top 15% of all diamond cuts. The ideal cut carries with it the highest possible grades of symmetry and polish and should be sought after when looking for the best available diamonds.

Very Good - diamonds graded at very good are still nothing short of amazing, but they do tend to trade in some of the brilliance seen in an ideal diamond cut for added size. While a more cost-effective option, they may tend to move outside the appearance range for some buyers. Very good diamonds represent the top 25% of diamond cuts.

Good Cut - representing the top 35% of diamond cuts, good cut diamonds are still quality cuts, but they will show a significant lack of brilliance when compared to very good and ideal cut diamonds, however, they are significantly more cost-effective than either very good or ideal cut diamonds, making them more accessible.

Fair & Poor - these cuts of diamond simply fail to reflect a sufficient amount of the light that enters them. Usually found in discount or promotional jewelry, it is nearly impossible to find these diamond cuts at any quality seller of diamonds and engagement rings.

The Setting

As important as the diamond is, the Setting may be just as important. You can have a great diamond, but put that diamond into the wrong Setting and it can lose a lot of its luster and appeal. While there aren't nearly as many Setting types as there are shapes and cuts of diamonds, there are enough that when combined with the diamond cuts and shapes you have enough combinations to make choosing tricky.

The Setting

Prong - arguably the most common setting, the prong setting is commonly known as the Tiffany setting. Small metal prongs, typically 4 or 6, are used to clasp over the diamond and keep it in place within the setting while giving an optimal view of the diamond at all angles. When choosing this setting it's wise to consider which metal you'll be choosing as you may want something stronger than gold, such as Palladium or Platinum, to ensure that your diamond doesn't come out of the setting.

Channel - in this setting the stones are placed between vertical walls of metal, side by side, with no metal separating the diamonds from each other. With the diamonds sunk into the ring itself they are nearly flush with the surface of the ring. This setting is considered both very contemporary and very classic and allows one to achieve a number of looks. This setting is very popular in wedding rings and anniversary bands.

Basket - similar to the prong setting, but instead of just the prongs holding the diamond in place there is an additional band of metal that secures the prongs to help reduce any movement of the prongs and ensure the security of the diamond within the setting.

Bar - with the bar setting, diamonds are placed between bars of metal that run perpendicular to the band of the engagement ring. This setting is a very contemporary look that allows for excellent display of the diamonds.

Pave - with the pave setting many small gemstones are placed inside of tapered holes to create a "paved" appearance. The diamonds are typically set in white gold to help create a sparkle finish that will bring the stones to prominence.

Bezel - this setting involves placing the diamond in a mount that comes up and envelopes the diamond. Without any prongs, this mount is great for those that lead an active lifestyle, don't want to worry about scratching themselves or others, or for those whose job requires that they wear latex gloves on a regular basis. Bezel settings can have straight edges, scalloped edges, or can be molded to any shape to accommodate varying stones.

Half-Bezel - similar in design to the bezel setting. The half-bezel setting does not completely surround the diamond, allowing additional light to reach the stone and create a higher degree of brilliance.

Tension - This type of setting uses the ring itself as the entire mounting, eschewing the use of prongs. Typically employing stronger metals and a thicker band to help maintain the tension on the stone, this setting does an excellent job of highlighting the diamond by giving it the appearance of floating within the ring.

As you can see, there are more than enough options to make choosing that perfect diamond engagement ring tricky, so now that you're aware of the options here's some advice on getting the ring that she'll love and cherish for as long as you're together.

Talk to Her - find out what it is she wants from a ring. Does she want a solitaire ring or has she had her heart set on a three stone diamond ring since she was a little girl? Is it princess shape or no shape, or will she be happy with anything as long as it comes from you? Is there a particular metal that she would prefer for the actual band of the ring?

Be Aware of Your Budget - sure, tradition says you're supposed to spend two months salary on the ring, but depending on what your salary is that could mean you're also not eating for a couple of weeks. Be realistic with yourself when you start shopping for a ring, get her what she wants, but also make sure that you won't have to take out a second mortgage just to buy the ring she's wanted since she was 12 years old.

Show Her What You're Looking At - if you're ready to propose the odds are pretty good that she's ready for you to propose. If the proposal is no secret then have her help you pick out the ring, or propose with a small, inexpensive ring and then take her with you to pick out her real engagement ring. That way you can be sure that she gets what she wants.

Talk to an Expert - You might be surprised that the person behind the counter at the store or checking email online is actually an expert. If you're not sure just know that it's better to ask questions then to get it wrong. Tell those experts about how your better half lives, what they've mentioned they'd want in a ring, what they do for a living. All those things can give the person you're talking to a better idea of what kind of diamond engagement ring would work best for the most important person in your life.

Picking out an engagement ring can be intimidating. Between the diamonds and the settings there are more options than is really reasonable to look at. Knowing what your better half wants can help narrow down that list and ensure that you get the ring that will have her saying yes over and over again.

About the Author:
Jill Renee is the president of Danforth Diamond, a jewelry store offering diamonds, engagement rings, and other jewelry in gold, white gold, palladium and platinum.

Ideal Cut Diamonds - 1.16 Carat Princess Cut Loose Diamond $5,479.00

2008-05-26T08:57:00.001-07:00

Ideal Cut Diamonds - 1.16 Carat Princess Cut Loose Diamond (Ideal, I / VS1): "1.16-Carat Signature Princess Cut Diamond
This Ideal-cut, I-color, and VS1-clarity diamond comes accompanied by a diamond grading report from the GIA and the GCAL.
Price: $5,479.00"