A Guide to Choosing Black Diamond Rings

Critics say that black diamond rings are just a fad, and it's most likely that these gemstones will depreciate once the hype wears off. However, this doesn't lessen the enjoyment that males are now discovering in the precious stone. Diamonds used to be a gemstone that only women appreciated. The white perfect diamond appeared to be too flashy for the male species. This is the reason why, in most engagements, only the women wore the ring. Today is a different matter, though.

Black diamond rings have won the hearts of many men because of the character it exudes. Compared to the white gemstone that flashes light, quite literally, the black gemstone absorbs light. The darker they are, the higher it is graded, which is the complete opposite in white diamonds which is graded higher when it reflects lesser hues of color.

Transparent to translucent black diamonds are very rare. This is why if you're planning to impress your husband with this gemstone, look for rings that exude this quality. You have to be prepared to spend a lot of money, though, because these stones can definitely break your budget.

The most impressive diamond rings are set in white metal, so cross out yellow gold and other reddish metals off your list when you're planning the design. The stone looks best when set against silver, platinum, titanium and white gold rings. To bring in more contrast, you can also try setting the stone with white gemstones. White and black diamonds complement each other, and it is highly likely that when they're next to each other, their imperfections would be overlooked because the design would play on contrast.

Just because the stone exudes a more mysterious and masculine character, though, doesn't mean that it's designed specifically for males. You can give your wife or your fiance a black diamond jewel as well, as the stone's beauty is also appreciated by women. As a matter of fact, black diamonds further gained popularity in the 90s when Carmen Electra was presented with her first giant black rock.

In choosing the carat value of your diamond, make sure that you purchase stones that are not exactly 1.00 carat. These flat 1.00 carat stones are poorly cut, because it's mathematically impossible to cut a stone that weighs exactly 200 milligrams. If your black diamond rings are flat 1.00 carat ones, it's most likely that the dealer had the cut compromised to give way for the stones' carat values.

By Billy Bob Bronson

A Diamond Tennis Bracelet - The Gift That Will Sparkle Like Her Eyes

The gift of a diamond tennis bracelet, or any piece of diamond jewelry is a big commitment. Opening a jewelry box and seeing diamonds revealed is sure to light up your special lady's face though, so if you are ready, it is a gift that will be well worth the reward. Show her that you mean what you say with a hand chosen bracelet.

Picking out the perfect tennis bracelet for a gift can be a daunting task. It is important to take your time and review your options before leaping into a decision, after all, you are buying this for someone special and they are well worth the time. The first thing to do is address your budget and decide just how much you can spend on your gift. Is this going to be a 1 carat diamond tennis bracelet, a 5 carat diamond tennis bracelet or something even larger? Keep in mind that you are also paying for the material the diamonds are set in as well so if you are opting for a white gold diamond tennis bracelet you may have to get fewer carats of diamonds to offset the price.

Once you have an idea of what style of diamond tennis bracelet you are looking for it's time to get out there and start looking. Visit multiple dealers to see what they have to offer. If you get lucky and find a full set of diamond jewelry in your price range including a bracelet, diamond necklace and diamond earrings. Don't turn away from a set that is in your price range just because you are only on the market for a diamond tennis bracelet. If you do stumble upon a set with the design that you are looking for, you can always break it up into three gifts for different occasions.

If you aren't sure which jewelry to choose don't be afraid to ask questions and come back to the same dealer several times. As a matter of fact, it's usually well advised to view diamond jewelry on several separate occasions at different times of day so you can see how it looks in different amounts of natural and artificial light. With such a serious investment you want to make sure that you're getting the perfect gift and not something that you may feel is sub par later on.

After you make your decision and get the diamond tennis bracelet gift wrapped it's time to decide how to present it to your lovely lady. Depending on whether you do it publicly or in private will probably effect your overall presentation. Pick a time and place to give her the gift and make sure that you keep it well hidden until then so you'll get to see her full excitement when she sees the package and even more so when she opens it.

No matter what your budget, you can find the perfect diamond tennis bracelet for the special woman in your life. More carats isn't necessarily better. What really makes the gift special is that thought that goes into it and the person that it comes from. Whether you get her a 1 carat diamond bracelet or a 10 carat bracelet, she is sure to love it and you'll love the light it will bring to her eyes when you put it on her.

By Karl Greskee

The Different Diamond Settings Available to You

I understand that you might not have a lot of information about purchasing an engagement ring or a diamond ring. I also know that you have probably gone into a jeweler and found that the salesperson was not very helpful in giving you the information that you needed. I'm sure that you would also like to know what the different diamond settings available to you are, and how and what you should choose.

Before I start even discussing the different settings available I do recommend that you allocate a budget towards this diamond ring or engagement ring that you're trying to purchase. This will help you narrow down your search to what you are able to purchase seen as though there are so many different looks of diamond rings out there.

The most famous of all settings is the Bezel; it is also the earliest technique of attaching stones to a piece of jewelry. A bezel is a strip of metal bent into the shape and size of the stone and then soldered to the piece of jewelry.

The prong setting is the simplest and most largely used setting, because it uses the least amount of metal to hold the diamond in place. It also shows off the diamond beautifully in this setting. It is basically there to hold up a certain size of stone fixed to the base.

The channel setting is a method where the diamond stands suspended between two strips of metal called channels. Now the channel setting can come in different shapes. If you're using small diamonds, a linear line shape would be best. But, you could also use it in a U-shape as well. Again, the choice is up to you and how you want it to look.

A bead setting is a term used to set a diamond directly into the metal. The way they get the diamonds onto the metal is by drilling into the metal surface and then attaching the diamond onto it. They will then use a certain beading tool to push the diamond into the metal. The look of the diamond that will occur is called a "pave" diamond.

Now that you understand there are different types of settings available for you I am sure you are still nowhere closer to purchasing a diamond ring. This is why I recommend that you make use of the Internet to start searching in your price range for an engagement ring or diamond ring. You will be able to compare the different online jewelers instantly and not have the hassle of dealing with certain sales people.

Before you decide to purchase from an online jeweler you need to make sure that they are reputable, providing you peace of mind when making a purchase online with them. The things they need to offer you are things like a no questions asked money back guarantee if you're not happy with your purchase. They must offer you a certificate of authentication from the gemologist to prove that the diamond is a real diamond. I also recommend making use of a credit card to purchase the diamond ring because you can always phone your credit card company to reverse the transaction if you are not entirely satisfied.

Before purchasing any diamond ring, make sure that you have peace of mind because you do not want to have any regrets. After making a purchase, and if you do, you need to make sure that you have an option to opt out or return the diamond ring. I have managed to find an online jeweler that provides this type of guarantee and service when purchasing from them.

By Luis JJ Teixeira

Diamond Ring Cuts That Suit You Perfectly

If you want to purchase a diamond ring, but don't have an idea what cut fits your finger. This article will help you get out of your predicament enumerated points you have to consider before you start wearing your dream ring.

Know your hand shape. There are four major types of diamond cuts for various hand and finger shape.

1. Rectangular palms with long fingers

Princess cut diamond ring is perfect for ladies that has long fingers. To know that your finger is long or short, measure the length of your middle finger, if it's the same length with your palm, then you have a long fingers. Princess cut diamond rings looks good on a point setting.

This shape also gets away with adventurous jewelry design. You won't get wrong in exploring with this type of cut, your hand and fingers will get away with it.

2. Square palms with short fingers

A step-cut diamond in a bezel setting is perfect for ladies with short fingers and square palms. This will accentuate the diamond and make it look bigger than it actually is, perfect for 1 carat or less.

Marquise cut is also good. The elongated shape of the stone will give your fingers the illusion of length. Oval cut diamonds are also good for ladies that has short fingers

3. Rectangular palms with equally long fingers

Emerald cut is perfect for ladies that have equally long fingers. The angular shape of the stone will accentuate your fingers, especially if the diamond's setting shows of the diamond well

4. Square palms with long, slender fingers

A heart or pear-cut diamond ring is perfect for ladies that have trim and slender fingers. You will know if your fingers are slender if your middle finger is almost as long as your palm. The unique shape of the diamond will complement to your finger well, making it appear elegant.

Consider your personality

At the end of the day, you would know if your diamond ring cut fits you if it really fits your personality well. If you're comfortable with it, wear it.

By Robert A Hull

Chocolate Diamond Rings

When I first heard about chocolate diamond rings, I was puzzled. Is it a fancy term for the newest product from Hershey's? It was later that I found out that this unique jewelry item is created with chocolate diamonds, which are members of the brown diamond family. Other diamonds under this category would be champagne, cinnamon, cognac, clove and honey diamonds.

A chocolate diamond is given its name because of its color. The diamond is brownish in hue, giving it that "chocolatey" color. They can be sorted into three main categories: synthetic, natural, and heat-treated. Brown synthetic diamonds are created by incorporating nickel and nitrogen in to the diamond, giving it that brown color; these types of chocolate diamonds are easily identified due to the nickel content. Natural chocolate diamonds are by its term "naturally" made. These diamonds get their colors due to extended lattice defects, with discoloration being the most likely candidate. Treating lattice defects by applying heat creates heat-treated diamonds. This process would make the diamonds lighter in color than the dark chocolate varieties.

Chocolate diamonds have their own unique characteristics and are made more beautiful by having a gold setting. Most of the chocolate diamond rings available are set in 18K gold and are normally paired with white diamonds. There are websites available that offer different settings for your ring.

Some people may still not be open to the idea of having a chocolate diamond for an engagement ring, as the ideal would be to have a classic diamond for engagement. Personally, I think they have a really unique and playful appeal. Imagine saying, "I got engaged and I got this yummy chocolate diamond ring!" For those who may not be familiar with these unique accessories, it would sound intriguing - a good start to a conversation!

By Scarlett Miller

Diamond Ring - Insurance and Care

A good diamond ring is one of the very expensive things, a person can have. Its care and safety is very important. Most of the people forget insuring it and in case of its damage or loss, they suffer because of the fact that they can't afford a new one. Its insurance is not that much simple. In fact, most of the companies don't insure it just on the normal policy of the customer and the others insure it just for the case of theft, not for damage or loss.

All the things should be made clear before ensuring it. Knowledge of insurance cost is very important and customer should discuss its impact on the policy with the insurance company representative. Second very important thing to be discussed is the mode of recovery when insurance is claimed. Some companies pay the money to the customer so that he could buy the new one while others simply send a new ring to the customers.

Some of the companies which also insure the damage have their own workers which can repair the damaged one. Others make an estimate of the damage and then have a good jeweler to make the repair.

It is very important to care for diamond ring as a good one is very difficult to find and normal methods of cleaning can't be applied on it. If a person doe's household works while wearing it, its shine fades. Most of the jewelers cover diamonds with protective and shining coats to enhance their attractiveness for the customers. This also makes its shining long lasting. To remove dirt, the best method is to soak it in soap water for some time and then a brush can be used to clean it. Soft cloth should be used to dry it. Scratches can be avoided by keeping it in a separate box, away from the other jewelry.

By Sarah Nabila

Yellow Diamonds - A Brief Guide

Yellow Diamonds have always been valued for their beautiful colour, classy look, exotic appeal and mystic qualities. They look especially nice in the form of a ring. So, if you still haven't seen these beauties, you are in for a magnificent surprise. Yellow diamonds rings are doing the rounds in the fashion world and attracting a ton of attention.

These diamonds come in a wide range, and can be worn in the form of rings, earrings, pendants etc. If you are looking to make an impression at a party, these are the perfect choice. They are not as loud as other coloured diamonds, but yet they have a sophisticated and classy feel to them. They might not make people go green with envy but they will delight you by their sheer presence. So, get yourself these beautiful jewels and get ready to party all night!

Just like other diamonds, one needs to consider the four C's while buying diamonds-Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat weight. In the case of yellow diamonds, the most important feature is the colour because that's the characteristic feature. After all, that's why you are choosing a yellow diamond over others. Obviously, you have to consider the other factors as well. Ensure that you buy diamonds from a certified diamond dealer. When you are spending a fortune on these beauties, you must take every measure to certify their quality and standards.

So, let your hair down with a gorgeous set of yellow diamond earrings or a ring and make your presence felt!

By John Newcomb

Diamond Clarity - Flawless, VVS2, Or SI1? A Rating Guide

What does Clarity mean?

When you are shopping for a diamond engagement ring, a diamond pendant, diamond earrings, or any piece of diamond jewelry; one important factor is the "Clarity" of the diamonds that you choose. Clarity is one of the 4Cs that are used in setting the price of diamonds. The definition of clarity is "the quality or state of being clear". Having a diamond without anything inside of it is extremely rare, especially in larger diamonds. Because of this rarity factor, as a diamond becomes "cleaner" it also becomes more expensive.

Of all the diamonds that are mined every year, only about 20% are "clean enough" to be used in diamond jewelry with the other 80% of the diamonds being used for industrial purposes. So if you have a diamond with the highest possible clarity grade then it really is one in a million, making it even that much more special!

What makes up the Clarity of a diamond?

The two factors that will determine a diamond's clarity are the things that are on the outside, these are called blemishes, and the stuff on the inside of the diamond, these are called inclusions. A diamond will almost always have some other things that were caught up inside of it as it was growing below the surface of the earth. Because diamonds are on average 3.3 billions years old, they have grown very slowly. As they grew, the diamond encountered other materials in their neighborhood where they were formed. The process of having something "included" inside of a diamond crystal took hundreds, thousands, or millions of years to happen. So when you see inclusions inside of a diamond it is like looking back in time over millions or even billions of years. Diamonds most commonly have other diamonds captured inside of them... that's pretty cool, you get more than one diamond with your purchase!

Common inclusions are as follows-

* Clouds

* Feathers

* Included crystals or minerals

* Cavities

* Cleavage

* Bearding

* Internal graining

* Needles

* Twinning wisps

Blemishes are the things on the outside of the diamond. Most of these are a result of the diamond cutting process and could be removed by a diamond cutter. These are not such serious items and usually don't play a major part in determining the clarity grade of a diamond.

Common blemishes are as follows-

* Polish lines

* External Graining

* Naturals

* Knots

* Scratches

* Nicks

* Pits

* Chips

* Fracture

* Extra facets

* Cavity

The clarity grades are as follows-

FL (Flawless)- No inclusions or blemishes of any sort under 10x magnification when observed by an experienced grader.

IF (Internally Flawless)- Has no inclusions when examined by an experienced grader using 10x magnification, but will still have some minor blemishes.

VVS1 and VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included)- Contains minute inclusions that are difficult even for experienced graders to see under 10x magnification.

VS1 and VS2 (Very Slightly Included)- Contains minute inclusions such as small crystals, clouds or feathers, when observed with effort under 10x magnification.

SI1 and SI2 (Slightly Included)- Contains inclusions (clouds, included crystals, knots, cavities, and feathers) that are noticeable to an experienced grader under 10x magnification.

I1, I2, I3 (Included)- Contains inclusions (possibly large feathers or large included crystals) that are obvious under 10x magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance.

It is the combination of the inclusions and the blemishes along with their size, their number, their position, their nature, and their color that will determine a diamond's clarity. There are a lot of variables involved in making a diamond a certain clarity... it is because diamonds are kind of like snowflakes, where each one is different.

A bit of history about the Clarity system.

Currently we have a diamond clarity grading system that everyone understands and has worked well for many years... it wasn't always this way. Years ago, if someone was describing the clarity of a diamond and they said that it was a "clean", a "piqué", or a "loupe clean" diamond, would you know what they meant?

Richard T. Liddicoat of the Gemological Institute of America introduced the current system in 1953 and it was immediately adopted as the universal system to classify the clarity of a diamond. The eleven different clarity grades communicate the clarity quality of a diamond regardless of the geographic location or the language of the consumer.

Along with the definition of these eleven clarity grades, GIA also states that the clarity grading be done by a trained person using a controlled "darkfield" lighting environment, and a 10X magnification corrected for spherical and chromatic aberration. Wow! that sounds pretty technical! however it's relatively easy to understand this system.

How will you be able to know the Clarity of a diamond?

You, a person who is not fully trained in this system, probably might not be able to accurately determine the clarity grade of a diamond. A Gemologist who has been trained as to all the variables involved will be able to determine the clarity grade and they will also be able to show you why a diamond is a certain clarity.

The best way to be assured of the clarity of a diamond will be to have a diamond grading report issued by a credible gemological laboratory. The best reports will be from GIA, AGSL, or GCAL. These nationally known and well respected labs do use a number of graders who must agree on all of the qualities of the diamond before a report is issued.

What is the best Diamond Clarity for me?

The price of diamonds will change, go up or go down, as the clarity moves higher or lower. For diamonds in the most common color, cut, and weight range, as a general rule, look for about a 15 to 20% change in pricing for each change in clarity. A diamond with a clarity grade of FL (Flawless) is no more beautiful than a diamond with a clarity grade of SI1 (Slightly Included 1) but a FL clarity can be more than twice the price of a SI1 diamond.

From the FL to the SI1 clarity grades, any inclusions and/or blemishes are only visible when you look at them using 10X magnification. I don't know of anyone who walks around with a 10X magnifier in their pocket in order to look at people's diamonds... sorry, let me correct that, I don't know of anyone except for jewelers and Gemologists (including myself) that walk around with a 10X magnifier in their pocket.

You will need to see for yourself what these different clarity grades actually look like. I know many people who have looked at the clarity grading chart and see that the VVS2 or VS1 are "in the middle" of the chart so they think it is what they would like to consider when buying a diamond.

There are only a few diamonds that can fit into the nearly impossible FL and IF grades and just a few more diamonds that are able to fit into the extremely tight VVS1 and VVS2 grades... a single tiny, microscopic, pinpoint inclusion will easily move a diamond out of these grades. As you move down into the VS, SI, and I grades it widens out and many move diamonds will fit into these grades. SI1 is more "in the middle" than either VVS2 or VS1.

Find a good Gemologist to teach you or do some research online about diamond clarity grades, it's really not too complicated. When you buy larger diamonds, make sure they come along with a diamond grading report that you trust.

Buy Bud Boland

Diamond Choice

The precision of the cut determines the maximum amount of light that will be reflected through the diamond. When a diamond is cut to good proportions light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the crown or the top of the stone. Put another way, when light shines on a diamond, the light bounces through the diamond and reflects back out the top. The diamond will sparkle, is lively and dancing with spectral color or some use the term "fire". The best cut or Ideal Cut Diamond is not cheap but is worth every extra dollar.

The Cut of the diamond can be also graded into groups: Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor.

An Ideal Cut or Excellent cut diamond will give you the maximum brilliance or sparkle. Diamond jewelry with Ideal round cut Diamonds are some of the finest money can buy and wonderful to own.

A Premium cut, also known as Fine, is a diamond that is graded just below the ideal cut. A premium cut diamond is still one of the finest and will give you maximum brilliance or sparkle. A Diamond Pendant with a premium cut round diamond will be beautiful, will sparkle and be a joy to own.

A Very Good cut is a grade just outside the tolerance of an ideal/premium cut and will reflect most of the light that goes into the diamond. In some cases a decision was made to create a larger diamond rather than to cut into the diamond to create the proper proportions that would give an ideal cut. The price of this diamond will be slightly lower than a premium or ideal cut diamond.

When a diamond is graded as Good much of the light will be reflected to give a sparkle. Diamonds cut with a good proportion have been cut to maximize the size of the diamond and not the brilliance. Diamond Jewelry with good diamonds will be offered with great cost savings. If you are looking for a larger diamond and want to stay within a budget this would be a good consideration that will give you size and also quality.

Fair to Poor cut diamonds are below average and will reflect only a small amount of light. These diamonds have been cut to maximize the size with little consideration to quality.

Diamonds are cut in different shapes. Some of the most popular shapes are brilliant, marquise, pear, emerald, oval, heart, square. The shape of the diamond you choice is just that your choice. The only other thing to consider is a round cut diamond will give you the more sparkle as compared to a pear shape.

COLOR grading scale varies from totally colorless which are rare beautiful diamonds to a light fancy. Our online jewelry store, Golddiamondspro offers you some Diamond Rings with colorless graded diamond with the majority of our Diamond Jewelry offered with diamonds graded G-H Color.

Grading

D, E, F - Colorless, exceptional white, highest color grade and a rare diamond

G, H, I, J - Near colorless and exceptional value

K, L, M, N - Slightly tinted giving you good value

M, N - Tinted

O, P,Q - Very light yellow

R, S,T - Light yellow

U, V, W - Yellow

X, Y, Z - Light fancy

CLARITY is graded with the use of a magnification corrected loupe 10x magnification by a trained professional. With this magnification they are able to see characteristics or inclusions that make every diamond quite unique. These inclusions are nature's fingerprints and neither detracts from its beauty nor jeopardizes its durability. It is the number, nature, position, size and color of these inclusions and how easily they are to see that will determine the grade of a diamond. Clarity is graded from flawless to heavily included inclusions.

Pure flawless diamond has no internal faults or inclusions when examined by a professional using 10x magnification loupe.

VvS1 - Very, very Small Inclusions with internal faults that is difficult for a professional to observe but with a minor fault cannot be designated as flawless.

VvS2 - Very, very Small Inclusions with internal faults but minor and cannot be designated as flawless.

VS1, VS2 - Very Small Inclusions in a diamond that is difficult for a professional to find using a magnification loupe. They may fine a few somewhat larger internal characteristics or several very small ones.

SI1, SI2 - Professional Grade using 10 x magnification loupe may, without difficulty, find internal characteristics or inclusions which may only have insignificant single fault.

I1, I2, I3 - Professional Grade I is used for diamonds which a professional observer with a naked eye can see internal flaws and/or have such major faults which reduces the value of the diamond.

CARAT-WEIGHT or size of the diamond is divided into 100 "points" which is One Carat. A diamond of 25 points is described as quarter of a carat or 0.25 carat, 50 points would be .50 carat or ½ carat, and ¾ carat in weight is 0.75 carat. There are five carats in a gram.

Which Diamond Should you buy? Size is one of the most obvious factors in determining the value of a diamond but now you know that two diamonds of equal size can have very different values depending on their quality. The cut, color, and clarity are important factors to consider when looking at the value of diamond jewelry. To purchase the best diamond ring, bracelet, earrings or necklace look for the least amount of color and an ideal cut. This will be the most expensive but beautiful and definitely the finest you can buy. If your funds are limited then buy the finest cut you can. Buy now at GoldDiamondsPro choicing the factors that are the most important to you.

By Elsie Coates

Interested in Buying Diamond Jewelry? Start With the Basics!

Diamond buying has gotten easier! Or has it?

Many years ago buying some diamond jewelry was kind of simple. You know... if you wanted to buy some diamond earrings, a diamond bracelet, or a diamond engagement ring, you would go down to your favorite local diamond jewelry store, you would sit down, and then you would choose your favorite piece of diamond jewelry from your trusted family jewelry. Well some of that scenario has changed a bit in the past 30 years and now it is up to you, the diamond jewelry shopper, to play a more active part in this process and so you will need to do your homework before you make your purchase.

The 4 basic elements that make up the pricing of diamonds are pretty straightforward. But like most things, once you get past the basics, the information overload starts to become more than many consumers need to know. The first 3 components of a diamond's pricing; Clarity, Color, and Carat Weight are pretty easy to understand. The heavier the diamond (a greater Carat weight), the more it will cost. The less "stuff" inside of the diamond (a higher Clarity), the more it will cost. The more it looks like "ice" (a higher Color, more colorless), the more it will cost. There are charts you can use for reference so it is kind of easy to comprehend.

The one "C" that gives you the most trouble.

The "Cut" of a diamond is the biggest factor in how beautiful a diamond will be... meaning that if a diamond is cut to exacting angles and proportions, the diamond's potential beauty will be realized. It is this one factor that can account for nearly 50% of a diamond's value! When it comes to the Cut of a diamond, there are many people who can become confused as to what all those numbers and terms mean. Over the years, diamond cutters have been improving their methods and the quality of their finished product. There are a couple of things that have been driving these improvements. The first would be the greater number of Gemologists that are working in the jewelry business and they can quickly and accurately tell the difference between well cut and poorly cut diamonds.

The other big change has been the wide spread use of diamond grading reports, which have become a "must have" part of the diamond transaction. Even with these changes in the diamond buying process, a diamond's Cut can still be a minefield of misinformation and confusion. Just because a diamond has a grading report it does not guarantee that the diamond will be beautiful. When considering a diamond that comes with a grading report, it is best if you only accept diamond grading reports that come from GIA, AGSL, or GCAL. These diamond grading reports do have a Cut grade that can be trusted and that can be used to compare with other diamonds. The topic of diamond grading reports can be pretty involved and there are times that you can depart from this general rule.

What's a consumer to do?

Information will be an important part of any diamond buying process but there is also another element that must not be overlooked. That element? Trust. Just imagine the process everyone should go through when considering buying some diamond jewelry from a local jewelry store. You would want to consider a local jeweler who others have recommended, who has experience, who is a Gemologist, who is located in proper jewelry store, who will spend time with you, and who will freely give you the information that you will need to make an informed decision.

This same type of criteria should also apply to anything you encounter in the online world of diamonds. I am amazed by the amount of incorrect information about diamonds that exists on the Internet. The people dispensing this misinformation are saying that they can save you 70% or $2,987.43 on your next diamond purchase and at the same time they are trying to sell you their new e-book "The Diamond Secrets that jewelers don't want you to know!" for $97.

Would you buy a diamond from somebody who has set up a tent at the corner next to the gas station? This is the same tent that just last week had big banners stating "Information On How To Save $$ on Cell Phones" but now those banners say "Information On How To Save $$ on Diamonds!". If you enter the tent, they don't bother telling you any reason why you should believe anything that they have to say. There are probably some pretty pictures and some bright lights in there. If you can find their "About Us" button and you click on it... up pops "We are committed to bringing you the best diamond buying information". OK, that's nice... but what does it mean? Who is "we"?, what experience does "we" have in the jewelry business?, does "we" have any experience in actually buying and selling diamonds, why should you believe a single word that "we" has to say?, and do you have any reason to trust "we"?

Don't stray too far off the path!

In the search for the right diamond or piece of diamond jewelry it is always best not to be distracted by the siren's song of low prices. You generally get what you pay for. Your local retail diamond jewelry store might have higher diamond prices (maybe they might be able to match online diamond prices!) but they also have diamonds that you can see before you buy, they might have a good trade up program, they might offer a free appraisal, they might offer free checkups / cleanings, they might offer free ring sizings, they might offer lifetime damage or loss guarantees, and a diamond purchased from them could have the added cachet of being a piece of diamond jewelry from Tiffany verses a piece of diamond jewelry from super-ultra-dirt-cheap-diamonds.com.

The online diamond retailers do offer an attractive alternative to traditional diamond retail jewelry stores. Online diamond retailers do offer quality diamonds at good prices along with being able to set the diamond into a basic mounting but it will require more work on your part along with making a purchase of a product sight unseen. Because this type of purchase will be a blind transaction... trust in your basic diamond knowledge along with trust in the company you are dealing with will be essential.

Start and stick with the basics! The 4Cs and trust.

By Bud Boland

Diamonds - Interesting Facts

Diamonds are the symbol that we use to show are undying love for someone. They are the traditional icon of romance and love. Most people may be surprised to learn that the majority of diamonds that are mined today are used for industrial purposes and not for jewelry.

Historians believe that diamonds may have first been used for industrial purposes not for their brilliant sparkle and allure. Peter Lu a Harvard physicist and his colleagues discovered that in the late Stone Age the Chinese used diamonds to polish ceremonial burial axes. Today about 80% of mined diamonds are used for cutting, drilling, grinding and polishing.

Most people might be surprised to know that diamonds are not the hardest substance on Earth. Diamonds are the hardest natural mineral substance, but they are not the hardest substance known to man. A substance called Aggregated Diamond Nonorods is about 11 % harder than a diamond.

The first diamonds were discovered by Indians over 3,000 years ago. Diamonds didn't get associated with love and romance until the 1940's when the De Beers Company began to advertise diamonds as the perfect item for a wedding or engagement rings. They did an all out media campaign and soon people were buying diamond engagement rings all over the world.

It is believed that most diamonds are over three billion years old and most are formed more than 100 miles below the surface of the earth. Before the sixth century, India was the only known source of diamonds and was the predominant source for over 2,000 years.

The Romans believed that diamonds had the power to ward off evil and wore them as talismans. It is believed that they inherited this belief from Indian mythology. In France in the thirteenth century it was decreed that only the king could wear diamonds.

The Gemological Institute of America was founded in the 1950's. It was the first internationally accepted diamond grading system. This system applied uniform criteria to grading the quality of polished diamonds. The GIA Gem Trade Laboratory Diamond Grading Report is the benchmark for the international gem and jewelry industry.

The Cullinan diamond was the largest rough diamond ever found and was 3,106 carats. It was discover in the Premier mine of South Africa in 1905.It was cut into nine major stones. The largest of the stones is the Star of Africa and is 550.20 carats. It is housed in the Tower of London and mounted in the British Royal Scepter. The most recent diamond discoveries have been in the Northwest Territories of Canada and in Colorado. Explorers found diamond pipes in both locations in 1990.

It wasn't until the late 13th century that diamonds were used in European jewelry. Diamonds were initially used for engraving other gems including sapphire cameos. They were also used for drilling holes in hard stone beads.

Diamonds have been around forever and are cherished by all. Diamonds have an exciting and lively history. These are just a few of the fascinating facts associated with diamonds.

By Lawrence Reaves

What Exactly is a Diamond?

Timeless. Forever. These are just a few of the many words used to describe one of the world's most infamous stones - the diamond.

Derived from the Greek word "adamas" which means "invincible", diamond is the only known mineral that is composed of a single element. Diamonds are completely made of Carbon which is one of the most abundant elements on Earth. High pressure and temperatures, ranging from 900 to 1300 degrees Celsius deep underground near the Earth's core, liquefy then crystallize carbon atoms into pieces of rough diamond. Eventually, over extremely long periods of time, these rough diamonds are pushed towards the earth's surface, usually through volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other geologic events. This is why rough diamonds, called octahedrons, are usually found in riverbeds and mines.

For the untrained eyes, a rough diamond would be easily mistaken for a piece of broken glass. However, a diamond is far from a piece of glass as it is one of the hardest substances on the planet. Although it can break, it can only be scratched by another diamond.

A diamond needs to be carefully cut and shaped to bring out its beauty and brilliance. The diamond's brilliance refers to its ability to radiate magnificent colors when tilted back and forth. The surfaces of the diamond, called facets, act as a prism to achieve this wondrous display of fire.

Over the past century many have debated the "correct" formula required to achieve the maximum brilliance in a polished diamond. In the next few articles we'll discuss the fascinating history of this remarkable stone.

Timeless and forever. No other stone shines as bright as a sparkling diamond.

By Eli Zabib

A Diamond Lineage

Diamond history is said to begin in India at least 3,000 years ago. The polishing and processing of diamonds is still predominantly done in India. The ancient Greeks provide the source of the name "diamonds" from the Greek word "adamas". The artistry and craftsmanship involved with setting precious stones goes back thousands of years, and has been passed on to the artisans of today.

There is one amazing diamond lineage that can be traced back to the time of Moses in the Bible. Some time around 1500 B.C., the ancient Israelis made their exodus from Egypt. As depicted in the Charlton Heston movie, The Ten Commandments, the Law was given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. In addition to the list of commandments, there were many instructions given to Moses regarding how the new nation would be organized.

The nation was divided into twelve tribes, according to the twelve sons of Israel. One tribe, made up of the descendants of Levi, was appointed to be a tribe of priests. The Levite who would be the High Priest was the only one who could approach the Ark of the Covenant to make sacrifices on behalf of the nation on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

The High Priest was given a special set of garments to wear, which contained many precious stones. In the book of Exodus, Chapter 28, jewelers and gem cutters from the tribe of Levi were commanded to fashion the priestly outfit to exact specifications. Included in the "uniform" was a breastplate on which were set twelve precious stones. The jewels were arranged in four rows of three. The third stone on the second row is a diamond. The gold and gemstone craftsmen were given the responsibility to fashion all of the precious metal and stones involved in ancient Israeli worship ceremonies.

One of the leaders today in the design and sale of champagne or chocolate diamonds is the LeVian family of jewelers. According to their posted history, Mr. A. LeVian founded the company in the United States in 1950 after immigrating from Persia. It was in that ancient land where he inherited a storied and famous trade from a long line of family jewelers who trace their lineage directly to the tribe of Levi.

Chocolate diamonds are birthed in the geologic history of the earth, but their human history is also a tribute to their staying power. Though their wild popularity may be relatively new, they are one of the least transient things on earth. Chocolate diamonds, relatively speaking, are indeed forever.

By Kenner Beckley

How Diamond Prices Are Determined

Whether you are a diamond jewelry store owner or you are a consumer looking for the right diamond jewelry for your loved ones, knowing how diamond prices are determined will always be an advantage.

When it comes to pricing most products, it is quite simple. By determining how much is the cost price and how much it costs to market the product, and mark the total up by at least 15% to 30% or more to earn profits. Pricing diamonds is not quite as simple as pricing other products. There are many factors that need to be considered before launching them to the market.

The first thing that diamond prices are determined is by adding the cost of the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond and all the other cost to turn a rough and unrefined diamond into a marketable diamond. After turning it into a marketable diamond, the company may need to call an independent company in to certify the grade of the diamond based on its weight, clarity, cut and colour.

As diamond changes hands, it becomes more expensive. When it reaches the retailers the price is again increased a little bit more. As you can see from here, before a diamond reaches the retailer, it must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, then to the individual grading company, and lastly to the primary market. From the primary market, jewelry store owners and retailers will then purchase the diamond and sell it to the consumers. Therefore, the earlier you can purchase a diamond in the process, the lower the cost of it will be.

If you have recently just bought a diamond and do not know how much does it worth, you can send your diamonds for appraisal, but take note that the appraisal may not be accurate. A more accurate way to determine the price of your diamond is to obtain its certificate and use the cutter's guide to determine a more accurate worth for your diamond.

You can also surf the Internet and locate many diamond worth calculators. Before you can calculate the worth of your diamond using those calculators, you need to know the cuts, clarity, colour and weight of it. With this information, the calculator will be able to determine an accurate worth of your diamond.

Again, the best way to determine the price of a diamond is to get a Diamond Grading Report and use the information in it to look up the price in one of the guides that your diamond cutting industry uses. With the right worth in mind, you will be better informed about the value that you have paid for the diamond in your possession, as well as of the diamond jewelry that you are considering purchasing.

By Cheow Yu Yuan

Diamond in the Sullen Rough

A diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man and when combined with the brilliant fire of the cut and polished finished product, has made diamonds one of the most valuable gemstones in the world.

Diamonds in all of their glory are pure carbon, just the same way lead pencils used to made from graphite which is also pure carbon, it is the way the carbon atoms are arranged which makes the difference between cheap, dull graphite or brilliant, fiery diamond. Diamonds are formed at great pressure and temperature inside the earth; at least 50 miles below the surface where the pressure is so intense that the carbon atoms are compressed together into an extremely packed formation and which gives diamond its strength. Diamonds are brought to the surface as a result of the natural, geological processes of the earth or more usually, are sought in some of the deepest mines in the world.

Brazil and India used to be the principal sources of diamonds with their gemstones being sourced from rivers and gravel deposits which had come to or close to the surface naturally. In 1870, Kimberlite rock was discovered to be richly laden with diamonds in South Africa and now, huge masses of rock are mined and processed to extract the diamonds it contains. To put it into some perspective, for one carat of polished diamond over 250 tons of Kimberlite ore must be mined and processed - now you understand why diamonds are so expensive!

Once extracted from the ore, the rough diamonds must be sorted and processed further. Processing includes cutting and polishing as at this stage, the diamonds resemble pebbles you would encounter on a beach and are nondescript in appearance. Cutting and polishing the rough diamond brings out the internal fire and beauty of the diamond, however, it is how a diamond is cut which determines the level of light which enters the stone and is internally reflected before exiting the diamond - this level of internal reflection is what adds to the sparkle and brilliance of the stone so cutting a diamond properly is essential or it will appear dull.

After being cut and polished, diamonds are then graded according to a system know as the "Four C's". The Four C's are - Carat (or weight), Cut, Clarity and Color. A carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams but you must take care not to confuse diamond size with weight - a carat is a measure of weight and not size; a smaller looking diamond may very well be a larger weight of a much larger diamond simply because of composition and the way it has been cut. The cut, as we have seen, determines how much light enters and internally reflected within a diamond thus bringing out the fire or brilliance - too shallow a cut, where the diamond is not deep enough to allow the internal light reflection, will mean the diamond looks dull instead of fiery - this is a poor cut and underlines why diamond cutting is a highly skilled art.

Clarity refers to how clear and flaw-free the diamond is; diamonds will contain flaws which may be foreign matter enclosed within the diamond when it was forming in the earth or bubbles of gas and even internal faults where the carbon atoms have not uniformly bonded together. The presence of flaws affects the visual appearance of the diamond but also influences how light will travel and internally reflect within it; for these reasons, a flawless diamond is considerably more valuable than one with flaws.

Finally, color - diamonds can come with a yellowish tinge or at the other end of the scale have no color whatsoever - no color means a brighter and fiery brilliance whereas the yellowish tinge will dampen the brilliance of the diamond. The less color a diamond has the more valuable it is and the more you are going to pay for it.

By Lawrence Reaves

Grading Your Diamond - The Four C's

Diamonds are extremely valuable, in fact are the most valuable gemstone today though there is very great variation in the prices which are commanded by different stones. In order to understand what determines the value of a diamond you must first learn how diamond quality is assessed and so equip yourself with the knowledge to know what makes a good buy and what you should be looking to avoid when you are buying a diamond ring or jewelry yourself.

The "Four C's" are the criteria by which a diamond is graded - they are:

· Cut

· Clarity

· Color

· Carat (or weight)

You should know that a diamond fresh from the mine looks like any pebble you may find on the beach; they are completely nondescript and look just like any other piece of rock except, once cut and polished the fire and brilliance within is brought forth.

The cut and polish process is the first stage of creating your diamond after it has been extracted (it takes about 250 tons of ore to produce one carat of diamond), the cut itself is performed so as much of the diamond is preserved as possible (i.e. keeps the weight as high as possible and minimizes any waste) but more importantly, how the cuts are made will determine how much light will enter and be internally reflected within the diamond itself. It is this ability to internally reflect light before it re-emerges from the stone which adds to the brilliance and fire of the diamond's appearance. The wrong cuts and the light will not reflect internally and so it will diminish in appearance; the right cuts and the fire and brilliance will be amplified. Cutting and polishing is understandably, a much sought after skill and requires a great deal of artistry and superb craftsmanship.

A carat is a measure of the weight of a diamond; one carat is equal to 0.2 grams but the term actually derives from the use of carob seeds to balance the scales when weighing a diamond; one carob seed was one carat. In practice, jewelers use carats and a point scale so 50 points is equal to half a carat. You must be aware that a carat is a measure of weight and not size - a diamond may appear larger due to how it is cut, but it may weigh less than another diamond which has a different cut. Keep this in mind; a carat is a measure of weight and not size or shape.

Diamonds are formed about 50 miles or more below the surface of the earth where the pressures are so intense that the carbon atoms which make up diamonds are compressed into a particular atomic formation. This is the structure which makes a diamond possess such qualities as very high strength and transparency. While the diamonds are forming in the earth, they may also include flaws created by bubbles of gas, inclusion of foreign matter, scratches and internal faults along the bonds between the lattice-work of carbon atoms. Sometimes these flaws are visible to the naked eye, sometimes not while a flaw may be located closer to the diamond's visible surface or buried deep within the body of the stone. The more visible flaws a diamond possesses the less valuable it is because of the less clarity it has.

Color is actually a misnomer - diamonds with no coloring at all are sought after as the absence of color increases the ability for a diamond to appear on fire; a diamond may have a yellow hue which dulls the brilliance of the stone. In this instance, the less color a diamond possess the more valuable it is though there are some pink and blue diamond stones which are highly prized because they are so very rare.

By Lawrence Reaves

What Are Diamond Inclusions?

A diamond inclusion is a tiny characteristic(e.g. microscropic crystal) enclosed in a diamond or going into it from its surface. All diamonds have inclusions or clarity characteristics that were formed during natural growth in the earth. A diamond's inclusions are its identifying characteristic, it's what makes each individual diamond unique, no two diamonds are the same. Moreover, inclusions also help in identifying a specific diamond. Inclusions have a big impact on the clarity grade. Getting familiar with the different diamond inclusion terms will allow you to differentiate between a diamond that has a significant inclusion or one that has an inclusion that won't be so significant in affecting its clarity and value. Please take a look at the different diamond inclusions and their definitions below.

* Crystal- a mineral trapped in a diamond.

* Cloud - many microscopic crystals grouped tightly together and this provides a hazy cloud-like appearance when viewing under a 10x loupe.

* Needle- is a tiny, long crystal within a diamond.

* Pinpoint-when viewed under a 10x loupe, this looks like just like a dot, but this is a crystal.

* Feather-a small break inside of diamond that looks like a feather, when viewed under 10x magnification.

* Knot-a crystal within a diamond that actually extends to the surface of the stone.

* Indented Naturals- a small part of the original rough that dips below a polished diamonds surface. Naturals are usually left on the diamond because this saves overall carat weight. These naturals are usually found on the diamond girdle and don't take away from its beauty or clarity grade for that matter.

* Bearded Girdle-tiny feathers that extend from the surface of the girdle to the interior of the diamond.

* Chip-an opening in the diamond that is caused by impact, a chip on a diamond will usually be found on a girdle, culet or facet edges.

* Cavity- an tiny opening in a diamond after a crystal that reaches the surface gets polished out.

* Internal Graining-is caused by irregular crystal growth in a diamond. If seen under 10x magnification, internal graining is characterized by lines, curving lines or angular lines.

* Twinning Wisp- when viewed under 10x magnification, a twining wisp looks like a flat, reflective, flowing ribbon, they can be white or colorful and usually are located around the diamonds center.

* Cleavage- a break in the stone located along a weak atomic plane.

By Edward Calderazzo

How Do I Clean My Diamond Ring?

This is a question asked of diamond ring owners all of the time and you may be surprised to find you do not need to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to bring your diamond to life.

Even the most perfectly flawless diamond will lose its brilliance and fire as the detritus of everyday life accumulates on the ring. Aside from the obvious culprits such as soap and make-up, products such as hairspray and perfume will contribute to the deterioration of the diamond's appearance over time and diminishing your enjoyment. Fortunately, you can easily clean your jewelry with a little effort and even les money.

A recommended cleaning method is to buy an ammonia solution or take neat ammonia and dilute one-third of a cup ammonia to two-thirds of hot water from the tap. Soak the ring in this solution for 10 minutes which will loosen accumulated dirt and grime as well as matter such as bread dough. After you have soaked the ring for 10 minutes, take a soft toothbrush and gently scrub the ring but do NOT use toothpaste as it contains scouring agents (a principal ingredient in toothpaste is sand!) and for this reason do not use an old toothbrush as this will still have toothpaste residue and it only takes one scratch to ruin the appearance of your ring.

Here are Ultrasonic cleaning services available if you wish to use these but they are really not necessary and can be very expensive even when you buy them yourself for use at home. Not only can the alcohol cleaning fluid they use be expensive to buy and replenish, the violent spinning and shaking process which is applied may actually loosen your diamond setting and result in the loss of your diamond when you least expect it!

Another method you can try is to buy some rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) which is very cheap (less than a couple of dollars) and use a shaving brush with medium to hard bristles. Soak the ring for a couple of minutes and then apply the brush and pay special attention to the underside of the basket and around and between the prongs. Soak the ring for a further two minutes and dry it off with a tissue. Your ring will look as fresh and sparkling as it did when the craftsman finished it.

We have already mentioned how your ring should not be subjected to shock or shaking however, everyday life being what it is, it is inevitable your jewelry will be knocked and suffer the odd knock no matter how careful you are with it. You should routinely check your ring to make sure it is tight and the diamond is in no danger of falling loose; diamonds being what they are, it is more than likely you will not notice your diamond has fallen from the setting until it is far too late and you will have lost I for good!

Check your diamond ring by taking your thumb and forefinger and putting them on opposite ends of the girdle while you VERY gently try to move the diamond. If you experience even the slightest "give" in the diamond you should take this as a sign the prongs need some attention and tightening. Another good test is to hold your ring to your ear and shake it gently; if you hear any rattling this will be the diamond hitting the prongs and therefore it must be loose so get them tightened as soon as possible and refrain from wearing your ring until you do.

By Lawrence Reaves

Diamonds Are Forever

Diamond jewelry: diamond rings, diamond earrings, diamond pendants and diamond bracelets are some of the most sought after gemstone creations. Your eyes tell you how beautiful a piece of diamond jewelry is, but how do you know you are getting your money’s worth?

A little knowledge can go a long way to help you purchase a beautiful piece of diamond jewelry at a fair price.

Diamond Jewelry 101

A diamond's value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of "slightly included" may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.

As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.

Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers should tell you if the diamond you're considering has been fracture-filled.

Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or spots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.

While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That's because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you're considering has been laser-drilled.

Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory-created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones.

When shopping for diamond jewelry online, apply these tips.

1. Shop with companies you know or do some homework before buying to make sure a company is legitimate before doing business with it.

2. Take advantage of information and referrals from an Internet company you have come to trust.

3. Get the details about the product, as well as the merchant's refund and return policies, before you buy.

4. Look for an address to write to or a phone number to call if you have a question, a problem or need help.

By Sam Serio

Diamond Buying: Emotional Experience Or Math Problem?

Professionals in the diamond industry hear warnings about "commoditization" at our trade conventions. We hear the warnings from traditionalists, from sellers and suppliers, from revered industry leaders. We hear the warnings from some of the most esteemed icons of our industry. But what does it mean?

It is about the reduction of an emotional experience to a mere set of numbers. That is the concern.

For many years diamond cutters were considered craftsmen and artists, like blacksmiths and carpenters (the best still are). As technology has moved forward, blacksmiths and carpenters have been replaced with automated manufacture. In diamond-cutting, auto-dialits and assembly line production have replaced the gray-haired cutter of old who took the rough through every step from blocking to brillianteering. However, the unalterable difference between 'smithing and diamond fashioning is that producing a diamond will never be like stamping out automobiles or pre-fabricated woodwork where pieces and parts are interchangeable. Our craft is unique.

Every piece of diamond rough took millions of years to form. Every diamond is a different story. Once mined from the earth each piece of rough is individually studied and analyzed. A different plan is developed for each piece to arrive at the shape, size and beauty that will be yielded. No two diamonds are perfectly alike; not in rough form nor polished. They may be comparable, but color, clarity and even cut differ from piece to finished piece. There are subdivisions within each color grade. There are microscopic elements of crystallization within each diamond that do not appear on a plot. There are aspects to the way the diamond was run on the wheel and took a polish that blend together to create its distinctiveness when finally viewed.

As we know, the cut of a diamond has the largest influence on its overall performance and can be expressed in differing terms. Proportions, cut estimators, 3D scans, natural reflectors and machines like Imagem and BrillianceScope can assign numbers. But numbers will never tell the story of the diamond's birth, its crystallization over millions of years and the blending together of distinctive elements WITHIN the numbers that make it one-of-a-kind.

Traditionalists emphasize that a finished diamond is both a snowflake and an artist's masterpiece. Its uniqueness is absolute; both in nature and in the treatment man has given it. It can never be replicated - and its singular, irreplaceable distinctiveness is the perfect expression for a giver, and the most its wearer could ever hope for.

The traditionalists are right of course.

Now there is concern among traditionalists that by reducing a diamond to a data stream we take away its romance. We remove its symbolic appeal, distinctiveness that can be measured only by the human eye and a history larger than life - and replace them with charts and graphs.

The information age has provided us with the ability to analyze the art of man and nature. We have powerful tools for measurement and analysis. We can place a number beside every facet. We can take analytic photographs at unreal magnifications. We have black boxes that assign values. For trade and factory analysts these things can empower more understanding and the ability to maximize beauty at the source. Certainly there are hundredths of degrees which can help our scientific understanding. However, any professional will tell you that once a diamond is within an acknowledged premium range the nuances of its specific appeal depend entirely on individual human taste and preference. To make such fine judgments, beauty can only be in the eyes of the beholder.

Let us consider the most important people, our clients: For those who will give and receive nature's creation, crafted into shape by man's hand, we should provide technical validation to put them at ease. But for the sake of our trade we have a responsibility to put less emphasis on a decimal point and be more sensitive to our clients' appreciation for the emotional aspect of the diamond - which was his or her motivation for purchase in the first place!

Let us not convert someone shopping for a work of art & love into someone shopping for a tenth of a degree on crown facet number 8. To do so reduces the emotional experience to a math problem and reduces the meaningfulness of the service our trade can provide to our clients.

A healthy marriage of lab grading, parametric data and direct performance assessment should be enough for even the internet shopper's desire for pedigree. By all means, provide validation our clients need to be comfortable in a purchase, but ultimate beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is important for us to remember that when all is said and done it will be sparkle, not statistics, which cause the wearer to love the piece.

By John Pollard