Education
WHAT ARE THE 4 C’S OF A DIAMOND?
Carat
A diamond’s size is measured in carat weight, and each carat is equal to 100 points. A 0.75 carat diamond is the same as a 75 point diamond or a 3/4 carat stone.
Larger diamonds are found somewhat infrequently in nature, which places them at the rarest level of diamonds. What also makes a bigger diamond so desirable is that it shows off a stone’s fine color and cut, and therefore its brilliance to its best advantage.
Color
Color of a diamond is a crucial factor when choosing a stone because others will notice color upon first glance. Diamonds are graded by color, starting at D and continuing on through the alphabet. Truly colorless stones are graded D, E and F. Those graded G, H, I and J are in the near colorless category.
While many diamonds appear colorless, they may actually have subtle yellow, brown or gray tones and these color grades include K-Z, although still beautiful.
Clarity
Clarity represents the relative absence of inclusions (internal characteristics) and blemishes (external characteristics). Clarity is graded on a relative scale from flawless to included, based on size, nature, and position and quality of characteristics visible under a 10x magnification.
Virtually all-natural diamonds contain identifying characteristics, yet many are invisible to the naked eye. Under the scrutiny of a jeweler’s 10x magnifying loupe or microscope, these inclusions may be seen. These are nature’s fingerprints, and they may look like tiny crystals, cloud or feathers.
Diamonds categorized as flawless real no such inclusions. Flawless stones are treasured for their rarity and beauty. Diamonds with very, very small inclusions are graded as VVS1 or VVS2. The VS1 and VS2 graded stones still need a loupe to see the inclusions. The larger the inclusion, the lower grade and the less the diamond’s value. Inclusions that may take a trained eye to see are in the SI1, SI2, SI3 range inclusions that can be seen clearly with the naked eye are graded I1 or I3.
Cut
The Ideal Cut
When a round brilliant diamond has been cut to ideal proportions by a master cutter, it is a splendor to behold.
The Ideal Cut Diamond describes a round brilliant diamond that has been cut to exact and mathematically proven proportions. Its symmetry, with 58 exactly placed facets, produces the ultimate in luster and beauty.
When a diamond is cut to the ideal proportions, all of the light entering from any is dispersed is totally reflected through the top and is dispersed into a display of sparkling flashes and rainbow colors.
Premium Cut
A Premium Cut diamond demonstrates subtle variations from the ideal cut. Although dimensional differences affect a diamond’s reflection of light, a premium cut still achieves a harmonious balance between its proportions and the display of brilliance.
WHAT IS A DIAMOND CERTIFICATION?
A certification is an evaluation of the quality of a diamond based on the 4 C’s as determined by an independent certifying organization.
Certifications are almost always performed on loose diamonds and are valid as long as the stone evaluated is not altered.
There are a number of independent certifying organizations that will analyze loose diamonds; however, not all diamonds are certified and not all certifications are the same. Some organizations are considered more reliable than others and there are differences in the reports between even the most reliable organizations. The G.I.A., or Gemological Institute of America, and the E.G.L., European Gemological Laboratory, are two of the most widely used certifications today.
In addition to verifying the claims made by your personal jewelers regarding the 4 C’s, a certification will also educate you on features such as the exact proportions, quality of cut, and the fluorescence of your diamond.
All of these characteristics are what make your stone unique. With color treated, clarity enhanced, synthetic, and laser drilled diamonds on the market today; it is harder than ever to know exactly what you are getting.
A certified diamond will help to assure you of the quality of the specific diamond you are buying, and will help to minimize the mystery behind purchasing such a valuable stone.
PRECIOUS METALS USED IN JEWELRY
Platinum
Platinum reigns supreme in the hierarchy of precious metals used for making jewelry. It is an extremely durable metal, making platinum an excellent selection for jewelry pieces that will be worn on a daily basis, such as wedding sets and other rings. Because it is three times as dense as gold, the weight of platinum causes it to rarely ever be used for earring settings, necklaces, or bracelets.
Platinum is a naturally white metal coming out of the ground, so unlike white gold, it will not need to be maintained with a rhodium plating. Platinum is also a hypoallergenic choice because it does not require the use of alloy metals, such as nickel, which can be a skin irritant to some people. Platinum jewelry does scratch and dull over time, however, it needs nothing more than a buff and polish to restore it’s natural luster. Due to its rarity and durability, platinum is an unparalleled choice for jewelry that you would like to pass on through generations. Most platinum jewelry will be stamped with PT or PLAT and sometimes with the numbers 900 or 950, marking the parts of pure platinum per thousand of which the piece is composed.
Gold
Gold is a timeless metal that has been used in jewelry-making for many millenniums. Gold is a durable choice for jewelry and although naturally yellow coming out of the ground, it can easily be mixed with alloy metals such as nickel or palladium to produce white gold, silver to produce green gold, or copper to produce pink gold, adding a variety of colors to your jewelry collection. White gold needs to be maintained with a rhodium plating occasionally, since over time the white plating of rhodium will wear off and expose the yellowish tinge which is natural to gold jewelry. Gold jewelry does scratch and dull over time but can be buffed and polished to restore its natural luster. The lighter density and durability of 18 karat and 14 karat gold makes it ideal for any type of daily wear jewelry. Gold jewelry in 22 karat or 24 karat is extremely soft and is not recommended for every day wear. Most gold jewelry will be stamped with a number between 10 and 24 karats, marking the number of parts of pure gold to other metals. 24 karats signifies pure gold.
Palladium
With the popularity of white metal jewelry on a rise, palladium is a relative newcomer to the market, but is a more affordable alternative to platinum and a lower maintenance alternative to white gold. A member of the PGM (or Platinum Group Metal) family, palladium, like platinum, is a naturally white metal coming out of the ground and a hypoallergenic choice for those sensitive to the effects of the nickel and cobalt added to white gold.
Palladium wears in a similar manner to platinum jewelry, so it is quite durable for daily wear and does not need to be rhodium plated. Palladium is similar to 14 karat gold in its weight to volume ratio. Palladium is an excellent choice for those seeking the benefits of platinum jewelry at a price that is more comparable to gold jewelry.
Silver
Due to its low cost and abundant availability in the jewelry world, all white metals in jewelry can be commonly mislabeled “silver” by consumers. Silver is a durable and naturally white metal that has been used for many millenniums to make jewelry and more recently industrial commodities. Silver jewelry will scratch and dull with wear and will tarnish when exposed to light, air, or moisture. Silver can be buffed and polished to removed scratches and tarnish and to restore the metal’s natural luster.
Copper is often added to silver jewelry in small amounts to enhance durability. Jewelry that is composed of at least 92.5% silver can be stamped STERLING, SS, STR, STER, with the number 925. With the increasing cost of metals such as gold and platinum, silver is showing up more frequently in fine jewelry fashion than ever before. Because of silver’s tendency to tarnish, it is rarely selected as an option for wedding jewelry.
Contemporary Use of Industrial Metals in Men’s Jewelry
Tungsten Carbide
A unique combination of tungsten and carbide powders are forged together at extremely high temperatures (up to 6,200 degrees Fahrenheit) in a 30 step process required to create the hardest most scratch resistant metal on the jewelry market today. Tungsten Carbide is valued for its durability, heavy weight, and its unique ability to maintain a newly polished look, even after years of wear. Tungsten Carbide rings can be set with an inlay of different precious metal and diamonds to give the ring a more refined look. Tungsten Carbide jewelry has a gunmetal gray color that is appealing to those looking for alternative to the traditional white and yellow metals in which most men’s jewelry is offered. So durable that it can only be scratched by diamond or the mineral corundum, most Tungsten Carbide jewelry manufacturers are so confident in the scratch resistance of the product that they will give you a new ring if you manage to scratch the existing one.
