- What bride doesn’t want to look stunning on their most memorable day? Finding the perfect bridal jewelry and knowing how to wear it properly on your wedding day will make you and your jewels – flawless!
- There are many reasons why your loved one loves YOU! One of those reasons could be that you’re different – in a good way, of course. Show your sweetheart that you care by going the extra mile and opting for designer jewellery rather than walking into a store and picking one out from the display case because it’s the little things that matter!
- Let’s face it – engagement rings are all about the woman which could mean a very stressful time for the groom-to-be. By knowing what you’re getting into ahead of time (we’re only talking about the ring…), it might be helpful to know exactly what it is you’re looking for before rushing out and putting that big dent in your bank account.
- Believe it or not, diamonds are not just a girl’s best friend – they’re pretty good friends with men too! Men who know how to wear their diamond jewellery fashionably can sport their rock just as well as women do.
- For those who enjoy authenticity and an artistic twist, picking handcrafted jewellery instead of the usual design, is a sure way to draw great attention to you!
- Bridal jewellery has a more sentimental value to it than most other pieces of jewellery. Since it will probably only be worn once and then kept as a keepsake, make sure you’re picking the best value as well as the best quality.
- Most women want their engagement ring to stand out and look different from every other run-of-the-mill engagement ring. Having designer rings made especially for you will guarantee you your chance to shine.
- Buying an engagement ring online is becoming more and more popular. Like everything else, it’s easy and you don’t have to get up from your chair to do it. However, it’s a HUGE gamble to take involving an awfully large amount of money. Your best bet may be to choose your diamond or fine jewel in person to ensure you get exactly what you’re paying for.
- Learn what it takes to design and create custom jewelery because once you know how, you will not want to go for anything less to dazzle and impress!
- Unique jewelry is fantastic because you get to have a hand in designing your own one-of-a-kind jewelry! It’s easy to get carried away when picking jewels and metals (it can get rather expensive) so before turning over your ring design over your jewellery designer, make sure you’ve allocated beforehand for changes and additions to your budget.
- Once you’re married, you’ll be planning to wear your wedding rings for the rest of your life. Look around to get to know what type of metal and design appeals to you while remaining within your budget.
- Understanding the important qualities of your diamond will make you appreciate your diamond rings all the more!
Archive for the 'White Diamonds' Category
The 4C’s in Diamond Characteristics: Carat Weight
In this series of blog posts, I have been examining the brilliance and beauty of the natural diamond. I have touched on the colour, clarity and cut of the diamond. These three, along with carat weight make up the 4C’s. The 4C’s is a method by which the GIA – the benchmark in diamond grading throughout the world – compares the quality of diamonds.
In this post, let’s take a look at carat weight and how that plays into the value and desire of the diamond. The word carat is the term used to express the weight of the diamond and one carat is equal to 200 milligrams of actual weight and five carats is equal to 1 gram. Interestingly, while carat weight is used to measure other gemstones, different stones of the same weight are not necessarily the same sizes as the density of the stone plays a role in total carat weight.
When considering two equal carat diamonds, for instance, one may be cut too shallow and will appear to have a larger diameter but a smaller depth. The other diamond may be cut too deep – what is considered to be bottom heavy – and will have a smaller diameter, but will appear smaller when it is viewed from the top. In this case, both diamonds are equal in carat weight, yet look very different when viewed with the naked eye.
It is important to remember that as the diamond carat size increases, so does the diameter and depth of the diamond. As a result, a 1.00 carat diamond will not look twice as wide as a 0.50 carat diamond. At the same time, you must consider the size of the finger that will wear the diamond as a 1 carat solitaire looks much larger on a smaller finger than it will on a larger finger.
Smaller diamonds are weighed in points instead of carats. The carat weight is still the base of measurement, but the points communicate to the consumer and the jeweller how much of a whole carat is represented in the stone. In other words, there are 100 points in 1 carat and if a diamond is rated a 0.05, this means it is five one-hundredths. A 0.05 carat diamond is equal to five points.
The carat weight of the diamond will impact its value, simply because larger diamonds that are both brilliant and beautiful are much rarer. At the same time, the larger diamond is in more demand than smaller diamonds of the same quality. As a result, a larger carat diamond solitaire has more value that a diamond setting made up of multiple diamonds that total the same carat weight, but are individually smaller. Likewise, the diamond that is just less than one full carat will be less expensive than the diamond that surpasses the full-carat benchmark.
No matter what the carat weight of the diamond, its value will also take into account the cut, clarity and colour as all four combine into the 4C’s when determining the true quality and investment potential of the diamond.
I have enjoyed this series and I do hope that you have been able to learn some new and important information that will help you make the best decision when you are purchasing your next diamond – whether it be for an engagement ring or anniversary or just because…
If you are in need of expert advice, please contact me via my website, Eskae Jeweller and I will be happy to sit with you to go through the various options available in your next diamond purchase.
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller
WOW! is all I can say…
To be finding diamond rough of this size still amazes me – to no end…
Click on this link to read all about the 507 carat diamond that was found.
“This spectacular gemstone was recovered on Thursday 24 September and is currently with experts for analysis,” said a statement released by the London-listed company which operates mainly in Africa.
The precious stone was found alongside three other special white gems of similar colour and clarity, a large diamond of 168.00 carats and two other stones of 58.50 and 53.30 carats.
The mine which was previously owned by diamond mining giant De Beers, is renowned for the discovery of the famed Cullinan Diamond in 1905, which is part of the British crown jewels and weighed 3106 carats.
Now imagine that, finding a 3106 carat diamond in the rough… that the kind of thing dreams are made of!
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller
In this series on inclusions, I have been examining the different elements of the natural diamond that are known as inclusions or natural imperfections. So far, I have examined clouds, feathers, cleavage, crystals and cavities.
Today, I will take a look at pinpoints, internal graining and needles. While many of these inclusions will have similar characteristics, there are also some differences we will explore here together so you better understand how these inclusions impact the beauty and value of the diamond.
Pinpoints
Pinpoints are the tiny light or dark crystals you may see in the diamond that can appear on their own or together with other crystals in clusters. When the pinpoints are gathered together in a cluster, they are known as a cloud because they can create a hazy area in the diamond. This cloud will affect the clarity of the diamond by disrupting the path of light through the diamond which in turn will also play a role in the quality grading for determining the value of the diamond.
Diamond Inclusions - Pinpoints create a cloud
Internal Graining
As diamonds are formed through a unique process, the crystals forming with the diamond take on their own characteristics. Internal graining occurs when irregular crystal growth takes place within the stone, creating internal distortions, waviness and/or a haze to the appearance of the diamond. This internal graining can easily be accompanied by an internal strain.
Internal graining is also known as grain lines or growth lines. If the grain line is colorless, it often will not affect the clarity of the diamond. If the lines are present in large masses, however, they can impact the diamond’s clarity again by disrupting the path of light through the diamond. At the same time, white or colored grain lines are known to lower the clarity grade of the diamond.
Diamond Inclusions - Internal graining
Needles
Needles are another example of internal flaws that can exist in a natural diamond. When the internal crystals are present in the form of long and thin needles, they earn the needle reference. Many needle inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, although needles that take on a particular color can be easily seen. As you can see in the photo provided, some needles can be clustered together, very apparent to the viewer in a way that vastly impacts the beauty and value of the diamond.
Diamond Inclusions - Needles within the diamond
While it is easy to assume that all inclusions will affect the quality of the diamond in a negative way, this is not always true. Instead, talk to a professional jeweller to determine whether or not the diamond of interest has any natural inclusions and how they may impact the quality of the stone. Keep in mind that most diamonds will have some form of an inclusion that gives it a unique characteristic that can at times enhance its beauty.
Believe it or not, we still haven’t covered all inclusions that could occur in a natural diamond. I will continue this series to make sure you are completely informed and educated on all the possibilities. Join me next time as I explore carbon, knots and growth tubes.
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller
Designing your own Engagement Ring
A marriage proposal is one of the most important and personal events of a lifetime. A very special engagement ring will reflect the significance of this event. When you become engaged, you and your partner can create a lasting symbol of your unique love for each other with a custom engagement ring design. With the help of an experienced jeweller, the process of designing a custom engagement ring will bring you and your loved one closer and help you create a ring that both of you will treasure forever.
The Design Process
Once you’ve decided to create an engagement ring that will reflect you and your partner’s personalities and taste, the next step is to consult a jeweller who specializes in custom engagement ring design. An experienced jeweller has the technical expertise required to guide you through the design process. Your jeweller will explain the process to you in simple terms and make sure you have input at every step. You will gain an understanding and appreciation of how much is involved in custom designing and creation of your engagement ring.
Your jeweller will help you make a series of important design decisions related to ring design, including:
- Diamonds – Which one is Right for you? – Your jeweller will help run you through what makes a diamond sparkle with “Fire and Brilliance” and how the different characteristics affect the value of the diamond. Diamonds are a traditional choice for engagement rings, but a truly unique design can be created using other types of stones. Emeralds, rubies and pearls can be striking alternatives to diamonds.
- The Size and Shape of the Diamond or Gemstone – Once the type of stone is chosen, your jeweller can recommend suitable sizes and shapes. When recommending a diamond or gemstone, your jeweller will take into account your personalities, what you want to communicate through your engagement ring and a host of other considerations.
- The Style of the Setting – The design details of the setting will have a major impact on the overall style and look of the ring. The setting can be traditional, with a clean and crisp look that will allow your diamond or gemstone to sparkle with its own “fire and brilliance” or it may be embellished with side stones, engraving or filigrees, adding more detail and intrigue to the design.
- Platinum or Gold? – Which one is Best for your Setting? – The setting design, the diamond and gemstones used and the ring budget will determine the best metal for the engagement ring.
After you have expressed your design preferences, your jeweller will create a custom design for your approval. Many couples have seen another ring that they want to copy, or they may want to combine 2 or 3 design elements from other rings. If this is the case with your ring design, feel free to bring in drawings or photos to give your jeweller an idea of what you have in mind. A talented jeweller will incorporate these suggestions into a single cohesive ring design, adding any details that may be needed to complete the design and convey what you would like to have represented in your ring.
The Surprise Engagement Ring
A marriage proposal and engagement ring are often planned as a surprise. In this case, the design decisions will be made solely by the man. His fiancée’s lifestyle, looks, body size and shape, personality and taste in jewellery should be taken into account when designing a custom engagement ring. Family members or close friends can be a great help in creating a design that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Wedding Band Considerations
The design for your wedding bands should be considered when designing your engagement ring, especially if a bridal set consisting of the two rings is desired. Using similar stones, metals and design motifs is the best way to tie together the engagement and wedding rings.
Generally speaking, if you use a similar design in both engagement ring and wedding bands, you will gain the benefit of having them look they were designed together at the same time. When the engagement and wedding ring are worn together they will truly look like a matched set and not two unmatched rings that were bought at different times and places and thrown together.
Custom Engagement Ring Budget
You and your partner need to be aware that a custom designed engagement ring may cost a bit more than purchasing a mass market existing design due to the exclusivity of having an engagement ring designed specifically for you. It’s important to establish a budget and to work with your jeweller to stick with your budget. Your jeweller will be prepared to offer many suggestions on how to stick with your budget. Be prepared to listen to your jeweller’s suggestions and work with the options that are presented to you.
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller -Your Private Jeweller
Rumor has it diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but have they always held such status in the eye of the beholder? While it’s true the durability, beauty, rarity and strength of the diamond make it appealing, it also stands as the ultimate symbol of love passion, elegance and glamour.
For centuries, only the wealthiest were able to own diamonds, increasing their status symbol among the rich. In today’s society, diamonds are much more accessible, broadening their appeal for the masses. Even today, however diamonds have saturated the global market, they are viewed as status symbols; the cut and quality of the diamond demonstrating investment made.
This widespread appeal was sparked by the innovative marketing strategy launched by De Beers in the 1930s. This campaign elevated the diamond from the focal point on engagement and wedding rings to the gem of status among those in the public eye. This campaign included the presentation of diamonds to Hollywood starlets, photo shoots and movie productions, asking that the jewels be included in photo opportunities, cover layouts and movie scenes.
In 1947, the same company launched the “A Diamond is Forever” campaign that is still well and alive today, demonstrating the eternal status of love and social placement the diamond represents. While these marketing campaigns launched a whole new home for diamonds among jewelry lovers everywhere – married or not – they also unwittingly created another social platform for establishing status for years to come.
In today’s materialistic society, the classes are not as clearly defined as they once were in previous generations. When De Beers launched their first campaign, cars were not owned by nearly every citizen in an urban area; clothing was not piling up at second hand stores; and flat screen televisions weren’t even a figment of anyone’s imagination.
Today, the possessions of the middle class easily emulate those of the rich, making it more difficult to clearly identify social status. When diamonds enter the picture, however, they are able to take the similarities and separate the two. Diamonds remain today one of the most distinguishable status symbols available, found in mother-baby diamond tennis bracelet sets, 4 carat emerald cut right-hand rings and even the man’s diamond stud earrings.
Each of these items can be considered a symbol of the individual’s status in society, business and life. Many will view their diamond purchase and ownership as a demonstration of success, proof they have arrived into a status that most only dream of and never achieve. Diamonds represent a brilliant beauty that can have no bounds when money is no object.
No matter what the intention is for the purchase of the diamond, the selection of shape, cut and colour depends greatly upon the status it is meant to project. Diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend and a status symbol of love, wealth and happiness. The beauty is that the wearer of the piece gets to decide just what he or she wishing to communicate.
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller
Inclusions – Natural Diamond Imperfections Part II
To offer you insight into different imperfections – or inclusions – that are often found in the natural diamond, we have focused a series of posts on these characteristics often inherent in a mined diamond. In our first post, we looked at the clouds and feathers, understanding how to identify them on sight and what they can mean for the value of your stone. Now, we will examine crystals, cavities and cleavage.
Crystals
While it may seem unusual that a crystal within the natural diamond is considered to be an inclusion, anything that affects the way light passes through the stone is seen as an imperfection. It is a possible a crystal can enhance the diamond’s visual properties. In truth, a crystal can have a wide array of influence on the appearance of the stone.
Crystals within a natural diamond are often a small diamond trapped inside a larger diamond. Some have called the crystal the undigested gemstone, but not all crystals are diamonds. Crystals within the diamond can also be a garnet, diopside, spinel, olivine, calcite, iron oxides or even silica.
It is common for customers to view the crystal in a favorable light – literally. Some have described the crystal as a baby diamond, while others love the uniqueness of the tiny garnet inside the diamond. Crystals have also been referred to as needles, clouds and pinpoints, although each of these inclusions has its own characteristics that will vary from a true crystal inclusion.
Cavities
Much like a cavity in the mouth, when referring to a diamond, this inclusion is a large or deep opening in the diamond. And, like the tooth cavity, the diamond cavity is generally caused by human intervention. A cavity can occur when a feather or pinpoint already exists on the stone and the polishing process causes the inclusion to worsen, leaving a hole or opening in the stone.
It is important to note that a cavity is not the same thing as a chip. A cavity will generally have drag lines visible to one side of the cavity in the location where miniscule diamond particles have been dragged across the surface of the diamond by the polishing wheel. The hole of the cavity is clearly defined when the blemish removed is a crystal as this inclusion caused the basis of the cavity in the formation of the stone.
Cleavage
Like crystals and cavities, cleavage can be damaging to the natural diamond. Cleavage is a straight crack along the stone without any feathering. If the length of the cleavage is long enough, it has the potential to split the diamond apart.
This split generally only happens if the diamond is hit at the right angle, but the potential for damage still affects the integrity of the stone. If the cleavage cannot be seen when a diamond is viewed in the face up position, it is not considered a serious impact on clarity rating.
The inclusions mentioned here are not all natural imperfections found in a diamond, as the cavity certainly needs human assistance to appear. What is important to consider is that any of these imperfections can affect the visual brilliance, quality and value of your stone.
We will continue to examine the different inclusions you may encounter in searching for the perfect stone. Check back next time as we examine pinpoints, needles and internal graining.
Whether or not a woman is totally enamored with the size of her diamond engagement ring makes little difference to the story of its existence. Ask any female wearing one on the appropriate finger how she received the precious piece and she won’t have to dig deep to recall the moment of proposal.
While the giving of an engagement ring – complete with diamond or other stone of choice – has been a tradition now for centuries, it has not always been in practice. Like every good tradition or cultural phenomenon, this one too has its beginnings rooted in history. The story of the first engagement ring is one of love and longing and begins in 1477.
Tradition at that time required the woman (of appropriate financial means) to present her betrothed with a diamond ring. This practice was said to demonstrate trust and faith that the woman now belonged to the man and he could take her as his wife. The Archduke Maximilian of Hamburg changed tradition when he presented a diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy.
The love between Mary and the Archduke was said to be so intense, they could not stand to be apart. Just before the two were set to be married, the Archduke was called to war. As an expression of his love and devotion to Mary, he created an engagement ring for her so she could keep something of him close to her while he was away.
While it is likely their love could have withstood the distance between them, the Archduke took no chances and as a result, a new tradition was born. And, even though it took roughly 100 years for the trend to truly emerge, the resulting variety of engagement rings would charm even the most fickle of brides-to-be today.
During the Renaissance period, engagement rings were often set with a single diamond still in its natural crystalline form. Other varieties included multiple diamonds cushioned in settings of rosettes, letters or fleur-de-lys. Inscriptions inside the rings were common and included love notes or posies.
The arrival of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries brought along the popularity of the gimmel ring. This unique set was made of two hoops that would slide together into one ring when it was closed. The fede (Italian for faith) ring was also popular as it was made of two clasped hands. A common centerpiece between the hands was often a rose-cut diamond heart.
During this time, it was only the very wealthy and the noble or royal couples who could afford such luxuries. Diamonds had only been discovered in India and therefore were in short supply and hard to acquire without the necessary means. As a result, many of those betrothed relied on other gems instead of the diamond, while still maintaining the traditional of the engagement ring.
This trend began to change in the eighteenth century, however, as diamonds were discovered in Brazil. Diamond jewelry entered the fashion scene and engagement rings took on a whole new look. Many engagement rings from this period of time included diamond set bows, sprays of flowers and crowned hearts.
Diamond solitaire engagement ring
The importance of the diamond engagement ring took on new meaning in the nineteenth century. The Industrial Revolution created much wealth and newly discovered African diamond mines made the gems available to more people. Popular themes throughout the century surrounded sentiment until Tiffany introduced the six-prong solitaire in 1886.
Over the last 100+ years, engagement rings have taken on many shapes, forms and even stones. An engagement ring is considered a true reflection of the personal taste and style of the woman who wears it, while demonstrating the love and promise between her and the man who presented it.
The engagement ring was traditionally worn on the right hand as the fourth finger was believed to contain a vein that traveled all the way from the heart. This practice – which started in the Greek culture – truly joined the man and the woman at heart. In other cultures, the fourth finger on the left hand is considered to be the proper placement to join the two.
As a society today, we still view the engagement ring as the promise of the intention to marry. It is an important step in the ownership of your own life and seldom has a woman walked down the isle who has not dreamed of her ideal engagement ring. As this emblem was once believed to unite the man and the woman at the heart, it is still a symbol of a love that cannot be broken.
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller
A square, 32.01-carat emerald-cut diamond that US billionaire philanthropist Leonore Annenberg bought for her 90th birthday has sold for $US7.7 million ($8.3 million) at auction in New York!
Diamond - 32.01ct sells for US$8.3M at Christie's auction
The big diamond “combines the best of the four C’s: top colour, perfect clarity, ideal cut and excellent weight”, said Francois Curiel, international head of Christie’s jewels. Getting these kinds of specifications in a large or oversize (5cts plus) diamond is not common. So there in lies the value of this kind of diamond, especially if you are looking for an investment quality diamond. I am not saying that all diamonds of this size and quality need to be an investment diamond, they are simply one of the best things to look at in the world! When diamonds start approaching this kind of quality the amount of fire and sparkle coming out of them is something to behold…
Annenberg purchased the ring for herself to mark her 90th birthday, Christie’s said. It was delivered by armed guards to her Rancho Mirage, California, home from the Beverly Hills jeweller’s store, it said. She was thrilled whenever someone came by to admire it, the auction house said. Imagine that! Having to get armed guards to deliver one of your pieces of jewellery… wouldn’t that be something!
Here is the link to the full story on this magnificent diamond
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller
A natural diamond is known as the most brilliant and beautiful stone in the world. Diamonds are also rare and can also be very valuable. In a series of posts, we are examining how jewellers and consumers compare quality in a diamond. The GIA – the benchmark in diamond grading throughout the world – operates on a universal grading system and the 4C’s, which are cut, clarity, colour and carat weight.
In our last post in the series, we discussed the cut of the diamond. Now we will examine colour and how it impacts the presence and value of your stone. Chemically speaking, a pure and perfect diamond is completely transparent with no hue or colour. In reality, the perfect diamond is nearly non-existent and therefore it is important to understand how colour impacts the diamond itself.
The colour of the diamond is determined by the chemical impurities or structural defects (inclusions) in the crystal lattice. Diamonds can range in color from a steel gray to a red or any other colour you can imagine. The tissue impurities or structural defects of the diamond cause the different colours.
To simplify, diamonds are scientifically classified into two different types based on the nature of their impurities and how these impurities impact the absorption of light:
- Type I diamonds have nitrogen atoms as their main impurity. When these atoms are in pairs, they have no impact on the colour of the diamond. Atoms in large, even-numbered aggregates create a yellow to brown tint. Nitrogen atoms dispersed throughout the diamond in isolated sites give the stone an intense yellow or the occasion brown tint. Type I diamonds have Fluorescence and visible absorption spectrum.
- Type II diamonds do not have measurable nitrogen impurities and absorb light in a different region of the infrared. Type II diamonds transmit in the ultraviolet below 225 nm. Structural anomalies through the creation of the crystal can cause a pink, red or brown colour. When boron is scattered within the diamond, the stone can have a light blue colour. Varying quantities of radiation exposure can cause a diamond to have a green colour.
To classify the diamond according to colour, the GIA relies on an examination of the diamond next to a master set of colour comparison stones. Colour ranges from the best grade of D, down to Z. The cleanest colour is between D and G and will give a diamond significantly more fire.
As the GIA rates the value of the diamond according to cut and colour, D or E diamonds are more valuable than R or Y as high-colour diamonds are rarer, which limits supply; and the bright white appearance of high-color diamonds is sought by consumers, which drives demand.
Colour is truly the heart of the diamond, while cut will bring out the best quality of that colour. To get the most value and enjoyable viewing out of your diamond, aim for a colour grading of G and above. This will ensure you get the presentation you hope for in your diamond, while also extending the value of your investment.
Now that you have a better understanding of the cut and colour of the diamond and how they are considered in determining the value of the stone, we will next take a look at clarity and its role in the 4 C’s.
Sam Kritsotakis
Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller