Considering a Celtic wedding rings set? Celtic wedding rings are a popular expression of love and devotion. Coupled with a rich history these engagement bands and ring sets carry the symbolic significance of an entire culture with them.
Celtic Ring Styles
Your Celtic wedding ring set can come in many styles. As is common, you can choose from amongst gold, white gold, platinum, or silver for your band. As a bride and groom wedding set, platinum and white gold tends to be more popular for Celtic sets, than it silver or yellow gold. The band engravings and Celtic embellishments add a symbolic significance that is instantly recognized.
Celtic Knots
Your ring set can have a variety of cultural knots that are associated with being "Celtic". You can choose between circular knot patterns that signify permanence or angular knots that have a cultural significance pointing towards a stable foundation. There are additional knot patterns that can be considered but these are the most popular for marriage rings because of their significance.
Diamonds and Gemstones
Diamonds and gemstones can also be included in Celtic wedding rings to increase their beauty and symbolism. Singular, featured, custom diamonds can be used for the bride's wedding ring, and it is also popular to include multiple diamonds bezzled in custom locations along the band. When catching the light, a quality diamond brings attention and creates a beauty that is unmatched by a wedding band set that goes without.
Where to Find The Perfect Celtic Wedding Ring Set
Celtic jewelry is very popular and can be found in most jewelry stores. Celtic bracelets, engagement ring sets, and anniversary rings and pendants are all typically found in your average jewelry store. This is well and good, but I would always recommend visiting or speaking with a custom design jewelry expert, as the breadth of their knowledge and ability can help you create the perfect Celtic wedding ring set for your most special occasion.
Showing posts with label diamond rings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diamond rings. Show all posts
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Friday, 18 December 2009
Diamond Rings - Popular Trends in Diamond Engagement Rings
Traditionally, men have purchased diamond engagement rings as a symbol of lifetime love and devotion, but many men admit they need a little help when it's time to choose one. If you've decided it's time to ask your loved one to marry you, here are some of the latest trends. With so many to choose from, you'll be sure to find something that you'll both love looking at every day for the rest of your lives.
Choosing Alternative Metals Such As Palladium Or White Or Yellow Gold
One of the most popular metals for jewelry is platinum. It is one of the most durable metals and is extremely resistant to tarnish. However, platinum's rarity does make it more expensive so it can be a little hard on the wallet.
Other popular metals are palladium and 18K white and yellow gold. Palladium looks like platinum, but is typically much less expensive and lighter. This makes palladium ideal for more delicate pieces of jewelry or for women with small hands and fingers. Both yellow and white gold are also gaining popularity in the jewelry world. White gold can require a little bit of upkeep, as it tends to show wear easier than other metals. Having a white gold piece of jewelry redipped is relatively easy. If your white gold jewelry is starting to show signs of yellowing, simply take it to any jewelry store and ask them to redip it. The jeweler will redip it, shine it up, and your ring will look brand new. Some stores are able to do this while you wait, but others can take up to two weeks so make sure to ask if you're planning on having this done right before your wedding or other important event.
Popular Styles Of Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond rings come in styles to fit everyone's taste. Some of the most popular ones are antique or vintage, halo, classic comfort fit solitaires, and three diamond rings.
An antique or vintage ring is one that was previously worn by someone else. They can be found at antique or estate sales, purchased from an antique dealer or given you to by an older loved one. If you're uncomfortable with the thought of a previously worn ring, but want something with a vintage feel, you can find a custom jewelry designer to design you a new piece with an antique look.
A halo ring is one with a larger center diamond that is surrounded by smaller diamonds. These diamond engagement rings typically have a round center stone, but the center stone can also be heart, marquise, princess, cushion, pear, asscher, or oval. The outside stones can be bevel or prong set.
One of the most popular styles of diamond ring is the classic comfort fit solitaire. These diamond engagement rings can be set on a wide or thin band and have a single stone set directly in the middle of the band. The stones can be any shape, though the round brilliant and princess cut are the most common. Other cuts can include heart shaped, oval, asscher, pear, cushion, marquise, trilliant, or radiant.
Three diamond rings have become popular in the past few years as the three stones represent a relationship's past, present, and future. The styles of these pieces vary greatly. They can have large center stones with smaller outside stones or have three stones all the same size. The stones can all be the same cut, but other popular styles are ones with a round or princess cut center stone and triangle or baguette shaped outer stones.
Spending More On Center Stones
Some shoppers choose a ready to fill setting and spend more on a center stone. Doing this ensures you'll be able to purchase a certified diamond that you choose. A certified diamond has already been graded by experts at one of the diamond grading laboratories so you'll know exactly what you're purchasing. Most Americans are familiar with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), but other labs include the American Gem Society, Hoge Raad voor Diamant, the European Gemological Laboratory and the International Gemological Institute. One lab isn't more qualified than another - all must follow the same strict grading standards.
Buying a certified diamond also makes it easier to insure your jewelry, something that's important in case it is ever lost or stolen. If the diamond is already certified, you can just take in the paperwork and the jeweler likely won't need to appraise it.
Custom Diamond Engagement Rings
Another popular style of diamond engagement rings are custom ones. These are completely custom designed and the buyer chooses a custom setting and then a center stone to go in it. A custom designed, one of a kind ring is a great way to symbolize your one of a kind love.
Diamond rings are a symbol of your love, so you'll want to do a little research before spending money on one. Whether you're looking for a vintage, antique, halo, solitaire, or three stone in platinum, palladium, white gold, or yellow gold, you'll be sure to find one your bride will love.
Choosing Alternative Metals Such As Palladium Or White Or Yellow Gold
One of the most popular metals for jewelry is platinum. It is one of the most durable metals and is extremely resistant to tarnish. However, platinum's rarity does make it more expensive so it can be a little hard on the wallet.
Other popular metals are palladium and 18K white and yellow gold. Palladium looks like platinum, but is typically much less expensive and lighter. This makes palladium ideal for more delicate pieces of jewelry or for women with small hands and fingers. Both yellow and white gold are also gaining popularity in the jewelry world. White gold can require a little bit of upkeep, as it tends to show wear easier than other metals. Having a white gold piece of jewelry redipped is relatively easy. If your white gold jewelry is starting to show signs of yellowing, simply take it to any jewelry store and ask them to redip it. The jeweler will redip it, shine it up, and your ring will look brand new. Some stores are able to do this while you wait, but others can take up to two weeks so make sure to ask if you're planning on having this done right before your wedding or other important event.
Popular Styles Of Diamond Engagement Rings
Diamond rings come in styles to fit everyone's taste. Some of the most popular ones are antique or vintage, halo, classic comfort fit solitaires, and three diamond rings.
An antique or vintage ring is one that was previously worn by someone else. They can be found at antique or estate sales, purchased from an antique dealer or given you to by an older loved one. If you're uncomfortable with the thought of a previously worn ring, but want something with a vintage feel, you can find a custom jewelry designer to design you a new piece with an antique look.
A halo ring is one with a larger center diamond that is surrounded by smaller diamonds. These diamond engagement rings typically have a round center stone, but the center stone can also be heart, marquise, princess, cushion, pear, asscher, or oval. The outside stones can be bevel or prong set.
One of the most popular styles of diamond ring is the classic comfort fit solitaire. These diamond engagement rings can be set on a wide or thin band and have a single stone set directly in the middle of the band. The stones can be any shape, though the round brilliant and princess cut are the most common. Other cuts can include heart shaped, oval, asscher, pear, cushion, marquise, trilliant, or radiant.
Three diamond rings have become popular in the past few years as the three stones represent a relationship's past, present, and future. The styles of these pieces vary greatly. They can have large center stones with smaller outside stones or have three stones all the same size. The stones can all be the same cut, but other popular styles are ones with a round or princess cut center stone and triangle or baguette shaped outer stones.
Spending More On Center Stones
Some shoppers choose a ready to fill setting and spend more on a center stone. Doing this ensures you'll be able to purchase a certified diamond that you choose. A certified diamond has already been graded by experts at one of the diamond grading laboratories so you'll know exactly what you're purchasing. Most Americans are familiar with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), but other labs include the American Gem Society, Hoge Raad voor Diamant, the European Gemological Laboratory and the International Gemological Institute. One lab isn't more qualified than another - all must follow the same strict grading standards.
Buying a certified diamond also makes it easier to insure your jewelry, something that's important in case it is ever lost or stolen. If the diamond is already certified, you can just take in the paperwork and the jeweler likely won't need to appraise it.
Custom Diamond Engagement Rings
Another popular style of diamond engagement rings are custom ones. These are completely custom designed and the buyer chooses a custom setting and then a center stone to go in it. A custom designed, one of a kind ring is a great way to symbolize your one of a kind love.
Diamond rings are a symbol of your love, so you'll want to do a little research before spending money on one. Whether you're looking for a vintage, antique, halo, solitaire, or three stone in platinum, palladium, white gold, or yellow gold, you'll be sure to find one your bride will love.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
When it Comes to Buying Rings, Size Doesn't Matter Or Does It?
When you have reached that point in your relationship when you are now looking to buy your new love a ring, it is serious business for you or it should be, shouldn't it. I guess that all depends on you, your heart, and the occasion for which you have decided to dedicate this occasion.
I guess at this point in your life you have serious affection, admiration, and love for the woman that you are thinking about buying a new ring for and just because you have decided to buy a ring doesn't necessary mean engagement, but you better be clear of your intentions before you pull out a ring because women think a lot faster than men and before you have realized that she thought one thing when your intentions were another, you better go to the drawing board and map out the plan, drop her some hints of what this is not, or write your intentions on your forehead as a warning sign.
How do you mentally develop a plan to give a woman a ring without saying engagement, or how do you propose if those are your intentions, or how do you say Iwant to be more than your friend using a ring as a gesture of love.
There are so many ways to present a ring to a woman, but the end result or the natural reaction must be understood by both you and her before you take action. When buying a ring, does the size matter? Some women say yes and others say no so you have a 50/50 chance of getting it right the first time. However, the size isn't the only thing you have to worry about. You also have to decide on the occasion so that there are no mix signals or misunderstandings. If this is a friendship wanting more occasion then of course size doesn't matter as you are not beginning the serious phase of your relationship and are sending a message to her that maybe there is a future where Isee me and you going places together.
So in this case, size doesn't matter or does it? Will she say, "that is what you think of me or this is how you show me how much you love me"? Iam playing devils advocate, but when you hand her the small gesture of love, will you get a big kiss for making the gesture that you want more in your relationship or will you get a look of disappointment. You know that look, when she smiles slightly, but she doesn't want to hurt your feelings so she plays along with the emotional moment until she gets with her friends. This is the case for some, but not all as there are some really great angels out there in the world whose only concern is being loved by someone no matter the ring size.
Does a bigger ring signifies more love or a smaller ring signifies less love? Ithink they both send the same message, but a man that swings for the fence will definitely be the man of the hour and will know because his woman will not stop talking about the big gift she received. On the other hand, a woman who has just received a small ring will probably change the subject or maybe not as not all women place such high value on material things. However, I just don't see a woman bragging to her friends about a small ring that she just received as she can predict their reaction.
So to answer the question, does size matter in a ring? Ithink it has to from a certain perspective because most women dream of the day when they are presented a ring from their loved one and no matter the occasion whether love, engagement, wedding, or friendship, the natural reaction is always different with each size. Furthermore, it is her first ring and you as a man must understand that the bigger the size the greater the reaction and most importantly, she may see this as you signaling to her that your love for her is worth every penny that you put in purchasing the big ring.
On the flip side of this coin, a woman who cherishes love over the size of her ring will give an equal reaction as if she has just received the biggest ring in the world because in her heart the greatest reward is you.
Does it matter if you present a woman a big or small ring? I guess the person that has that answer is you, the man deciding to buy the ring and your knowledge of the woman that you are buying the ring for. If she truly loves you, then size want matter much, but as a man, you must also take into consideration that she chose you and that gesture is greater than anything in the world and should be rewarded with a nice size ring. It doesn't have to be large or small, but somewhere in the middle as a thank you note for her choosing you.
I guess at this point in your life you have serious affection, admiration, and love for the woman that you are thinking about buying a new ring for and just because you have decided to buy a ring doesn't necessary mean engagement, but you better be clear of your intentions before you pull out a ring because women think a lot faster than men and before you have realized that she thought one thing when your intentions were another, you better go to the drawing board and map out the plan, drop her some hints of what this is not, or write your intentions on your forehead as a warning sign.
How do you mentally develop a plan to give a woman a ring without saying engagement, or how do you propose if those are your intentions, or how do you say Iwant to be more than your friend using a ring as a gesture of love.
There are so many ways to present a ring to a woman, but the end result or the natural reaction must be understood by both you and her before you take action. When buying a ring, does the size matter? Some women say yes and others say no so you have a 50/50 chance of getting it right the first time. However, the size isn't the only thing you have to worry about. You also have to decide on the occasion so that there are no mix signals or misunderstandings. If this is a friendship wanting more occasion then of course size doesn't matter as you are not beginning the serious phase of your relationship and are sending a message to her that maybe there is a future where Isee me and you going places together.
So in this case, size doesn't matter or does it? Will she say, "that is what you think of me or this is how you show me how much you love me"? Iam playing devils advocate, but when you hand her the small gesture of love, will you get a big kiss for making the gesture that you want more in your relationship or will you get a look of disappointment. You know that look, when she smiles slightly, but she doesn't want to hurt your feelings so she plays along with the emotional moment until she gets with her friends. This is the case for some, but not all as there are some really great angels out there in the world whose only concern is being loved by someone no matter the ring size.
Does a bigger ring signifies more love or a smaller ring signifies less love? Ithink they both send the same message, but a man that swings for the fence will definitely be the man of the hour and will know because his woman will not stop talking about the big gift she received. On the other hand, a woman who has just received a small ring will probably change the subject or maybe not as not all women place such high value on material things. However, I just don't see a woman bragging to her friends about a small ring that she just received as she can predict their reaction.
So to answer the question, does size matter in a ring? Ithink it has to from a certain perspective because most women dream of the day when they are presented a ring from their loved one and no matter the occasion whether love, engagement, wedding, or friendship, the natural reaction is always different with each size. Furthermore, it is her first ring and you as a man must understand that the bigger the size the greater the reaction and most importantly, she may see this as you signaling to her that your love for her is worth every penny that you put in purchasing the big ring.
On the flip side of this coin, a woman who cherishes love over the size of her ring will give an equal reaction as if she has just received the biggest ring in the world because in her heart the greatest reward is you.
Does it matter if you present a woman a big or small ring? I guess the person that has that answer is you, the man deciding to buy the ring and your knowledge of the woman that you are buying the ring for. If she truly loves you, then size want matter much, but as a man, you must also take into consideration that she chose you and that gesture is greater than anything in the world and should be rewarded with a nice size ring. It doesn't have to be large or small, but somewhere in the middle as a thank you note for her choosing you.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Engagement Ring 101 For Him!
This is strictly for helping guys pick an engagement ring for those who have allowed themselves to become ensnared by that most dangerous and ferocious of beasts; the female of our species.
I kid you not; choose an engagement ring at your own considerable, personal peril and those around you. If you want the very best advice for choosing an engagement ring it is to take a pull ring from a Coke can, go down on one knee (it used to be two but beheadings are no longer legal) and using your prosthetic engagement ring propose with that on the strict undertaking you will allow her to go choose a ring she wants for herself.
If you are still reading this we can see why you are bent on this path down to matrimonial bliss - you are obstinate, foolhardy, deaf to advice and stubbornly determined; so herewith is the font of our wisdom when it comes to YOU choosing an engagement ring for her and may God be with you!
Rule One: Look at What She wears Now
Yes we know you probably have never done this before but you need to make a start!
Look at her jewelry she owns now and particularly what she claims are her favorite pieces but a hint for you will be to assess what she wears regularly. You should not be overt about this as men taking too close an interest in jewelry tends to unnerve ladies because they are so unused to this attention plus it is a dead giveaway you are planning "something" - be careful!
Consider the types and colors of metal she likes; there is gold, silver, platinum, white gold and other variations. Does she prefer diamonds or other gemstones such as sapphires or rubies; think about the style of jewelry such as whether it is modern, bold or subdued, maybe classical or ornate.
You will also easily get her ring size by using a bar of soap and imprinting one of her rings into it!
Rule Two: Her Opinion
Be prepared for this, once you are married there are two opinions - hers and whatever opinion she gives you.
The best way to find out her opinion is to take her shopping; if this is an unknown concept to you can simply take her to one of the big shopping malls and she will automatically guide you through the process. You are looking to see what catches her eye, what she looks at most closely or tries to wear while she makes up her mind - a great way to engineer the situation is to go to a jeweler and tell her you need some help in choosing a new watch. Nature will do the rest for you as she gravitates to the good stuff on display for ladies and you can sit back and watch; if possible you may contribute by saying something vaguely intelligent but best to keep quiet.
Rule Three: Exercise Your Judgment
Now we are on very dangerous ground here not least because exercising your judgment after you have judged she is the one for you can and will get you into a lot of hot water very quickly.
You will have to judge whether a ring will look good on her hands and fingers and some tips here are if she has short fingers, go for an elongated diamond shape such as an oval or marquise which will accentuate them and they will look longer. Wide ring bands will make her fingers look shorter though if your intended has long fingers she will be able to get away with bold ring styles though delicate ring settings will look lost on large hands.
You will also have to decide on the shape and setting for your engagement ring and most women choose a round diamond above all others. This popularity may not translate to your lady and she may prefer a square cut (also known as emerald cut), oval (pear shaped) or even a cluster of stones as opposed to a solitaire. This is where her existing jewelry will guide you in making the decision.
All that can now be said is "Good Luck!" - you are going to need it!
I kid you not; choose an engagement ring at your own considerable, personal peril and those around you. If you want the very best advice for choosing an engagement ring it is to take a pull ring from a Coke can, go down on one knee (it used to be two but beheadings are no longer legal) and using your prosthetic engagement ring propose with that on the strict undertaking you will allow her to go choose a ring she wants for herself.
If you are still reading this we can see why you are bent on this path down to matrimonial bliss - you are obstinate, foolhardy, deaf to advice and stubbornly determined; so herewith is the font of our wisdom when it comes to YOU choosing an engagement ring for her and may God be with you!
Rule One: Look at What She wears Now
Yes we know you probably have never done this before but you need to make a start!
Look at her jewelry she owns now and particularly what she claims are her favorite pieces but a hint for you will be to assess what she wears regularly. You should not be overt about this as men taking too close an interest in jewelry tends to unnerve ladies because they are so unused to this attention plus it is a dead giveaway you are planning "something" - be careful!
Consider the types and colors of metal she likes; there is gold, silver, platinum, white gold and other variations. Does she prefer diamonds or other gemstones such as sapphires or rubies; think about the style of jewelry such as whether it is modern, bold or subdued, maybe classical or ornate.
You will also easily get her ring size by using a bar of soap and imprinting one of her rings into it!
Rule Two: Her Opinion
Be prepared for this, once you are married there are two opinions - hers and whatever opinion she gives you.
The best way to find out her opinion is to take her shopping; if this is an unknown concept to you can simply take her to one of the big shopping malls and she will automatically guide you through the process. You are looking to see what catches her eye, what she looks at most closely or tries to wear while she makes up her mind - a great way to engineer the situation is to go to a jeweler and tell her you need some help in choosing a new watch. Nature will do the rest for you as she gravitates to the good stuff on display for ladies and you can sit back and watch; if possible you may contribute by saying something vaguely intelligent but best to keep quiet.
Rule Three: Exercise Your Judgment
Now we are on very dangerous ground here not least because exercising your judgment after you have judged she is the one for you can and will get you into a lot of hot water very quickly.
You will have to judge whether a ring will look good on her hands and fingers and some tips here are if she has short fingers, go for an elongated diamond shape such as an oval or marquise which will accentuate them and they will look longer. Wide ring bands will make her fingers look shorter though if your intended has long fingers she will be able to get away with bold ring styles though delicate ring settings will look lost on large hands.
You will also have to decide on the shape and setting for your engagement ring and most women choose a round diamond above all others. This popularity may not translate to your lady and she may prefer a square cut (also known as emerald cut), oval (pear shaped) or even a cluster of stones as opposed to a solitaire. This is where her existing jewelry will guide you in making the decision.
All that can now be said is "Good Luck!" - you are going to need it!
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
How to Choose the Diamond Wedding Ring
With the choices available today, choosing a wedding ring can be exhausting. It is even more so when you are trying to buy a diamond wedding ring. Who do you buy it from? Where do you start? What should the base metal be? Where can I find the best selection of styles? These are probably just a few of the questions that will be swarming around in your head. This article will try and make your life a little simpler.
The cost vs. your budget
Yes, everyone agrees on the fact that a wedding ring is much more than just a band around your finger. It symbolism commitment and love for a lifetime between two people. Therefore choosing a wedding band had to be carefully done. It should be perfect. However, this definitely does not mean that you spend the rest of your life trying to pay off the ring. Set aside a sensible budget for your diamond wedding ring and stick to it. It is really not a wise idea to buy one that you cannot afford.
The base metal
Once you have decided on the amount you would like to spend on your ring, decide on the base metal. Would you like to have it in gold, white gold or platinum? While gold and white gold are close in their pricing, platinum will cost a lot more. At this point you will need to decide on whether you want to spend on the diamond or on the base metal of your ring.
The other elements When choosing your diamond wedding ring you will also need to pay attention to the cut, colour and clarity of the stone / stones. The kind of setting of the stones is also something that you would need to consider carefully. Most importantly you need to remember that the ring that you are about to pick out is your wedding band and it will be on your finger most of the time if not all of it and therefore it needs to be hardy and durable.
The cost vs. your budget
Yes, everyone agrees on the fact that a wedding ring is much more than just a band around your finger. It symbolism commitment and love for a lifetime between two people. Therefore choosing a wedding band had to be carefully done. It should be perfect. However, this definitely does not mean that you spend the rest of your life trying to pay off the ring. Set aside a sensible budget for your diamond wedding ring and stick to it. It is really not a wise idea to buy one that you cannot afford.
The base metal
Once you have decided on the amount you would like to spend on your ring, decide on the base metal. Would you like to have it in gold, white gold or platinum? While gold and white gold are close in their pricing, platinum will cost a lot more. At this point you will need to decide on whether you want to spend on the diamond or on the base metal of your ring.
The other elements When choosing your diamond wedding ring you will also need to pay attention to the cut, colour and clarity of the stone / stones. The kind of setting of the stones is also something that you would need to consider carefully. Most importantly you need to remember that the ring that you are about to pick out is your wedding band and it will be on your finger most of the time if not all of it and therefore it needs to be hardy and durable.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
On the Hunt For Your Diamond
Hunting for the perfect diamond engagement ring or indeed, a diamond for any other occasion is a task the uninitiated may sometimes feel overwhelmed by; diamonds sparkle but everything that sparkles is not gold! Certainly not "gold" when it comes to making the right decisions on the diamond of your choice!
Before you start looking for a diamond, take a few moments to educate yourself on how to spot a great diamond from a piece of squashed graphite: diamonds and graphite are made from exactly the same element - Carbon - but the process for making each of them is very different deep within the bowels of the earth.
Diamonds are formed at least fifty miles under our feet where the pressures defy belied and at extremely high temperatures which force the carbon atoms into a peculiar lattice structure and it is this atomic formation which gives diamonds their strength and beauty as well as three of the four factors which affect their value and the price you pay - "The Four C's".
The four C's are:
1. Color - this is something of a trick; the most valuable diamonds have no coloring at all which accentuates the brilliance and fire after they are cut and polished; many diamonds have a yellowish coloring and this decreases the luster and sparkle of the stone so the less color a diamond has the more valuable it is. As a side note, there are blue and pink diamonds which are exceedingly rare and these do have an astronomical price tag!
2. Clarity - when a diamond is forming in the earth, other material aside from carbon may be included in the mix - bubbles of gas or foreign matter, or as part of the process the growing diamond may have scratches or faults along the lattice - these may be visible or may not be; if they are visible this will impact the value of the diamond and you will pay much more for a flawless diamond than one with flaws. Even though your diamond may have flaws, there are considerable detailed classifications for how serious the flaws are - visible inclusions near the surface of the stone decrease the value much more than a tiny, invisible to the naked eye inclusion towards the base of the diamond.
3. Carat - this is a measure of weight drawn from ancient times when the seeds of the Carob tree were used as a counterbalance on the diamond weighing scales - one carob became one carat and this is equal to 0.2 grams. Be aware that the term carat is a measure of weight and not shape of size; a diamond may appear to be large from how it has been cut (see the following) but is in fact a lesser carat than another smaller looking stone. The more carats the more you will pay.
4. Cut - The only man-made part of the process which affects the value of a diamond; how it is cut will account for as much as 40% of the final value of the diamond itself. It is a highly skilled process practiced by exceptionally gifted craftsmen. The cut will determine the final shape and appearance of the stone but more importantly, how brilliant and fiery a diamond appears is directly related to how well it is cut. The sparkle of a diamond comes from the internal reflection of light entering the stone; it bounces around the interior of the diamond and this gives an amplified effect when it leaves the stone and enters your eye. Too shallow a cut and the light does not reflect so well as it simply passes through the stone; a good cut will maximize the internal reflection of light and it will enhance its sparkling appearance.
Before you start looking for a diamond, take a few moments to educate yourself on how to spot a great diamond from a piece of squashed graphite: diamonds and graphite are made from exactly the same element - Carbon - but the process for making each of them is very different deep within the bowels of the earth.
Diamonds are formed at least fifty miles under our feet where the pressures defy belied and at extremely high temperatures which force the carbon atoms into a peculiar lattice structure and it is this atomic formation which gives diamonds their strength and beauty as well as three of the four factors which affect their value and the price you pay - "The Four C's".
The four C's are:
1. Color - this is something of a trick; the most valuable diamonds have no coloring at all which accentuates the brilliance and fire after they are cut and polished; many diamonds have a yellowish coloring and this decreases the luster and sparkle of the stone so the less color a diamond has the more valuable it is. As a side note, there are blue and pink diamonds which are exceedingly rare and these do have an astronomical price tag!
2. Clarity - when a diamond is forming in the earth, other material aside from carbon may be included in the mix - bubbles of gas or foreign matter, or as part of the process the growing diamond may have scratches or faults along the lattice - these may be visible or may not be; if they are visible this will impact the value of the diamond and you will pay much more for a flawless diamond than one with flaws. Even though your diamond may have flaws, there are considerable detailed classifications for how serious the flaws are - visible inclusions near the surface of the stone decrease the value much more than a tiny, invisible to the naked eye inclusion towards the base of the diamond.
3. Carat - this is a measure of weight drawn from ancient times when the seeds of the Carob tree were used as a counterbalance on the diamond weighing scales - one carob became one carat and this is equal to 0.2 grams. Be aware that the term carat is a measure of weight and not shape of size; a diamond may appear to be large from how it has been cut (see the following) but is in fact a lesser carat than another smaller looking stone. The more carats the more you will pay.
4. Cut - The only man-made part of the process which affects the value of a diamond; how it is cut will account for as much as 40% of the final value of the diamond itself. It is a highly skilled process practiced by exceptionally gifted craftsmen. The cut will determine the final shape and appearance of the stone but more importantly, how brilliant and fiery a diamond appears is directly related to how well it is cut. The sparkle of a diamond comes from the internal reflection of light entering the stone; it bounces around the interior of the diamond and this gives an amplified effect when it leaves the stone and enters your eye. Too shallow a cut and the light does not reflect so well as it simply passes through the stone; a good cut will maximize the internal reflection of light and it will enhance its sparkling appearance.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
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.
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.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Diamond Wedding Rings - Timeless Beauty Now and Forever
Diamond rings are the most precious gift for loved ones. It is the best way to show love and commitment for each other. No other piece of jewelry can make an impression on your spouse as a diamond ring can. Would it not be worth emptying your pockets for the love of your life?When it comes to marriage, you want everything to be special and unique. First thing that strikes to your mind is the wedding ring. Is there anything more important than that? Flowers, bouquets, decorations will not be there for your lifetime but your diamond wedding ring will always be.Choice of the perfect wedding ringIt could be quite a challenging task to find the perfect wedding ring. There are certain important factors which you'll need to look upon while purchasing a diamond ring.
Your wedding ring should always remind you of all the special things on your marriage. Quite often both the partners are involved in selecting the wedding rings for each other. How much are you willing to spend on your wedding ring? This is the first thing your need to determine because it will help you to decide the size and metal of the ring. It is the symbol of devotion towards your would be life partner. Do you research before you make any expensive purchase? If not, then better start to with your wedding ring. Make sure that you research well about the diamond brands and the certificate of authenticity issued by the regulatory boards. You need to be patient and gather complete information before making such an exclusive purchase. Style is what matters the most. You may want to buy a ring which is very much in fashion these days. If you have money to spend, then designer diamond wedding ring would be appropriate to show your love and make your spouse feel really special. Choose a ring which is not very trendy because it soon goes out of fashion and the charm of the style fades. The cut and the clarity of a diamond is the most important aspect to which you'll need to pay close attention on. There are shopkeepers who try to put jewelry on sale in order to get rid of old stock. Many a time's poor and low quality jewelry is also put on sale. You might want to take somebody experienced in jewelry shopping to get the best diamond brand for the person you are going to get married.Why diamond wedding ring only?Diamonds are known to be the hardest mineral on the earth. The ring is worn on the fourth finger of left hand which is supposed to have a vein connecting to the heart.
It symbolizes the love that will continue for the entire lifetime. It reflects the eternal bond between the two people who are going to get married.Diamonds are the best choice for those who can afford them. It is one of the ancient minerals which were well known in countries like India where the first diamond industry flourished.Nowadays lot many diamond brands have come up based on new cuts, gemology, grades and origin. Diamond rings are a great choice for the wedding since it reflects timeless beauty now and forever.
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