Diamonds are among the most prized substances on earth. Their incomparable brilliance, elegance, durability and mystery have captivated our imagination for thousands of years. Considering the endless lore and mysrique behind this regal stone, it’s no wonder that it has come to symbolize the ultimate gift of love and romance.
Not only is a diamond the overwhelming choice for prospective brides and grooms selecting an engagement ring and wedding ring, but the gem is also the birth stone for month of April. Diamonds are also recommended jewelry gift for couples celebrating their 10th, 60th,, and 75th wedding anniversaries.
Buying a major piece of diamond jewelry such as an engagement ring or anniversary ring can be one of the most expensive purchases many of us will ever make. That is why so important to understand the elements behind the quality and cost of a diamond, keep in mind that the value of a stone is determined by the 4 Cs, the Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight.
Cut refers to the execution of the diamond’s design, the skill with which it was cut, the quality of polish, and the overall symmetry of the stone. Diamond cuts are broadly graded as Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor. A well cut diamond releases the inner brilliance of the stone and projects its maximum amount of fire and sparkle. A poorly cut diamond allows light to leak out the sides or bottom rather reflecting back to the eye, resulting in a dull diamond taht may even have dead spots inside.
Color refers to the presence or absence or color in white diamonds. As a rule, the more white the stone, the greater its value. Even a slight tinge of yellow or brown could have a negative impact on a stone’s value. Most diamonds are graded on the GIA color scale that begins with “D” for colorless and continues all the down to “Z”, with the color becoming more visible as you move down the alphabet. Stones in the D - F color ranges are considered the most valuable, because they are the rarest.
Clarity refers to the presence of surface or internal flaws within a diamond caused during its formation. External marks are known as blemishes, while internal ones are called inclusions. Diamonds are graded for clarity on a scale ranging from “FL, for Flawless (no blemishes or inclusions visible under 10x magnification) to “I” for imperfect (inclusions are visible to the naked eye), with numerous grades and sub-grades in between. The best diamonds, of course, are flawless, but these stones are exceptionally rare, and therefore very costly.
Carat weight refers to the size of the diamond. The carat is the measure of weight for diamonds. One Carat is approximately 200 milligrams, or 100 “points”. For example, a diamond weighting a half Carat would be 50 pointer, and so on. In general, larger diamonds are rarer and have a higher value per carat. However, other factors such as cut, color, and clarity come into play as well in determining a diamond’s value. It’s entirely possible for a smaller stone of exceptional cut, color, and clarity to be worth more than a larger stone of only average quality in these areas.
There are even fancy natural colored diamonds in reds, pink, blue, greens, yellows, browns, and other colors. They vary in color richness or saturation from “Faint” to “vivid”, with the latter grade reserved for diamonds with most vivid and deepest saturation. The value of a fancy color diamond depends largely on the rarity of its color; for instance, reds, and greens, are rarer than yellows and browns; the saturation of the color; and the purity of the color, whether the color is bright and clear or clouded by tinges of other underlying colors. Top grade fancy diamonds are extremely rare and can command tremendous prices. Probably the most famous colored diamond is the Hope diamond, a 45.52 Carats deep blue gem that resides in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C .
The article above can be used on your web site or newsletter. When it is published, May I request that you include my name and resource box (the bio., contact and copyright information that follows the article. I would also appreciate if you could send me an e-mail of notification along with a complimentary copy of publication.
Bijan Aziz is the owner and Web Master for The Jewelry Hut.
http://www.thejewelryhut.com/html/diamond.html - the best source for fine Diamond, gemstone, and Pearl Jewelry on the Web
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Sapphire has been sought after for thousands of years as the ultimate blue gemstone. The ancient Persians believed that the earth rested on a giant sapphire that gave its blue reflection to the sky, hence the Latin name “Sapphiru”, which means blue.
The gem has long symbolized faith, remembrance, and enduring commitment. According to tradition, God gave gave Moses the Ten Commandments on tablets of Sapphire, making it the most sacred stone. This supposed “divine Favor” is why Sapphires often were the gem of choice for kings and high priest throughout history. In fact, the British crown Jewels contains a number of notable Sapphires. Prince Charles even gave Princess Diana a Sapphire engagement ring.
Sapphire is the birth stone for month of September. It is also the gem that is recommended for married couples who are celebrating their 5th and 45th wedding anniversaries.
Both Sapphire and its sister stone, Ruby, are part of the corundum family, one of the strongest minerals on earth. The stone is mined in many parts of the world, including Australia, Cambodia, China, Kashmir, Kenya, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. Sapphires from Kashmir and Myanmar are rarest and most prized, because of their vivid blue and velvety look.
Although Sapphire is virtually synonymous with blue, the stone comes in variety of fancy colors that includes colorless white, pink , yellow, peach, orange, brown, violet, purple, green, and many shades in between; except red, because a red Sapphire would be called a Ruby. Some Sapphires that are cut s cabochon, dome, shape even display a six rayed white star. These are called Star Sapphires, and the ancient regarded them as powerful talismans that protected travelers.
Like other gemstones, color is the main determining factor when judging the value of a Sapphire. As a rule, the most valuable Sapphires have a medium intense, pure vivid blue color and hold the brightness of their color under any type of lighting. Any color undertones, usually black, gray or green, will reduce stone’s value. Although a pastel stone would be less valued than a deeper blue one, it would be more valuable than a stone considered too dark. In selecting a Sapphire, keep in mind that the finest stones are “eye clean”, with little or no inclusions, flaws, visible to the unaided eye.
Sapphire is readily available in sizes of up 2 carats, but gems of 5-10 carats are not unusual. The stone is most often cut in a Cushion Shape, a rounded rectangle, or an Oval. Smaller stones are available in round brilliant cuts and a variety of fancy shapes, such as triangle, square, emerald, marquise, pear, baguette, cabochon and other shapes.
Some of the more noted Sapphires included the Logan Sapphire, a 423 carats Cushion Cut gemstone fro Sri Lanka currently in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C., and a 258 carats stone set in the Russian crown and kept in the Diamond Fund in Moscow.
With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, Sapphire is harder than any other gemstone except a diamond. This quality makes it extremely durable for everyday jewelry pieces subject to repeated impact, such as rings and bracelets. In general, Sapphire can be cleaned with soapy water or commercial solvent and a brush.
It is estimated that 90% of Sapphires on the market today have been heated to maximize their color and clarity. This process is permanent and commonly stable. Perfect natural, untreated gems are exceptionally rare and very expensive. Some colorless or pale stones are treated with chemicals, diffusion treated, which improves the surface color only. This could create a problem if the stone is ever chipped or nicked and needs to be re-cut or re-polished. In additional, some fancy colored Sapphire is irradiated to give it a more intense shade. These effects are temporary and can fade in light or heat.
The article above can be used on your web site or newsletter. When it is published, May I request that you include my name and resource box (the bio., contact and copyright information that follows the article. I would also appreciate if you could send me an e-mail of notification along with a complimentary copy of publication.
Bijan Aziz is the owner and Web Master for The Jewelry Hut.
http://www.thejewelryhut.com/html/gemstones.html - the best source for fine Diamond, gemstone, and Pearl Jewelry on the Web
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American Indian jewelry is one of the most popular styles of jewelry sold throughout the United States. In fact, American Indian jewelry is so popular that men and women all around the world purchase it. Despite the fact that a large number of individuals purchase American Indian jewelry, most individuals do not know how to properly care for their prized possessions.
When it comes to cleaning and caring for American Indian jewelry, it is important to remember that are a wide variety of different jewelry pieces. Jewelry can come in the form of necklaces, bracelets, pendants, earrings, rings, and more. While each piece of jewelry may be unique, they are often cleaned and cared for the same way.
The most important way to care for American Indian jewelry is to keep jewelry pieces clean. There are many individuals who do not care for their jewelry as much as they should. This is often because many feel that it is easy to clean their jewelry if needed. It is true that you can clean all pieces of American Indian jewelry, in one way or another, but constant cleaning may cause damage to a unique item.
To prevent normal wear caused by excess amounts of cleaning, American Indian jewelry owners are encouraged to take precautions to ensure the appearance and value of their jewelry stays the same. The easiest way to do this is to not wear jewelry pieces when doing a number of tasks or activities. These tasks and activities include, but are not limited to, doing dishes, taking a bath, swimming, or housework. Water combined with multiple chemicals could severely damage a fine piece of American Indian jewelry.
Preventative care can also include keeping American Indian jewelry stored in a cool, dry location. Instead of leaving a piece of jewelry out on a dresser or a kitchen counter, jewelry owners are encouraged to at least keep it in a jewelry box. If American Indian jewelry is being stored along side other jewelry pieces, it may be a good idea to place it inside a cloth. A wide number of jewelry stores and traditional retail stores sell small cloth jewelry bags. These bags can be effective at protecting a treasured piece of jewelry.
When cleaning American Indian jewelry, it is important that certain chemicals not be used. Chlorine, salt, and other household cleaning products can severely damage American Indian jewelry. If not properly cleaned, a piece of jewelry could experience discoloration or lose settings. Most American Indian jewelry suppliers and sellers recommend cleaning their jewelry with water and a small amount of soap.
Many individuals make a large mistake when it comes to cleaning their American Indian jewelry. That mistake is using commercial jewelry cleaning products. These commercial products are sold in a wide variety of retail locations. A large number of these jewelry cleaning products contain chemicals that can be harmful to American Indian jewelry. It is important to note that not all jewelry products are harmful to American Indian jewelry, but a large number are. When in doubt, it is advised that an American Indian manufacturer or jeweler be contacted.
Owning a piece of American Indian jewelry is a treasure in itself. If properly cared for and cleaned, a piece of American Indian jewelry can become a family heirloom that can be passed down from generation to generation. In this day and age, family heirlooms are few and far between, making them even more important then ever.
Edward Charkow is the administrator for American Indian History. For more information
please visit: http://www.americanindian-history.com
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