Do You Kmow How are Silver Pendants Made?

There's something about the cool white glow of a silver pendant, which has captivated our senses throughout human history. Since ancient times silver has been used to make coins, decorative items, and silver pendant jewelry, from this precious metal. It has maintained its popularity throughout the ages with artisans, due to its pliability as well as because of its strength.

There's a lot that goes into the making silver pendants, from the time that it is brought up from the mine, to the time the silver pendant is sold on the general market. The silver pendant that is gracefully resting around your neck has gone through many transformations. In most cases by the time the silver arrives to the artist, it is ready to be utilized in crafting jewelry according to what method he or she may choose. The artist has a variety of options as to what form of silver he or she would like to work with. Often the artist is able to purchase pre -rolled sheets of silver in a variety of thickness or rolled wire in several different gauges and shapes, as well as silver blocks or scrap pieces of silver, that the artist uses to melt down and then pour into a mold, which is called casting.

Silver pendants can be made using different techniques, and can often represent the artist's unique style. One of the older forms of working with silver, because it is so soft, is to roll the silver out and then a rough shape, which will become the silver pendant, is cut out. Often the cut piece would be then pounded out with a mallet to flatten the silver and to temper it. Silver pieces were also sometimes pounded over some kind form, which would give it shape and definition to the silver pendant. Pounded silver often has a very unique look to it because of the marks left by the mallet, it also ensures that each piece is one of a kind, and no one will have a silver pendant just like yours.

Another method, which is also very old, is called casting. Casting is when pieces of silver are melted down and then poured into a mold and allowed then to harden. The process of making the mold is an art form in itself and is commonly referred to as the lost wax method. The artist takes softened wax and basically sculpts the wax into the desired shape he/she wishes the finished silver pendant to be.

This is then placed into another mold, and plaster of Paris is then used to encase the wax sculpture, leaving an opening at the top. Once the plaster has dried it is then heated up enough to melt the wax within the plaster, leaving the shape of what will be the silver pendant inside.
The artist next melts the silver, until it becomes liquid than pours into the mold. Once the silver has solidified, the mold is then broken open and the silver pendant is then removed once it is cool enough to be handled.

The silver pendant is now ready to be finished with hand tools, such as filing down any burrs along its edges and then buffed and polished to the shining gleam we have come to expect with silver jewelry. Once completed the silver pendant is then ready to be packaged and sold on the market.

A True Classic Jewelry Never Dies

It is an inarguable fact that today's society has happily thrown its former opinions and values to the wind in favor of a more flamboyant lifestyle. This can be seen by the popular manner of clothing, hairstyle, music, activities and, perhaps most noticeably, its popular jewelry. Once kept small and sedate jewelry is now making its own debut in the more popular at Eastern and tribal styles found in Africa and Asia.

There are, however, some classics which remain untouched. The purity and beauty of plain silver jewelry has not lost its appeal in the current craze for the unusual; in fact, with the return to several of the classic styles of dress and mannerisms plain silver jewelry is more popular than ever before.

The trend in plain silver pendants dates back to the dark ages, when men and women wore silver crosses in an attempt to protect themselves from those things that went bump in the night. While the effectiveness of these dubious charms and pendants was never proven, they remain an integral part of the foundation of jewelry design for the rest of history. There are very few individuals today who can say that they have never owned or worn a simple cross necklace at some point in their youth. From the necklace of the cross spraying various other, more complex designs; however, the principle of simplicity and purity remain the same.

Plain silver pendants got their next big boost with the advent of the charm bracelet. A charm bracelet is a bracelet made of many links put together upon which small charms can be hung. These charms range from the classic cross (take note of how the Christian religion continues to influence people's mannerisms and style of dress throughout history) to be more flamboyant red high-heeled shoes and four leaf clovers. These were incredibly popular in the late 20th century, and remained a popular fashion item among children and young teenagers today. Most of these charms are alike in that they are not incredibly complex; however, it is their simplicity that in many ways makes them more appealing. Charm bracelets bring to mind hot summer nights and childish wishes upon a star.

The latest trends in silver jewelry are the Italian charm bracelets. Introduced to Americans by the Italian nation in the 21st century, these innovative versions of an old classic have set the fashion industry on its ear. Italian charm bracelets consist of links which link together overtop of a core frame; however, unlike the traditional charm bracelet there is nothing dangling off these bracelets. They present a clean, smooth line that serves to greatly reduce the risk of the charms being broken or damaged due to normal wear and tear.

Regardless of what the fashion industry considers to be hot and in vogue today, plain silver pendants will never go out of style. These can be found at any local jewelry store or designed by any clever designer.

A Jewel to Own

I know that you are quite busy; but you should have listened to me from the beginning, Sis. Inviting and serving people best to your wedding ceremony is truly important, however, engagement rings are above of all. This is kind of jewel to own!

Now, she is busily looking for the best place to get the engagement rings, meanwhile the ceremony is just a few days away. She and her fiancé are going downtown to visit some best jewelry shops to get vintage jewelry as they don’t want to get just common ones. Since this town is considerably small, I don’t think that they will find the up-to-date jewelry as they expect. Therefore, I am also trying to get online on the internet to find at least some vintage rings that are suitable to their wish.

It is not difficult to find the best jewelry shops online; there are hundreds of sites in this world and many of them are from this State. Apparently, I could get vintage rings just by contacting the sites from my laptop, or at least I could call the place for an order. One online shop looks quite good with plenty of various jewelry; rings, earrings, bracelets, pendants and many more. And each category has more designs to show. I could spend about an hour and more just see their vintage collection. What a huge collection they have! Their service is also pretty easy. I just register myself there, or probably calling them is the best way, and then I point out which items I am interested in and wishing to buy. Afterward, some amount of money is transferred to their account. When they confirm the transfer, the items are already on the way in just a day or two. Gee, excellent!

I find out that I myself get confused with the collection of incredible designs; and I am sure my sister will do too, unless she has already got what she wants from downtown. Well, it is not risky to give her some assistance, anyway.

Ladies Citizen Watches

I wonder what I am going to give for my fiancé’s birthday next week. I have been thinking something more special than the one I gave him for the same occasion last year. I gave him dark grey Tuxedo to match my ivory long dress; they apparently were perfect match when we went to some parties. This time I plan to get a gold mens watch for him. He will surely be glad to receive it. In the meantime, I will also look for one for my own.

Finding watches for us both is not a big problem. Right on the corner of this block, there is a new watch store with various models and types from internationally famous watch maker. I happened to peer inside and the collection seems to be deliberate.
This afternoon, I go there again to check whether the desired watches are available. For my surprise, almost all of designs coming from famous makers are in gold! Wow! On my nearest left, I see a gold watches collection of Citizen. Seeing some ladies citizen watches, I could hardly hold myself to touch it; they are so excellent! I am sure I will take one of them. But then, which are the men citizen watches? I don’t see them nearby. Oh yes, of course. I am in the ladies section, and the men section is supposed to have the matching watch to any of the lady’s. Ok, I guess I must decide one of the ladies watches here, and then I will move up to the men section to get its partner.

Eternity Ring

Now, selecting this very simple but the most important thing for my wedding has caused me in a real tremble. Yes, I am supposed to be; wedding rings are the eternity symbol for the togetherness of married couple. I don’t want to carelessly choose the ring that will engage me and my fiancé as a husband and a wife through a tremendously sacred pledge and solemn worship. This is the moment most young couples are waiting for. This is the time when we both will live together in one unity, perception and idea, in sharing all goodness and badness, happiness and sorrow as well as miracles and disasters. Therefore, we both will surely wear these eternity rings on our right sweet fingers for good.

Once in a while I am thinking of some sorts of bands. This will be perfect; a band with diamond all around the circle. These eternity bands will look more elegant and awesome than common wedding rings. But I really have no idea if my fiancé will agree with this thought. However, in the meantime, we are both still figuring out what rings will be selected and apparently we both must discuss and share any opinions and thoughts of ours. And, as I said, it is not a simple thing to decide. But I did not realize if he would also be in this confusion, just like I am. To tell the truth, determining kind of wedding ring has really driven us both confused.

Perhaps some suggestion and ideas from friends or relatives will also be a great assistance. I remember my mother once told me that eternity ring would bring eternal love and it is supposed to be the most special one to get. Recalling this, I return to my wish to get diamond bands. I certainly have to tell my fiancé my idea. I will accept what he will respond to this; at least I have something to tell him and to guide us both to having the most perfect choice.

Wonderful Napoleon Diamond Necklace

One of the most spectacular all Diamond abatamen from fancy goods on Smithsonian Insitution is Napoleon necklace. Thought up to have originally has been had by Excitement Catherine from Russia, this was presented by Caesar Napoleon from France to its second wife, Marie's Louise from Austria on natal from their son on 1811. Silver setting and gold contains172's Diamond necklace weighs 275 quality 28 oval cuts and Diamond pillows, swing 19 briolette cut ovals and pear-shaped Diamonds and accented by little, round Diamond and Diamond setting motif on one Silver and gold setting. Diamond is breached "mine am old" style, foreword goes to cut modern Brilliant, and have one high degree fire (flash is with color as stone as enters light), but less brilliance in conection with light refraction reducing via perfects stone.

Necklace that of one weight estimated by sum Gem from 275 qualities, and Diamonds largest single on it weigh approximately 10 qualities. While is Marie's Louise dies on 1847, necklace is given to her sister-in-law, Archduchess Sophie from Austria, who is kept away two stones to shorten necklaces. Earring made by the two removed stone, where is unknown one.

On 1872, granted necklace goes to Archduchess's son, Karl Ludwig's prince from Austria. On 1948, Its grandson prince Ludwig, Franz's Joseph prince from Liechtenstein, sold by necklace to one French's collector who then its sold to Trouble Winston on 1960. Marjorie Merriweather Places to get necklace from Winston and to be donated its to Smithsonian's Institution on 1962.

This is difficult to price each as it at today's market. Anyway, on 1993, Christie's auction house at sold other necklace that Napoleon Geneva has given goes to Marie's Louise that is arranged from ruby and Diamond. Sold this necklace for $13 million.

Jewelry, Woman’s best friend

Throughout this year, I really have no chance for getting some jewelry shop. Well, it is not necessary, but I don’t think girls like me will stand without jewelry. My mom said that jewelry is women’s best friend. It is quite right. I can’t feel perfect without my earrings and necklace; it is ok when my bracelet was lost, but not my rings! Those rings were present -- one from my parents before I started going to college here and the other was from my close friends on my birthday last year. I wonder how I could be so careless that I did not realize my rings disappeared. I love most the ring from my parents; it is a handcrafted jewelry I have ever had. Oh My.

This afternoon, I went to the city park for a sport club community outdoor activity. By the time I was involving myself on the activity, I glanced at a new jewelry shop on the corner of the block across the street from the park. The shop must just open because last month the place was still empty for rent. I will manage my time to give a visit to the shop after this.

The shop is not particularly big, but it is well guarded with iron bars all over the windows and the door is so heavy because it is made of pure metal or something. Inside is full of jewelry – in many colors and kinds. Wow! I like this place. A shop keeper patiently and nicely greets me and offers me any assistance. I said that I am still looking around. I see things here and there and I find all items sold here are so interesting. There are pure jewelries at a specific counters and some excellent handmade jewelry displayed beautifully on a silky bar. Ooh, I can’t stand seeing them. I am so stuck on a simple chrome gold ring with three diamonds on the surface. As a matter of fact, the price is quite reasonable; unfortunately, I don’t take enough money along with me. I promise, I will be back here in few days to get the ring. Please don’t sell it to other people, I said to the shop keeper. She just smiled.

Insuring Your Diamonds

Insure one few Diamond take thoughts, planning, and seeing. Diamond insurance don't like to buy car insurance. This is a long cry. Depend on state that you lives in, there is basically three different type that policy will cover Diamond, and all that cover insurance policy policies considered Diamond type Go Out To Sea.

The first type from insurance policy to Diamond is one Cash Realing To Price policy. If loss Diamond or damages beyond repair, insurance company will replace Diamond at today's market value, no matter how much you are paid for Diamond to be begun by. This type from insurance policy to real Diamond is not common it.

Commonest type from insurance to Diamond is insurance Assess substitution. Firm Theinsurance will only pay up to go to one total regulars to replace forfeit Diamond or damages beyond repair. This doesn't mean that they will pay total it – it means that they will pay up to foot up it. In most cases, Diamond can be replaced on one lower cost.

Drd type from range is on the market for Diamond was adjusted To Assess. This is sometimes to be called ‘ At's worth. ’ This type from range is very rare. In the event that forfeit Diamond or damages beyond repair, insurance company just pays you amount that you and corporate one OK. This is best type from insurance to have, but it rarely is on the market. If you can't get Point range are agreed, Cash realing To Price range should be your next option.

Rates you will be determined by point from Diamond, type from range that you elective, and area that you lives in. If you live in one area with a high crime rate, can you expect to wage again for you Diamond insurance coverage. This is important to remember that insurance agent doesn't be qualified jeweler, and jeweler is not qualified by insurance agent. This is best to get one certificate for you Diamond, and to provide insurance company with one that certificate copy. This leaves insurance company insufficiently room for argument over assesses reality from Diamond.

Don't rely on range separating to cover you Diamond. For example, if you Diamond is stolen from you home page, this maybe covered on your lady of the house insurance policy – but Diamond may won't ever are in you home page, and once it leave you home page, there is no range.

How Diamonds Are Mined ?

Rarely we think up how Diamond that our vesture visit to us. Natural Diamond, as opposed as to synthetic Diamond or fake Diamond, mined from earth. There is now two mining Diamond tricks: Mining pipes and Alluvial Mining.

While pipe mining is used, Diamond is extracted from earth via piping volcanic. This not piping man made. This is piping natural on ground. Shin is placed into ground close to pipes, and tunnel is driven into deepest part from pipe. Diamond doesn't be sorted out on mine. Instead of, Aughts huge Rock be consumed with Diamond be published from mine and to be angled to one factory screen for separation.

Alluvial mining methods is done in trough and on Beach. Walls is built to bate water and sand on bank or Beach moved by one bulldozer until level from that earth Diamond can be found at is reached. Again, Diamond doesn't be sorted here. Instead of, meaty sand Diamond is bulldozed into truck, and takings to screen plant wide.

The Clarity of Diamonds

Diamond clarity is one the 4Cs of diamond qualities. It refers to any flaws, or inclusions in the diamond, and how visible or detectable they are. Inclusions can be foreign substances, or minute cracks or flaws. It also refers to the appearance of any surface flaws or scratches. As with the color grading scales, clarity also has a grading scale, with FL used to denote a flawless diamond. What FL means is that there are no flaws or inclusions that can be seen when the stone is examined under 10X magnification, the standard for examining for flaws.

Other clarity designations are:

IF stands for internally flawless. This means there are no internal flaws or inclusions, although there may be small surface flaws.

VVS1 and VVS2 stand for Very Very Slight inclusions that are difficult to see under magnification. VS1 and VS2 indicate Very Slight inclusions that can be seen under magnification but are invisible to the naked eye.

SI1 and SI2 denote Slight Inclusions that may or may not be visible to the naked eye.

I1, I2 and I3 are "imperfect", with inclusions clearly visible to the naked eye. For I3, the inclusions impact the brilliance of the diamond and are large and obvious.

In most cases, there is nothing that can be done about flaws or inclusions, although in recent years lasers have been used to enhance some inclusions or fractures in diamonds by filling them in, much the way small dings in a windshield are filled in.

Certainly the most highly valued diamonds are those that are flawless – FL - or internally flawless – IF. But excellent values can be obtained at the VVS and VS grades, as these are flaws not visible to the naked eye, but only to an experienced grader under magnification.

How to Clean your Diamonds

Via our knockabout movement our Diamond get smear and earth. Even when we don't use they, they gather dust. Lotion, soap, our natural skin oil, can cause film and filth on Diamond and blocks their brilliance.

Want to keep that Brilliance and shine? Diamond requires purge so that maximum amount from light gets to bias fiery brilliance. Remember that all this take is a few minutes and a little care to keep that Diamond as fiery as you day first saw out this.

You can use one soft Brush small as one stick bent the brows or Brush and soap lip and water to clean slate you fancy goods. Just makes one bowl from warming water spume with one soft detergent and places you abatamen on mixture. Then brushes Diamond with soft bristle from their temporary Brush is in suds. You will need to ensure what do you flush their Clear from afters suds clear them. You can use one small kitchen filter as one tea filter to contain them while flush under warm water. Use one lint undress to be free, or one dress fancy goods polish for its dry pat.

If you Diamond is in requirement from one stronger purge, you may want to soak their to 30 minutes on one solution from half and half water and ammonia. Once that they have soaked for 30 minutes, keep away their and gently accessoiles Brush with one small Brush. Then replaces abatamen go to solution and swish them vicinity on mixed before keep away to flush and dry pat.

If you find you self also busy to become mixture and ammonia soap, there are many department store sell liquid fancy goods cleaner. Best of all is box, with you everything requires included. You need to read tag to determine rights aught the one you Diamond and other fancy goods. Read fledged aim and following all precaution.

And if you find alone again “ high tech type ”, even on Diamonds purging routine you, there are several ultrasonic cleanser on market. Machine purpose high frequency this as to establish one purging power. All machine is not same, so goes ahead instruction reading before use.

Only you get to choose rights purge trick you. But, this is important to keep you clear fancy goods to keep it brilliant and sparkling. Between purge, try not to touch you clear Diamond with your Finger or handle you fancy goods by its edge. This will help to pet shine and its brilliance for longer period.

Gemstones are mineral crystals

What specifically are gems and gemstones? We know some of the most common ones – emeralds, rubies, sapphires and diamonds. But what exactly are they, how are they made and why we do we prize them so highly?

The International Gem Society defines a gem as “a mineral that has been chosen for its beauty and durability, then cut and polished for human adornment.”

Most gems are minerals. Others, like pearls or amber, are created from living organisms. Usually gems are of a color that mirrors other natural elements we consider beautiful or valuable. Emeralds mirror the lush green of plant life, sapphires are the color of the sky and rubies are a rich blood-red. There are variations in color in all of these gems, of course, and in diamonds, but those are the colors most normally associated with them. Diamonds can come in colors as well, with pink and canary diamonds being highly prized variants.

Most gems are hard and durable, although pearls can be easily damaged, as can opals and moonstones. Usually a gemstone has to be durable enough to wear as adornment, but others, while too soft to wear, are valued by collectors. Pearls can eventually disintegrate, even if all you do is wipe dust off them. And if you spray hairspray or perfume on them, this can also damage your pearls.

Opals are highly prized for their beauty and fire and make exquisite jewelry, but are extraordinarily susceptible to damage. They can shatter easily if dropped. And there’s a story of a woman who wore an opal brooch to a holiday party. When she left the warmth of the party to leave and the brooch experienced the sudden drop in temperature, it shattered, just like a glass that’s been heated and then cooled too quickly.

The beauty of Blue Heart Diamond

There is a spectacular diamond in the Smithsonian Collection called the Blue Heart Diamond. Fans of the movie Titanic might think the “Heart of the Ocean Diamond” was based on this stone, and it may have been! However, this diamond hasn’t been cast in the ocean, but is safe and sound at the Smithsonian!

It has also been called the Eugenie Blue Diamond, although it’s uncertain that the Empress Eugenie ever owned this particular stone. It was cut in Paris between 1909 and 1910, but the stone’s origin – Africa or India – is unclear.

It is an enormous heart-shaped, blue diamond weighing 30.82 carats. Its current setting is in a platinum ring, surrounded by white diamonds. It changed hands among famous jewelers – such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels - and owners until it was bought by Harry Winston in 1959 who mounted the diamond in its current ring setting. Winston sold the ring to Marjorie Merriweather Post. Mrs. Post donated the ring to the Smithsonian and it remains there with other famous blue diamonds, including the Hope Diamond and the Heart of Eternity Diamond.

These famous blue diamonds have recently gone through a grading and examination process, to classify their colors and to determine the source of the color. The Hope Diamond is classified as Fancy Deep Grayish-Blue. The Heart of Eternity has been classified as a Fancy Vivid Blue. The Blue Heart Diamond has not yet been classified, but some experts categorize it as either Fancy Vivid Blue or Fancy Deep Blue. Blue diamonds are of particular interest to scientists not only because of the color and the impurities that create it, but because blue diamonds also have an electric conductive property that makes them unique among clear and other colored diamonds.

Twinkle ring for a lady

Engagement is always one of the most unforgettable moments which are always being waited for by both men and women. However, this solemn moment is not perfect without the presence of a pair of engagement rings. Yes, it is apparently a must.

Choices of rings for this event are more various than the ones for wedding; and engagement rings are more prestigious to show to friends and relatives. Different from wedding ring, the materials of the rings for engagement are also not only one kind; the materials could be bronze, silver or platinum, dependent on the taste.

A trusted online shop of platinum engagement ring, Tacori which has been in presence for engagement ring service since 1910, is the best choice to recommend. Being trusted for almost one century, tacori has always been a leader of rings and other accessory production because of the truly dedication and hard work of workmanship. With high quality workmanship, every single ring is designed and scratched professionally and tenderly to come to be an enormous ring a customer has ever wished to have. Beautiful and unique shapes and models are always regenerated and updated so tacori rings are never old fashioned. Tacori rings are widely considered as the most trendy and stylish, along with the flow of modernization.

Made of the best selected platinum, most of Tacori engagement rings always appear at the top position in jewelry selling. Not many jewelry shops, old and new, could easily compare the prestigious products from Tacori. And never been better has tacori in variety of pricing; from low to high prices, tacori continuously services customers with its best products. Rings from tacori never fade of their shines and twinkles.

Royalty diamonds rumor

When did diamonds first become recognized as precious stones and used for jewelry? The earliest reference to them has been found in a Sanskrit document dated around 300 BCE. They were associated with the gods and were used to decorate religious icons and statues. In India, only kings, the highest caste, were allowed to own them.

Although diamonds were traded east and west of India, they were still prized in their natural crystal state, or polished to increase the shine and luster of them. The first guild of diamond cutters was established in 1375, and it was then that the practice of cutting the stones and faceting them was developed.

From the earliest times, diamonds were the province of kings and queens. In fact, in the 13th century, Louis IX of France decreed that only royalty could own diamonds, a dictate which faded away about 100 years later. By the late 15th century, they were used as wedding rings.

The largest diamond ever found was a 3106-carat diamond discovered in 1905 in a mine owned by Thomas Cullinan, for whom the stone was made. It was cut into smaller stones, the largest being made into the 530-carat Great Star of Africa diamond, cut by the Asscher Brothers, a famous diamond firm to this day. It’s also called the Cullinan I diamond, and is set in the Scepter of the Cross of the United Kingdom. A smaller stone cut from the Cullinan diamond is called the Lesser Star of Africa. It weighs 317 carats and is part of the Imperial State Crown. Both gems can be seen as part of the British Crown Jewels which are displayed in the Tower of London. The rest of the Cullinan diamond was cut into 11 smaller-weight stones and a number of fragments.

While the Cullinan diamond is the largest diamond ever found, there is a rumor that the man who discovered the diamond actually broke off part of the diamond before presenting it to the mine’s owner. This diamond, if the rumor is true, would have been 5,000 carats!

Diamond Certificates

A diamond certificate is also known as a Diamond Grading Report. This report comes from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and you should require this report when you are purchasing a diamond.

With a diamond certificate, you can verify the color, cut, carat, weight, and clarity of the diamond. You don’t have to worry about a diamond dealer telling you anything less than the truth, because the certificate comes from the GIA – not the dealer. You may be required to pay for the certificate, but the cost is usually low, and in many cases, it will help you negotiate a better price on the diamond – or keep you from purchasing a lower quality diamond altogether.

If you buy a high quality diamond, and then later decide to sell the diamond, you will need to have the certificate, or you will have a hard time selling it to someone else. Furthermore, you can use the Diamond Grading Report to look up the wholesale value of the diamond in question. Use the guide that is used by the diamond cutting industry.

With the Certificate, or Diamond Grading Report, there won’t be any doubts when you are trying to purchase a diamond. You can easily find out what the diamond is worth. This will prevent you from overpaying, and it can prevent a seller from under-charging as well.

A copy of the Diamond Grading Report should be given to your insurance company as well, when you insure the diamond. This provides absolute, unquestionable proof of the value of the diamond should it be stolen in the future. Insurance companies cannot argue with the report.

Avoid diamond dealers who seem reluctant to provide a certificate! Also avoid sellers who tell you that a certificate diamond will cost you more – the only additional cost should be the cost of the certificate, which is low. If the dealer doesn’t want to provide a certificate, then you don’t want to do business with that dealer.

Don’t accept certificates from Gemological Laboratories other than GIA. There are many fly-by-night Gemological labs these days, but in the end, GIA has been established as the most respectable and trustworthy – not to mention oldest – of the lot. So avoid dealers who don’t want to use GIA for certification purposes as well.

Don’t buy an expensive diamond without paying the extra cost of the certificate. If a dealer tries to convince you to make the purchase without the certificate, or if they want to use a company other than GIA, you can be sure that the dealer has probably greatly inflated the price of the diamond – they have something that they are hiding from you.

Most Common Diamond Scams

When it comes to diamonds, there are numerous scams to avoid. Most scams are minor, but there are some major ones that come up from time to time concerning the buying and selling of diamonds. Scams occur simply because most people who buy diamonds – for whatever reasons – don’t know that much about diamonds. Therefore, they are easily fooled.

Jewelry stores like to show their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask to see the diamond in a different, darker type of lighting as well. Jewelry also stores often run ‘fluorescence’ scams to varying degrees. Referring to a diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very unique and special, but in fact, this type of diamond is of lesser quality – even though the jeweler will try to make you think you are getting something special.

A common scam that most jewelry stores participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam. The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a ring, only states the total carat weight of all diamonds in the piece, instead of listing the total weights separately for each diamond. This leads consumers to believe that the main diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it is. Ask what the total carat weight of the center stone is. Also beware of fractions. Jewelry stores are allowed to round off diamond weights. This means that if the jeweler tells you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is probably between ½ and ¾ carat – but closer to ¾.

Some truly unscrupulous jewelers target those who want appraisals on diamonds that were given to them as gifts or that were purchased elsewhere. They will try to tell you that the diamond is worthless, or worth less than it actually is worth – and offer to take it off your hands or trade it for a much better diamond, along with the cash to make up the difference. This is called low balling. Get a second, third, and even a forth opinion before taking any action.

Jewelry stores often run ‘fluorescence’ scams to varying degrees. Referring to a diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very unique and special, but in fact, this type of diamond is of lesser quality – even though the jeweler will try to make you think you are getting something special. Jewelry stores also like to show their diamonds in bright lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask to see the diamond in a different, darker type of lighting as well.

Another common dirty trick is to switch the diamond you have chosen and paid for with one of lesser quality and value when you leave it to be set in a piece of jewelry, or leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only way to avoid this is to do business with one trustworthy jeweler. Avoid jewelers that you have not done business with in the past.

There are many more scams that jewelry stores commonly pull on unsuspecting consumers. Just use your best judgment, and purchase your diamonds with the utmost care and consideration.

Common and uncommon gemstones

Gemstones quite literally can take our breath away when we see them. Who hasn’t seen a beautiful diamond or sapphire ring and exclaimed over it? Is it only their beauty that makes them so valuable? Why else are they valuable to us?

Most gemstones are minerals that occur naturally in the earth. The most common is quartz, which is made of silicon and oxygen, two of the most common chemicals or substances on the planet. Even though most people don’t find such crystals unless specifically looking for it, it’s still relatively common in the gem world.

One quality that determines the value of a gem is how rare it is. A diamond, believe it or not, is actually a more common gemstone. However, the sales and distribution of diamonds are tightly controlled, which keeps the demand for diamonds of any characteristic in high value. Certainly perfect, flawless diamonds are truly rare, but diamonds themselves aren’t particularly rare.

Other gemstones are much rarer, such as sapphires and rubies, which are part of the beryl family of minerals. Rubies are rarer than sapphires and top quality colors in both are extremely rare.

A mineral called benitoite is found only in the San Benito valley in California, where only a few hundred carats of it are found each year. It is the state gem of California and is a hexagonal-shaped crystal. It can be cut and polished to produce sapphire-colored gemstone jewelry.

Some gems are even rarer than bentitoite. They’re so rare, that only three or four of them exist in the world. And the location where the gemstone was found can make a big difference as well. While peridot is a fairly common gem, there were actually several carats of peridot discovered in a meteorite, making that one of the rarest gems ever.

The Difference Between Diamond Necklaces and Diamond Pendants

It may be easy to get confused as to what diamond necklaces are and how they differ from diamond pendants. But actually the difference is quite simple – a jewelry necklace is just any chain that was manufactured out of precious metals; or a chain of precious gems that have been attached to one another to form a chain. A pendant, on the other hand, is a small piece of jewelry that hangs from a chain. Strictly speaking, a pendant is one type of necklace so necklaces may come in other forms of jewelry that do not have pendants.

Diamond pendants, being made up of a small piece of jewelry hanging from a metal chain, will generally have less diamonds embedded into each pendant compared to diamond necklaces that may have diamonds linked to each other all throughout the length of the chain. Some people may prefer to wear diamond pendants because the beauty of the few diamonds or one diamond set into the pendant may be prettier or more appealing to see, than a host of diamonds linked to each other in a diamond necklace. But other people may like their jewelry to be flashier so they choose diamond pendants because these can show off more diamonds to whoever is watching.

Diamond necklaces may be of three types of length – you can buy the choker length, the princess length, or the opera length. Choker length diamond necklaces are those that surround the neck slightly above your collarbones. Princess length diamond necklaces are those that will hang lower than your collarbones or maybe drape just over the collarbones. (Princess length diamond necklaces are usually the most popular type of diamond necklaces bought by consumers.) The last type, the opera length diamond necklaces, are definitely more dramatic than the first two types because opera length diamond necklaces may hang over your dress front or blouse front – and so are more obvious to see. The jeweler that sells diamond necklaces to you may also have diamond necklaces that are variations of these three main types.

Who usually buys diamond necklaces? It is more accepted nowadays for women to use diamond necklaces, but that is not a hard and fast rule actually. There are really men too who like to wear diamond necklaces, especially diamond pendants, to accentuate their personal style of dressing up. You may find men who wear a diamond stud in one ear and a diamond pendant on a chain around his neck. When used the right way, men can really wear diamond necklaces and look good in the process. However, in more traditional and conservative work environments, men may not be comfortable wearing diamond necklaces or any type of diamond jewelry (aside from maybe a designer watch or diamond bracelet) because they may be mistaken for effeminate men. But in more laid-back work environments, wearing jewelry such as diamond necklaces may have become quite acceptable for men as well as for women in these modern times. In such a case, your diamond necklaces can be safely worn without fear of negative consequences happening to you in the end.

Buying Certified Diamonds

Nothing beats seeing a diamond in person to determine the true quality visibly. Diamond appreciation is a very personal thing and different people will prefer different things about different diamonds. At the end of the day all the numbers, certificates and photos in the world mean nothing if you do not like the look of the diamond and it does not sparkle displaying excellent Brilliance, Fire and Scintillation.

Many jewellers and diamond dealers will use terms like Hearts and Arrows, Ideal, Excellent, Russian Cut, Belgium Cut, Fine Make and others to describe their diamonds, with the intention of portraying them as 'better' than others. Be wary of accepting these terms as is. They are especially dangerous when assigned to diamonds by the jeweler or diamond dealer themselves without third-party independent support such as a diamond certificate or diamond grading report.

It is important to remain aware of the facts and differences with certification and the process, as well as the different grading standards each diamond grading laboratory offers. While it might be possible to find certified diamonds with the same grade stated on a certificate that appears notably cheaper. As a potential diamond buyer you must be aware that there is no single set of parameters diamond laboratories grade to and every laboratory has a different set of standards. There are no huge bargains within the diamond industry so remember, if a certified diamond sounds too good to be true, it probably is and there usually is a reason.

Not all diamond grading laboratories are as well respected or as stringent in their grading as each other. Diamond grading laboratories should always be independent of any diamond retailers or wholesalers, to avoid any conflict of interests or bias. Diamond Certificates are only of value when they are issued by an independent accredited diamond grading laboratory. Always make certain to identify the source of the certificate or diamond grading report. If you have not heard of the laboratory, it could very well be associated in some way with the store, jeweler or diamond wholesaler itself, and so have a vested interest in aiding the sale.

We understand that when searching for the right diamond the task can at times be daunting and very confusing. Just comparing diamonds on a diamond price match policy alone is not nearly good enough you have to visibly compare the diamonds next to each other to truly see which diamond is the better quality diamond.