Lab Grown Diamonds Beware of lab grown diamonds! Lab created diamonds, also known as engineered or cultured diamonds, are grown in highly controlled laboratory environments. Subsequently, this is by using advanced technological processes that duplicate the conditions under which diamonds naturally develop when they form in the mantle, beneath the Earth’s crust. These man-made diamonds consist of actual carbon atoms. They are arranged in the characteristic diamond crystal structure. Since they are made of the same material as natural diamonds, they exhibit the same optical and chemical properties. Lab diamonds are grown from the tiny carbon seeds of pre-existing diamonds. Advanced technology – either extreme pressure and heat or a special deposition process – mimics the natural method of diamond formation. Lab grown fancy colored diamonds are formed when small amounts of specific trace elements are present during the growth phase of the diamond, just like in nature. In both [...]

The Process of Diamond Cutting and Manufacturing The manufacturing of diamonds has advanced more since 1980 than in the preceding century. During the past two decades, a quiet revolution has taken place in much of the diamond-manufacturing industry. By adapting computer-imaging techniques, precision measurement systems, lasers, and other modern technological equipment. All of these challenges must be addressed throughout the cutting process. Today, diamond manufacturing involves the following basic steps: Selecting (or sorting) the diamond rough. This includes examining each diamond for its potential color grade, clarity grade, and cutting style. The main sorting categories are size, shape, color, and clarity. Marking the rough for manufacturing. This step is crucial because it represents the major decision on how to manufacture a given piece of diamond rough. Cleaving and/or sawing the rough crystal. Cleaving is the traditional method for dividing a rough diamond into two parts. Bruting the girdle. It is [...]

What is it with Radiant Cut Diamonds? Popular since the 1980s, the Radiant Cut Diamond lives up to its name: it is impressively radiant and brilliant. Henry Grossbard designed the Radiant Cut in 1977 in pursuit of combining the finest elements of the Round Brilliant Cut and the Emerald Cut. The Radiant Cut Diamond owes its brilliance to the 70 facets found its pavilion and crown. The precision of each facet offers immense brilliance and fire. The Radiant Cut’s brilliance is surpassed only by the Round Brilliant Cut. With carefully beveled corners, Radiants have substantial durability against chips and breakage. Therefore, it makes it an excellent choice for those with an active lifestyle. The radiant cut diamond is the first square cut (the second being the princess) to have a complete brilliant-cut facet pattern applied to both the crown and pavilion, creating a vibrant and lively square diamond. First popular [...]

Fluorescence: What your jeweler won't tell you about. Fluorescence is the tendency of a diamond to emit a (soft) glow when exposed to ultraviolet light (UV light). Is Fluorescence in a diamond good or bad? Well its not that simple. Fluorescence can enhance or detract from the beauty of a diamond. For instance, the bluish tint can improve a lower-color diamond by cancelling out the faint yellow. As a result, it will have a colorless appearance. However, in a very high-color diamond, fluorescence may have the opposite effect. In a small number of diamonds, the presence of strong fluorescence creates a hazy, milky, oily, or cloudy appearance. For this reason, very fluorescent diamonds can be valued lower than similar diamonds with fluorescent ratings of "None," "Faint," or "Medium." GIA studies show that for the overwhelming majority of diamonds, the strength of fluorescence has no widely noticeable effect on appearance. In [...]

Will my diamonds appreciate in value? Diamonds are showcase pieces. Celebratory stones. Through the years, diamonds have long held prominence as a status symbol, a sparkling outward reminder to the world of an individual’s wealth and prestige. But diamond values have fluctuated greatly over the years. From the booming economic excess of the 1980s when DeBeers dominated the market and proclaimed “a diamond is forever” to the dismantling of the DeBeers monopoly and the economic downturn of the Great Recession, diamond values and prices are a reflection of numerous market variants. Most notably, though, diamonds and their pricing are a reflection of supply and demand. Like the prices of metals such as gold, silver and platinum, the market for a diamond ebbs and flows in value based on demand for the stones as a commodity. When new diamond mines are discovered, the price naturally falls as supply of diamonds becomes [...]

What are the "4 C's" and What Does it Mean to YOU When Buying a Diamond Today, the 4Cs of Diamond Quality is the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world. Diamond 4Cs meant two very important things: diamond quality could be communicated in a universal language, and diamond customers could now know exactly what they were about to purchase. Color- The diamond color evaluation of most gem-quality diamonds is based on the absence of color. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water. Consequently, a higher value. GIA’s D-to-Z diamond color-grading system. This measures the degree of colorlessness by comparing a stone under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions to masterstones of established color value. Clarity- Evaluating diamond clarity involves determining the number, size, relief, nature, and position of these characteristics. Also as well as how these affect [...]

What is it about Marquise Cut Diamond? A marquise cut diamond features 58 facets and an elliptical shape with pointed ends. The marquise cut's origin dates back to the 18th century when King Louis XV of France (1710-1774) commissioned a jeweler to design a cut shape that resembled the lips of his mistress. She was Jean Antoinette Poisson, the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour.  Over time, the marquise cut developed into the distinctive shape known today. The marquise diamond cut, also known as the football-shaped cut, the boat-shaped cut, the eye-shaped cut, or the navette. This diamond shape is rarely seen in the engagement ring world compared to other less vintage cuts. The name “marquise” refers to a hereditary rank above a count. However, below a duke and comes from the fact that courtiers wore marquise cut diamonds in order to show off their rank. Marquise diamonds are also often referred [...]