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Diamonds Are Forever - Tips on Buying that Perfect
Diamond Engagement Ring
By Sam and Tami Serio
Morning Light
Jewelry
Diamond jewelry: diamond engagement rings, diamond earrings, diamond
pendants and diamond bracelets are some of the most sought after gemstone
creations. Your eyes tell you how beautiful a piece of diamond jewelry is,
but how do you know you are getting your money's worth?
A little knowledge can go a long way to help you purchase a beautiful
piece of diamond jewelry at a fair price.
Diamond Jewelry 101
A diamond's value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and
carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However,
scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of "slightly included" may
represent a different grade on one grading system versus another,
depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a
particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond
you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it
has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under
10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond
weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the
weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate
to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a
diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe
diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of
weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between
.47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a
carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not
exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight
tolerance being used.
Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways
as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the
diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of
treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them
with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers
should tell you if the diamond you're considering has been
fracture-filled.
Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve
the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or spots. A laser
beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel
made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and
a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.
While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable
untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That's because an untreated
stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers
should tell you whether the diamond you're considering has been
laser-drilled.
Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in
appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory-created gemstones,
such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be
adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic
zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to
distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones.
When shopping for diamond jewelry online, apply these tips.
1. Shop with companies you know or do some homework before buying to make
sure a company is legitimate before doing business with it.
2. Take advantage of information and referrals from an Internet company
you have come to trust.
3. Get the details about the product, as well as the merchant's refund and
return policies, before you buy.
4. Look for an address to write to or a phone number to call if you have a
question, a problem or need help.
The Authors
of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved
with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially
invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of
information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together
they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their
profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.
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