DIAMOND JEWELRY

Natural mined diamonds have been coming under a lot of heat recently. Award-winning journalist Cecil Adams sums it up the best in a recent article: “diamonds are a scam, pure and simple.” Most people in the new millennium understand that between the DeBeers diamond cartel, the issue of child labor in Third World diamond processing operations, and “blood diamonds” used to finance oppression and genocide in Third World African countries, not to mention your snooty and pretentious local jeweler, diamonds are just not worth the hassle, guilt, and let’s not forget thousands and thousands of questionably spent dollars.

Lately, new synthetic diamonds have come on the market that have all of the look, appeal, and glittering beauty of natural diamonds, but without the baggage, and at a fraction of the cost.

Since moissanite burst upon the scene in the late 90s, it has created quite a stir. Moissanite is gem-quality silicon carbide. The production of moissanite is a proprietary process and it is available only from C3 Inc, a division of Cree Research.

When moissanite was first introduced to the market it created a great deal of publicity. This was due to the fact that moissanite would often fool a jeweler into thinking it was a natural diamond. Both the Nova and 20/20 TV news shows did segments featuring hidden cameras showing jewelers fooled and embarrassed by moissanite. What was actually happening though was not quite so simple.

Jewelers generally rely on something called a “thermal-probe” to detect a fake diamond. Thermal probes work well with cubic zirconia, for instance. Moissanite, however, has a thermal conductivity that is very close to diamond. They were able to fool the older thermal probes. The fact of the matter is though; moissanite really just does not look that much like diamond. The two substances have radically different optical properties. These differences are clearly visible to the naked eye. It was obvious in both the Nova and 20/20 segments that the jewelers were clearly confused. They kept looking at the stone and then testing at and saying things like, “Well, I guess it must be real.” What they were really saying is “Well, I guess it must be real, but it sure is a weird looking diamond!”

Problems with Moissanite as a Diamond Stimulant

Anisotropy

Unlike natural diamonds, or some of the better quality synthetic diamonds like those available from Diamond Nexus Labs, (http://www.diamondnexuslabs.com) moissanite stones have an optical quality known as “hexagonal polytypic.” What this means is that moissanite is doubly-refractive. And because of this they create a strong visual effect known as “birefringence.” This is visually seen as a doubling of the stone’s back facets that creates a marked “drunk-vision” effect.

Dispersion

Moissanite has a dispersive power nearly 2.5 times greater than that of diamond. This creates what’s known as the “disco-ball” effect. Some think that this excess fire is beautiful; others think it cheap and fake looking.

Color

It is impossible to produce a pure white moissanite. The stones have a quality known as “fluorescence” that causes them to appear slightly green or gray. This effect is much greater under natural light. In the jewelry store a moissanite dealer will always show the stones under a pink tinged light, as this tends to cancel out the fluorescence. Many people say they loved their moissanite ring until they got it into the sunlight.

Cost

Due to its relatively extensive manufacturing process and the fact that it is only available from one source, moissanite tends to be quite expensive (though still cheap when compared to diamonds) good quality moissanite stones run around $520 per caret.

Better Synthetic Diamond Alternatives

In the last two years there have been almost miraculous breakthroughs in the science of synthetic diamond creation. There are several new processes that create gemstones that are virtually indistinguishable from natural diamonds. One of the best I have found are the gemstones available from www.DiamondNexusLabs.com. I recently did independent research for several synthetic diamond companies and found their products to be among the best.

Diamond Nexus gemstones cut glass, they have brilliance, dispersion and radiance factors that are very close to mined diamond, and best of all, as they are new in the US market, they are priced at an incredible $79 per caret. This is a bargain that probably will not last.

Conclusion

Moissanite stones are beautiful in their own right. They offer great sparkle and flash. However, if you truly are trying to purchase a gemstone that comes as close as possible to the properties of a natural diamond moissanite is not the best choice.

When Charles, Prince of Wales decided to seek the hand of Lady Diana, diamond was not even in the running. Rumor has it that a call went out for a perfect ruby above six carats to consummate the royal betrothal. So rare is the pigeon blood stone that a suitable candidate could not be found. Instead the Prince made due with an eighteen carat sapphire reportedly from Sri Lanka.

Though the British royal family is not known as tight, the royals are justly admired for their sophistication, knowledge of gemstones and their desire squeeze full value from every, er, pound. Yet historically diamond is not been the gem of choice; aside from Diana, Princess Anne received a sapphire and Andrew gave Fergie a ruby. Do their Royal Highnesses know something we don’t?

Could it be the hype? Diamonds are touted as the “traditional” engagement stone but, whose tradition? The fact is that it all began in 1939 when Harry Openheimer the president of the De Beers cartel visited New York to meet with Gerold M. Lauck the president of N.W. Ayer, a leading advertising agency.

The value of diamond sales had declined 50% by the end of World War I and Openheimer was determined to do something about it, Lauck’s suggestion; manufacture a tradition. So successful was the campaign that in 1967 De Beers hired J. Walter Thompson to create a similar “tradition” in Japan, a country with absolutely no history of diamond giving. As a result, today over 90% of all Japanese women receive a diamond engagement ring.

Perhaps it’s the fact that diamond, the gem that is promoted as the ultimate symbol of beauty and rarity is not really rare at all. The fact is that world production has risen in a steady curve since 1900. Do you know a woman over the age of thirty who does not own at least one diamond?

With a world production of diamonds topping a hundred million carats a year, do you feel like your special relationship requires a more unique symbol? What are the options? Well beauty is important but durability is as well. That ring that she slips on her finger worn daily will take more abuse for more years than Daffy Duck ever gave Elmer Fudd. Luckily gemstones are one of the hardest and most durable objects on earth.

Sapphire and ruby, the royal gems of choice, are excellent candidates. They are really brother and sister, both members of the gem family corundum. Hardness and toughness are the two measures of durability. Diamond is the harder but ruby and sapphire are tougher and at 9 on the Mohs scale, ruby and sapphire are the second hardest things on earth. In fact, only another sapphire/ruby or diamond will scratch either. There are also expanded color choices: ruby is red but sapphire occurs in virtually every other color, besides, blue you may choose, pink, purple or yellow.

Looking for something really exotic (and less expensive as well? Consider spinel! In elder times red spinel was often confused with ruby, the Black Prince’s Ruby that sits in the English Crown just below the Koh-i-noor diamond is actually a spinel. Spinel comes in lovely shades of pink and is the third hardest gem.

Other options? make sure your choice is over 7 on the mohs scale of hardness: Jade and tourmaline are good possibilities. Avoid amethyst, citrine, opal, tanzanite and the softer garnets. Hard garnets like tsavorite (green garnet) and spessartite (pure orange garnet) at 7.25 are worth consideration. One exception: pearl, gem of Venus, the original symbol of love: It’s a bit soft but makes it up by being tough as nails. Avoid Japanese Akoya (thin skinned) but Tahitian Black; South sea White and Chinese Freshwater will serve admirably.

Still sold on diamond but want something colorful? Believe it or not diamond comes in every color and colored diamonds are truly rare. On big problem, hold on to your wallet: yellow and brown diamonds are affordable but blues, greens; orange, pink and red diamonds are exceptionally rare and bring breathtaking prices.

There are quite a few cuts of diamonds to select from. The cut basically relates to the shape that the diamond is cut into, except if you are in the diamond or jewelry field, simply this shape has a great affect on much the diamond glitters.

The most favorite cuts are pear, heart, marquise, oval, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an affect on the extent the diamond sparkles, but the true cutting itself, when the diamond cutter really cuts the diamond into a specific shape, also counts a great deal. If the diamond is badly cut, it will suffer its sparkle.

In the diamond business the cut of a diamond does not relate to its shape at all. On the contrary, this is a reference point to the stone’s brilliance, depth, width, durability, clarity, and other facets of the diamond. General cutting difficulties are a missing or off center culet, not properly aligned, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, crackings, or broken culets.

If looking for a diamond, you should choose the shape that you care for the best, but then consider several assorted diamonds of that shape to locate the one with the best cut, the diamond that sparkles best, in all kinds of lighting.

Diamonds Are Cut How

In their most natural configuration, diamonds are, well, quite unattractive. They have no splendor or radiance,and in fact, they look like nothing but broken glass. A diamond has to be cut, and then made shiny and smooth before it really becomes a thing of beauty.

Diamonds are cut with saws, into round forms. From the rounded shape, other shapes perhaps will be cut, such as heart shapes, but the shape is less significant than the caliber of the cutting that is being performed. When the diamond is badly cut, it will lose light, and it will not glitter and shine very well. Every surface of the diamond must be cautiously cut into the geometrical shapes that permit the diamond to sparkle and glow, then the whole diamond is cut into a particular shape, like an emerald cut or a princess cut diamond.

As soon as the cut is finished, the diamond is put into a dop, which looks like a cup with another diamond, only a diamond is strong enough to polish the edges of another diamond. As soon as the diamond has been cut and shaped, and had the edges polished in the dop, it is smoothed on a scaif or a diamond polishing wheel.

It seems nearly impossible to watch TV or open a newspaper without seeing something about man-made diamonds. For hundreds of years science has tried to create a perfect synthetic diamond. Finally, 21st-century technology has made that prospect a reality.

There are many reasons to purchase synthetic diamonds instead of the mined variety. The prices charged for mined diamonds are, in the very best verbiage, an illusion. To put it more bluntly, Cecil Adams, in his award-winning newspaper column "The Straight Dope" says: "Diamonds are a con, pure and simple." Diamond prices are largely controlled by the DeBeers diamond cartel, and they are not a fair reflection of diamond scarcity. Additionally, studies show that one out of three diamonds sold in the US today has been altered to artificially increase its value. Further studies have shown that on average a couple pays 40% too much for their diamond engagement ring.

Beyond deceptive pricing, there are the issues of "blood diamonds", forced child labor, and a myriad of other disturbing diamond facts.

Recently, socially conscious celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Minnie Driver, and Angelina Jolie have made a vocal issue of wearing only synthetic diamonds to the many gala events they attend.

Good synthetic diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from the mined variety, but without the baggage, and additionally, they cost thousands of dollars less. But, which synthetic diamond is the best choice?

There are many types of man-made or synthetic diamonds available. The choices are numerous, but unbiased information is scarce. Here is an overview and comparison of the synthetic diamonds currently unavailable on the market:

Cubic Zirconia

The grandfather of simulated diamonds, Zircons are available widely. In their best examples, CZ's are actually a fairly decent diamond replica. Unfortunately, the commodity-like availability and vast differences in quality have made the stone synonymous with low-cost fashion jewelry. Perhaps a good choice for cheap bling, but not for fine jewelry. Many sources are available, a decent one is: http://www.czfantasy.com

Russian Diamonds

Including Russian Brilliants, Russian Stars and others, they are in fact nothing but high quality cubic zirconias. This is not mentioned prominently on their web sites and they will only cop to it when pressed, but that is the fact. Russian diamond simulates are priced around $280 per carat.

Russian Diamonds are a fine jewelry selection and are usually mounted in quality precious metal settings.

Russian Brilliants are one of the best and oldest sellers of "Russian Diamonds" available at: http://www.russianbrilliants.net

Moissanite

Moissanite is a lab-created mineral that is a very good diamond stimulant. Moissanite has been on the market as a fine jewelry choice since the early 90s and has picked up quite a few fans. Moissanite is a hard mineral that, like diamond, will cut glass. There are a couple of minor downsides to moissanite however. First, it is quite expensive, (though still cheap compared to diamonds) usually priced about $500 per carat for good samples.

Secondly, moissanite does not have the same optical qualities as diamond and there are several indicators that make them easy to spot with the naked eye for an experienced practitioner. It is difficult to produce a pure white moissanite and they often appear slightly green when viewed in natural light. Also, moissanite has significantly higher radiance and brilliance factors then natural diamond, causing them to appear "too sparkly" to some. Overall though, moissanite is a beautiful synthetic diamond choice.

"Moissanite From the Sky" at http://www.fromthesky.com is a good source of fine moissanite jewelry.

Diamond Nexus

Diamond Nexus gemstones are the result of a fairly new scientific advancement in processing technique, and have only recently been available in the United States.

Diamond Nexus gemstones are excellent diamond stimulants and come very close to matching the properties of mined diamonds at many different comparison points. They cut glass, being virtually identical to diamond on the Mohs (hardness) scale. They refract perfect "hearts and arrows" and have radiance and brilliance readings extremely close to flawless diamond.

Best of all, they are currently introductory priced for the U.S. market, and are a steal at $79 per caret. Diamond Nexus gemstones are only available in precious metal, solid-gold settings.

Diamond Nexus is only available from Diamond Nexus Labs at: http://www.DiamondNexusLabs.com

White Sapphire

Sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral on the Mohs scale, surpassed only by diamond. They are, unlike the others in this review, a natural stone. Their radiance and brilliance are not up to the standards of diamond however. Nevertheless, quality white sapphires priced at around $220 per carat are a good diamond alternative.

A quality source is: http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com

Gemisis Cultured Diamond

Gemisis diamonds are beautiful and almost perfect diamond replicas. Unfortunately, they are not available in a clear, white color, so they are not a good choice for traditional diamond settings. However, if a yellow, orange or pink diamond is what you crave, Gemisis offers stunning choices in beautiful precious metal, fine-jewelry settings.

Gemisis Cultured Diamonds are only available at: http://www.gemisis.com

Recap:

Synthetic diamonds offer many advantages over the mined variety. You can buy with confidence, knowing that you are getting exactly what you paid for, and have not been the victim of diamond pricing chicanery. If you are concerned with the world around you, you can have a clear conscience, knowing that your money has not contributed to the support of an unethical and abusive industry.

However, there are many choices of synthetic diamonds, with varying degrees of quality. Take a little time to review the seller's information to get a clear idea of what the science is behind the gemstones you are buying.

For my money, I believe the best choices are quality Moissanite stones or the new diamond stimulant gemstones available from Diamond Nexus Labs.

Diamond is a gem often incorporated in some of the most modern, beautiful hand jewelry in the world. It is clear stone revered for its ability to reflect light, and is widely recognized as Birthstones April and the center stone used in most circles of the U.S. commitment. But beyond its modern uses and associations, diamonds hold a decadent mythological, spiritual and etymological history that nostalgic add value to their already strong aesthetic value. Read on for more information to help you fall in love with your diamond jewelry - or inspire you to buy today!

Diamonds are prized for their beauty and durability. A form of carbon, diamonds are the most difficult of the known world natural material. In fact, the word "diamond" comes from the ancient Greek Adamas, which means invincible. Because of their durability, diamonds have been used in tools since ancient times. Diamonds have been used as religious icons in India nearly 2,500 years. Since then, they have become highly coveted gemstones.

Diamonds are often described and evaluated by their Gemological: Four C (carat, color, cut and clarity). Although diamonds are used in many types of fine jewelry, they are traditionally associated with the engagement and wedding rings. Most people think that diamonds are white or colorless. In fact, yellow and brown diamonds are the most common. Any Diamond with a color other than brown or yellow is considered an diamonds color. Colorless diamonds are pure or almost pure. The color scale ranges from colorless diamonds D (colorless) to Z (light yellow).

Look diamonds better than parts of formal evening jewelry when combined with Onyx black or dark amethyst sapphire blue cool. More combinations include occasional light married with mixed colors, aquamarine, pearls and carnelian. To see a selection of hand crafts featuring jewelry rough diamonds, visit http://www.dashaboutique.com/shopbygemstone. Diamond is generally regarded as a sophisticated stone that works well with a suit. In earrings, it works particularly well to improve the brightness of blue or green eyes.

Nearly half of all diamonds from mines in central and southern Africa. The other half comes from mines in Canada, India, Russia, Brazil and Australia. Today, the jewelry industry is buzzing about quality and laboratory created diamonds. These synthetic diamonds have the same molecular structure as natural diamonds. With public concerns about the mining industry, these man-made beauties offer a compelling alternative to the real thing.

Mohs' hardness score is based on a 10-point scale where 10 is the most resistant, like a diamond, and 1 is easily scratched, such as talc. Diamonds are often proved true by the fact that they can scratch the glass. Because these stones are resistant to scratches, diamonds are extremelty suitable as an element often wear jewelry. Diamonds should be regularly cleaned by a professional or with a soft cloth and mild soap and water. Avoid ultra-sonic cleaners, solvents and chemicals to clean your jewelry that exposure to these elements damage semi-precious and precious stones and pearls.

Learn more about all semi-precious and precious stones, including amethyst, apatite, aquamarine, black onyx, blue topaz, carnelian, chalcedony, citrine, coral, garnet, white topaz, crystal, diamond, emerald, Iolite, jade, labradorite, moonstone, pearl, peridot, Prehnite, rose quartz, ruby, sapphire, topaz Smokey, tanzanite, tourmaline and TOURQUOISE when you see this table of precious stones: http://www.dashaboutique. com / gemstone chart.html.

As a species, we love ourselves to adorn with jewelry, makeup, hair accessories. We do now to improve our appearance, attract a mate and just because it makes us feel good about ourselves. Some forms of adornment are symbolic - like wedding rings. Or it is used to make a statement about our lifestyle, like multiple piercings and earrings.

Have you ever wondered what are the origins of these self-decoration? Is there a meaning behind it? Or do we only start to wear beads, necklaces and earrings that our awareness of increased itself and we are now?

We know that the first bits of jewelry bones, shells and other personal ornaments found in graves around 40,000 years. The idea that there is life after death, and belief in spirits good and bad, has led the way to attract good spirits and ward off evil.

Persons protected themselves from evil spirits with ornaments shaped necklaces or bracelets, and pierced themselves with the same bones and shells of such amulets on their persons at any time. At that time, people also began to paint their bodies with red ocher, which can be regarded as the first form of makeup. They also started their eyes lined with kohl to protect themselves against the force known as the "Evil Eye."

Even today, many jewelry takes the form of amulets. People wear crosses around their necks, or the Star of David, or wear a Claddagh ring - all to attract good fortune or ward off bad luck. There is even more throwbacks to the first form of magic, like a lucky rabbit's foot, lucky or a penny. Or we often less well known, more personal charms that have meaning for us alone, but are still as good luck charms and amulets.

Where do Panama hats come from? How long did 100 years of the last war? In what month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? What is the color of the black box on a commercial airline? What is a camel hair brush? What was King George VI first name? Where can come from Chinese gooseberries? How should one carat diamond weigh? Although the answers to questions May seem obvious, the more likely you'd be surprised they are not. Panama hats do not come from Panama. The 100 years of war has not lasted 100 years. The Russians do not celebrate the October Revolution in October. The airlines' black box is not black. A camel-hair brush has no hair. King George's name is not George. Gooseberries Chinese are not from China. And a carats of diamonds offered for sale rarely, really does weigh one carat properly if cut.

Let me explain. Diamonds are like people. They come in all shapes and sizes and people as they can carry a bit more weight. In fact, in the community of diamonds, diamonds are "overweight" in the community of people: Up to 88% of all diamonds. The sad part is that the diamond industry which is by design to produce all of these diamonds monk! In 1919, more than 80 years, a man named Marcel Tolkowsky determined that the diamond industry as a whole has been incorrectly cut diamonds and affecting the brilliance of the diamond. Mr. Tolkowsky published a paper on the way to cut a diamond if it would have maximum brightness (slight return), no excess body fat. The cut Tolkowsky eventually became the American ideal. Subsequently, in the 1950s, a man named RW Ditchburn applied the same math to reduce the fat off the other forms (marquise, pear, oval, etc.). For decades, if you asked a cut "ideal" diamond of a particular size, you got it. Then, marketing has convinced the public that a carat diamond or more has been the dream of size. This is where the problems crept in Diamond cutters throughout the world began to invent their own criteria for a "well proportioned stone" so they can fatten the diamond. It made me wonder "Where is meat? " I do not want to sound like an old Wendy's commercial but it is clear that we have a problem when 75% to 88% of a carat diamonds are overweight! As in the Wendy's commercial where there was a lot of pain and very little meat, we are running into the same problem today with diamonds should be 1 carat but are cut fat to they tip the balance more than one carat.

Solution: The only way the problem will be resolved is for the purchase of diamonds public to start asking for diamonds of "True Weight" (A diamond in the crown that height and thickness max flag belt more depth equal to the depth Total percentage and the proportions of which meet Class I or II criteria.) I've never met a jeweler who will be voluntary for consumers that the device used to measure vital signs diamond (sarin or Megascops machine) also has a content fat measurement button! It's called again cutting feature. Once a diamond has been analyzed, leveling all has to do is enter the data stored in the new program-cutting, between the expected results, (as a plastic surgeon showing you what your nose will look after surgery) and click the mouse. Within seconds the new-cut program announce that the diamond should have weighed whether it was properly cut from its current weight. Virtually all diamonds that I see is overweight by 20% -30%!
It is the diamond of "TRUE WEIGHT" we should pay for, but without love handles on the left of the cup. If enough of us demand pay only for a diamond "True weight" compared to its "greater weight", then perhaps one day cutters to get the message.

In addition, Panama hats are from Ecuador. The 100-year war lasted 116 years. The Russian Revolution is celebrated in November. The black box is orange. A camel-hair brush is made from squirrel fur. King George's name was Albert. Chinese gooseberries come from New Zealand and one carat diamond "True weight" is usually only 75 points.

* If you want to determine your diamond of "True Weight," please call the helpline national diamond
1-800-275-4047 with your vital diamond and we'll tell you what your diamond should have weighed.

By Fred Cuellar, author of a best-seller "How to buy a diamond.

They are all diamonds, but the color makes a difference.

Let's start this piece by asking what on the surface may seem like a very simple question, should not two diamonds of the same weight, same clarity, the same color, exactly the same proportions, non - Fluorescent, same date of purchase, even grading laboratory report date, both bonded with exactly the same brand cost the same? Well, if you ask laboratories or check with a major price guides Rapaport, the answer is a resounding YES.

But pick up your phone, go to your local jeweler, surf the web and I promise you that you will find that the twins are not the same price. In fact, not only are they not exactly the same price but in some cases they are not even close. You'll find even two identical diamonds at the same location with prices quite differently. Why? How is this possible? It is true that not all SI-1 are created equal. Some centralized inclusions while others perimeter inclusions which are certainly most desirable and useful. But that's the VS? I can honestly say I've never met a diamond VS I did not like. So where is the response?

It's in color. What the industry has been aware of but has not shared with the rest of the world "Color Typing". In the spring of 1999, a wonderful Gemological color calibration device on the market. What I am talking about is the Gran Full Spectrum Color DC2000fs by Gem Instruments. For the first time, we can prove that all H, G and F are created equal. The new colorimeter is so precise, we can now really break each color class into five types of colors. For example, instead of asking someone what color is a diamond, we should ask ourselves what is the diamond color and type. Example: an H can be an H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5 (H1 being the best limit and G H5 is a limit I color). When you combine colors and types of grade bumping, two diamond feel the same, but different parts of the rainbow.

When laboratories begin to break each color in the types? Who knows! I know that the price guides will not be the vanguard until at least one laboratory measures to tell us that all diamonds identical to the same color are created equal. Of course F1 would cost more than a F5. But if the laboratories will not tell you, how can you determine a diamond color and type without their help? Easy, have the shop run a colorimeter tape and attach it to the evaluation so you know if your G is a G or low. Make the sale contingent on an independent assessment agrees with the colorimeter band or your money.

I hope that the color does laboratories strikes since the technology is now available. But "Color Typing" is simply not profitable for laboratories. Jewelers are naturally going to send their stones to a report grading laboratory where they treated the most beautiful and least critical. That is why there are five or EG IGI reports of cases for each GIA report. "Color Typing" May never recognized by the laboratories, but that does not mean that jewelers do not have access to colorimeters. Knowledge is power. As the buyer you have every right to know a diamond color and type. Just ask.

By Fred Cuellar, author of a best-seller "How to Buy a Diamond."

Diamonds come in virtually all colors of the rainbow, from the "beautiful violet" of the Hope diamond to shades of blue, brown, gray, orange, etc. But colored diamonds are very rare and precious. Chances are, all the diamonds you'll see in your diamond shopping will be white or yellow, and the whiter the better.

The yellow color in diamonds comes from nitrogen, and as a rule, the more yellow the stone, the less value it has. There's a good reason for this. The yellower the stone, the less sharp and sparkly it appears. A whiter stone lets more light pass through it, making it sparkle and shine.

The exception to the rule is the canary diamond, which is a beautiful bright yellow and very expensive. Some people are more sensitive to the color of diamonds. What may appear slightly yellow to you may look clear to another person, so it will take a higher color grade to satisfy you.

The best way to judge the color of a diamond are to use either a Gran Fall Spectrum Colorimeter by Gem Instruments or compare it to a master set..

FRED'S ADVICE: Go for grades H or I. Once mounted they'll look just as good to the average person as the higher grades, without costing a bundle. The average diamond purchased in the U.S. is color grade M or N, but the customer is usually told it's higher.

HERE'S THE GIA COLOR GRADING SCALE:

D, E, F: Colorless
G, H, I: Nearly colorless
J, K, L: Slightly yellow
M, N, O: Light yellow
P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X: Darker yellow
Z: Fancy colors

Even though there are several grades in each category, there are slight differences between the letter grades. D is the clearest and most valuable, X is a dingy yellow and least expensive. Z grade-colored diamonds are the rarest and most expensive. A diamond so saturated with nitrogen that it becomes a deep, rich yellow is as rare as a colorless diamond.

MORE ABOUT COLOR:

FLUORESCENCE

Fluorescence is a diamond's reaction to ultraviolet (UV) light. Some diamonds glow in different colors under UV light, and the general rule is to avoid them. If you put a diamond under UV light and it glows strong blue, the diamond may look dull in the sunlight. Diamonds with strong fluorescence may be worth up to 20% less than diamonds which do not fluoresce. Faint fluorescence which doesn't fog the diamond is OK.

CORRESPONDING GRADING

Corresponding grading means matching clarity grades with color grades. For every clarity grade, there's a color grade that corresponds, or makes the best match in determining value. Diamonds that have corresponding grading sell for higher prices originally, and they also appreciate in value more than diamonds that don't, and therefore have higher resale value. Buying a diamond with non-corresponding clarity and color grades is like buying a pink Porsche: it's okay as long as you don't try to resell it. The market for pink Porsches just isn't as good as the market for, say, red Porsches.

Here's a list of clarity grades and their corresponding color grades. Notice that for each clarity grade there's a perfect match, and a high and low color that also works well.

CLARITY GRADE--COLOR GRADE--
ANNUAL INCREASE IN $ VALUE

FLAWLESS AND INTERNALLY FLAWLESS:
D (Perfect) — 10.00%
E (Low)

VVS1, VVS2:
D (High)
E (Perfect) — 9.25%
F (Low)

VS1, VS2:
F (High)
G (Perfect) — 8.50%
H (Low)

SI1, SI2:
H (High)
I (Perfect) — 6.50%
J (Low)

Lower:
No corresponding color grades

The value of a stone is always based on the lowest clarity or color grade and its highest corresponding grade. For example: Let's say you purchased a stone with a clarity grade of SI1 and a color grade of G. You can see above that G is not a corresponding color for an SI1 stone. The SI1-G diamond will cost you more than the SI1-H, but will appreciate no more over time than the SI1-H.

When you don't correspond the grades — say you buy high clarity and low color, or high color and low clarity — you'll never get your money back for the higher grade. For example, an SI1-F would resell no higher than the value of an SI1-H, and a VS1-I would resell no higher than the value of an SI1-I. A diamond that is not correspondingly-graded could be expected to appreciate 2% to 4% per year.

by Fred Cuellar, author of the best-selling book "How to Buy a Diamond

I can see clearly now…

The clarity of a diamond depends on how clear or clean it is — how free it is of blemishes and inclusions, when viewed with the naked eye and with a 10X loupe, or magnifier. Let's define our terms.

BLEMISHES: Imperfections on the outside of a diamond

Chip: A little piece missing, caused by wear or the cutting process. Scratch: A line or abrasion.

Fracture: A crack on the diamond's surface.
Polishing lines: Fine lines on the stone's surface formed during the polishing stage.

Natural: An unpolished part of the diamond.

Extra facets: Additional polished surfaces that shouldn't be there and spoil the symmetry of a diamond.

Bearding: Very small fractures on an edge of the diamond.

INCLUSIONS: Imperfections inside a diamond.

Carbon: Black spots inside a stone.

Feather: Internal cracking.

Crystal: White spots inside a stone.

Pinpoint: Tiny spots, smaller than a crystal.

Cloud: A group of pinpoints, which may give the impression of a single large inclusion.

Loupe: (pronounced loop) a small magnifying glass used to view gemstones. Any good jeweler will let you use one, and show you how. They should be 10X, or 10-power magnification, and the housing around the lens should be black so as not to distort the color of the stone. The Federal Trade Commission requires diamond grading to be done with a 10X magnifier, and any flaw that can't be seen under 10X magnification is considered nonexistent.

Here are the CLARITY GRADES OF DIAMONDS, as established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA):

FLAWLESS: Free from inclusions and blemishes when viewed under 10X magnification. Very rare and very expensive.

INTERNALLY FLAWLESS: Free from inclusions; may have slight blemishes when viewed under 10X magnification. Also very rare and very expensive.

VVS1 AND VVS2 (VERY, VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED): Has minute inclusions or blemishes the size of a pinpoint when viewed under 10X magnification. Rare and expensive.

VS1 AND VS2 (VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED): Has inclusions or blemishes smaller than a grain of salt when viewed under 10X magnification. No carbon, fractures or breaks. High quality.

SI1 (SLIGHTLY INCLUDED): Has inclusions or blemishes larger than a grain of salt when viewed under 10X magnification, and these inclusions can be carbon or fractures. Almost all SI1 diamonds are eye-clean, which means the flaws can't be seen with the naked eye. Good quality.

SI2 (SLIGHTLY INCLUDED): Has inclusions or blemishes larger than a grain of salt when viewed under 10X magnification, and some of these flaws may be visible to the naked eye. Borderline diamond.

I1 (IMPERFECT): Has inclusions and blemishes visible to the naked eye. Commercial grade. Not my taste!

I2 (IMPERFECT): Has inclusions and blemishes visible to the naked eye that can make as much as one-fourth of the diamond appear cloudy and lifeless. Same as above.

I3 (IMPERFECT): Has many, many inclusions and blemishes visible to the naked eye. Not a pretty diamond. Very little luster or sparkle. Bottom of the barrel.

FRED'S ADVICE: Aim for an SI1 diamond. Many people unwittingly buy I1 and I2 stones, but if you shop carefully you can buy an SI1 stone for the same price that most I2 stones are sold for.



by Fred Cuellar, author of the best-selling book "How to Buy a Diamond

And now we know why women like diamonds and chocolate!

When you ask someone what they want in a diamond, usually the first thing they'll say is big. So let's talk first about carat weight.

What is a carat? We already know it's a measure of weight, not size, but it's also a word with a fascinating history. Carat is derived from carob, the bean that's often used as a chocolate substitute. Carob trees grow in the Mediterranean region, and in ancient times a diamond of one carat, or carob, was equal in weight to a single bean, or seed, of the carob tree. In the Far East, rice was used — four grains equaled one carob bean.

Eventually the carat was standardized at 200 milligrams (1/5 of a gram), and the grain was standardized at 50 milligrams. Sometimes you will hear a diamond dealer refer to a one-carat diamond as a four-grainer. Diamond weights are also referred to in points. One carat equals 100 points, so a 75-point diamond would weigh 3/4 of one carat. (It's not a diamond with 75 points on it, as some people think!)

THE MAGICAL ONE CARAT

You've no doubt heard or seen the marketing slogans, "A diamond is forever;" "Say you'd marry her all over again with a diamond anniversary ring;" and "A one carat diamond is one in a million." These all come from ad campaigns by DeBeers, the world's largest diamond conglomerate. Through their clever marketing they have established the one-carat diamond as the minimum size to buy. That's one reason for the substantial price jump when a diamond reaches one carat. Another reason is that a good one-carat diamond is one in a million. But don't be swayed by advertising. There's no magic in size, and the average diamond purchased in the U.S. is 38 points — just over 1/3 of a carat.

by Fred Cuellar, author of the best-selling book "How to Buy a Diamond." More questions? Ask the Diamond Guy®

This may seem like a reasonably easy question for someone in the jewelry industry to answer but it’s actually quite difficult if the quote is to be accurate. In fact, an accurate answer cannot be derived due to lack of information. Probability comes into play when we don’t have the information needed to make an informed decision. When we don’t have enough data, all we are left with are "reasonable guesses." Here are just some of the things we don’t know: For starters, what type of 1ct are we talking about; a shy, full, heavy or true? What type of VS1 are we talking about; a hard, lab, bonded, paperless, partial or split? What type of G; G1, G2, G3, G4 or G5? How well proportioned is it; Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV, Ideal, Signature, Hearts and Arrows, Eight Star, High Definition or Kaplan? (If they use one of these titles to advertise the diamond is well-proportioned, what are the specifics in angles, percentages and ratios of that brand?) Once you know the specifics (proportions), do they give you enough measurements to determine if the crown angles and pavilion angles are universal or if the diamond is warped? Please don’t forget about fluorescence. Is the diamond fluorescent? If it is, is it strong, medium or faint fluorescence? Was the diamond annealed, fracture filled, bleached, assembled or laser drilled? What equipment was used to measure the diamond? Was the equipment calibrated before it was used? Does the paperwork that comes with the diamond really match the stone? Where did the diamond come from? Is it a blood diamond? Is it a secondary market diamond? Finally, once you ask every last detail, how can you know what you’ve been told is factual?

Time for a joke. There are three men on a train--an economist, a logician and a mathematician. They have just crossed the border into Scotland and they see a brown cow standing in a field. The cow is standing parallel to the train.

The economist says, "Look. The cows in Scotland are brown."
The logician says, "No. There are cows in Scotland, of which one at least is brown."
The mathematician says, "No. There is at least one cow in Scotland, of which one side appears to be brown."

How much is a 1ct, VS1, G? If you were to ask the economist, he might give you more than one answer. If you were to ask the logician, he would be smart enough to ask what type of 1ct, VS1, G you were talking about. And finally, if you were to ask the mathematician, he would say, "Did you forget about one thing? How much profit does the seller want to make?



by Fred Cuellar, author of the best-selling book "How to Buy a Diamond

Clarity is an important aspect of a diamond, and it is important to know how to grade the clarity of a diamond before you buy one. It is actually quite easy to learn how to grade the clarity of a diamond.

There are basically two things that you must understand: Diamonds with visual inclusions and blemishes, and those that are ‘eye clean’ meaning that there are no inclusions or blemishes that can be seen with the naked eye. From there, the clarity of a diamond is further broken down into subcategories.

Many people mistakenly think that diamond clarity refers to how clear it is. This isn’t so. Clarity actually refers to the internal and external imperfections of the diamond. The best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL or IF – Flawless or Internally Flawless – meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect, with a grade of I-3 being the worst.

Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which means that the diamond is very, very slightly imperfect; VS1 and VS2, meaning the diamond is very slightly imperfect; SI-1 and SI-2, which means that the diamond is slightly imperfect.

A dirty diamond is one of two things: a rough diamond, or a diamond that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. Rough diamonds are uncut and unpolished – hence, they are dirty. But that type of dirty diamond will soon be cut and polished and sitting in a beautiful jewel box in a display case. Then someone will purchase it, and before long, it will become a dirty diamond once again.
Diamonds become dirty. When you wash your hands with a diamond ring on, soap scum clings to it. When you put on hand lotion, it gets grease on it. Shower with your diamond earrings or necklace, and again, you get soap scum. In one short day, your brand new diamond could be dirty!
Purchase an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner the same day that you purchase your diamond jewelry, and use it every single day, without fail. The clarity of the diamond changes when the diamond is dirty – it loses its sparkle. By taking one minute each day to clean your diamond jewelry, you can avoid this, and your diamonds will never be dirty!

Insuring a diamond takes a bit of thought, planning, and shopping around. Diamond insurance isn’t like purchasing car insurance. It is quite different. Depending on the state that you live in, there are basically three different types of policies that will cover diamonds, and all insurance policies that cover diamonds are considered Marine type policies.
The first type of insurance policies for diamonds is an Actual Cash Value policy. If the diamond is lost or damaged beyond repair, the insurance company will replace the diamond at today’s market value, no matter how much you paid for the diamond to begin with. This type of insurance policy for diamonds actually is not that common.
The most common type of insurance for diamonds is Replacement Value insurance. The insurance company will only pay up to a fixed amount to replace the diamond that was lost or damaged beyond repair. This does not mean that they will pay that amount – it means that they will pay up to that amount. In most cases, the diamond can be replaced at a lower cost.
The third type of coverage offered for diamonds is Agreed Value. This is sometimes called ‘Valued At.’ This type of coverage is very rare. In the event that the diamond is lost or damaged beyond repair, the insurance company simply pays you the amount that you and the company agreed upon. This is the best type of insurance to have, but it is rarely offered. If you can’t get Agreed Value coverage, Actual Cash Valuecoverage should be your next choice.
Your rates will be determined by the value of the diamond, the type of coverage that youselect, and the area that you live in. If you live in an area with a high crime rate, you can expect to pay more for your diamond insurance coverage. It is important to remember that insurance agents are not qualified jewelers, and jewelers are not qualified insurance agents. It is best to get a certificate for your diamond, and to provide the insurance company with a copy of that certificate. This leaves the insurance company less room for arguments over the actual value of the diamond.
Don’t rely on separate coverage to cover your diamond. For instance, if you diamond is stolen from your home, it is probably covered on your home owner’s insurance policy – but the diamond probably won’t always be in your home, and once it leaves your home, there is no coverage.

Through our day to day movements our diamonds get smudged and soiled. Even when we are not wearing them, they collect dust. Lotions, soaps, our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime on diamonds and inhibit their brilliance.
Want to keep that Brilliance and Shine? Diamonds require cleaning so that maximum amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all it takes is a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.
You can use an small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry. Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and place your pieces in the mixture. Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds. You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. You can use a small kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them while rinsing under warm water. Use a lint free cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.
If your diamonds are in need of a stronger cleansing, you may want to soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of half and half water and ammonia. Once they have soaked for 30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings with a small brush. Then replace the pieces to the solution and swish them around in the mixture before removing them to rinse and pat dry.
If you find your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, many department stores sell liquid jewelry cleaners. Most are kits, with everything you need included. You need to read the labels to determine the one that is right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions.
And if you find yourself more the “high-tech type”, even in your diamond cleaning routine, there are multiple ultrasonic cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency to create a cleaning motion. All machines are not the same, so please read the instructions before using.
Only you can choose the cleaning method right for you. But, it is essential to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and sparkling. Between cleaning, try not to touchyour clean diamonds with your fingers or handle your jewelry by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.

Pricing most products is quite easy. Determine how much it costs to make the item, how much it costs to market that item, and then mark it up by 15 – 30% or more. Simple, right? Well, pricing diamonds isn’t quite that simple. There are many factors that are considered when diamonds are priced.
Diamond prices are determined first by adding the cost of the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond, and all other costs necessary to turn the rough diamond into a marketable diamond. Depending on the importance of the diamond, an independent company may be called in to certify the grade of the diamond based on color, cut, clarity, and weight.
At this point, the diamond becomes more expensive each time it changes hands, until it finally reaches a retailer, where the price is raised a bit more. Before reaching the retailer, however, the diamond must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, to the independent grading company, and then to the Primary market. Once it has reached the primary market, it will be purchased by diamond dealers and wholesalers, and from there it will be sold to retailers.
As you can see, the earlier you can purchase a diamond in the process, the lower the cost of the diamond will be – but not the value. The value is based on what the diamond will sell for in the market place – through a retailer.
If you own a diamond, and you have no idea how much it is worth, you can have it appraised, but the appraisal may not be accurate. You will be better off obtaining a certificate through GIA – Gemological Institute of America. With the information on this certificate, you can use a cutter’s guide to accurately determine what your diamond is worth.
There are also many diamond price calculators available. These can be found on the Internet, and many diamond dealers use these as well. You must realize, however, that before you can accurately price a diamond, without a Diamond Grade Report, you need to know quite a bit about diamonds, such as different cuts, clarity, color, and weight – and how each of those aspects adds to the value of a diamond, or decreases the value of the diamond as the case may be.
Again, you will be better off if you get a Diamond Grading Report on the diamond, and use that information to look up the price in one of the guides that the diamond cutting industry uses. This will give you the most accurate value of the diamond in your possession, or of the diamond you are considering purchasing.

Among the most well known diamonds is the Hope. This 45.52 carat steel blue diamond is currently on display at the Smithsonian. The legends of the ill-fortune and curse bestowed on the possessor of the Hope Diamond are many. This diamond was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958. The Hope was originally a rather flat, blocky 110-carat rough.
The Dresden Green stands out among the natural colored diamonds. It is the largest green diamond in the world weighing 40.70 carats. This diamond is historic, large and has a natural green color with a slight blue overtone. These facts make it virtually priceless.
The Conde Pink is a pear shaped and weighs 9.01-carats. This pink diamond was once owned by Louis XIII.
The Tiffany Yellow diamond a beautiful canary-yellow octahedron weighing 287.42 in the rough (metric) carats discovered in either 1877 or 1878 in South Africa. The gem after cutting boasts the extraordinary weight of 128.54 carats. And until recently, was the largest golden-yellow in the world.
The Koh-I-Noor ( Mountain of Light ) is now among the British Crown Jewels. This diamond weighs 105.60 carats. First mentioned in 1304, it is believed to have been once set in Shah Jehan‘s famous peacock throne as one of the peacocks eyes.
The Agra is graded as a naturally colored Fancy Light Pink and weighs 32.34 carats. It was sold for about 6.9 million in 1990. Since this sale, it has been modified to a cushion shape weighing about 28.15 carats.
The Transvaal Blue is pear cut. This blue diamond weighs 25 carats. It was found in the Premier Diamond Mine in Transvaal, South Africa.
The Great Chrysanthemum was discovered in the summer of 1963, in a South African diamond field. This 198.28-carat fancy brown diamond appeared to be a light honey color in its rough state. However, after cutting, it proved to be a rich golden brown, with overtones of sienna and burnt orange.
The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond. Cartier of New York purchased this diamond at an auction in 1969 and christened it "Cartier." The next day Richard Burton bought the diamond for Elizabeth Taylor. He renamed it the "Taylor-Burton”. In 1978, Elizabeth Taylor put the diamond up for sale. Prospective buyers had to pay $2,500 each to view the diamond to cover the costs of showing it. Finally, in June of 1979, the diamond was sold for nearly $3 million dollars.

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 reluctantto 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.

There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut into – unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business, but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond sparkles.
The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on how much the diamond sparkles, but the actual cutting itself – when the diamond cutter actually cuts the diamond into a particular shape – also matters a great deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.
However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond doesn’t refer to its shape at all. Instead, this is a reference to the stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets.
When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut – the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.

When you walk into a jewelry store and see all the diamonds in all of the various settings that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that diamonds are indeed rare. Most people don’t even stop to consider how that diamond came to be sitting in that jeweler’s case! There is quite a bit of work that is donebefore a diamond is ready to sell to the general public!
For every one million diamonds that are mined, only one will be found that is a quality one caret diamond. In order to find a two caret diamond, about five million diamonds must be mined. More than two hundred tons of ore must be mined to find one small diamond, and even then, more than 80% of the diamonds that are mined are only good for industrial use, such as diamond drill bits.
So, the next time you visit your local jewelry store, ask to see the one carat diamonds. You should look at this diamond with new appreciation – knowing that it truly is one in a million!

The first synthetic diamonds were produced by General Electric in 1954. A synthetic diamond is basically a rock that has the durability, refractive index and hardness of a natural diamond – but it is made by man. A synthetic diamond should not be confused with stimulant diamonds, such as glass, cubic zirconia, or moissanite.
Although the technology for synthetic diamonds came into play in 1954, no synthetic diamonds were ever seen on the market until the 1990’s. This was due to the fact that it took many years for General Electric to produce a synthetic diamond that could compare with the quality of a natural diamond – and when they figured out how to do it, they found that it cost more to produce a synthetic diamond than it did to mine and cut natural diamonds.
Finally, a small company by the name of Gemesis Corporation figured out a way to produce synthetic diamonds that were of the same quality as natural diamonds, at a cheaper price. Today, Gemesis produces synthetic white diamonds, and colored diamonds as well. These diamonds sell for about 1/3 of the cost of a natural diamond, but there is a shortage of them, and they are hard to find. In fact, it seems that synthetic diamonds are rarer than natural diamonds!

In this world of advanced technology it is almost impossible to simply look at a diamond and determine whether it is real or not – especially if you don’t know much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond,however.
First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with them. Avoid buying diamonds or other jewelry from jewelers that you have never dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists, walk away.
Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set in low quality metals. Take a close look at the stone. Fake diamonds are not durable – natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the most durable stone on the planet. Look for scratches or nicks.
After purchasing a diamond, take it to another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers for an appraisal to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly close. If you find that you have purchased a fake diamond, you may be accused of making a switch when you return to the store of your purchase; therefore, it is important to have a certificate for the diamond. No two stones are alike.

Caring for a diamond takes more than occasional cleanings. Diamonds are forever, but they can be damaged if you are not careful. By learning how to properly care for your diamond, you will ensure that your diamond is indeed forever.
First, you should take your diamond jewelry to a jeweler once a year. Have him check the mountings and prongs that hold your diamond in place. Have him make any needed repairs. This will prevent your diamond from falling out of its setting and becoming lost.
Diamond jewelry that is not being worn, or diamonds that are loose should be stored in a fabric lined jewel case, or in a jewelry box where it can be kept separate from other jewelry. Each piece should have its own compartment. This will keep diamonds from becoming scratched, and it will also keep your diamond from scratching other jewelry as well.
Remove your diamond jewelry when doing physical work. Diamonds can be chipped and scratched easily. Also avoid allowing your diamond to come into contact with bleach or other household cleansers – this can damage or change the color of the settings and mountings, and it may even irreversibly change the color of the diamond!