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Diamond Information
Diamonds are well known for their beauty and rarity. Many people are also aware that they are the hardest material on Earth. Because of these traits Diamonds are often associated with everlasting love and commitment. There are several aspects that should be considered when buying a Diamond, we would like to provide you with guidance so that your comfortable in your purchase.
The Four C’s are considered the most important factors when judging the beauty and value of a Diamond. They are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight.
Cut:
The cut of a diamond refers to the symmetry and the proportions of the diamond. The cut is what gives a diamond its sparkle and brilliance (using the measures of proportions and angles of a diamond, experts calculate the light presentation of a diamond). A poorly cut diamond can appear dark or cloudy and lifeless. There are many diamond shapes to choose from, and choosing the right shape of a diamond is largely a matter of personal taste and style.
Color:
The color of a diamond is perceived as a critical factor that determines the overall beauty of a diamond. Colorless diamonds are the most desirable and the most valuable diamonds.
The customary color grade system is comprised of letters from D to Z. For the best color, which is completely transparent, the letter grade D will be given. Following the alphabet down to Z, a commensurate degrading occurs from colorless toward yellow or brown tints, where the letter grade Z will be given to a yellow or brown color diamond.
Clarity:
Since diamonds form under intense heat and pressure internal and external characteristics are common. Diamonds often have small crystals or fractures in them called inclusions. The more inclusions there are in a diamond, the lower the clarity of the diamond. This is the clarity grading scale that was set up by the Gemological Institute of America.
Flawless (FL): no inclusions are visible under 10x magnification.
Internally Flawless (IF): no inclusions visible under 10x magnification, only external blemishes are present, which can be removed by further polishing.
Very Very Slightly included (VVS1 and VVS2): very, very small inclusions that are difficult to see under 10x magnification
Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2): very small inclusions, which are visible under 10x magnification, but invisible to the unaided human eye.
Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2): small inclusions that are easily visible under 10x magnification and sometimes noticeable to the naked eye.
Included (I1 to I3): Inclusions are noticeable to the naked eye and can greatly affect the beauty and durability of the diamond
Carat Weight:
The measuring unit for the weight of a diamond is carat. One metric carat is exactly 200 milligrams or 1/5 gram. The origin of the word carat is from the carob seeds that were used to balance scales in antiquity. The weight is the largest factor of the c
Treatments:
Diamonds are sometimes treated by filling surface fractures with a glass-like substance which refracts light very closely to Diamond. By doing this the stone appears to be of a better quality than it would be otherwise. Since this process is not completely permanent and the treatment can complicate basic jewelry repairs Regency Jewelers does not sell any clarity enhanced Diamonds.
Metal Information
Gold
Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. Undoubtedly, it is the oldest precious metal in the history of mankind. Pure Gold is hypo-allergenic and will not tarnish in any way. Due to its wonderful qualities and its magnificent luster, gold is considered the most important metal in jewelry making.
The purity of gold is measured in terms of Karats or in terms of fineness (European Marking). Pure gold is 24 Karats or 1000 fineness. Every piece of jewelry should be marked with either of these stamps of purity.
Gold in jewelry is commonly a mixture of various metals which is called an alloy. A karat is the percent of pure gold in the alloy. Therefore, one can determine the percentage of pure gold in any gold piece by dividing the karat by 24 (e.g., 18K gold: 18/24=0.750=75% pure gold). Pure gold (24K) tends to be too soft for most jewelry applications, the alloying with nickel, copper and palladium just to name a few serve to harden and sometimes color the pure Gold.
Platinum
Platinum is an ideal choice for use in jewelry due to it’s strength, durability and resistance to tarnishing. Due to it’s rarity Platinum is significantly higher in price than Gold, but it’s value is undeniable.
Because of its greater resistance to wear and tear, platinum is the ultimate choice when security and durability are the most important aspects under consideration. Platinum is absolutely the best choice for setting a large diamond or rare gemstone is being set into a piece of jewelry. With such a piece, the peace of mind that comes from a platinum setting certainly justifies the small additional cost.
When it comes to considering a jewelry purchase, platinum has several qualities that make it an attractive choice. The most appealing feature of platinum is its durability. Platinum is more resistant to wear and tear than gold or silver. Platinum is a dense and strong metal, and thus it will not chip or splinter easily. Most platinum jewelry is 95% pure platinum and 5% alloy (usually ruthenium).
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