Does a diamond need a certificate? It’s a question we’re asked with growing frequency. Our shoppers are smart – and after learning the 4 C’s, they’re ready to dive headfirst into diamond shopping. Because most of our customers now come in ready with some sort of education, they’ve also more than likely read up on diamond…
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When it comes to the 4 C’s of diamonds, we’re quick to add a 5th C to your vocabulary list – certificate. It’s a factor in diamond shopping (and, of course, grading) that warrants discussion, but often gets passed over to focus on the nitty gritty of the traditional 4 C’s. This is because not…
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Everything looks better in pink – especially diamonds. No diamond sparks excitement and admiration like the pink diamond. As the creme de la creme of gems, it bestows an aura of wealth, luxury and status to its owner. It should come as no surprise, then, that some pink diamonds have fetched the biggest dollar figures…
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The purchase of diamond jewelry often not only marks a great milestone in life, but also represents one of the larger financial outlays most people will make for a single item. It makes sense that most purchasers of diamonds would like to know exactly what they are getting. While a diamond may appear beautiful enough…
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The Hope Diamond is arguably the world’s most famous diamond. Like its modern day counterpart, the headline-snatching 100 carat beauty that sold for $22 million at Sotheby’s, the Hope Diamond is huge, renowned, and beautiful. This stunner is sure to enter the annals of famous diamonds, but when it comes to household names, no diamond’s…
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Last fall, Rapaport (the online diamond marketplace) banned EGL certified diamonds. What are EGL certified diamonds? They’re diamonds graded by the European Gemological Institute, one of the handful of diamond grading labs. These labs exist to certify diamonds based on grading criteria including a variety of factors, but primarily the 4 C’s: Cut Color Clarity…
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According to Lord Tennyson, “In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” For many, the next step in this sequence of romance is learning about the facts of life – or at least the 4Cs of diamonds. When an individual inexperienced in this modern expression of love walks into a…
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Shopping for an engagement ring this holiday season? We’ve got you covered. We know it can be frustrating to shop online, especially, where you’re bombarded by pictures of 5 carat stunners that cost more than some people make in a year. But gorgeous engagement rings for every budget are out there. And we’re highlighting some of…
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Colored diamonds are found in nature and also created in the laboratory. The GIA (better known as the Gemological Institute of America) states that one out of every 10,000 diamonds is colored naturally. There are 27 hues that appear naturally in diamonds, according to the GIA. Pressure and varying degrees of radiation can impact the…
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A great piece of jewelry can stay in a family for generations. Some might keep it as a family heirloom but others might be interested in preserving it as a long-term investment. If you are an avid jewelry fan or collector, you’ll want to follow some best practices to ensure that your valuables stay that…
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The Gemological Institute of America (or GIA) has now created technology that will help it detect synthetic diamonds. This is great news for you, the shopper, as it helps protect you from fake diamonds sold at authentic diamond prices. Curious as to what a ‘synthetic’ diamond is? These are basically laboratory created diamonds or diamonds…
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The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a nonprofit association that is recognized around the world as the most trusted source for accurate gemstone grading. GIA’s mission is to “protect all buyers and sellers of gemstones maintaining the standards used to evaluate gemstone quality.” GIA’s diamond and gem grading reports allow customers and jewelers to…
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Tuesday saw a record number of weddings, even if it had not a work day. According to the Los Angeles Times, 3,320 couples tied the knot in contrast to the 371 on the second Tuesday of November last year. That’s because brides, looking for a way to make their wedding stand out from all the…
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Vincent Boucher, a financier from Montreal, and the holder of degrees in political science, aerospace engineering and physics, is the owner of a world record breaking gemstone. It is known as a Paraiba tourmaline, so named after the region in Brazil where these jewels are mined. Boucher, a former employee with the Canadian Space Agency,…
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A 14 Carat fancy vivid orange diamond is being auctioned by Christie’s. It is the world’s largest orange diamond. It is set to lead their Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva, Switzerland on November 12. The estimated sale price is between $17 million to $20 million. That comes out to be around $1.3 million per carat.…
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