Clarity Enhanced Diamond: Inexpensive Alternatives

Diamonds are one of the most desired commodities by many women worldwide. In fact, if you are a man and would wish to sweep your woman off her feet, might as well give her fine jewelry encrusted with diamonds. Of course, diamonds aren't cheap; just a piece could already cost you a fortune especially if you are rooting for the ones that are rare and have high quality features. However, if you really like to seal your vows of love with diamonds without spending too much, you could simply opt for diamonds that were enhanced to improve some of their features.

Clarity is one of the most vital features of a diamond as it serves as a determining factor to know the real market value of such gemstone. Untouched loose diamonds for instance, often have higher price tags as their clarity along with their remaining C's have no imperfections and inclusions. However, the market today also has what are now referred to as clarity enhanced sparklers. Unlike expensive flawless diamonds, these sparklers have lower price tags because of the clarity manipulation carried out to make them visually appealing.

Clarity enhanced diamond is a diamond that had exemplify eye visible imperfections. This simply means that the said diamond had low clarity grade, and because no jewelry buyer would like to have a visibly imperfect diamond, its imperfections, that often affect the stone's clarity, are treated in order to make it more visually clear. Once the enhancement is carried out, there would be no discernible differences between enhanced and untouched diamonds. Enhanced diamonds are also referred to as "fracture filled diamonds."

There are several types of enhancement process carried out in order to achieve clarity enhanced diamond. The most common method is known as drilling wherein a tiny hole is drilled toward the diamond in order to remove minerals and other elements that causes discoloration. This process is done using a laser, which emits a beam capable of creating a neat hole directly towards the gemstone's inclusion. After this, the diamond may be left with a small fracture which would be filled with a heavy glass that is definitely unnoticeable by the naked eyes; this latter process is also referred to as fracture filling.

If you have the intent to buy a diamond, one thing that you must remember is that in adherence to the FTC rules, diamonds that had augmentations other than basic cutting, cleaning and polishing should be fully disclosed to the buyer. However, just for a safe bet you may want to ask the jeweler if you can have the diamond appraised by an independent appraising firm. Remember a clarity enhanced diamond is hardly discernible. Hence, the best thing that you could do is to have the diamond tested in order to know whether it has been enhanced or not.

If you're a guy who would like to have a decent looking diamond that would complement your limited budget, a clarity enhanced sparkler would definitely be a good choice. Clarity aside, if all the other features of the enhanced diamond are in premium condition and the stone itself has no discernible imperfections, then don't let the thought of enhancement discourage you from giving such diamond to your loved one. Parallel to untouched diamonds, treated diamonds also suit well with all sorts of fine jewelry pieces and are surely going to last for long. Thus, enhanced diamonds are good gemstones that could also definitely sweep your woman off her feet.

Fine jewelry pieces have always been the most preferred gifts for women. What better way to improve their aesthetics by incorporating them with loose diamonds that could add up to their sparkle and appeal. However, as diamonds could be truly expensive, especially if they are untouched, clarity enhanced diamond pieces are cost-efficient substitutes for flawless sparklers. If you really are on a tight budget, settling for treated diamonds is a good means to maximize your resources.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Loose Diamonds: Choosing Based On Cut

Why get loose diamonds? They're not quite as practical as earrings and necklaces. You would not be able to have them on you or display them anywhere you go. But diamonds have a beauty on their own that can't be revealed by diamonds set in jewelry. They seem even more exceptional when they are bought for their own sake.

Diamonds are available in a variety of designs, known in the trade as cuts. The most famous of these is the round brilliant cut. Simply put, the round brilliant is the most famous because it provides the most brilliance. The way it has been cut makes it reflects the most light. What most people don't know is that the shape of the round brilliant is the most wasteful. As much as half of the original diamond is left out when it is turned into a round brilliant. For this reason, diamonds are produced in several other shapes as well, commonly known as fancy cuts.

Now some of the fancy cuts are already based on familiar shapes, and will appeal to people even if they aren't that familiar with diamonds. The heart and oval cuts describe themselves. The pear cut is often viewed as an upside down teardrop.

On the other hand, how do you explain to people the differences between the Asscher and emerald cut, or the princess and radiant cut, when they all share the same rectangular shape? This is where we get a bit technical, but fortunately you don't have to get that esoteric.

Emerald and Asscher cuts are both step cuts. In contrast to the round brilliant, they are rectangular in shape, with each side bordered with small steps. Step cuts accentuate lustre and clarity over brilliance. The Asscher cut has been popular for over 100 years, and its proportions are less even.

The princess and radiant cuts comprise a third category, known as mixed cuts. They have more brilliance than step cuts, but are more cost-efficient than brilliant cuts. The princess cut is the most popular next to the round brilliant, whereas the radiant cut has over 70 cuts.

When choosing loose diamonds, you need not be intimidated by technical knowledge. You can buy based on what cut you like. The jeweler, in turn, will narrow your choices in terms of price and quality, and help find the best choice for you.

Diamonds are produced in a variety of designs, known in the trade as cuts. The way the round brilliant cut has been cut makes it reflects the most light. Step cuts accentuate lustre and clarity over brilliance. Mixed cuts evoke the brilliance of brilliant cuts, but are more practical to produce. When selecting loose diamonds, you need not be intimidated by technical knowledge. You can buy based on what cut you like.

-Lorraine Jacobs

What To Know When Buying Diamond Jewelry Gifts

If you're a man, you're probably thinking of giving your bride-to-be a diamond ring and would like to ask her to marry you. The idea seems simple enough; you'd go to a jewelry store, select a diamond worthy for your beloved, pay for it and you're ready to go. Unfortunately though, this isn't always the case because when you see the price tag of your prospective sparkler, you might think twice before you actually get your hands on those sparkly diamond jewelry gifts. If you have the plans to purchase a diamond, it is vital for you to know the tricks of the trade so that in the future when you're ready you would take control of every transaction you make and be able to close a good deal.

According to gemologist and diamond expert, Fred Cuellar, there are four basic things that one has to remember when purchasing diamond jewelry gifts: budget, expectations, savvy and timetable. When it comes to budget, you should be able to allocate the amount that you could afford and as much as possible should not exceed your laid budget plan; a month's salary could already suffice for you to buy a diamond. As for expectations, it is advised for you to know and understand the needs and wants of the person to whom you're about to present the diamond; by doing this you would have a feel of what diamond type would be appropriate for that person. Being savvy is a manner with which you must be aware of the cost of sparklers in the market as well as the designs available; and for timetable, you must know when you will purchase and when you will give the diamond, but be sure to give yourself more time to analyze things so that you could be prepared in any case.

Now that you have a crash course about making diamond purchase, you should also know where to buy your sparklers. You have two options where you could purchase your diamond jewelry gifts: go online or visit local jewelry shops. Buying online is a practical way to secure your diamond without the need to drive around since everything you need is just a click away; however, you should also consider the drawbacks associated with this practice, first you can't appraise the jewelry and second you don't know with whom you are transacting with; if this option is good enough for you, it is crucial for you to do an intensive background check so that you can be assured that you would really get the diamond you are about to purchase. The second option which is to check on your local jewelry shops is still the best because aside from the fact that you could personally appraise the diamond, the jewelers could also assist you on your purchasing decisions.

For the diamond, always consider the 4Cs""clarity, color, cut and carat, as these elements help determine the true value of such gemstone. Clarity refers to the absence and presence of blemishes and inclusion in a diamond. Every diamond is assigned with clarity grades that could go from flawless to obvious inclusions. In fact, there are so-called clarity enhanced sparklers that are treated to reduce their imperfections via irradiation, filling imperfections, or laser drilling, but they are cheaper than diamond pieces that aren't treated.

When it comes to color, diamond pieces are available in virtually all colors; however, colored sparklers are rare and truly expensive so chances are, the sparklers you would see during your shopping are either white or yellow in color but between the two, it would be better to go for whiter diamond pieces. This is because the yellow coloring of sparklers came from nitrogen which affect their sharp and sparkly features; hence, as a rule of thumb, the yellower the diamond, the cheaper it becomes. When it comes to cut, diamond pieces could be cut in different ways, the most common of which is the round brilliant cut. The first thing to know is that more than the indication of shape, the cut of your diamond also determines how sparkly it can be.

Aside from being clear and white, a diamond cannot be considered as a diamond unless it sparkles, which could only be achieved by properly cutting it. As cut is extremely hard to analyze, the three things that you should look at are brilliance, fire and scintillation; however, if you really want to make things easier, the standard round brilliant cut is probably the most preferable choice compared to other cut. Lastly, the carat refers to the unit weight of a diamond. Majority of diamond pieces utilized for fine jewelry often weight one carat or less; a fraction of a carat could significantly change the amount of the diamond.

If you intend to buy diamond jewelry gifts, chances are, you're having trouble with what to pick. Regardless if you want to buy a round brilliant cut diamond or clarity enhanced diamond, it is always advised to adhere to the BEST guideline which refers to budget, expectations, savvy and timetable. You should also consider the 4Cs of diamond which stands for carat, color, clarity and cut.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Fine Jewelry Forms And Functions

The visual appeal of fine jewelry has never failed to capture our attention. As a matter of fact, jewelry pieces were once considered as the basis of social status especially during the ancient times. These precious objects have profoundly molded some of the most important traditions in history. From necklaces and earrings, to rings and bracelets, these articles have long provided humans with personal satisfaction that no other objects could provide.

There are many kinds of fine jewelry pieces available. Some are used as adornments, while others are used as symbolic tokens for certain occasions. There are also articles of jewelry that are simple in design and inexpensive, while there are also pieces that are expensive due to the materials used to construct them. Some of the most popular and commonly used pieces would be discussed here to provide further understanding about their qualities and uses. Rings are probably the most common forms of jewelry known to man. These jewelry pieces may come in the form of plain cylindrical bands as seen from wedding rings ornamented with precious stones like diamond heart setting, spiral or serpentine coils, signet rings, and open on one side. Rings are used for differing purposes but usually they serve as symbolic tokens given during special events like betrothals and weddings, or just to highlight one's fingers. In the case of signet rings, they commonly bear the emblems of fraternal orders or other organizational insignias.

Another popular type of jewelry is the necklace which is worn around the neck. Basically, there are four general forms of necklaces: close fitting collar band with stones or beads, chain necklace with a single pendant, row of beads that are usually graduated in size held by a wire or chain, and several chains or strings of differing lengths worn on top of each other. Necklaces can be made of different precious metals, gemstones, raw materials or a combination of these items, and are commonly used together with pendants that are made of precious stones; the most of popular of which is the diamond heart pendant. In order to highlight necklaces, they are worn with tops or dresses that have low necklines, as this clothing finish diverts the attention of people towards the neck where the said jewelry is hanged.

Meanwhile, earrings are articles of jewelry used for the ears that could be set against the earlobes or are left as dangling drops. The most favorite form of earrings set against the earlobe is the pair of pearls, while popular hanging drops are the ones referred to as chandelier earrings. Traditionally, it is a requisite to have the ears pierced when wearing earrings as this practice was once considered a barbaric act. Today, earrings can be worn by means of clipping them to the ear, though the method of ear piercing is still practiced.

Another type of fine jewelry is the bracelet, which is worn on the arm. This piece can be in the form of closed band, spiral coils, open on one side, closed with clasps or flexible rings made from several links. Other than the aforementioned pieces, there are other types of jewelry that one may encounter in the market including pins, cuff links, anklets, chains, brooches, and collar buttons to name a few. Overall, jewelry pieces comes in differing quality, sizes, design, price as well as functions; it is up to the owner where and when he or she intend to use these precious materials to gain satisfaction.

Fine jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings are commonly used as personal adornments. However, they can also be used to signify societal status, as a form of currency, symbolism as well as artistic display. They can be made from precious metals set with gemstones just like a diamond heart setting and may come in varying finishes depending on the wearers preference.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Wedding Ring And Engagement Ring: Similarities And Differences

Since prehistoric times, bands have played significant roles during betrothals and marriages. As a matter of fact, it would be hard to imagine having an engagement and wedding without referring to bands. Due to their long history, the use and functions of wedding ring and engagement ring are often intermingled with each other. But, it should be taken into account that though these jewelry pieces are commonly seen among married women, they profoundly differ from each other in many aspects.

To further outline the differences between wedding ring and engagement ring, it would be logical to start with their individual functions. Basically, an engagement ring is purchased or given by the man to the woman as an indication of their engaged status. On the other hand, wedding bands are jewelry pieces exchanged by the couple during their wedding ceremony to seal their marriage vows, and serves as indication that the wearers are bound by marriage. Right after the wedding and for the years that would follow their marriage, the wedding and engagement bands are worn by the wife, while the man only wears the wedding ring since men does not necessarily need to wear an engagement ring.

Between the two mentioned bands, many couples invest more on their engagement bands than on their wedding bands. In fact, an engagement ring is more attention-grabbing than a wedding ring because it is somehow a silent announcement of the soon-to-be married status of couples. Traditionally, engagement bands have protruding center stones usually made from fine diamond jewelry. Today however, aside from diamond engagement bands, couples can also incorporate other precious stones like ruby, sapphire and opal in place of diamond as the central stone as they are inexpensive but also good in quality and design.

Meanwhile, wedding ring is often plain in design and finish, or at times is designed as the simpler version of the engagement ring. However, the design of the wedding bands is always dependent on the couple's choice; there are couples who also use fine diamond jewelry for their wedding bands, though this is not always the case as the plain finish of such band represents the sanctity of marriage. Both the wedding and engagement bands are traditionally worn on the left finger between the index and pinkie fingers as it is believed that the said finger contain the vena amori or the vein directly connected to the heart. But, this is not always the case as there are cultures that place their wedding and engagement bands on the right hand.

Commonly, wedding and engagement bands are separately purchased. It is also possible that they can be bought as a set, which is why some wedding bands are equally grandiose to their engagement counterparts. If you would be purchasing these bands separately, always try to consider that you would be using them on a daily basis, so when you are to pick each piece select the shape of the gemstone that would complement your lifestyle. A diamond may be hard in nature, but it can chip off or break overtime especially if it has pointed edges; in this case it would be more preferable to choose a round brilliant cut as it could last longer.

Overall, no other jewelry best represents engagement and marriage than the wedding ring and the engagement ring. They indeed have distinct qualities that sets them apart from each other. Regardless of these differences however, it remains a fact that these precious pieces are primarily based on the concept of undying love as seen from the round shape of the bands and their material makeup. They also serve as material seals that strengthen the symbolism and sentimentality of devotion of the couples.

Wedding ring and engagement ring are important jewelry pieces that represent love and devotion. Both these pieces vary greatly from each other in terms of purpose and design. Traditionally, the engagement ring is made from fine diamond jewelry with round brilliant cut that is given to signify the engaged status of couples, while the wedding ring is a simpler version that represents the sanctity of marriage.

-Lorraine Jacobs

Fine Jewelry: The Perfect Gift For Any Occasion

Fine jewelry denotes items that are use as adornments such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches to name a few. Oftentimes, jewelry pieces are made from differing materials ranging from metals and gemstones, to seashells and synthetic materials. Ever since the prehistoric period, jewelry has arrested the attention of humans, and this perspective is still applicable to date. In fact, we use different kinds of jewelry pieces for our daily activities.

Fine jewelry pieces serves the purpose of the perfect gifts for different occasions. This is because they denote fashion sensitivity and timelessness which means they never go out of style regardless of their finish and material, and they cross the boundaries in many societal aspects. One perfect example of this is in the form of engagement and wedding rings which have long been used as tokens to represent two important life occasions""engagement and wedding. Jewelry pieces are also strong manifestations of group membership and acceptance; worldwide, many organizations utilize rings or pins as symbolic representation of entry and acceptance to the organization, brotherhood or camaraderie.

Nowadays there's a wide selection of fine jewelry pieces for both males and females. For women, usual jewelry choices are in the forms of necklaces, earrings, brooches, bracelets and rings. For men, the most common jewelry pieces available are cuff links, tie accessories, watches, customized rings, necklaces and money clips. Overtime, the prices and finishes of jewelry pieces have changed profoundly in order to cater to differing situations, cultures and occasions.

If you are searching for the ideal gift items, jewelry pieces with gemstones is a good choice. Loose diamonds are the most preferable gemstones to accentuate jewelry pieces because they are widely available, cost efficient, and goes well with any jewelry design and occasions. If you are to offer a gift to your loved one, what better way to express it than to give her ring that have loose sparklers set on it during your proposal. This is an excellent way to tell her how much you love her as the ring itself is already representative of your undying and unending love, while the diamonds would represent your indestructible love towards her.

Earrings, bracelets and necklaces that have loose diamonds are also ideal choices as presents as you can never go wrong in terms of design and finish. These jewelry pieces are ideal for your sister, mother or girlfriend during their birthdays or for any special event. Aside from the dainty selection available, their use are never limited to certain occasions but can actually be utilized on a daily basis. Surely, loose sparklers are guaranteed to improve the look of jewelry and make it appear timeless and usable.

If you are a woman and you already ran out of gift ideas for your father or husband, you may want to look at cuff links. Basically, there are no restrictions when it comes to the motifs of cuff links as they best represent the characteristics of men. For example, a round cut matt silver cuff link with loose sparklers can be given to a man who is secretive or authoritative. Overall, jewelry regardless of size, prize and design is the perfect gift idea because it is fashion forward, timeless, encompass your emotions in small but meaningful package, and more importantly they symbolize the personality of the person who's going to wear it.

When it comes to gift ideas, there are many different forms of fine jewelry to choose from. There are necklaces, bracelets and rings to name a few. However, in order to improve their aesthetics, placing loose diamonds can do the trick. For instance, simple round cut loose sparklers set on ring can make such jewelry appear expensive even if it's made from silver. The same thing can happen to other jewelry pieces if incorporated with loose sparklers.

-Lorraine Jacobs

A Simple Guide To Purchasing Cheap Diamonds

The diamond remains as one of the most coveted gems in history. As a matter of fact, the diamond has been used as a symbol of many wonderful concepts like power, love, invincibility, refinement and more. Because of the many beautiful things that such gemstone encompasses and the troubles associated with its mining, owning one could cost a person an arm and leg. If you are on a tight budget and are looking for ways to secure cheap diamond, don't fret, there are certain things that you can do to get this prized possession in just a fraction of its original value.

As a good start, try going online and look for online jewelry shops that sell inexpensive jewelry pieces. Online jewelry shopping is a very practical means to come up with an inexpensive diamond because compared to local jewelry shops that usually place markup prices on their diamonds to cover their overhead expenses, online jewelry stores offer their clients with competitive prices in such a way that they don't incur additional costs often induced by overhead expenses. You can also try participating in online diamond auctions where jewelers usually bring to the table some of their inexpensive diamonds. Of course, if you buy online you are definitely saving your money, time and energy without the need to exhaust yourself from personally visiting one jewelry shop to another.

If you don't have issues with purchasing pre-owned items, then you can personally purchase your diamond at stores that offer discounted or inexpensive jewelry pieces. Pawnshops and thrift shops are stores that often sell pre-owned jewelry pieces. However, make sure that you are knowledgeable enough about diamonds so that you will know if what they are offering are real or not. Similarly, if you really wanted to utilize this option, prepare yourself for series of disappointments because it is more likely to happen that you'd be leaving shops without diamonds at hand, but if you're lucky enough you might end up with a good diamond deal.

Another practical approach that you can do to get cheap diamond is to buy loose diamond. A loose diamond is economical because aside from being a real sparkler it hasn't been used for any jewelry production process; therefore you can buy it in its purest state. It would be more practical to buy loose diamond than to purchase a diamond set on jewelry because you are not required to pay for the metal used for the jewelry, the services, warranty as well as the gift casing often included in ready-to-wear diamond jewelry pieces. With loose diamonds, you can be as creative as you want and make your own customized jewelry designs.

Downgrading is also a good way to get cheap diamond. Downgrading one or two of the 4Cs of diamonds can profoundly affect their market value. If you're worried that downgrading can alter the quality of your diamond, don't fret because downgrading only induces very little or no discernible reduction on the quality of a sparkler. Downgrading can be as simple as purchasing an eye-clear clarity grade diamond or buying a sparkler that has a carat grade lower than exact half numbers or full numbers.

Finally, you can simply go for clarity enhanced diamonds which are also referred to as treated diamonds. All diamonds, except for rare and flawless ones, contain flaws known as inclusion or imperfection. If you are wondering what an inclusion is, it is the determining factor of the clarity grade of a diamond. As such, when referring to clarity enhanced sparklers they are the ones that have imperfections corrected by processes like irradiation, filling imperfections and laser drilling; however, these enhancements, thought they affect the value of diamonds, have unrecognizable impact on the aesthetic appearance of such gemstones.

Cheap diamond is not really hard to find if you just know how and where to find it. Visiting online shops, pawnshops and thrift stores that usually sell inexpensive jewelry pieces is a good start for your search. But then again, if you don't want to waste time searching, you can always go for clarity enhanced diamonds. They are generally inexpensive but have apparent high quality aesthetic appearances.

-Lorraine Jacobs