DIAMOND

Birthstone of April  - Very loyal:  Still a Girl’s best friend

Diamond is the most popular gemstones because of its hardness,  brilliance and fire.  They occur in nature as eight-sided crystals known as octahedrons (eight faces).  To best use their natural form and unique optical properties, they are commonly fashioned into the 58-facet cut known as the modern round brilliant.

It is thought that diamond mining as an industry originated in India between 800 and 600 B.C. The oldest evidence of the use of diamond as an ornament is a Greek statue (now in the British Museum) which has two small diamonds for eyes, and is dated by experts at the 5th Century B.C.  Some scholars think that the campaigns of Alexander the Great in the 4th Century B.C. quickened commerce with the Orient.  A few diamonds found their way to Europe in the next 400 years, but at the time of Christ, the diamond was still a rarity.  Pliny the elder, the great Roman philosopher of the 1st Century A.D., describes six kinds of diamonds, commenting on their unspeakable hardness, and saying that they were so rare as to be owned "only by kings." He goes on to say that the diamond would withstand the test of being pounded with a hammer on an anvil, without breaking; and that the only way to soften one was to soak it in goat's blood. These two quaint, incorrect ideas persisted for many years afterward.
The custom of wearing a diamond as a personal adornment was introduced in Europe about the year 1430.  A lady of the French court, one Agnes Sorel, is usually given credit for the idea. Following her leadership, fashionable women throughout the continent created a demand for diamonds.  The 15th century marked the beginning of a "boom" in the Indian mines which lasted over 300 years.

Special Care instructions: 
normal care (skip the goat’s blood); for yellow diamonds, avoid heat and re-cutting 

The 4C's of Diamonds   The 4C's method is used to rate diamonds.   The more you know about them, the better off you are when you make your next diamond purchase.

Cut -  The brilliance of your diamond comes from the way it reflects light from its many faceted surfaces and refraction of light from within—a result of symmetry. The better the proportions, the greater the dispersion and fire.  Its value and beauty come from reflecting and refracting the maximum amount of light possible.  This feature is not addressed by most diamond merchants, yet it can be as much of the third of the value.

Color - A diamond's value increases dramatically with each level of color quality. Although many are or appear to be colorless, most diamonds contain tints of yellow or brown in varying degrees.

Clarity - With powerful magnification, you can find microscopic crystals or minerals (called "inclusions") inside almost every diamond, giving each diamond its own unique personality. The size and number of inclusions affect the value of the diamond, especially if they are eye-visible. Even though minute inclusions can reduce the cost of a diamond, they do not mar its beauty.

Carat Weight - Size is the most visible factor that determines the value of a diamond, simply because larger stones are rarer than smaller ones. A diamond's size is established by measuring its weight in "carats". Each carat contains 100 "points," so a diamond weighing 150 points is described as 1.50 carats.  

DIAMOND BUYING

Buying diamonds is probably one of the blinder purchases a person can make, because a consumer cannot really discern what he or she is getting just by looking at it. That is why the credentials, expertise and integrity of your jeweler are so important. Most retail establishments commonly in the business of buying and selling diamonds will give you the weight, color and clarity of a diamond, but do not offer any information concerning the symmetry and polish.  This last element is critically important, since a diamond will appear "lifeless" and have little brilliance and dispersion without proper proportions and finish.  A diamond’s worth is more on its ability to show "fire".  It actually has as much influence on the value of a diamond as do color and clarity.

In purchasing a diamond from anyone, it is wise to ask for a document which explains what the grades are, including color, clarity, cut and weight.  It should also have a statement which allows for a FULL refund in the event a recognized appraiser or laboratory determines that the diamond is not what it is purported to be. Many retail establishments will "exchange" a diamond if there is a controversy, but will not make a refund. This creates a problem in that you may never get a diamond that is what it's supposed to be!  

GUARANTEES- IN WRITING – for diamonds!

When you buy an automobile, tires or a battery, it is customary and expected that you receive a document that spells out what your guarantee is.  This will include a factory defect, length of time and/or how many miles   Why would you not be given or ask for a guarantee when buying a diamond?  Do you even get a bill of sale?  If so, does it just say diamond ring and the price?  It should say much more.  Included should be the shape, color, clarity, cut and weight, defined in the terms of the Gemological Institute of America or the American Gem Society. 
It should also have a statement that if a credentialed appraiser, who is also a Graduate Gemologist, finds that the grading is less than purported to be, the merchant must make it right or you have the option of obtaining a full refund (not just a store credit).

Most merchants may give you the weight, color and clarity of the diamond, but fail to tell you about the polish and symmetry and whether or not there is any notable fluorescence.  These elements can significantly change the value to as much as one-third.  If two merchants both offer a 1.00ct. round diamond, of H color and VS1 clarity (stated accurately), and the price disparity is substantially different between the them, guess what?  They haven’t told you everything.  As long as a diamond looks near colorless and you can’t see any inclusions with the unaided eye, that’s acceptable.  But not a diamond that lacks life!  If a diamond doesn’t possess the proper proportions to give maximum brilliance, scintillation and dispersion, you missed the purpose in having a diamond.

You won’t get comments on color or clarity, but you will hear “Wow, does that sparkle!”