The diamond consists of pure crystallized carbon. A diamond begins to crystallize below the earth's surface among a mixture of liquids, gases, and crystals. Diamonds are from 900 million to 3.2 billion years old.
In 1477 AD, Archduke Maximilian of Hamburg started the trend with European nobility by giving a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy as a sign of their engagement. He placed the ring on the third finger of her left hand. The placement of the ring on this finger was believed by ancient Egyptians to have a vein that led directly to the heart. She accepted his proposal and the diamond engagement ring was born!
The history of the engagement ring has continued through the ages and the demand for diamonds and engagement rings is still rising.
At Whitehall, we believe the more you know about jewelry, the more confident you'll feel about choosing an exquisite diamond or finely crafted piece of jewelry that will have lasting memories for years to come.
Every diamond is a complex constellation of factors that determine the rarity of each stone. Each diamond is as unique as the person who owns it.
Just as a diamond reflects the color of the light it bears, it should also reflect the personality of the individual who wears it.
Diamonds are graded using a system that evaluates the gemstone on its cut, color, clarity and carat weight - commonly known as the "Four C's. Some diamonds are sold as "certified diamonds" and come with a certificate that summarizes the gemstone's characteristics. Even non-certified diamonds are evaluated using the four C's to help determine value.
In the next section, you will learn what each of the 4C's means and how it affects the value of the diamond. Although it takes a trained eye to actually see the qualities described here, knowing what they mean can help you make a good choice in selecting your diamond.
Cut -
Refers to the angles and proportions a skilled craftsman creates in transforming a rough diamond into a polished diamond. It is the cutters efforts during every stage of the faceting process that reflects the maximum amount of light back to the eye. Most round, brilliant-cut or fancy-shaped diamonds possess 58 carefully angled flat surfaces, called facets. The precision of each facet's placement will affect the amount of fire, brilliance and ultimate beauty of your diamond.
The cut of a diamond determines its brilliance. There is no single measurement of a diamond that defines its cut, but rather a collection of measurements and observations that determine the relationship between a diamond's light performance, dimensions and finish. Most gemologists consider cut the most important diamond characteristic because even if a diamond has perfect color and clarity, a diamond with a poor cut will have lackluster brilliance.
Here's the secret to how a diamond sparkles:
The diamond with the correct proportions does a more effective job of refracting light out the top (table) of the gemstone to your eye. The less-than-ideal cut diamonds allow some light to become lost out the bottom.
Many people confuse cut with the shape of a diamond. The shape you select is a matter of individual taste, and today the skill and imagination of the craftsmen only limit your choice.
Color -
Refers to the amount of color in a diamond or lack thereof. Though most diamonds appear to be white, the fact is that most diamonds have slight traces of color, usually yellow or brown. Only 2% of the world's diamonds qualify as colorless, in other words there is no trace of color. Due to its rarity, colorless diamonds are more valuable than diamonds with traces of color. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) color grades range from D (colorless) all the way to Z (yellow-brownish).
Whitehall offers colorless diamonds for sale in both bridal and in solitaires. Diamonds are certified by gemological laboratories, as colorless ensuring a bright and lasting beauty in every diamond purchase.
Clarity -
Refers to a diamonds relative freedom from inclusions and blemishes. Many diamonds have inclusions (trace minerals or other tiny imperfections inside the stone). A diamond that is free of inclusions and surface markings will be graded as flawless. To determine a diamond's clarity grading, it must be examined under a 10x magnification by a trained eye. What inclusions the diamond has, make it unique. However, the fewer inclusions there are on the diamond, the rarer it will be.
Listed below are the ratings for Clarity:
Choosing a Diamond -
The first step in choosing a diamond is deciding what shape you want. While the round shape is the most popular, there are many classic shapes to choose which deliver brilliance and fire.
The most popular and commonly seen shape for diamonds are round or brilliant cuts, which have 57 or 58 facets (depending on whether the culet, or point at the bottom of the stone, is faceted or not). It's the 'classic' shape that most people think of when they think of a diamond. But the round cut is by far not your only choice. All shapes are capable of fantastic fire and brilliance.
Carat Weight -
A diamond's weight is determined by carat weight. One carat is divided into 100 "points" so that a diamond of 25 points is described as a quarter of a carat, or 0.25 carats. Size is only one factor in determining the value of a diamond. Two diamonds of equal size can have different prices, depending on their quality. Diamonds of high quality can be found in all size ranges.
Of the Four C's, carat weight is the easiest to measure. A carat weight measures the weight of a diamond.
Weight Points
1 carat stone 1.00 carat 100 points
¾ carat stone .75 carats 75 points
½ carat stone .50 carats 50 points
All diamonds are not created equal. Two diamonds of equal carat weight may vary substantially in price due to their Cut, Color and Clarity.
The carat weight of a diamond is an important factor in determining its value. Diamonds are valued on a per-carat basis. For example, a diamond of exceptionally high quality may sell for $20,000 per carat, while one of lesser quality may sell for $1,000 per carat. As you take a stone of a particular cut, color and clarity and move its carat weight to the next price category, you may see quite a large increase in the price per carat. When choosing a diamond, all 4Cs must be taken into account.
Certification -
Diamond grading reports are prepared by Certified Gemologists evaluating the specific characteristics of the diamond. At Whitehall Jewelers, several of our diamonds are independently certified by accredited independent gemological laboratories.
Diamond Care -
Once you purchase a diamond from Whitehall Jewelers, proper care is needed to protect your investment. Whitehall Jewelers will provide lifetime inspection and cleaning of your diamond. To maintain its brilliance, a diamond should be cleaned regularly. It can be cleaned in a solution of half-ammonia and water. Soak your diamond for 30 minutes, brush clean with a soft bristle brush, rise in clear water and dry with a lint-free cloth. Everyday activity can loosen a diamond setting, so be sure to have your diamond jewelry checked regularly at Whitehall every six months.
Avoid wearing your diamonds while doing housework, yard work or any other kind of rough work. When doing household chores, never allow your jewelry to come into contact with chlorine bleach. Even though a diamond can only be scratched by another diamond, a hard blow could chip it.
[back to top]
In every 10,000 oysters, you might be lucky enough to find a single natural pearl. The pearls most of us wear today are cultured pearls, their existence initiated by humans who insert a bead into an oyster. The mollusk coats the bead with nacre, the layers that gives pearls their unique appearance.
The depth of the nacre coating depends on the type of creature involved, the water it lives in, and how long the bead is left in place before it is removed. As nacre thickness increases, so does the quality and durability of the pearl.
Caring for Your Pearls - Cultured pearls are especially soft and vulnerable. When getting dressed, your cultured pearls should be the last item you put on and the first item you take off. Makeup, hair spray, perfume and other chemicals are very harmful to cultured pearls. It's a good idea to wipe them with a clean, damp cloth after each use to remove build-up, dirt and oil. Also, make sure your cultured pearls are completely dry before putting them away. Hot water, steam, extreme temperatures and ultrasonic cleaners should be avoided as well. Upon inspection, some jewelers may also recommend restringing your cultured pearls.
[back to top]
Besides Diamonds, colored gemstones are popular and the bright colors of the gems give each a unique personality.
Precious Gemstones -
Among the most prized are considered precious: sapphire, ruby and emerald. Precious gemstones with good color and large size are so rare that naturally un-enhanced colored stones can be worth as much or more than a diamond.
Semi-Precious Gemstones -
A semi-precious gemstone includes any gemstone other than sapphire, emerald or ruby. The value of semi-precious gemstones can vary depending on the availability of the mineral; natural black opal, for example, is hard to come by and more valuable than most other semi-precious stones. As a rule, however, semi-precious stones are always more plentiful than precious stones. In addition, the wide range of colors available makes semi-precious stones the choice for people who want to create their own look with their jewelry.
Birthstones -
The origin of the birthstone originated to the time of Moses. There were twelve tribes of ancient Israel, twelve apostles, and twelve foundation stones of the Holy City, twelve months of the year and twelve signs of the zodiac. Over the centuries, the number twelve developed mystical (proportions). As time passed, people began wearing one gemstone each month for his or her stone of birth, therefore the mythology of birthstones evolved.
Pictured below are the 12 birthstones for the designated months:
[back to top]
Gold -
Prized for its beauty and versatility, gold is the classic setting for most jewelry. Unlike some metals, gold retains a beautiful luster. Pure gold doesn't react with other elements to create tarnish. Sometimes people have allergy or staining problems with metals that are combined with gold, but the gold itself is rarely a problem.
- The ring on your finger is marked with either an 18K, 14K, or 10K. The "K" stands for karat, the system used to describe the percentage of pure gold an item contains. The higher the number of karats, the higher the percentage of gold in your jewelry. 24K gold is pure gold.
- 18K gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts of additional metals, making it 75% gold.
- 14K gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts of additional metals, making it 58.3% gold.
There are distinct advantages to both yellow and white gold. The most common form of gold used, yellow gold is created with an alloy of silver, copper and zinc mixed with gold. White gold is created by an alloy of nickel and other metals (copper and zinc) mixed with gold. Both yellow and white gold are similar in strength and durability; it is the karat weight and design that affects the price. In some jewelry, white and yellow gold are paired together, producing a beautiful two-tone look.
Platinum -
Platinum has become an extremely popular jewelry metal, especially for rings. Its natural white color is a beautiful complement to diamonds, while its rarity also makes it highly valued. Although they appear similar, platinum should never be mistaken for white gold. Not only do the two metals differ in strength, but also in color. White gold is originally produced from yellow gold, while platinum is already white. Therefore, the color of platinum is actually whiter than white gold. Compared to gold, platinum is five times as rare and weighs much more. It is also tarnish-resistant and hypoallergenic.
Sterling Silver -
The use of silver dates back thousands of years and is still an admired jewelry metal today. Like gold, silver is too soft to use in its purest form and is combined with other metals to increase its strength. Sterling silver must be at least 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% or less of other metals. Silver is prone to tarnishing, but can be easily cleaned with regular polishing.
Titanium -
Titanium is a recent addition to the jewelry industry-admired for its unique appearance and strength. Much lighter than steel yet three times stronger, titanium is not combined with other metal alloys. It weighs 1/3 less than gold and is highly resistant to dents and bending. Also, this hypoallergenic metal will not corrode over time. The most classic colors of titanium are gray and black with beautiful finishes such as satin, frost or high-polish. It's also important to note that the process of soldering (melting metal and joining it together) is applied to many metals, except titanium. Therefore, titanium rings cannot be resized.
Stainless Steel -
Stainless steel is becoming very popular among jewelry wearers. This metal is very easy to maintain because it is less likely to rust and corrode than regular steel and other metals. The chromium present in stainless steel (generally at least 10.5%) resists the process of oxidation, preventing rust or "stains" from appearing on the steel's surface. Stainless steel is admired for its strength.
Tungsten -
One of the newest metals to the jewelry industry, tungsten has many fine qualities. Resistant to corrosion, tungsten is four times harder than titanium and very dense. Its supreme strength ensures that the metal cannot bend, but it also cannot be resized. Polish for tungsten jewelry can be permanent, meaning little maintenance is required.
Metal Care -
When it comes to caring for your metal, it's important to remember that every metal is different. While little maintenance is needed for durable metals such as tungsten, other metals require some attention. Platinum is the strongest metal but is susceptible to scratches. You can remove build-up with jewelry cleaner or mild soap and water.
For silver, use a mild soap and water solution, allowing the water to bead up, and then patting dry with a soft cloth. For more stubborn dirt, use a jewelry cleaner designed for silver use. (If you do use silver cleaner, make sure you keep it away from any gems set in the silver.) The highest recommended product to use for removing tarnish from sterling silver jewelry is a silver cloth.
Gold is another metal that needs gentle care. Soap film easily builds on the surface of gold, so it's best to remove your gold jewelry before showering or using household cleaners or chemicals. Chlorine has also been known weaken gold, causing it to break more easily. Placing your gold jewelry in a solution containing a few drops of ammonia, mild detergent and warm water will bring back its shine. Rubbing alcohol can also be used to remove grease and body oil from gold jewelry.
[back to top] |
