CUT
Every diamond regardless of its shape gets it brilliancy and scintillation by cutting and polishing the diamond facets to allow the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be reflected and dispersed back through its top.
COLOR
Diamonds are found with a range of colors. From faint yellow or brown through to the very rare pinks, blues, greens and other colors known as "Fancies". However, the best color for a diamond is no color. It is a totally colorless diamond that allows white light to pass effortlessly through it and be dispersed as rainbows of color.
DEF
Colorless
GHIJ
Near Colorless
K L M
Faint Yellow
N O P Q R
Very Light Yellow
STUVWXYZ
Light Yellow
CLARITY
To determine a diamond's clarity, it is viewed under 10-power magnification by a trained eye. Most diamonds contain very tiny natural birthmarks known as inclusions. However, the fewer and smaller the inclusions are, the less likely it is that they will interfere with the passage of light through the diamond, and the more beautiful the diamond will be. Diamonds, more than any other gemstone, have the capability to produce the maximum amount of brilliance. A diamond that is free of both inclusions and surface blemishes is very rare and therefore more valuable.
Flawless
VVS1, VS1, SI1, I1, I3
Internally Flawless
VVS2, VS2, SI2, I2
CARAT-WEIGHT
The weight of the diamond is measured in carats. One carat is divided into 100 "points", so that a diamond of 75 points weighs .75 carats. Carat-weight is the easiest of the 4C's to determine. But two diamonds of equal weight can have very unequal value, depending on the cut, color and clarity, fine quality, can be found in diamonds of all shapes and sizes.
Diamonds are cut into a number of shapes, depending on the nature of the rough stone. The most popular are round, marquise, oval, pear, heart and emerald, and the choice is largely a matter of personal preference. Whatever the shape, a well-cut diamond is the work of a master diamond cutter. When cut to good proportions, the diamond is better able to handle light, creating more scintillation, more sparkle.
About Birthstones
Just about everyone knows what his or her birthstone is.
Why is that?
Because people still enjoy the folklore associated with the tradition of the birthstone. They like believing that wearing a birthstone brings them good luck and protects them.
Early civilization as far back as the Assyrians (1400 BC) invested rare and beautiful gemstones with magical properties. Some minerals were thought to contain a force or possess certain values and powers. For instance, amethyst was said to prevent intoxication.
Tradition associates a gem with each sign of the zodiac based on a color system. Color was thought to unleash the power attributed to the stone.In time, birthstones became associated with calendar months rather than the zodiac. And people began to select birthstones in colors other than the original.
The Roman, Arabic, Jewish, Polish, Russian and Italian lists were all different.
The following list of birthstones, which is the one commonly used today, was adopted in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers, which later evolved into the Jewelers of America.
Month
Color
Stone
January
Dark Red
Garnet
February
Purple
Amethyst
March
Pale Blue
Aquamarine
April
White (Clear)
Diamond
May
Bright Green
Emerald
June
Cream Pearl
Pearl and Alexandrite
July
Red
Ruby
August
Pale Green
Peridot
September
Deep Blue
Sapphire
October
Variegated
Opal or Tourmaline
November
Yellow
Topaz or Citrine
December
Sky Blue
Turquoise or Blue Topaz - Lucky for those born in this month
Tanzanite is now recognized as a December birthstone.
Anniversary Gifts
The chart below shows both the traditional and modern (our personal favorite) anniversary gift list. Keep in mind, if you aren't interested in the item listed as this year's choice, diamonds are always an appropriate substitute!
Anniversary
Traditional
Modern
First
Paper
Clocks
Second
Cotton
China
Third
Leather
Crystal/Glass
Fourth
Fruit or Flowers
Major Appliance
Fifth
Wood
Silverware
Sixth
Candy or Iron
Wood
Seventh
Wool/Copper
Desk Set
Eighth
Bronze/Pottery
Linens/Lace
Ninth
Pottery/Willow
Leather
Tenth
Tin/Aluminum
Diamond Jewelry
Eleventh
Steel
Fashion Jewelry
Twelfth
Silk/Linen
Pearls
Thirteenth
Lace
Textiles/Furs
Fourteenth
Ivory
Gold Jewelry
Fifteenth
Crystal
watches
Twentieth
China
Platinum
Twenty Fifth
Silver
Silver
Thirtieth
Pearl
Diamond
Thirty Fifth
Coral
Jade
Fortieth
Ruby
Ruby
Forty Fifth
Sapphire
Sapphire
Fiftieth
Gold
Gold
Fifty Fifth
Emerald
Emerald
Sixtieth
Diamond
Diamond
Ring Sizing Guide
This guide will help you to narrow down your ring size or guess the approximate size of anothers finger. Remember, we always prefer that you have your finger professionally sized but this will work as a guideline. Click on the guide image so that it will open in a new window, then print and cut out the guide below and line up the end of the arrow (black line) with the coordinating number.
