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Color

Clarity

Cut

Carat Weight

Diamond Education

For 1,000 years, starting in roughly the 4th century BC, India was the only source of diamonds. They are the hardest gemstone on earth, and rated as a top on the MOHS scale. For the refractive index (velocity in free space / velocity in the material), diamonds are rated 2.42 which affects how light is able to pass through and reflect into the material. There is very little loss in energy when light passes through a diamond. Double refraction : Light goes through the table and bounces, enabling you to see all of the gemstone.

Colored Gemstone Education

The two categories to break down colored gemstones are precious and semi-precious. Precious gemstones include diamonds, ruby sapphires and emeralds. Semi-precious gemstones include hundreds, but the most commonly used are Aquamarine, Agate, Amber, Ametrine, Amythest, Apatite, Beryl, Cat’s Eye, Chrysoberyl, Citrine, Coral, Garnet, Iolite, Jadeite, Jasper, Kunzite, Labradorite, Lapis, Lazuli, Moonstone, Morganite, Nephrite, Onyx, Opal, Pearl, Peridot, Spinel, Sunstone, Tanzanite, Topaz, Tourmaline, Turquoise and Zircon, .

Precious Metal Education

Gold – The most desirable of all precious metals for jewelry. In addition to being used for jewelry it is also used as a currency.
Silver – Also used as a currency, and able to take a very high polish, creating a brilliant white silver color. Typically used at 92.5% purity for jewelry. And for coins and bullion, the ratio of purity is between 90 – 99.99%.
Platinum – More rare than gold, it also has a higher density. It’s used in jewelry with a 90 – 99.99% purity. It never tarnishes.

Other commonly used precious metals for jewelry include brass, copper, nickel, palladium, titanium, and tungsten carbine.

Engagement Ring Education

Diamonds lasts forever – They are the hardest, most durable gemstone, which is why they are the gemstone used to represent a lasting marriage. The engagement ring is a promise of love, dedication, honor and lotalty.

3 Month Rule
This rule created by De Beers states that a person should spend 3 months worth of salary for an engagement ring.

Wedding Ring Education

The wedding band is closest to your heart, which is why it goes on first.

While the focus of the engagement is the diamond, the importance of the wedding ring is that it is worn at all times.

Appraisal Education

Jewelry appraisals are descriptions of measurement, weight and market value of jewelry pieces used to calculate the estimated value for personal, resale or insurance purposes.

For jewelry appraisals to be acknowledged by insurance companies they are required to be appraised by a graduate gemologist.

Jewelry Repair Education

The more common type of jewelry repairs are ring sizing, repairs setting heads / prongs, solder repairs, laser repairs (fusing metal together), gemstone settings or re-setting, re-stringing, polishing and refinishing jewelry.

Gemstone Certification Education

The three most regarded independent gemological laboratories are AGS, EGL and GIA.

When buying and selling gemstones of value, we typically recommend and/or require a gemological certificate. In these certificates, typically included are cut, color, clarity, weight, proportion, polish, symmetry, gemstone identity, as well as any alterations or enhancements.