Nov 2nd, 2009
by Andy Johnson.
Perhaps the first decision in selecting a diamond ring is which diamond shape you are seeking. Diamond cutters craft diamonds in several shapes for diamond rings, some of which are round, princess, marquise, pear, and oval. The shape of a diamond determines its outward appearance, and you will likely realize a natural preference for a particular shape as you shop. Some rings have one central diamond, as in the traditional engagement ring, while others have several diamonds that may be the same or different shapes.
Yellow gold, white gold, platinum—there are a number of metals that are common for diamond rings. Platinum is a popular option for engagement rings and eternity rings because of its resilience, though it comes with a higher price tag than other metals. Silver, on the other hand, is prone to corrosion and thus is not the best choice for frequently worn rings such as wedding bands and eternity rings. Discuss with your jeweler the metal that is right for you, taking into consideration its color, durability and resistance to corrosion.
Something you will quickly realize when shopping for diamond rings is that diamonds are affixed to rings in a variety of ways. The way that a gem is set and held in place is referred to as its setting. Several setting styles are common for diamond rings, some of which are the bezel setting, channel setting, and prong setting. The shape and size of a diamond and the strength of the metal used may help determine the type of setting that is used in a particular ring.
Perhaps you already have in mind the type of diamond ring you are seeking, or maybe you prefer to explore all of the options until you simply discover the perfect ring. With the multitude of diamond ring styles available, having an idea of the shape, type of metal and setting style you prefer can help you in your quest for the diamond ring that best suits your taste and personality.
Jun 25th, 2009
by Marion Chamberlain.
Surprisingly, man-made diamonds are as real as the ‘real’ diamonds from a mine. The only difference is that man-made diamonds are made in a factory using the latest technology to compress carbon at a high pressure. As for the real diamonds from the mine, the diamonds are created using the natural process of compression, but it takes millions of years to achieve the same result.
As such, you can get the cheapest diamond in the world if you buy the synthetic diamonds, which is just the same as the real diamonds that cost you a fortune to get but a carat of it. The best part is the man-made diamonds are very much the same as the real diamonds. It is difficult to tell them apart for a common person. Only an expert can separate the real from the fake, but overall it looks just the same and sparkles just the same. Therefore, there is no difference if you are going to buy a man-made diamond ring for your wedding or engagement because, basically, they are the same except the time involved to produce each of them.
There is an increase in man-made diamond production, as there are more and more people looking to own diamonds without having to pay a hefty price. So the Demand for man-made diamond is on the rise. As long as the diamonds are real, they are excellent. Who says it must be originally from a mine, as not only do they cost a fortune but the man-made diamonds are exactly the same. However, if you are looking for real diamonds at a cheaper price, you look for real diamonds with round cut. It is the most popular shape of diamonds used for making bracelets, rings and earrings. Besides, since there are so many round diamonds compared to other shapes of diamonds, it stands to reason that this type would be slightly cheaper.
When it comes to choosing the cheapest diamonds, you must learn the 4C’s rule. The 4C’s are carat, clarity, colour and cut. Carat is a measurement of the diamond’s weight. The more carats mean the diamond is heavier and naturally more expensive. The number of inclusions available determines clarity. The fewer inclusions the more value it would be. Colour plays an important role as well in the pricing because if the colour were rare then the diamond would be very valuable. As for the cut, different cuts have different values.