When choosing an engagement ring, there is more to consider beyond gemstone types. We covered popular center stone settings, and now we’ll share with you a few side stone setting styles. There are many options designed to enhance the gemstone’s beauty while reflecting the personality and lifestyle of its wearer. (more…)
You can buy coffee by the pound. You can even buy deli meat by the pound. Even if you’ve never bought a diamond, the correlation between weight and price is a concept that we can all understand. Therefore, the general perception is that a larger diamond is more valuable than a smaller one. (more…)
Even the slightest change in diamond color can affect the quality and value of a diamond. Although most diamonds are thought of as colorless (that is, not fancy-colored), most colorless diamonds actually contain hints of brown and yellow. These differences in color are often very subtle – so subtle that an untrained eye can’t tell the difference between a nearly colorless diamond and a colorless one. Yet these minute variations in what color a diamond is can have a significant impact on the purchase price of the stone. (more…)
The Angels may be rocking Victoria’s Secret bras at tomorrow’s 2012 fashion show on CBS, but we have two replicas of prior years Fantasy Bras at GIA in Carlsbad that you can get up close and personal with. (more…)
Tanzanite, the December alternate to turquoise and zircon, was not discovered until 1967, so it is a relative newcomer to the list of birthstones. It is named for the one country on earth where it is currently found: Tanzania, in eastern Africa. Although discovered by others, Tiffany & Co. deserves the credit for naming the gem and popularizing it beginning with a big publicity campaign in 1968. (more…)
On November 13th, 2012 Christie’s Geneva auctioned one of the world’s most important diamonds, the Archduke Joseph, for $21.5 million. The 76.02 ct, D-color Internally Flawless cushion cut went for more than $280,000 per carat, a new record for colorless diamond. (more…)
One of the hardest of the 4Cs to understand may be a diamond’s cut. A well-cut diamond displays the unique sparkle we associate with diamond. (more…)
It has been said that few things in nature are absolutely perfect. The same holds true of diamonds. Part of what makes a diamond unique is what is commonly referred to as a diamond’s clarity characteristic. (more…)
There are two November birthstones that command the attention of consumers and gem connoisseurs alike – topaz and citrine. In this post, we’ll discuss topaz, a gemstone that is widely cherished for its array of colors and distinctive look. (more…)
Some of the most popular engagement ring trends seen on celebrities and the public alike are rings with vintage details, pave diamond accents, and colored gemstones used as center stones. (more…)
If you want to learn more about your birthstone or enjoy browsing some spectacular gems, be sure to make your way to the “GIA Celebrates Birthstone” exhibit at GIA Headquarters in Carlsbad, California. Whether browsing a variety of polished gems, or taking in some of the spectacular jewelry on display, you won’t want to miss this rare opportunity. (more…)
When browsing for jewelry, one might be captivated by the glimmer of a diamond’s sparkle, and assume that most diamonds are colorless. And while it’s true that certain diamonds have colors so blindingly brilliant that they take on beautiful hues of the rainbow, truly colorless diamonds are actually quite rare. (more…)
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