Diamond Times

More info: http://www.gia.edu/ruby-quality-factorPeople in the trade expect rubies to have at least some inclusions because inclusion-free rubies are practically nonexistent. Ruby value depends on how visible the inclusions are. Obvious inclusions or inclusions that reduce transparency or brightness lower a ruby’s value dramatically.   If large and prominent inclusions are located under the table facet, they greatly diminish the transparency, brilliance, and value of the stone. Inclusions can also limit a ruby’s durability. Significant surface-reaching fractures can pose durability threats. Typical ruby clarity characteristics include thin mineral inclusions called needles. When the mineral is rutile and needles are present in...

DIAMOND FUN FACTS!! (courtesy of www.olympiandiamonds.com)   #1  If you put a diamond on your tongue, your tongue will start to get cooler! This happens because diamonds are great conductors of heat. Your tongue feels cool because the diamond is drawling heat out of your tongue.  #2  The engagement ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand because the early Egyptians believed that the vein of love ran directly from the heart to the top of the third finger.   #3  The largest diamond ever was 3106 carats.   #4  A diamond is four times harder than...

Diamond is the hardest natural substance on Earth. It can cut any kind of rock or metal, but only another diamond can cut a diamond. In fact, a diamond must be heated to a temperature of 1292 degrees Fahrenheit before it will burn. Yet the oil deposited from the mere touch of a human finger can cause dirt to collect and make this nearly indestructible gemstone quickly lose its sparkling appeal.   So how can you keep your diamond looking its very best? The nonprofit GIA (Gemological Institute of America) – the world’s foremost authority in gemology – offers the following...

Know what you want to spend You will be confronted with a dizzying array of choices when it comes to engagement rings. Have a price range in mind. Going in with fairly specific parameters will help your jeweler find the right engagement ring to fit your budget.   What kind of jewelry does she already wear? Is she more classic or modern? Feminine or sophisticated? Does she wear more silver or gold? Do her pieces tend to be more delicate or chunky? Simple or ornate? Have these preferences in mind when you set out to shop. If you buy something...