Diamond Fine Jewelry

Diamond Fine Jewelry

Diamond is a fine gemstone that is often cut, polished and added to a ring, a necklace, an engagement ring or earrings. There are many pieces available from which to choose.

Diamonds are evaluated through its carat, its cut, its color and its clarity. A carat is a measurement of the stone’s weight. One carat equals 2 milligrams. In order to bring out the jewel’s radiance, its cut should not be too deep or too shallow. Some people equate cut with shape, but they are not quite the same. A white diamond has very little color. Some diamonds that look transparent have just a hint of yellow. Clarity measures how many flaws the diamond has. Ideally, there should be no flaws.

Shapes include:

• Round brilliant: This round cut is notable for having 59 facets, no matter how big or small the stone is.
• Marquise: This is a football shape inspired by the lips of a French king’s mistress.
• Cushion: This shape rounded corners, which gives it its name.
• Pear: The fatter part the pear should point to the heart.
• Heart-shaped: This shape is often used for an engagement ring.
• Emerald: This step cut was made for the emerald but can also be used on diamonds.
• Trillion: This cut is triangular.
• Princess: This is a square cut with sharp corners that are usually protected by prongs on a ring or stud earrings. This is a common cut for an engagement ring.

Diamonds come in every color from white to black. Colored stones are called fancies, and they can resemble rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. The difference is rubies and sapphires are corundum while diamonds are pure carbon. An emerald is made of beryl. Any color found in a diamond is caused by an impurity, and colored gems are not judged by the same standards as white gems.

The metals used with diamond jewelry are gold, sterling silver, and platinum. However, a base metal like brass or stainless steel can be plated with platinum or gold to give them the look of these metals. Solid gold is too soft for jewelry, so it is nearly always alloyed with another metal. These metals, which include rhodium, zinc, and copper, may give the gold different colors such as white, yellow, or rose.

Settings include a collet and solitaire settings in rings. In the first, the gem is surrounded by a metal band, and in the second it is raised above the band by four or more prongs. Sometimes it is the only stone on the ring. The rings can also have a three stone setting with a large central stone flanked by two smaller ones. The smaller gems do not have to be diamonds, though they often are. Other settings include the halo setting, with the central gem surrounded by smaller gems.