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RECENT POST |
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Sunday, June 14, 2009 |
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Amazing Facts of Gemstones |
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 1. It is not unusual to find large pieces of aquamarine crystals.In 1910,a huge piece of aquamarine crystal was found in Brazil, weighing 110.5 Kg. approximately twice the weight of an average woman.
2. Therapy by stone crystal is an ancient science based on the principle that crystal embodied energy highly necessary for human bodies.
3. For more than thousand years. Chinese medication has favored minerals and gemstones for healing.As examples, amethyst powder is used to heal stomach ailments and bad dreams ; lapis lazuli relieves mucus,hyperamia congestion and convulsion; the inner pearl shell relieves fast heartbeats,giddiness and high blood pressure.
4. The Burmese believe that ruby is a sacred mineral originating from the heat and blood vessels of the earth.
5. Scientists believe that when a crystal is viewed against the light and proves not to be translucent, it means the crystal contain mineral impurities,or other chemical materials,and thus cannot transmit vibration.
6. It is the belief of gem therapist that garnet is a mineral that creates balance in the digestive system, reactivates sex inertia , or subdues an over -sexed condition, and is suitable for person indulging in unhealthy sexual activities.
7. In the Middle Ages, there was a belief that bloodstones were stones that had absorbed the blood of Jesus Christ and therefore contained inner sacred energy.
8. Pliny,the ancient Roman writer,mentioned that Cleopatra eats a valuable pearl earring with wine to show her great love of Mark Anthony.
9. Elephant tusks are emblems of purity, a favourite material for making crucifixes and prayer beads.
10. Amber when rubbed with a woolen cloth produces electricity.Amber in Greek means electron which is the origin of the word electric.
11. Hindus believe the light colorrd ruby is ideal for women, while in the dark one better suits men.
12. Thai Northeners believe that whoever owns a skin bosieng ruby will be lucky becuase of itsauspicious name, which means you cannot eat them all.
13. In ancient belief,canelian had the power to eradicate jealously and protect a person from jealous element.
14. Cleopatra,of ancient Egypt,used weird cosmentics.She paint her eyelids with bright blue powder from lapis lazuli and her lower eyelids with green with powderfrom malachite stone.She blackened her eyebrows and her eyelashes with kohl, which was powdered lead sulfate mixed with mutton fat and painted her lips and cheeks red with red ochre powder (iron ore).
15. Natural diamond s occur within the earth's shell from graphite,which is another from of carbon, as in pencil lead.
16.Pearl divers from Borneo steadfastly believe that to multiply the number os oyster shells,nine of the pearls obtained from diving must be kept in the bottle and fed with two rice gains each. To ensure that the belief will come true,the bottle must be kept tightly closed by a dead man's fingertip!
17. It was the belief of the Persians that the world sat on a huge column of sapphire,which reflected light and made the sky blue.
18. Medicine men in India used lapis lazuli,or cat's eye to treat cancer.
19. The topmost quality ruby is pigeon blood red and considered to be of higher quality and value by weight than diamond.
20. Ancient Thais calledthe limpy blemish,or light,murky strips in jade,parsly strips.
21. The Peridot gem family has only a single color,which is green,unlike other gems families that have various colors.
22. The biggest diamond in the world is in Thailand.called Karnchanapisake Diamond .It is a yellow diamond whose weight before cutting, was 545 carats.It tops the royal mace,which was prresented to His Majesty the King on the 50th Anniversary if his Ascension to the Trone.
23. In the 14 th century.It was believed that turquoise could prevent horses from getting sick from over drinking very cold water to quench their thirst.
24. In the 17th century.Willium Selmon authored a book on medicines to improves skin. He dissolved pearl in lemon juice or vinegar,mixed it with horse dung and distilled the mixture. A clear oil surfaced, but no explanation was given as to whether the potion was for external application, or drinking!
25. Diamond can be poinous.History recorded that the death of Emperor Frederic II of Germany in 1250 AD was cuased by dust of blemished diamonds; so too , was the death of Sultan Bejaset of Turkey in 1512 AD.
26. While diamond attract sin and sorrow , the opposite also holds tru, in that they can also benefit mankind.The Taylor-Burton diamond was once the cherished gift of richard burton to his wife,Elizabeth Taylor,in 1969 AD.Nine year later when they divorced,Elizbeth sold it to raise money to build hospital in Botswana.
27. The clear colored zircon appear like a diamond , so much so that it has been nicknamed Thai Diamond since olden times.
28. In jewelry therapy,it is believed that rose quartz crystal can heal pimples and brighten skins,just as well as it is reputed to heal broken hearts and an inferiority complex.
29. To ward off evils, people in china favor children wearing amulets made of small pieces of jade.
30. The Ancient Egyptains siad that peridot sparkle at night but could not be seen during the daytimes.
31. In ancient time people thought that moonstone had the shiny silver color of the waxing moon and during the waning moon they themselves shon like a moon.
32. During the 14th century.people in europe believed that the opal was a foreboding of evil and cuased bubanic plaque,the so - called Black Death.
33. In Burma and among Thai Northerners,people favor amethyst ,with a seeping body and bluish gray,known as Gelah.
34. The Cullinan Diamond ,was found in the Premiere Mine in Africa in 1905,before the cut , was nearly 10 cm. in length,6.4 cm. in height and weight3,106 carats,Its was cut into seven large diamond and 98 rose cut diamond.
35. Cullinan I was a large diamond weighing 530.2carats,that require 3 craftman working 14 hour a day for eight month to finish the cut ,before being polished and then presented
36. Collinan II weight s 317.4 carat and currently adorns the Edward crown of the United Kingdom.
37. The two remaining Cullinan diamond decorate the crown of the Queen Mary,consort of king Geoge V and daugther in -law of king Edward VII .The remaining diamond were distribute among members of the Royal Family.Queen Elizabeth II called these diamond Stone Leftover of Grandma.
38. In Sweden, to prevent car accidents,crystal and powder and spread on road made slpperry by sheet ice.
39. During the Ranaissance period ,European aristocrats favored exchange of sapphire as sign and proof of friendships,The sapphires were said to continue in good condition so long as friend ship lasted.
40. The Puebo Indains in New Maxico ,believed in the sacredness to turquoise.only men could wear them.This belief lasted into the late 17th century.
41. In the 16th century, It was fasionable for them to adorn themselves with emerald ornament in spring, rubies in summer ,sapphire or amethyst in the fall and diamonds in winter.
42. Diamond have been steadfast friends of the Jews. The Jews have suffered persecution thoughout their history and in the Middle Ages,When fleeings wars and banishment by Spain, many sold their diamond to hide their wealth and facilitate their escape.Once resettled ,they would quickly restart trading in diamond again and later on,succeeded in dominating the diamond industry.
43. Thai have found a lot of precious stone in the group of quartz, and call all of them Pong Kham irrespective of whether they are amethysts , agate, or carnelain
44. The Cadian, during the Mesopotamia period,founded the relationship among stars and gem stones as follows: Saturn related to sapphire,Jupiter to yakin , the Sun to diamond ,Mars to ruby, Venus to jade and agate, and the moon the selialite.
45. The Egyptains wrongly believed that lapis lazuli,or cat's eye , was sapphire and classified it as a sacred stone to embelish the robes of high priests.
46. Quartz has a unique characteristic of controlling radio waves, without which the present communications system would not be possible.
 47. It is believed jewelry for nightwear should include turqouise,jade,jasper,tourmaline malachite and lapis lazuli,as day are cloudly in color, so reducing body movement in sleep.
48. Similarly, It is believed jewelry for daywear should include garnet,sapphire,diamond,topaz,amethyst,ruby and quartzite,as being bright jewelry,they activate the brain.
49. It was a belief among farmers in Europe that if they spread powdered quartz on their plant beds, the would br refertilized and thus help the plants to grow .They also believed that it would bring power from the stars back to earth.
50. Light ,of course,affect the color of gems.Fluorescent lamps generate bluish colors and enhance the color of sapphire .They can change the color of red rubies into red violet,or gloomy dark plum.The remedy is to observe the color of stone under daylight lamps.
51. In the middle ages, it was believed that peridot could eliminate darkness and the fear of nighttime.
52. Jet is spinel,but black sapphire is a sapphire.
53. Amethyst or light purple quartz is called french Rose.The dark tone is called Tabeal violet,whiloe the laos called it Champask violet.
54. Marco Polo's travel took him to the island of Serendib( Sri Lanka ), and his thietheenth century book of Marvels tells the story of Sinhalese king,ruby,and the Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan. The ruby was huge 4 inches and Kublai Khan offered any entire city in exchange for it.The King refused,saying that he would not give up his prize for all treasure in the world.
55. In 1916, millions Mortan Plant wanted to purchase a magnificent rope of pearl at Cartier. Thge price was $ 1 millions dollars.He proposed an exchange a piece of real estate for the necklace and Cartier agreed.In 1956 ,these magnificent pearls were auctioned and brough only $ 151,000. The real estate is Fifth Avenue landmark building that Catier still ocupier .one of the most valuable corners in New York City.
56. In the Middle Ages,the aquamarine was believed to guarantee a happy marriage and inspire mutual fidelity in newlyweds.
57. Pure Corundum is not red or blue, but a colorless, triagonal crystal with ahardness between that of emerald and diamond.
58. Citrine can fade in the sun .
59. Garnet can be found in a wide variety of colors except for blue.The most precious and widely used gem of all these families are almadine and pyrope.
60. Amethyst is a form of quartz.The majority of Quartz samples are clear, but amethyst derives it's beautiful purple appearrance due to small amounts of iron impurities in the crystal lattice.
61. Citrine become dark brown when exposed to X-rays and white when heated.
62. Trace amounts of chromium give a ruby that lovely rich red color.
63. An Emerald cut diamond is the cheapes cut.
64. The Alexandrite is famous for changing its color in a defferent light : in the daytime its color palette varies from dark-blue for emerald-green , while in the artificial light it acquires a red-purple color.
65. One of the most famous topazes Braganza (1680 carats ) implants into the Portuguese crown has been long believed to be a huge diamond.
66. In 400 AD, the methods to enhance a Pearl's color and luster required that a chicken swallow the Pearl. It was believes the chicken 's digestive system would soften the Pearl's blemishes and even the color.
67. Muslims cherished the pearl becuase they were believed to present Adam and Eve's tears,repenting their sins and resembling the tear cried by those in pain.
68. It has beeen that when Moses received the Ten Commandment they rested on tablets of tablets. The sapphire hsa historically been the most sacred gemstone of all.
69. The amethyst was the traditional stone for the Bishop's ring .When worn on the third finger of the right hand it was who is not confuse ,distracted or overwhelmed by the intense fascination of external phenomenon.
70. Since 19 th century.opal had considered as the bad luck but this was just superstition and not fact Queen Victorain helped dispel the curse on opal by giving opal jewelry to relative as wedding gifts.
71. one of the world most famous rubies aet in the Crown Jewel of English.The Timer Ruby,was presented by The East Indea company to Queen Victory as a fine ruby. Further,early inthis century ,gemological testing proved this 316 carats were actually identifind as a fine red spinel,possibly of Afganistan origin.
72. In the thirtheen century.emerald was considered an enemy of sexual passion, Albertus magnus wrote that when King Bela og Hungary passionately embraced his wife,his magnificent emerald broke into three pieces.
73. The rarest and the most valuable colored diamond are vibrant red.
74. Tourmaline have adorned the jewels of royalty.The Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi,the last empress of China,valued the rich pink colors above all other gemstones.
75. When considering fine colored gemstone,we should compare serveral factor that affect value : cut,color,clarity,rarity and place of origin.
76. the more rare a gem,the higher the value is the belief that is false.the prindiple of supply and demand set the price.
77. Among green,gold,blue and red,red is the least common color of beryl.Red beryl is only found in one place in the world,the wah wah mountains of Utah.Emerald and aquamarine are much more popular.,but much more abundant as well.
78. Diamond is the hardest natural substance on Earth Able to withstand extreme heat, it enabled an infrared radiometer on the Pioneer space probe to operate at 450/c near the surface of the planet Venus.
79.The secret to how bird migrate over great distance is thought to be tiny crystal in thier brains.It detects the Earth ' s magnetic field.
80. Painite is the world's rarest gem,and prineless. Only three crytals have ever been foundall in Burma.
81. People in 14 th century ,Venice Italy, noticed that opals became brilliant when a wearer caught the plague.
82. The engangement ring Prince Charles gave to Diana was a blue sapphire ,not a diamond .
83. Opal is sometimes considered the Queen of Gems,becuase it encompassed the color of all other gems.
84. Ruby is aptly named the King if Gems, also know as a sister to sapphire and rarer than diamond.
85. Tourmaline is of interest to scientist becuase it changers its electrical charge when heated.It become a polarized crystaline magnet and can attract light object .This property was noticed long ago before science could explain it : in Netherlands,tourmaline were called aschentrekkers be cuase they attracted ashes and could be used ao clean pipes
86. Vodka is said to be the good diamond cleanser which produces spakling result .
87. In the 15 th century,Amethyst was believed to have many usual powers, including the ability to cure drunkeness.
88. The weight of diamond is measured in carats, The worl drives from the carob bean,which is remarkable fotr it consitent weight of 0.2g(0.007 oz) There which is remarkable for approximately 142 carats to the ounce.
89. In ancient time it was thought that rock crystal, a colorless variety of quartz, was ice that had frozen so hard it would never melt.
90. The Black Prince , son of King Edward III of england,helped Pedro the Cruel,King Castile, Spain, to win the Battle of Nejera in 1367. He was rewarded with a balas ruby, now in the British imperial state Crown.
91. During the time of the Renaissance,both ruby and sapphire had found favor with the welthy, indeed, only the wealthy could afford them.Benvonuto Cellini, writing in 1506,stated that the price of ruby was eight time that of diamond. And ruby is still generally the most valuable gemstone.
92. Alexandrite was dicovered in the UralMountains,USSR, on the birthday of Czar Alexander II in 1830,hence the name.
93. Many watches use tiny quartz crystal to control time.The crystal slice in a quartz watch vibrates more than 30,000 time each second .It is this regularity of vibration which make it a good timekeeper.
94. Agnes Sorel(c1422-1450) ,the mistress of the French King Charles VII,was the first commoner in France to break the law made by LouisIX in the 13 th century decreeding that only kings and nobles could wear diamonds.
95. During th Middle Ages,physicains viceroy of Goa. He noted that Indain slaves working in the mines swallowed diamonds in order to steal them and showed no ill effects.
96. The Tanzanite was named by Henry Platt,former Vice President of Tiffany,after its country of origin ,Tanzania.
97. The Hindus considered spinels to be rubies and divide them according to caste.The members of each of the 4 major castes should wear the appropiate stone in order to benefit its virtues: The Brahmin priestly castetrue ruby;Kshtriya-rubicelle ; Vaisya-ruby spinel;sandra-balas ruby.
98. according to Apache lore, a turquoise attached to a gun or bow would guarantee accurate aim.
99. the origin of the name topaz is unclear , but it many have been from the Greek topos,meaning land or country. Brazilains nicknamed the topaz. Pingo de Agua after water droplets.
100. Diamond are not the most expensive gemstones.
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Diamond Cuts |
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If we think of a diamond we ussually conjure a vision of sparkling crystal clarity,specially cut to enchance its natural shape and beauty a brillaint jewel that signifies respect, love and fidelity. The quality of each individual diamond is measured by four constant characteristic (4Cs.): color, clarity, carat and cut. Cut is the most important characteristic,being the only one that man can contribute to by enchancing the natural beauty of a diamond. The uniqueness of any diamond , of course,is in its brillaince. A good diamond will naturally reflect a sparkling brillaince the more intense the brillaince, the more valuable the diamond . The more light it reflects in the in the eyes of its beholder,the more beautiful it is perceived to be.
Let us recall a few detail concerning this unique diamond cut.The cutting of diamond originated in the 14th century and developed continously through to the 16th century, when the cut was considered nearing it idea cut. It was during this period that craftman invented the table cut .which improve the brillaince cut of diamond .During the 17th century,craftman founded the rose cut, know as a cut diamond , which adds more facets and brillaince to a diamond.
The Ashoka diamond cut was first applied to a stone mined in the Gollconda region of India. The stone's namesake comes from the revered Buddhist warrior Ashoka, who reigned as king of the Mauryan Empire in India from 273-262 B.C.E. He was the most famous of the Mauryan kings and was one of the greatest rulers of India. The diamond cut was portraied an elongated cushion cut with rounded corners, capturing and dispersing light with a fiery brilliance. The Ashoka cut has 62 facets which bestow a breathtakingly dazzling effect upon the diamond which can immediately feel like treasured antiques.
In the 18th century, the brilliant cut was invented and this unique technique is still inuse today . the brillaint cut provides 58 facets techniques is accept that this particular cut reveals perfectly,the exquisite beauty of a diamond and its full brillaince.From that time to the present day , the brillaint cut has been continously honoured and developed by legions of highly skilled craftmen who are attraced to this particular art form. It is also recognized wolrdwide , that the brillaint cut archieves the most beautiful facets, the most accurate classic form and is the most popularly coveted of all the diamond species.
In addition to the classic round ,emerald ,marquist and oval cut, there have a wider choice than ever in cut diamond,becuase diamond cutters are using advanced technology and creativity to invent new and unique diamomd cuts, and become a revolutionary new shape.
Bagillion diamonds,like Baguettes, are available in squares,rectangles and tapered rectangles,However,unlike Baguettes,Bagillion diamonds are brillaint cut intead of step cut . As a result, they posses more facets and sparkle more than traditional baguette daimonds.
Bagillion diamond s are often used as accent stones in diamond jewelry, They are best used to fill curved, rounded channel, or prong set rings and jewelry.
Diamond Briolettes, of drop cut diamonds, are pear-shaped with triangular facets on top.Brillainttes are drilled through the top and suspended to form a pendant.
The shape of a diamond briolette lend itself to dangle as a pendant or earrings.The cut is found in the crown jewels of many royal families,including the Australian dynasty, the Romanovs of Russia ,and both the royal and Napoleon to the Empress Marie Louise and is noiw in the Smithsonian Insitute.
Century cut diamonds are a new type of Round diamonds that have extra facets, By adding facets in the right alignment, the brillaincy ,fire , and life of the diamonds has been increased. Of great news to buyer is that cost of Century cut diamonda is competitive to that of standard brillaint cut diamonds.
Standard round Brillaint cut diamond have 58 facets . Century cut diamonds have extra facets, depend on carat weight as follows :
- up to 1/2 carat = 66 facets
- 1/2 carat to 1 carat = 74 facets
-1 carat and up = facets
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The square Context cut diamond is based on the natural sructure of a diamond an octrahedral crystal and feature a star -shaped cross cut diagonally into the stone so the planes reflect light light like a hall of mirrors. This diamond has only 8 facets but posses a remarkable amount of brillaince - up to 15% more than a standard brillaint diamond.
The cutting process require excellent-quality rough diamonds and leaves a good deal of waste, Making a Context cut diamond 40% to 50% more expensive than a brillaint-cut diamond. A similar but round version is the Spirit Sun diamond.
The Crisscut diamond is a new variation on the emerald-cut diamond, which is step-cut.Invented and patented by the Siman-Tov brothers, they want to design a rectangular shaped diamond with maximum brillaince.
Crisscut diamond have 77 facets that appear to crisscross inside the diamond.Crisscut diamond diamond tend to be shallower than princess cut or emerald cut diamonds.
There was only one way to capture the brightness, the splendor, the light of French Impressionism. And that was to create a diamond that totally broke away from all the traditional rules of diamond cutting. first started with the actual shape.It has rounded corners, but is neither square nor rectangle
The Cusheete Diamond which introduces much more light into the diamond and creates an impact that was call " Diamond Impressionism." It result in a diamond that is... breathtaking. With a radiance and dazzle like never before.
This 63 facets twelve-sided shape is a mixed of step and brillaint cutting style. With 37 facets on crown, 14 facets on the pavillion, the Dahlia cut has the total of 51 facets . Its shape is the oval version with flat ends.
The Dahlia Cut was originally introduced as part of a group of "Flower Cuts" by De Beers 10 years ago. All the cuts in the group were the brainchild of master Antwerp cutter Gabi Tolkowsky, who thought this new cutting technique gave the stones "maximum brillaince."
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The EFD 's PrincessPlus Israel branded cut is an update on the classic Princess cut. A diamond fire and brillaince is a direct result of excellent cutting with 101 facets, 40 more facets than a standard Princess -cut diamond, every PrincessPlus cut diamond meets or exceeds quality standard for cut,proportion and return of light.
EightStar diamonds are recut from previously cut diamond to display ideal optical symmetry.There are about 2000 EightStars created every year. The low number is attributed to that the fact that it takes 30 hours to recut each diamond.
Eight Star diamonds cost about 20% more than diamonds cut to "ideal" proportions. But their stature is well-suited to customer who enjoy precision cut,unique diamonds.EighStar diamonds, when saw from below show a pattern of a distinctive eight-ray symmetical heart due to their exacting optical alignment and light return. and when viewed from above they show a fireburst pattern. |
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Seeking a precise and brillaint new diamond shape,which resolved to "Square the Circle," using the model of a round brillaint diamond to achieve a square yet brillaint diamond cut with exacting proportions and a fine finish.
Elara's square-cut diamond has an intense sparkle and eight symmetrical hearts. The long sides are exactly twice the length of the short sides. When viewed from above,the Elara displays two perfect squares, each running pallel to the edges of the diamond. The Elara diamond is named after the twelvth moon of Jupiter.
The Escada diamond features a unique 12-sided dodecagonal cut with an original geometric configuration of facets. These diamonds reflect a signature star pattern from the cutlet facet.
Exclusively and originally cut with 97 facets,the"Escada Cut " is a 12 sided dodecagonal cut hosting a unique multiplicity and gometry of facets,cut to radiate light and fire from every angle and emitting a signature star pattern from its culet.
Many of greatest diamonds have passed through the Aspery & Garrard diamond workshops including the Cullinan and the Koh-I-nor.Choosing an Asprey & Garrard diamond draws on centuries of expertise.Asprey & Garrard unveiled the Eternal cut, a new diamond cut pattented worlwide and designed exclusively for Asprey & Garrard.
Asprey & Garrard 's Eternal cut has an extraordinary brillaince that stems from 91 facets and a petal design around the cutlet base of the stone. The Eternal cut creates a softer brillaince.This design increase the complexity of light reflected through the stone.
This 61 facets six-sided shape is a mixed step and brillaint cutting style.with 19 facets on the crown, 36 facets on the pavillion,the Firerose Cut has the total of 61 facets( including the 6 girdle facets ),as well as unconventional angle dimensions and large polished surfaces.The bottom culet faces up through the top facet,radiating special sparkle and shine . When looking through a loupe,it looks like the petals of flower.The firerose Cut was originally introduced by De Beers 10 years ago.
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The Gabrielle diamond is named sfter master diamond cutter Gabi Tolkowsky.Comprised of 105 facets,instead of the standard 58 facets, it is referred to as a triple-brilliant cut diamond.
Gabrielle diamonds display greater brilliance and fire than virtually any other well-cut diamond.Gabrielle diamonds,or Gbi diamonds, come in eight shapes, including princess,heart,oval,marquise,pear,heart,emerald,carre' and the lastes innovation is the graceful cushion cut with 121 facets.
Heart and Arrow is the particular reference to cut that guarantees brilliance. All 58 facets are cut totheir highest perfection.Only one in a million is cut to this perfect dimension.
when looking at a Heart and Arrow cut diamond from the base,or the pavillion,with specialized magnification,one zcan see eight equal hearts arranged in a circle.If we then look at the top, or table ,we can noe see eight equal arrows arranged in a similar circle.
New technology unleashes revolutionary diamond cuts, the romantic Heart On Fire diamonds,or Known as ideal cuts.
It uses a round brilliant diamond whose facets angles are calculated mathematically and placed in perfect symmetry to provide fire.giving this stone its name are its two distinct looks that can be seen through a special gemological instrument. The table,or top of the stone , provides eight-pointed fire burst ; the base, or pavillion, a kaleidoscope of eight perfectly matched hearts.
This 43 facets shape best accents rounds, ovals,and Flanders shapes.The Half Moon diamonds are used mainly for side stone and have the profile of half a round or half an oval diamond.
It looks great with rectangular center stone such as princess, radiant or emerald becuase they have one straight side.Becuase of the rounded edge,it also works well with ovals shaped stones. |
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Necklace Length |
Understand Necklace Sizing
Necklaces traditionally come in seven lengths. Depending on the length, the necklace will hang to a different part of the wearer's body.
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10- to 13-inch necklaces: Short necklaces, such as chokers, wrap close around the neck and measure 10 to 13 inches long.
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Necklaces 40 inches and longer: Often worn doubled or tripled, necklaces measuring more than 40 inches long can also hang at, or below, the navel.
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Necklaces 48 inches and longer: Often used for long strands, necklaces measuring more than 48 inches long usually wrap or knot around the neck without a clasp.
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Ring Size Chart |
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Determine Ring Size With a Ring Size Chart
Use a ring that fits you to determine your ring size. Place your ring over the nearest size circle. The inner edge of the ring should align with the outer edge of the circle. If your ring appears to fit between two sizes, buy the larger size.
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~Minerals & Gemstones Meanings~ |
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"Meanings in Gemstones"
Pearl
Purity, chastity, peace, gentleness, and virtue. Associated with the Moon and Venus. Men used to give their wives pearl necklaces to wear to keep them chaste while the men were away.
Through out time pearls have been used to cure almost every disease.
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Arabic: Arabic legend says that pearls were created when moonlight fell into the ocean and was swallowed by oysters.
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Chinese: The pearl is considered the soul of the oyster. The Chinese also believed that pearls protected them from the fire-breathing dragons.
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Hindu: Couples are often given pearls as a wedding gift and the ceremonial piercing of the perfect, virgin pearl is often part of the wedding ceremony.
Peridot
Happiness and creativity. A stone considered to be a powerful amulet against all evil, the peridot was a favorite stone among pirates. Associated with the planet Mercury.
Beneficial to the heart, liver, spleen, and adrenal glands. Reduces stress. Connects us with our higher selves. Frees the mind of envy and jealousy.
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Arabic: Names is a French word derived from the Arabic faridat, "gem".
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Egyptian: The ancient Egyptians called them "the gem of the Sun", but also associated them with their Earth goddesses
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Roman: Peridot was used as amulets to protect people from nightmares and evil spirits.
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South American: Shamans use peridot to protect them from snakebites and sleeping sickness.
Petrified Wood
Associated with the earth.
Helps restore physical and metal energy. Protects against infection. Grounding stone.
Pyrite
Harmony and practicality.
Oxygenates the blood, improves circulation, and improves brain function.
Quartz Crystal
Freedom and purity. Crystal has been used as a protective amulet in many cultures and collections of crystals have been found in burial sites dating back to the time of Neanderthal man. Associated with the planet Uranus. Crystal balls have long been used as instruments to tell the future and meditation. Symbolic of the opening of the third eye. Crystal balls symbolize the universal egg.
All around healing stone. Balances the emotions. Helps us find our inner light that connects us to the rest of the universe. Used to amplify and focus thoughts.
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Aborigine: Among the Australian aborigines of Northern Queensland, shamans use quartz crystals in initiation ceremonies, to enhance telepathy, to cure illness, and to bring rain.
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Cherokee: The Cherokee used crystals in a ritual for purification and cleansing. They would place seven large crystals in a river or stream and submerge people in the water.
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Greek: The name comes from the Greek krystallos, "ice", because the ancient Greeks believed quartz crystal was water that has been frozen forever by the gods.
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Hopi: Hopi medicine men used crystals to observe the energy fields of the body to see where the energy was blocked, which would be the cause of an illness.
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Japanese: The crystallized breath of a white dragon.
Rhodocrosite
Peace, love, and energy. Rhodocrosite is said to represent the love of God. Associated with the planets Mercury and Venus.
Used to heal eye diseases, the kidneys, heart, and increases blood circulation. Unites the conscious with the unconscious. A stone of self-acceptance.
Rose Quartz
Love, fidelity, peace, and intuition. Associated with the planet Venus. Worn as an amulet to bring love into one's life.
Aids the circulatory system and kidneys. A stone much used for healing the emotions and teaching self-love and love of others. Teaches forgiveness of self and others. Heals soul trauma.
Rutilated Quartz
Treats depression, helps the body absorb nutrients, and boosts the immune system. Energizes and balances the body. Good for past life work.
Ruby
Freedom, charity, dignity, divine power, and courage. Associated with the planet Mars and the Sun. In ancient times, rubies were thought to be made of the blood of Mother Earth, and therefore contained the spark of life. Worn as an amulet it was thought to protect a person from disease, ensure good harvests, guard against natural disasters, protect against evil and enemies, and make the wearer invulnerable. They ruby was said to darken as a warning of impending danger. To dream of a ruby meant success in money and business matters, or a good harvest if dreamt of by a gardener or farmer.
Enhances circulation, strengthens the immune system, and gives energy to the body. Worn to cure depression.
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Buddhist: In China rubies are considered the most perfect offering to Buddha.
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Hindu: Rubies are the stone of the Sun and in Burma it is believed that rubies ripen to their deep red color while in the womb of Mother Earth.
Salt
Salt is a biological need for human life. Life, purity, wisdom, knowledge, immortality, and preservation. Duality...as a preserver and corrosive. A symbol of friendship and hospitality because it is shared during meals, and a symbol of a binding promise because it is indestructible. Among all the people of the world salt has played a prominent part in their rites and ceremonies...birth, initiation, marriage, death, and public and private worship. Because of its protective properties, it is unlucky to spill it. Leonardo da Vinci, building on this symbolism, portrayed Judas Iscariot as spilling salt in "The Last Supper."
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Alchemical: The human body.
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Aztec: Huixtocihuatl was a fertility goddess who presided over salt and salt water
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Christian: Wisdom, purification, blessing, consecration, and protection.
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Greek: Homer called salt a divine substance. Plato described it as being especially dear to the gods. Associated with Aphrodite.
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Japanese: Sumo wrestlers throw handfuls of salt into the arena before a bout to purify it from any negative energy that may still remain from previous bouts.
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Judaic: In Kabbalah, the Hebrew word for salt, MLH, is a sacred word. God commanded that all their offerings be seasoned with salt.
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Roman: The Romans considered salt a very valuable substance and for a time paid their army in salt. The Latin phrase salarium argentum, "salt money," referred to part of the payment made to every Roman soldier, and the word has come down through the ages into the English word "salary". The Latin word sal developed into the French word solde, meaning "pay," and in turn became the word "soldier."
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Shinto: Used to purify people and places.
Sapphire
Truth, constancy, loyalty, love, purity, strength, and wisdom. Associated with the planet Neptune and the element of water. Worn as amulets, sapphires are said to bring reconciliation and peace, creativity, promote fidelity, aid mediation, and bring love into the wearer's life. Sapphires were once believed to scare away the devil and evil spirits and are still worn today for protection.
Star sapphires are considered to be more potent, magically speaking, for all uses. The three intersecting rays of the star sapphire symbolize faith, hope, and destiny.
Heals eyes, strengthens heart, boosts immune system, and protects the body from disease. Aligns the body, mind, and spirit.
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Greek: Name comes from the Greek sappeiros, "blue". The ancient Greeks believed the dark sapphires were female and the light sapphires male. Sacred to Apollo. The Greeks wore it to aid them when consulting the oracles, and soldiers wore them to keep them from being captured. It was considered a very sacred stone and believed that the only way to benefit from the use of this stone is for the person to be pure in thought and deed.
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Hindu: Yellow sapphires are attributed to Jupiter and blue sapphires to Saturn.
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Persian: The ancient Persians believed the Earth rested on a giant sapphire whose reflection gave the sky its color.
Sardonyx
Marital happiness. Because it is thought to make the wearer eloquent, sardonyx would be beneficial to public speakers and bashful lovers.
Silver
Associated with the Moon and the element of water. Sacred stone of all lunar gods and goddesses. Used in amulets to bring protection, love, money, and peace.
Smoky Quartz
The strength of the Earth and peace. Associated with the planets Mercury and Earth.
Strengthens the kidneys, increase sexual energy, helps with depression, and is mildly sedative. Will aid a person the come to terms with their physical body, their life, and their physical incarnation on Earth.
Stones with naturally occurring holes
Protection, Mother Goddesses, the womb of the goddess, opening, and conception. Looking through a holey stone is said to improve your eyesight. Also known as Holey Stones, Hag stones, Odin Stones, Holy Stones, Wish Stones, Nightmare Stones, Witch Riding Stones, Mare Stanes, Ephialtes Stones, Faery Stones, Eye Stones, Pledge Stones and Goddess Stones. Holey stones were worn on natural cords for luck, and protection from illness and the evil eye. At one time holey stones were used for healing and to make healing water.
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British: These stones were tied to bedposts with red ribbons to keep away nightmares.
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Middle Eastern: Holey stones are tied around a camel's neck to protect them and their rider from evil spirits and the evil eye.
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Nordic: Odin changed himself into a worm and slipped through the hole of a stone to steal the mead of poetry, so some call these stones Odin stones.
Tektite
In prehistoric times, tektites were considered religious objects by some people, magical by others and omens of evil by yet others.
Tiger's Eye or Cat's Eye
Courage, luck, wealth, and long life. Ruled by the Sun, associated with the planet Mars and the element of fire. Used as an amulet for courage, strength, and protection. In the past people who wore tiger's eye were feared because it was thought they could see everything, even through walls and behind closed doors. Worn to increase beauty and promote youthfulness.
Used to heal eye diseases, the spleen, digestive system, and pancreas. Soothes the emotions and clears the mind.
Blue tiger's eye (hawk's eye) brings peace.
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Egyptian: Sacred to Bats, the cat goddess. The ancient Egyptians used them as eyes in the statues of their gods to symbolize of divine wisdom.
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Roman: Soldiers wore them for protection.
Tin
Associated with the planet Jupiter and the element of air. Used in amulets to bring luck and money, and aid in divination.
 
Topaz
Love, courage, transformation, and beauty. Associated with the Sun and the planet Mercury, and the element of fire. Worn as an amulet to protect from disease, envy, injury, sorcery ,and lunacy. Thought to be especially effective when set in gold and bound to the left arm. When placed in the home, it is a charm against fire and accidents. Known as "lover of gold," topaz was used to bring wealth and money. A stone of trust, protection, and strength.
Relieves anger, fear, depression. insomnia, and tension headaches. Helps prevent colds and strengthens the lungs. Stimulates the intellect and is a good stone for artists, writers, and scientists,
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Egyptian: The Egyptians believed topaz got its golden color from Ra, the mighty Sun god, and considered it a powerful protective amulet.
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Greek: The ancient Greeks believed topaz had the power to make the wearer invisible and give them super-human strength.
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Roman: Friendship. Sacred to Jupiter.
Turquoise
The sky, friendship, protection, and love. Associated with the planets Venus and Neptune, and the element of earth. In many cultures, the stone is regarded as a messenger of good fortune, success, love, and health. Because it often changes color from blue to green, turquoise was thought to predict the weather and illness, warn of poison, if given as a token of love it will fade if the recipient's love fades. Some believe that only blue turquoise has magical powers. Since the fourteenth century, the harnesses of horses have been decorated with turquoise to protect the animal and the rider from falls and other injury. Worn as an amulet for protection, strength, healing, courage, love, beauty, and peace. Turquoise connects the Earth and sky.
Strengthens the lungs, circulation, blood, nervous system, and helps regenerate tissue. Protects against traumatic injuries, Healers should wear this stone because it will increase their power. Enhances creativity, meditation, communication, and gives peace of mind.
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Apache: Believed it helped hunters and warriors aim accurately.
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Asian: Used as protection against the evil eye.
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European: Turquoise rings are given as forget-me-not gifts.
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Hindu: Turquoise is worn on the little finger to bring wealth and success.
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Native American: Turquoise is the main sacred stone of many Native American tribes. Turquoise brings together the spirits of the sky
and the sea, which gives it it's many powers. Some myths say the most powerful turquoise is found in the ground at the end of the rainbow.
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Mexican: Turquoise was the stone of the gods and people were not allowed to wear it.
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Navajo: The Navajo believed that if a person cast turquoise into a river and prayed to the gods for rain, the rain would come. Turquoise carvings of horses and sheep are kept by the Navajo as powerful guardians against evil spirits.
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Pueblo: As an offering to the gods, they buried pieces under the floors of their newly built homes.
  
 
Zircon
Intuition, truth, stability, and righteousness. Known in ancient times as hyacinth or jacinth. Long considered a powerful stone of protection, used to keep away the devil and protect against poison, and farmer's used it to ensure a good harvest and guard against lightning.
Used to cure insomnia, depression, cramps, wounds, and the heart.
White zircon has the same meanings and magical powers as diamond. Yellow zircon is used in love amulets. Orange zircon is a symbol of beauty and is used as an amulet to protect traveler's. Brown zircon is a symbol of the Earth and an attribute of Earth gods and goddesses. Green zircon is used in amulets to bring wealth and good luck. Red zircon is used for protection and healing, and symbolizes wealth, strength, and courage.
An all around healer. Strengthens the mind, balances the pituitary gland, and aids bowel problems. Balances the emotions and helps with self-esteem.
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European: In the Middle Ages, zircon was a symbol of wisdom and honor and believed to bring prosperity to its owner.
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Hindu: Poets write of the Kalpa Tree, the precious gift of the gods, which was covered with fruit made of gems and had leaves of zircon.
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Mr. & Mrs Ho's Anniversary Ring |
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Mr. & Mrs Ho’s Anniversary RIngs
 designed by Riya K
……Knitted Pink Gold Anniversary Rings………….
Inspired from the knitted…representing Mr. & Mrs Ho’s relationship which has been woven over the years. Every moment of hardwork, happiness and many unforgetable events that form such a strong , delicate woven rose gold.. |
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Riya K's testimonial |
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“At the next day after receiving your jewelry, I wore it to join the speech conference, which gathered many people, on Sunday.
It was exactly same as what I imagined when I chose a piece of your works through the website. I like the combination of colors between brown and green. The string of metal beads and natural stones are my favorite. Although I think the top part of pendant is made by acrylic glasses, the Ganesha inside them is exotic and interesting. The brochure explaining about the Ganesha helps me to understand it more. Is this golden figure made by gold or plastic? I expect it is gold. Recently the safety of materials is paid more attention to in Japanese market.”
B.regards,
Shu
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008 |
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Jewelry Through Timeline |
Enduring Allure: A History of Jewelry
There's something about a beautiful piece of jewelry. Since the dawn of civilization jewelry has been an integral part of culture; of who we are. It says a lot about us. Tastes, styles and statements have changed, but our love for those sparkling, precious objects has never diminished. Long before clothing developed into fashion those rare jewels and precious metals were a cherished symbol of prestige and beauty. Over time, jewelry has evolved from the mystical religious symbols of pagans and objects of power and opulence of royalty to universal fashion everyone can appreciate.
Egypt
Throughout the ages jewelry has made a statement about the people and the culture that produced it - from religious beliefs to statements about social standing. One of the most famous ancient treasures ever found is that of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen. The Egyptian goldsmiths were highly skilled artisans who covered the mummy with a large quantity of gold and jewels. Among the ornaments found in the tomb were necklaces, amulets, pendants, bracelets, earrings, and rings of the typical style of the time. Egyptian jewelry was highly symbolic and symmetrical and had precise religious and mystical meanings. Some of the symbols used in their jewelry were the scarab (a large beetle), lotus flower, falcon, and serpent.
Greece
Jewelry was an art form all its own. The ancient Greek style of jewelry more closely resembled miniature classic sculptures than objects of adornment. The human figure, both male and female, mythological figures and entire heroic scenes were popular motifs for rings, earrings, pendants and other forms of jewelry. As skill and technique improved, Greek jewelry became highly detailed and eventually became complete works of art. One example is an earring of a chariot scene complete with driver and horses.
Rome
Power and wealth. In ancient Rome jewelry was at first an of prestige reserved only for the highest social classes. But as trade and the wealth of the Empire increased, jewelry became available to all classes of citizens. Romans borrowed styles from earlier cultures and added their own themes. In keeping with the flamboyance of the time, jewelry became larger in size and more ostentatious. They began to use more colored stones than previous cultures, including topaz, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls.
The Middle Ages
A return to simplicity. After the fall of Rome the style of jewelry began to move away from depicting mythological icons and heroic scenes and became ornaments used for decoration. The style of the time was much more simple than that of earlier cultures. Necklaces were gaining popularity and jewelry was used to decorate both hair and clothing. In addition, jewelry was often used to hold religious relics of saints.
The Renaissance
Decadence at its finest. During the Renaissance, jewelry once again became highly developed works of art. The great artistic ability of the craftsmen meant jewelry had become much more elaborate and its great value came from its magnificent workmanship rather than purely from the monetary value of gems and precious metals used. Jewelry reached a popularity never seen before that time, and both men and woman tried to outdo each other with opulent displays of gems and gold. The wealthy even decorated their hats and clothing with large, colored gems.
17th Century
We can sum this up in a couple of words - heavy, very heavy. The 17th century saw technical improvements in the cutting of precious stones which reinforced the popularity of gems. Beautiful floral arrangements were en vogue at this time and were carried over to the design of jewelry. Gold ornaments were often painted with enamel to create brightly colored flowers and then later with diamonds and colored gems. At this time jewelry was very large and very ornate which meant it was also very heavy to wear.
18th Century
Vast amounts of Brazilian diamonds were being imported into Europe at this time, and they enjoyed widespread popularity. Since techniques of cutting precious stones had improved dramatically, it became quite fashionable to show off the stones by trying to hide the settings as much as possible. Because of this jewelry was airier, lighter and easier to wear. People finally had the opportunity to really show off the sparkle and beauty of diamonds and other gems.
19th Century
The Industrial Revolution brought enormous change to the whole world - and that included jewelry. Mass production finally made jewelry available to everyone. For the first time it could be produced on a large scale at prices both the middle and lower classes could now afford. The quality of imitation stones also improved so that even the lower-class could enjoy beautiful rings, pendants and other pieces they couldn't previously afford. On the other side, firms such as Faberge and Cartier were producing high-quality jewelry for the rising bourgeois class.
20th Century and Beyond
Today, jewelry comes in many different flavors. No matter who you are or what your taste or budget, there are designs that will suite your individual style. In the 20th century, fashionable clothing finally gained the esteem and prominence jewelry has always enjoyed. Now jewelry and fashion are joined hand-in-hand. You can't have one without the other. There is more room for creativity and personality than ever before. From classic looks to the explosion of cool and ultra-modern body piercing, if you want it, it's out there.
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008 |
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Gemstones of your own.. |
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Choosing Your Gemstones?
Whether you're a newcomer to the gem world looking to add color to your wardrobe, or a veteran gemstone wearer fine-tuning your look, finding the right gemstone jewelry is a key way to express your own personal style, uplift your appearance and spirit, and convey to others what you're all about. But this doesn't have to be a grueling decision. Here are some practical tips for selecting gemstone jewelry that works best for you.
Developing Your Own Style
First of all, any gemstone jewelry you select must be comfortable. For instance, make sure necklaces hang at the "right" length for you and lay well around your neck. Experts offer similar advice for earrings: with dangling styles, make sure they hang at a comfortable length, fit well against the ear and don't tip forward. Likewise, bracelets and rings should fit comfortably and shouldn't slide off with a simple shake of your arm or hand.
Next, the jewelry must be appropriate for your personality and lifestyle. A glitzy necklace that would dazzle for a night out on the town probably wouldn't work for someone with a more casual outlook. Intent is important. Are you looking for a fashion accessory to match certain outfits, a particular season/event or a specific function, such as jewelry for work? Or are you looking for a piece you will wear everyday? Obviously, things like fashion, price, versatility, durability and other factors will play differing roles in your buying decision, based on your intent.
As for which color best suits you, one way to determine this is to take stock of what's already in your closet. What clothing styles, colors, materials, lengths, etc. are most prevalent? This will give you important clues about the specific gemstone jewelry that will work best for you. In addition, look at your makeup, scarves, hair accessories, and current jewelry for more cues about the jewelry colors and styles most appropriate for you.
Finally, consider your physical features: body type, face shape, finger/hand length and width, hair/eye color, complexion and other characteristics. These factors also will play a key role in determining which gemstone jewelry will look best on you.
Seeking Quality
Once you've got the style down, you want to be assured of the quality of any piece you're interested in buying. Keep in mind that quality determines the value of a stone. Like diamonds, gemstones are judged by the "Four Cs" of color, clarity, cut and carat weight, with color the most important consideration, by far. The better the color, the higher the price. Better clarity and better cut also cost more - and generally, the larger the stone, the more it will cost per carat. Even to an untrained eye, many of these kinds of differences can be seen when similar stones are examined side-by-side.
Other factors that may influence the price of a gemstone include whether it is readily available on the market or subject to supply limitations; whether it's a "hot" color or stone right now, or for various reasons may be unpopular; whether it's a single stone or part of a matched set, particularly in special shapes or cuts; and sometimes, its origin (for every stone, there is a particular location known for producing the finest quality variety of that stone - and often, you'll pay more for a stone from that prized region because of its reputation).
But quality extends beyond simply examining the stone. You need to pay special attention to the setting, as well. Make sure the metal holds the stone firmly and squarely in place. Check prongs to make sure they are tight and sturdy. Look at the finish - is the metal well-polished with no pockmarks or other imperfections? Also, turn the piece around and examine the back - a well-made piece of jewelry will have a good finish on both front and back. If the piece is gold, check for a karatage stamp, as well as a company trademark stamp. This means the company is standing behind the product and assuring you the karatage is as stated. As for bracelets or necklaces, check the clasps, as well. A quality piece of gemstone jewelry will have sturdy, quality clasps.
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Saturday, June 21, 2008 |
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Jewelry Terms |
Basic Glossary of Jewelry Terms
Everyone loves jewelry (especially women!) but jewelry terminology can sometimes sound like a foreign language altogether. Can you tell a baguette from a bezel? A cabochon from a crown? Following is a list of basic jewelry terms that will allow you to better understand the lingo that so many sales associates speak, and next time you're at the store, you will sound like the expert.
Baguette setting -- A rectangular-shaped stone with rows of step-like facets. If the baguette's two long sides taper inward, it is called a Tapered baguette. Baguettes in long, thin cut rectangles are often used as enhancements to a lager center stone, or on a watch bezel.
Bar setting -- Similar to the channel setting, it is a circular band of diamonds or gemstones that holds each stone in by a long thin bar, shared between two stones.
Barion cut -- This has a traditional step-cut crown and a modified brilliant-cut pavilion. A square barion cut diamond has 61 facets, excluding the culet.
Bearding or girdle fringes -- The outermost portion of the stone, called the girdle, can develop small cracks that resemble whiskers during the polishing process. The bearding can sometimes be removed, if not too dramatic, with slight re-polishing, and if the weight allows.
Bezel -- With a bezel setting, a rim holds the stone and completely surrounds the gem. It is the upper portion above the girdle of a cut stone. Bezels can have straight edges, scalloped edges, or can be molded into any shape to accommodate the stone. A watch bezel is the upper part of the case surrounding the dial. They can be set with diamonds or other gemstones.
Blemishes -- The term blemish is used when the diamond has scratches or marks on the external area of the stone.
Brilliance -- Liveliness, or sparkle in a stone when light is reflected from the surface and from the total internal reflection of light.
Brilliant-cut -- Brilliant cuts are scientifically found to reflect the most light from within the stone, and often are considered to have the most brilliance of all cuts. A round brilliant-cut diamond has 58 facets. Other brilliant cuts include the heart, oval, marquise and pear shaped.
Cabochon -- A facet-less style of cutting that produces a smooth surface. They can be in many shapes, including round with high domes to squares.
Carat -- Unit of measure of weight of diamonds and gemstones. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams. One carat can also be divided into 100 "points." A .75-carat stone is the same as a 75-point or 3/4-carat stone.
Certification (or Diamond Grading Reports) -- There are many recognized gemological laboratories that can grade your stones for a fee. The most well known is the GIA, Gemological Institute of America.
Channel setting -- Used most frequently for wedding and anniversary bands, a channel setting will set the stones right next to each other with no metal separating them.
Clarity -- A diamond often has natural imperfections, commonly referred to as inclusions, which contribute to its identifying characteristics. Inclusions are found within the diamond, and can be white, black, colorless, or even red or green. Most are undetectable by the human eye, and can only be seen with 10X magnification. Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection called clarity.
Cleavage -- A natural area of the diamond where a weak bond holds the atoms together. The gem will be split along these planes by the cutter.
Cluster setting -- This setting surrounds a larger center stone with several smaller stones. It is designed to create a beautiful larger ring from many smaller stones.
Color -- Diamonds are graded on a color scale established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Fancy colors refer to diamonds with hues like pink, blue, green, yellow, and very rarely red. Fancy colors are not included in this color scale and are considered extremely rare.
Crown -- This is the upper portion or the top of a diamond.
Culet -- The bottom point of the diamond. It may be polished in some stones. Sometimes, a cutter may choose to make the culet a surface instead of a point.
Cushion cut -- A mixed-cut diamond shaped like a square pillow.
Cut -- Cut refers to the angles and proportions a skilled craftsman creates in transforming a rough diamond into a polished diamond. Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and, disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire. Diamonds that are cut too deep or too shallow lose or leak light through the side or bottom, resulting in less brilliance, and ultimately value.
Cutting style -- Cutting styles are different than diamond shapes. The simplest and most common way to explain cutting style is to categorize it into the following three basic types: Step-cut, Brilliant-cut and Mixed-cut.
Deep cut -- When a diamond is cut too deep, it will lose or leak light through the side or bottom. This results in less brilliance and value.
Diamond -- A diamond is the hardest known natural substance. It is crystallized carbon. Diamonds are mined in their rough form and then, cut and polished to reveal their brilliance.
Diamond Grading Reports -- There are many recognized gemological laboratories that can grade your diamond for a fee. The most well known is the GIA, Gemological Institute of America.
Dispersion -- When light enters a diamond it reflects off the facets and the angles cut into the stone. This distribution of light is known as dispersion, or the display of the spectral colors.
Emerald shape -- A rectangular or square-shaped cut-cornered diamond. A form of step cutting, this cut is favored for diamonds and emeralds, as well as many other stones, when the principle purpose is to enhance color rather than brilliancy. It is also sometimes used to emphasize the absence of color in diamonds.
Facet -- Any flat polished surface of a diamond or gemstone. This style of cutting gives the stone many small faces at varying angles to one another. The placement, angle and shape of each facet are carefully planned and executed to show the stone's inherent beauty, fire, color, and brilliance to the fullest advantage.
Fancy Cut -- A diamond cut other than round -- such as baguette, emerald, pear, marquise, square, oval, heart, etc.
Fracture Filling -- A process that injects a substance into a diamond to hide inclusions.
Feather -- A type of inclusion or flaw within a diamond. It is described often as a small crack or fissure.
Finish -- Describes the exterior of the diamond. If a diamond is well polished, it has a very good finish.
Fire -- Often a term used instead of "dispersion," it is the variety and intensity of rainbow colors seen when light is reflected from a diamond.
Flat-top setting -- Like the Gypsy setting, this setting has a band that is one continuous piece that gets thicker at the top. A flat-top setting grows broader at the top so that a faceted stone can be inserted into the ring at the broadest part. The stone is held in place by metal chips attached at the stone's girdle.
Fluorescence -- When exposed to ultraviolet light, a diamond may exhibit a more whitish, yellowish or bluish tint, which may imply that the diamond has a property called fluorescence. The untrained eye can rarely see the effects of fluorescence. Diamond grading reports often state whether a diamond has fluorescent properties. Fluorescence is not considered a grading factor, only a characteristic of that particular diamond
Gemological Institute of America (GIA) -- A nonprofit teaching institute considered the standard-bearer in the grading of diamonds and colored gemstones.
Girdle -- The outer edge of a cut stone, the dividing line between the crown and the pavilion. Sometimes the girdle is polished and sometimes it is unpolished. Ideally the width of the girdle should be even and proportional to the cut of the stone.
Growth or grain lines -- These can be considered internal flaws, and can often be seen only by rotating the diamond very slowly. They can appear and disappear almost instantaneously. They appear as small lines or planes within the diamond.
Gypsy setting -- The Gypsy setting is predominantly used for men's jewelry. The band is one continuous piece that gets thicker at the top. The top is dome shaped and the stone is inserted in the middle.
Hardness -- Resistance a material offers to scratching or abrasion. Generally measured using the MOHS scale.
Inclusion -- "Internal characteristics" apparent to a trained or professional eye at 10x magnification. Inclusions can be bubbles, crystals, carbon spots, feathers, clouds, pinpoints, or other impurities, or even cracks and abrasions. They are what make a diamond so unique, as a fingerprint does for a person.
Illusion setting -- This setting is more intricate than others in that it surrounds the stone to make it appear larger.
Loupe -- Any small magnifying glass mounted for hand use, to hold up to the eye socket or attach to a pair of glasses.
Luster -- The hue and depth of reflection from pearls, opals or other opaque stones.
Marquise shape -- A double-pointed, boat-shaped stone that is long and thin with gently curved sides coming to a point on either end. Marquise is part of the brilliant-cut family; ideally cut it has 58 facets.
Mixed-cut -- This cut has both step-cut and brilliant-cut facets. Mixed cuts combine the beauty of the emerald cut with the sparkle of the brilliant cut.
MOHS Scale -- A scale of hardness with numbers from one to ten assigned to ten minerals of increasing hardness from talc to diamonds.
| MOHS Rating |
| MOHS Rating |
Gemstone |
Mineral Group |
| 10 |
Diamond |
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| 9 |
Ruby, Sapphire |
Corundum |
| 8 |
Topaz |
Topaz |
| 7.5 |
Emerald |
Beryl |
| 7.5 |
Aquamarine |
Beryl |
| 7 |
Amethyst |
Quartz |
| 7 |
Amethyst |
Quartz |
| 6.5 |
Peridot |
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| 5.5 - 6.5 |
Opal |
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| 3 |
Onyx |
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Mele -- Small, usually round diamonds less than .10 carats in size.
Natural -- A diamond characteristic that is part of the surface of a polished diamond that was not cut or polished during the cutting process.
Oiling -- This technique is commonly used on emeralds. The purpose of this technique is for the oil to fill the fine cracks that weaken the green color. The oil fills the cracks making them "disappear" and thereby improving the color.
Pave -- A type of setting where a number of small stones are set together. It literally means paved with diamonds.
Pavilion -- Bottom portion of the stone, under the girdle, measuring to the culet. It is the area below the girdle consisting of 23 facets in the round-brilliant-cut diamond.
Pear shape -- Term used to describe any diamond whose girdle outline resembles a pear shape. Ideally cut pear shapes have 58 facets.
Pinpoint -- An inclusion within a diamond. A gathering of pinpoints is called a "cluster" or "cloud." A cloud or cluster can appear as a hazy area in the diamond, a pinpoint appears as a dot.
Point -- Term meaning one-hundredth of a carat -- approximately the size of one-half a grain of sand.
Polish -- Indicates the care taken by the cutter in shaping and faceting the rough stone into a finished and polished diamond.
Poor cut -- A poorly cut diamond can be either cut too deep or too shallow. A deep or shallow cut diamond will lose or leak light through the side or bottom. This results in less brilliance and value.
Princess cut -- A square or sometimes rectangular-shaped modified brilliant-cut diamond.
Prong or claw setting -- The metal tip or bead that actually touches the stone and holds it into place. This setting usually consists of four or six claws that cradle the stone. Because this setting allows the maximum amount of light to enter a stone from all angles, it sometimes can make a diamond appear larger and more brilliant than its actual weight. This setting can also hold larger diamonds more securely.
Proportion -- The proportions of a diamond are very important, so that the maximum amount of light be reflected off and out of a stone. Proportion is the relationship between the angles of the facets of the crown and pavilion.
Radiant cut -- A rectangular or square shaped diamond with step-cut and scissor-cut on the crown, and a brilliant-cut on the pavilion.
Refraction -- The bending of light rays as they pass through a diamond or gemstone.
Rough -- Uncut diamonds or gemstones.
Scintillation -- When light reflects from a diamond, the sparkling flashes that come from the facets of the gem are known as scintillation.
Shallow cut -- When a diamond is cut too shallow, it will lose or leak light through the side or bottom. This results in less brilliance and value.
Shape -- Form or appearance of a diamond; i.e.: whether the diamond is round, triangular, square, marquise, pear, oval or heart-shaped.
Solitaire -- A single diamond or stone set by itself in mounting.
Step cut -- With rows of facets that resemble the steps of a staircase. The emerald cut and the baguette are examples of the step cut.
Symmetry -- Symmetry is the arrangement of the facets and finished angles created by the diamond cutter. Excellent symmetry of a well-cut and well-proportioned diamond can have a great effect on the diamond's brilliance and fire. Grading reports will often state the diamond's symmetry in terms Excellent, Very good, Good, Fair, or Poor.
Table -- The top surface of a cut diamond or gemstone.
Table facet -- This is the largest facet of a diamond. It is located on the top of the diamond. The table facet is sometimes referred to as the "face."
Table spread -- Term used to describe the width of the table facet, often expressed as a percentage of the total width of the stone.
Tension setting -- A diamond is held in place by the pressure of the band's metal, which is designed to "squeeze" the stone.
Trillion shape -- Is a triangular-shaped diamond with 50 facets. Trillions are commonly used as side-stones.
Well cut - Well-cut proportions ensure the maximum compromise between fire and brilliance. When light enters a properly cut diamond, it is reflected from facet to facet, and then back up through the top, exhibiting maximum brilliance, fire and sparkle |
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