Posts Tagged ‘De Beers’

New Best Friend: Man Made Diamond Jewelry

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

There is not doubt about the value of a diamond jewelry. Over the centuries, man are trying to create the perfect synthetic diamond, something that will look like a diamond jewelry on the naked eye.

As early as 1893, there are already attempts in creating substitutes to diamonds. The first attempt to make a man made diamond was done by Frederic Henri Moissan which involved heating charcoal and adding pressure that caused changes from the graphite into a diamond.   But it was 1979 when mass production of diamond imitations became possible.  

De Beers was the first to coin the term, “ A Diamond is Forever” during the 1940s.   With this kind of advertising, diamond became the usual stone for engagement rings.  Before, during 1930s, engagement rings would usually have opals, rubies and sapphires for their stone.  The value of diamonds started to increase, so was the attempts to create a perfect synthetic diamond.

By 1955, General Electric produced small artificial diamonds which where of the same quality as industrial diamonds.  Synthetic diamonds were created by exposing carbon dioxide to heat over a metal surface.  The heat was created or generated by several lasers. Today, they are mass produced with production reaching as much as 100 tons every year.

Here are some lists of diamond imitating stones:  

• Rock crystals or rhinestones are crystallized quartz which can look like a diamond, however, they could get easily scratched.  

• Zircon is another kind of stone which could pose as a diamond.  By exposing the stone to heat, it could turn colorless making it look like quartz and diamond.  Just like rhinestones they could get easily scratched.  
• Cubic zirconia is called the grandfather of artificial diamonds.  As a diamond copy, it is synonymous with low-cot jewelry and not as a decent fashion accessory.  

• Russian diamonds are also cubic zirconia stones.  The difference is that they are of high quality and can cause about $280 per carat.  These stones are usually mounted in metal settings that are worth real stones.

• Moissanite is another kind of stone which is created or made inside the laboratory.  Just like a diamond, it is a hard kind of stone.  Although they are relatively more affordable than diamonds, they are still expensive.  Moissanite tends to give a greenish shade in natural light and may sparkle too much because its light reflection characteristics. These characteristics make it easier for some expert to differentiate a moissanite from a real diamond.

• Another best imitation of the diamond would be from the Diamond Nexus.  The Nexus and the real diamond’s characteristics are so close together.  The Diamond Nexus could cut glass due to its hardness and sparkle and can be just as brilliant as the real diamond.  Because they are just being introduced in the market, they considerably cost lower.

• Gemisis cultured diamond is another diamond copy.  The difference with the real diamond is that they cannot be made into a clear and white color.  

• Other synthetic diamonds would be strontium titanate, artificial rutile and spinel.  

There’s quite a number of synthetic or man made diamonds available.  Buying them is not illegal, but if the jeweller is trying to sell of man-made diamonds as real diamonds, then there will be a problem.  Which is why when buying diamond jewelry always ask for certification. If you would like to buy a nice present for a loved one but would like to stay within budget, then buying man-made diamond jewelry is not a bad idea.

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/new-best-friend-man-made-diamond-jewelry-1625939.html

popular settings for engagement rings

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

So you all know that I’m already going to propose – but my girlfriend still has no clue!  I think she tried to give me another hint yesterday by making me watch one of those wedding TV shows.  I just acted uninterested, but really, I was just trying to check out the bride’s engagement ring.  Unfortunately, this show focused more on her wedding gown.  I did try to see her left hand every moment it appeared on camera, but it wasn’t close enough.  See, I’m trying to get an idea of what type of ring to get her.  Should I get something that she would like, I would like, or both?

I decided to do some research.  That’s the analytical side of me talking.  Anyway, I searched the internet to see what are the popular settings for engagement rings nowadays.  Of course, my mom said to ask her mother, my FMIL (future mother in law) – I’m getting this wedding lingo down!  I decided to share what I found, especially to the guys who have no clue as to what to look for in an engagement ring, and here goes:

1) Colored gemstones, especially sapphire.  Sapphires used to be the popular gemstone of choice for engagement rings until the De Beers claimed the diamond to be the best gemstone for engagement rings.  This colored gemstone is the second hardest stone, behind the diamond.  The most popular color is blue.  However, other colrs, pink, yellow, and purple are considered rarer than diamonds.  Now, brides are starting to pick bold colors for their center stone.  If you still want to get a diamond but want something rare, choose a colored diamond.

2) Different designer cuts.  Jewelers apparently reported that people are straying away from the princess cut and choosing more designer, yet not too trendy, cuts, such as the cushion, emerald, and other cuts.

3) Modern vintage look.  More people are choosing rings with a center stone that is surrounded with small diamonds, like a halo.  This ring has a “cleaner,” polished look, giving it a more modern feel.

4) Round, brilliant stone solitaire.  Yes, the solitaire is still popular.  Perhaps because it’s beautiful and elegant and, yet, a safe choice.

6) White metals.  White metals, such as white gold and platinum, are currently more popular than yellow gold.  They have a classier look and make the diamond sparkle even more.

So there you have it.  Those are the engagement ring trends of today.  I think I may choose the solitaire…maybe because it’s a safe choice, and I’m not a risky guy.  But I’m still undecided as to what ring setting to choose.  I guess I’ll see what my FMIL thinks.

The author suggest the customers to buy jewelry like diamond engagement rings, Designer wedding rings, engagement Rings in a wiser manner with his vast experience of the field.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/popular-settings-for-engagement-rings-1250367.html

How Can I Buy Cheap Engagement Rings?

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

Buying an engagement ring is intimidating for someone who is poor. Helping an engaged couple find a ring on their limited budget is sometimes a dilemma.  There are choices, but they must be reviewed carefully by each of the partners that are involved.

To save money a substitute for a diamond is a good idea such as a cubic zirconia. The tradition of a diamond engagement ring is very recent, and was in large part created as part of an ad campaign put together by the De Beers company at the beginning of the last century, as they struggled to prevent the still active glut of quality diamonds on the market from crashing their profits.

The over prize of the modern diamond is due to the mystique created and spread by De Beers and other diamond merchants. The symbolism involved, of beauty, clarity, and durability, can be applied to may other stones and to diamond substitutes without loss of meaning.

If you and your partner want a real diamond its time to start to look into some of your current options. The first is actually often overlooked: resetting a stone already existing in one of the two families. Often purchasing an engagement ring from a current owner, or accepting one that has been a family heirloom, will result in the price being lower than a new stone, or in the case of one handed down through the family, the important “something old” that the bride traditionally wears for her wedding.   You will be able to ensure you get the most out of expensive content by reusing and re-purposing it, without exposing your website to duplicate content filters.

Failing that, consider asking a reputable, established jeweler dealing in gemstones if he or she can find you a good stone at a low price. Keep in mind that your notion of a low price may not be the same as a jeweler’s… but a jeweler who has a reputation is much less likely to cheat you than a fly by night, or a chain supplier who has good intention without a great jewelery education.

Good jewelers will help you find affordable stones through different avenues, like other professionals and estate sales.

A reputable jeweler can also educate you regarding diamonds, far more so that any other source you can find. Diamonds are an expensive item to purchase.  The prices are often inflated according to market demand.  To bypass this price increase, you should find a jeweler willing to suggest a substitute. Their suggestion is often based on their knowledge of both quality and affordability. Just think of these varieties of zirconium, Moissanite, and white topaz.  

Some, with knowledge of many stones, will recommend some strong, beautiful, but quite unexpected alternatives. Don’t discount the advice that will be offered. Jewelers are never pleased to sell diamonds to people who do not appreciated their beauty regardless of the price the buyer paid. While a lot of them feel as if they are frauds, they need to charge a sufficient amount to cover what they spend. It would be their pleasure to assist you in finding an option that will ensure them that they make money and keep their good name while keeping you satisfied.

Another possibility, though not really the best alternative, is to purchase one second hand from a pawn broker or a seller on Ebay. Quality control and a lack of quality assurances can be a serious problem.

Even a dealer in good faith, can “cheat”  you simply because you are not knowledgeable in jewelery and the buyer has little ability to assess the value before purchase. You can stake your life in many ways. Your engagement ring should not form a part of them.

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/how-can-i-buy-cheap-engagement-rings-1185369.html