gem indentification
How to Use a Loupe with Diamonds
A magnifying glass of ten power (10x) is called a loupe. With a loupe you can check for chips on a stone, scratches, more obvious inclusions and color of a diamond engagement ring. Do not delude yourself to thinking that with a little knowledge and false confidence that you will have the experience and knowledge of a diamond specialist. Ask your diamond specialist to help you with the loupe and...
By How Much Can Fluorescence Affect Value?
If a diamond engagement ring fluoresces “faint” or “weak” the effect on the diamond color grade or value is negligible. If it is graded as “more intense” or “very strong” fluorescence, it will affect the value negatively. If a diamond engagement ring has “medium” fluorescence, it can change the body color grade ½ to 1 color grade different than its actual color; if “strong” by 1-2 color grades and if “very...
Looking for a Diamond that is a “Cut Above”
Looking at the cut of a vintage diamond engagement ring is the most important thing, although you won’t see all that a diamond specialist will. Let’s talk about using the terms to describe your stone and terms relating to the cut of a diamond. It’s important to become familiar with a few general terms used when describing a faceted diamond. Proportion of a stone affects its brilliance, beauty and desirability. Terms...
Sapphire Quality and How It Affects Value
Sapphires come from the mineral corundum which comes in all shades of the rainbow. The color red is called a ruby. Sapphires are the most popular colored stone and are a wonderful change from a diamond for a beautiful engagement ring. More customers buy sapphires than any other colored stone. Among the colored stones, sapphire, emerald and ruby, sapphires and emeralds are the most affordable. Color Quality The fact that...