Diamonds And Precious Gems

One of my favorite books on diamonds is Rachel Bergstein's "Brilliance and Fire". In her book Bergstein covers the journey that diamonds have taken throughout history and she follows the intricate and intimate relationship that we as a society have had with this alluring stone. No author that I know of more aptly expresses the intense push-me-pull-me relationship that exists with this amazing little rock. Diamonds express a wealth of ideas in addition to ideas of wealth. For this reason in spite of the recent advent of lab made diamonds beginning to share the spotlight, diamonds remain the ultimate symbol of value and worth. In my time helping people find a diamond I have seen only limited interest in lab created diamonds. Whether you choose a lab diamond or a natural diamond the shape of the diamond says a lot. I wanted to write a post that allows a diamond seeker to identify which diamonds not only express the beauty we find in the light that diamonds return to us, bu...

  If your heart's desire is to get a pear cut diamond here's what you need to know so you love your ring year after year.   Fancy cut diamonds are what you call any shape that isn't a round brilliant. Pear cut diamonds come in a variety of proportions. Most people gravitate toward a length-to-width ratio that ranges between 1.50-1.75:1. Here are some tips that can help when buying a pear cut diamond . An important thing to check when you are buying a pear cut diamond is to examine the point to make sure it is clear of inclusions and you'll also want to make sure the color isn't too concentrated here.  Check the wings on each side of the point and see if they are symmetrical. The rounded end of course should also be checked to make sure it appears like a semi-circle. As with any long shape such as oval and marquise, pear cut diamonds are also susceptible to the effect known as the “bow tie.” Ideally this effect should not be too pronounced, though avoiding it alto...