Citrine is any quartz crystal or cluster that is yellow or orange in color. Although, often cut as a gemstone, citrine is actually somewhat rare in nature. Citrine is one of the most affordable gemstones, thanks to the durability and availability of this golden quartz. Named from the French name for lemon,"citron," many citrines have a juicy lemon color, but like all gemstones, there is a range of colors that can be exhibited as citrine.
The cut of a diamond refers to the way the stone is shaped and polished, how the facets are arranged and how deep or shallow it’s cut. There are various cuts of diamonds that refer to that, many of them patented. Both Asscher and Princess diamonds are square-shaped diamonds, but they are vastly different in how the facet are cut and arranged.
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Cut also refers to the shape of the diamond. The shape is often determined by how the molecules of the crystal are arranged. If it’s an octahedron, it will be cut as a round brilliant, and often two round brilliants can be cut from the same original crystal. Other crystal configurations, such as macer, will be cut as marquise or oval diamonds.
The modern round cut brilliant stone has 58 facets, or 57 if the tiny bottom facet, the culet, is omitted. The Princess cut is unique in that it’s a square diamond with pointed corners. Many diamonds, even square and emerald cut diamonds will have rounded or cut-off corners, because contrary to popular opinion, a diamond can chip or scratch if it knocks against something at the wrong angle. It’s a bad idea to try to scratch a mirror with any diamond!
An emerald shaped diamond is a rectangle cut with longer, flat facets. It’s a good cut for a diamond that’s exceptionally clear. If it’s not, then an emerald cut diamond can appear cloudy.
The Asscher diamond is similar to an emerald shape, except it’s square. It’s cutting resembles a spider web when viewed from above.
Other diamond shapes are self-explanatory. A pear- or tear-shaped diamond is exactly that. It’s an oval that’s wider at one end and curves to a point at the other end. An oval is a perfect oval. The marquise-shaped diamond can maximize the carat weight of a stone because it’s a longer and flatter cut, yet highly faceted. The marquise comes in a variety of length-to-width ratios.
]]>We’re all familiar with the 4Cs of diamonds – cut, color, clarity and carat weight. But diamonds also possess a quality called fluorescence that’s part of the evaluation and assessment of a diamond. It’s actually called photo-luminescence and it’s caused by small amounts of the chemical boron in the diamond. It’s activated by UV light.
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It’s graded by how much blue there is in the diamond – None, Faint, Medium, Medium blue, Strong, Strong Blue and Intense Blue. At one time, this was a highly-prized quality in a diamond and the demand for a blue-white diamond was high. The blue indicated the fluorescence of the diamond, while white was a reference to the overall color of the body of the stone. This has decreased over time as consumer preference shifted towards the more colorless stones.
The tide of public preference may be shifting back to the blue-white diamond, but you want to be sure, when buying a diamond, that you examine it under a variety of conditions, such as sunlight and fluorescent light, as well as a jeweler’s black light. Some diamonds with a fluorescent quality can become hazy in daylight or even glow out on the dance floor!
Colorless diamonds have become increasingly rare and expensive. The color grades of D (flawless) to G are going to be hard to come by at a reasonable price. If you’re buying a diamond with a color grade of H or higher, some fluorescence may actually be a good attribute for it and increase your stone’s value and attractiveness, as the blue fluorescence can offset any other gradations in the stone, such as a yellowish tone.
Although some diamonds have a yellow or orange fluorescence, most reputable jewelers will recommend against a diamond with this quality, unless you’re buying a colored diamond in the same hue, as a similar fluorescence will enhance and intensify that color.
]]>How does a lump of mineral or crystal become a dazzling diamond, ruby or sapphire? It’s an amazing process called gem cutting or lapidary and makes all the difference in the final value of the stone. It was developed first in Venice in the early 1300’s and was seen in Paris and Bruges in the mid-1400s.Good cutting is a precise art that catches the light just so, and captures the beauty of the gem. Poor cutting destroys it.
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The most popular cut for a diamond ring today is still the round, brilliant cut. It was developed in the 17th century in Venice. It is still preferred when the raw crystal is in an octahedron formation. Even though as much as 50% of the stone is cut away in the process, often two stones can be carved from an octahedron. More unusually-shaped stones are used for fancy cuts, such as a marquise, pear or heart-shaped diamond. The earliest brilliants had 17 facets on the top of the stone and were called double-cut. This was soon improved with stones cut with 33 facets and were called triple-cut brilliants.
In the 19th century, with the development of better gem-cutting tools, more innovations in diamond cutting styles were developed. In 1919, Marcel Tolkowsky combined the art of cutting with the science of light and refraction and published his book, Diamond Design. These relatively recent geometric calculations were the forerunner of much of diamond cutting work today and led to other, more precise mathematical models engineered to enhance the fire and brilliance of diamonds.
There are now cuts such as the princess cut, trillions, ovals, pear and heart-shaped. Some innovative cutters have even fashioned star or butterfly-shaped diamonds! One patented cut, the Ashoka diamond, is an oblong cut with rounded, brilliant ends, and requires a stone 3 carats or larger. It’s an exceptionally beautiful (and pricey!) diamond shape. Tiffany has also patented a cut of diamond called the Lucida cut. It’s the lucky bride whose fiancé gives her one of these highly coveted stones!
]]>Diamonds have an allure that makes them the most sought-after gemstones in the world. They say that "diamonds are a girl's best friend," and more than likely, that sentiment is due to their brilliance, sparkle, and how they make a person feel when wearing one. But, what we know as these clear and beautiful gemstones start their lives as bare rocks. They must be mined, honed, and crafted into what we know as diamonds.
A diamond is a form of carbon, and its extreme hardness and light diffusion qualities make it a beneficial stone for industrial purposes and pleasing aesthetic qualities. Diamonds make excellent abrasives because other diamonds can only scratch them. Therefore, they are incredibly durable and retain their brilliant gleam wonderfully.
The earliest known reference to the diamond comes from a Sanskrit text dating back to approximately 296 BCE (before the Christian Era), which described the diamond's qualities. It is generally accepted that diamonds were first mined in India, where they quickly became symbols of spirituality and holiness, decorating religious idols. Early in their history, diamonds were traded in all directions of India for their different industrial uses, including engraving and drilling, as well as for their aesthetic purposes, such as for ceremony, decoration, and adornment.
There was a strict prohibition against cutting diamonds. This taboo started with the early traditional uses in India and ended in the Middle Ages. By 1375, a guild of diamond cutters and polishers was established as the technology of reshaping diamonds began to develop. The different shapes developed through the years only worked to exemplify the diamond's beauty and brilliance, increasing its allure. Today, diamonds are most familiarly used for adornments, such as jewelry.
4 characteristics are used as primary description devices of diamonds and are used to determine the ultimate value of a particular diamond. These are known as the "4 C's", or carat, clarity, color, and cut. The carat is the weight that measures the mass of the diamond. One carat equals approximately 0.007 ounces. The value of a diamond increases significantly relative to its carat weight because large diamonds are exceptional and in high demand for jewelry.
The clarity of a diamond measures the number of inclusions of a diamond or its internal flaws. The foreign matter inside the diamond or cracks causing a cloudy appearance is considered inclusion and tends to decrease the value of a diamond. There are grading systems used to assess clarity based on certain factors, including the inclusions' number, size, color, and visibility (diamonds is usually graded from flawless to imperfect). The higher the clarity rating is, the rare the diamond (and the more valuable) is.
The color of a structurally perfect diamond and one free of chemicals is almost transparent and color-free to the naked eye. This doesn't necessarily affect the value of a diamond; however, Some pink or blue diamonds (like the Hope Diamond, for example) are considered spectacular and, therefore, highly valuable. A rating system of D to Z (D=colorless and Z=bright yellow) is used to aid in the color assessment of diamonds.
Diamonds are unique and the ultimate souvenirs from the Earth, which adds even more allure to owning one. The diamond's cut describes how it has been shaped and polished from its original mined state. The "cut" represents the artistry that has gone into the diamond and the angles to which the diamond is cut. This is different from the shape of the diamond, which describes its shape. Shapes such as pear, round, marquis, and princess are all familiar terms for diamond jewelry. When shopping for diamond jewelry, fine jewelry stores will be aware of the 4 C's of the diamond they carry and can provide information about which gems you are interested in.
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When you buy a diamond, be sure to question the sales associate first about the characteristics or attributes of the stone. Ask to see the diamond certification that will accompany the diamond when you purchase it. If you do some comparison shopping, you will note that the quality of the diamonds each jeweler carries varies depending on the store.
A diamond certification will also give you indicators about other diamond qualities, such as fire, brilliance, and scintillation, also called Return of Light. These qualities refer to how light is refracted back to the viewer when held stationary or when in motion. The certification will also give you a measure of the stone's fluorescence. These factors also impact the beauty and brilliance of your diamond.
January - Garnet
The Romans named this deep-red stone granite, or pomegranate because it resembled the fruit's rare, jewel-like seeds. Symbolizing faith and courage, garnets are believed to intensify affection and nurture the imagination.
February - Amethyst
A symbol of peace since ancient times, amethyst was once used to decorate the British crown jewels. Believed to promote tranquility, the stones are revered for their soothing characteristics.
March - Aquamarine
Named from the Latin words for water and sea, aquamarines were once worn by sailors to protect against seasickness. Today, the translucent blue stone symbolizes courage and everlasting youth.
April - Diamond
During the Italian Renaissance, diamonds represented divine love from the translation dio (God) and Amante (love). Today, diamonds remain the ultimate symbol of everlasting devotion. May - Emerald
Due to its rich green hue, the ancients equated emeralds with spring and prized them as symbols of rebirth. The vibrant stones are believed to quicken the intelligence as well as the heart.
June - Pearl
According to Arabic legend, pearls are formed when dewdrops fill with moonlight and fall into the ocean. The world's oldest known gem, pearls, is believed to promote prosperity and long life.
July - Ruby
Believed to promote balance in love and all spiritual endeavors, the ruby is not only the world's rarest gemstone but also the one many consider to be the most passionate.
August - Peridot/Sardonyx
Ancient Romans called peridot the "evening emerald", since its vivid green color does not darken at night. Once believed to drive away evil spirits, the stone is still considered a symbol of good luck.
September - Sapphire
The ancients believed the earth rested on a giant sapphire, and its reflection colored the sky. Once worn by kings to protect against harm, today, sapphires are believed to promote inner peace.
October - Opal/Tourmaline
Shakespeare once used opals as his muse, their luminous surfaces mirroring the wonder of the skies, rainbows, fireworks, and lightning at once. Today, the stone is a symbol of both intuition and joy.
November - Citrine/Yellow Topaz
Derived from the French word citron, meaning lemon, citrine is also known as the jewel of the sun. The golden stone has been aptly linked with light-heartedness, happiness, and joy.
December - Blue Topaz/Turquoise
The ancient greeks believed topaz had the power to increase strength and make its wearer invisible. Still considered a powerful stone, today this dazzling gem is also a symbol of rejuvenation and joy.
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