What to Look for when Buying Loose Diamonds

Buying loose diamonds is a great way to save money or create a truly unique jewelry piece. However, it can also be a little intimidating for the uninitiated. Not to worry for buying loose diamonds is becoming quite popular and is not risky when you know what to look for.

Remember the 4 C’s, carat, cut, clarity and color, of diamond quality. These are the markers used to determine the value of any diamond, so make sure you understand their value and how to recognize them. Otherwise, you could end up with a poor quality diamond or even a cubic zirconium.

If you are going to purchase loose diamonds, you should only be looking at certified loose diamonds. These stones have been authenticated to be real diamonds. Don’t get fooled by purchasing diamonds from unproven sources. Be sure to buy from a reputable source.

If you are buying stones for multiple pieces or a piece with just one stone you won’t need to worry about this. However, if you are buying several stones to make a band then you will need to make sure they match in size and in color.

Buying loose diamonds is becoming more common as more people seek to create beautiful and unique jewelry. It doesn’t need to be a scary undertaking and don’t assume that you can’t find good diamonds this way. You can, but just make sure you know what you are buying.

The Journey of Certified Loose Diamonds

Certified loose diamonds start their life in the bowels of the Earth about ninety miles beneath the surface. Millions of years ago a volcanic eruption forced a large chunk of the Earth's mantle to the surface of what is now South Africa and awaited discovery.

When diamonds are pulled from the ground, they are very rough with many imperfections. The rough stones are sent to a diamond cutting facility where trained and certified individuals analyze the stones from every angle. They decide what size and shape to cut the diamonds to eliminate the most imperfections while maintaining the largest possible volume.

The first cut, that can take upwards of four hours, is generally to slice the stone in half to create two finished diamonds. All the cutting and polishing tools are metal coated in diamond dust and oil. Diamond can only be cut by itself. The table facet is the first cut, followed by the bottom facets, and finally the side facets. This process can take hours if not days depending on the size and value of the diamond.

Once all the cutting and polishing is finished, the best stones are then sent to one of several gemologist labs that certify diamonds. The labs follow a strict set of objective guidelines to grade the stone by the 4 Cs and several other criteria. The now certified loose diamonds can be sold as is or sent to jewelers to be set in an array of fine jewelry.

I Have Been and Always Shall Be Your Life Partner: Fandom Engagement Rings

All over the world, pop culture fans are finding new and exciting ways to bring their passions into conventional life. Mugs, t-shirts and pins have always been dominated by fans as a primary means of expression, but they’re taking it to the next level. 

The fine jewelry market has begun to cater to this long ignored demographic after a recent surge in affordable custom design jewelry led to the production of many sciencefiction and fantasy themed engagement rings.  This new trend has professional jewelers bringing their expertise in the craft to complex designs from fandom culture. Matching Starfleet engagement rings are just one example of how couples are sharing their love of pop culture with one another. Besides just ordering them through custom design, some small businesses sustain an income based on the mass production of fandom jewelry.

The Legend of Zelda triforce, which incorporates three triangles as focal point for a more complicated whole including highly stylized wings and claws, is among the most popular fandom jewelry designs. These engagement rings are also coded as “geek rings” or “nerd jewelry”, targeting their demographic specifically. I have to admit, I would have a tough time saying no to a partner whose marriage proposal included the One Ring in all of Middle Earth.