Precious metals to complement diamonds

Diamonds are undoubtedly amongst the most stunning of precious gems. They ooze elegance and class, give off a fiery sparkle, and have a classic beauty that seems to be unrivalled by other precious stones. Diamonds are chosen for all sorts of items of jewellery these days, from engagement and wedding rings to necklaces, earrings, brooches, and even bridal headwear.

In order to make the most of the beauty of diamonds you need to make sure that you choose the right precious metal to surround the gem when buying your jewellery. The great thing about diamonds is that they look stunning in all precious metals, which gives you far more choice and flexibility when it comes to choosing the most suitable precious metal.

Popular choice for precious metals

Sterling silver: This may be an option for those that are on a budget, as it is cheaper than the other precious metals but still complements the diamond beautifully. Sterling silver is usually a combination of silver, which makes up the majority, and another metal such as copper. This metal may be ideal for those that are restricted in terms of budget, but it is important to remember that it can wear more quickly than the other precious metals.

Gold: If you want a really traditional look for your jewellery then gold is an excellent choice. Gold and diamonds work beautifully together, and this has made this a popular choice of precious metal over the years. It is worth noting, however, that gold is classed as a soft metal, and this means that it can dent and scratch more easily.

White gold: Whilst gold continues to be popular amongst the older generation many younger people these days have taken to white gold. This offers the same quality as you would get with gold and a similar look to platinum but at a much cheaper price. White gold is perfect for setting off the sparkle of a diamond, hence its popularity. However, you should note that it is sometimes combined with nickel, which could result in allergic reactions.

Platinum: For those who have a larger budget platinum could be the perfect complement for your diamond. The mirror sheen and sparkle of platinum matches perfectly with the fire and sparkle of a diamond, and the two look absolutely stunning together. However, it can be expensive compared to the other metals and therefore way beyond the budget of many people.

The Basics of Diamond Manufacturing

Few people looking for a diamond ring realize the elaborate process entailed in the manufacturing of the ring. This process usually involves advanced machinery, and must take into consideration countless aspects, such as proportions, symmetry, size, color, clarity, brilliance, weight and inclusions.

The first stage is the measuring and analysis of the rough stone. This can be done by advanced software accompanied by a HR viewing system. This software gives you a 3D image of the rough stone, and provides all the cutting options of the diamond, taking into account any inclusions, such as holes and grooves, and provides you with different possibilities for polishing. This way you can gain the most profit from the stone. The information you get is the shape of the planned polished diamond, the number of stones you can achieve from one single rough diamond, and the estimated value of the polished stone based on Rapaport standards. The information is presented in charts and diagrams, so it is very clear and enables you to make the smartest decisions.

After deciding on the shape and size of your stone, the next stage is to mark the stone for sawing and polishing. With today's advanced technology, this is usually done with a laser marker for maximum accuracy. The marking is done with the aid of suitable lenses and internal led lighting, and you can view the 3D analysis of the stone during the entire process and make changes accordingly.

Following the designing and marking of the stone, it can be shaped by a green laser sawing & shaping machine, which is the best solution for smooth surface sawing. The sawing is done in accordance with the laser marking lines.

Once the diamond is cut and polished, it can be measured again, but this time for a different purpose. The software measures all the different aspects of the stone, such as facet symmetry, proportions, clarity, color and weight, and based on its analysis it produces a special certificate of authenticity.

The certificate of authenticity can be upgraded with laser inscription on the diamond's girdle. This is usually an inscription of a serial number, to prove ownership and to prevent counterfeiting. After the inscription is made, a snapshot is taken and it can be uploaded to the certificate. Some people like to inscribe more romantic things, such as dedications, words of love or secret messages (The inscription cannot be seen with the naked eye, but with a special loupe).

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Tips on how to buy reasonably priced yellow diamonds

Yellow diamonds have the ability to reflect the most delightful light and many claim that this light magnifies the aura of the wearer. Maybe this is one of the reasons why yellow diamonds are increasing in popularity.

Not so long ago the yellow diamond was considered less pure compared with white diamonds, however, the market has shifted and yellow diamonds are now highly sought after. It just takes a few celebrities to wear something and a new trend starts and prices begin to escalate.

However, some yellow diamonds are not so expensive as the price totally depends on the intensity of yellow plus the modifying color. If your budget is low then you could actually find a reasonably priced yellow diamond among the lighter colors. See the below chart to get a better understanding of the color grades.

Note that the lower the grade the lower the price tag and that 1 = low and 8 = high.

1. Very Light (Y-Z)
2. Light
3. Fancy Light
4. Fancy
5. Fancy Dark
6. Fancy Deep
7. Fancy Intense
8. Fancy Vivid

You can save even further if you buy your fancy color diamond directly from the wholesaler instead of buying from a retail store. Obviously stores have their own massive overheads and they must add these expenses to the price of the jewelry they sell.

Returning to the color, it should be noted that Fancy Intense Diamonds and Fancy Vivid Yellow diamonds possess much more of the yellow color and therefore they become much more expensive. Some of you may have heard the term Canary Yellow Diamonds. Some of the Fancy Intense Yellow and Fancy Vivid Yellow are given this name due to their spectacular color. If you have the budget and you want the most spectacular yellow diamond then you would definitely want to look for a Canary Yellow Diamond.

If you are planning on having your yellow diamond set into a ring it is very important to remember that no matter which color metal you prefer, the border of metal surrounding your diamond should be in yellow gold. This will make you diamond appear bigger and more spectacular.

So in short, in order to buy a yellow diamond within your budget you should aim for a lighter shade of yellow and buy your diamond directly from the wholesaler.