Real Or Simulated Diamonds Can You Tell The Difference

When you buy a diamond, how do you really know if it is real? Of course, if you deal with a reputable jeweler who has a reputation to uphold, your chances are pretty good that you will get the real thing. But if you come across a deal from a relatively unknown source and it seems too good to be true it just may be!

You might think a fake is a fake, but just like anything else there are different qualities of simulated diamonds. Some are very inexpensive and easy to spot. A cheap cubic zirconia ring in a plated setting will probably look nice for a while but will soon lose its luster and any jewelry would be able to tell right off the bat that it is not an expensive gem. Thats not to say that these are no good on the contrary you can buy a very nice ring for around $20.00 and have it look gorgeous to the causal observer. It might last a year if you take care of it and thats not bad for the price!

Other simulated diamonds can be quite expensive. Some are very high quality and set in platinum or 14K rings. These will cost you, but not as much as a real diamond in the same setting. These rings will last a long time and are a good value if you want the look but dont want to spend the money. Most jewelers can tell the difference between a real diamond and even these high quality look alikes, but a new method has been developed that creates a diamond in the lab which is of such high quality that most jewelers will not be able to distinguish it from a natural diamond. These diamonds that will soon hit the market place will set you back about half the cost of the same size of a natural diamond.

So how do you tell the difference?

Since you need specialized equipment and training, the average person cannot tell the difference between a real and simulated diamond, unless it is of terrible quality. The best way to protect yourself when buying diamonds is to buy from someone you trust. The other thing is to educate yourself about the 4 Cs of buying a diamond so you will know what to look for when you do go shopping.

These 4 Cs color, clarity, cut and carat weight are what determine the value of the diamond. You may pay less for a large diamond that does not have good clarity, cut or color then you will for a smaller diamond of better clarity, cut and color but is it really worth it? The answer is mostly a matter of personal preference but if you deal with a jewelry you can trust, he or she can guide you as to the best value for the money whether you decide to buy a real or simulated diamond.

Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of Artisan Jewelry Online where you can learn more about the 4cs of buying a diamond.

Who Else Got a Bad Diamond Deal? Here's How YOU Prevent It

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Well, they're also a jewelers best friend, because these little stones are the most valuable minerals in the world. Valuable, yet everyone has trouble when buying a diamond because it's so hard to get a good estimate of what a fair price would be. If that's you, then I'm here to tell you that judging the value of a diamond is actually as easy as looking for 4 easy characteristics.

They are cut (the shape of your diamond), clarity (the amount of spots, cracks and flaws), color (is your diamond completely clear or does it have a deep color?) and carat, the measure of weight for diamonds.

So the first one is cut. Is your diamond round and equally wide as it is tall? That's called a round and brilliant cut, and it's the most valuable cut there is. When your diamond is either flatter or taller in shape, it becomes less valuable. This goes for every diamond there is, except for a triangular cut, which can also be very valuable because it is in fact very rare.

Clarity is a bit harder to judge because you can't always see it with the naked eye. However, it's possible to get a very close estimate simply by holding your diamond against a lot of light. Do you see any spots, marks of flaws in it? If it looks as clear as water, your diamond is very valuable. If it looks polluted and has spots, cracks or flaws in it, value decreases.

The third is color, and in diamonds, color is a bad thing. The more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it becomes. However, if you have a natural black diamond, you can expect a price almost as high. This is because certain colors are very rare, and they quickly add to the price if you're after one.

And finally, the last trait to look for in a diamond is of course carat. This is the most well known characteristic to judge diamond value, the higher the carat, the higher the price. To illustrate, 95% of women will never own a diamond over 1 carat. It's that rare.

So when you hit the stores, the traders or the pawn shops, always remember to pay close attention the 4 C's of cut, clarity, color and carat.

So the only danger left to you now is judging whether it's real or not. Too many people have already been "duped" with fake labratory made diamonds from Russia and Eastern Europe. It's hard to tell the difference, which makes it all the more important you shop at a trusted dealer.

This is especially important when your gift is a symbol of love and devotion. Don't take risks and skimp out on something important as a wedding or engagement ring. Your partner might not be able to tell the different immediately, but lab created diamonds don't last as long and eventually always give up their secret. There's nothing like the real thing, and when you do get a good deal, it'll last you an eternity.

Enjoy shopping!

Joel Bleurocque is a diamond trader and creator ofDiamond, a premier online resources for Diamond buyers and sellers.To visit his complete archive of articles and learn moreon how to get the best deal on a diamond, go here:http://www.fivecdiamond.com/articles/http://fivecdiamond.com>Diamond,a premier online resources for Diamond buyers and sellers.To visit his complete archive of articles and learn moreon how to get the best deal on a diamond, go here:http://www.fivecdiamond.com/articles/

Is Bigger Better? The How-To's When Shopping For Diamonds

Buying a diamond can be an exhilarating but daunting adventure, especially if you're a newbie.

If I could offer only one piece of advice it would be this: Learn as much as you can about the 4Cs before you go shopping.

For the uninitiated, that's cut, color, clarity and carat weight. And I like to add one more - common sense.

Choosing the perfect diamond (and there's no such thing as the "perfect" diamond, although a few have come close) is as much a matter of personal taste as it is a matter of the diamond's characteristics.

Some couples are willing to forego quality for size, others prefer the brilliance of a flawless blue-white diamond over a larger stone with less clarity. You be the judge - but not until you're clear about those characteristics I mentioned.

Talk to any jeweler and they'll all give you a different opinion as to what they believe is the most important quality of a diamond.

According to Mayer Herz, Vice President of Diamond Acquisition at Mondera.com, "Cut is the most important consideration if you're on a budget. You can make up for low color and clarity if the stone is well cut."

However, Joseph Schlussel, Publisher of Diamond Registry Bulletin, says "I personally believe that color is the most important thing. Most people who go into a store today, they are told about cut. But I look at what you can see with a naked eye. I would put cut the last, because most people can't see it."

The safest all-round bet is to look for the overall "package", with the levels of cut, clarity, color and size as good as you can get for the price you're willing to pay.

Here are my tips to help you get the best value possible:

• Ensure you get a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the American Gem Society (AGS) Certificate when you purchase your diamond. A Certificate guarantees that you are getting what you paid for.

• If you are buying at a retail store, ask to see your diamond against a white cloth (or take your own - even a white piece of paper will do the trick!). Jewelers typically use a black felt cloth to display their stones because all diamonds look white against black.

• The American Gem Society says that the cut of the diamond can influence the price by as much as 50%. A well-cut diamond, when viewed from above, will sparkle with a brilliance you won't find in any other precious stone.

• Most diamonds have flaws (called inclusions) that developed during its formation millions of years ago. Some are impossible to see with the naked eye, others glare at you. The more inclusions, the poorer the quality of the diamond, and the less light it will emit. But its all a trade-off - fewer inclusions means a more expensive diamond.

Knowledge is power, and the more you understand about how diamonds are graded and how that determines the price you'll pay, the better you'll be able to judge what is good value.

Above all, remember that you'll be the one wearing it, and hopefully for a long time, so the final decision is yours. My very first diamond had a hairline crack deep inside it, and I came to love that diamond as much for its tiny flaws as I loved my husband for his!

Alex Miller has been involved in the jewelry industry for more years than she cares to remember! She lists her passions as "diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds" and has turned her passion into an informative website. You can find more great articles about diamonds, engagement rings, bridal jewelry, honeymoons and more at http://www.Engagement-Rings-Guide.com. The place to go BEFORE you shop for jewelry online.

alex@engagement-rings-guide.com

Diamond Hoop Earrings: The Diva's Choice

Men grow cold as girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square-cut or pear-shaped
These rocks don't lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl's best friend
-- from the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"

Diamond hoop earrings are perfectly popular these days, thanks to young pop divas like Jennifer Lopez or J-Lo, hiphop diva extraordinaire. J-Lo is also known for spreading the trend of the chandelier earring, and other cascading-style ear ornaments.

Now take another diva and examine her choice of jewelry. We're talking about actress Elizabeth Taylor and her special fondness for diamonds. When she was dubbed a Dame of the British Empire, the nation held a "black tie and diamonds" event, to commemorate her love for that specific precious stone. Diamond hoop earrings are part of Miss Taylors not inconsiderable jewelry collection.

Take hoop earrings up another level and what do you get? Precious stones set into the hoops. What precious stone is considered the most popular, the most prestigious, and the most in-demand throughout the ages? Of course, it is the diamond.

Diamonds are formed over a period of a billion or more years deep within the Earth's crust - about 90 miles deep - and is pushed to the surface by volcanoes. Most diamonds are found in volcanic rock called kimberlite, or in the sea after having been carried away by rivers when they were pushed to the surface.

Hoops, for their part, come in a variety of thicknesses and sizes. Sometimes they are so fragile as to create cascading earring designs, and at other times they are so thick that you can set stones and other materials into them. Hoop earrings used to be a favorite jewelry style among ancient Central and South American tribes, at a time when gold flowed freely and primarily held only decorative value.

Combine the youthful appeal of hoop earrings and the distinguished status of the diamond and you'll have an entrancing diamond hoop earring. A small, thick hoop earring made of fine silver or gold may be studded with diamonds. Conversely, a hoop earring may also host even just one diamond, snugly fitted into its metal niche. Diamond hoop earrings are a unique design, pursued and appreciated for their earthly elegance.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at www.morninglightjewelry.com.

samserio@ccisp.netm

7 Reasons Why Diamonds Are Still A Girl's Best Friend

Marilyn Monroe made that phrase famous. Diamonds are a girl's best friend. That still makes a lot of sense. Here's why.

Reason #1 diamonds are a girls best friend because they are so beautiful. Fiery, romantic diamonds light up her finger. White diamonds look beautiful with outfits in every color.

Reason #2 diamonds are forever. There are lots of beautiful things around. Why diamonds? Roses are beautiful, but they fade. Dresses are gorgeous, but after childbirth, or as she ages, that beautiful dress would not look as beautiful on her anymore.

Reason #3 diamonds are precious. Sure, moissanite may be what a girl might buy for herself, because of its lower price, but moissanite is man made. Diamonds are rare, natural stones. The diamonds that girls love are of the highest quality. The lower grade diamonds may be used in tools, but women look at the quality of the diamond. See http://www.buy-diamonds.net/choosing_a_quality_diamond.htm for details on choosing a diamond. A large, high quality diamond would definitely impress.

Reason #4 diamonds are romantic. Especially when he is proposing to her with a diamond worth two months of his salary. It means sacrifice for love on his part. The fact that he loves her enough to save that sum to buy that diamond for her is a very romantic gesture that she will remember for years to come, each time she sees that diamond on her finger.

Reason #5 diamonds say that her man can provide for her very well. From the days when men would go out and hunt for animals to feed the family, to today, when most men go out there to bring in the money to support the family, women love being cared for. Being provided for. In many cultures, women look to marry a rich man. A man who can provide for them. If a guy can afford to give her diamonds, he can easily provide for her daily needs and for that of her children.

Reason #6 diamonds are practical. Like the song, diamond's are a girl's best friend. A kiss will not pay the bills. A rose isn't going to pay for her rental. A diamond, on the other hand, in times of emergency, can be a life saver. A single diamond can be sold for enough money to pay for a woman's bills when times get tough.

Reason #7 diamonds are a girl's insurance. Ok, so now, there are insurance policies in paper, that promise to pay for her old age medical bills etc, but diamonds are a lot more beautiful. She holds and sees them. She wears them. Everyone admires them. They assure her that even when she gets old, when she loses her looks, even if her guy leaves her for a younger woman, the diamonds would still be with her. A collection of diamond jewelry assures her that in her old age, or she is in dire need for cash, a piece of diamond jewelry could be sold, or pawned for much needed cash. Diamonds are a girl's insurance.

Janice Wee

The writer is the webmaster of http://www.buy-diamonds.net. Buy Diamonds which gives you tips on how to get the best diamond within your budget.

Buying The Perfect Diamond Ring While Saving $1000's

Buying a diamond engagement ring can be a risky business! For most of us an engagement ring is the third most expensive purchase we are likely to make, after our home and car. However I can guarantee you know much more about buying a home, or a car than you do about buying a diamond ring! This lack of knowledge opens up the opportunity for dishonest people to take advantage of you.

This generally takes the form of selling you a poor quality diamond ring for a higly inflated price.

How can you avoid the pitfalls?

There are some basic precautions you can take, which will significantly reduce the risk. Some of these include:

Get Educated - Research the subject of buying diamonds, in exactly the same way you would if you were buying a car. There is no substituted for this, and if you are willing to make the effort you can have more knowledge of the subject in 2 hours, than 95% of your fellow consumers.

Buy from a reputable source - Whether you decide to make your purchase online or at a Jewelry store, make sure you have some background on the store. Visit the store and ask the salesman questions to gauge his level of knowledge. I would suggest you avoid the Jewelry districts, simply because the competition is so fierce that it breeds questionable practices and half truths amongst the occupants.

Never buy a diamond without a certificate - Without a certificate you could quite easily buy a piece of glass set into an engagement ring setting and be non the wiser, but up to $5000 poorer. However a certificate alone does not guarantee a better deal, you need to be proficient in understanding exactly what it is telling you, and how each factor that is covered affects the price and quality of the ring.

Understand the 4 C's of diamonds - Most people know something about the 4 C's of diamond buying including, Cut, Clarity, Carat and Color. However very few people know how to each of the 4 factors interact to determine the price and quality of a diamond.

If you follow this advice you significantly reduce your chance of being fleeced by a dishonest salesman. Treat your purchase as a significant financial purchase. Set your budget up-front and do not go too much above or below the price you've set yourself. Try not to get to emotionally involved in the purchase and the outcome should be favorable.