The Jeweler's Bench
Diamond Guide
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The Four C's:Cut,Color,Clarity,Carat

CUT: A diamonds cut has the most influence on its sparkle,fire and brilliance.Most diamonds are available in the followings styles:Brilliant-Cut,Step-Cut,andMixed-Cut.Brilliant-cut diamonds include round,oval,pear,heart,and marquise diamonds.Step-cut diamonds feature facets cut in a step-like fashion,such as emerald-cit or baguette.Mixed-cut diamonds are the combination of brilliant and step-cuts,the most popular being the princess-cut.The shape you choose is a matter of preference.Round Brilliant-cut is by far the most popular choice,because its best feature is the diamonds fire and brilliance.Princess-cut offers a more contemporary look.Marquise-cut tend to flatter long,slender fingers.Heart-shape are truly for the romantic.Emerald-cut is intended for the more classic woman.Pear-shape and Oval-shape have an original beauty all their own,and offer women a way to express themself and break tradition.

COLOR: A diamonds color is determined by Gemological Institute of America's color scale.A diamond is made up of pure carbon.During its development,other natural elements may be incorporated into the carbon,causing a chemical reaction that the changes color.Traces of the element boron causes blue diamonds,and traces of the element nitrogen causes yellow diamonds.Diamonds never change their color,but a diamond's setting can have a positive or negative influence on its appearance.

CLARITY: Clarity measures the flawlessness of a diamond.Diamonds have internal birthmarks called inclusions,and those found on the external surface of a diamond are called blemishes.Nearly all diamonds have inclusions and blemishes,but the most wanted are flawless diamonds.Truly,a flawless diamond is extremely rare.The tool jewelers use to inspect a diamond is called a loupe.

CARAT:A carat is the unit of measure for a diamond's weight.The diamonds weight is evaluated on a point system.For example:1carat=100 points.Please do not confuse karat with carat.Karat is the unit that measures gold.Diamonds come in many weights,but one carat diamonds and larger are found less in nature than the smaller ones and therefore render themselves to be much more expensive.But remember,the right type of setting can affect and improve the look of any size diamond.

DIAMOND CARE: Diamonds are the hardest mineral known to man.That said,to keep your diamond looking its best,they do require delicate care and maintenance.A diamond should be cleaned regularly.It can be cleaned with a little detergent,(we prefer Dawn)and small amount of ammonia and water.Soak your diamond for about 30 minutes and use a small brush and dry with a polishing cloth,as this will restore its sparkle.Everyday activities can lossen your diamond/setting over time,so have your diamond checked at least every 4-6 months.If you are in our area,drop in and let us check it for you.There is no charge and it only takes a few minutes.