With Halloween creeping up on us, black diamonds seem a fitting subject.
Black diamonds, much like brown diamonds, were once outcasts in the diamond world. In the 1928 book, Diamond: A Descriptive Treatise, author J.R. Sutton noted: “Ordinary black diamond is not greatly unlike black sealing wax. Opinions differ as to its virtues as a gemstone.” And until relatively recently, this negative impression still persisted.” (more…)
Featuring one of the widest color ranges of any gem, tourmaline is one of October’s two birthstones. A favorite of mineral collectors everywhere, tourmalines come in all shapes, sizes, color saturations and tones – from expensive electric blues to affordable olive greens.
If you’re thinking of buying a colored diamond, you’ll want to know if its color is natural or is the result of a treatment process. (more…)
Gems & Gemology (G&G), GIA’s award-winning peer-reviewed journal, is celebrating 80 years of publication, 1934-2014. The venerable journal has long been respected for sharing invaluable information with gem and jewelry professionals – and for its breathtaking photography. (more…)
Buying a piece of jewelry is always exciting. But it can be stressful, if you don’t know what to look for. Before you begin shopping, start by reading these 10 tips to help you when you are buying jewelry. We want you to come home relaxed and happy, with a precious keepsake you’ll be proud to wear for a long time. (more…)
We’ve been wearing coral jewelry for at least 30,000 years – an impressive testament to its timeless appeal.
Coral comes in an array of colors: white, cream, various shades of red and orange, blue, a light grayish violet called “lavender” in the trade, and a light, vivid pink color sometimes referred to as “angel’s skin”. There is also black and golden coral. Red coral (sometimes called “ox blood” in the trade) has historically been the most expensive. Gem-quality coral has uniform color. (more…)
Just a few decades ago, saying a diamond was brown was considered to be the kiss of death. These ugly ducklings of the colored diamond world were often destined for industrial use. (more…)
Something remarkable happened to jewelry design and manufacturing in the past few years – it underwent a technological revolution powered by Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) hardware, such as 3D printers. (more…)
If Queen Latifah is wearing a modern take on chandelier earrings, you can bet they’re in style. Chandelier earrings may be hot now, but they have been depicted in European portraits since the mid-16th century. (more…)
The reigning world champion Seattle Seahawks sported new Super Bowl rings when they took the field against the Green Bay Packers, kicking off their season with a resounding win. (more…)
Clarity characteristics on a gemstone’s surface are called blemishes. Inside the stone, they are referred to as inclusions.. This post will focus on inclusions and how they are important factors to gem and jewelry professionals and consumers.
Inclusions can be very small, but they mean a lot. In general, the fewer inclusions, the greater the desirability. (more…)
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