Ready for a stunning surprise? Put a gemstone under a high-powered microscope, and you’ll see a world of breathtaking beauty. (more…)
Wondering where to start in creating your jewelry wardrobe? GIA put together this list of 11 Pieces of Jewelry Every Women Should Own. Jewelry essentials to ensure that you have the perfect accessory for any event.
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When does yellow become orange, and orange become red? The question may sound a bit philosophical until you tie it to colored diamonds, where slight variations in color can mean huge differences in price.
When you’re shopping for a diamond, its brightness and sparkle will draw you to the jewelry counter, and keep you captivated long after you’ve made your diamond purchase. Achieving maximum brightness and sparkle requires excellent cutting technique, which is reflected in the diamond’s cut grade. Of the 4Cs, no other ‘C’ has more impact on a diamond’s appearance. (more…)
The Napoleon Diamond Necklace, in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, is set with 234 diamonds weighing approximately 263 carats; the largest stone is about 10.40 carats. Photo: Chip Clark, Courtesy: Smithsonian Institution
historic diamond necklace was a gift from Napoléon Bonaparte to his second wife, Marie-Louise of the Austrian House of Hapsburg, Empress of France. The necklace was given to commemorate the birth of their son, Napoléon François Joseph Charles (also known as Napoleon II), in 1811. Following her death in 1847, the necklace remained in the family for several generations. (more…)
Once destined for industrial use, low-quality rough diamonds were thought to have too many impurities or inclusions to be used in high-end rings, bracelets, and necklaces. But today, these diamonds are making their way into luxury jewelry. So why the sudden interest? (more…)
Composed of a single element—carbon –and formed under extreme temperature and pressure, diamond’ remains one of the world’s most coveted gems – and the birthstone for those lucky enough to be born in April. (more…)
We typically think of insects as pesky critters that make us squirm. Caterpillars, flies, and moths are not what many would consider the winners of Mother Nature’s beauty pageant. (more…)
Legend says was pried from the eye of an idol in India in the 1700s by a deserter from the French army. Photo: M. Nachinkin, Courtesy: RIA Novosti
The Orlov, a large rose-cut diamond, has been described as being shaped like half of a pigeon’s egg. It is the fourth in our Famous Diamonds series. (more…)
After years of hiding in the watery depths, mermaids, mythical half-human sea creatures, are surfacing everywhere – in a provocative photo shoot in the December 2013 issue of W ; on countless Starbucks’ cups (the mermaid is their corporate logo); in television shows like Mermaids and H20: Just Add Water; Pinterest, Etsy, and on bridesmaid accessories and wedding dresses. (more…)
A gemstone that conjures up images of heaven and earth, life and death, yin and yang, jade remains hugely popular in China, and all across the world. But did you know that jadeite is available in lavender (but not in pink?) (more…)
Jewelry connoisseurs have gone crazy for colored diamonds. And their appetites were practically insatiable in 2013.
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