Diamond Jewelry

Shimmering and full of the radiance that they possess alone, diamonds are and will remain a woman’s best friend for ever. No matter what we say let’s accept it, nothing can ever overrule the monopoly that diamonds enjoy over a woman’s heart. Diamond jewelry in every form is welcome to the ladies whether diamond earrings, diamond pendants diamond rings or bracelets. Diamond pendants are especially loved for the extra sparkle they add to one’s look and ensemble.

Diamond solitaire pendants are the most favored variety for most women from amongst all other styles. The best thing about diamond solitaire pendants is that they look stylish and can be worn with any kind of outfit at any time of the day. Where on one hand they add an elegant touch to a day wear or an office outfit, they look subtly glamorous with an evening wear. One thing is for certain one can never go wrong with a solitaire diamond pendant. While round solitaire diamond pendants are the most preferred variety, the princess cut stones look equally charming and contemporary.

For a touch of detailed elegance a diamond drop pendant is perfect which delicately throws light and shimmer. Diamond flower pendants look as charming. No woman can resist flowers and if they come in the form of diamonds how can she possibly not love them. Three stone diamond pendants are another variety that looks pretty yet subtle, ideal for the woman who prefers an understated yet chic look.

Diamond pendants also make very romantic gifts for your beloved. Like I’ve already said a dozen times before diamonds are a woman’s best friend and what better way to sweep her off her feet than this. A single sparkling diamond sitting pretty at the center of a platinum heart says it all. So does a diamond encrusted heart pendant which exudes a heady dazzle which is sure to make her smile. Diamond journey pendants also are a good bet and you can choose from diamond line journey pendants, diamond circle journey pendants and of course the diamond journey heart pendants.

A forever diamond pendant that is timeless and stands above all else is the diamond cross pendant. No matter the style or design a diamond cross pendant always stands apart and is a very special piece of jewelry for anyone.

Dazzling and perfectly crafted, diamond pendants are a wonderful way to add style and beauty and complement any wardrobe and look.

#1 MOUSSAIEFF RED

World’s most popular red colored diamonds is the Moussaieff Red, a 5.11-carat ruby-red diamond making it the largest red colored diamond in the world.

#2 KAZANJIAN RED

The second largest red diamond is simply known as Red Diamond or the Kazanjian Red and is an emerald cut weighing 5.05 carats.  Its current location is unknown.

#3 DE YOUNG RED

Another famous diamond is the De Young Red, a 5.03-carat round brilliant that is the third largest red diamond in the world.  The De Young Red is on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC.  At one time it was mistakenly sold as a red garnet because the stone’s subtle brown hue give it an appearance more like a garnet than a rare red colored diamond.

#4 HANCOCK RED

The Hancock (Halphen) Red is an extraordinary deep ruby red making it exceptional among the reds even though it is smaller in carat weight at 0.95-carats.  The Hancock Red, named after its owner Warren Hancock. .

A diamond’s Cut is the most important factor in a diamond’s brilliance. While the Round Brilliant Cut is designed to provide maximum optics for the brilliance, the Fancy cut stones (Marquise, Emerald, Pear, and Princess Cuts) are ways of cutting a stone to maximize the carat weight. Below are the various popular shapes used to describe diamonds.

· Round Shaped

Most commonly called Brilliant Cut or the Round Cut is also known as the American Ideal Cut or American Standard Cut.

· Marquise Shaped

The creation of marquise is credited to King Louis XV of France who ordered his jewelers to create a diamond cut to reflect the beautiful shape of the mouth of his mistress the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour.

· Oval Shaped

It is called oval modified brilliant and was invented by Lazare Kaplan in the early 1960′s.

· Emerald Shaped

Emerald shaped cut is not a brilliant cut but it is a step cut which means it has rows of facets.

· Pear Shaped

Pear shaped cut is technically called pear shaped modified brilliant. The pear shaped is a combination of round & marquise.

· Asscher Shaped

Asscher shaped cut is a rectilinear diamond cut developed by Joseph Asscher. It is a step cut.

· Princess Shaped

Princess shaped cut is a brilliant-style with sharp, pointed and uncut corners. It is typically square in appearance rather than rectangular.

History of the Marquise Cut Diamond

The Marquise cut is also known as the "Navette cut". The history and creation of the Marquise cut  is credited to King Louis XV of France, who ordered his jeweler to create a diamond cut to imitate the beautiful shape of the mouth of his mistress the Marchioness Madame de Pompadour.

Description of the Navette or Marquise Cut Diamond

The Marquise or navette shape is like a long oval and looks like a football or boat shaped stone. They are mostly designed as center diamonds for engagement ring and wedding rings.

Marquise Style – Fancy Cut Diamonds

Fancy cut stones, such as Emerald, Marquise, Heart, Oval, Pear and Princess cuts are all ways of cutting a stone to maximize the carat weight. Popular fancy cuts include the "Baguette" (bread loaf), "Marquise" or "Navette" (little boat), "Princess Cut" or Square Brilliant Cut, "Heart", "Briolette" (a form of Rose cut), Pear (teardrop), and the Trillion which is triangular in shape.

Marquise Cut Diamond

Good Marquise Cut Diamonds are affected by several different elements which include the Width and Depth of the stone, the Symmetry and the alignment of a diamond’s facets and the polish. Diamond Clarity is a measure of a diamond’s blemishes and inclusions which also affect the brilliance of diamonds and their sparkle because they interfere with the passage of light travelling through the precious stone. Aspect ratio of the Marquise cut: The ideal ratio of length to width should be about twice the length as the stone is wide. (2:1 aspect ratio).

Here are quick six steps to determine if your diamond is fake or real.

Step 1

Certified by diamond grading authority. Make sure it’s from an impartial diamond grading authority (e.g. GIA, AGSL, EGL, PGGL) or an independent appraiser who is affiliated with a professional organization (like the American Society of Appraisers).

Step2

Look through it. Diamonds have a high "refractive index" (meaning they sharply bend the light that passes through them). Glass and quartz have a lower refractive index, meaning they sparkle less because they bend light less, even when they’ve been cut nicely (because the refractive index is an inherent physical property which is not altered in any way by a nice cut – unless, technically speaking, the cut induced a permanent strain on the crystalline lattice).

Step 3

Observe the reflections. A real diamond’s reflections usually manifest in various shades of gray. If you see rainbow reflections, you’re either dealing with a low-quality diamond or a fake.

Step 4

Water testing .Put the diamond in some water, if it is real it will sink, and if it is fake it will float. Put the stone in your mouth and breathe on it. If the stone stays "foggy" for 2-4 seconds, then it is not real. Real diamonds will have cleared by the time you look at them.

Step 5

Weigh the stone. Cubic zirconia weighs approximately 55% more than diamonds for the same shape and size. Use a carat or gram scale to compare the stone in question to a real diamond.

Step 6

Check the setting and mount. A real diamond is not likely to be set in a cheap metal. Stamps inside the setting indicating real gold or platinum (10K, 14K, 18K, 585, 750, 900, 950, PT, Plat) are a good sign, while a "C.Z." stamp will give away that the center stone is not a real diamond.