Diamond Jewelry - The Ultimate Classic Adornment
Diamond jewelry is the ultimate adornment for a woman or even a
man. It is something which takes us beyond the realm of time.
Diamond jewelry is a timeless classic adornment, which can never
go out of style and will always be looked up amongst all kinds
of jewelry.
In buying diamond jewelry it is important to keep some factors
in mind. The diamond history, diamond shape (Diamonds come in
more shapes than any other gem. Diamond jewelry with spectacular
center pieces are available in round, emerald cut, heart,
marquise, oval, pear, princess, radiant, and trillion. Diamonds
as accents are usually found in small round shapes and
baguettes. Popular earrings are usually round or princess cut,
though some may come in fancier shapes),
Diamond settings (such as bar, bezel, channel, chevron,
invisible, pave, and prongs), diamond carats (The unit used to
measure the size and weight of loose diamonds), diamond clarity
(Clarity is the clearness of a diamond. The most valued diamonds
are the clearest. When shopping for a diamond, look for diamonds
with grades from FL to SI2. Stones from VS1 to S2 are the best
value because they are lower in price without too many
inclusions.)
Diamond color (Diamonds that are colorless or near colorless are
the most prized.) And diamond cut (The diamond cut determines
the brilliance of the diamonds. If a diamond is poorly cut, the
light is lost through the sides and bottom of the diamond and
there will be no radiance)
Diamonds are more commonly found in certain shapes; baguette,
emerald, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, radiant, round
and trillion. The most popular diamond shape has been the round
brilliant because people believed it to be an "ideal cut" that
displayed the most brilliance and sparkle in a diamond. The
design also allows it to hide flaws and imperfections. However,
new technology has made other shapes just as brilliant, such as
the princess cut and trilliant cut. Today, there is no such
thing as an "ideal cut" when it comes to diamond jewelry.
In diamond jewelry, the diamonds are set in different kinds of
settings. Some of these kinds of settings commonly used in
diamond jewelry are-
- Bar: Metal bars hold the loose diamonds in a channel-like
setting.
- Bezel: The metal is formed to fit around the diamond, cupping
it into place.
- Channel: A row of small diamond stones are set in a groove in
the diamond rings.
- Chevron: V-shaped prongs that usually hold a marquise or
princess-cut diamond for solitaire style rings.
- Invisible: Diamond set in a groove without visible prongs.
- Pave: Tiny stones are embedded to look like the piece is paved
with loose diamonds.
- Prong: Several prongs hold the diamonds to let light pass
through without interference.
Though diamond jewelry is made of diamonds, which is one of
strongest materials on earth, a hard blow can cause the diamond
to chip. If proper care is taken then the diamond jewelry can
last a lifetime. To clean diamond jewelry, use water and a
little bit of ammonia with a gentle brush while being careful of
the metal. Also keep it away from lotion, perspiration and other
household cleaners. These items can dull the surface of the
stones. Store your diamond jewelry separated with paper or bags,
so they do not scratch or dull each other. It's also wise to
keep the diamond jewelry in its original velvet box.