In todays "Information Age" diamond shoppers are doing a lot of research before actually walking into a jewelry store. Aside from brushing up on the 4 C's they are also researching prices for items similar to what they are hoping to eventually buy. While many different websites offer to sell diamonds and engagements directly online, it is a blind item that not many consumers are comfortable purchasing sight unseen. Prices for internet diamonds are often significantly lower than at traditional retail stores because their is no added benefit of actually seeing the merchandise before making a purchase decision. Furthermore, the majority of these websites do not actually own the diamonds they are selling! They are simply a marketing source for diamond dealers around the world to list their diamonds so they can sell them at very small profit margins without having to lift a finger.
Here at Sydney Rosen, we offer the same price advantage as internet stores with the added customer service to go along with it. Our Diamond Search allows you to choose diamonds that are available to be viewed "in-store" before making a final purchase. You are still able to purchase direct online from our website, however, we offer you the option to see the merchandise before hand and pick our brains at the same time.
Click on the link below to begin searching our database of over 40,000 diamonds to pick the perfect stone for you bride to be. Diamonds with a "dot" in the far right column are available to be viewed in-store.
Diamond Search
Storefront on Jeweler's Row in Philadelphia
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Our History
It has been a while since I discussed the over 65 year history and philosophy of the Sydney Rosen Company. So here's a little reminder written by his sons Steven and David...
Because like our father, Steve and I know that our business is built on trust.
Thanks for your confidence.
David Rosen, G.G., GIA, ASA
Steven Rosen, G.G.,GIA, ISA
Proprietors, The Sydney Rosen Company
Proud Members of the American Gem Society
THE SYDNEY ROSEN COMPANY: The Family Business
Our father, Sydney Rosen, started his jewelry business in a tiny second floor office on Jeweler’s Row in Philadelphia. Just a desk and a safe. It was 1947. Peacetime in the nation’s first diamond district.
Our father was not formally educated. But he had a "Masters Degree" in life. It was said that our father was as polished as a finely cut diamond, a true gentleman. And a pioneer. People would walk up to his tiny store and get a fascinating lesson in diamonds — a rare experience in 1947. His philosophy, “If it’s not a good diamond, it’s not a good deal” established The Sydney Rosen Company, and in 1955, he opened his first storefront.
Back then, I don’t think our father could ever have imagined selling engagement rings and fine diamond jewelry via the Internet. Too impersonal. Our father was a people person. He bought and sold millions of dollars in diamonds by
looking someone straight in the eye and listening to the sound of his voice. No contracts. Just a firm handshake. A man was only as good as his word. Our father's word was as good as gold.
In the 1950’s and 60’s, our father developed close ties with diamond cutting houses in Antwerp, Belgium, renowned
for producing the world’s most brilliant gemstones. Sydney bought direct.
Our father was not formally educated. But he had a "Masters Degree" in life. It was said that our father was as polished as a finely cut diamond, a true gentleman. And a pioneer. People would walk up to his tiny store and get a fascinating lesson in diamonds — a rare experience in 1947. His philosophy, “If it’s not a good diamond, it’s not a good deal” established The Sydney Rosen Company, and in 1955, he opened his first storefront.
Back then, I don’t think our father could ever have imagined selling engagement rings and fine diamond jewelry via the Internet. Too impersonal. Our father was a people person. He bought and sold millions of dollars in diamonds by
looking someone straight in the eye and listening to the sound of his voice. No contracts. Just a firm handshake. A man was only as good as his word. Our father's word was as good as gold.
In the 1950’s and 60’s, our father developed close ties with diamond cutting houses in Antwerp, Belgium, renowned
for producing the world’s most brilliant gemstones. Sydney bought direct.
About this time, our father said to my brother Steven and I, “I think you boys need a little responsibility. Why don’t you come down to the store?” And so our education began. We learned at his side, observing the consummate teacher, and worked hand in hand with diamond cutters, polishers, jewelry designers — the whole vibrant community of Jeweler’s Row craftsmen.
Thirty years later, Steve and I are Graduate Gemologists. And like our father, we’re still on the showroom floor with our customers every day. The diamond cutters in Belgium, Israel and New York are not only suppliers, but friends. Generations of families have come to The Sydney Rosen Company to say “I do.” and “I’d do it again.” It’s a family business in the truest sense, built on special relationships. That's how we want our venture into e-business to continue.
We've designed SydneyRosen.com to build trust and confidence. Every diamond in this site has been carefully chosen by my brother and I, and all are independently certified. All the information you need to make an educated purchase online is right here — satisfaction guaranteed.
We've designed SydneyRosen.com to build trust and confidence. Every diamond in this site has been carefully chosen by my brother and I, and all are independently certified. All the information you need to make an educated purchase online is right here — satisfaction guaranteed.
And yet...when you’re ready to make that once-in-a-lifetime purchase, we'd like you to call us. If possible, come to our showroom — the largest and most beautiful on Jeweler’s Row. We may be old fashioned, but we like to meet our customers, and know that the diamond ring you’ve chosen is right for you. And we think you might like to know the folks you’re buying from. We’re always happy to answer questions, and welcome your suggestions about how our site could serve you better.
Because like our father, Steve and I know that our business is built on trust.
Thanks for your confidence.
David Rosen, G.G., GIA, ASA
Steven Rosen, G.G.,GIA, ISA
Proprietors, The Sydney Rosen Company
Proud Members of the American Gem Society
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Color in Diamonds
Let's begin the first true summer month with a brief discussion of color in "white" diamonds. Most people think of diamonds as being colorless, but the vast majority of them actually have a slight tint of yellow or brown. This comes from minute impurities in the diamonds carbon crystal structure. Due to this characteristic, gemological laboratories classify the "whiteness" of a diamond on a alphabetic scale from D to Z. True "colorless" diamonds are classified as D, E, or F color and are rarer in the marketplace and thus the most expensive. Diamonds classified as G, H, I, or J color have a slight tint of yellow that is difficult for the untrained eye to see, and thus are classified as "near colorless". These diamonds are still white enough to satisfy the majority of diamond shoppers, and their prices are much more reasonable. Many "faint color" diamonds labeled K, L or M can appear white under certain lighting conditions, however, shoppers often can see a noticeable tint of color, and thus prefer whiter stones for engagement rings and wedding bands. Advances in gemological grading have made these lower color stones less desirable and thus they are mostly used in lower quality jewelry. Older family diamonds often fall in this lower color range, since the technology for grading color was more lenient earlier in the 20th century, and thus resulted in larger slightly off color diamonds. Diamonds below this range are often used to cut "melee" or very small diamonds used in fashion jewelry like pendants and earrings where the quality of the stones is less scrutinized.
You can read more about color in diamonds by clicking on the link below.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Types of Settings
An engagement ring today is not all about the diamond anymore. Sure most ladies out there, want a diamond to show off their engagement, but more and more couples are spending the majority of their time shopping for settings. After all, a diamond is only as beautiful as the piece of jewelry you create for it. A perfect diamond in an poor quality setting just looks like a bad engagement ring, while an average diamond in a gorgeous setting can often look spectacular!
Aside from the traditional solitaire (single stone) or three stone ring, settings today often contain a number of tiny diamonds either surrounding the center stone (halo) or that extend down the shank of the engagement ring. These diamonds are set in a variety of ways to create the endless array of engagement ring settings we see today.
Prong settings are often times the sturdiest way to set small side diamonds, as each diamond has four points of contact on the ring to keep it secure. Many rings today are what is known as "common prong" where adjacent diamonds share two of the same prongs. This makes the diamonds appear to all connect and makes for a more complete looking ring.
Channel settings contain small diamonds that are arranged in a channel with metal on either side. This style of setting is also very secure, however, you often see less of the diamonds because the edges of the stones are covered by the setting. Alos their is usually a visible space between the diamonds, except for princess cuts that will appear flush.
Bar settings have the same appeal as common prong settings, since the diamonds share the "bar" that holds them on either side. However, their is a clear separation between the stones that is not seen in other common prong bands.
The newest form of setting side stones is known as "pave". This is where small holes are drilled throughout the ring where smal diamonds can be set with extremely tiny bits of metal holding them into the ring. This makes for a ring that appears encrusted in diamonds. A look that many women cherish.
However, due to the very delicate nature of the metal holding these diamonds in place, a great amount of care needs to be exercised when wearing these types of rings. Even so much as an over zealous polishing can loosen stones and cause them to fall out.
Whatever style you covet in an engagement ring, just be aware of the risks and rewards are each to determine what setting is right for you.
Click the link below for a more detailed presentation about settings...
Styles of Settings
www.sydneyrosen.com
Aside from the traditional solitaire (single stone) or three stone ring, settings today often contain a number of tiny diamonds either surrounding the center stone (halo) or that extend down the shank of the engagement ring. These diamonds are set in a variety of ways to create the endless array of engagement ring settings we see today.
Prong settings are often times the sturdiest way to set small side diamonds, as each diamond has four points of contact on the ring to keep it secure. Many rings today are what is known as "common prong" where adjacent diamonds share two of the same prongs. This makes the diamonds appear to all connect and makes for a more complete looking ring.
Channel settings contain small diamonds that are arranged in a channel with metal on either side. This style of setting is also very secure, however, you often see less of the diamonds because the edges of the stones are covered by the setting. Alos their is usually a visible space between the diamonds, except for princess cuts that will appear flush.
Bar settings have the same appeal as common prong settings, since the diamonds share the "bar" that holds them on either side. However, their is a clear separation between the stones that is not seen in other common prong bands.
The newest form of setting side stones is known as "pave". This is where small holes are drilled throughout the ring where smal diamonds can be set with extremely tiny bits of metal holding them into the ring. This makes for a ring that appears encrusted in diamonds. A look that many women cherish.
However, due to the very delicate nature of the metal holding these diamonds in place, a great amount of care needs to be exercised when wearing these types of rings. Even so much as an over zealous polishing can loosen stones and cause them to fall out.
Whatever style you covet in an engagement ring, just be aware of the risks and rewards are each to determine what setting is right for you.
Click the link below for a more detailed presentation about settings...
Styles of Settings
www.sydneyrosen.com
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
A Few Words About Cut
When shopping for a diamond many consumers are introduced to the 4 "C's" of diamonds to determine what sort of diamond they will ultimately purchase. These of course are Color, Clarity, Carat Weight, and Cut. The first three C's are fairly straightforward. Color is the whiteness of diamond, Clarity is how free of inclusions and imperfections a diamond is, and carat weight is how much a diamond weighs on a diamond scale. The fourth C however, is a little more complicated. What exactly makes certain diamonds better cut than others? A lot of it has to do with the what shape the diamond is, but other than that, many customers are unsure how to compare a diamonds based on cut.
Diamonds with laboratory reports will usually have some information pertaining to how diamond is cut. The two characteristics most easily recognized are a diamonds depth percentage and table percentage. Depth percentage refers to the "height" of a diamond top to bottom, and table percentage refers to the size of the topmost and largest facet on a diamond. Both of these percentages are relative to the millimeter diameter of a diamond. The ideal proportions of these characteristics vary depending on the shape the diamond, however, for round diamonds 60% is generally accepted as a benchmark for both of these variables. The GIA and AGS are currently the only laboratories that give cut "grades", and these are only given to round diamonds.
How these proportions determine how a diamond actually LOOKS is what is most important when shopping for a diamond. Generally, diamonds with higher depth percentages look smaller than their carat weight suggests, and often have a darker appearance. Diamonds with lower depth percentages look large, but sparkle less and appear glassy. Smaller table percentages are associated with a greater degree of sparkle, whereas larger tables have a tendency to make the diamond appear too transparent.
Although these rules still apply to determining the brilliance of a fancy shape diamond, they are most consistent when comparing the classic round diamond. Other shapes have a tendency to be cut deeper (mainly to save weight) than rounds so they often look smaller.
When shopping, be sure to understand how the cut of a diamond affects its apparent size and brilliance. And how the various shapes of diamonds are typically cut. You can click on the link below to learn some more about the various characteristics examined when describing cut.
What Determines a Diamonds Cut?
Diamonds with laboratory reports will usually have some information pertaining to how diamond is cut. The two characteristics most easily recognized are a diamonds depth percentage and table percentage. Depth percentage refers to the "height" of a diamond top to bottom, and table percentage refers to the size of the topmost and largest facet on a diamond. Both of these percentages are relative to the millimeter diameter of a diamond. The ideal proportions of these characteristics vary depending on the shape the diamond, however, for round diamonds 60% is generally accepted as a benchmark for both of these variables. The GIA and AGS are currently the only laboratories that give cut "grades", and these are only given to round diamonds.
How these proportions determine how a diamond actually LOOKS is what is most important when shopping for a diamond. Generally, diamonds with higher depth percentages look smaller than their carat weight suggests, and often have a darker appearance. Diamonds with lower depth percentages look large, but sparkle less and appear glassy. Smaller table percentages are associated with a greater degree of sparkle, whereas larger tables have a tendency to make the diamond appear too transparent.
Although these rules still apply to determining the brilliance of a fancy shape diamond, they are most consistent when comparing the classic round diamond. Other shapes have a tendency to be cut deeper (mainly to save weight) than rounds so they often look smaller.
When shopping, be sure to understand how the cut of a diamond affects its apparent size and brilliance. And how the various shapes of diamonds are typically cut. You can click on the link below to learn some more about the various characteristics examined when describing cut.
What Determines a Diamonds Cut?
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Engagement Rings and Color
Today's engagement ring shoppers aren't only looking for Diamonds. More and more women today are looking for something colorful to show the world that they are getting married. Although diamonds do come in "fancy" colors such as yellow, pink, and blue, but fine quality stones in these colors are rare and often more expensive than colorless diamonds of similar quality. That is why Sapphire and Ruby are some of today's most popular stones for engagement rings.
Many people are not aware that Sapphire and Ruby are actually the same mineral, Corundum. Corundum comes in pretty much any color of the rainbow due to various trace elements and coloring agents. When it is red, we call it Ruby, when it is any other color we call it Sapphire. Most people think of the color blue when they hear Sapphire, but Sapphire can be pink, yellow, green, purple or any color really. However, the other reason that the various hues of Corundum are popular for engagement rings is their durability. Corundum is second only to Diamond on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Which makes it a very durable stone for bridal jewelry that is typical worn everyday. Other fine colored gemstones such as Emerald, Topaz, Aquamarine etc. are very appealing, but much softer. When worn everyday these stones could easily be damaged, and are therefore better left to fashion pieces that are worn for special occasions.
Here at Sydney Rosen we are specialists not only in Diamonds, but in Sapphire and Ruby jewelry as well. Our website has a page dedicated to rings with Ruby and Sapphire side stones. However, you can always contact us directly to discuss larger stones for engagement rings.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The Timeless Allure of Diamond Studs
With Mother's Day around the corner, many sons and daughters are scratching their heads as they try to find a gift that will be remembered by their Moms. Jewelry has always been a traditional Mother's Day purchase, but what kind of jewelry to buy Mom is always a tough decision. Whenever customers ask me for suggestions as to gift ideas, my gut reaction is always Diamond Stud Earrings. Diamond Studs are a simple "post" earring that appeal to any woman. They can be worn everyday, or dressed up for a special occasion. Most diamond studs earrings are lower clarity diamonds, so that women can wear larger whiter stones in their ears without the high price-tag. Earrings are also some of the most frequently lost items and having lower quality diamonds in your ears takes some of the anxiety out of wearing them. That being said, engagement ring quality diamond studs are still popular for those who can afford them. Many people buy high quality GIA certified stones for their studs, with the intention to use give these diamonds to their children when they are ready to get engaged. This appeals to Mom's because they feel as if they are contributing the next chapter of their children's lives.
Every woman needs a pair of these classic earrings in their jewelry box. So stop by Sydney Rosen Company and see our selection of Diamond Stud Earrings, that are sure to please the special ladies in your life. Click the link below to see our online selection of stud earrings as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)