3 Things To Keep In Mind When Looking At Diamond Grading Reports

If you have shopped for a diamond in the past decade, you have probably realized that there is a big difference between "Certified" diamonds and "Uncertified" diamonds.  Pretty much every diamond for sale in a typical retail store will have some form of laboratory report or certification with detailed information regarding the stones quality.  Only older diamonds or diamonds purchased from estates tend to be uncertified, and this is mainly because they are not cut to meet modern industry standards. This does not mean that these older diamonds are not valuable, they simply would be given low "cut" grades by today's standards and are therefore more marketable as authentic "antique" diamonds than poorly cut modern stones.  

This being said, diamonds that ARE certified by a gemological laboratory still need to be judged with an educated eye to avoid misrepresentation.  Here are 3 areas to keep in mind when looking at diamond certificates to avoid being misled: 

1.  What laboratory is the certification from?

There are many different laboratories that issue Diamond Grading Reports.  The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society Lab (AGSL) are generally the most accurate reports. These organizations are the originators of the color, clarity, and cut scales that the entire industry uses and therefore grade to the highest standards.  Other laboratories such as the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) and International Gemological Institute (IGI) use the same nomenclature as the GIA but do not grade to the same standards.  Therefore, diamonds given grades by the EGL and IGI will typically given lower grades if graded by the GIA.  This confuses many shoppers who see two diamonds with similar weight/color/clarity that are significantly different prices because one is GIA and the other is EGL.  In reality, the EGL graded diamond is much lower quality than stated, which explains the difference in price.  

2.  Plots 

Most diamond grading reports (especially those for diamonds 1 carat or larger) will be accompanied by a plot of the inclusions in the diamond.  Regardless of who issued the report, these plots ALWAYS look a lot worse than the inclusions in the actual diamond.  Some websites list their diamonds with a PDF file of the grading report, and many shoppers will eliminate certain diamonds simply because the plot lends them to believe the diamond is more imperfect than it probably is.  As a rule of thumb, plots do not do many diamonds justice and I would recommend that anyone looking for a diamond see the diamond in person if possible, because plots often do not tell the whole story.  

3.  Polish/Symmetry/Fluorescence

The most important aspects to pay attention to on a diamond grading report are the 4 C's.  Carat Weight, Color, Clarity and Cut.  Cut grades often requires a little extra attention since different labs grade cut differently, but in general anything called "Excellent" or "Ideal" should be a nicely cut diamond.  However, there is a fifth category called "finish" which details a diamonds polish (how perfectly each facet is polished) and symmetry (how perfectly the facets are arranged).  These qualities of a diamond are usually invisible to the naked eye, and should NOT affect a purchase decision if they are do not meet excellent or ideal standards.  A diamonds proportions (cut) are far more telling of a diamonds overall brilliance than it's finish. 

 Also, fluorescence gets a bad reputation in the diamond industry, mainly because it is not disclosed.  Many diamonds (especially yellower diamonds) have blue fluorescence under UV light.  From my experience, 99% of diamonds with faint to medium blue fluorescence do not look noticeably different in most lighting environments.  Only diamonds with "Strong" or "Intense" blue fluorescence would ever have a noticeable blue tint in direct sunlight, so do not poo poo any diamond with some degree of fluorescence if everything else about the diamond meets your expectations.  

I hope this helps anyone shopping for a diamond to keep their head in the right places.  We currently have GIA and EGL graded diamonds listed on our website for anyone interested in seeing the comparison.  Click the link below to visit our Diamond Search.  

Diamond Search

Myanmar Gem Trade

If you have followed the news this past spring/summer you probably heard something about Myanmar (formerly Burma) slowly opening its borders to western media and culture.  The country has long had trade sanctions and other penalties imposed upon it from the west due to human rights concerns stemming from the nations long standing military government.  The past year has seen a weakening of this government, and rapid growth in the civil rights movement leading to strong hope that the country to soon rejoin international trade with the rest of the world.   Myanmar's gem trade is a particular area of interest since this is one of the industries most associated with human rights issues.  The country is a historical hotbed for rare gemstones like Sapphire, Ruby and Jade, much of which has been unable to be exported due to United Nations imposed trade sanctions.  Thousands of carats a year still make it out of the maligned nation through illegal smuggling but this does not benefit the country's economy and thus is inhibiting their growth.  This past week president Obama extended these trade sanctions on gem imports from Myanmar, further putting pressure on the country to either meet international expectations about their social and political issues, or risk another setback in the country's reintroduction into the international community.

You can read more about this week's news here....

U.S. updates Myanmar sanctions to maintain gem import ban

Shop for Ruby and Sapphire three stone rings on our website here...

Design Your Own Three-Stone Ring

What's in a shape?

Everyday I am constantly struggling with the problem of  what shape diamond to show specific shoppers.  It is easy when a customer comes in with a particular shape in mind, but if they are clueless, the natural tendency is just show them round diamonds.  This is fine for someone who is looking for a classic style such a solitaire, but sometimes you need to ask the customer "what type of girl is is your girlfriend?".  If he responds with anything other than "simple" it might be more beneficial to lead him in the direction of a fancy shape diamond.  Some girls, even the "simple" ones might prefer something with a little unique flare.  Recommend an off the beaten path shape like a Radiant or Asscher cut.  You might even want to show him some shapes that today's shoppers perceive as old such as Pears and Marquise.  This is a great way to unload some older merchandise on a consumer who hasn't made up their minds yet.  For you all you know he/she could see the beauty in something that isn't necessarily "IN" right now.  It is true that the round diamond is the safest bet, but you should not just assume that every girl who hasn't made up her mind about the cut of diamond she likes is just looking for something classic.  She might just be waiting for the right salesperson to show her something unique that really wows her!  You can visit our website www.sydneyrosen.com to learn more about the different shapes of diamonds.

Diamond Search

Jewelry News Stories

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Bling of the Week

I've started a new weekly post!....just not here.  From now on I will be posting "Bling of the Week" on our Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram pages.  Every week I will pick one of the gorgeous pieces available for purchase here at the store and feature it online.  You can call the store for information about pricing and availability.   Anyway...here are some pictures of what I've posted so far:

Check back weekly on Facebook, Instagram @sydneyrosencompany and Pinterest to see more!  As always, you can see our usual online merchandise on www.sydneyrosen.com

The Enduring Solitaire

Buying jewelry can be a worrisome experience for some shoppers because it is an item that is often times given as a surprise.  Once a shopper decides on the "category" of jewelry they are looking for (ring, bracelet, necklace earrings, etc) they can then be completely dumbfounded by the incredible variety of different styles available.  This is why the "solitaire" style is still one of the most enduring styles of jewelry year after year.  Solitaire generally means any item of jewelry containing a single stone whether it be diamond, sapphire, ruby or any variety of birthstone.  Solitaire jewelry is a no brainer because it can be worn with any other jewelry or with any outfit.  Engagement ring shoppers who wish to surprise their future fiance will often buy a solitaire ring with the intention of letting her choose the style of band after he proposes.  The setting will be a small fraction of the purchase price and he/she will not have to worry about choosing the wrong style.  Solitaire pendants are also a popular item because they can typically be worn everyday, or for any occasion.  On SydneyRosen.com we have a portal to design your own diamond solitaire pendants, to surprise the loved ones in your life. 

Design Your Own Solitaire Pendant  

   

Diamond Bracelets

Today's young fashion jewelry shopper is probably looking for something funky and unique in a bracelet to give to his significant other.  Inexpensive materials like lucite, rutilated quartz, and various synthetic materials are being used to create chunky bangles and cuffs to give that extra degree of POP to an outfit.  However, the more mature ladies of our lives (young and old) are probably looking for something more simple and classic to wear with a variety of outfits for any occasion.  This is where the diamond "tennis bracelet" comes in.  Although pretty much any "straight row" diamond bracelet can be considered a tennis bracelet, the most traditional ones are just simply individual diamonds set side by side all the way around your wrist.  Typically they come in 2 or 4 prong varieties depending on the shapes and sizes of the diamonds in the bracelet.  Women love their tennis bracelets almost as much as their wedding sets or their diamond studs.  It is simply put, a "go to" piece that can be paired with any other jewelry in your collection such as a diamond bezel watch.

On sydneyrosen.com we have a wide variety of styles of diamond bracelets to suite any occasion.  Click the link below to browse our selection

Diamond Bracelets