Gem cutting – How it has changed over the years (50% of the original rough diamond is lost during the cutting of a round brilliant gem)

How does a mass of mineral or crystal become an attractive diamond, ruby or sapphire? It’s an amazing process called gem cutting or lapidary and makes all the difference in the final value of the stone. It was developed first in Venice in the early 1300’s and was seen in Paris and Bruges in the mid-1400s.Good cutting is a precise art that catches the light just so, and captures the beauty of the gem. Poor cutting destroys it.

Most gems start out actually being sawed with a special lapidary saw into a rough shape, such as square, round, pear or marquise. It’s then ground with a diamond-infused wheel to further refine the shape. The gem cutter uses a series of finer and finer abrasives to get closer to the clear heart of the gem. Cabochon gems are polished to a smooth overall surface, sometimes held by hand, but more often fixed or “dopped” with wax or adhesive to a dowel to hold it while the lapidarist polishes the stone.

Transparent stones are most often faceted, a process where flat planes of the stone are cut and polished over the surface in a precise, symmetrical pattern. It’s critical that the planes match up perfectly, or the beauty of how the light is captured by the facets will be lost.
If a stone is not polished, the brilliance of the gem will also be lost. When a stone is properly faceted, it captures the light so it bounces around inside the stone, giving it the sparkle we love and that helps determine the value of the gem. If the stone is cut too flat, or the facets don’t meet precisely, the light doesn’t bounce off the angles in the facets to maximum effect.

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Tags: chiang mai, gold, jewellery, Jewelry, thailand, wholesale

If you are someone who is in the market for a diamond engagement ring, a proposal to your special someone must be on the horizon.  First off - Congrats!  Proposing to a girl is an exciting time in anyone’s live and is something that every woman has envisioned since she was a young girl.

Time for the crucial part of the process - hunting for an engagement ring!  Many guys think that this is the hardest part of getting engaged.  We all know that women love their diamonds!  Unfortunately, most men have never bought a diamond so they aren’t sure of what to look for.

It’s normal to get a little intimidated when you first walk into a jewelry store.  You see all these shiny diamonds and plently of dollar signs!  And as you can probably guess, the salesperson is going to present to you the most expensive diamonds first!

Don’t get stressed out  With a little research, you can find a fantastic engagement at an unbelievable price.  Don’t pay attention to the first prices that you see in the stores - the costs are NOT what you will pay.  There’s a lot of bargaining room and more importantly, you can look for certain things in a diamond in order to get the biggest value your buck.

The most critical part of hunting for an engagement ring is to be educated on how these things are graded.  Look for a diamond buying guide to help you out here.  Understand the “4 C’s” and how diamonds are graded.

After you know what goes into grading a diamond, you will also know what is looked at when determining the price of diamonds.  From there, it’s up to you to select which grading characteristics are most important to you in purchasing a diamond.

It’s important to decide how much you are willing to spend, and stick with it.  The size of the diamond you choose can go up simply by going down a notch in one of the .  As an example, by going from a “F” color diamond down to an “I”, you will conserve big bucks or be able to bump up the size of the diamond on the ring significantly.

Good luck and enjoy this time of your life!

Tags: cheap engagement rings, diamond buying guide, diamond rings, engagement rings

It’s true what they say: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It’s certainly not unusual for people to spend so much time hard at work during the week that they need to find an outlet to spend their leisure time wisely. When people spend time on different hobbies and other pastimes, they are able to de-stress and get their mind off work. And when the time comes when they have to go back to their job, they feel recharged and more capable to take on more challenges.

There are several types of hobbies that people can start. One of the types is game; people can get involved in a variety of games for their sheer enjoyment such as coin collecting or akido for instance. Any game can help get rid of the clutter in your brain that’s left over from a week at work. On the other hand, outdoor sports help people to keep moving. Not only do these games give them excitement and a competitive spirit, but it also allows people to become fit and healthy while enjoying themselves. Moreover, team sports teach people to work harmoniously with others.

As you know there are so many different hobby ideas, creative hobbies are also popular. People find enjoyment in crafting projects with their hands; painting, woodworking, and jewelry making fall under this category. By practising hobbies such as these, people are able to hone skills, and possibly, they can start their own businesses by treating their hobby seriously.

Some other possible hobby choices is the collection of different items. People can collect anything they are interested in, be it cheap like fridge magnets or expensive like jewelry. It delights a lot of people to see their collection grow with each unique piece.

Each person can engage in almost any hobby. People always need to find ways to keep themselves entertained, and there are enough hobbies to help them do just that.

Tags: collect, collecting, collection, craft, creative, enjoy, game, hobbies, hobby, making

Today like no other time in history the choices in metals that can be used to make jewelry especially engagement rings and wedding rings is almost over whelming.

A metal that may be new to many people is platinum, however it does have a rich history with its use in decorative pieces dating back to the 7th century and ancient Egypt. The use in jewelry and decor began its rise in Europe in the 18th century however it was not obtainable to those who were not royalty or extremely wealthy. In 1930’s during the time of the great depression and WWII platinum became a controlled substance therefore its use in jewelry making was almost unheard of.

It has only been in the last ten years that platinum has made a real resurgence. This metal has gained popularity in recent years among the general population however the price makes it an unrealistic choice for most of us. A platinum ring generally costs double the amount of its white gold counterpart therefore it still viewed by many as a symbol of wealth and status.

Platinum is a white metal that is appreciated for not only its beauty but its strength and long wear ability. This is one of reasons many skilled jewelers especially those making high end items like to use platinum prongs in order to set diamonds and gems in their pieces. It is also a desirable choice because it does not oxidize and is hypoallergenic. Another characteristic that makes platinum stand out from the competition is that when it does sustain a scratch this will not cause further damage to your ring, where as if a gold ring is scratched the gold will continue to breakdown in that area.

Unlike gold, high quality platinum has a purity of 95% and is often alloyed with metals such as titanium, copper, rhodium, palladium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium. Platinum is rated by a 1000 count, with platinum of 950 parts per thousand being used to make high quality jewelry. It is recommended that if you are going to pay the money for a quality platinum piece that you do not buy anything below 850 parts per 1000. High quality platinum will have a mark stating what its count is and it should be and combination of the number such as 950 and  the lettering Pt or Plat.

If you ever decided to purchase or even try a platinum ring on the first thing you will notice is the weight of it.  Platinum is a very dense metal therefore a platinum ring will weigh approximately 60% more than the same ring made from 18kt gold. As well platinum has a much higher melting temperature then gold, and can be heated over and over again allowing very small intricate pieces to made. Platinum allows a jeweler the flexibility to make pieces that are very elaborate and detailed without losing strength or durability.

Platinum rings may not be for everyone however if the price is out of reach then an option may be to purchase a ring that has its diamonds or stones secured with platinum prongs. Other options can be to go to a simpler design with the added security that your ring will last or do to a ring with a mix of metals.

Tags: engagement rings, jewelery, Jewelry, platinum jewelery, platinum jewelry, wedding bands, wedding rings

Most any female could admit that jewelry is no stranger to her and it is desirable. Rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and ladies watches are just a few examples of what may be found in any given woman’s jewelry box. The topic of choice is that of ladies watches and most will find that an appealing timepiece truly compliments the outfit. In some instances the watch can match all of the other pieces of jewelry being worn on any given day.

So much emphasis is placed on rings or necklaces that perhaps most forget about the importance of ladies watches. The idea behind a woman’s watch is to be able to look nice and also be aware of what time it is whenever curious. There is no reason for a watch to be bulky or unattractive especially when it comes to that worn by a lady. In many instances, ladies watches are readily visible at most any formal event or function.

Some ladies watches have gold or silver or diamonds or a combination of all three possibilities. Some ladies watches are big or small or decorative so as to allow modification of any look or outfit to be possible. In actuality, many women may find it difficult to find a watch that is to her liking only because there are so many to choose from. As a gift, it is important to make certain, when selecting from the many ladies watches out there, that it is appropriate for the person to receive it.

Ladies Watches As Conversation Pieces

Perhaps one day a female finds herself waiting among strangers for a bus and no topic of interest is at hand to pass the time. In some cases the ladies watches that are decorative or extravagant or sometimes even simple may lead to a thought provoking discussion. Questions in regards to where the watch was purchased, how much it cost or why the person had chosen it, is often common in this instance.

Another possible scenario involving a ladies watch as a conversation piece would perhaps be on a date with another person. That deafening silence as a newly met couple waits for their meal to arrive at a restaurant could perhaps be converted to a casual comfortable conversation about the particular watch the female had chosen for the evening. There is obviously more than meets the eye when it comes to the possibilities of ladies watches and the situations or circumstances that surround them.

The thought behind Ladies Watches are to be able to look nice and also be aware of what time it is whenever curious. Watches can also add style and elegance to a women. To view more no cost articles on watches visit, http://www.watches.jsgenterprises.com.

Tags: fashion, Jewelry, ladies watches, watches, women