What is Palladium?
A member of the group of elements known as “platinum group metals,” palladium is a silvery-white metal that is similar in color and finish to platinum. Although not as dense or as valuable as its rarer counterpart, palladium is still considered a precious metal in its own right.
Discovered in 1803 in South America, palladium has been utilized for a wide variety of applications. More than 50% of today’s supply of the metal is used to make catalytic converters for automobiles. The metal is also used as a component in many electronic products, dental and medical applications, and heat and water production.
Since 1939, palladium has been widely used for fine jewelry, engagement rings, and wedding bands and is preferred by budget-conscious consumers as a more economical alternative to platinum. One of the most commonly chosen alloy metals, palladium is often combined with yellow gold to form white gold.
Benefits of Palladium
Palladium offers jewelry consumers an array of advantages:
Serves as an economical alternative to platinum, while still providing the desired silvery matte finish
Maintains its color naturally over time; never requires rhodium re-plating. Resists tarnishing, chemical erosion, and extremes of temperature
Durable surface (12% harder than platinum) resists scratches and dings. Develops a handsome patina over time, similar to platinum
Hypoallergenic and color-retaining properties make it an ideal choice for use as an alloy metal
With many desirable advantages, including a close resemblance to its pricier platinum counterpart, palladium has become a prominent fixture in today’s fine jewelry market. At Brilliance, we’re pleased to offer a premium assortment of palladium diamond jewelry pieces, each crafted to rigorous standards of quality, longevity, and beauty.
Categories: Brilliance, Education, Jewelry
New York—Two polished diamonds cut from the 316.15-carat “Ponahalo” diamond will be the highlights of Christie’s October auction.
Christie’s “Jewels: The New York Sale” is scheduled for Oct. 15 in New York and features diamonds of 102.11 carats and 70.87 carats, both cut from the Ponahalo diamond.
The Ponahalo diamond came out of De Beers’ Venetian mine in 2005, and is the largest stone ever to emerge from that mine.
Jonathan Oppenheimer of De Beers named the diamond: Ponahalo means “vision” in Sotho, the tribal language spoken by the tribe in the area of South Africa where the stone was mined.
See full article on nationaljewelernetwork.com…
Looking for a loose diamond? Skip the auction and view our selection of diamonds by going to Brilliance.com.
Categories: Diamonds, News
The Brilliance Blog recently sat down to a cup of coffee with Jacob Ohayon, the CEO of Brilliance, to get his thoughts on the past, present, and future of our company.
Brilliance Blog: How long have you been in the diamond and jewelry business?
Jacob Ohayon: I began my career in the diamond and jewelry industry in 1980, when I was trained by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and earned my Graduate Gemologist degree (GG). Working for a large chain of jewelry retail stores, I gained expertise by sorting and grading diamonds. In 1989, I established Brilliance as a diamond manufacturer and importer to the United States
B.B.: What is your business philosophy?
J.O.: At Brilliance, we look to give guidance and advice to our customer so they can make educated buying decisions. Our customers choose us as their lifelong jeweler because they are treated with honesty and integrity.
B.B.: Where do you envision Brilliance.com in 5 years?
J.O.: I envision Brilliance.com becoming the leading retailer of online diamonds and jewelry, as well as the most dependable source for consumer education and guidance.
B.B.: What are the greatest changes you have seen since entering the jewelry business?
J.O.: I feel that the internet has greatly impacted the diamond and jewelry business. Due to the vast amounts of information available online, many consumers have a comprehensive understanding of diamonds and jewelry when they start shopping. Furthermore, customers have many more buying options which has increased competition and lowered prices.
B.B.: What are you most proud of?
J.O.: I have always loved being involved in life’s greatest celebrations through engagement rings and fine jewelry. It gives me a sense of pride to take part in so many engagements, weddings, and other joyous occasions.
B.B.: What advice do you give to someone looking to purchase jewelry?
J.O.: It is important to pick a trustworthy and reputable jeweler. Additionally, it is crucial that your jeweler has diamond and jewelry experts on staff that can assist you and cater to your needs.
B.B.: How does Brilliance give back to the community?
J.O.: As part of our zero-tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds, Brilliance is in full compliance with the Kimberley Process by ensuring that each diamond we sell was mined and processed in an environmentally and socially conscious manner. Brilliance is also involved with several local community youth centers by providing funds and volunteers for their events and projects.
Categories: Brilliance
The advantage of purchasing loose diamonds that are certified is that trained gemologists have evaluated the diamond’s characteristics and issued a certificate stating its quality. This allows consumers who have untrained eyes to make educated diamond buying decisions; with a certified diamond, you know exactly what you are purchasing and you do not have to rely on what a salesperson might be telling you.
One of the gemological laboratories that certify the diamonds offered on the Brilliance search is the European Gemological Laboratory, or the EGL. The EGL was founded in more than 30 years ago and is committed to protecting the integrity of the jewelry trade and the public’s interest through applied science, innovation, education, and exceptional service.
The EGL is credited with introducing new approaches to diamond grading and for conducting advanced research with physicists, geologists, and mineralogists. This lab is recognized for pioneering the grading of diamonds less than one size in carat and with unveiling the “SI3” designation for diamond clarity, a standard that the world diamond community has come to embrace.
An EGL certificate or grading report is a valued document that aids consumers in the diamond buying process and is based on thorough scrutiny of every facet and detail of a diamond.
To begin shopping for EGL Certified Diamonds start with our online diamond search.
Categories: Diamonds, Education
Like any other passionate shopaholic, there is nothing I love more than knowing that I got the best deal for the product I want. That’s why I love working here at Brilliance – we offer the guaranteed lowest prices on loose diamonds and fine jewelry. This month, we are offering our customers a way to save even more with coupon codes of up to $150! Simply apply the appropriate discount code during the checkout process.
$25 off any order! Use coupon code BC25BR
$50 off any order $5,000 or over! Use coupon code BC50BR
$75 off any order $7,500 or over! Use coupon code BC75BR
$100 off any order $10,000 or over! Use coupon code BC100BR
$150 off any order $15,000 or over! Use coupon code BC150BR
These codes expire September 30, 2008. So be sure to check back in the beginning of October for the new discount codes.
Brilliance offers even more ways to save! If you pay via wire transfer, your order is eligible for an extra 2% discount. Additionally, you may be eligible for an even better discount if you place your order on the phone with a Brilliance Sales Representative. Contact a representative at 866-737-0754 or email service@brilliance.com
Categories: Diamonds, Jewelry, News
The American Gem Society (AGS) has acquired an additional patent recognizing its Performance-Based Cut Grading System. This is the fourth patent for the system granted this year, covering “methods for grading gemstones, apparatus for grading gemstones and systems that utilize such methods and apparatus,” according to the scientific abstract.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office granted patent number 7,382,445, for work developed by AGS Laboratories Executive Director Peter Yantzer and a research team.
The three earlier patents recognize computer ray tracing technology for determining a loose diamond’s light performance; systems and methods that can be used to determine the dispersion of a diamond relative to an observation point and methods that illuminate a diamond with multi-angle, color-coded light rays to determine the location from which the gem gathers light.
See full article on idexonline.com…
Categories: Diamonds, Gems, News
The Sapphire, a beautiful gemstone from the Corundum family of minerals, is the birthstone for the month of September. While sapphires are most commonly known to have blue coloration, this precious gem can be found in every color except red. A sapphire that is not blue is said to have “fancy color.”
Sapphires are mined from the deepest layers of the earth’s crust. The highest quality stones are found in Sri Lanka, although other occurrences have been unearthed in Thailand, Myanmar, Madagascar, India, Brazil, Burma, and Australia. Rated at a 9 on the Mohs’ scale, which measures the hardness of precious gemstones, sapphires are nearly as strong as diamonds.
The sapphire is derived from the Persian word “Safir” meaning “beloved of Saturn,” and has been a cherished gemstone for centuries. Sapphires are generally linked to happiness, serenity, and romance, making them a great choice for a Valentine’s Day gift. It is also the designated gemstone for the 5th, 23rd, and 45th wedding anniversaries.
At Brilliance, we use sapphires of all shapes and colors to enhance the beauty of our fine jewelry. Many choose sapphires as a complement to their certified diamonds or as the main gemstone for a piece of jewelry.
Categories: Education, Gems
No comments | Leave a comment