As smart consumers, men and women looking for a less expensive way to buy very expensive loose diamonds would look to pawn shops, jewelry exchanges, and local jewelry retailers. Although offered what seemed to be beautiful diamonds at great prices, many times the consumer would have to trust that the storeowner was supplying them with the color, clarity, and general quality of a diamond that he claimed. Now, certified diamonds are available online at great prices and those consumers are able to make more confident purchasing decisions knowing that the diamond’s quality is certified.
Why choose a certified diamond?
With diamonds that are not certified, consumers must trust the opinion of the seller as to the quality of a diamond. A certified diamond has been inspected and graded by a trained expert gemologist. Diamond grading is conducted using internationally accepted standards; color is generally graded from D-Z, clarity from Flawless – Included, and Polish and Symmetry from Ideal/Excellent – Poor. The evaluation is printed on a diamond certificate, which accompanies the diamond when it is sold.
To ensure an unbiased inspection, make sure that the laboratory that has graded your diamond is a third-party grader that is not affiliated with the seller from whom you are purchasing. (Otherwise, it’s like asking a Toyota dealer to inspect and give a quality rating to their own cars!)
Brilliance is proud to offer over 60,000 certified diamonds of all shapes and sizes for you to choose from. Although we have several trained gemologists on staff, each of our diamonds are certified by one of the world’s leading authorities on diamond certification, including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society (AGS), the European Gemology Laboratory (EGL), the International Gemological Institute (IGI), and the Hoge Raad Voor Diamant (HRD). This way, our customers can rest assured knowing that their diamonds are graded by a non-biased third-party laboratory and their diamond certificate is recognized and valued internationally.
For assistance finding the perfect certified diamond, contact a Brilliance diamond and jewelry expert at 866-737-0754.
Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds, Education
Setting a certified diamond into an engagement ring is an intricate process that involves exact measurements and skilled craftsmanship. Extreme care must be taken to ensure that the engagement ring and the diamond remain intact and properly set. Unsurpassed quality is a priority at Brilliance; that’s why we have only master jewelers working to create our exquisite fine jewelry.
George Melkonian is a master jeweler at the Brilliance.com headquarters. With over twenty years of experience in the field of fine jewelry, he has developed an eight-step procedure for setting a loose diamond in a solitaire engagement ring. Along with reading their descriptions, you can view George executing the eight steps in the images below.
Step 1
The jeweler opens the platinum prongs to the size of the diamond. The further the prongs are opened, the lower the diamond will sit in the setting.
Step 2
After the prongs have been positioned to the size of the diamond, the jeweler cuts the prongs to the height of the diamond. To do this, he removes the top of the platinum prongs with fine jewelry clippers, leaving extra metal to secure the diamond.
Step 3
After the prongs are cut, a residue is left on them. The jeweler removes this residue using a flat engraving tool.
Step 4
The jeweler must position the loose diamond so that the star facets sit within the prongs and the proper facets remain between the prongs.
Step 5
Using a pusher tool, the jeweler bends the prongs over the diamond at a 45 degree angle, locking the diamond down in its setting.
Step 6
The jeweler smoothens the tips of the prongs using a specialized filer tool.
Step 7
To give the prongs a smooth and fine finish, the jeweler glides a spinning rubber wheel along the prongs.
Step 8
In the final step, the jeweler polishes the engagement ring setting to its exquisite mirror-like finish. He plates white metal pieces in rhodium to give a white, strong exterior coating.
Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds, Education, Engagement, Jewelry
For those celebrating birthdays in November, the only month with more than one birthstone, the versatile beauty of topaz and the earth-toned hues of citrine hold a special significance. Both gems are designated as official birthstones of November. There’s no denying their exquisite appearance, but there’s more to these striking gems than meets the eye. Deeply rooted in history and legend, these stones continue to serve as meaningful symbols today, and are widely popular jewelry enhancements.
Citrine
Deriving its name from the French word for lemon, citrine is the most valuable type of quartz gemstone, ranging in color from pure yellow (the most desirable and valuable) to a brownish shade. When found in nature, citrine is usually an amber color. A majority of naturally occurring citrine is found in Brazil, Russia, Madagascar, and the United States, although most commercially sold citrine is manufactured from hybrids of other stones.
In ancient times, citrine was believed to shield the wearer from evil, often worn as a talisman during times of war. Legend also held that the stone made the wearer immune to a snake’s venom. Today, many regard citrine as a source of serenity and mental clarity.
Topaz
Found in a wide array of colors, topaz is one of the most versatile gemstones, making it ideal for use in fine jewelry. In its purest form, topaz is clear, but it most often contains variations of yellow, green, blue, pink, and grey. The rarest shades are red and pink, which command the highest market value. Most commercially sold topaz has been treated with heat to bring out the natural hues of the stone.
In the Middle Ages, all yellow gemstones were referred to as topaz, but today the name is exclusive to the silicate mineral formed from aluminum and fluorine. Natural topaz is mined primarily in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Sri Lanka, and the United States. The stone can be found in large, crystallized deposits weighing up to several hundred pounds.
Many believe that topaz gemstones help reduce levels of stress and anxiety, promote relaxation and tranquility, and improve overall health and well-being. In addition to serving as one of November’s birthstones, topaz is also the commemorative stone for the 4th wedding anniversary.
Exceptional Fall Gifts
Need a unique gift idea for a November birthday? At Brilliance, we’re proud to offer an exquisite collection of citrine and topaz jewelry.
Categories: Education, Gems
It’s mid-fall and that means that the holidays are quickly approaching. The shopaholic in me is awaiting Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that is known to be the biggest shopping day of the year. Like many other shoppers trying to find the perfect gifts for their loved ones, this year I am doing my shopping online from the comfort of my home instead of spending the day fighting the crowds. As a leading online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry, we at Brilliance.com are offering special holiday savings to make this shopping season even easier. Brilliance.com coupon codes give you a way to save up to $150 and can be used with any Brilliance purchase. Now you can surprise her with perfect gift like diamond stud earrings for the holidays! 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 November 30, 2008. So be sure to check back in the beginning of December for the new discount codes.
Be sure to place your order with a Brilliance Sales Representative for the chance to save even more!
If you pay via wire transfer, you are eligible for a 2% discount on your entire purchase. Furthermore, Brilliance offers free overnight shipping for all orders. Contact a Brilliance diamond and fine jewelry expert at 866-737-0754 for assistance in finding the perfect diamond, engagement rings, and fine jewelry products.
Categories: Diamonds, Jewelry
Love it or hate it, laser inscription is growing in popularity among today’s loose diamond consumers. Applied using a very fine, pin-sharp laser beam, inscriptions can be applied by qualified processing labs to indicate the unique certification number of loose diamonds, or consumers can request the addition of their own personal message.
During the inscription process, the heat of a precise laser is applied to the surface of the diamond’s carbon crystal, converting a very thin layer into opaque carbon graphite. The end result is a three-dimensional marking that can be seen under a 10x magnifying lens. Laser inscriptions can barely be seen with the naked eye, and they do not compromise the diamond’s inherent cut, color, or carat weight.
Individualizing your diamond with a laser inscription offers several advantages:
Verification of identity: In cases where you have to leave your certified diamond with a jeweler to be cleaned or repaired, you can use an inscription to verify that you’re receiving the correct stone when it’s ready for pickup. This eliminates the chances of your stone being confused with someone else’s, whether purposefully or accidentally.
Sentimental keepsake: For engagements, anniversaries, or other special occasions, many choose to apply a laser inscription to a diamond gift. The microscopic message provides a unique, private way to commemorate dates, names, or special sentiments.
Lower insurance premiums: Some insurance companies recognize the added protection and security of laser inscriptions by lowering the coverage costs for engraved certified diamonds.
The cost of laser inscription can vary based on the size of the diamond and the technology used to create the engraving. In many cases, pre-mounted diamonds can be inscribed without removing the stone from its setting.
In spite of the advantages, some diamond purists prefer not to alter the surface of a gem-quality diamond with an inscription, believing it detracts from the natural beauty of the stone. At Brilliance, we cater to both preferences, offering a premium assortment of high-quality diamonds with and without laser inscriptions.
If you decide to personalize your diamond with a laser inscription—before or after your purchase—we’ll step you through the engraving process. We use only the country’s premier gemology labs, including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society (AGS), and the European Gemology Lab (EGL), to engrave our Brilliance certified diamonds.
Categories: Diamonds, Education
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