Brilliance.com educates diamond enthusiasts with an infographic describing the relative merits of the EGL and GIA. Two different reports from the same sample diamond are given to determine the strengths and specializations of each grader. The comparisons are based on longevity, brilliance, scope, and value, as well as their number of employees. The last section features the pros and cons of each grader, with GIA having more pros compared to EGL.
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For more info read our post GIA vs. EGL
Diamond Search
Whether it be EGL or GIA certified, Brilliance has thousands of loose diamonds to choose from. Start your online diamond search now to find the perfect diamond.
Tags: EGL, GIA
Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds, Education, INFOGRAPHIC
June is one of the most romantic months, given its reputation for being the “marry-est”. The pearl is its official birthstone, and Brilliance pays homage to it with a beautifully laid out and informative infographic. It introduces the pearl’s timelessness with an anonymously-written poem. The infographic further describes the pearl with sections on its legends, healing properties, and the different occasions it becomes ideal to give it as a gift to someone. The last section is devoted to the many celebrities who have the pearl as their birthstone.
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Tags: Birthstone, June, Pearl
Categories: Brilliance, Education, Gems, INFOGRAPHIC
Getting ready to pop the question to that special someone? Brilliance has got your back with this helpful infographic on how to find that engagement ring that complements her unique style.
You can read up on important aspects of engagement ring buying via sections like budget factors, choice of metals, how to choose a diamond setting, choosing the diamond itself, diamond shapes, the surprise factor, making your purchase, and how to protect your purchase. Learning about these factors can guide you before you present the perfect ring to your bride-to-be, and to make the event truly an unforgettable one.
Click here for the full infographic: Engagement Ring Guide
Click here for the full infographic: Engagement Ring Guide
Tags: Engagement, Guide, Ring
Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds, Education, Engagement Rings, INFOGRAPHIC
Ask anyone what to look for in a loose diamond, and you immediately hear about the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat. The 4 C’s are the very measures used by diamond grading laboratories and appraisers to assign value to diamonds. It is important to take note, though, that the application of these grading requirements may vary from one gemological lab to another or one appraiser to another. For instance, while the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) may assign an SI1 clarity grade to a specific diamond, the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL) could give the exact same diamond an SI2 rating. That is just a hint of the subjectivity that is practiced in diamond grading, and it gets even more subjective in the world of appraisals. The Holloway Cut Advisor (HCA) rating tool is no exception to this subjective grading scheme. In this article, we put HCA cut rating standards to the test by comparing it to the most trusted industry standard: GIA
HCA is an alternative cut rating tool mostly used by web-based diamond traders and shoppers as it is easily accessible online. Compared to the more renowned diamond grading entities like EGL and GIA, HCA is a cheaper way to rate the cut of a diamond.
HCA works by estimating a diamond’s potential light return, scintillation, fire, and spread after utilizing some basic information regarding a diamond. This information includes overall depth percentage, average crown height or angles, table percentage, average pavilion depth or angles, and culet size.
Computer generated HCA results
As per countless observations of gemologists in the industry, there are setbacks to the Holloway Cut Advisor that need mentioning. For one, there are many standards not accounted for by HCA cut rating. These include craftsmanship, cut precision (traditional symmetry), digging and painting, among others. In addition, the HCA process is entirely dependent on computer models. No living person ever rates the diamond based on its actual appearance. It is important to note that HCA ratings are often inconsistent—sometimes rating two identical stones differently, which raises serious questions about the algorithms used by the HCA computer models.
In contrast to the limited attributes used by HCA, the GIA Cut Grade rating has three major criteria which cover a more comprehensive list of quality indicators. These include face-up appearance, craftsmanship, and design. With face-up appearance, standards like brightness, scintillation, and fire are measured. Craftsmanship looks for details regarding symmetry and polish. And design delves into durability and weight ratio. Cut ratings include Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Excellent. These grading standards are obviously more descriptive, thus easier to interpret.
The GIA Human Factor
Furthermore, GIA grades diamond cut via a predictive computer model which takes into account approximately 38.5 million proportion indicators and at least 70,000 specific diamond quality observations. This breakthrough system is just one of the many practices and technologies that gives GIA Cut Grade more credibility. Admittedly, the use of such a reliable system is also the reason why a GIA diamond certificate costs a little more, and why the company has strict standards when it comes to grading diamonds. The final advantage to a GIA examination is the human factor that comes from a real gemologist putting their eyes and hands on the diamond to ensure that their computer analysis didn’t miss a thing. What better way to confirm the quality of a stone than by actually seeing all of the characteristics that make it great?
In the end, for the most discriminating and discerning buyers, the tried and tested GIA Cut Grade is still the most sought-after and reliable guarantee of cut quality.
Tags: GIA, Grading Standards, HCA
Categories: Diamonds, Education, Gems
At Brilliance, we don’t just sell diamonds. We also take the time out to educate our customers on how to become better buyers.
Customers are often hesitant about the safety of online shopping, despite the enormous savings and convenience that it affords. Anticipating these concerns, we assembled 6 tips for a safe shopping experience.
#1) Call before Making the Purchase
Almost all good and reliable online retailers have live customer service reachable via a toll-free number. Calling a company’s sales team allows you to gauge the extent of their knowledge about their products.
#2) Familiarize Yourself with the Returns Policy
A returns policy will give you more confidence in your transaction and reassurance of a full refund if not fully satisfied with a purchase.
#3) Make Sure Shipments Are Insured and Require a Signature
Unpredictable circumstances can result in lost or damaged products. For insurance to cover any kind of damage/loss, it must be noted upon signing.
#4) Visit the 3rd Party Testimonials
Never neglect to read third-party testimonial sites (TrustPilot, Reseller Ratings, etc.) to see how the products and services are rated in a non-biased manner.
#5) Check the Better Business Bureau
A Better Business Bureau accreditation monitors and reviews a company’s products and services. The accreditation is based on an exhaustive evaluation of existing complaints, government actions, and advertising reviews.
#6) Verify Verified Merchant Status
A Verified Merchant means that it has high levels of processing security, safeguarding customer information, and combating fraud.
Never weary of healthy competition, here are some well-known online diamond retailers to start your research:
Tags: Buy Diamond Jewelry Online, safe online shopping
Categories: Diamonds, Education
Got a special someone celebrating a birthday or anniversary, but at a loss as to what to give them? Fret not, because Brilliance has launched a handy and insightful infographic on Aquamarine, The Birthstone of March.
What better way to honor someone you love than to present them with the precious stone associated with their birth month? You can get an idea of how each stone looks like, plus interesting facts and trivia about it using this very helpful infographic.
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Tags: Aquamarine, Birthstone of March
Categories: Brilliance, Education, Gems, INFOGRAPHIC, Jewelry
Amethyst – February
A form of Quartz mineral in a pleasing violet or purple shade, mined primarily from volcanic rocks in Africa and Brazil. Linked to an increased sense of calm, serenity, and understanding, the stone is believed to minimize the stress and anxiety of the wearer.
Did You Know? Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness and the gemstone still symbolizes sobriety. Fine amethysts have been featured in the British Crown Jewels, and have been a favorite with such diverse figures as Egyptian royalty to Catherine the Great.
Moh’s Scale of Hardness: 7/10
Interested in birthstones? Check out our infographic on Birthstones by Month: Gemstones by Month Infograph
Categories: Brilliance, Education, Gems, Jewelry
Our newest infographic features some of the latest diamond heists and how the bad guys did it.
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Let’s Go Steal Some Diamonds! #infographic #CoolHeist [Tweet this]
Slick #Diamond Heists Infograph [Tweet this]
Who Says Crime Doesn’t Pay? Check out this Diamond Heists Infograph! [Tweet this]
Categories: Brilliance, Diamonds, Education, INFOGRAPHIC, News
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