Diamond Engagement Rings | Clarity Enhanced | Shiree Odiz

Make Her Very Pleased With An Exceptional Engagement Ring

2011-09-07T06:44:00.000-07:00

Picking en engagement ring is quite a big phase for anyone. It is not only the ring which you usually pay a great deal of money for - you're going to commit for the rest of your life. Thus, similar to other important steps we make -- getting support will definitely help you out.

Do you know what she likes? Decide on a what she normally likes to wear and then try to find something that would go along with the rest of the jewelry. Make sure that the ring is in good quality and that the jeweler is experienced. Pay attention to the quality of the jewelry and read what others think of it.

Diamond engagement rings are traditionally given by a man to a woman, as a symbol of their loyalty to each other. Cushion cut diamonds, with their remarkable beauty, give you the appropriate gem to put into engagement rings.

Whether it is a single solitaire or multi-stone structure, there's an endless range of engagement rings from which to choose.The most important thing that you must never miss prior to buying your diamond ring is the 4C'S of diamond which includes color, carat, cut and clarity.

These are the 4 significant aspects of diamond and you must have the knowledge of these four aspects if you want a perfect diamond for your engagement ring. You'll find varieties of styles and designs that can be found in the stores. You can easily choose the design of your ring based on the character of the lady.

Never the less - the ring should suit the hand!

Once you recognize what style, metal and setting you would like, you might want to choose a diamond to become the center for the diamond ring. Your diamond engagement ring will be roughly fifty percent of the cost. All the attributes that you simply look for is not explained, thus the last thing that you need to accomplish while studying how to look for diamond engagement rings is to find out about diamonds.

Even when they don't really tell you so . . . what women of all ages really want are diamond rings. To be sincere - diamond rings would be the one ring for the lady who would like the best wedding jewelry.
There are many engagement rings constructed with diamonds that appear amazing and can take couples to another degree. You may find a diamond and get it placed on platinum or a gold ring.

Try to remember - by presenting a good looking diamond engagement ring to your significant other you will make her feel exactly how special she is for you and how much you love her. Regardless if you are browsing on line or offline, the procedure of the way to shop for engagement rings is similar, have a good idea of the perfect ring for you and look for a stone that you'll be able to finance.

You can find lots of jewelry outlets selling exquisite engagement rings for affordable prices. Even so, the best spot to get your ring for reasonable price ranges would be online jewelry sites. Engagement rings are not about you. You aren't the person to walk around with the ring.

You must think about what she adores when you are thinking of a ring for your better half. Remember - it's your chance to prove just how much you know your honey - therefore, don't screw it.

18th Century Cushion Cut Engagement Rings

2011-07-21T05:19:00.000-07:00

Cushion cut engagement rings are a combination of the present day Oval cut as well as a deep cut with significant facets, often known as the "Old Mine" cut which has been common in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, since it was a contour popularized before the introduction of electric lamps. It is often known as the candlelight cut since that had been the lighting to which it sparkled!

These kind of engagement rings have been refashioned by modern-day jewelry retailers into different modern cuts, so that they would charm to the present generation of diamond enthusiasts. Cushion cut engagement rings are thought to be an excellent proposal rings for all lovers that like antique style engagement rings - It is one of the most romantic gifts by far.

Generally, that diamond produces a square contour diamond with curved corners. It consists of 64 substantial and open facets which will allow the insides of the gemstone to become obviously observed and in previous time it was cut in such a way so it sparkles perfectly, specifically in the dim light. However, you will come across contemporary cuts in diamond that have higher facets which result in more luster. Due to this, it is always a bigger factor to pick an excellent clarity instead of a large carat diamond.

These kinds of gemstones were crowned the classic present for intimate events like anniversaries, proposals, and other unique occasions. The cut and also the brightness reflected from a cushion cut diamond engagement ring just isn't as fiery or even brilliant, as say a round cut or even a princess cut, but the smooth romantic experience that a cushion cut diamond provides is absolutely unmatchable by any kind of a diamond cut.

Be sure you understand that diamonds needs to be perfect, for the reason that in cushion cut, imperfections are simple to identify comparing to other diamond cuts. The diamonds can be set with prong placing and can be surrounded with diamond accent or smaller sized diamonds. Make sure you understand that it will look ideal with geometric center setting or maybe vintage style.

Remember that this cut will appear outstanding with wedding ring, pave or plain. Getting a good cushion cut diamond in diamond stores is just not too simple, as a great deal of dealers does not keep this kind of cut and even if they do, they are going to offer just a couple of gemstones, and that is not enough selection for one to choose from.

Some jewelry designers still preserve the unique, antique style of cushion cut engagement rings in their designs. Check out this link to find quaint cushion cut engagement rings designs.

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2011-07-21T04:14:00.000-07:00

Unique engagement rings are availble by Shiree Odiz

My Very Special Proposal

My name is Sandi. I am 36 years old and have been married to David for three years. We have an adorable son named Brian who is a year old. In lieu of our three year anniversary - I started to think how I could surprise David.

David is an amazing husband and father. I kind of knew that the first time we met at a friend's barbecue. David came with some of his friends and by accident knocked into me and I fell into the pool.

Everyone was laughing – even me, but I saw that David was somewhat upset. He offered to make it up to me by taking me out to a beautiful rooftop restaurant. Soon after we became a couple, David proposed in such a thoughtful and original way - I still think about it three years later.

I wanted to share this story with you as you guys were part of the plan. It was Christmas and David told me he needed to get away on business. I was upset that we would not be together on Christmas Eve. I was sitting at home the night before Christmas Eve when the doorbell rang. There was a package that said “Shiree Odiz” on it.

I did not recognize the package but opened it up and saw that there was supposed to be an engagement ring inside. Instead there was a note that said – Come downstairs… I grabbed my coat and ran downstairs. There was David with Five Santa’s - all holding boxes of different sizes. I was shocked and crying and laughing.

David said - in one of these boxes - lies the key to my heart - find it and it will be yours forever. As I started opening up the boxes, David took out the most beautiful engagement ring that you ever seen and asked me if I would marry him. The rest is history.

You should just know that David is seven years younger than me, which just goes to show you that age is just a matter of the mind…

Sincerely

Sandi

2011-02-03T04:18:00.000-08:00

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds - Fully grasp What precisely The particular Pros And Cons Usually are

We provide diamond engagement ring and jewelry selections as well as loose diamonds along with a collection of either clarity enhanced diamonds (CE diamonds) as well as 100% natural diamonds. Deciding on whether to purchase a clarity enhanced diamond has to be constructed with the expertise of the advantages and disadvantages of both options.

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds Benefits and drawbacks

Clarity enhanced Diamonds: Pros

1. Value for the money

Clarity enhanced diamonds seem to be an excellent way to obtain a bigger diamond better color, clarity and also carat weight, for for less money. The diamond continues to be a proper, naturally mined diamond coming from the ground that's been enhanced to ensure the sparkle together with splendour.

2. Far better Clarity

The clarity enhancement could successfully come up with a reduced clarity diamond along with ensure it is even more beautiful, whenever a diamond has been visibly included (imperfect) in addition to following your process, the diamond will appear flawless towards the naked eye.

3. Real Natural Diamonds

Unlike creative options which happens to be reduced in value for example cubic zirconia, manufactured diamonds and also Swarovski crystals, clarity enhanced diamonds are really the natural diamonds.

An important drawback when contemplating clarity enhanced diamonds may improvement could very well be harmed if subjected to serious temperatures or perhaps corrosive materials. Lower condition, bromide structured enhancements could also diminish ultimately.

Shiree Odiz CE diamonds, even if acquired as loose diamonds or within engagement rings, have a life long guarantee to the enhancement and so are all top standard silicone based handled.

CE Diamonds: Cons

1. Not 100% Natural

Whilst they are real, natural diamonds, the fact that the actual clarity has become physically improved might be a mind sore. This can be a psychological issue with Clarity enhanced diamonds versus an actual one.

2. Enhancement is going to be reversible

As mentioned above, it is significant to purchase any clarity enhanced diamond from the source that may ensure the grade of the treatment in time and can re-enhance the diamond without charge any time things will happen. The fact that the enhancement may be reversed is usually taken into consideration an advantage because during any level, the procedure can be taken off along with the diamond shall be totally natural. That isn't recommended being the diamond will clearly become more beautiful while using enhancement.

3. Hard to acknowledge the unique certifying

The clarity enhancement is often so successful often it can easily possibly be very difficult to see what are the initial clarity grading of the diamond has been originally. Hence, the actual GIA will not score Clarity enhanced diamonds. Also, while setting a CE diamond, extra treatment requires to be built so as not to ruin the actual stone since it is extremely hard to locate it's defects.
Clarity enhanced diamonds good or bad

Genuine Diamond Ring Dilemma

2010-06-07T08:23:00.000-07:00

So you have decided to buy an engagement ring and are just starting to learn about the world of jewelry and diamonds. The first choice you will have to make is whether to purchase a unique engagement rings or a synthetic diamond ring.

A synthetic diamond will always be of the highest grade as far as color and clarity (D/Flawless), but despite the considerable savings on a genuine diamond, there are considerable disadvantages. A synthetic, man-made diamond or cubic zirconia will look beautiful when purchased, but as it is made of a type of plastic or crystal, the material is soft and so will scratch and become dull within a very short period of time. If you are ok with changing the stone every few months then this is for you, especially if you do not have the budget for a genuine diamond ring and would like to purchase a large sparkling stone.

Diamonds are forever and therefore is the choice of most people when it comes to the engagement ring, which is to symbolize an eternal bond. High quality genuine natural diamonds, especially large ones, can cost a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. The most popular weight (which affects size) is a 1.00 carat diamond, which can range from as little as $900 for a low quality clarity enhanced diamond up to $10,000s for a D/Flawless genuine natural diamond.

Clarity enhanced diamonds are an excellent way to purchase a real, genuine diamond (not man-made) for a lower price, without compromising on beauty. Clarity enhanced diamonds have had imperfections hidden or removed, making a lower cost diamond, more beautiful.

A few tips:

1. Purchase genuine diamonds that are conflict free.
2. Ask for a lifetime guarantee on clarity enhanced diamonds.
3. Consult a credible expert with your budget an preferences to get a feel of what is available to you, so that your expectations are realistic. One of our most popular inquiries is "I want a 1.00 carat D/VVS diamond for $2000-3000, when the wholesale price is over $10,000 for a high quality stone! Dishonest vendors will recognize your lack of knowledge and send a lower quality diamond for the price you are willing to pay.

Cushion cut engagement rings – Why are they different than other diamond cuts?

2010-03-31T03:34:00.000-07:00

A few facts about cushion cut engagement rings:

Cushion cut diamonds got their name since they resemble a stuffed pillow or a cushion.

Back in the 18^th century people didn’t have all the surrounding lights that gave diamonds the entire extra spark.

Jewelers then, looked for a diamond cut which will “catch” candle lights in the widest spectrum, since that was the only light source at night.

Engagement rings can come in several shapes such as a cushion, rectangle, square (princess), round or oval.

Cushion cut diamonds have 60 facets (the smooth and polished parts that make up a stone's surface) and a thick looking stone with rounded corners that makes them very attractive and really hard to ignore.

Modern day Cushion cut engagement rings

Thanks to certain improvements we had in diamond cutting technology; Modern cushion cut diamonds have
been modified to the kind of lights we are surrounded by these days.

Since the facets on top of the diamond are fairly large, it is important to have a good quality diamond.

Another important step is to test the cushion cut engagement rings in more than one type of light.

Cushion cut diamond engagement rings are very popular worldwide and would be perfect for romantic couples who look for a vintage or antique engagement ring.

Check out the full

Cushion cut engagement rings

collection now!

Learn about Diamonds and Jewelry - A-Z Guide

2010-03-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

Learn about Diamonds – The A to Z Guide to Diamonds & Diamond Jewelry

Before you purchase a diamond or a piece of diamond jewelry, which is not usually a small step or a cheap item to consider, it is a very good idea to know what you are buying. This brief but comprehensive guide will help you learn about diamonds and get you familiar with the terminology of the diamond and jewelry industries. Wherever you decide to buy, it is a good idea to always check the details.

Bookmark this page now for quick future reference.

#

9k: 9 karat gold, meaning that 9 of 24 parts of the metal alloy are pure gold, approximately 37.5% pure gold. This is the UK standard.

10k: 10 karat gold, meaning that 10 of 24 parts of the metal alloy are pure gold, approximately 41.5% pure gold.

14k: 14 karat gold, meaning that 14 of 24 parts of the metal alloy are pure gold, approximately 58.5% pure gold. Usually marked "14k" or "585". This is the US standard.

18k: 18 karat gold, meaning that 18 of 24 parts of the metal alloy are pure gold, approximately 75.0% pure gold. Usually marked "18k" or "750".

24k: 24 karat gold, pure gold.

925: Used to mark sterling silver jewelry.

950: Used to mark 95% pure platinum jewelry.

A

Appraisal: A written estimate of the retail replacement of the diamond described. Usually being used for insurance purposes and should be updated every few years. Appraisals are usually given for jewelry as a whole rather than for a loose diamond, but both do exist.

Accents: Small diamonds set in a solitaire ring or another piece of jewelry are referred to as the accents.

B

Bezel facet: On a round brilliant diamond, these are eight large kite-shaped facets on the crown.

Bezel Setting: A way of setting a diamond in a piece of jewelry, but setting the stone by encompassing the entire girdle of the diamond. A semi-bezel setting will mean the diamond is set partly in a bezel setting.

Brilliance: The term used to describe the reflection of white light emitted from the diamond in its “face-up” position. This is the main characteristic that differentiates diamonds from other, less brilliant, gemstones. (No other gemstone has the power to equal the extent of a diamond’s light reflection).

C

Carat: the standard unit of a gemstone’s weight. On carat equals 1/5 of a gram or 1/142 of an ounce. 1 carat=100 points.

Cavity: A type of inclusion consisting of a large or deep opening in a gemstone.

Certification: Sometimes considered the 5th of the 4 C's. Independent certification ensures accurate grading of the 4 C's and therefore guarantees value for money. Some of the leading gemological labs include GIA, HRD, IGI, AGAS and EGL.

Clarity: One of the 4 C's of diamond characteristics. Refers to the type, size and quantity of inclusions or imperfections in the diamond. The higher the clarity of a diamond, the more valuable it is. Not to be confused with color or brilliance, although good clarity can enhance both these parameters. Read more on Diamond Clarity.

Clarity enhancement: Any process used to improve the apparent clarity of a diamond. Clarity enhanced diamonds can include fracture filling, laser drilling heating and cleaning of the stone. Read more on Clarity Enhanced Diamonds.

Cloud: A group of minute to very small, white inclusions which give a “cloudy” appearance.

Color: One of the 4 C's of diamond characteristics. Graded from D (colorless and most desirable) to Z (yellow and less desirable). Read more on Diamond Color.

Crown: The part of the diamond that is above the girdle. It consists of the table facet and the crown facets below the table.

Crystal: A type of inclusion. A crystal is a mineral deposit trapped inside the stone.

Culet: The point at the bottom of a full-cut diamond.

Cut: The way the diamond has been cut will determine its fire and brilliance. The better the cut of the diamond, the more light will reflect out of the face of the diamond. Read more on Diamond Cut.

D

Depth: The distance between the table facet and the culet measured in millimeters.

Dispersion: The fiery, rainbow color-flashes emanating from a diamond. This is white light broken up into the colors of the spectrum.

Durability: This covers extremely thin girdles as well as inclusions that weaken a diamond. Clarity enhanced diamonds are no less durable, however tend to have more natural inclusions that tend to weaken the diamond. The enhancement will not affect the durability but may hide susceptible inclusions.

E

Eternity ring: A diamond ring with an array of diamonds set all around the ring. Eternity rings are used as wedding rings and anniversary bands.

Eye-clean: The term used in clarity –grading: “eye-clean” diamonds should have no inclusions that are visible through the table to the unaided eye.

F

Facet: Polished planes on the surface of a diamond.

Fancy color: Diamonds having color more intense than ‘Z’, as well as diamonds with color other than yellow or brown are considered fancy colored diamonds. These diamonds are graded using different systems.

Fancy shape: Any shape that is not round, also known collectively as "pears". Includes: square princess, radiant, cushion, heart, pear, oval, marquise and others.

Feather: An internal fracture or break in a diamond that looks like a white feather.

Fire: A term referring to dispersion and/or brilliance.

Fluorescence: The property in approximately 50% of all diamonds that makes them glow when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Fracture: A chip or break on a diamond that is not in the direction of a cleavage plane.

Fracture filling: A treatment whereby feathers in a diamond are filled with a clear glass like substance, used to make inclusions less visible to improve the clarity of the diamond. This is a type of clarity enhancement.

G

Girdle: The outer edge, or outline of the diamond’s shape.

Girdle thickness: The measurement describing the girdle thickness is the average distance between the pavilion (lower part) and crown (upper part).

Gold Purity: See above for 9k, 10k, 14, 18k and 24k gold.

H

Hearts and arrows: Also called “H&A”, these are mostly round cut diamonds having superior cutting quality and which are known to show a visual pattern of 8 hearts looking down through the pavilion and 8 arrows when viewing the diamond in the face-up position using the H&A loupe.

I

Ideal cut: A diamond polished to the highest precision and perfection resulting in ideal balance between brilliance and fire.

Inclusion: A naturally occurring imperfection in a diamond.

Invisible setting: A technique used to set a number of diamonds together without visible gold prongs. This setting gives the effect of one large diamond when the small diamonds are set together.

K

Karat: The measurement of gold’s purity, with 24 karat being pure gold. Not to be confused with carat weight of diamonds.

L

Laser drilling: A clarity enhancement technique, whereby a laser is used to drill into to a dark inclusion which is then bleached in order to enhance the inclusion’s appearance.

Loupe: 10x magnifying lens used to examine diamonds.

Luster: The degree to which a diamond reflects light.

M

Mine cut diamond: An ancient form of the brilliant diamond with a cushion shaped outline, high crown, small table, deep pavilion and an extremely large faceted culet.

N

Natural: A small rough diamond portion that can be found on some polished diamonds.

Natural Diamonds: Includes all real diamonds that are mined and not synthetically created.

O

Old European cut diamond: The earliest known form of brilliant cut diamond with a very small table and steep crown.

Optical property: A gem’s intrinsic ability to interact with light.

P

Pave: A jewelry setting technique in which numerous small diamonds are mounted close together to create a glistering diamond crust that covers the whole piece of jewelry and obscures the metal under it.

Pavilion: The lower part of a polished diamond, usually coned-shaped.

Pinpoint: Internal characteristic, minute to very small, usually a whitish dot inside a diamond.

Platinum: A hard metal with excellent durability, white in color.

Polish: The way polishers finish the smoothness of facets on diamonds.

Prongs: Metal (gold, silver, platinum) spikes used to hold the gemstones in place. A prong setting ring refers to the way that the center diamond is held.

R

Rhodium: A white metal from the platinum family, commonly used to plate white gold jewelry to give it a whiter, shinier finish.

S

Scintillation: The small areas of light in a polished stone that flash on and off as the diamond, the observer or lighting moves.

Shank: The shank of a ring is referred to as the side area, also commonly known as the shoulders.

Star facet: One of the eight triangular facets found at the edge of the table facet and pointing to the outline of a brilliant cut diamond.

Solitaire: A type of diamond ring usually including one larger center diamond alone. The diamond itself is also commonly referred to as the solitaire.

Symmetry: Symmetry of facets, and symmetry of the parts of the stone.

T

Table: The largest facet, situated on top of the crown of a diamond.

U

Underside View: Looking at the diamond through the base, rather from the face (table view).

W

White Gold: White gold is a gold alloy made from pure gold, which is yellow, and a mix of white metals, usually including silver, nickel, platinum and palladium. Read more about White Gold.

Wholesale Price List (Rappaport): A price list used by diamond traders to buy and sell diamonds at the wholesale level. The Rappaport diamond price list indicates the going rates at wholesale for every carat weight, color and clarity combination in New York. There are different price lists for "Rounds" and "Pears".

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds - Good or Bad

2010-03-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

Clarity enhanced diamonds are primarily a very good advance in the industry as it takes natural diamonds that have visible imperfections, which is not something that most people want in their diamond, an makes the diamond clearer and more sparkly. Consumers can enjoy real natural diamonds that look visibly flawless at a lower price without affecting the true value of the diamond. Most good jewelry manufacturers that offer clarity enhanced diamonds will offer a lifetime guarantee on the enhancement.

There are two types of clarity enhanced diamonds. The good treatment is a silicone based filling that can last a lifetime. The second, bad, type is a bromide based treatment that can fade and discolor over time. The trouble is being able to differentiate the good treatment from the bad.

As I mentioned in one of my older posts about CE diamonds, it is at the end of the day your choice, but it should be an educated one as there are serious advantages of purchasing a CE diamond, however it is important to know what and where to buy (just like everything else).

So are clarity enhanced diamonds good or bad?

This is a checklist for you to make the right choice.

Pros

Good: Better clarity

Good: Better price

Good: Real natural diamonds

Good: Lifetime guarantee

Good: Silicone based clarity enhanced diamonds

Good: Reputable traders

Good: Certified diamonds

Cons

Bad: Not 100% natural clarity (psychological disadvantage)

Bad: Can be damaged

Bad: Bromide based clarity enhanced diamonds

Bad: Difficult to tell where the original flaws were

Bad: Non-reputable traders

If you have any questions at all about clarity enhanced diamonds or any other jewelry related issues, please feel free to contact me at daniel@shireeodiz.com

What is white gold?

2010-01-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

I have seen this question asked a great many times and there seems to be great confusion regarding what white gold actually is. To set the record straight, gold is gold is gold is yellow. There is no such thing as white gold as a metal, rather the gold alloy is white when pure 24 karat gold is mixed with white metals such as silver, nickel, palladium and platinum. The same applies to rose gold with copper and red metals and other colors of gold (gold alloys have been made in blue, purple, green, black and more).

18k white gold is therefore 75% (18 of 24) pure gold, which is yellow, and 25% white metals.
14k white gold is 58.5% (14 of 24) pure gold and 41.5% white metals.

And so on…

This means of course that despite 18k gold being more expensive (and more valuable of course), it is in fact whiter due to there being more white metals in the alloy. The main advantage of this is with the rhodium plating. Most white gold jewelry is plated with an even whiter metal called rhodium, which will give that dazzling shiny finish that we all love. The trouble is, the more yellow the gold alloy is, the more obvious it becomes when the rhodium starts to wear off (which it will do). This isn't a big deal and any piece can be re-dipped in rhodium for a small fee, but it can be rather inconvenient or disheartening if you don't know why your white gold ring has suddenly turned yellow!

It isn't recommended to choose 10k and 9k gold as the purity of gold in the alloy is so low that you may as well purchase silver. If you have any allergies, they may show with 10k and 9k gold. Also due to the low purity, the metal will be "dirty" which can cause stains in the metal, black marks and pitfalls that will show over time.

2010-01-03T00:21:00.000-08:00

Cushions are the New Rounds? (maybe new princesses at best)

2009-12-30T07:24:00.000-08:00

The latest figures from wholesalers and diamond centers around the world show a steady rise in demand for brilliant cut cushion diamonds, making them the hottest "fancy" shape diamond after the classic round brilliant and square princess. It is really quite easy to understand the appeal of the cushion diamond given the unwavering popularity of the round and the princess. The cushion diamond is really a mixture of the two, taking the brilliance of the round with the uniqueness of the princess cut. What's more is that unlike the previous trend of pear shaped diamonds, cushions are extremely versatile for making jewelry. Almost any solitaire ring design made for a round or a princess can be adapted to suit a cushion and in smaller sizes they make great side stones.

This increase in demand of course at some point will come at a price as supply and demand effects kick in and the delay from rough diamond supply and demand reaches wholesalers and ultimately retailers. Certainly something to keep your eyes on…

Gold Prices Gone Mental!

2009-12-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

You may or may not know, but in the past 12 months gold prices have gone beyond crazy. From around $750 per ounce (which is about 29 grams) for pure 24k gold to a whopping $1200 per ounce. That is over a 50% increase in a year alone. One would assume that prices would have risen for gold and diamond jewelry, but the delayed effect still hasn't hit the retailers who have kept prices low to stay competitive. One of the most popular ways retailers have used to stay competitive is to reduce the purity of gold in their jewelry. Most online jewelers will still offer 18k or 14k gold as standard, however many retailers in the US and UK are marketing heavily 10k and 9k gold jewelry at great prices. Do remember, however , that 10k and 9k gold are 40% or less pure gold and so are mostly silver or cheap metal alloys, rather than gold.

Now no one knows the future and there is of course a ton of speculation around the price of gold, not least from investors. The Indian and Russian governments purchased 20 tons of pure gold each (which is one reason for the most recent surge). Gold is a great investment and has seen a steady rise just above inflation throughout its history, more so in the face of a weak dollar. These prices are of course record breaking and either they will go the way of crude oil (which hit record highs of $128 last June and then crashed to $32 with the economic downturn – it is now around the $70-80 mark, which most believe to be its real market value), or it will continue to rise. Hopefully for all jewelry lovers (and manufacturers), the prices will lower.

Diamond Shapes

2009-12-23T03:24:00.000-08:00

Commonly confused with cut, the shape of the diamond is its geometrical form wheras its cut is more specificly the angles and alignment of the diamond's facets and how they affect the sparkle and brilliance of the stone. Unlike other essential details regarding a diamond's specifications, the shape is a matter of personal taste rather than an indication of quality. Rounds and princesses are generally speaking the most popular choices however "fancy shaped" diamonds may be the right choice for you depending on both your taste and the setting of the piece you are interested in.

Popular shapes can also mean more expensive as demand and supply factors take affect.... I will try to post as often as I can about the latest trends. Rounds and princesses, generally speaking are always "in", cushions, ovals and radiants are next, then emeralds and pears, and finally hearts, marquise and all other "odd shapes".

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds

2009-12-23T02:20:00.000-08:00

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds – What's the deal?

Ok… So you are looking to purchase a piece of diamond jewelry, a loose diamond or an engagement ring and you may have come across clarity enhanced diamonds. There are a great many rumors, positive and negative spins from both in and outside of the diamond and jewelry industry and this can be extremely confusing, especially when you are about to part with hard earned money.

One important thing to remember is that like with anything, you will never be able to get a 100% purely unbiased opinion and at the end of the day, you must make an educated decision on what is right for you. Local jewelers and diamond dealers that do not deal with clarity enhanced diamonds due to lack of access to the wholesale market, will inevitably not support clarity enhanced diamonds whereas manufacturers of clarity enhanced diamonds and retailers of clarity enhanced diamond rings and jewelry will inevitably boast their advantages. The following information is to help you make the right decision for yourself.

There are two types of procedures that will improve the clarity of a diamond. The first is called laser drilling and the second is called fracture filling (more commonly known as clarity enhancement).

All diamonds besides flawless diamonds will have internal characteristics commonly known as inclusions, including black carbon spots, feathers, clouds, bubbles and more. Laser drilling creates a minute hole in the diamond, allowing for black carbon spots to be cleaned out. This type of enhancement is permanent, which is both an advantage and disadvantage. One the one hand, the tiny holes, although not visible to the naked eye, will always be in the diamond. On the other hand, the diamond will be clearer for good.

Fracture filling, despite its name, does not mean that the diamond is broken or cracked, rather that the original inclusions are coated with a clear substance to make them invisible to the naked eye. Diamonds that are filled are cleaned and boiled to remove any dirt and other imperfections, and then they are filled with a microscopic amount of clear material that cloaks the feathers.

There are two types of filling used for clarity enhancement. One using bromide and the other using a silicone based material. The former is the lower quality treatment and can discolor or fade over time. The higher quality treatment can last a lifetime so long as it isn't exposed to extreme heat (over 1500 degrees) or acid.

This type of enhancement is not permanent, which again is both an advantage and disadvantage. On the one hand, the enhancement process can be reversed at any time you choose, meaning that whenever you decide you do not want a clarity enhanced diamond, you may remove the enhancement and you will have a 100% natural diamond. It will not look quite as good as with the enhancement, but the value will be the same. On the other hand, if by accident, the enhancement is damaged for any reason, this can be inconvenient, although if anything ever happens to the treatment of the diamond some companies will offer a lifetime guarantee and will fix it for you free of charge.

So should I buy a Clarity Enhanced Diamond (Ring) ?

As I mentioned before, this decision should be your own, based on the information you have at hand. Many companies will offer both enhanced and non-enhanced diamonds, with non-enhanced diamonds of course being more expensive. The big difference in the price starts with 3/4 carat diamonds and is more significant with 1 carat diamonds and above, where prices can be anything from 2 times the price and more for the same grade (or "look"). Note that CE diamonds are graded after the enhancement, so it is sometimes difficult to see what the original grading will have been. With smaller diamonds, from 1/4 to 1/2 carat weight, the prices are closer with the mid and lower ranges and differ more with the high quality ranges.

Diamond Cut (The 4 C's)

2009-12-20T05:08:00.000-08:00

The exact opposite to the clarity, this is where the diamond experts/dealers care, and most people over look the issue as far less important than the rest of the 4 C's.

The width and depth proportions of the diamond as well as the polish and symmetry will determine the amount of light that is reflected as described above.

Polish and Symmetry

In addition to the proportions of the diamond, both the polish and symmetry affect the beauty and brilliance. Poor symmetry due to uneven alignment of the facets will cause the light to be misdirected and therefore not shine out of the face of the diamond. Un-smooth facets or poor polish will cause the surface to look dull and may cause the diamond to look cloudy. For a beautiful diamond look for Excellent, Very Good and Good polish/symmetry grading.

What's right for you?

Like with most of my recommendations, the middle ground is usually the way to go… You don't have to have an ideal cut diamond (as you probably won't see any difference), however you should really stay away from "Fair" and "Poor" cut grades (in some cases also "Good" cut grading).

Diamond Clarity (The 4 C's)

2009-12-16T00:38:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of talk about the diamond clarity and although it is not usually the most important of the 4 C's to a diamond dealer, it is very often the most important factor for most people. There are, however, some very important things to know so that you get what you expect and don't over or under-spend.

FL, IF (Flawless) - VVS (Very very slightly included), VS (Very slightly included), SI (Slightly included), I (included).

As you can see from the above table, you have the Flawless grades (enough said), the VVS grades, VS grades, SI grades and I grades.

Diamond grading on clarity is very subjective and depends on a wide range of factors including:

· Size of the inclusions

· Size of the diamond

· Type of inclusion (black, white, bubble, feather)

· Position of the inclusions (inclusions in the center usually grade down, whereas inclusions on the sides usually grade up)

· Visibility from the "face" of the diamond

· Internal or external inclusions

· Cloudiness and effect on brilliance

· Visibility to the naked eye

What is right for you?

FL-IF

· You want only the best.

· You have lots of money or don't mind having a small diamond.

· You are purchasing mainly for an investment.

VVS1-VVS2

· Similar to Flawless, these are very expensive and the quality difference between these and Flawless or VS diamonds is only visible in 40x magnification.

VS1-VS2

· Eye clear diamonds.

· You want quality, but don't want to spend a crazy amount of money.

· My personal recommendation, even if it means choosing a slightly lower color or carat weight.

SI1-SI2

Best value for money.

I1-I3

If you are looking for the biggest diamond at the lowest price.

Diamond Color (The 4 C's)

2009-12-13T23:16:00.000-08:00

… Or "colour" to the Brits out there (I am one of them, but I'm spelling it here as the American's do… when in Rome…).

When you can't see the diamond with your own eyes, it is very important to know what to expect should you choose a lower priced option and also what the top end diamond color grades mean in terms of visible beauty.

As you can see in the above table, and as you may already know, the top grades are D-F or "colorless". These are of course the most sought after diamonds and are of course the most expensive. G-J are "white", however are commonly split into G-H being "near colorless" and I-J as "white". The reason for this is that I-J diamonds tend to start to have visible discoloration, which is usually a very faint yellow. Set in a piece of jewelry, in some cases, there is very little difference between D and G color and therefore it is often recommended to opt for the lower option for value for money (if the price difference is significant).

What is right for you?
Tips from the eyes of a jewelry designer (not just a diamond expert).

D-F
• When you want the top quality.
• When your ring has high quality small diamonds.
• Usually best for white gold or platinum.

G-H
• When you want a white diamond.
• When you want the best value for money.

I-J
• Very well cut diamonds will have a completely white face, so recommended for jewelry where the face is shown more than the side.
• Best in yellow gold, also suitable in white gold or platinum solitaires.
• Recommended without high quality diamond accents.
• Recommended when on a budget and want a beautiful solitaire at the best price.

Diamond Carat Weight (The 4 C's)

2009-12-13T06:22:00.000-08:00

Diamond Carat Weight – (The 4 C's)

I'm not going to bore you with too much technical stuff, but if you are interested in buying some diamond jewelry you will no doubt have heard, and certainly need to know, what the carat weight of a diamond means . This should not to be confused with gold karat or carrots J (believe me I get this a lot!). It is also not the size… although size and weight are of course related.

If you would like to read about the history and metrics of a carat, good old Wikipedia is great: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carat_(mass). One thing that is good to know is that the term "points" refers to 0.01 carat… so 100 points make 1 full carat.

The carat weight of a diamond is one of the most significant factors that will affect the price of your rock; however I have a few tips that can help you save big.

A well cut diamond (I'll speak about cut later) will mean that for example a 1.00 carat round diamond will have a diameter of approximately 6.5mm. A slightly deep cut diamond of the same carat weight can make the diameter smaller. "Under-sizes" are slightly less popular diamonds that are very close to very popular (and much more expensive carat weights). For example, you can save up to 50% by choosing a 0.95 carat diamond over a 1.00 carat diamond, despite them looking exactly the same without measuring. In some cases, the diameter would be exactly the same. Some examples include 0.45-0.49 carat instead of a 1/2 carat… 0.70-0.74 carat instead of 3/4 carat and so on. Over-sizes will have the reverse effect – you will be paying more in total for a diamond that is just a fraction heavier, but is not visibly larger.

Diamond prices in wholesale are referred to in terms of price per carat (or ppc). As the price per carat for a diamond increases, the larger the diamond, prices become exponentially higher the further you go. For example, a 0.50 carat diamond can cost $2000 ppc, meaning $1000 for the stone. A 1.00 carat diamond can be say double in price per carat at $4000, but will be 4 times the price for the stone.

Lingo summary for diamond carat weight:

100 points = 1.00 carat

Under-size = a few points below the most popular sizes (usually will look the same, but cost much less)

Under-size = a few points below the most popular sizes (usually will look the same but cost a bit more)

PPC = Price per carat

Ct. = Carat

If you would like to know any other sizes, just ask me. Fancy shapes don't really have a standard as it will depend on the length-width ratio, but I would happily help out.

Shiree Odiz Official Blog - Official Opening

2009-12-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome, welcome, welcome… It's been a very long time coming, but finally it is here. Dragged by the ear, kicking, shouting and screaming out load is the spanking new Shiree Odiz blog.

We have loads to say (all of us) and so this won't be a one dimensional deal. You'll see updates on e-commerce (eBay, Amazon, etc. etc.), social media (Facebook, Twitter…), market trends on gold and diamonds, fashion trends in diamond jewelry, new designs and of course professional advice and information on diamonds and jewelry as well as trade secrets you absolutely must know. We'll be posting lots of stuff and we'll be having lots and lots of fun! (I promise).