Choosing The Cut of A Diamond

There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut into – unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business, but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on how much the diamond sparkles, but the actual cutting itself – when the diamond cutter actually cuts the diamond into a particular shape – also matters a great deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.

However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond doesn’t refer to its shape at all. Instead, this is a reference to the stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets.

When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut – the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.

Can Men Wear Diamond Jewelry?

Wearing diamond jewelry—especially for men—connotes not only power, but also strength, prominence and status in life. Ever since the beginning of time, jewelry has always signified power. Back then it was the kings who wear most of the jewels in the royal family. In 1200s Europe, royalties—especially the king—wear diamonds set. As a matter of fact, King Louis IX of France even enacted a law that no one can wear a ring with diamonds but only the king.

In these days of equality, men also wear wedding rings to signify his eternal love for his wife. One of the latest trends in a man’s wedding ring today is with inlaid gemstones like diamonds. It has become acceptable for the modern society that men wear diamonds for their wedding ring depending on their personal taste and preference.

Aside from emphasizing a man’s taste and preference, choosing a diamond ring for a wedding ring should also include the following considerations:

- the type of work. If you are into sports and into works that require excessive manual labor and movement, you might think twice before getting a man diamond ring because it increases the possibility of losing or damaging your gemstone. But if you are not into sporting activities or hard manual labor, man diamond ring can be a perfect option for you.

- the type of personality and lifestyle. Since every man is different, personalities and lifestyles should be greatly considered.

- consider comfort. Think of the shape of the ring and the ring width before buying it.

- the type of metal. The metals that can be used to make men’s wedding rings include gold, titanium, platinum and silver.

- the type of gem. Although diamond in the best option for a man, you can also use sapphires in all colors and rubies.

The diamond jewelry for man

Today, important and prominent men around the world like the pope, rulers of different nations and business tycoons wear rings to connote power. Graduates of military academies and heads of different national and international organizations wear diamond jewelry such as rings as a sign of being a ruler as well.

Despite the fact that some people—especially men—the idea of wearing diamond jewelry such as a ring, more and more of them recognize the fact that wearing a band encrusted with gem as costly as diamond can put them in a prestigious disposition and company like musicians and sports superstars who are popular for their diamond bling-bling.

Having man diamond jewelry such as a ring doesn’t have to be as flashy as those worn by celebrities. In fact, man diamond jewelry such as rings can be composed of a single stone set in a strong and masculine setting. Or it can be silver, platinum, or gold band that has inlaid diamonds. 

If you’re thinking of getting a man diamond jewelry such as ring for your self, it’s not necessary to you push your budget to the limits. What you can do is to explore the variety of designs available in the market today.

Buying Diamonds Online

With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

Antique Cut Diamond Jewelry

There is a hushed but discernible stirring in the industry that is the talk among jewelers. Somehow, there is a quiet demand for antique, old European diamond jewelry from buyers, including from young people.

Modern-day cutters are now beginning to cut diamonds in the old world style to keep up with the demand. What could perhaps be the reason for such a craving? What is so special with these diamonds cut the old style?

Old European and Old Mine cuts

The old diamond cut style was worked out in such a way that the light would fall directly on the stone through the crown table (the topmost facet). The entering light would then hit the culet (the bottom facet) and goes out of the stone in a shower of rainbow colors.

Another charming characteristic is that they look their best by candle light. Once hit by the soft glow of the candle light, the stone would exude its own special kind of romantic light it is known for.

Most of these diamonds could be part of family heirlooms handed down through generations among the women in the family. Some modern-day cut diamonds are actually re-cut from old sets of antique jewelry.

History

In the mid 1800s, diamonds are only for the royalty, the upper level clergy, some very rich merchants and titled personages. In the Victorian times, diamonds can be worn by anyone who can afford them.

Most of these old cut diamonds, although slightly tinted, are almost extremely pure (super eye clean) and VVS and VS in clarity.

Before the 1900s, all diamonds were cut by hand. Most of them are small and have a relatively high table (top most facet) and deep pavilion (side facets) and quite top-heavy.

Characteristics

The earlier Old Mine cut appear smaller than the Old European cut (which came later) because they are squares and with rounded corners. (They resemble a bit like the modern-day Asscher or Princess cuts.)

Both of these old cut diamonds have very thin girdles (the edge around the body of the diamond). It is quite common that these antique gems have some chips in them. (Sometimes, they are polished away or hidden under the stone’s metal clasp.)

In the 1800s, tint was not considered so much of a deterrent to price or its beauty as it is now. Both the Old Mine cut and the Old European cut diamonds are also famous for masking their true colors.

Rose cut

Diamonds in Rose cuts were one of the most popular and the first to have faceted cutting style. It has a flat bottom and all the facets are on top, making it dome-shaped.

The facets come to the center forming a point. The facets are planned to give the appearance of the opening of a rose bud.

Old or modern cut?

The surge of demand for these old style cuts in diamonds may have been an offshoot to the movement of going romantic the old world way. Or it could be a rebound from all things too modern, especially in jewelry which is supposed to reflect timelessness.

Whatever it is, it is not fair to judge old-style diamond jewelry by modern day standards. These old relics have their own history which might be more colorful than one could ever have.

Cheap Gucci Handbags

Many of us love Gucci purses beyond comprehension. However, not many of us are willing to fork out the cash required to purchase an authentic purse by this well known and well loved designer. Cheap Gucci handbags are out there, honestly. I’m going to share some quick ideas to help you land one for yourself.

First of all, skip the trendy boutique in the nearest big city. It is very unlikely that you will find a cheap Gucci handbag there at all. If you do, you may find that someone is already purchasing it. They don’t stay on the shelves very long when they’re on sale. Competition from other buyers can be pretty fierce so unless you know the store manager you aren’t likely to get your hands on cheap Gucci handbags there.

Online shopping is a whole other animal. If you are willing to spend some quality time shopping with your PC then you will find a new shopping world filled with items like cheap Gucci handbags. I know it sounds too good to be true but it is. Online shopping is a lot less competitive. The shops are in competition, not the buyer.

The reason for the big switch is pretty simple. There are so many online shops to choose. When you enter a store, it’s you, other customers and maybe, maybe one or two cheap Gucci handbags on the shelves. When you shop online, there are a plethora of stores with more products options available.

The online stores will be more likely to try to keep prices as low as possible because with a click of a mouse, you can be on another site that may have a better deal on cheap Gucci handbags. Of course, these items are not always at rock bottom prices but there are some strategies that will get you affordable designer purses at discount prices.

First of all, try to look for last season’s styles. The older the purse is, the cheaper it will be in many cases. The latest releases are going to be more expensive. If you can get your hands on cheap Gucci handbags from last year or the year before you will be less likely to pay a large sum for them.

Replica designer purses are another great option for penny pinchers. If you’re willing to tote around a knock off purse, then you can find plenty of cheap Gucci handbags that are just as beautiful as the authentic designer purses.

Ray Ban Sunglasses

Some products are synonymous with style and become cultural icons. Ray Ban sunglasses fall into that category, occupying the up market end of the sunglasses spectrum. The company was founded in 1937 by Bausch and Lomb who later sold the brand to the Italian Luxottica group in 1999.

One of their most famous glasses is the Aviator, developed in 1937 for a United States Air Force commission. The new Ray Ban sunglasses were the epitome of cool and had dark lenses that were often reflective and a teardrop shape. Other manufacturers have copied this design ever since it first appeared.

The Aviator took off, being particularly popular with Navy pilots. Civilians began to wear them too and the range is still popular across the population. Police officers also wear them but it is celebrity endorsement that made them really fashionable. Today's versions most often have polarized lenses.  Rock stars took to them, including Freddie Mercury and Tom Petty, who were never seen without them.

Another old line, still available today, is the Wayfarer. These too come in a polarized version and have spring hinges. They have been a best seller since their appearance in 1952 and some observers claim that they are the most successful sunglasses ever made. The Wayfarer has a chunky design and has a retro 1950s look. It was Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn that made it a must have commodity.

Male stars such as Roy Orbison, James Dean and Bob Dylan also gave them credibility. Sales dipped a little after the heady days of the 1950s and 1960s but picked up again in the 1980s when that generation of celebrities started to wear them. It's hard to imagine the following movies without the presence of Ray Ban sunglasses; the Blues Brothers, Top Gun, Reservoir Dogs and Men in Black.

Today, there are various products in the range with a wide choice of colors and lenses and the company continues to have a high profile and celebrity image. The parent company, Luxottica, own many prominent businesses and the financial stability of Ray Ban seems secure. The company chooses to sponsor events that are in keeping with their chic image, including the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. They have also sponsored the Honda Formula I racing team since 2004. The Ray Ban sunglasses logo appears on the side of race cars and on the visors of Jensen Button and Rubens Barrichello. Some companies offer discounted replicas of Ray Ban products but there is no substitute for the real thing.

New York Handbags

My husband and I like to travel together. For the first several years we were married our traveling included camping because we could not afford to stay in hotels or motels. Due to our limited budget we tended to travel to areas that had natural wonders to see. These areas usually had good campgrounds and natural wonders are usually free or inexpensive to see. As we have progressed with our jobs and have paid off our expenses we are able to spend a bit more money in our travels. Now we are going to places that we both have always wanted to see. We each made a list of ten places we wanted to visit. We then compared lists and agreed that we would start with the places that both of us included on the list. There were several places that matched. The first we decided to visit was New York City.

A friend of my husband’s moved to New York right out of high school. Each time my husband sees him when he is home visiting his parents, he says that we have to come out and visit him. My husband called him to let him know when we were coming out. He asked us to stay with him and his wife. He said they had plenty of room and that they were close to the subway system so getting around would be easy. I told my sister about the trip. She has gone to New York twice. She told me to make sure to check out the New York handbags. She bought two purses from street vendors. She said that they are on the street corners with garbage bags filled with new purses. Some of the purses are knock offs of famous brands and others are originals. She said regardless if you get an original or not it is fun to have New York handbags so you can tell the story of buying it.

When we arrived at our friend’s home we talked about our itinerary. I asked our friend’s wife about the New York handbags. I was nervous about buying stolen property. She assured me that the greatest majority of the vendors are legitimate business people with vendor numbers. She told me the best corner to go to buy my New York handbags. She said that if the vendor or his merchandise looked questionable I could just walk away or ask to see his vendor number. We went to the corner that she suggested. My husband was leery about the process, but I was determined to have New York handbags that were purchased from a vendor.  I came home with two of the purses. I think I made great deals on both of them.