diamond buying Archives

The AGS Perfect Proposal Toolkit! Everything you need this Valentine's Day

February 6, 2015

By: Amanda L. Colborn Ahhh…..Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Everyone is getting excited. Excited about spending time with their loved one. The dates. The surprises. The perfect time to propose! Maybe you’re on the opposite end, you’re the one trying to plan the proposal. But where do you even start? There are so many things to consider! When is the right moment? Where should I propose? Do I want other people around me or just the two of us? And of course, what will the answer be?! You can rest assured, The American Gem Society is here to make

So fancy!

January 16, 2015

By Alethea Inns, CG Did you know that diamonds aren’t just round? They are cut in all shapes and styles to suit any personality or occasion. With diamonds, a “fancy shape” is anything other than a round. Usually, the rough diamond crystal is shaped as an octahedron – a three-dimensional shape with eight faces, much like two pyramids stuck together at their base. When the diamond crystal isn’t the typical octahedron because of how it was formed in the earth or transported to the surface, diamonds are cut into fancy shapes to get maximum yield from the crystal. Fancy shapes

Finding Your Jeweler

January 2, 2015

By Alethea Inns, CG As a jewelry industry professional, I am often asked where to find a jeweler, how to find one that is trustworthy, or where to get professional appraisals. My answer is always the same. Find an American Gem Society credentialed jeweler or appraiser, and you are guaranteed a jewelry industry professional committed to your best interests. AGS credentialed jewelers are pledged to consumer protection, business ethics, and continued education. Jewelry stores that are AGS members are admitted to the Society after going through a series of approvals by an anonymous panel of fellow industry professionals, and their

How To Choose Her Perfect Engagement Ring

October 31, 2014

By Kirsty Wareing, Content Editor for Ritani When you’re ready to propose, you want to get it right. That not only refers to the time and place, but the ring that you offer her. As a symbol of how much you know and love her, it should reflect her tastes and suit her lifestyle. Ritani, a member of the American Gem Society, offers these tips for selecting a perfect engagement ring that she’ll want to wear forever. A sense for style If you’re not sure where to start, pay attention to the type of clothes she wears and the jewelry

How do you sparkle?

October 24, 2014

By Amanda L. Colborn How do you sparkle? You’re likely familiar with the 4 C’s of Diamonds: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat – however, there is another very important aspect of diamonds to keep top of mind: Sparkle! Sparkle, or Scintillation as it is also known, is the play of white and colored flashes of light seen when the diamond is viewed in motion. Viewable with the naked eye, sparkle is the life of the diamond. Sparkle does have two different aspects, flash scintillation and fire scintillation. Flash Flash scintillation is the dynamic pattern of white sparkles observed across a

4 Reasons Diamonds are Not Expensive

May 7, 2014

By Preston Wallace, CGA, K-Jon’s Jewelery Customers walk in my door every day and say “Wow! $8,000 for that? Diamonds are expensive!” But they’re not. I know what you’re thinking: I’m crazy, right? No, I meant what I said, and no, I’m not crazy. If you consider what diamonds are, how we get them, and what their value does over time, I think you’ll agree that diamonds are NOT expensive. Here are 4 reasons why: 1. Diamonds are Rare On average, one million diamonds must be mined to find one 1ct diamond. Think about that! Diamonds are extremely rare, especially

5 Factors That Impact “Bargain” Prices on Diamonds

July 26, 2013

By Evert P. Botha, Registered Supplier, Embee Diamonds Think again. Truth be told, just about everyone knows someone in the diamond and jewelry trade, but do you have a relationship with a trusted jewelry professional? Someone with the credentials to prove that they know their stuff? Someone that’s not interested in simply selling you what they have available at a bargain price? So called “bargain” prices on diamonds should always raise several red flags. Let’s look at some of the many factors that impact such “bargain” prices. Firstly, origin or conscience. Diamonds that make their way into the supply pipeline

diamond buying