Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Diamonds For Men a Perfect Gift




For a very long time, diamonds have been considered an adornment for strictly women. However, since the 1970’s, during a diamond resurgence, men have been seen sporting a diamond ring, cuff links, or tie pins here and there. It just seems that the diamond market has never really been able to convince men that diamonds can be a man’s best friend as well. Maybe since men generally purchase diamonds for women, it is time that women do the same for men. Diamonds are a luxury, but they are still affordable for everyone. Here are a few ideas for those of you who would like to see your husband, father, son, or boyfriend enjoying jewelry as much as you do. Diamond necklaces are not just for women any more. Necklaces for men come in a variety of styles. Maybe it is because of patriotism or because of the focus that we have on war, dog tags (sometimes referred to as pendants) are in style! And they are not just military issue any more-they are sharp and come in a variety of designs-and metals. The nicest ones are gold, silver, or platinum and are adorned with small diamonds. They can even be personally engraved with any personal message, as there is plenty of room. Depending on personal religious conviction, you might want to consider purchasing a cross for the man or men in your life. Masculine crosses are on the market and a lot are adorned with a small diamond near the top or in the center. Diamond rings for men don’t look like they used to. You might be thinking of the over-sized diamond signet ring where the diamond is set in black onyx. While those are great for some men, others want something a bit more understated. Well, now they are available. As with most jewelry, men’s diamond rings can be gold, white gold, silver, or platinum. They come in a variety of sizes and styles and fit the bill of classy understatement. While some are still square, completely round rings are found and will look great on the right man. Circular diamond rings resembles wedding bands but are a little wider. Diamond wedding bands are not restricted to the ring finger of women any more. There are some beautiful men’s rings on the market that are set with a single diamond or encrusted with several diamonds. Key chains aren’t just for carrying keys any longer. They have become a signature of style symbolizing who we are and what we drive. They may also be considered a symbol of social status-depending on which vehicle that the keys fit in. Many key chains are elegant and are diamond-studded. Money Clips are great for the man who does not like to carry a cumbersome wallet or does not like to pull his entire wallet out every time he is making a purchase. You can find a wide range of money clips at jewelry or department stores. They can be simple or stylish and dressy. Most all of these diamond jewelry items can be purchased with little research or shopping and without breaking your budget. Giving him a special gift of diamonds will make a statement and, believe it or not, men like diamonds too.

Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend and So Are Payday Loans


“But I prefer a man who lives And gives expensive jewels A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, But diamonds are a girl's best friend” These words from the song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” were made famous by the quintessential blonde femme fatale Marilyn Monroe. And indeed, from her time to your time, diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Swarovski, moissanite, and cubic zirconia simply cannot compare to the glamour, allure and enduring quality of diamond. Kind of reminds you of Marilyn Monroe compared with the ditzy blondes of Hollywood today. But of course, you do not need a man who lives and gives expensive jewels. Absolutely not when you have a stable job and you can avail of quick payday loans! Fine Diamonds, Fast Payday Loans You have been lusting after the Tiffany Lace Ring for ages. And now you have to have it right here, right now for your own reasons - maybe the high school class reunion is coming up, maybe you are bridesmaid, and maybe you are stocking up on fashion accessories. But, horror of horrors, you come up short on the money. Don’t fret. With fast payday loans, you can get additional money within the same day.
All you have to do is go online, browse through reliable payday loans companies that your family and friends recommended, and file your application. Presto! You have payday loans deposited directly to your bank account in a matter of hours. Tiffany, here you come! Fine Diamonds, Fine Choosing Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend but you have to make your diamond jewelry your personal best friend. You have to choose based on cut, color, clarity and carat (4 Cs) to suit your preferences, passions and plans. You can expand your knowledge of diamonds’ 4 Cs to enable critical choosing when you do get to a Tiffany store or any other jewelry store for that matter. Read on: - Color can be the most important determinant of the diamonds’ value. Indeed, you can assume that “colorless” diamonds are more valuable though you also have to know that not all “colorless” diamonds are of lesser value. - Clarity pertains to the visible flaws within the diamonds. Again, you are safe to assume that the less flaws present, the more you have to shell out for the jewelry. If in doubt, ask for a magnifying glass. - Cut allows the diamonds’ facets to shine by reflecting light, which you see as the fire in the diamond.
You can choose from many diamond cuts like round, oval, marquise, radiant, pear-shaped, emerald and heart-shaped. Your preference will determine which cut suits you best. - Carat is the weight of the diamond in its entirety. In reverse order as the above Cs, you should not assume that just because a diamond is big, it is automatically more valuable than the smaller diamond. Of course, just looking at diamonds set in gold and surrounded by other precious stones can make you stand in awe so much so that you can forget the 4 Cs. Still, it never did hurt a girl to ask about the history behind the jewelry! Just make sure that you pay your payday loans on time lest you find yourself pawning your coveted diamond ring. Beyond that, you can make other drool with envy from your best friend.

The Most Expensive Diamonds in the World Ever




A diamond is a girl’s best friend. This is a phrase that has been around for a very long time and I quite agree with it, as most women are crazy about diamonds. However, men are spending quite a lot of money in order to buy the perfect diamond for the woman he loves. Diamonds come in all forms, shapes, colours, different cuttings, and sizes, size being measured by carat. The more carats, the more expensive the diamond would be. Usually, more carats mean bigger diamonds. There are a few diamonds in the world that only a select few people can buy, because the price is ridiculously expensive - and these diamonds are the most precious of all. Each of them have been made into items of jewellery, and these are the most expensive diamonds in the world. Diamonds can be made into a ring, a pair of earrings, necklace, bracelet and even a tiara, which are used a lot for weddings. First of all, we have the Chopard Blue Diamond Ring that has a value of $16.26 million. Can you imagine who might be able to afford to buy this ring? Definitely not me, or any other average person. However, what is so special about this diamond ring that can fetch such an astonishing price? The answer is because a blue diamond is extremely rare and difficult to find. It is 18 carat, and so the calculation works out to be $1.7 million per carat.
The second most expensive diamond is the Heart of The Kingdom Ruby. This ruby necklace is mounted on a 155 carat diamond, which has a value of $14 million. Surprisingly, this necklace can transform into a tiara for flexibility. This would perfectly fit any princesses in the world. The third most expensive Diamonds are the Diamond Drop Earrings by Harry Winston. This pair of earrings would cost you $8.5 million. Of course, these are no ordinary earrings. Harry Winston is known to be the man behind House of Winston, and most of the celebrities around the world adorn his jewellery to look good at any function they attend. This pair of earrings was made in 2006, with two pear-shaped diamonds. Next on the list, we have the Blue Diamond. Again, a blue diamond is rare so it is extremely hard to come by. Those who can find a blue diamond would find themselves very rich, but the task of finding it is not easy. A blue diamond is the ultimate diamond to own. This blue diamond ring will set you back $7.98 million. Then, we have a pear-shaped diamond necklace that cost $5 million. If you can afford something so grand and lavish like this then go for it – I can imagine any girl wanting this and her guy desperately working to afford it! This necklace is by Stefano Canturi. It is exotic and beautifully carved into a masterpiece. There are many diamonds in the world, and there are cheap and expensive diamonds. The truth is, a girl would be extremely happy even to receive a one-carat diamond.

Don't Tear Your Hair Out! Just Follow These 4 C's of Diamonds for the Perfect Gift For Mom


Often, the perfect gift for Mom is diamond jewelry simply because diamonds are a girl's best friend. Your mom deserves diamonds if only because she is a precious gem that kept your family together with her brilliance in parenting, her toughness in protecting the family and her colorful personality. Still, diamonds can cost you more than your arm and leg to pay! So, what is a loving daughter to do? Well, you can apply the 4 Cs of diamonds in finding the perfect gift for Mom without purchasing the real thing. Carat/Cost Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. You probably read of celebrities' engagement rings that are described in carat terms followed by exclamation points, which should give you an idea of how important carat can be for boasting contests. When it comes to finding the perfect gift for your mom, however, you need not boast as to the cost. Not only is that tacky in polite society, but you are taking away the true value of the gift - its thoughtfulness. Instead, you have to balance between your budget constraints and your better judgment of your mother's personality when it comes to finding "the gift" for her. Remember, "cost" is definitely not equivalent to "most" when it comes to the perfect gift for Mom! Cut/Care Your gift ideas are diamonds in the rough. As much as you have to cut diamonds with extreme caution to bring out its brilliance and scintillation, you have to choose gifts with thoughtful care to bring out its meaning and significance. You have to consider your beloved mother's interests, personality, wishes and desires to choose the most meaningful gift you can give. After all, master cutters perform their job by cutting diamonds to reflect maximum light; you, on the other hand, must choose gifts to reflect positive light on your mom and yourself. Indeed, when you think of your mother first and yourself second, you would have chosen the most perfect gift for Mom that any loving daughter can think of! Color/Cover As much as diamonds come in every color of the rainbow in their natural state, your gift can be wrapped in every color of the rainbow, too, with lots of prints and themes to boot! But of course, you cannot just use every gift wrapper as much as you do not buy diamonds just because you love the color. Or the absence of color, for the more expensive diamond types. Instead, for the most perfect gift for Mom you can think of, you have to cover it with the most perfect wrapper, too! For example, you have to use top-of-the-quality wrapper for special occasions like birthdays and Mother's Days with elaborate ribbons rather than the straight-out-of-the-box gifts. Indeed, the beauty of gifts starts with the beauty of wrappers. And it does not hurt to build the suspense either! Clarity/Conditions You can determine the clarity of diamonds under 10 times magnification to look for flaws/blemishes. The lesser the blemishes, the more valuable the diamond - this is the general rule. For your gift to mom, this does not necessarily mean that you have to find the most flawless gift you can find. Rather, this means that your intentions will pass the scrutiny of the heart of hearts and your gift is appropriate for the occasion and circumstances. If possible, subject your heart and your intentions to emotional magnification to determine if you only have the best of intentions. And this is how you choose the most perfect gift for Mom with diamonds in mind without diamonds in hand!

Top 10 Diamond Facts


In recent years, much attention has been given to the diamond industry, in light of conflict diamonds, also known as blood diamonds. While the story of conflict diamonds is heartbreaking, it is at odds with the ever-alluring beauty of “girl’s best friend.” No matter what happens between the creation of a diamond and the sale of one, the mystique and appeal of a diamond will probably always remain. We’ve compiled a list of top ten facts about diamonds, in no particular order. The sources are varied, as is the information, but it’s all very interesting. Keep reading! 1. In Botswana, the revenues from the diamond industry enable every child, to age 13, to receive a free education. This aid is necessary due to insufficient tax revenue to provide free public education, the way it is provided in the U.S. and elsewhere. After the age of 13, the government pays approximately 95% of educational expenses. 2. Diamond revenue is used in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Diamond revenue in Southern Africa helps provide counseling, testing, and free Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART). 3. A diamond may be up to three billion years old! The diamond crystallization process starts at approximately 200 kilometers, or 320 miles, beneath the surface, and typically rises to the surface in volcanic rock. 4. Only about 25% of the world’s diamonds are suitable for gemstones. The remaining 75% are used for industrial purposes—anything from coating drill bits, enhancing the performance of semiconductors, to use in phonograph needles! Wait, who uses phonographs? 5. Although diamonds are most often seen in their white/clear variation, they can include the whole color spectrum from clear to black! Most often they’re brown and yellow; most rarely they’re blue or pink. Also, most are tinged with yellow, so they are often set in yellow gold to mask the yellowish gem color, believed to be caused by Nitrogen. 6. Extensive diamond mining began in India but now occurs in approximately 25 countries including these top seven: Australia, Botswana, Zaire, South Africa, Russia, Angola, and Namibia. 7. In ancient times, diamonds were believed to give the wearer powers of courage, strength, and invincibility. These days, those adorned with diamonds are more prone to be seen as possessing riches and power. 8. The United States has a diamond mine that is open to the public! Since 1906, over 70,000 diamonds have been dug at The Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. This includes one that was over 40 carats in weight (the “Uncle Sam Diamond” of 1924). 9. Visitors to realdiamondfacts.org and diamondfacts.org may be confused by their similarity in appearance but highly-different content. That is because one is affiliated with the diamond industry (diamondfacts.org) and one is affiliated by Diamonds for Africa (realdiamondfacts.org). We encourage you to look at both objectively and consider the sources. 10. The largest diamond in the universe is 2,500 miles wide and found 50 light years away in the constellation Centaurus. Imagine the number of engagement rings that could be made out of that rock!

Are Diamonds Forever?


Diamonds are perhaps the most loved of the precious stones. They are known for their brilliance, their beauty and of course their color. They have other properties too such as their low reactivity to chemicals, their electrical resistance and of course their hardness. They are the hardest known natural mineral so have many industrial uses. Diamonds have been highly sought after since they were used as religious icons in ancient India and they have also been used as cutting tools since ancient times. Their modern popularity however is relatively recent as they have become more commonplace since the 1800's. This due to greater availabilty and increased prosperity, not to mention some clever marketing. A large part of the diamond supply comes from the African continent, though countries like Canada and Russia are prominent too. Some diamonds come from Australia including most of the highl prized natural pink diamonds. Diamonds are in fact just another form of carbon as is the lead in that pencil on your desk. Most natural diamonds are billions of years old formed deep in the earth under great pressure. There are some surface diamonds but they are generally very small, formed sometimes by the intense pressure caused by meteorite impacts. Some diamonds are believed to have originated in outer space and were left here after asteroid impacts. They come in many shapes courtesy of the skilled diamond cutters who craft the finished diamonds from the rough stones they start with. You may have heard of the four c's when it comes to describing diamonds: cut, color, clarity and carat. The cut refers to the shape the diamond has been cut in. The color tells us how the jeweler sees the color, whether clear or pink for example. The clarity refers to whether the diamond is free of internal faults that dull its brilliance and lastly the carat refers to the weight of the diamond where one carat equals 200 grams. Diamonds come in different cuts and settings. Popular cuts include the princess cut, the brilliant cut and the round while popular settings include prong settings, bezel settings and pavé settings Good diamond jewelry is expensive. The everlasting demand for diamond engagement rings helps to keep their value higher than other forms of jewelry. Diamond necklaces and earrings are also popular jewelry items and diamonds set in platinum or gold pieces will never go out of style. Of course these days we sometimes see other uses for diamonds to with everything from sandals to swimsuits being blinged up for specialty designer pieces. While an extremely hard material, diamonds can be chipped by sharp enough knocks so they should not be worn if there is any chance of rough treatment. They can be cleaned with a detergent or jewelry cleaning solution and a soft brush such as a soft toothbrush and dried with a lint free cloth. These days diamonds are perhaps a little more commonplace than in years past but are still considered to be a beautiful, everlasting and special gift for special occasions.

A Must Read - Before Purchasing a Diamond For Your Engagement Ring.


Does the thought of purchasing a diamond ring overwhelm you? Don’t think you know enough about certificates, inclusions, grading scales, and colors? Or do you know the basics, but need a refresher course? A good understanding of diamonds is necessary before you begin shopping. Our guide gives you the basics — the all-important “four Cs”, and more,
We will start with the four c’s

The cut of the diamond is perhaps the most important of all C’s as it determines its brilliance. While nature determines the color and clarity of a stone, diamond cut is dependant solely upon the skill of the cutter. A diamond cutter spends years mastering his craft, learning how best to cut a rough diamond to achieve the ultimate cut with the fewest imperfections and the least loss of carat weight. The better the cut, the more valuable the diamond.A good cut gives a diamond its brilliance. The width and depth have an affect on how light travels within the diamond and how much brilliance it will exude.
For starters, find out what shape she likes. Diamonds come in nine basic shapes.

Determining the cut of a diamond extends further than straightforward measurements of the width and depth. Diamond grading laboratories utilize optical measuring devices to create a three-dimensional image of your diamond in order to ascertain its proportions and angles.
Polish and symmetry are crucial to the diamond cutting process. Both polish and symmetry are assigned a grade, which appear on the diamond certificate. The polish grade indicates the smoothness of the facets, while the symmetry grade evaluates the alignment of the facets. With poor polish, the surface of a facet can be dulled and may create lackluster, blurry sparkle. With poor symmetry, light can be misdirected as it enters and exits the diamond.
Because cut is so important, several grading methods have been developed to help consumers determine the cut of a particular diamond. In general, these grades are ideal, very good, good, fair and poor.Diamonds on Fifth uses the measurements from each diamond’s grading report to determine: Table percentage: The ratio of the largest facet on top of stone to the girdle’s overall diameter.Depth percentage: The ratio of the total height or depth of the diamond to its diameter.
From these proportions, Diamonds on Fifth has assigned each diamond a cut grade. The following are the proportion ranges for each grade of diamond cut:
Ideal cut: An exquisite and rare cut that reflects nearly all the light that enters the diamond and creates maximum fire and brilliance. “Ideal” for the person who enjoys knowing that he has one of the finest diamonds that money can buy. Very good cut: Reflects almost as much light as the ideal cut but for a lower price. A Diamonds on Fifth recommended buy.Good cut: Reflects most of the light that enters the diamond. The cutter has chosen to create the largest possible diamond from the original rough crystal, rather than cutting extra weight off to create a smaller but higher quality diamond. Diamonds in this range offer an excellent cost-savings to customers who want to stay in a budget without sacrificing quality or beauty.
Fair cut: A fair cut diamond will not be as brilliant as a good cut, but is still considered a quality diamond.
Poor cut: This includes all diamonds that do not meet the performance standards of a fair cut. These diamonds are deep and narrow or shallow and wide and tend to lose most of the light out the sides and bottom. Diamonds on fifth does not carry diamonds with cut grades of poor.
Diamonds on Fifth carries an exquisite selection of certified ideal-cut diamonds. We do not carry diamonds with cut grades lower than good as these are generally too shallow or too deep to present an acceptable amount of brilliance.
Diamonds on Fifth RecommendationsWhile a good quality round diamond with an ideal cut will certainly be very beautiful, very good and good cuts might be just as attractive without costing as much. Diamonds on Fifth recommends that for fancy shapes, good and very good cut grades will result in the best performance. Consider the length to width ratio of the diamond and the design of the mounting when selecting a fancy shape.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I just love checking out expensive items


I just love checking out expensive items, I mean really expensive items like diamonds, so expensive I'll never be able to afford them. Not that I begrudge those who can, more luck to them, it's a dirty job being filthy rich but someone's got to do it! Right up there in the expense stakes are some of the worlds largest and most beautiful diamonds. Here's a little information that will either cause you to pop your eyes or make you want to buy some, depending on your bank account.

The biggest buyers of expensive diamonds are men who buy them for their collections, (sorry ladies). These collectors are unsurprisingly amongst the world's wealthiest men, they prize perfection and will pay in large amounts to aquire it. The chase for perfect diamonds may be a worldwide one involving international dealers and auction houses and diamond mines in South Africa, Australia and elsewhere.

It may surprise you to learn that size is not everything, clarity, color and hte absence of flaws are the more important factors in a diamonds value.


If you need any assistance please feel free to contact me. expensivediamonds@live.com

Diamonds




Brilliant-cut Diamonds in Customized Dimensions No two diamonds are alike. luxury works only with exceptionally high-quality diamonds. the best Diamonds stores own laboratory closely monitors these standards. In many of jewelry rings, you can choose diamonds of various dimensions. Or you can supply a diamond of your own. But your stone must satisfy certain preconditions. The diamond is the queen of gems. In a well-designed piece of jewelry, the diamond fits itself into the overall aesthetic. But a diamond need not always be large to accomplish this. A small brilliant-cut diamond enhances and clarifies the statement made by the jewelry. Or it can add a surprising twist or an unexpected accent to that statement. Most of the diamonds that classy diamond stores use are polished in the so-called ?brilliant cut.? This means that the gemstone has 56 facets and a flat ?table? on its uppermost surface. The brilliant cut enables a diamond to fully manifest its fascinating radiance. Most of the diamonds that classy diamond stores set into wedding-rings or jewelry rings are deliberately chosen to be unostentatious (up to 0.25 carats).Rings (Tension rings) and other solitaire rings can be set with larger stones up to 10 carats. Diamond stores operates its own laboratory.. Before a new diamond is processed, experts at this laboratory subject it to close scrutiny and comprehensive testing. The gems are purchased at diamond markets or from well-known diamond merchants.

In Europe, the quality norms for diamonds are defined by CIBJO (Conf餩ration International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orf趲erie des Diamantes, Perles et Pierres, www.cibjo.org). Larger diamonds can sent to CIBJO for testing. Stones that pass the test are issued corresponding certificates. This process is prohibitively expensive for diamonds weighing less than 0.25 carats, so the tests are usually performed at diamond laboratories according to CIBJO norms. The first class diamond stores use only diamonds certified under the Kimberley Process. The Kimberley Process is a global certification system for rough diamonds that tracks and guarantees the legal origins of the stones. and they must complies with this guarantee system for producers and traders. Legally imported diamonds can be handled, cut, polished and used in jewelry , a process which may involve several companies. Each time a diamond changes hands, it must be accompanied by a guarantee note on the invoice confirming the stone?s non-conflict origin. Manufacturers and traders are committed to supporting this guarantee system and retaining data for a five-year period for inclusion in their annual audits.

Got The World's Most Expensive Diamonds


Buying expensive diamonds online

There is a new article in The Wall Street Journal about buying diamonds online. People are willing to spend more and more money online. To the point that De Beers now has an online store.
Buying a $10 paperback from Amazon or a 99-cent new release from iTunes is now commonplace. But has online shopping matured to the point where people don’t blink at dropping a $20,000 half-carat diamond into an online shopping basket and proceeding to checkout?
De Beers Diamond Jewellers, Inc. is banking that the answer is yes. And given the success of online-only jeweler Blue Nile, they might be right.

How will this affect the items for sale?

De Beers SA premiered its Web site in June. Featuring 190 different pieces (of which 90 are for sale online), the site’s prices start at $500 and cap out at a $24,500, 1.5 carat engagement ring. In September, the online offerings will expand to 140 pieces with price points up to $50,000. But for De Beers’s six-figure jewelry, buyers are directed to the company’s smattering of luxury boutiques across the globe.

How about traditional retailers?

Companies such as Blue Nile Inc. — which has a market share of more than 30%, according to Internet Retailer, a trade publication that tracks online sales — have successfully tapped into the Web-savvy diamond buyer. But until De Beers unlocked their virtual doors, most upscale jewelry companies resisted the online shopping cart. Luxe brands like Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier have Internet sites detailing their collections, but don’t give visitors the option to buy online. Instead, they stress in-store customer support and a tactile experience of jewels.

How about stock?

Blue Nile relies on consignment goods, it requires few employees and less real estate than its brick-and-mortar counterparts, which allows Blue Nile to offer its stones at up to 40% off, according a report by Jewelry Research Institute president Ken Gassman. Blue Nile’s steep discount attracts customers who might otherwise spend $10,000 somewhere else. Last year, the cost of the average ring purchased at Blue Nile was $5,600, versus a national average of $3,200 for rings purchased in-store.
So by selling on consignment, Blue Nile manages to have an average sale price of almost double brick and mortar stores. Impressive.

What of competition?

Tiffany & Co.’s site offers an online catalog, but despite a detailed engagement ring section, engagement rings can’t be purchased online. Even so, Tiffany is the third highest-selling Internet jeweler, with $120 million in online sales in 2006, according to Internet Retailer. (Second place went to Bidz.com, which rang up $132 million in Web revenue.) Tiffany declined to comment.

That doesn’t make sense. How do they not sell online and still manage online sales?

Amazon’s jewelry store launched in 2004, and recently bulked up its offerings to include high-end items like six-figure loose diamonds, an Amazon spokesperson said. The retailer reported that jewelry sales more than doubled during fourth quarter 2006, and confirmed the recent sale of a $90,000 canary yellow diamond earring set. Jewelry is held by wholesalers instead of being warehoused alongside Amazon’s books — and most jewelry pieces qualify for free shipping.
Even with high-resolution photos, virtual diamonds don’t yet translate the visceral reaction of seeing light bounce off a faceted stone in person, which is why luxury jewelers like Harry Winston stress the opportunities of the in-store visit.
“We look to give our clients a unique, one-on-one experience in our salons when they want to make a Harry Winston purchase, which cannot be replicated online,” Harry Winston spokesman Carson Glover said.
A Google employee buys a ring.
Rishi Chandra, a 28-year-old product manager at Google, said he had “no information whatsoever” about diamonds when he made the decision to propose to his then-girlfriend, Monica Deshpande. But because he was about to buy something that is “a little rock and [yet] costs that much money,” he spent several weeks digging into the minutiae of diamond ratings. Despite all his research, Mr. Chandra felt that cut was the one aspect he didn’t have a handle on by only relying on online details. He visited local jewelers in San Francisco and Palo Alto, including Tiffany, to gauge how cut affected stones.
“I was actually more confident with some of the information I was getting on the Web than even looking at” stones in person, Mr. Chandra said. “One of the challenges is that when you look at a diamond in a store, the lighting is all set up so that it’s very bright for you. They are trying to emphasize the brightness of the diamond.” He eventually purchased a ring at Blue Nile; he and Ms. Deshpande were married in July 2006.

Mr. Chandra was pleased with the experience of buying a diamond online and said he would have returned to the Internet for wedding bands, but his then-fiancée insisted on a more traditional route. “When we were buying the wedding bands, she was actually very adamant that we had go see it,” he said. “She wanted to try it on.”

If you need any kind of assistance please feel free to contact me at expensivediamonds@live.com