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Choose a Setting That’s Right For Your Ring

May 8, 2013 Jennifer

We’ve gone over the Four C’s and discussed shape, you’ve selected your dream diamond, but now you have to figure out where and how it will be set. There are many different setting styles, each offering different advantages and aesthetic qualities. Remember, if you’re opting for something other than a prong-set solitaire the combinations can be endless. To get you started here’s quick glossary.

NK12110WE-W is an example of a prong set center and a channel set band.

Prong: The most popular type of engagement ring settings is by far the prong setting. It consists of 3 to six claws which hold on firmly to the crown and girdle of your diamond. The advantage of such a setting, with such thin wires, is that it allows for the most light to enter the diamond amplifying its sparkle. You will want to consider however whether you want a low or high prong set. Higher will add more emphasis to your center diamond while low is more convenient for day to day activities.

Channel: The channel setting holds a row of diamonds between two channels of metal. The diamonds do not touch one another and have every edge protected against wear and tear. This is a popular choice for wedding bands and can add a striking and modern touch to the shank of an engagement ring.

NK25814-18W_profile — NK25814-18W has five bezel set diamonds seen in profile.

Bezel: A bezel set diamond is a metal rim that usually surrounds a diamond completely. While it is one of the most secure settings, protecting the girdle of your diamond from niches and chips, it doesn’t allow as much light to enter and be reflected by the diamond. Not the ideal setting for a center stone, but can create a lovely affect with detail stones or side stones.

Pave: Tiny diamonds are set closely together and have the appearance of a paved street. The diamonds are set within tiny holes and held in place by beads at the level of the surface of the ring. It is a challenging look to accomplish because of the patience necessary to set so numerous and such small stones but offers a dazzling blanket sparkle affect.

Flush: The diamond is set within a hole in the band of the ring, the metal is then hammered around the perimeter to keep it gripped securely and create a completely smooth surface. Elegant for men’s wedding bands.

NK25537WE-W_profile — Tension set side stones add a little edge to a classic.

Tension: A tension setting creates the incredible illusion that the diamond is floating. The diamond is held on two sides by pressure. While this is not the most secure setting and doesn’t offer much in the way of protection for the diamond if your engagement ring will become a special occasion piece it offers a wow factor.

The Four Cs: Carat

May 6, 2013 Jennifer

When selecting the engagement ring of your dreams there are four important points to consider, the Four Cs. We’ve gone over Cut, Clarity and Color in previous posts the final C is Carat. The carat is the weight of your diamond. Let’s not confuse carats and Karats however. 18k gold is completely different from an 18 ct. diamond which would be a monster of a rock.

The carat is the unit of measurement which is used to designate the weight of a diamond. As defined by the metric system a “carat” is equal to 0.2grams (or about the weight of a small paperclip). The carat is then subdivided into 100 points, think of it as a dollar with 100 pennies: ½ carat is 0.50 cts. When weighed, a diamond will be assigned its weight to the closest 100^th decimal place. So a quarter carat diamond will be written out as having a weight of 0.25 cts. This helps the jeweler to be as precise as possible in weighting the diamond.

But it’s not all about the size here ladies. There are the other characteristics to consider. A larger diamond isn’t always going to be the best choice or render the most bang for your buck. When comparing two diamonds with the same color grade, cut and internal clarity yes, a larger diamond will cost considerably more than a smaller diamond. This is especially true because prices rise exponentially with size due to the fact that larger diamonds are rare. But if size is what you’re going for it is possible to find a large diamond of poor quality with less sparkle at a similar price to a smaller diamond with exquisite quality and high sparkle. It’s all about preference and priorities.

For more information on carat weight and a handy interactive chart: GIA

A Fallen Star, the Origin of the Black Diamond

May 3, 2013 Jennifer

Mysterious and alluring the luster of a black diamond is wholly out of this world. But you may be asking yourself, what is a black diamond? Is it a diamond at all? The answer is yes! And their theoretical origins may add even more intrigue.

Also known as “carbonado,” a term coined by the Portuguese in mid-18^th century Brazil, the black diamond has long been one of the most enigmatic geological occurrences. Most intriguingly, many studies (most notably by geoscientist Stephen Haggerty, Ph.D and colleagues at Florida International University in Miami) have linked the existence and creation of black diamonds with interstellar space. That’s right; your black diamond could actually be a fallen star!

Let’s begin with the fact that a black diamond can only be found in Brazil and the Central African Republic, making them especially rare. Neither place is especially rich in kimberlite, a volcanic rock formed deep within the mantle known for containing diamonds. It’s been concluded that the sparkling gems we recognize today were formed deep within the earth because of the immense amount of heat and pressure needed to have converted the carbon. Those diamonds were then pushed to the surface by volcanic eruptions between 100 million and one billion years ago. But “carbonados” are actually several billion years older than that, 3.8 billion years old actually, which makes their presence in young, looser alluvial deposits all the more perplexing.

A 300-year-old supernova remnant created by the explosion of a massive star. — Source: Space.com

They are also rich in hydrogen and nitrogen, much like diamonds formed within the bellies of supernovas in space. And unlike white diamonds, black diamonds are isolated to two locations. The hypothesis then concludes that the black diamond was created in a hydrogen and nitrogen rich stellar explosion and then those diamond clusters were sent hurdling through space. And so the stars fell, that is until they ran into our lovely planet and embedded themselves on the surface of Brazil and Africa, which would have at that point still been fused as the super-continent of Pangaea. Slowly the continents drifted and loose sediment began to build above the extraterrestrial star dust. This explains both their isolated incidence as well as their presence along the surface of the earth rather than deep within it.

Mark your out-of-this-world love with a luminous black diamond engagement ring as rare and unique as you.

For more fun facts and information: National Science Foundation, Science Daily and PBS NOVA