Posts Tagged ‘diamonds’

Fancy Colored Diamonds: Information On Natural Versus Synthetic Colored Diamonds

Friday, August 27th, 2010

If you have been thinking about buying or wishing for a fancy colored diamond read this article first! Colored diamonds are the next big trend in jewelry design. The spectrum of colors is as big as your imagination. Choosing what’s right for you can be overwhelming in today’s diamond market. This article will address a few important factors to consider when buying a fancy colored diamond for yourself or a loved one. Most important is knowing the differences between colored diamonds that are formed naturally and ones that are man-made.

Natural Fancy Colored Diamonds
Diamonds colored naturally are very rare and fetch very high prices. There are three ways in which colored diamonds are formed by nature. The first method is when a foreign element is introduced to the carbon material that a diamond is made from. For example, nitrogen can cause a diamond to have yellow or orange hues while boron can make it blue. The second method is when pressure compresses the carbon and creates a red, pink or purple hue. Lastly, natural radiation deep in the earth generates diamonds with colors of green or blue. Green, red and purple diamonds are considered very rare and command high prices. Indeed, there are only six naturally formed red diamonds currently in the market. One can only imagine the prices these stones will fetch. Natural fancy colored diamonds are so rare that there exist at least 10,000 colorless stones for each colored stone.

Synthetic or Treated Fancy Colored Diamonds
Fancy colored diamonds can also be man-made in labs. There are a variety of methods used to color diamonds. Some of these stones are purely synthetic, meaning they were totally created in a lab to simulate the properties of a real diamond. They are formed from carbon just like the real thing. However, these stones can be formed in a matter of weeks where as it takes thousands of years for natural diamonds to be formed. These type of synthetic diamonds are so similar to the real thing that only high tech equipment can detect subtle differences in the crystal formations within the stone to know they are fake.
(more…)

Do You Have Enough Jewelry Insurance?

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

Jewelry insurance comes in many forms and varieties and only an insurance agent can provide accurate and specific advice. However, it helps to know enough about jewelry insurance to ask your agent the right questions and to be aware of how the process works. The time to ask your insurance agent the questions is before you insure an item, not when you need to file a claim. Read the fine print in your insurance contract to be sure it provides the coverage you expect.

Understanding jewelry insurance begins with recognizing the difference between scheduled and unscheduled property.

Unscheduled property (jewelry not specifically listed) is typically included in basic homeowner or renter’s policies under blanket coverage. There is a usually a deductible (typically $500) and a maximum amount of coverage (typically $1500) although these amounts can vary with the specific policy. This type of coverage does not require an appraisal but sales receipts, written descriptions or photos are beneficial in proving the items existed and estimating their replacement value.

Scheduled property (jewelry specifically listed) is included in a floater, rider or endorsement to homeowner or renter’s policies. Jewelry insurance is also available with a separate policy, from a company specializing in jewelry insurance. For scheduled property, the insurance appraisal is vital because it describes the jewelry item and provides the “insured value” that is used in determining the premium you will pay to insure the item each year. Most scheduled property policies do not have an automatic appreciation adjustment as is common for the house and other unscheduled property. Therefore, even if it might cost 50% more to replace an item in five years, the “insured value” is still only that stated in the appraisal.

If you file an insurance claim, the settlement process and amount paid will depend on the policy and in particular, if the policy allows replacement or agreed value settlement. For agreed value policies, the settlement amount is stated in the policy whereas replacement value allows the insurance company to replace your jewelry or make a cash settlement based on the insurance company’s cost to replace your item. The insurance company’s liability ceiling is set at the “insured value” on the appraisal.
(more…)

Did You Find Diamonds In Amsterdam?

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Amsterdam takes a special place in the world of Diamonds. Walking down the streets you will see a lot of Diamond and jewelry stores as well as a lot of places that are locked up with signs saying “guided diamond tours from 2 to 4 PM”.

Actually going on some of these tours you’ll have a chance to see some fantastic diamonds and you’ll have a chance as well to see how they are cut and polished. And if you want to, you can buy them for $4000 to $400,000 each.

These are some of the companies offering guided tours:

Amsterdam diamonds

Amsterdam has a long heritage in the diamonds, and has been a major diamond centre since Sephardic Jews introduced the diamond cutting industry in the later 16th century. Nowadays there are about a dozen diamond factories in the city, five of which offer guided tours. The tours are free and are usually conducted 9am to 5pm every day. Diamonds aren’t necessarily cheaper in Amsterdam but prices are fairly competitive. At least you will have seen how they are worked, and when you buy from a factory you get an extensive description of the purchase so you know exactly what you are buying.

Diamond tours

The following renowned diamond stores offer diamond-cutting and polishing tours, and sales of the finished diamonds:

Coster Diamonds
Gassan Diamonds
Stoeltie Diamonds
Van Moppes Diamonds the first company to offer guided tours.

If you have a chance eat an “uitsmijter” as well.

Best time to visit is april or late september when the leaves on the trees are not blocking the view of the monumental facades. The winters are penetratingly cold and damp with lots of rain and sleet.
(more…)

Diamonds Make a Wonderful Wonderful Gift

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Precious gems are beautiful and they last a long time and they are very valuable. Diamonds in particular shimmer in any kind of light, providing an exquisite treasure. Some people give a piece of diamond jewelry as the sole gem gift a loved one will ever receive. Others add a diamond gift to a long line of precious gems. Before bestowing diamonds as a gift to a loved one, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Diamonds are usually very expensive. If you come across a diamond that is being sold on the cheap, you have to wonder why this is the case. It may mean that the cut is not the best quality or it could have poor point value. Perhaps the gem is even stolen! You have to be careful about where and how you purchase precious jewelry to ensure that you get your money’s worth in value. Check with several jewelry stores or diamond dealers. State up front how much money you have to spend and the type of gift you wish to make. The experts can help you make a good choice for what you have to work with.

Diamonds are for grown ups. Children or even teenagers rarely have a proper appreciation for diamonds. Perhaps diamond chip earrings would be an acceptable gift for older teen girls, but more lavish diamond jewelry should be saved for more mature wearers. A diamond necklace, brooch, ring, or bracelet conveys a sense of sophistication that younger women cannot often carry off. Save the gift of diamonds for a special occasion and an older girl.

Diamonds deserve special care. You don’t want to just fling a diamond ring in the jewelry box or leave it lying unprotected on a`dresser top. Preserve the beauty and keep it clean while avoiding scratches by placing diamond jewelry into velvet-lined boxes or containers. Depending on the size and value of your investment, your diamonds may need to be kept in a safe deposit box or vault at your local bank. You don’t want nosy workers or desperate thieves to make off with your prized possession. You may want to have your diamond priced or valued by an experienced jeweler for home insurance purposes. It also is a good idea to have it cleaned periodically, if needed.
(more…)