Research Thoroughly Before You Buy Diamond Engagement Ring

You will need to invest a lot of time to research properly for finding the right type of engagement ring. The ring you get is an important investment and quite a big decision and so it is important for you to spend some time finding the right ring. Purchasing the ring online is the best choice since it will help you save plenty of time and money. There are many good stores online which can help you make the proposal very special.

Buying Diamond Engagement Ring On the Internet- Many Advantages

If you purchase the ring for the engagement online, there would be many good advantages and the biggest advantage is that you will be able to save a lot of money. The rings which are sold at online stores are quite low in price when compared to the local stores because they do not have to deal with large operation costs. These stores will pass down their savings to their customers so you will have a big advantage.

Check the FAQs Before You Buy Diamond Engagement Ring

If you are purchasing diamond engagement ring online, then you should first check the store’s website and read their FAQ section. You would be able to get much information about the quality of the metal which is used in the rings as well as the diamond itself. There are several stores which will also give you grading reports. You can check the internet and search for stores that will provide you rings in different metals, designs, styles, shapes and colors.

Purchase Process Is Very Easy Online When You Buy The Diamond Engagement Ring

The purchase process with for online stores is very convenient, less stressful and easier these days. You can be home and check the variety which is offered at the stores with just a click of a mouse, compare prices and find great designs. This will definitely make things easier for you. If you want, you can also have a custom designed ring for the engagement. All this can be done easily within your budget since there are many choices available. Getting a unique ring for your special day is not so difficult these days. Check the reputation of the store before you purchase anything because all stores are not trustworthy. Check the reviews and feedback of the customers before you buy diamond engagement ring. Tags: diamonds, engagement ring

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Conflict diamonds, sometimes called blood diamonds, are diamonds that are sold to fund the unlawful and illegal operations of rebel, military and terrorist groups. Countries that have been most affected by conflict diamonds are Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo — all places where citizens have been terrorized, mutilated and killed by groups in control of the local diamond trade.

Wars in most of those areas have ended or at least decreased in intensity, but conflict diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire, in West Africa, and Liberia are still reaching the trade labeled as conflict-free diamonds.

In 2000, South African countries with a legitimate diamond trade began a campaign to track the origins of all rough diamonds, attempting to put a stop to blood diamond sales from known conflict areas. Their efforts eventually resulted in The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), an international effort to rid the world of conflict diamonds.

Kimberley Process Goals

The goals of the Kimberley Process are to document and track all rough diamonds entering a participating country, with shippers placing stones in tamper-proof shipping crates and providing enough detailed information about their origins to prove they did not originate in a conflict zone.

The KPCS isn’t fully operational among its members — probably normal for an agreement that involves the cooperation of dozens of governments and non-governmental agencies. Many countries haven’t even committed to the program.

The goals of the KPCS will take time to achieve, but what’s already been accomplished is significant. Because it’s a self-regulating program, additional controls are necessary to truly ensure that blood diamond trade is halted — or at least minimized.

How consumers can help stop blood diamond trade.
Retailers cannot guarantee that the diamond you purchase is not a conflict diamond. As consumers, we have the power to change that by demanding details about the diamonds we buy. Demanding proof that a diamond is conflict-free sends a powerful message to the world that we will not support an industry or nation that helps fund terror groups. Change won’t happen overnight, but it will happen if we are persistent.

Canadian diamonds – the Code of Conduct
Canada has made progress in identifying diamonds originating in its mines. The Voluntary Code of Conduct for Authenticating Canadian Diamond Claims sets a standard for authentication of claims that a diamond is Canadian — and conflict free.

Adhering to The Code requires each company to initiate a paper trail that tracks a diamond’s progression from the mine to its retail destination. The Code also includes rules for proper handling, packing and marking of all diamonds that are represented as Canadian stones. Even with the guidelines, there’s no way to absolutely guarantee a diamond is Canadian, but the process definitely helps eliminate doubt.

The Canadian program is voluntary, so not all retailers participate. Those who do must provide consumers with:

* The diamond Identification Number
* The retailer’s name and address
* An invoice number and the date of the invoice
* The polished diamond description
* An explanation of the Code

A list of signatories of the Code is available online, naming retailers and wholesalers who are committed to following the Code’s procedures.

It’s difficult for most of us to imagine what life is like in countries where diamonds are the source of so much chaos and suffering, and the connection between terror and diamonds is not something that’s reported heavily in the press. The 2006 movie Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, should help make the issues more mainstream, if only temporarily.

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Diamonds are the hardest of all natural minerals and extremely difficult to damage or break. They give off an array of colors when hit by natural or artificial light sources.

Diamonds recieved top rating on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness. Because of their resistance to scuffs and scratches, they can be polished very finely and retain their shine throughout time which is why so many jewelers offer money back guarantee on them.

Diamonds are commonly used in wedding rings and engagement rings because they can resist the wear and tear of everyday use. The versatility is endless from rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and even watches; they truly capture their well deserved attention.

True diamonds are valuable to the consumer in its scarcity, not everyone can purchase a 100% pure diamond. Over the years there have been several copycat stones that have surfaced which imitate the dispersion of light and other similar properties of this marvelous mineral; however a true diamond has unique characteristics that cannot be duplicated.

This unique physical properties along with qualities that these precious stones possess are envied by imitators. True diamonds also possess an extremely high thermal conductivity. The majority of diamonds are useful as electrical insulators. Some diamonds are already being used in this field, and a few blue diamonds act as natural semiconductors.

Diamonds also possess an extremely high thermal conductivity. Most diamonds are useful as electrical insulators, though research and development is steadily researching their potential as semiconductors. Some diamonds are already being used in this field, and a few blue diamonds act as natural semiconductors.

These gorgeous stones are not only for women as we have all been led to believe in one way or another through ads or everyday conversation. Men and children occasionally share in the gorgeous bliss of owning a unique piece of these natural beauties.

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Cut

Diamond cut is not the shape (round, princess, or oval), but the symmetry and proportion of the diamond. The cut is what gives the diamond it’s brilliance. Brilliance is the light that is reflected back out of the diamond. A poor cut diamond is much less brilliant than an ideal cut diamond. Ideal, Premium, Very Good, Good, Fair, & Poor are the types of cuts.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the inclusions (internal flaws) and blemishes (surface flaws) of the diamond. Internal flaws are cracks, bubbles, and mineral deposits in the diamond. Surface flaws are chips, scratches, and pits. The GIA diamond grading scale is divided into six categories and eleven grades. The flawless category only includes LF grade. These are extremely rare and have no internal or external flaws. Internally Flawless category only includes the IF grade. IF grade diamonds are also very rare. They have no internal flaws but do have some minor surface flaws. Very Very Slightly Included category includes the VVS1 and VVS2 grades. VVS1 is a higher clarity than VVS2. The VVS category has minute inclusions that are difficult for a gemologist to detect under a 10X magnification. Very Slightly Included category includes two grades, VS1 and VS2. Again the VS1 is a higher clarity that the VS2. These diamonds have minute inclusions that can only be seen with some difficulty under 10x magnification. The Slightly Included category contains grades SI1 and SI2. This category includes diamonds with minute inclusions that are more easily detected under 10x magnification. The last category, Included, include grades I1, I2, and I3. I1 diamonds have flaws that can often be seen with the naked eye. I2 diamonds have inclusions that are easily seen, and I3 diamonds have large and very easily seen inclusions.

Color

The color of the diamond typically refers to the presence or absence of color in a white diamond. Colorless diamonds allow more light to shine through thus creating more sparkle. The GIA color grading scale begins with D (colorless, exceptional white) and ends with Z (light yellow, tinted color). The whiter the diamond the more valuable the diamond.

Carat

A carat is how much a diamond weighs, or basically the size of the diamond. A carat is equal to 200 milligrams. The greater the carat the bigger the diamond.

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What it would be like to walk in to a room, all eyes on you, with the man of your dreams at your side. But is it you they are looking at? Or perhaps that custom made diamond necklace sitting around your neck and collar bone as if it were a personal attachment?

When a woman wears diamonds, she already feels like a million bucks, when you add custom diamond jewelry that was designed just for her, with no other out there like it, this is a whole new realm of special. There is something very special about owning a piece of jewelry you know was made for you finger, wrist, ears or neck. No matter what it is. Then again, diamonds are a girls best friend after all.

When a lady goes in to the jewelry store to discuss her soon to be made custom diamond engagement ring, this is what she has dreamed of since her mom or dad first read her Cinderella. Today, she gets to play the leading role in her very own fairy tale. Any man whom knows the values of custom diamond jewelry gets the play her prince charming.

Custom diamond jewelry is almost an aphrodisiac in itself. Who needs chocolate? Those add calories, but the real added pounds that a woman can smile about are the ones that come cold and shiny. A diamonds weight is more then in the physical context.

Some would say that women whom enjoy diamonds, or gold, and even silver are nothing but gold diggers., This is simply untrue. There is more to diamonds then wealth and stature. It is a feelings of warmth and ones self successes. Perhaps its magical or perhaps its psychological, either way, custom diamond jewelry put the “H” In Happily Ever After.

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Synthetic diamonds are referred to as lab-created diamonds or manmade diamonds. One of the reasons why they are becoming more popular amongst people today is because recent lab technology has made synthetic diamonds appear real and exceptionally beautiful. Not only are they dazzling to the eye, but synthetic diamonds are a wonderful alternative to real diamonds because they are much lower in price. In fact, purchasing a well made synthetic diamond is almost impossible to distinguish between a real diamond.

Traditionally, people believed that if you bought a synthetic diamond, you couldn’t afford a real diamond. Yet with the public awareness of conflict diamonds, which fund the rebel troops of South African countries, many people are hesitant to purchase real diamonds despite their financial situation. Even with the Kimberly Process in place, which makes the selling of conflict diamonds illegal, many buyers find that they cannot be guaranteed that their diamond purchase is conflict-free since the origins are often unknown.

Even more encouraging is that many actresses including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow have been shown sporting around beautiful synthetic diamonds in order to raise awareness that they are a viable and safe alternative to purchasing real diamonds. Not only are you getting a beautiful piece of jewelry that is conflict-free, but many people are starting to see diamonds as being nothing more than a con to unsuspecting people.

For example, the prices of diamonds are controlled by diamond cartels and do not reflect the true value of the diamond itself. For this reason, people find themselves paying 40% more than what they should, primarily on such things as diamond engagement rings. In addition, studies show that one out of three diamonds in the United States has been altered in order to increase its value. This “value” however is only artificial to the eye and does not reflect the diamond’s true value.

There are many choices of synthetic diamonds on the market today, including cubic zirconia, moissanite and Russian diamonds. Keep in mind that while you can save thousands in purchasing a synthetic diamond, it will be nearly impossible for anyone to know.

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Not only are the diamonds authentic and/or certified, they are also guaranteed to be conflict-free. In fact, the only way these precious gems can enter the United States of America is if they are accompanied by a valid Kimberley Report Certificate. It is always good to be sure the certificate is legitimate; you can locate information easily by way of the Internet that will give you plenty of guidance in this particular matter.

There are well-trained and skilled individuals whose sole job is to travel the globe in search of these very diamonds. These diamond buyers use special equipment to analyze each rough gem in ways the naked and untrained eye could never begin to. The buyers’ job is to select what they deem to be the best of the bunch. Only such diamonds will make the cut. No pun intended there.

The next step is for the each of the rough diamonds to be polished. This crucial first step in the cutting and finishing process will allow any imperfections to surface. A simple, tiny flaw can decrease the overall value of a diamond.

At this point, the designer will mark the stone for cutting in a precise pattern. If the rough stone is large enough, it may be cut into several loose diamonds.

Now the diamond is turned over to the cutter who will use a specialized lens and fancy machinery to cut the diamond with great precision. The diamonds are then added to a bruting machine to round them off and to smooth the rough edges prior to their second cutting.

The second cutting process actually brings the diamond to life; beginning with the first eight facets on the diamond’s crown. This is referred to as “blocking”. From here the rest of the facets are added through a technique called “brillianteering”. Now the diamond is able to show its true radiance.

The final step in producing money back guarantee diamonds is for them to be evaluated and appraised by an independent laboratory that will create the certification to be passed on to the buyer.

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Conflict free diamonds are those that have been tracked to ensure that they have not come from conflict areas. They look no different than conflict diamonds and they cost no more than conflict diamonds, so how is one to ensure that they are buying a conflict free diamond?

First, look for diamonds that are from Canada. Most Canadian diamonds are tracked from the time they leave the mine to the time they are delivered to retail stores. They are mined using fair labor practices and according to environmental standards. As of recently, another country that provides diamond buyers with conflict free diamonds is Namibia. Some diamonds in Namibia have been mined, polished and cut in their own country and are environmentally friendly and practice fair labor laws.

In 2003, the Kimberly Process was introduced to help buyers know that the diamonds they are buying are conflict free. With these diamonds you should expect your diamond retailer to provide you with a written guarantee on your diamond purchase. This written form should indicate that the diamond you purchased has conflict free status.

The retailer should also adopt a code of conduct that prevents them from purchasing conflict diamonds. When walking into a retailer, there should be a store policy available for public view that guarantees that they do not buy or sell conflict diamonds. If you do not see this store policy, ask for it, as they may have a written form either online or on a printed document. If the retailer does not have this, beware as chances are, they are not a conflict free retailer.

Lastly, determine if your diamond has a serial number. Conflict free diamonds should have a serial number so that they can be easily tracked through the process of being mined, cut and polished, which should all take place in the same region. The serial number will indicate where the diamond has been and also ensure that the places where the diamond was mined, cut and polished adhere to labor law practices.

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Back in 1867, a 15 year-old boy named Stephanus Erasmus Jacobs found a small, white pebble on the ground in an area which is now known as South Africa. After playing with this small pebble for quite some time, the boy turned the pretty stone over to his neighbor, Schalk van Niekerk, who was known for collecting unique stones. The neighbor was unsure of what this stone was, so he turned it into a traveling peddler named John O‘Reilly. The peddler showed it to his friend, a magistrate named Lourenzo Boyes, who in turn saw that this mysterious pebble could etch glass. The stone was declared a diamond and was showcased at the World’s Fair.

Although there was some controversy surrounding the finding of this diamond, the story gained more validation when another large diamond was found in the same spot. It was then that South Africa became a central location for mining for diamonds. As diamonds grew in worth and value, mining became more dangerous and life threatening. There were many groups of people that were trying to gain control of the land and something that was supposed to grant the people of South Africa prosperity and wealth, instead brought bloodshed, mutilation and death.

During the 1930’s when the Great Depression hit, the market of diamonds was challenged. It was then that the slogan “A Diamond Is Forever” was created, which meant that in order to have true meaning, a diamond should be untouched by any other woman, thus preventing secondary markets. Out of this grew blood diamonds, which are diamonds that are mined and sold by terrorist groups and rebel armies. The money gained is to fund weapons to attack against the government. The countries where blood diamonds are found include Sierra Leone, Angola and The Congo.

Perhaps the worst of the bloodshed came in the 1990s when people were allowed to vote in order to cease the guerilla warfare that was taking place. To vote, people had to use their thumbprint and to avoid them from doing so, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) mutilated people’s hands and arms. In 2000, heads from these diamond states met with one another to stop the selling of blood diamonds. Through this, the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme was born, which makes selling these blood diamonds illegal.

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The reason why black diamonds absorb light is because they have a polycrystalline structure instead of a crystalline structure as white diamonds do. In a crystalline structured diamond, light comes in through the diamond and bounces back out, causing it to sparkle and shine. To help accentuate these features, diamonds are cut in various ways so that the light bounces around in the best way.

Black diamonds on the other hand, possess a polycrystalline structure which is similar to having a bunch of diamonds smashed together. For this reason, the diamonds are all at different angles which makes it hard to bounce light around to make them sparkle and dazzle. Instead, light just gets absorbed into the diamond, making it appear black or dark grey.

Perhaps one of the greatest attractions to black diamonds is not only their uniqueness in color and appearance, but also the fact that their exact origin is unknown. While there are many reasonable explanations of how black diamonds got into our Earth’s soil, some hypotheses involve the idea that black diamonds are actually from extraterrestrial origin because they contain both nitrogen and hydrogen, signs of extraterrestrial existence.

Another reason why black diamonds are so appealing to consumers is that they are real diamonds, yet possess a distinctive look and color. They do not sell nearly as well as white diamonds do, for noticeable differences of course, but this is not reflected in the price. Black diamonds are just as expensive as white diamonds are, even though the demand for them is not very high.

Many jewelry retailers have taken a recent interest in marketing black diamonds to the public, especially because there is an awareness of what black diamonds are. Some companies have adopted such campaigns as “Black is Back” in order to help market their black diamonds, which can be found in rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and more. What makes these pieces of jewelry exceptionally beautiful is that the black diamonds are accompanied by white diamonds, adding to both the look and value of the jewelry.

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