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Archive for the ‘Jewelry-Diamonds’ Category

When couples purchase wedding rings, they often have a number of priorities to focus on. Firstly, budget can be a big concern. After all, they are paying for a wedding and these nuptial celebrations can be costly. By the time they have arranged a venue, accommodation, entertainment, food, photographs, transport, clothing, decorations and so on, they might not have a huge amount of cash left over. Also, there is that all-important honeymoon to book.

Meanwhile, the look of the objects is also vital. They will be wearing the objects for the rest of the married lives together and so it is important that they like the designs.

However, there is a third factor that should be taken into account and that is how well the rings match the diamond engagement rings that are already being worn. Consumers ought to bear in mind the fact that the items will be placed next to each other on the hand, meaning it is important they do not clash, but rather complement one another.

Thankfully, it is easier now than ever before to achieve this. For example, Marlows Certified Diamonds offers a range of such items and can help ensure perfect harmony between engagement and wedding bands.

As long as people bear such issues in mind, they should succeed in getting products they are more than happy with.

And, thanks to the choice available, they will not have to break their wedding budget in order to get the items, which may well be a relief.

Ways to tell if your diamond is real or fake.

1) Never look at a loose diamond on a white jewelers’tray. Always look at it on a piece of newspaper or printed material. If the diamond is real, you won’t be able to read the newsprint through the facets; if the diamond is fake, it’s just like looking through, well, glass.

2) One of the best test is thermal conductivity. Diamonds are extremely good conductors of heat and most jewelers have a small instrument that can measure this. No other material will match a diamond in this test.

3) The fog test. This test I like a lot. Put the rock in front of your mouth and fog it like you would try to fog a mirror. If it stays fogged for two to four seconds, it’s a fake. A real diamond disperses the heat instantaneously so by the time you look at it, it has already cleared up. (Sometimes oil and dirt on  the stone can effect its reliability and the test is not accurate at all on doublets where the top of the stone is diamond and the bottom is cubic zirconia epoxied together.)

4) Under the loop test. If you own some sort of magnifying lens, there are some things you can look for on the stone that might give away its identity:

A. Look at the rock from the top and see how well the facets (cuts on top of the diamond) are joined. They should be sharp not rolled.

B. Look at the girdle and see if it is faceted or frosty (a clear sign it’s a diamond) or waxy and slick (an indication it’s a fake).

C. While you’re looking at your stone under magnification, look into your stone to see if you detect any flaws (carbon, pinpoints, small cracks). These are typically clear indications it’s the real thing since it’s very hard to put inclusions in a fake.

D. After examining the stone, focus in on the stamps inside the setting. A stamp of “10K, 14K, 18K, 585, 750, 900, 950, PT, Plat” indicates the setting is real gold or platinum which gives a better chance that the stone in it is real as well. While you’are looking at the interior of the ring, also look for any “C.Z.” stamps that would indicate the center stone is not a diamond.

Diamonds have long been held up as the highest form of stone or metal- just look at the language we use to describe the things around us. In Britain the 25th wedding anniversary is traditionally called the silver anniversary. The gold anniversary is the 50th, but to make it to the diamond anniversary you must have been married at least 60 years- no small feat for anyone! A gold credit card is always a premium edition that comes with all kinds of privileges but our instincts say that the real prestige comes with the diamond card.

Most diamonds, however, don’t make it into wedding and engagement rings, or even into less significant pieces of fine jewellery. These stones aren’t just beautiful. They also have important uses in modern industry. The unrivalled hardness of a diamond makes it indispensable for a number of purposes. Only the highest quality of stone is used in jewellery.

There is a great deal of variation within those stones considered appropriate for wedding rings too, naturally. There is a world of difference between the premium stones that will form the centrepieces of luxury white gold engagement rings and the smaller chips that surround them. The size (carat), clarity, and colour of a stone all contribute to a stone’s overall quality and so do the geometry and workmanship of the cut.

At JE Marlow we specialise in fine diamond rings although there is also an impressive array of loose stones and other jewellery of truly excellent quality available in store and online. We maintain high standards in gems and in gold, even at the more budget-conscious end of the spectrum. The finest of our pieces are of outstanding international quality, and there are many suitable for purchase as investments as well as gifts to celebrate engagements, anniversaries, and the most important milestones of life.