Jewelry Articles

If there’s anything that the Great Recession has taught us, it’s that we should take the time to choose our investments wisely. And as unstable world markets continue to fluctuate, one investment has proven itself to be dependable and extremely profitable: diamonds.

But if you think that you have to be a millionaire to invest in diamonds, then think again: there are high-quality and unique diamonds out there for any budget. And as the years pass on, your diamond will only become more valuable! However, if you want to ensure that your diamonds remain a lucrative long-term investment, follow these top tips to preserve the value of each beautiful diamond:

Go Beyond The Four Cs. You know that when it comes to buying perfect diamond rings on an individual basis, you’ll use the four Cs to measure its value: cut, color, clarity and carat. However, when shopping for diamonds as an investment, you’ll need to look beyond these four Cs and instead judge the diamond’s value by its potential for long-term growth. To do this, you’ll need to take the following four factors into consideration:

-Trendiness;
-Size;
-Marketplace;
-Wearability

The logic is this: the more trendy a diamond is, the less likely that it will grow in value over the decades – whereas more classic styles are timeless. However, one factor that can make up for trendiness is the diamond’s carat – after all, the more carats, the more your diamond will appreciate over time. Size and wearability are also important factors (bigger is better!), and the marketplace also affects the value of your diamond.

Don’t forget that the metal of the band will affect the value of your diamond jewelry. Choose precious metals like platinum and gold, which have retained a timeless value within the diamond jewelry marketplace. Speaking of which, let’s explore where you should buy your diamond jewelry investments.

Buy From The Manufacturer. Get more bang for your buck by purchasing your diamond jewelry directly from the manufacturer. It’s no secret that jewelry sellers can significantly inflate the price of diamond jewelry – and when you’re looking to purchase diamonds as investments, price inflation can often prevent your investment from making a profit. However, manufacturers have the ability to sell the same quality diamond at a lower price, and will often throw in free appraisal for your troubles.

Appraisal Is A Must. If you really want to see your diamond investment pay off, then ensure that you get certified diamond appraisal for both loose diamonds and diamond jewelry. No matter how large and impressive your diamond stone might be, a potential buyer won’t offer you the best price for your investment without evidence of an expert appraisal.

Before buying from a manufacturer, ask if they’ll throw in a free appraisal by a GIA gemologist, which is one of the most trusted appraisal experts in the world. This guarantees that the value of your precious diamond investment will be protected now and in the years to come!

Diamond jewelry is always at the top of the list for best gifts – and if you really want to impress that special someone, why not make a gift of your diamond investment? It’s a gift that truly shows you care, especially during this current economic climate.

And of course, don’t forget to take your diamond investment out for a spin on those special occasions. After all, diamonds are meant to show off your impeccable taste and status – so don’t let your diamond investment sit around gathering dust!

Buying a diamond engagement ring can be a scary business. After all, not only are you selecting a piece of jewelry that’s meant to symbolize your love for your sweetheart for the rest of your life (scared yet?), but a high-quality diamond engagement ring can be one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make.

In other words, buying a unique diamond engagement ring is something that you want to get right the very first time!

You may know what your sweetheart’s dream engagement ring looks like – but when it comes to purchasing it, how much should you really spend? Should you stick to the “two months’ salary” adage, or should you break this traditional rule and instead go with your gut?


Here’s the short answer: it’s a combination of both. While spending two months’ salary on a perfect diamond engagement ring works for some men, it might interest you to learn that the two months’ salary rule was first started by a De Beers advertising campaign during the 1920s. Therefore, two months’ salary won’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll get a high-quality diamond engagement ring – and there are plenty of engagement rings that are just as beautiful for half of the price.


The only “rule” that you should follow when purchasing a ring is the 4 Cs rule – cut, color, clarity and carat. These factors will have the biggest influence on how much the diamond engagement ring will be. So if your sweetheart dreams of a two-carat princess-cut ring, then you should expect to pay a few thousand dollars to procure her dream ring. If, for example, she wants a one-carat solitaire engagement ring, then you’ll be looking at a price range of $800 to $1,500, depending on the retailer. Shop around to find the best deals, and don’t be afraid to look online – these vendors often purchase their diamonds directly from the manufacturer at wholesale price, which significantly cuts down on the overall cost of the ring.

So when it comes to how much you should spend, what’s the final answer? Simple: tell you sweetheart your budget and take her ring shopping with you!

Let’s face it: if she’s got a dream ring in mind, then you’ll win brownie points by allowing her to pick out her own ring. It’s a win-win scenario – she gets to select her perfect diamond ring, and you can have some input as to your budgeting needs!

To add some romance to ring shopping, don’t reveal to her that you’re about to select an engagement ring until you’re at the shop or online. She’ll be so impressed by your spur-of-the-moment gesture – not to mention pleased that she can pick out her own ring – that you’re guaranteed to get a resounding yes!

Forget flowers. Forget breakfast in bed. 25karats knows what mothers, grandmothers and wives really want for Mother’s Day – a dazzling diamond pendant, earrings or a fashion diamond ring that will make her friends green with envy!

If you haven’t already started looking for the perfect gift for the special mother, grandmother or wife in your life, then don’t wait another minute – Mother’s Day is only a few weeks away (May 9th)! But if you think that a gift basket or a bouquet of flowers will fit the bill, why not make 2010 a year she’ll remember forever by giving her the gift of diamonds? After all, she deserves nothing less than the best gorgeous gifts that are sure to make her feel like a queen.

Diamond Pendants:
A gift of a sparkling diamond pendant will make that special woman in your life feel like a million bucks. 25karats.com has a large collection of timeless and unique diamond pendants that will always remind her of just how special she is to you. The exquisite collection comes in a wide range of designs, which will suit any mom’s taste to perfection. Browse the collection of heart shape, circle shape or key shape pendants; be sure not to miss out on the fancy diamond and fashion diamond pendants, perfect for the glamorous mother in your life!

Stud Earrings:
Does your mother, grandmother or wife love nothing more than showing off a pair of gorgeous sparkling earring studs to her friends and neighbors? Then why not give her a gift that will really make her smile on Mother’s Day with a pair of stud earrings! Each pair of stud earrings are designed for utter perfection, so you can be sure that she’ll always be in the spotlight. Diamond stud earrings are a surefire gift for any woman who loves sparkling jewelry – you just can’t go wrong!

Fashion Diamond Rings:
Are you searching to give your mother that incredible “wow factor” for Mother’s Day? Then check out the wide range of fashion diamond rings at 25karats.com, perfect for the woman who loves nothing more than to grace her fingers with perfect diamond jewelry. Elegant and timeless, these fashion diamond rings are modeled after the hottest trends in the jewelry world. When she wears her fashion diamond ring, you can be sure that your mother will be a trendsetter wherever she goes!

Mother’s Day might be just a few weeks away, but don’t worry – when you order your diamond gift from 25karats.com, you’ll receive your order within 5 to 7 business days. Additionally, free FedEx shipping means that you can track your purchase from the time you order it until it arrives on your doorstep. And if your mom isn’t absolutely thrilled by her gift, then simply exchange it for something she wants or return it within 30 days for a full refund – guaranteed.

Isn’t it time you showed that special woman in your life just how much she really means to you this Mother’s Day?

If you’re thinking of buying that perfect engagement ring for the sweetheart in your life, then look no further than diamond engagement rings. Long considered a classic standard for the engagement ring, diamonds are beautiful gemstones, symbolic of the undying bond between you and the love of your life.

However, if you don’t know diamond engagement rings from a baseball diamond, then you could use a few pointers from 25karats that will help you ensure that whatever diamond ring you purchase, it will be of the highest-quality and impeccable standards…

…just like that of your sweetheart!

Diamond Engagement Ring Cuts. Getting the perfect diamond engagement ring cut can make all of the difference to your future fiancée. Remember, this is the perfect engagement ring that she’s been dreaming about since she was a little girl – and you want to ensure that you get it right!

There are a multitude of cuts available to the ring shopper – however, they can all be broken down into three categories: the step cut, the brilliant cut and the mixed cut. The step cut has simplistic incisions made into the face of the diamond, which gives off the appearance of steps (hence the name). This kind of cut gives a romantic vintage look to the diamond, and is popular with stone-shape styles like the emerald, or rectangular, shape.

The brilliant cut creates a multitude of facets within the diamond, which maximizes the amount of light that the stone reflects; hence, this cut is immensely popular with those who love to optimize the sparkle in their gemstones. Common shapes within this category include the classic round, solitaire and oval diamond engagement rings.

Finally, the mixed cut combines the step and brilliant cuts to form a breathtaking and gorgeous diamond engagement ring. By combining these cuts, the mixed cut minimizes any flaws within the diamond while maximizing the brilliancy of the gemstone. The most common shapes for this cut include the ever-popular princess shape, trillium and heart-shaped diamond engagement rings.

The Four Cs. Besides the cut of the perfect engagement ring, you’ll need to consider the next three of the four Cs of your diamond: color, clarity and carat. Once you’ve chosen the cut, these other three factors determine the final price and quality of the potential diamond purchase. To further understand these factors, let’s break them down into their respective categories:

The color of the diamond can have a huge influence on the price of the engagement ring. Colorless diamonds (often known as “white” diamonds) are the most common – but hardly so in terms of quality! – and are usually graded on a D-E-F scale. The latter letters (i.e. G through Z) are also used to determine color, and imply that the diamond has yellowish tints. The more yellow the diamond, the less expensive it will be. Colored diamonds have their own grading system. Fluorescence can also affect color, as seemingly colorless diamonds can appear yellow under this type of light.

The carat of the diamond will probably be more familiar to you, as the higher the carat weight, the more expensive the diamond will be. Quite simply, the carat is the measure of mass for a diamond, and is often referred to by point value (with each point represented 200 milligrams). A diamond engagement ring’s total carat weight will be the sum of all of the same stones within the ring.

Finally, the clarity of the diamond ring is a measurement of how flawless and clear a diamond is. While most diamonds contain minor flaws, the more cracked and visible these flaws, the lower the quality (and the price) of the diamond. Clarity of a diamond can be improved with fracture filling treatments; however, look for a diamond that has a clarity rating between VS1 to IF, as any flaws within the diamond are not easily seen, even by an experienced grader.


Remember, you don’t have to be an experienced jeweler to determine these important diamond factors; insist on a diamond grade certificate from a reputable gemological lab (such as GIA or EGL), as all of the relevant diamond ratings will be shown on the certificate.


Diamond Engagement Ring Settings. The setting of the ring will play a big role in how much your sweetheart will love her unique engagement ring, as there are many different designs out there. We’ll explore some of the more popular settings:

The tension ring> setting has risen the ranks in popularity. The engagement ring band itself holds the diamond in place, instead of the more traditional prong setting. Despite the simplistic style, there’s an enormous about of work that goes into making a tension engagement ring, as the gemstone is held in through pressure alone.

In the cathedral setting, the sides of the ring band swoop up into a beautiful arch that demonstrates the beauty of the centerpiece diamond. Bezel settings are similar to cathedral settings, and can show off a smaller stone that might get overshadowed with other setting styles.

The solitaire setting engagement ring is a gorgeous and elegant design, as a centerpiece diamond is held into place by a prong setting. It’s perfect for the fiancée who has understatedly elegant tastes.

The pave setting is designed to show off the band itself, rather than a center stone like with other engagement ring styles. This gives off a smooth and luxurious appearance, as a multitude of smaller stones are used in this setting type.


There are many other setting styles out there – be sure to have a friend clue you in on which one your future fiancée has been dreaming about!

Bezel Set Diamond Engagement Ring

Metal Type. Again, your fiancée might have a keen idea of what she wants for her ring, so be sure that you’re prepped with the right information before getting that perfect diamond engagement ring!

Remember, you don’t want the metal of the band to upstate the diamond; rather, it should protect, highlight and supplement whichever diamond style and setting you use. Platinum and palladium represent the most popular kinds of metals, as these are strong yet gorgeous metals protect the diamond while highlighting its clarity and color. White-gold metal has a strong resemblance to platinum and is considerably cheaper, although it’s not as strong.

Finally, traditional yellow gold can be used with an engagement ring, although this gives the best results for colorless diamonds – yellow gold can highlight any yellow imperfections that a diamond might have.

Choosing an elegant, gorgeous and perfect engagement ring for the love of your life can be a thrilling and wonderful experience.

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Shopping for the perfect engagement ring or unique wedding band can be an enjoyable experience – however, if you want to ensure that you’re getting the best diamond ring possible for your efforts, then it’s important to educate yourself about what you need to look for in a diamond.

But you don’t need to become an expert jeweler to be able to distinguish between high-quality diamond rings that your loved one will swoon over – and a diamond that isn’t worth your time or hard-earned money. Luckily, a diamond certificate can provide you with every detail you need to know about your potential diamond purchase…

…and 25karats has everything you could ever want to know about diamond certificates!

If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, then a diamond certificate can help you correlate the price with that anniversary band or unique engagement ring. A diamond certificate – otherwise known as a diamond grading report – helps to determine the price and quality of your potential diamond purchase. As diamonds are priced by their measured quality grade, a certificate is proof of the diamond’s quality – and insurance against paying more for a diamond that delivers less!

The diamond certificate grades based on the four Cs of the diamond: cut, color, carat and clarity. However, a diamond certificate goes beyond measuring just the four Cs by measuring 13 other important factors, including proportions, depth percentage, finish and polish. Other factors measured include: advanced cut, advanced carat weight, measurements, table percentage, culet, symmetry, clarity grades, color grades and fluorescence. The factors – along with the basic four Cs – combine to provide a consumer with the most in-depth look at what constitutes a high-quality diamond.

Of course, the generator of the diamond certificate matters as well; in short, unless the report comes from a world-respected gemological laboratory, then the veracity of the diamond certificate will be called into question. When shopping for your diamond, be sure to insist on a diamond grading certificate from the following gemological laboratories: GIA (Gemological Institute of America), AGS Laboratories, or EGL (European Gemological Laboratory). These three labs carry a significant amount of weight in the world of gemstones; additionally, because these labs do not receive any cuts from sold diamonds or sell diamonds themselves, the diamond ratings are considered quite conservative. Therefore, you can be sure that a potential diamond inspected by one of these three labs will accurately reflect price and quality.

A diamond certificate ensures that your diamond will remain a protected and cherished purchase for its duration. Should you ever wish to sell your diamond, a certificate will make it easier to get the selling price that it’s worth, as many dealers will try to offer less without one. But above all, a diamond certificate can demonstrate to your loved one that you cared enough to ensure that the diamond is of a high-quality, unique and treasured standard – just like she is!