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The Myth Magic and RealityThere are many colored gemstones which have fantastic myths surrounding them and some even supposedly possess magic and while are surrounded by tragic realities... But ... DIAMONDS occupy a unique position in the history of the world. Diamonds have been the object of man's dreams and aspirations for millennia. Diamonds have been a substance of the sages in the history of ancient India who called them "a fragment of eternity". Later DeBeers added the tagline "Diamonds Are Forever". No substance in the entire universe is harder nor possess the unique properties as that of diamonds. Schuck Jewelers would love to share the ... Myths, Magic and Reality of Diamonds. To learn about the current facts on the mining of diamonds, click on the following link, http://diamondfacts.org/index-2.html. Back to topThe Anatomy of a DiamondFor a detailed description and a diagram of the anatomy of a diamond, click on the following link,http://www.gia.edu/diamondcut/05_diamond_anatomy.html. Back to topThe Fifth "C" Is FirstWe believe the fifth "C" stands for CONFIDENCE in your jeweler. Schuck Jewelers have been selling diamonds on Bryan's square since 1916. Our family diamond selling practices are founded on the belief that success today - and in the future - is based on the recognition that we are in a business which demands the highest standards of trust, ethics and integrity. This diamond sales philosophy has given thousands of our customers the confidence to purchase a diamond of any size from our family. We understand diamonds and have cultivated worldwide sources for them. Naturally many of our diamonds come from African nations but today our sources are also Russia, Australia and even Canada. All of sources are partners in the United Nations Kimberley Process; this protocol assures our diamonds are sourced from non-conflict nations. Schuck Jewelers and especially Lauren L. Bechtol, a Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America, loves to educate their customers who are considering purchasing a diamond. Schuck Jewelers have always believed an informed customer can easily decide among a choice of presented diamonds. This is why a serious customer may spend over two hours at the diamond gem lab counter looking at diamonds. The presentation is informing and educational but we always make it fun. We demonstrate the differences between the quality parameters using the equipment in our gem lab which includes the areas first video microscope. Your satisfaction is important to us. We know you have discerning standards and we want to help you find exactly what you wish for. We are committed to serving you to your highest expectations. If we do not have in stock the correct diamond to meet you needs we will go into the world's markets and personally shop for you and bring it to Bryan. Back to topThe 4C's of Diamond Quality GradingCarat Weight - A full one Carat diamond is subdivided into smaller increments of weight called POINTS. There are 100 points in a full one Carat diamond. (A one Carat diamond weighs seven thousandths of an ounce or 1/5th of a gram). The fractions used sometimes to give the weight of a diamond actually gives you the range of the weight, for example, a 1/2 Carat will range from 45 points (listed as .45 carat) to 58 points (listed as .58 carat). The appearance of size between these two end examples will be substantial but both are legally 1/2 Carat. Following are acceptable international fractional weight limit zones for selling diamonds. However, dealers and stores will often modify these ranges when selling diamonds, especially with multiple diamonds in an item of jewelry.
To learn more about the Color Grade as well as the 4C's click on the following link http://www.jic.org/?page=diamonds. Back to topColor Grades - Most diamonds, although appearing colorless, actually have slight tones of yellow or brown. As these tones become more easily apparent, the rarity and value decrease. The industry uses a grading system developed by the Gemological Institute of America or GIA which measures the absence of color or the amount of yellow (or brown) using 23 letters of the alphabet, D through Z. Colorless diamonds range in the D E F series Intense yellow and intense brown diamonds are popular and the value increases for diamonds with such colors. Red diamonds followed by blue then green are the rarest colors of diamonds and can command prices in excess of one million dollars per carat for such rare diamonds. Along with the more affordable yellows and browns are the black and grey diamonds which are finding their way into top fashion designs in today's jewelry cases. To learn more about the Color Grade as well as the 4C's click on the following link http://www.jic.org/?page=diamonds. Back to top
Clarity Grades - Practically all diamonds contain naturally occurring internal characteristics called inclusions. The size, nature, location and amount of inclusions determine a diamond's clarity grade and affect its value. In addition to the internally inclusions, surface characteristics or surface blemishes will affect the clarity grade and its value as well, but usually not to the same negative affect, as some blemishes can be removed by re-polishing the diamond. Together the internal inclusions and external blemishes are called characteristics. The industry uses a grading system developed by the Gemological Institute of America or GIA which assigns a clarity grade as determined using magnification at 10X power. Following are the grades and an explanation for each term. Flawless diamonds show no blemishes or inclusions when examined by a qualified grader under 10X power magnification. The following do not disqualify a diamond from the flawless category: an extra facet on the pavilion which can not be seen face up; naturals totally confined to the girdle which neither thicken the girdle nor distort its outline; internally graining which is not reflective, white or colored and which does not significantly affect transparency. Internally Flawless graded diamonds can show no inclusions as defined above and only insignificant blemishes under 10X power magnification. VVS-1 and VVS-2 graded diamonds contain minute characteristics that are difficult to locate at 10x power magnification even for a qualified grader. In VVS-1, the characteristics are extremely difficult to see, visible usually only from the pavilion or small and shallow enough to be removed by minor re-polishing. In VVS-2 the characteristics are difficult to see. VS-1 and VS-2 graded diamonds contain minor characteristics ranging from difficult to see (VS-1) to somewhat easy to see (VS-2) for a trained grader under 10X power magnification. Small included crystals, small feathers or cleavages, and distinct clouds are typical. SI-1 and SI-2 graded diamonds contain noticeable characteristics which are easy to see (SI-1) to very easy to see (SI-2) under 10x magnification usually for anyone with the opportunity to view the diamond properly. In some SI qualified diamonds, characteristics may be visible to the unaided eye under careful examination. This property cannot affect the beauty and light performance of the diamond in the SI grade and should not be consistently considered as a miss-graded I-1 diamond in such examples. This example of the SI grade needs to be discussed carefully with a Graduate Gemologist who understands diamond grading and can answer your questions. SI-3 graded diamonds are used by some in the industry but GIA does not recognize such a grade. I-1 graded diamonds contain obvious characteristics which are easy to see for anyone with the opportunity to view the diamond properly. The beauty and light performance of the diamond is somewhat affected in this grade. I-2 graded diamonds contain very obvious characteristics which are very easy to see for anyone with the opportunity to view the diamond properly. The beauty and light performance of the diamond is affected in this grade. I-3 graded diamonds contain extremely obvious characteristics which are extremely easy to see for anyone with the opportunity to view the diamond properly. The beauty and light performance of the diamond is greatly affected in this grade. Diamonds below the grade I-3 are considered industrial grade. However, we see this quality often in many tennis bracelets and extremely promotional jewelry sold often in the big boxes, magazine ads, television shopping programs and naturally on the internet. To learn more about the Color Grade as well as the 4C's click on the following link, http://www.jic.org/?page=diamonds. Back to topCut Grades - Light entering a faceted diamond reflects from facet to facet and is meant to reflect back through the top of the diamond only. This reflection of light beams creates the brilliance, sparkle, fire and the beauty of the diamond. Sad but true, most of the diamonds seen in the marketplace are usually cut for weight retention and profit and not for the maximum potential beauty which only a diamond can possess. No other colorless or colored gemstone can have the beauty that a diamond possesses when playing with light. The Diamond's cut grade contributes approximately 50%
of the value or price you pay for the diamond! To learn more about cut grades, click on the following links, http://www.gia.edu/diamondcut/04_the_system.html and http://www.gia.edu/lab-reports-services/about-the-4cs/index.html. Back to topIdeal Cut Diamonds
To learn more about Ideal Cut diamonds, click on the following link, http://www.heartsandarrows.com/forgotten.htm. Back to topIdeal Cut Diamonds with the Hearts and Arrows Pattern
The ultimate symbol of love for several centuries has been the diamond. It is an incredible sculpture of the world's most valuable material. When the diamond cutter becomes an artesian he will create the Hearts and Arrows Ideal Cut Diamond. He then will produce the perfect combination of brilliance, scintillation and beauty. In fact, only approximately the top 1% of the world's diamonds are cut to this degree of workmanship. No ordinary diamond can match the fire it will light in a woman's heart. So give her the best! Schuck Jewelers specialize in the Ideal Cut graded diamonds and most of our Ideal Cut diamonds exhibit the Hearts and Arrows effect. To learn more about the Hearts and Arrows effect, click on the following link, http://www.heartsandarrows.com/default.htm. Back to topThe Video Tour - How to Choose a DiamondFor a tour of the GIA grading lab and how they grade for the 4C's, watch the 3 minute video at the following link, http://www.gia.edu/resources/flash/4cs/GIA.swf. Back to top |
