Kathryn Luttrell

A 2 Carat Diamond Ring – Can You Really Buy One For Under $4000?

May 2nd, 2010 by codobles

It may be possible to find a 2 carat diamond solitaire ring for under $4000, but not probable. At the moment there is a shortage of larger diamonds, and anything 1 carat and above commands a premium price. The lowest price currently available for a 2 carat diamond ring is about $8500 at a retail jewelry store.

If you have ever seen a 2 carat diamond on the hand of a woman, then you know why it is called a “statement diamond“. The size is extraordinary and when it refracts flashes of fire and white light it will turn heads among a crowd of people. A 2 carat diamond makes a statement of luxury about the woman who wears it. It also makes people wonder about the wealth and status of the man who acquired it for her.

Are there any legitimate great deals on 2 carat diamond rings?

Sometimes a diamond dealer who needs the cash will liquidate a parcel of diamonds at or below his cost. However if you find a cheap 2 carat diamond, you would be wise to do some thorough investigating before you buy it. For example, we know of one source on the internet who has a supply of about 20 rings that are 2.5 carat diamonds selling for $3575.

Here are the important questions that you should ask before buying a diamond ring of this size and price:

1. Is it a real, natural diamond?

Fortunately, the 2.5 carat diamond ring mentioned above is shown in a photo that is about 10x magnification. You can gain a lot of information just by looking at the magnified photo of this 2.5 carat diamond. The diamond is full of white dots that are natural crystal inclusions, which you will not find in a C-Z or any other type of fake diamond. At this magnification you would also be able to see evidence of diamond enhancement techniques: an obvious white line in the stone if it was laser-drilled, or odd-colored refractions if it was fracture filled. If a diamond of this size and price looked flawless in the photograph it would be cause for suspicion.

2. Has the diamond been certified by a recognized independent Gem Laboratory?

When you buy any diamond of 1 carat or larger, it should be accompanied with a certificate from a recognized independent Gem Lab. Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the the American Gem Society (AGS) will certify loose diamonds only, and they are very reliable labs. Other commonly recognized independent labs are International Gemological Institute (IGI), Independent Gemological Laboratories (IGL), and European Gemological Laboratory (EGL-USA). These labs will certify finished jewelry items such as diamond rings, and they list a retail replacement value for insurance purposes.

3. What is the Clarity grade of this diamond?

Using our illustration of the 2.5 carat diamond for $3575, you can see in the photo and on the certificate that the Clarity grade is I2-I3 (very low), so the great price makes sense. If it was listed as a VS Clarity diamond, the price would simply be too good to be true. The wholesale cost on a 2 carat VS Clarity diamond would be about $12,000.

The I2-I3 Clarity grade can be an acceptable trade-off for someone who wants to buy the largest diamond at the lowest cost. The trick is to find an I2-I3 Clarity diamond with the most “forgiving” type of flaws. Small white crystals and needles are the type of flaw that detract least from the beauty and brilliance of a low Clarity grade diamond. Black crystals and large dense cloudy areas are the type of flaws that make an I2-I3 Clarity diamond look very dull and ugly.

4. What is the Color grade of this diamond?

The GIA Color rating scale grades diamonds in descending order with the letters D through W. The difference between Color grades near the top of the GIA rating scale are very subtle. When a diamond is mounted in a ring and worn in typical lighting conditions, it is difficult for even an expert to tell the difference between an F (Colorless) and an H (Near-Colorless) grade. A J Color diamond will show a faint yellow cast, and any grade K or below will have an obvious yellow-grey appearance.

5. Can I return this ring if I don’t like it?

Wether you are buying at a retail store or on the internet, read the fine print. Make absolutely certain that you can return the ring for a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days. If you are bargain-hunting for a 2-carat diamond ring, make sure it carries a “no questions asked” refund policy. This means that you don’t have to prove the ring is defected and that you can get a full refund simply if you decide you don’t like the diamond. Then you should take the opportunity to live with your diamond ring for a few weeks. See what your diamond looks like in daylight and room light conditions, what your friends think, and even have an independent appraisal made of your diamond. If you decide you don’t like it, simply return it and get your money back.

View a 10x magnified photo of the 2.5 Carat Diamond Ring. View a page where you can buy a 2 Carat Diamond Ring for under $4000.

About the Author:
Lauren Stomel is an expert in the field of gemstones and diamonds and publisher of several award-winning diamond jewelry websites.

Tags: 4000, Diamond, Really
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HPHT Diamonds

April 30th, 2010 by codobles

History of HPHT

The history of HPHT treatments dates back to 1955, when the General Electric Company first discovered the process for creating diamonds in the laboratory. This led to the creation of HPHT process, whereby GE first created a press where the required pressure and temperature could be maintained for the process. One thing led to another and HPHT treatment evolved through various presses like the tetrahedral, BARS and finally the cubic press. What began as an experiment for diamond color modification in synthetic diamonds has today evolved into usage for natural diamonds also.

Usage of HPHT Diamond Enhancements HPHT treatments basically serve two purposes

Creation of synthetic diamonds
Color modification in natural diamonds

Creating synthetic diamonds: To obtain synthetic diamonds, carbon is put inside a grapite capsule. A seed is then inserted into this capsule and a catalyst is added. The diamond grows on the seed while the catalyst enables the crystallization to take place.

Color modification: Different type of diamonds react differently when exposed to HPHT treatments and a range of colors are obtained. For example, diamonds containing aggragated nitrogen, when exposed to HPHT can cause it to become single substitution nitrogen. In such cases, diamonds having green, orange and yellow hues can be created. In diamonds where nitrogen is negligible, the process is often used to produce colorless diamonds. Thus brownish diamonds when HPHT processed can obtain a colorless hue. A light pink color may also be obtained in some cases. In case of diamonds with negligible nitrogen and presence of boron, HPHT can alter the color. Thus brownish diamonds will lose the brown tone and boron will make the stone bluish in color.

Popular presses used for treatment

Belt presses: This was the initial form of press used for treatment. Here pressure is created by the usage of two high strength pistons that provide equal pressure in opposing directions on a sample. A series of rings surround the sample in order to contain the pressure.

Torid press: In this method, the two pistons apply pressure in a single vertical direction.

Cubic press: This uses many pistons that provide pressure from different directions. It is also known as a tetrahedral press.

Procedure of HPHT

If a customer intends to give diamonds for this treatment, the following procedure is used,

The stone is first inspected by diamond experts for cracks, fractures etc. Stones are also subject to chemical analysis using scientific equipment. Once it is confirmed that the treatment can be undertaken, the same is informed to the customer.
Depending upon the properties of the stone, the color that may be obtained after treatment is deciphered and the customer is informed about the same.
Pressure of over 1,000,000psi is applied by placing the stone in an internal pressure medium that distributes the pressure on the entire diamond equally.
The internal pressure medium is placed into a heat generating sleeve where temperatures start at 1800 degrees centigrade.

Pricing of treatments: Cost for these treatments varies with the size of the diamond. Also the total number of stones given and additional services like repolishing are charged extra. While these treatments are expensive,

Organizations and HPHT

Because HPHT is controversial, different bodies follow different guidelines for HPHT. As per the Federal Trade commission, HPHT treated diamonds must be disclosed to the user. General Electric follows this norm and all diamonds that are HPHT treated are laser inscribed with the terms ‘HPHT PROCESSED’, IRRADIATED. If GIA notes diamonds to be HPHT treated, it also specifies them as ‘HPHT ANNEALED’ or ‘Artificially Irradiated’. Such details are displayed prominently on the grading report under ‘origin’ in the ‘color’ section of the report.

Pros and cons

The HPHT treatment of diamonds is a controversial issue because it has both advantages and disadvantages. These are further discussed as under.

Advantages

The treatment is permanent and diamonds are stable in the normal conditions of wear and care.
It can dramatically alter the color of brownish diamonds to make it more appealing. Light brown color diamonds can be rendered almost colorless using this process.

Disadvantages

The process causes surface graphitization and the diamond needs to be polished to remove it.
It is difficult to differentiate between regular natural diamonds and HPHT treated diamonds.
It can cause marginal weight loss in a diamond.
It can reduce the clarity of the stone.

Disclosure

As HPHT has become more commercially available, today there are various methods available to detect if your stone has been HPHT processed or not. At the basic level diamonds over 0.5 carat can only be HPHT treated. A trained gemologist may use equipment like the SSEF spotter and crossed polarization filter to detect the same. DiamondSure is also used to separate cape diamonds from the rest. At the next level FTIR and UVVIS spectroscopes are used and synthetic and PT treated diamonds can easily be identified ere. Besides this, renowned laboratories have many other proprietary procedures that they use to identify such diamonds.

With all sophisticated equipment it continues to be difficult to detect HPHT processed diamonds at many instances. It is thus important that you purchase diamonds from a trusted vendor online or offline. Diamonds accompanied with a certificate from a reputed laboratory like GIA also ensure that diamonds are completely natural. You could also choose signature or top of the line branded diamonds to protect yourself. Finally, if you cannot afford GIA stones, make sure to opt for a diamond that is accompanied by a certificate from a renowned laboratory.

Visit Gemisimo.com for diamonds at low prices where you are able to choose from over 400,000 loose gemstones from all the major online diamond vendors. You can also read more about the Diamond Enhancements in our information center and learn about the diamond industry.

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Man-Made Diamonds; A Buyer’s Guide

April 28th, 2010 by codobles

It seems nearly impossible to watch TV or open a newspaper without seeing something about man-made diamonds. For hundreds of years science has tried to create a perfect synthetic diamond. Finally, 21st-century technology has made that prospect a reality.

There are many reasons to purchase synthetic diamonds instead of the mined variety. The prices charged for mined diamonds are, in the very best verbiage, an illusion. To put it more bluntly, Cecil Adams, in his award-winning newspaper column “The Straight Dope” says: “Diamonds are a con, pure and simple.” Diamond prices are largely controlled by the DeBeers diamond cartel, and they are not a fair reflection of diamond scarcity. Additionally, studies show that one out of three diamonds sold in the US today has been altered to artificially increase its value. Further studies have shown that on average a couple pays 40% too much for their diamond engagement ring.

Beyond deceptive pricing, there are the issues of “blood diamonds”, forced child labor, and a myriad of other disturbing diamond facts.

Recently, socially conscious celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Minnie Driver, and Angelina Jolie have made a vocal issue of wearing only synthetic diamonds to the many gala events they attend.

Good synthetic diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from the mined variety, but without the baggage, and additionally, they cost thousands of dollars less. But, which synthetic diamond is the best choice?

There are many types of man-made or synthetic diamonds available. The choices are numerous, but unbiased information is scarce. Here is an overview and comparison of the synthetic diamonds currently unavailable on the market:

Cubic Zirconia

The grandfather of simulated diamonds, Zircons are available widely. In their best examples, CZ’s are actually a fairly decent diamond replica. Unfortunately, the commodity-like availability and vast differences in quality have made the stone synonymous with low-cost fashion jewelry. Perhaps a good choice for cheap bling, but not for fine jewelry. Many sources are available, a decent one is: http://www.czfantasy.com

Russian Diamonds

Including Russian Brilliants, Russian Stars and others, they are in fact nothing but high quality cubic zirconias. This is not mentioned prominently on their web sites and they will only cop to it when pressed, but that is the fact. Russian diamond simulates are priced around $280 per carat.

Russian Diamonds are a fine jewelry selection and are usually mounted in quality precious metal settings.

Russian Brilliants are one of the best and oldest sellers of “Russian Diamonds” available at: http://www.russianbrilliants.net

Moissanite

Moissanite is a lab-created mineral that is a very good diamond simulant. Moissanite has been on the market as a fine jewelry choice since the early 90s and has picked up quite a few fans. Moissanite is a hard mineral that, like diamond, will cut glass. There are a couple of minor downsides to moissanite however. First, it is quite expensive, (though still cheap compared to diamonds) usually priced about $500 per carat for good samples.

Secondly, moissanite does not have the same optical qualities as diamond and there are several indicators that make them easy to spot with the naked eye for an experienced practitioner. It is difficult to produce a pure white moissanite and they often appear slightly green when viewed in natural light. Also, moissanite has significantly higher radiance and brilliance factors then natural diamond, causing them to appear “too sparkly” to some. Overall though, moissanite is a beautiful synthetic diamond choice.

“Moissanite From the Sky” at http://www.fromthesky.com is a good source of fine moissanite jewelry.

Diamond Nexus

Diamond Nexus gemstones are the result of a fairly new scientific advancement in processing technique, and have only recently been available in the United States.

Diamond Nexus gemstones are excellent diamond simulants and come very close to matching the properties of mined diamonds at many different comparison points. They cut glass, being virtually identical to diamond on the Mohs (hardness) scale. They refract perfect “hearts and arrows” and have radiance and brilliance readings extremely close to flawless diamond.

Best of all, they are currently introductory priced for the U.S. market, and are a steal at $79 per caret. Diamond Nexus gemstones are only available in precious metal, solid-gold settings.

Diamond Nexus is only available from Diamond Nexus Labs at: http://www.DiamondNexusLabs.com

White Sapphire

Sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral on the Mohs scale, surpassed only by diamond. They are, unlike the others in this review, a natural stone. Their radiance and brilliance are not up to the standards of diamond however. Nevertheless, quality white sapphires priced at around $220 per carat are a good diamond alternative.

A quality source is: http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com

Gemisis Cultured Diamond

Gemisis diamonds are beautiful and almost perfect diamond replicas. Unfortunately, they are not available in a clear, white color, so they are not a good choice for traditional diamond settings. However, if a yellow, orange or pink diamond is what you crave, Gemisis offers stunning choices in beautiful precious metal, fine-jewelry settings.

Gemisis Cultured Diamonds are only available at: http://www.gemisis.com

Recap:

Synthetic diamonds offer many advantages over the mined variety. You can buy with confidence, knowing that you are getting exactly what you paid for, and have not been the victim of diamond pricing chicanery. If you are concerned with the world around you, you can have a clear conscience, knowing that your money has not contributed to the support of an unethical and abusive industry.

However, there are many choices of synthetic diamonds, with varying degrees of quality. Take a little time to review the seller’s information to get a clear idea of what the science is behind the gemstones you are buying.

For my money, I believe the best choices are quality Moissanite stones or the new diamond simulant gemstones available from Diamond Nexus Labs.

Gary La Court is a technical consultant, an expert in refractive dynamics and a frequent author. He has recently done research for several synthetic diamond manufacturers including http://www.DiamondNexusLabs.com

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Tags: Buyers, Diamonds, ManMade
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