Jeweler, Author, and founder of Why Mom Deserves a Diamond contest.
Question What is Cut? Answer Of all the characteristics of diamond grading, cut is the most fascinating. Clarity and color are innate attributes of diamonds, given to them by the forces of nature. Cut, on the other hand, is the work and science of man. It is the expert proportioning of rough diamonds that brings… Continue reading What is Cut?
Question What is Clarity? Answer Clarity refers to a diamond’s imperfections, or "inclusions." Although many diamonds have crystals or feathers that may be viewed with the unaided eyes, very rare and expensive diamonds have few or no flaws. A diamond in which no flaws can be seen by an expert at 10X magnification is said… Continue reading What is Clarity?
Question What is fluorescence? Is it good or bad Answer Some diamonds fluoresce, which mean they emit light when exposed to long-wave ultraviolet light. Diamonds with strong fluorescence, called "overblues," can sometimes have a hazy appearance that makes them appear cloudy in light with strong ultraviolet content. On the other hand, strongly fluorescent diamonds with… Continue reading What is fluorescence? Is it good or bad?
Question What is so special about a diamond? Answer A diamond is born from the earth after a million years of incredible heat and pressure. It is made of a single component-carbon. This component is similar to the graphite in your pencil. The only difference is that the carbon in a diamond has become crystallized,… Continue reading What is so special about a diamond?
Question Why is platinum more expensive than white gold? Answer The world price of platinum has generally always been more than the price of gold. Platinum and gold also have two very different properties that affect pricing. In the case of two visually identical rings-- one made of white gold and one made of platinum--… Continue reading Why is platinum more expensive than white gold?
This was taken in one of our last photo shoots. Thanks to our resident photographer, we were able to add our brand color to the picture. We call it purpleizing! Same picture, two different looks! Weekly Photo Challenge: http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/one-shot-two-ways/
Question How can I prevent my gold ring from scratching? Answer Gold is one of the most beautiful and lustrous metals, however, it is also malleable, which means it is pliable and can be scratched. The wonderful thing is that gold can always be polished! You may clean your ring as often as you desire with… Continue reading How can I prevent my gold ring from scratching?
Question Can a diamond become broken or chipped? Answer Yes. A diamond is the hardest natural substance in the universe. This means there is nothing that can scratch it. Chipping or breaking, on the other hand, is measured by a gemstone’s toughness. Although a diamond is very tough, it is more likely to chip or break from a… Continue reading Can a diamond become broken or chipped?
Question How often should I inspect my jewelry? Answer It is a good idea to have your diamonds inspected at least twice a year to make sure no prongs have been bent or loosened. Although it is durable, even 14K gold jewelry will have a tendency to wear or become thinner over the years. If… Continue reading How often should I inspect my jewelry?
Question Why does my ring snag on everything? Is there anything I can do to fix it? Answer If you wear your jewelry often, you probably strike it daily against hard objects. This gradually causes wear and tear, and bends and sharpens the prongs. The ring will eventually snag your clothes, catch on nylons, and even… Continue reading Why does my ring snag on everything? Is there anything I can do to fix it?
Question I've heard that I can use bleach to clean my ring. Is that true? Answer No! Do not use bleach to clean your ring! Bleach won't hurt the diamond, but it could cause discoloration of your gold jewelry-- or even create pits. If you're looking for more advice on jewelry cleaning, you can find… Continue reading I’ve heard that I can use bleach to clean my ring. Is that true?
The Why Mom Deserves a Diamond® contest began to grow rapidly over the years. As essays began to tower to the ceiling of Gallery of Diamonds jewelers, a franchise and technological change was brewing. We hired software experts who worked at companies such as Adobe, Yahoo, Google, Apple, NASA, and 20th Century Fox. We conducted… Continue reading Legendary Contest Becomes Franchise
Trust is earned. Trust takes time. Time cannot be rushed. I believe a history of returning happy customers who say they refer their friends is a great indication that you have earned trust. Most people are not diamond experts. In fact, many jewelry customers have never had the opportunity to enjoy the mysteries of a… Continue reading How do I find a jeweler I trust?
How many ways can you tell your mother you love her? So far, the answer is at least hundreds of thousands. That is how many Why Mom Deserves a Diamond essays have been submitted to Gallery of Diamonds jewelers in Newport Beach since 1993. Here is a photo I found from the Year 2000 contest.… Continue reading Let Me Count the Ways
In life, as in art, the beautiful moves in curves. - Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/weekly-photo-challenge-curves/