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WHAT ARE SYNTHETIC GEMSTONES?

2/12/2015

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Contrary to what many people may think, the word “synthetic” does not mean fake when it comes to gemstones. The term actually comes from the Greek word for “to put together.” People “build” or, more accurately, “grow” synthetic crystals. They do this by using chemicals that, given the proper environment, arrange themselves into crystals of essentially the same structure as crystals that grow without human intervention.

A synthetic/created gem is a man-made material with essentially the same chemical composition, crystal structure and optical and physical properties as the natural gem material.  

This makes synthetic/created gemstones a great option for those who want the look but at a fraction of the cost of real gemstones.

NZ Jewellers sell a range of created gemstone jewellery set in sterling silver.  The jewellery has been rhodium plated to give the look of white gold and to stop the silver from tarnishing.  Gorgeous jewellery, beautiful designs, stunning synthetic gemstones, all at excellent prices!
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Elizabeth Taylor Diamond

2/12/2015

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Elizabeth Taylor Diamond
The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond was originally known as the Krupp diamond, but the name was adjusted to reflect the status of one of the most iconic actors of the 20th century.

The Asscher cut diamond is a whopping 33.19 carats and is graded by GIA as D-color & VS1 in clarity.

The diamond was a surprise gift from Richard Burton to Elizabeth Taylor in 1968, and without a doubt became the most iconic piece of jewelry in her diamond collection.

The diamond is set in a platinum ring and accented by two tapered baguette-cut diamonds.  As a testament to her love for the diamond she wore the ring nearly every day.

Due to her obvious love for this diamond, after her death in March 2011 the ring became one of the most anticipated pieces to be auctioned at the 2011 Christie’s auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewelry.  

The diamond sold for an astonishing $8.8 million – far exceeding the $2.5-$3.5 million estimate.

However this diamond was not the biggest diamond Richard Burton gave to Elizabeth Taylor.  He also gifted her a pear shape diamond of an astonishing 69.42 carats.  The diamond known as the Taylor-Burton Diamond was the worlds first ever million dollar diamond and was worn by Elizabeth Taylor as a pendant.

Elizabeth Taylor divorced Richard Burton for the second time in 1976. In 1978 Elizabeth Taylor sold the Taylor-Burton diamond for five million dollars.  She then used all of the money to build a hospital in Botswana, proving she was not just one of the most beautiful women of our time but also a very thoughtful and generous one.
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Diamond fluorescence

2/12/2015

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Levels of Diamond Fluorescence
PictureNatural Diamond Fluorescence
 
Diamond Fluorescence is a naturally occurring phenomenon that enables a diamond to emit a soft glow, usually blue, when it is subjected to ultraviolet light. 

You may find that when you stand near a blue light or ultraviolet light you notice peoples teeth and white of their eyes become brighter or appear to glow. This is the same effect that UV light has on some diamonds. Fluorescence is what the visible light is called that the diamond emits when exposed to the UV rays.

On a GIA diamond grading report, fluorescence refers to the strength or intensity of the diamond’s reaction to the UV light. The GIA scale uses the following grades: None, Faint, Medium, Strong, Very Strong. 

The fluorescence grade will also include the color, e.g., “Medium Blue”. The most common color of fluorescence is blue, but other colors are possible depending on the trace elements within the diamond’s crystal structure.

Diamond fluorescence is actually quite common and occurs in bewteen 25 - 35% of all diamonds. Of the diamonds that exhibit fluorescence 95% emit a blue glow. 

Does Fluorescence matter?

The first and most important thing to remember is that fluorescence is almost always an invisible property of the diamond. In the vast majority of situations, fluorescence has no impact at all on the visual beauty of a diamond. 

Except for the grade noted on the diamond’s certificate, the typical diamond wearer will never see the fluorescence of their diamond in the course of a lifetime. This is true of diamonds with a grade of Faint or Medium fluorescence. In fact, diamonds in the near colorless and faint yellow ranges that exhibit some fluorescence will actually appear whiter than stones of equal color without fluorescence.

GIA studies show that for the overwhelming majority of diamonds, the strength of fluorescence has no widely noticeable effect on appearance. In the GIA Fluorescence Study, it was found that the average person could not make a distinction between a diamond with fluorescence and a diamond without.

In many instances, observers prefer the appearance of diamonds that have medium to strong fluorescence. In rare cases, some diamonds with extremely strong fluorescence may appear hazy or oily; fewer than 0.2% of the fluorescent diamonds submitted to GIA exhibit this effect.

Should I purchase a diamond with Fluorescence or not?

The preference to buy a diamond that exhibits fluorescence is a personal one, as a diamond’s appearance must be taken as a whole. Other factors can influence color appearance more strongly than fluorescence, such as how the diamond has been cut, whether the diamond is viewed in natural or artificial light, and even what you’re wearing on any given day.

Why do some jewellers recommend avoiding any type of fluorescence? Quite simply it is easier to tell a customer that fluorescence is bad and to avoid it than to actually educate themselves or their clients on the facts. The bottom line on fluorescence is that in the Faint and Medium Blue ranges, it is not a characteristic that should cause any concern to you as a buyer.

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A diamond with strong natural fluorescence and two with faint
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    Author

    NZ Jewellers is a family run business both a store location and on-line retail facilities.  Michelle and Jason Barnes are the directors of the company and have had many years experience with the design and manufacture of Jewellery.

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