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Welcome to: DIAMONDS NEWSLETTER Issue: 2001-05
The diamond, gems and fine jewelry information resource for clients and friends of Diamond Source of Virginia, Inc. http://www.DSOURCEVA.com (unsubscribe instructions at bottom of this newsletter) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you know of someone who will be getting engaged or celebrating a special event such as an anniversary, birthday, or baby's birth forward this newsletter to them so they will know where to save money on a diamond or fine jewelry! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THIS ISSUE'S TOPICS Emerald: May Birthstone Famous Diamonds Sea Diamonds Looking For Something Really Special SI2 Clarity Insurance Questions Four C's Bow Tie Price Calculator Diamond and Jewelry Books Internet Marketing ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EMERALD: MAY BIRTHSTONE ============================== Emerald is a green variety of the mineral beryl. One of the rarest members of the beryl family-only the red variety (sometimes called "red emerald") is rarer-it is one of the most highly prized of all the gems. Aside from being the birthstone for May, it was historically believed to bestow on its wearer faithfulness and unchanging love, and was thought to enable the wearer to forecast events. The highest-quality emerald has the color of fresh young green grass-an almost pure spectral green, possibly with a very faint tint of blue, as in the finest emerald from Columbia, which is considered by connoisseurs to be the world's finest. Other sources include Brazil, Zambia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and India. Flawless emeralds are rare, so their "flaws" have come to serve almost as "fingerprints," while flawless emeralds are immediately suspect. Although a hard stone, emerald will chip easily since it tends to be somewhat brittle, so special care should be given in wearing and handling. Techniques to enhance color and reduce the visibility of flaws are also frequently used. A common practice is to fill surface-reaching cracks with oil (sometimes tinted green), a practice that goes back to early Greek times. Today's emeralds are oiled using a vacuum/heat technology. This is a widely accepted trade practice, since it is actually good for the stone in light of its fragile nature. Oiling hides some of the whitish flaws, which are actually cracks, filling the cracks so they become less visible. The oil becomes an integral part of the emerald unless it is subjected to some type of degreasing procedure. The development and use of the ultrasonic cleaner has brought to light the extensive- ness of this practice. Never clean emeralds in an ultrasonic cleaner. While oiling is considered an acceptable practice, be sure the price reflects the actual quality of the stone. If necessary, most emeralds can be "re-oiled." FAMOUS DIAMONDS ========================= Name: Uncle Sam Weight: 40.23 carats (rough) and 12.42 carats (cut) Color: M (very light brown) Clarity:VVS1 Shape: Emerald Cut The Uncle Sam diamond, which was discovered in the "Crater of diamonds" in Arkansas in 1924, is the largest yet found in the United States. Peiken Jewelers of New York City, owned the Uncle Sam for many years. For a while, it was on loan to the American Museum of Natural History. In 1971, Sidney de Young, a dealer from Boston, bought the diamond and then sold it to an unnamed collector. SEA DIAMONDS =========================================== An enterprising Texan called Sammy Collins drew worldwide attention in 1962 when he announced that he'd recovered 50,000 carats of diamonds worth $1.5 million from the seabed off the treacherous Diamond Coast of South West Africa. Collins figured that since diamonds had been found in abundant amounts along the coast, most likely carried there by the Vaal and Orange rivers from some far inland deposit, they also ought to be found under the ocean. Over a period of three years, Collins used the equivalent of huge vacuum sweepers to suck some 400,000 carats of diamonds from the seabed. His adventures set off a mini-rush by others to try this new type of exploration but terrible working conditions and uncertain diamond deposits sent most into early obscurity. Today, with improved technology, De Beers and others are once again probing the waters of the South Atlantic, bringing closer the prospect of viable undersea diamond recovery. LOOKING FOR SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL? ============================================ We will be attending the annual JCK Jewelry Show in Las Vegas the first week of June. This is your opportunity to get access to wonderful designer jewelry at a fraction of regular retail prices. With almost 3,000 booths of diamonds and jewelry from all over the world, this trade show brings the most beautiful jewelry in the world to one place. If you have special piece of jewelry you've always wanted but didn't think you could afford, give us a call so we can find it for you. The same goes for color gem stones since we can hand pick from the most beautiful colored stones in the world for your special ring, pendant or bracelet. While the Diamond Source of Virginia does not have an inventory of diamonds or jewelry, we have accounts with the leading wholesalers and designers across the country and can special order your custom jewelry or pick it out in person at this show. We go with our shopping list for our customers and return with the best of the best. If you have a special request, please give Anne a call at 888-477-8385 and tell us what you want. SI2 CLARITY ========================= While we recommend at least SI1 clarity for most diamonds to ensure they are "eye clean," many consumers think that SI2 means nothing visible with the naked eye. The following comments define the official GIA position: "SI stones contain noticeable inclusions which are easy (SI1) or very easy (SI2) for a trained grader to see under 10X. Typical inclusions are included crystals, clouds, and feathers, normally centrally located and noticed immediately. A stone with an eye visible inclusion can still be graded SI. You must consider the size, nature, position, number, and color or relief of the inclusion. The size and shape of the stone are important too. Characteristics in the SI1 grade usually are not visible to the unaided eye face-up. Characteristics in some SI2 stones can be seen with the unaided eye." We find that over half of the SI2 stones have visible inclusions to the naked eye. Note the above comments say "visible to the unaided eye face-up." With most shapes of diamonds, inclusions are often easily visible from the side where there are few, if any, facets to hide them. We just sent a VS1 clarity princess back to the wholesaler because the inclusion, while not visible face-up, was easily visible with the naked eye from the side. You can imagine what the SI2 diamonds look like from the side if they are visible face-up. If the mounting hides the side of the diamond, these side visible inclusions are not a problem. But most mountings show off the side of a diamond and make them easy to see. INSURANCE QUESTIONS ============================== Most people do not realize that insurers differ widely in what they offer regarding coverage and reimbursement or replacement. Many insurance companies will not reimburse the "full value" provided in the policy but, rather, exercise a "replacement" option--and will offer a sum in cash less than the amount for which the jewelry is insured, or offer to replace it for you. Therefore it is important to ask some very specific questions to determine the precise coverage offered. We recommend asking the insurer at least the following: 1) How do you satisfy claims? Do you reimburse the insured amount in cash? If not, how is the amount of the cash settlement determined? Or do you replace the jewelry? 2) What involvements do I have in the replacement of an item? What assurance do I have that the replacement will be of comparable quality and value? 3) What is your coverage on articles that cannot be replaced? 4) Exactly what risks does my policy cover--all risks? Mysterious disappearance? Am I covered in all geographic areas? At all times? 5) Are their any exemptions or exclusions? What if the loss involves negligence? What happens if the diamond falls out? 6) What are the deductibles, if any? 7) What documentation do you expect me to provide? Every week we hear yet another story of a customer who paid insurance premiums for years and were shocked to discover how little protection they really had when they did have a claim. Check the small print before you need it. FOUR C'S =========================== Diamond quality and value are determined by four factors. These factors are called the "Four C's." If we were to rank them based on their importance in determining the value of a diamond, we would list them as follows: 1) Color 2) Clarity 3) Cut and proportion 4) Carat weight In terms of determining beauty, however, we would rank them in a different order: 1) Cut and proportion 2) Color 3) Clarity 4) Carat weight When diamond shopping, it pays to put your focus on cut and proportion since this is where you get the most impact on beauty while paying little premium in price. We recommend investing your dollars in beauty you see rather than rarity and higher "quality" not visible to your eye. BOW TIE ======= One of the most obvious indicators of poor proportioning in fancy shaped diamonds is the bow tie, or butterfly effect, a darkened area across the center or widest part of the stone, depending upon the cut. The bow tie is commonly seen in the pear shape or marquise but may exist in any fancy shape. Virtually all fancy shapes cut today will exhibit some minimal bow tie effect. Nonetheless, the presence or absence of a bow tie is an indicator of proper proportioning. In poorly proportioned stones there is a pronounced bow tie; the more pronounced, the poorer the proportioning. The less pronounced the bow tie, the better the proportioning. The degree to which the bow tie is evident is the first indicator of a good or poor make (cut). PRICE CALCULATOR ================ Probably the most popular feature of our web site is the diamond price calculator where shoppers can input a shape, color grade, clarity grade, and carat weight to determine an estimate of our price for that type of diamond. If you haven't tried it yet, check it out at: http://www.dsourceva.com/cost.htm#calc DIAMOND AND JEWELRY BOOKS ========================= One of the best ways to be a better shopper for diamonds and fine jewelry is to read one or more of the great books listed at the following web page: http://www.dsourceva.com/books.htm INTERNET MARKETING ========================= If you or any of your friends have a web site and want to know how to get more visitors, check out some of the tools we have found to help with internet marketing at: http://www.dsourceva.com/internetmarketing.htm TOPICS FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS ============================= If you have any topics, questions, or issues you would like to see addressed in future DIAMOND NEWSLETTERS, please send us an email. Thank you. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If you wish to unsubscribe to this newsletter, simply reply to this email and in the subject line put only the words: unsubscribe diamonds +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Denny & Anne Reinke Denny@DSOURCEVA.com 1-888-477-8385 (toll free) Diamond Source of Virginia, Inc http://www.DSOURCEVA.com
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