What is your favorite diamond shape?

Choice of Cut: The choice of diamond cut is often decided by the original shape of the rough stone, location of internal flaws or inclusions, the preservation of carat weight, and popularity of certain shapes among consumers. The cutter must consider each of these variables before proceeding.

While the round brilliant cut is considered standard for diamond, with its shape and proportions nearly constant, the choice of fancy cut is influenced heavily by fashion. For example, the step cut baguette—which accentuates a diamond's luster, whiteness, and clarity but downplays its fire—was all the rage during the Art Deco period, whereas the mixed Princess cut—which accentuates a diamond's fire and brilliance rather than its luster—is currently gaining popularity. The princess cut is also popular among diamond cutters: of all the cuts, it wastes the least of the original crystal. Older diamonds cut before ca. 1900 were cut in "primitive" versions of the modern round brilliant, such as the rose cut and old mine cut (see History section). Although there is a market for antique stones, many are recut into modern brilliants to increase their marketability. There is also increasing demand for diamonds to be cut in older styles for the purpose of repairing or reproducing antique jewelry.

Fancy Cuts:
The size of a diamond may also be a factor. Very small (< 0.02 carats [4 mg]) diamonds—known as melée—are usually given simplified cuts (i.e., with fewer facets). This is because a full-cut brilliant of such small size would appear milky to the human eye, owing to its inability to resolve the stone's dispersive fire. Conversely, very large diamonds are usually given fancy cuts with many extra facets. Conventional round brilliant or fancy cuts do not scale up satisfactorily, so the extra facets are needed to ensure there are no "dead spots". Because large diamonds are less likely to be set in jewelry, their cuts are considered for how well they display the diamonds' properties from a wide range of viewing directions; in the case of more moderate-sized diamonds, the cuts are considered primarily for their face-up appeal.

The dominating round brilliant diamonds are not as trendy as they used to be since the market was overcrowded in the last decades of the century. Simultaneously, giving a fancy diamond cut as a precious jewel on specific celebrations became a part of tradition. A Heart cut diamond has romantic symbolism so it is a common gift for Valentine's Day or wedding anniversary. The pear-shaped diamonds look like a drop of water and the shape is suitable for diamond earrings. The most famous shapes are: Princess, Cushion, Heart, Pear, Marquise, Radiant, Asscher cut, Emerald, Oval.

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What is a Diamond?

What is your gemstone? Monthly Gemstone Chart:

In short, diamonds represent faithfulness, love, purity, innocence, and relationships filled with love. It removes certain types of deviations in the aura, which can be best imagined as sort of voids, and diamond fills them with the pure energy of love. It inspires creativity, ingenuity, inventivity, faith, endurance, and helps in manifesting abundance in all areas of life. Diamond is a symbol of the richness of the Self. As the hardest mineral of all, it is especially esteemed owing to its beauty, purity, and ability to reflect light in a special manner.

Color and Physical Properties

Diamonds are created out of pure carbon. They have very strong crystal structure where the carbon atoms in the crystal are especially strongly bonded. They can form octahedral (classical diamond), trapezoidal and dodecahedral crystals. It their most perfect form they are colorless and with special fire patterns. Naturally, they can be found in all nuances and colors, from white, black, pale pink, yellow, red, orange, green, blue, and brown, and this has to do with impurities of some light elements, like for example nitrogen. Due to the presence of certain foreign atoms the color of diamond can be altered, for example, only one atom of boron that comes on milion atoms of carbon can effectively absorb the color from the red part of the spectrum and thus produce color change to blue. Actually, diamonds are among the purest crystals that can be obtained either in nature or in laboratory.

Wedding Bands to Fit Every Personality

It’s one of the toughest decisions for any bride and groom — and, no, we don’t mean where to seat feuding relatives at the wedding reception. We’re talking wedding bands, symbols of eternal love, and the most important pieces of jewelry a man and woman will ever own. In the search for the perfect wedding bands, many couples turn to gold to ensure they are getting the best value for their money. With a bevy of styles and a range of prices — a gold band can be purchased starting at $1,000 — it’s easy to find a ring that best suits the bride’s personality.

What’s your ring type? Read on:

* Down-to-Earth. This no-nonsense bride has been planning her wedding for years — with the stacks of bridal magazines to prove it — and knows exactly what she wants.
Ring type: Instead of anything too delicate or dainty, look for a heavier, more solid design. A simple white gold band or one with a bezel set white oval diamond ensures a timeless look.

* Adventurous. She’s a risk-taker who’s feeling so daring about her nuptials that she may even have considered eloping. (Well, at least a destination wedding.)
Ring type: A dynamic personality requires a stand-out ring, so go for a duo tone yellow gold band set with colored round blue diamonds.

* Social butterfly. This people-pleaser loves to entertain and wants to ensure that her wedding day is special for every single guest.
Ring type: A small, discreet white round diamond, like a single solitaire, displayed in a flush cut on a yellow gold band will provide just the right adornment.

* Quirky. This bride is looking for ways to inject her and her partner’s personalities into every aspect of the wedding day, whether through DIY details or a choreographed first dance.
Ring type: A duo tone yellow gold tension setting with an unconventional grey square diamond creates a unique look. Lastly, wedding bands are important symbols of your lifelong commitment, so even if your band styles don’t match, at least look to share the same metal.

A Guide to Selecting the Perfect Engagement Ring

Getting engaged is a very personal and intimate experience for a couple. But for many, the purchase of the engagement ring can be a bit overwhelming. Color, clarity, cut, carat weight -; there’s a lot to consider! But by understanding the basics of diamonds and keeping the future bride in mind, many can find the process of selecting a ring much less daunting.

Belle offers the following tips to help you select a ring that your bride will love:

Know the 4Cs. Men should always consider the color, clarity, cut and carat weight of a diamond. Color and clarity, less commonly understood, are critical to the quality of the stone. Choose a diamond valued higher on both the color and clarity grading scales to limit the presence of color and unwanted inclusions. Carat and cut, on the other hand, are personal preferences. Keep the bride’s personality in mind to select a size and a shape that will complement her style.

Get certified. To guarantee the diamond’s authenticity and quality, be sure to purchase a diamond that is certified from the Gemological Institute of America. The diamond’s certificate outlines all the individual characteristics of the stone, including the 4Cs, serving as proof of the diamond’s identity and value.

Be unique. For many women, an engagement ring is their most treasured piece of jewelry, so it’s important that it is special and unique. A rose gold band or colored side stones, for example, can accent a traditional ring with a touch of color. To personalize the piece further, consider custom designing a one-of-a-kind ring tailored to the bride’s individual style.

A final piece of advice: Remember what the ring signifies. “With so much to bear in mind, it can be easy to lose the romance of selecting an engagement ring,” said Belle. “Although it is valuable to know the basics of a diamond, what’s most important is for you to remember the reason you're buying it.”

All that Glitters - Why you can't go wrong giving gold jewelry

 Gold has been an integral part of holiday traditions for centuries. The Magi carried gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh; golden gelt has been part of Hanukkah since the seventeenth century; and today “five golden rings” is more than a mere song lyric, they have come to symbolize all that we share with one another during this season.

"Gold Jewelry truly is the ultimate holiday gift,” says Sally Morrison, Head of Jewelry PR at the World Gold Council. “It embodies the tradition of celebration that is the very essence of the any holiday season.”

In today’s economy, more individuals are seeking holiday gifts that convey sentimental meaning, but will also represent enduring value for years to come. As you prepare your holiday gift list, gold may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it should be.

Here are a few reasons to give gold during any holiday season:

* Value: The value of gold has grown consistently year after year for the past decade. Unlike other gifts, such as electronics, which depreciate immediately after the box is opened, gold will continue to be a store of value over time.

* Symbolism: Gold jewelry is ideal for sharing a symbolic message, whether it’s a statement of faith made by wearing a religious symbol on a necklace, a golden charm to celebrate a milestone achievement, or a simple gold band that represents commitment between two individuals.

* Heirlooms: Very few gifts are passed down from generation to generation, but gold jewelry is almost ensured to be. After all, who doesn’t treasure their grandfather’s gold watch or their aunt’s favorite gold rings?

* Tradition: Through ages around the world, gold has traditionally been used to commemorate significant moments — from wedding bands to Olympic medals — but gold is also woven into many holiday traditions. According to legend, gold coins were the gift of choice for Saint Nicholas as far back as the fourth century.

4 Steps to Finding the Right Ring

According to The Knot, a popular wedding inspiration magazine and planning website, the decision is so important it takes consumers more than three months to find the perfect ring, and the average cost is $5,000.

If you’re starting to sweat under the pressure, here’s a step-by-step guide to make your decision easier:

1. Determine the Metal
* Platinum is a naturally white metal, meaning it will never fade, change color, or need to be re-dipped or re-plated.
* White gold, on the other hand, is a created by adding an alloy mix to yellow gold. As the white color fades, the ring will need to be re-dipped a few times each year.
* Platinum pairs well with all stones because its natural color will not cast any unwanted color onto the gem, plus its density makes for an extremely secure setting.
* If you want matching bands, be sure to consider what your partner likes before deciding on a metal.

2. Determine the Cut of the Stone
* Traditionally, round and princess cuts are the most popular.
* Recently, celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Sofia Vergara and Drew Barrymore have brought attention to less common cuts such as emerald, cushion and radiant.

3. Determine the Style of the Ring
* Vintage: Offering a traditional look, these settings can either be an actual estate piece or a new ring with a vintage style.
* Modern: Tension settings, where the diamond is held without prongs, are a popular style. Rough diamonds also offer a modern twist to a ring.
* Classic: Three-stone and solitaire settings offer a timeless look. Other classic styles include pave and halo settings.

4. Determine the Budget
* According the a 2011 jewelry study by The Knot, the bride views setting, stone cut and quality, and metal used as the most important aspects of a ring, whereas the groom focuses on stone quality, style and price. Each of these attributes factors into the price of the ring, so it helps to make sure the couple is aligned before shopping.
* Platinum rings come in a variety of price points — with many costing less than $1,500 — so couples are sure to get the best value for the ring.