 | Jerry Burnell has been a driving force in the jewelry industry of Kansas for the past 30 years. Jerry is a native of Wichita and a graduate of Wichita State University. He jokingly says that he had a degree in business, almost a masters in business, almost a degree in chemistry, with heavy studies in physics, math, and biology and he just quit college, that he figured that with 239 credit hours he should be able to make a living somewhere. Actually he was already deep into the motions of starting the most respected jewelry design team in this part of the country. Jerry is highly regarded and considered an expert in many fields, three of which are Precious gemstones, jewelry manufacture, and jewelry design. Jerry is presently president of The Kansas Jewelers Association and holds a position on the advisory board of Jewelers of America. You may contact Jerry at Burnell’s Jewelers, (316) 634-2822, or find Burnell’s Jewelers on the web at www.burnells.com |
Gold, Silver, Diamonds & Jewelry
2005-03-01 10:05:00
How to pick a beautiful, high quality diamond
ANSWER: Choosing a diamond involves more than a casual trip to the jewelry store. Armed with the proper information, you can make a much more informed decision. Begin by choosing the shape of diamond you prefer, and take special note of how the different stones look to you on your finger. Although the round diamond is the most popular and brightest, diamonds come in many cuts, including oval, princess, marquise, radiant or even heart-shaped. Recently there has been new technology allowing amazingly bright cuts to diamonds previously unheard of. Some of these are improvements others are not. The Star 129 is the brightest cut today. Don't buy until you've been shown these.How well the diamond is cut is by far the most important determiner of how bright a diamond will be. Many jewelers skirt this discussion because you can "swindle" a stone as much as 40% and be able to sell the diamond for up to 40% less this way. If you "swindle" the diamond (cutting it more shallow) brilliance is effected greatly. Some use the term "Ideal" as the best. Unfortunately this is a range not specific proportions and some jewelers are very loose in using this term.Examining the diamond's color is an important second step. Some diamonds have a yellow, gray or brown cast. Pure and colorless diamonds are at the very top of the color scale. You can buy diamonds in fancy colors such as purple, red, blue, etc. These diamonds are very rare and more expensive than the normal clear to yellow varieties. If the diamond has nitrogen trapped in it when it is formed, it will have a slight yellow color. It is not the yellow color that is the culprit here though. When there is nitrogen in the stone it absorbs all the waves of light accept yellow. The yellow is only an indicator of how much light that is being absorbed.The diamond's clarity, or degree of minute inclusions, is the least important up to a point. A 'flawless' diamond, one that is free from any and all inclusions or blemishes, is extremely rare. Diamonds are rated on a clarity scale that grades diamonds from 'flawless' to 'obvious inclusions'. The higher the diamond's rating on this scale, the greater is its cost and value. The weight of a diamond is measured in carats. The greater the carat weight, the more valuable the diamond. Keep in mind that since the larger stones are indeed rare, two 1 /2-carat diamonds will be considerably less expensive than a single 1-carat diamond stone.If you compare several diamonds side by side, you can get a good idea of what you can find in your price range. No two diamonds are alike, so examine all of them carefully for their brilliance.Make your final decision based on which diamond offers the best combination of the four C's: clarity, color, cut and carat. Ignoring any of these important attributes will jeopardize your chances of getting the best diamond for your money. Be sure that you have a jeweler that is qualified to help you with this decision. Buy from a jeweler who will guide you through the process. A good jeweler will help you assess how much you can spend, show you a wide selection of diamonds, and explain the four C's. Buying a loose diamond gives you the option of designing a setting around the stone. How do you pick a good jeweler? Look for one that has certified gemologists on staff and that is willing to show you and teach you what you are buying. Most stores do not have certified gemologists on staff or only have one to do appraisals. There is one store in Wichita that has five gemologists on staff. These people have spent from three to eight years of course work, studying gemstones. Many think that they can spend a few hours on the Internet and become experts. This is dangerous thinking. Go to the experts and you will be happier in the long run. Buying from a truly knowledgeable jeweler will give you the fifth "C"…Confidence.Inquire about a certificate from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA, the largest impartial diamond-grading authority in the world, issues a grading report and details the diamond's specifications after examining it. But do not take Certificates as gospel. They are good guidelines but many are quite flatly wrong to the point of being misleading. Your jeweler will guide you and help you understand what you should be looking for in the diamond or other precious stone, because he wants to develop a lifelong customer out of you, as well as those you refer his way in the future. Quality jewelers are not interested in a one-time sale, but an on-going relationship with you and those you know. Beware of the "jeweler" you cannot see and that doesn't have to live with you in the long run.Finally, don't try to get the largest possible diamond for your money. This can mean overlooking quality in favor of size and ending up with a less desirable stone. Balancing all factors is the best approach to choosing a quality diamond. Stop in and browse with a good high quality jeweler, and let him or her show you a selection of options offered, and you'll have a great idea of what to do with this important process. Jewelers with years of experience and design awards to their credit can make this an incredibly rewarding experience for you. Ask the jeweler for his credentials…he or she will be happy to share them with you.If you choose wisely, years from now, you can look at your diamond and still marvel how incredibly beautiful it is, and how you have enjoyed fine quality.
