It’s time to once again re-examine the engagement ring, or more specifically, buying a loose diamond to build an engagement ring.  Though my predecessor covered the “two month’s salary” rule in a previous post, there’s still a lot to talk about, especially among men contemplating such a big purchase.  Without further ado, let’s get down to business.

The Money:  This is an easy one guys.  Spend what you can comfortably afford to spend, but don’t get something that’s less than what you want.  I know, I know…how can a person possibly reconcile those two recommendations?  Of course, you want her to have the greatest ring ever made with a diamond so large and sparkling it can stop traffic, but finances have a way of making that an impossibility, right?

Yes…but no.  Yes on the size, no on the “stop traffic”.  First, you need to realize that there will come a time in almost every woman’s life where she will be in a room with another woman she knows who is sporting a larger rock.    Don’t kid yourself.  She’ll know it and so will the other woman.  Much in the way that most of us can smell an attractive woman within a 4 block radius, women are equally conscious of each other’s clothing choices, fashion, jewelry, etc.  Fear not my friend, because even in this situation, you can still look like a champ and make her very, very happy.   

How?  Well, most men think of diamonds in a very phallic fashion.  The bigger the better.  The problem is that size comes at a price, and that price is usually a lower grade of cut, clarity and color.  What’s worse is that the bigger a diamond is, the more apparent these flaws will be.  Trust me when I say that even though women are conscious of diamond size, your future bride to be would still rather be the one wearing the smart, sophisticated smaller diamond that has a fire and brilliance which can’t be ignored than to be the one wearing a big yellow diamond that looks like it was cut from old window glass. 

Of course, some women do get the big stones that also happen to be of exceptional cut, color and clarity, but believe me when I say…that doesn’t happen too often.  More often than not, it’ll be the light reflecting qualities of a stone that get the attention first - and that’s what I would aim for with size being a secondary concern based on budget.  In short, don’t compromise quality to get a bigger stone. 

Certificatied Vs Uncertified and the 4 “C’s”: I work with several people who have differing opinions on certifications.   My opinion is this – find a great looking diamond you can afford and go with that one.  Certs are great for appraisals, but they don’t guarantee accuracy, nor are they always a guarantee of a good looking stone.  If you feel you need a certified stone, get a certified stone.  If the “ends” is more important than the “means” for you, however, it never hurts to look at uncertified stones.   Where I find the real value of a certification is with online shopping for loose stones.  Certifications from GIA and AGS give you a better chance of receiving what you think you purchased.   

Cut is priority number one.  Get a stone with the best cut possible and the rest will be very secondary.  AGS Ideal cuts are normally fantastic.  GIA excellent cuts are great as well.   Don’t shy away from GIA excellents with VG for polish or symmetry.   In most cases, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a triple EX and a VG, VG, EX.  For uncertified stones with cut grades you aren’t familiar with, it’ll be that much more important to compare the aesthetics of the stone in lieu of a reference point that a cert provides. 

I like color in the G-H range because it’s white enough to face up and “perform” the same as a D-E-F stone but at a reduced cost.  Frankly, I is the last stop on the color train for me, but if you get an “I” that’s actually an “I” (not an incorrectly graded lower color), I is fine – all other factors being ideal.   Certified stones may be a color grade or possibly two off (usually high), which could really make a great deal of difference in price were the stone graded correctly.  That may sound bad, but uncertified stones can be just as bad and often are worse.  Then again, sometimes they are right on target and far cheaper.  This is another reason why direct comparison is so important.     

Clarity is where things get hairy, in my opinion.   Inclusions are not all created equal, and I’m not just talking about the difference between feathers and pinpoints.  It’s the nature, number AND location of these inclusions that makes a big difference in whether they will affect the fire and brilliance of a stone.  Some inclusions can be hidden partially or completely by the mounting while others can make a stone that fits SI1 grading criteria reflect light like an I2.  That’s one of the problems with certs…they don’t necessarily correlate with the real aesthetic value of a stone.   At the end of the day, an edge pinpoint might be the same size as a pinpoint in the table – but one is easily hidden by a prong while the other might look on close inspection like fleas have been using your diamond as a teeing off point in a round of flea golf.  Again (and I hope you’re starting to notice a pattern here), direct comparison is necessary whether you have a cert or not.  If possible, stay in the VS1 – VS2 range if purchasing sight unseen.  There’ll be less chance of you having to return the stone for something else. 

A final word on certifications and why it never hurts to check out uncertified stones (especially if you are shopping locally).  I think certifications are a positive step in the industry because they attempt – and often to great success - to quantify variables that make up value.  The only negative about certifications is that some people think the cert itself is of value, when in fact, it has no real value to the consumer.   It has value to the jeweler because he or she can add the cost of the certification to the stone AND sell it more easily than a stone without a cert.  For the consumer, however, it doesn’t add any actual value aside from the aforementioned benefit of making online shopping less risky.  A stone that receives a certification was no more or less aesthetically valuable (attractive) before it was graded – it just didn’t have paperwork professing written affirmation of its variables. 

Remember the scenario above where your beloved and (let’s say…a newly engaged female acquaintance) are in the same room?  Trust me, that cert isn’t going to be doing the talking.  While we (men) are exactly the type of idiots to try and convince ourselves that something is of higher value than something else because a piece of paper says it is, women are much more true to the obvious.  For them, as it should be for you when purchasing: if it looks better – it is better.   If you could get an uncertified stone with the same fire, brilliance and price as a certified stone, but larger…wouldn’t you?    Sometimes you can, so don’t automatically exclude non-certified stones or older stones with certs reflecting older grading criteria. 

When it comes to diamonds, appearance is everything, or at least it should be.  Don’t get excited…that’s not a recommendation to go out and buy a huge rainbow prism CZ or hybrid that looks like costume jewelry even to the untrained eye.  She wants a nice diamond and it certainly never hurts to be a big diamond.  No matter what your budget is, though, make sure it’s a performing diamond – a diamond that makes light reflect and dance. 

How to Compare Diamonds (Even If You Bought One Online):  So, how do you judge the aesthetic value of stones for yourself?  

If buying locally, it’s easy to compare stones at your local jeweler.  Just ensure that you look at the stones in natural light, preferrably on a sunny day, to A) see if any flourescence can be detected and B) evaluate your choice(s) against other options without the benefit of “jewelry case lights”.  

Flourescent diamonds may appear cloudy or opaque, and your jeweler will be able to verify flourescence under the right light – but frankly…”cloudy and opaque” should stop you from considering the stone then and there.  You don’t need verification to tell that a milky looking diamond isn’t pretty.  Some flourescent stones don’t have any real affect on a stone’s beauty, so likewise, don’t automatically say no to looking at a stone stated to be flourescent (especially since they are typcially a little less).   

As for evaluating your choice(s) against other stones…diamonds with the best cut parameters and without major color and clarity issues will be apparent to you for their beauty and brilliance just as poorly cut, lowest color or highly included (or a combination of these) stones will be apparent for their lack of beauty and brilliance.   The key is that you want to reach the threshold where better stats don’t make a difference in appearance at the largest size possible within your budget.

For online buyers, it’s a little more complicated.  In most cases, stones will be cheaper from online retailers than at a local jewelry store because of the volume of sales and in many cases, much lower overhead.  Still, that doesn’t mean you won’t need something to compare your loose stone to.   The best tools you have for judging the aesthetic value of a stone are your own two peepers, but in order to effectively judge that stone, you need to do so in the proper context of other stones.   Comparing a sight unseen diamond to other sight unseen diamonds based on certs (for certified) or jeweler stats (for un-certified) can’t tell you which is the best looking stone in your budget. 

“So what you’re saying is that if I buy a stone online, you expect me to purchase it, take it to a reputable local jeweler and ask them to see how it stacks up against their stock?” 

Sorry, but yes.  You don’t have to be so obvious, but it’s a good idea.  You can tell them you may want to upgrade to a better quality stone at roughly the same size to see how it stacks up against their offerings.  It’s good to compare because you need a point of reference on aesthetics and it sure never hurts to have another point of reference on price.   Again, reach the threshold where better stats don’t make a difference in appearance at the largest size possible within your budget.   We have people come in all the time with other diamonds, wanting to see how they stack up for the price.  Sometimes they walk away satisfied with the stone they brought in.  Sometimes they re-commit to finding a better stone based on differences in quality they can easily see.   The point is, no jeweler should mind helping you to compare stones, especially if they may be able to get you a bigger stone that looks just as good or the same size stone that looks better for the same money. 

Buying a diamond these days is a catch 22.  You want online loose stone prices, but you also need to be able to compare it to other stones, which is impossible without a local jeweler.  You can expect a rough markup on a loose stone of 10% retail online.  Try finding that markup locally.  You probably won’t.  If you do, be very wary of the price of the setting they want to sell you.  Many jewelers (yes, some online jewelers too) like to appear to be competitive in one place only to overcharge you in another.  They’re banking on you comparison shopping diamond prices and forgetting to comparison shop settings. 

How to Compare Loose Stones:  Again, take a serious look at the stones in natural light and preferrably next to each other.  Put them on a white background like a piece of printer paper if possible.  Compare them to a master stone set.  Move them around at various angles.  Look for the fire and brilliance of each stone.  See if you can eye any inclusions and then look through a 10x loupe to verify their presence (or absence).   Just remember that the top view of the diamond (what your eyes see) will be what her eyes see.  After all this, you’ll be able to come to generally one of three possible conclusions depending on whether you are comparing locally or buying online/comparing locally:

Comparing Locally:

A) “This diamond looks great and is in my price range.  I now need to do some compasion shopping online and locally based on this diamonds stated criteria to make sure I’m getting it at a fair price.  If so, this is my stone”    

B) “Nothing here excites me…I’m going to look elsewhere.”

Buying Online/Comparing Locally:

A) “Wow, this diamond stacks up well the other options I’ve viewed but at a lower price.  I really got a great deal.  Now to find a setting.” 

B) “The diamond I chose doesn’t stack up to better quality stones I’m seeing here that are within a similar price point.  I’ll be returning this stone.

C) The jeweler has shown me some smaller stones in my price range that, while indeed smaller, look a hell of a lot better than what I’ve brought in.  I think I need to up quality at the expense of size or save more money if I absolutely must be in a particualar size range.  This stone is going back where it came from.”  

D) “I like the diamond I chose, but I think I paid too much.  The local guy has a similar sized diamond that looks just as good for less.  I can either return this and take the locally available stone or return this and shop around for another stone…but either way this one is going back.”  

(Note – If you actually have internal dialogues similar to the cheesy – but pertinent - examples presented above, you may want to forego the diamond purchase and instead save up for a personality transplant)

Settings: Once you pick a stone that shines as well or better than any other and is in your price range, you’re almost done.  You now need to choose a setting, but that’s an article for next week. 

-Dr. Diamond

The first time I saw Larimar was in an “In-Flight” magazine advertisement.  I recall that the stones and settings reminded me of southwestern style turquoise jewelry.  Not being much of a fan of turquoise, I mentally dismissed it as being another quick fad.  Fast forward a few months later and we received our first Mara Lago Larimar Collection at ShopDI.   It was, to my suprise, definitely not the sort of gemstone you’d see in a bolo tie.   Instead, it was love at first (real) sight, and since then, I’ve had a growing infatuation with Larimar’s beauty and rarity. 

Larimar has a gentle blue hue that, as you may have heard, is uncannily like the blue of the Caribbean ocean.  It works well with silver and white gold, though admittedly I’ve never seen it with yellow gold to know why it wouldn’t look good with it as well.   Larimar is more rare than even tanzanite, yet prices on this very unique gemstone are typically a fraction of tanzanite. 

Sales of Larimar hit full stride after People magazine reported that Brad Pitt bought Angelina Jolie a Larimar ring in its January 16, 2006, issue.   In the industry, a lot of jewelers speculated publicly and privately that Larimar sales would fizzle after the initial hoopla died down.  That was over three years ago, and since that time, Larimar has become more popular than ever.   According to one industry trade publication, Larimar sales have grown exponentially every year since 2006 and are now becoming a major source of GDP for the Dominican Republic. 

Looks like Larimar is here to stay.

Brrr, baby, it’s cold outside!  While the warmer months of summer make yellow gold a more popular choice for accessories, white metals are always coolest in the winter time.  That’s why sterling silver is one of the most practical, versatile and fashionable metals for winter jewelry, and Diamonds International can help you get the look just right at an affordable price!

Play up your paler complexion with a pair of sleek, bold silver earrings like these silver diamond stick earrings from esteemed Italian designer Bentelli.  Add some lightness and color to your heavy, dark winter wear with a fabulous silver aquamarine and freshwater pearl bracelet, hand-made by Nicoletta.  To finish this sterling look, put a large silver cocktail ring over your favorite winter gloves for a real movie-star-glamorous statement; we recommend this jaw-dropping silver tanzanite dome ring (just remember to go up a size or two from your regular ring size to accommodate the extra bulk of the glove!).

Silver Diamond Bentelli Earrings (.06 ctw)

Silver Aquamarine &Freshwater Pearl Nicoletta Bracelet

Silver Tanzanite Ring (4.85 ctw)

It’s the holidays – time for cheer, presents, egg nog and parties!  Most people like to fancy-it-up during this time of year, adding a little extra sparkle to their outfits with bold jewelry.  Just because times are tough this season, it doesn’t mean you can’t look like a million bucks at this year’s office party; ShopDI.com is here to show you how to get the most bang for your accessory buck with the bold look of Caribbean Topaz!

For a glowing, glittery look, this Crush Caribbean Topaz ring Features a large pear-cut Caribbean Topaz in a bright, festive green.  To draw attention to your face in all those holiday photos you’ll be posing for, try a pair of bold Caribbean Lights Caribbean Topaz earrings.  To complete the look, add a touch of frosty sparkle with a cool Blue Caribbean Topaz Pendant.

It may be cold outside, but you’ll be looking hot this holiday season!  And with all these pieces priced at $600 or less on ShopDI.com, you can afford to deck yourself out as well as the halls!

Most people are fully aware of sizes: their shoe size, their waist measurements, their height, even the clothing size of their significant other.  Unfortunately, most people are utterly clueless when it comes to the question of hteir ring size!

Why do you need to know your ring size?  Having a properly-sized ring ensures that the ring will fit well and reduce the chances of it slipping off your finger, or worse, cutting off your circulation.  Also, knowing how to determine ring size is essential if you are a hopeful groom who wants to pop the question on your unsuspecting bride (there is nothing worse than getting to that crucial, emotional moment where she says “Yes,” and then not being able to jam the ring over her swollen knuckle!).

There are three simple ways to find your correct ring size:

1.  Go to a jeweler and ask.  Most jewelery stores will tell you what your ring size is free of charge; in fact, if you are trying to find out someone else’s ring size (hint hint, husbands!), you can even bring in one of the rings that the receiver wears and the jeweler can base the size on that ring.  Diamonds International has over 125 locations world-wide, and you can waltz right into any of them to instantly find out your ring size.

2.  Mail away for a ring sizer.  ShopDI.com has a quick and easy form that you can fill out online, and within a week or so you’ll receive your very own personal, reusable ring sizer to use on yourself or your loved ones.

3.  If all else fails, you can always find your ring size the Macgyver way – with some string, scissors and a ruler.  Start by cutting a long piece of string, and then wrap it around the finger on which you’ll be wearing the ring.  Mark the point where the string meets, and then measure the length of that stretch with a ruler.  Once you know how long the string is, you have the circumference of your finger, and you can use this handy chart to see how that translates into your ring size.

If you are still uncertain about whether you have the correct ring size, keep a few things in mind:  ShopDI.com has a 30-day return policy, so if it’s not the right size you can send in your ring to be re-sized to the correct fit.  Also, avoid ordering any ring that is titanium or comfort-fit if you think that your ring size is inaccurate, or that it might go up or down in the future – comfort-fit and titanium rings are almost impossible to size once they’ve been cast.

Bright, bold colors are all the rage this season, and there’s no better gemstone to follow this trend than Ammolite. With its rainbow of hues and its earthy look and feel, Ammolite is the perfect stone for fall accessories! Top-grade (AA grade) Ammolite features a full spectrum or rich reds and oranges, deep greens and bright blues that compliment every skin tone, age and personal style.

One of our favorite Ammolite items for fall is this dazzling 14k Gold Ammolite & Diamond Ring; it’s bold colors and modern design will add instant “wow” to any outfit. Another great way to wear Ammolite is with these 14k Gold Ammolite Earrings, whose warm tones will make any eye color pop! A wide variety of stylish, affordable Ammolite jewelry is available at Diamonds International.

14k Gold Ammolite & Diamond Ring

14k Gold Ammolite Earrings

When at work, piling on the gaudy jewelry is up there on the list of “things that make you look unprofessional” (along with wearing too much cologne, bringing really stinky food for lunch and sporting flip-flops with your suit). Savvy pencil-pushers know that the right jewelry can make your outfit, but too much can be, well, too much. Women, you don’t want to look like an extra from Dynasty – your jewelry should give you a polished, sophisticated look. Fellows, the Mr. T look is soooooo last decade, so leave the heavy gold chains at home and opt for a more subdued look.

Women in business want to be taken seriously, and don’t want their accessories to take attention away from their professional strengths. Barbara Walters, Michelle Obama, Carolyn Kepcher, Sarah Palin and Oprah Winfrey have all mastered the concept of adding feminine touches, such as jewelry, to a business suit while still looking respectable and classy. Stud earrings, simple pendants and wide bangles are accessories that these women have adopted as staples in their professional wardrobes.

The Gordon Geckos of the world know that looking like “The Man in Charge” makes clients feel like you are a capable, well-groomed gentleman who takes personal pride in everything to do with his job, including dressing for work. However, too much jewelry on a business man can look vain, boastful or downright cheesy. It’s best to stick with functional basics that add a splash of character to an ordinary suit, like interesting cuff links, a monogrammed money clip or a unique tie-bar.

Whether you’re an entry-level newbie fresh out of grad school or a seasoned, stock-holding CEO, ShopDI.com has the right jewelry to take your office look to the next level.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably already know that this past week was Fashion Week in NYC – a time for designers to preview some of the newest trends that they have in store for the upcoming season. This year, we saw a lot of retro-throwback dresses, tailored suits, and eye-poppingly bright colors but the one trend that grabbed us most was the return of the Statement Necklace.

What is a Statement Necklace, you ask? It’s that extra “something” you add to an otherwise “meh” ensemble; a Statement Necklace is what turns a nice dress into an AMZAZING outfit. Acclaimed veteran designers like Anna Sui and Oscar De La Renta used Statement Necklaces at Fashion Week to punch up their new lines, adding a touch of pizazz and glamor that gives an outfit edge.

Choosing and wearing a Statement Necklace is easy, since the only rule to follow is “big and bold”. For a classic look, multiple layered necklaces with colorful gemstones, such as this gorgeous multi-strand freshwater multi-color pearl necklace from ShopDI.com, let you follow the Statement Necklace trend in a very elegant way (and for a tiny price – it’s under $100!). If you’re feeling a little more playful and adventurous, this bold 14k yellow gold citrine & diamond pendant will add a burst of color to an otherwise “blah” getup. These and many more Statement Necklaces are available now at Diamonds International, where you get free shipping all year long!

Multi-Strand Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace

14k Gold Citrine & Diamond Pendant

Every year, musicians, actors and various “other” celebrities (think those who are “famous for nothing”, a la Paris Hilton and Lauren Conrad) gather together to celebrate the year’s greatest recording artists at the MTV Video Music Awards. The 2008 show featured appearances by Britney Spears, the Jonas Brothers, Christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Katie Perry, Rihanna, Lil’ Wayne and many more superstars that both presented and performed at the famous award show. Britney proved to everyone watching that she has fully recovered from her recent reputation as an out-of-shape train-wreck, showing off her new svelte figure in a body-hugging, silver sequined number and taking home three MoonMen.

Although the MTV VMA’s are really all about the music, many viewers tune in for a totally different reason: to see what their favorite celebs are wearing on the red carpet! The 2008 VMA’s brought some outrageous outfits into the spotlight, like Solange Knowles’ crazy raincloud-mixed-with-a-jellyfish dress and Pink’s strange red & black striped frock that looked like it was made out of Tim Burton’s bedspread. No matter how crazy the outfits got, one thing was for sure: EVERYONE was accessorizing with diamonds! Thick white gold chains with large diamond pendant, diamond pinky rings, diamond stud earrings and diamond cufflinks were top choices for the gents, while ladies went for everything from diamond bangles, diamond drop earrings, lavish diamond and gemstone cocktail rings, and even diamond hair clips!

So let’s face it – chances are you weren’t invited to the MTV VMA’s, and your Oscar invite is probably lost in the mail too. That doesn’t mean that you can’t steal the red-carpet look for your own special occasions, such as weddings, prom, graduation, and even super-fancy cocktail parties. Adding some celebrity-grade sparkle to your evening wear is easy with the huge selection of diamond jewelry at Diamonds International, where you’ll find everything from cuff links and tie-tacs to cocktail rings and diamond cuffs that will polish off your look and make you feel like the real star of the event. Find it all now, at unbelievable prices, at ShopDI.com.

Parents want what’s best for their children, and when it comes to kids’ jewelry it doesn’t get any better than the Little Treasures Collection from ShopDI.com. Adorable 14k gold earrings with safety backs ensure that your tot won’t lose her treasures in the sandbox, while pint-sized bracelets and necklaces are available in shorter lengths to prevent them from slipping off.

From durable pearls and leather to classic gold ID bracelets, and flashy pendants to trendy earrings, Little Treasures has everything to keep your mini-me looking fabulous for a mini-price!