April: Diamond

I'd like to start by wishing all who are born in April a very happy, healthy and safe birthday. 

April is a very special month for the jewelry industry. It is the birth month for the most coveted gemstone, the Diamond! Also, it is the month that hosts Earth Day. 

Did you know that diamonds are a billion years in the making? It takes millions and millions of years, the absolute perfect temperature, pressure and chemical conditions deep inside the earths mantle to form a precious diamond. In its purest form, the single element that makes up a diamond is carbon. And these little gems are among the most valuable, precious and expensive items one may own. 

In light of Earth Day this month, I'd like to remind you how precious and symbolic natural diamonds are. As earths beautiful and natural creations, diamonds were introduced into the bridal industry as a symbol of eternity following with the motto "Diamond's are Forever". Because, in-fact (if handled properly) with low maintenance they do last forever. 

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

The discovery and love for diamonds was established in India, where diamonds were gathered from rivers and streams. Today, diamonds can be mined in certain areas all around the world. Most recently, mines have been discovered in Canada. Heres a beautiful image of a diamond mine in Diavik, Canada. 

Did you know that diamonds are not just colorless or yellow in color? There are a broad spectrum of colors diamonds can be found in. These very rare colored diamonds can be found in Red, Pink, Purple, Green, Yellow and Blue. Most people will never get to see a gorgeous colored diamond in their lifetime. Diamonds also come in brown and black as well, however, much less rare and valuable than the other colored diamonds. The most rare and valuable color would probably be a beautiful vivid Red. 

One of our favorite colored diamonds is this famous oval cut blue diamond. This gorgeous 45.52CT blue diamond is called the Hope Diamond. Originally mined in India, this diamond is now displayed at the Smithsonian museum. Fun fact: when this gorgeous blue diamond is bombarded with Ultraviolet Light, the diamond glows bright red and even holds the color for a few seconds after the UV light is turned off, this is called Phosphorescence. 

Care & Cleaning:

Diamond is the hardest stone on the Mohs scale of hardness. It rates 10, where Corundum rates 9, however, diamond is about 4 times harder than Corundum. Hardness refers to the ability to scratch the stone. Nothing can scratch a diamond other than a diamond. With that said, diamonds are typically durable enough to be cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner at a jewelry store. However, at home we recommend using warm water, mild foaming soap and a soft bristle tooth brush. You can also purchase this awesome at-home jewelry cleaner right here. Most importantly, it is highly recommended to bring in your jewelry to your trusted jeweler periodically for checking and cleaning. The master jeweler will inspect your jewelry, make sure the prongs are safe and the stones secure and be sure to maintain the beauty and sparkle of your jewelry. 

Insurance & why it’s important:

When your jeweler recommends insuring your jewelry, it’s strictly for protection on your investment. There are so many things that can happen in this unsure world, taking a chance can cost you a fortune. Whereas having insurance can truly be worth it. In the case of lost, stolen, theft or other major issues with your precious and valuable diamonds, your insurance company is ready to investigate and provide you coverage. We highly recommend insuring your valuable jewelry. If you don’t know where to begin, here are the steps:

-First you’ll need a paper appraisal with the details of your jewelry and the appraised value for replacement created by a GIA Graduate Gemologist.

-Second, you will need to get some quotes from insurance agencies. We recommend using a jewelry insurance company because they specialize in just that, jewelry insurance. 

-If you’d like further information, need to get an appraisal done by a Graduate Gemologist or would like recommendations on a jewelry insurance company, please do not hesitate to text us at (586) 939-5100 and we will be happy to assist you.

Images in this blog are from gia.edu.