Recycled Diamonds - Truly Making A Diamond Last Forever
What are recycled diamonds?
Diamond recycling has been happening more often lately, but what does it actually mean? As a mined diamond will last forever why not introduce it back into the market? This is exactly what diamond recycling is. Recycling a diamond is becoming more popular as it can drive down the overall cost of the jewelry item. The diamond has already been cut, polished and ready for setting.
What is the Process?
1. Old jewelry is sold to jewelers on the high street, used as Pawn Loans, sold at Auction or to Pawnbrokers.
2. The jewelry is then inspected and the diamond is carefully certified and valued.
3. Some diamonds are removed from the jewelry.
4. The diamond is then professionally cleaned.
5. Some diamonds are given a new modern cut.
6. The diamond is then re-entered into the diamond supply chain.
7. A diamond laboratory, such as GIA, certifies diamonds, and these diamonds are sold individually, directly to the public or to jewelry retailers and diamond dealers.
8. Diamonds are typically bought by jewelry manufacturers, diamond manufacturers and dealers.
9. The diamond is reset into a new jewelry product including engagement rings, bracelets, pendants and much more.
Recycled diamond market share.
An estimated five percent of the market share for recycled diamonds stands for 2014-15 but overall shares in this market is continuing to grow despite the recovery of the American and European economy. It has been speculated that the value of the market could be as high as $1 Trillion US dollars.
Demand & Extraction
The price of diamond jewelry is increasing due to the expensive manufacturing processes. While technology makes it easier to find resources, demand makes extraction on resources become more expensive. Overall a higher demands on products will force a price increase to the purchaser.
100 Years Of Engagement Rings
Watch One Woman Model 100 Years of Engagement Rings in Under 3 Minutes
Clothing trends may come and go, but Mode's latest 100 Years of Fashion video is proof that the whole "diamonds are forever" thing is real. But while diamond engagement rings have long been en vogue, the way the stone is presented has changed: From the lacy white-on-white look of the 1910s to 2010's "halo" mounting, see all the variations that emerged over the last century.
Mode broke down each ring type too, for reference:
1890-1900: Classic solitaire diamond ring: Round old European-cut diamond set into a six prong mounting, 14k yellow gold.
1900-1920s: Lacy white-on-white look, in the style of jewelry of the Edwardian period.
1920-1930s: Art Deco–influenced rings: Round early modern brilliant-cut diamond set into a platinum mounting, highlighted by round diamonds in a pierced openwork mounting.
1930-1940s: The introduction of white gold in the late 1920s; "filigree" mounting, which heralds back to the Edwardian period, comes in trend.
1940s: Yellow and rose gold used more.
1945: "War Bride Ring," the ring that every serviceman gave their fiancée due to the rationing of precious metals during the war years.
1950-1960s: White gold and platinum becomes the preferred metal in postwar period. Addition of round side stones set into the shoulders of the ring.
1960-1970s: Fancy-shaped diamonds—emerald-cut, pear, marquise, and heart shaped—become in. Platinum remains metal of choice.
1970-1980s: "Gold" set with round or fancy shaped diamonds with channel set mountings, accompanying wedding bands.
1980-1990s: Solitaire diamond with baguettes on each side.
1990-2000s: "Radiant-cut" becomes the preferred fancy-shaped diamond, typically set with triangular side stones.
2000-2010s: "Princess-cut" becomes the preferred fancy-shaped diamond.
2010-2015: "Halo" mounting becomes the preferred engagement mounting; increased demand for fancy-colored diamonds.
Engagement Ring Buying Guide
Know what you want to spend. You will be confronted with a dizzying array of choices when it comes to engagement rings. Have a price range in mind. Going in with fairly specific parameters will help your jeweler find the right engagement ring to fit your budget.
What kind of jewelry does she already wear? Is she more classic or modern? Feminine or sophisticated? Does she wear more silver or gold? Do her pieces tend to be more delicate or chunky? Simple or ornate? Have these preferences in mind when you set out to shop. If you buy something similar to what she already likes, you can't go wrong.
Know her ring size. If she wears rings, borrow one she already owns. Trace the inner circle on a piece of paper, or press the ring into a bar of soap for an impression. You can also slide it down one of your own fingers and draw a line where it stops. A jeweler can use these measurements to identify her approximate ring size.
If she doesn't wear rings, estimate in the following manner: The average ring size in the US is 6 (based on the 'average' US female being 5'4" tall and weighing 140 lbs.) If she's more slender, or fine boned, her ring size is probably in the 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 range. If she is heavier, larger boned or taller, her ring size is probably in the 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 range. It's always better to buy a ring a bit bigger than you think she'll need, because sizing a ring down is much easier than increasing its size.
Are her preferences hard to pin down? Consider buying an unset diamond. If you choose the diamond first and have the setting made later, you can include her in selecting the style and final details of the ring (always a good idea) and avoid the awkwardness of choosing a ring that's more to your taste than hers.
Know what diamond shape suits her. If she hasn't made it easy for you by already voicing an opinion on the subject (or admiring someone else's engagement ring), here are a few things to keep in mind when considering shape:
- She will be wearing this ring 24/7 every day of your married life. It will need to go with everything from jeans to evening wear. If you're uncertain about her shape preference, it's sensible to stick to the classics. They became classics because they appeal to most people most of the time.
- Shapes with fewer facets, such as emerald or square, require higher clarity. The fewer the facets, the more visible any inclusions will be.
- Certain shapes pair more successfully with other gems in multi-stone rings. Round, Oval and Marquise all work well. Pear and Heart shape are more challenging.
- Taste in shape is often reflected in other tastes a woman has. If she prefers clean, modern lines in furniture, for example, it's likely she'll react well to the same aesthetic in Emerald or Square shapes. If she tends towards the traditional, a round shape rarely misses. More bohemian types tend to favor more unusual shapes, like Trilliant or Marquise.
What Setting Makes Sense?
While there are an unending variety of patterns, details and metal choices, there are four basic types you are likely to encounter:
Solitaire - A single stone. Still the most popular choice in engagement rings. The head secures the diamond. Prongs allow the diamond to catch the most light. A four-prong-setting shows more of the diamond, but a six-prong setting is often more secure.
Sidestone - Diamonds or other gemstones, flank the main stone for additional sparkle or color. Popular sidestone settings include 'channel', which protects stones by keeping them flush, and 'bar-channel', which allows more light to enter the sidestones.
Three Stone - One diamond for the past, one for the present, and one for the future. Typically, the center diamond is larger than the two side stones.
Pavee (pah-vey) - The main stone is surrounded by tiny diamonds to add sparkle and the illusion of greater size.
As to actual setting design, consider her lifestyle, and how well a certain setting will fit into it. If she's more active or outdoorsy, look for lower profile, less ornate, more sturdy choices, which are less likely to get knocked or caught on things. If she's more of a glamour girl, look for statement settings, with a higher stone profile and more intricate ring detailing or unique motif.
-http://www.4cs.gia.edu/EN-US/dbg-diamond-engagement-rings.htm
12 Most Expensive Gemstones In The World
There are over 4,000 minerals on earth, many of which we will never see in real life. Bizarre mineral assemblages and trace impurities have caused some of the world’s rarest gemstones. Some you likely have heard of and others will undoubtedly leave you searching Google for more information.With the list below, we will cover a short list of incredible gemstones, a bit about their origin and mineralogy.
12. Jeremejevite – $2,000 per carat
Jeremejevite (Al6B5O15(F,OH)3) is an aluminum bearing borate mineral with associated fluoride and hydroxide. It was first found in the Adun-Chilon Mountains in Siberia in 1883. This gem has a similar hardness as quartz, 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, and therefore is ideal for jewelry making.
11. Fire Opal – $2,300 per carat
Fire Opal (SiO2·nH2O) is actually not technically a mineral but instead is a mineraloid. The reason being opal does not have a crystal structure that is required for all minerals. As noted in the chemical formula, opal is a hydrated form of silica or silicon dioxide. Opals can form in a variety of different colors depending on the environmental conditions during formation. The mineralogy of opal allows it to diffract light, causing it to shimmer various colors.
10. Poudretteite – $3,000 per carat
Poudretteite (KNa2B3Si12O30) was originally discovered in Mont St. Hilaire Quebec, Canada in the 1960s by the Poudrette family. The gem is naturally pink in color and has a Mohs hardness of 5. It wasn’t until 2000 until the first gem quality poudretteite was found in Mogok, Burma at an amazing 9.41 carats (pictured above).
9. Benitoite – $4,000 per carat
Benitoite (BaTiSi3O9) is a bright blue gemstone made up of barium, titanium, and silica. Benitoite is formed during the late stage cooling of a hydrothermally altered serpentinite. This rare gemstone is found in San Benito County, California where it got it’s name. Benitoite will give off strong fluorescence and shines a bright blue color.
8. Musgravite – $6,000 per carat
Musgravite (Be(Mg, Fe, Zn)2Al6O12) was originally discovered in 1967 in Musgrave Ranges, Australia. This very rare and hard gemstone is in the same family as taafeite that appears later in this article. As noted in the elemental composition, Musgravite is an aluminum oxide with variable proportions of magnesium, iron, and zinc.
7. Red Beryl – $10,000 per carat
Red Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) is a mineral composed of beryllium, aluminum, and silicate. In nature, pure beryl is colorless but acquires it’s coloration from trace amounts of additional elements. Red Beryl is found in mineralized rhyolite tuffs in Thomas Range, Utah. This gem can garner up to $10,000 per carat and are rarely found above 2-3 carats.
6. Alexandrite – $12,000 per carat
Alexandrite (BeAl2O4) is a type of chrysoberyl that was found in the Ural Mountains, Russia in the 1830′s. You may have seen the incredible changing color of this mineral where it appears to be emerald in light and ruby red in darkness. The difference between alexandrite and chrysoberyl is the presence of iron, titanium, and chromium as im
5. Diamond – $15,000 per carat
Diamond (C) is one we’ve all heard of and is the centerpiece of most engagement rings. As noted in the chemical composition, diamonds are pure carbon arranged in a diamond lattice, which accounts for it’s incredible strength and durability. Diamonds are found in cooled kimberlites that formed over the course of 1 to 3 billion years.
4. Serendibite – $18,000 per carat
Serendibite ((Ca,Na)2(Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)3[O2|(Si,Al,B)6O18]) is an extremely rare gemstone and mineral discovered originally in Sri Lanka in 1902. This inosilicate has a complex chemical formula with many side branches of calcium, boron, aluminum, magnesium, etc. Serendibite was recently discovered in the Mogok area of Myanmar.
3. Grandidierite – $20,000 per carat
Grandidierite ((Mg,Fe2+)Al3(BO3)(SiO4)O2) is a very rare gem that can fetch up to $20,000 per carat and was first discovered in Madagascar in 1902. It is commonly found as an accessory mineral on aluminous boron rich rocks with a pearly semitransparent bluish green hue.
2. Taaffeite – $35,000 per carat
Taafeite (BeMgAl4O8) is a very rare mineral and often misidentified as spinel. Surprisingly, the gemstone was first discovered already cut and polished in Dublin, Ireland in 1945. At the time the gemstone was mislabelled as spinel and upon further inspection, it was determined that the mineral was actually a new unidentified gem. The primary difference between spinel and taafeite is the double refraction found in the later. The gem is found in alluvial deposits within Sri Lanka and Tanzania.
1. Red Diamond - $1,000,000 per carat
Above we featured the diamond as one of the most expensive gemstones, and coming in at number 1 with a price tag of over $1 million per carat is the red diamond. There are less than 30 red diamonds found around the world, with most of them being less than half a carat. You may assume that the red color comes from an impurity, but it is actually derived from plastic deformation of the crystal lattice. The famous 5.11ct Moussaieff Red Diamond was acquired in 2011 for $8 million and is the largest red diamond discovered in the world.
-http://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2015/11/02/12-most-expensive-gemstones-world/2/
Birthstones
January - Month of Garnet
History of garnet
There are many different myths about the origins of garnet. One such myth suggests that the garnet originated with Persephone, the Greek goddess of sunshine. Persephone was captured by Hades, the god of the underworld. Before Hades released Persephone, he wanted to guarantee her return, so he gave her some pomegranate seeds. The word garnet comes from the Latin "granatus," which means seed. The next time you eat a pomegranate, you will notice the seeds' resemblance to garnet.
Science of garnet
Garnet is actually a group of six different stones: grossular (red to orange colors), almandine (red), pyrope (red and pink), spessartite (green-brown), andradite (brown to black), and uvarovite (emerald green). Garnets can be found in metamorphic rocks and sometimes in granites and volcanic rocks. These special minerals form deep underground, enduring extreme temperatures and pressures. For this reason, geologists may use garnets to study the temperature and pressure of the surrounding rock. Garnets belong to the isometric crystal class, which produces symmetrical, cube-based crystals.
*An alternate birthstone for January is clear rose-quartz. Quartz in a very hard, durable, and transparent mineral and is the most abundant semi-precious stone.
February—Month of Amethyst
History of amethyst
According to Greek myth, Dionysius, god of intoxication, was angered by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish. Along came the unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the tigers. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today.
Science of amethyst
Amethyst is a member of the quartz family, occurring as crystals within rocks. Quartz often grow within cavities of cooling lava, forming geodes. Although the gem color must always be purple to be amethyst, it has a wide range of purple shades. Amethyst can occur as long prismatic crystals that have a six-sided pyramid at either end, or it can form as crystalline crusts called druzes that only show the pointed ends. Amethyst is popular for its color and crystal shapes that produce handsome, purple, sparkling clusters.
*An alternate birthstone for February is onyx, a variety of the cryptocrystalline quartz that is opaque or translucent and comes in different colors that are banded in straight and parallel lines.
March—Month of Aquamarine
Aquamarine's name comes from the words "aqua" and "mare," meaning water and sea, from its intense blue-green color. Because of its resemblance to the ocean, sailors used to wear talismans made of aquamarine depicting the god Neptune, who ruled the seas. With the help of their god, they believed the aquamarine would offer them protection from the elements.
Science of aquamarine
Aquamarine is a variety of the mineral beryl. Beryl generally forms inside granites as magma (molten rock) cools deep inside the Earth. Beryl comes in many different colors, ranging from clear to the deep green of the stones we know as emeralds. Aquamarine, though, is usually blue-green in color due to the presence of iron within the mineral's structure. Less desirable yellow or clear aquamarines can be heat-treated to produce the vibrant blue-green hue.
*An alternate birthstone for March is bloodstone, a dark green opaque (cryptocrystalline) quartz flecked with red spots.
April - Month of Diamond
History of diamond
Diamond is the most familiar gemstone and it has a rich and interesting history. Diamonds are known for their prismatic beauty and hardness, and they are highly valued for these and other qualities. At one time, it was even thought that if you took a diamond into bed with you, it would cure your illness!
Science of diamond
Diamond is a form of carbon with a tightly bound crystalline structure. It originates deep inside the Earth under intense pressure and high temperatures. Diamonds are brought up to the surface by very deep-seated volcanic activity. Diamond-bearing volcanoes are called kimberlies, and they erupted millions of years ago. Interestingly, both graphite (used in pencils) and diamond are forms of carbon, but they have very different structures and properties: graphite is opaque and soft, while diamond is transparent and the hardest mineral on Earth. These differences occur because diamond crystallizes in the isometric system while graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system.
May - Month of Emerald
History of emerald
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians mined the Earth, suffering through extreme conditions to find the prized green emerald. Cleopatra was so taken with these stones that she claimed the mines for herself. In fact, she was known for wearing lots of huge emerald jewelry, and gave emeralds carved with her portrait to her important visitors.
Science of emerald
Emerald is another variety of beryl, the mineral that includes aquamarine (blue), heliodor (yellow to gold), and morganite (pink to peach). The reason for emerald's vivid green color is that chromium and iron infiltrated its mineral structure during formation. It is surprisingly common for emeralds to contain flaws and veins of chemicals called inclusions. These little imperfections are an accepted feature of the stone's identity.
*An alternate birthstone for May is chrysoprase, an bright apple-green variety of chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz), often called Australian Jade.
June - Month of Moonstone
History of moonstone
Moonstone is a form of the mineral oligoclase feldspar. Moonstone's name comes from the fact that its shiny iridescent and refractive properties resemble the glowing moon. Moonstone (also called sunstone) can be blue-white or peach in color. Ancient peoples believed that the stone had mystical properties and could help with spiritual awareness. Some even believed that wearing this stone could cause invisibility for the wearer.
Science of moonstone
The strange light-refractive qualities of moonstone are caused by lamellar intergrowths inside the crystal. These structures form from layers caused by chemicals responding to hot and cold temperatures differently. When light enters the stone, it is bounced back and forth between these layers before it exits as the glowing moon-like effect we see.
July - Month of Ruby
History of ruby
The ruby is one of the most highly valued of all gems. Ancient Hindus referred to it as "the king of gems," and royalty used ruby to ward off evil because it was believed to have magical powers. One such magical power was that the ruby would get darker in the presence of evil and lighter when the evil was gone—but only if possessed by its rightful owner.
Science of ruby
Ruby originates from metamorphic rock, and is a variety of the mineral corundum, second only to the diamond in hardness. Rubies exist in a wide variety of colors, including blue, which is more commonly known as sapphire. Chromium is what causes the red color of rubies, however. Rubies can range in color from pale pinks to the deepest possible red, known as "pigeon blood." When rutile crystal inclusions are oriented in a specific pattern, a six-pointed star (called an asterism) becomes visible—these prized gems are called "Star Ruby."
*An alternate birthstone for July is carnelian, a translucent orange to reddish-brown version of the cryptocrystalline quartz.
August - Month of Peridot
History of peridot
The Arabic word "faridat," meaning gem, is where the name for the gem peridot comes from. Peridot's stunning beauty and bright color caused the ancient Egyptians to call it "the gem of the sun." It was believed that peridot glowed with its own inner light even after sunset, and that miners used to locate the stones at night to retrieve them during the day.
Science of peridot
Peridot is type of olivine, and comes in various shades of green, from light to a brilliant olive green. Olivine contains two types of minerals: fayalite and forsterite. Fayalite, with the mineral formula Fe2SiO4, contains large quantities of iron. Forsterite contains magnesium, and has a formula of Mg2SiO4. Olivine's formula is (Mg, Fe)2SiO4, showing the substitution of magnesium and iron. Peridot is the transparent form of forsterite.
*An alternative birthstone for August is the gem variety of jade. The green color in jade is from trace amounts of chromium in the mineral.
September - Month of Sapphire
History of sapphire
Sapphires were believed to have special protective powers, such as preventing envy and protecting the wearer from poisoning. Some ancient cultures even thought that if a sapphire container held a venomous snake, it would die. In addition, people believed that sapphire had medical healing properties, such as the ability to cure colic, rheumatism, blindness, and mental illnesses.
Science of sapphire
Sapphire is a form of the mineral corundum, and it exists in a range of colors from light to dark blue. Corundum is the second-hardest mineral after diamond and occurs in a wide variety of colors. Sapphire is any form of corundum that is not red, as red varieties are called rubies. Sapphires can be formed in crystalline limestone, gneiss, schist, and other crystalline rocks. Gem varieties occur chiefly in placer (river gravel) deposits.
*An alterative birthstone for September is lapis lazuli, a rock composed of numerous minerals. Gem varieties of lapis are dark blue, sometimes with white calcite spots within its structure, or specks of pyrite that look like gold.
October - Month of Opal
History of opal
Opals were greatly valued by ancient monarchs for their protective powers. They were worn as jewelry and in crowns to ward off evil and to protect the wearer's eyesight. The opal was also ingested in a ground-up powder to protect against nightmares.
Science of opal
Opal, which is a "mineraloid" (lacking crystalline structure) has a chemistry of primarily SiO2 (quartz) and includes 5%–10% water. The presence of water in the mineral structure allows geologists to determine the temperature of the rock at the time the opal formed. The structure of opal consists of chains of silicon and oxygen formed within tiny spheres. These spheres are usually inconsistent in size and concentration. In precious opals (the variety used most often in jewelry), however, there are many organized pockets of spheres. The spheres diffract light at various wavelengths, creating beautiful, prismatic colors.
*An alternate birthstone for October is variety of tourmaline that has transparent elongate crystals, sometimes pink at one end and green at the other. Tourmaline can also be many tones of pink, green, blue, or even black.
November - Month of Citrine
History of citrine
The first civilization thought to wear citrine (a yellow variety of quartz) were the Romans, who shaped it into cabochon—polished but unfaceted cuts of stone worn in jewelry. During the Romantic Period in turn-of-the-century Europe, citrine became more popular for the way it visually enhances gold jewelry. Citrine, like all forms of quartz, was believed to have magical powers and was worn as protection against evil and snake venom poisoning.
Science of citrine
Some citrine actually began as purple amethyst, but heat from nearby molten rock changed it to a warm yellow color. Citrine is one of the less-common varieties of quartz, and it ranges from a pale yellow to a dark amber that's named Madeira for its resemblance to the red wine of Portugal.
*An alternate birthstone for November is yellow topaz.
December - Month of Turquoise
History of turquoise
Since about 6,000 B.C. when it was first mined by the Egyptians, turquoise has been one of the most valuable opaque minerals in the jewelry business. Native Americans and Persians also valued it for its decorative and ornamental beauty. The Navajo believe that turquoise is a part of the sky that fell to Earth.
Science of turquoise
Turquoise is composed of hydrated copper and aluminum phosphate. It forms when circulating water alters other aluminum-rich rocks in desert environments. Turquoise has a slightly waxy appearance and can range in color from blue to shades of green and yellowish gray. The most valued color of turquoise, though, is the beautiful greenish-blue that contrasts so nicely with precious metals such as silver.
*Alternate birthstones for December are zircon and blue topaz.
Credits
Written by Gena Schwam, graduate student, University of Washington Museology Program.
