 |
September 23rd, 2007 From admin
|
Depth: Measured in millimeters, depth is the distance from the culet to the table.
EGL: Originally part of the international network founded in Europe, EGL (Europe Gemological Laboratory), EGL-USA is one of the oldest independent gemological institutions around. EGL-USA focuses on gemstone certification and research. The first US lab was opened in the center of New York’s international diamond and jewelry district in the year 1977. As the company’s reputation grew so did its presence in the United States, now having offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto.
Emerald Cut: This is a form of “step” cutting used in the diamond process. Its usually a rectangular shape but sometimes is square in which case it is a square emerald cut. It has rows of elongated facets on the crown and pavilion, parallel to the girdle, and with corner facets.
Facets: A flat, polished surface on a diamond or gemstone.
Feathers: When viewed under a microscope, the transparent or light white inclusions that have a feathery appearance to them are referred to as feathers. They are mostly caused by the tremendous stress that the diamond suffered while growing underground. Feathers begin and end within the diamonds surface, and sometimes begin inside the diamond and reach to the surface.
F: Abbreviation for, Flawless on the diamond color scale. Refers to the imperfections or inclusions in a diamond if any. This is one of the characteristics that make up a diamonds 4 C’s.
Fluorescence: This grading element is apparent when the diamond has a reaction to UV light. Fluorescence is graded from “None” to “Very Strong” with several grading shades between. Even though diamonds with fluorescence fall slightly less in price to diamonds without, this characteristic for a growing number of people seems to be a sought after novelty. Diamonds usually fluoresces blue although occasional stones may glow light red, green, orange or yellow.
Girdle: The outer edge of a fashioned diamond or stone. This is the part that is usually grasped by the setting or mounting.
GIA: The Gemological Institute of America, GIA, was founded by Mr. Robert M. Shipley in Los Angeles California in the year 1931. The Wichita jeweler devoted himself to gemology in Great Britain in the year 1928. Learning from the worlds experts, of that present day, Mr. Shipley returned to the United States influenced with a wealth of information from Europe’s scholars and institutions.
Hope Diamond: The Hope Diamond is a 44.5 Carat diamond presently at the Smithsonian. It was submitted by Harry Winston in 1958. The Diamond acquired its name in 1762, when it was acquired by a member of the banking family Hope & Co. The diamond has a unique sapphire (dark blue) color. The stone is one of a kind; experts have yet to determine its true value.The diamond it seems has carried with it a history, in its past of several misfortunes that some may call coincidence, for others rumors of a curse. The Hope diamonds was first owned by Marie Antoinette, who as fortune would have it was beheaded. Even earlier the cutter of the diamond died of a grief and shame, after his son had stolen the diamond. As a result the son soon died shortly after by committing suicide. The person that found the diamond among his “remains” died the very next day. As the hope diamond has gone over the years the events seem to get stranger. Could this diamond be cursed to all who owns it? The Hope diamond later found its way in the possession of the jewelry Cartier, who sold the diamond to Mrs. Evelyn Walsh who claims that anything with bad luck gave the opposite effect on her. Still yet, soon after her possession of it, several members of her immediate family died (brother, son and daughter). After several years it was presented to the Smithsonian, where it now is available for anyone to see its beauty without the stigma of its cure.
Inclusion: A clarity characteristic found within a diamond that is created while the gem was forming in the earth.
IF: Abbreviation for, Internally Flawless. Refers to the imperfections or inclusions in a diamond, if any. This is one of the characteristics that make up a diamonds 4 C’s.
Jewelers’ Vigilance Committee: This group is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1912. Its purpose was and is to advance ethical practices in the jewelry trade. This organization has representatives of every branch of the jewelry industry.
Karat: Karat is the term used for measuring the gold purity. Be careful not to confuse “Karat” (KT) used to measure gold purity with the term “Carat” which is used to measure a gem stone�s weight. One karat is equivalent to 1/24th the total purity of gold itself.
Loupe (loop): The small magnifying glass used to inspect diamonds is popularly know as a loop. A loupe may contain a single lens or a system of lens which range from 2 to 20 power or more.
