Diamonds And Jewelry Planet

Diamond inclusion are flaws inside of a diamond or other gemstone

2013-06-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Diamond inclusions are characteristics that occur inside the gemstone. They are usually called flaws, because their presence means the diamond is not perfect.
Inclusions are like fingerprints, a characteristic that gives us all a special signature. Getting to know your diamond inside and out makes the stone a more personal possession—and will help you describe and identify the gem if it is ever lost or stolen.

Some inclusions affect a diamond's clarity, making it less brilliant because they interfere with light as it passes through the stone. Other types of inclusions can make a diamond more vulnerable to shattering.

There are few perfect diamonds, and the ones that are perfect are quite expensive, so the diamonds we buy all have varying amounts of internal and external flaws. Most jewelers tell us not to worry about diamond inclusions if they do not affect the stone's strength or seriously impact its appearance.

Types of Diamond Inclusions

Crystals and Mineral Inclusions
Diamonds can have tiny crystals and minerals embedded in them, even other diamonds. Many cannot be seen without magnification, but a large chunk or grouping of crystals that detracts from a diamond's appearance lowers its clarity grade, and its value.

There are times that a small crystal can add character to a diamond. A diamond with a tiny garnet inside would be a conversation piece -- and a nice personal choice for someone whose birthstone is a garnet.

Pinpoint Inclusions

Pinpoints are tiny light or dark crystals in diamonds and other gemstones that can either appear by themselves or in clusters. Larger clusters of minute pinpoints can create a hazy area in the diamond, called a cloud, which affects the diamond's clarity.

Laser Lines

Laser lines are not a natural diamond inclusion. These vapor-like trails are left behind when lasers are used to remove dark inclusions from the diamond. The machine-made trails look like tiny strands of thread that begin at the diamond's surface and stretch inward, stopping at the point where the inclusion was removed.

Feathers

Feathers are cracks within the diamond that resemble, well... feathers. Small feathers do not usually affect a diamond's durability unless they reach the surface on the top of the stone, a location that's prone to accidental blows.

Cleavage

Diamond cleavage is a straight crack with no feathering. A cleavage has the potential to split the diamond apart along its length if it is hit at the correct angle.

Small cracks that are not visible when a diamond is viewed in a table-up (face up) position do not seriously affect clarity ratings.

Girdle Fringes, Bearding

Girdle fringes, or bearding, are hair-like lines that can occur around the girdle during the cutting process. Minimal bearding is usually not a problem, but extensive fringing is often polished away or removed by re-cutting the diamond.

Grain Lines, Growth Lines

Grain lines are created by irregular crystallization that takes place when a diamond is formed. Colorless grain lines do not usually affect diamond clarity unless they are present in large masses. White or colored grain lines can lower a diamond's clarity grade.

Always shop for diamonds at a jewelry store you trust and find someone who can answer your questions about the diamonds you are considering. Ask the jeweler to show you each diamond under magnification and explain its characteristics to you.

Emerald is The Best Birthstone For May

2012-08-12T04:18:00.000-07:00

If the number of people who believe in the benefits of birthstones or precious stones, is reflected in reality, it would be very difficult, these beautiful stones with mystical properties seriously. As most people are aware of in the modern world very well, the concept of gemstones and birthstones are linked deeply into astrology. In addition, twelve zodiacal signs, each dedicated to one month, there are gems associated with each of these months. During the month of May is known for the astrological sign of Taurus and one of the finest jewels of humanity, which is a known emerald.

Identified in a word, the emeralds are the three principles of social and personal friendship, loyalty and fidelity. While some cultures believe the emerald to represent these three things, others that it represents success, hope and rebirth. However, the traditional virtues such as memory, belief, and vision are attributed to the emerald. As the traditional values of the emerald, the birthstone is known to be particularly influential on the mental side of things and are known to increase the mental abilities of the user. In addition to all that the Emerald has betrayed over the centuries to the ability, true love for popular support.

The Emerald has a lot of historical significance to human civilization. In fact, the emerald accepted as important to many ancient civilizations of mankind. For example, suggest that the historian was used in ancient cultures of Egypt emerald and India, and its use dates back to 3000 BC. Emperors of Mughal India used to write on religious emeralds, which clearly shows its importance in this culture to anchor. In addition, the Emerald was still very important to the Roman Empire as Cleopatra was known for wearing.

Technically, a nothing more than the emerald green variety of beryl, a mineral known. This gives the green color is due to mineral impurities in the form of molecules of chromium and iron. The emerald perfect accordance with the criteria and standards is one that has a hexagonal crystal structure. The emerald was born curative properties for a person during the month of May. Emerald is said to affect the ability to positively associated with health problems of the spine, the problem of headache, the function of fertility and eyes.

Furthermore, from a practical point of view, emeralds, one of the jewels harder when it comes to wear on a daily basis. The reason is the vulnerability of emeralds. Emeralds are extremely easy to scratch, making it a problem for someone on them as a ring or a bracelet on a daily basis. This is the question of emeralds she recommended mainly in the form of semi-trailers for people who could benefit from wearing them. This means that emerald necklace and pendant is an ideal gift for someone with Birthdays in May

The country of Columbia is known that about 60 percent of the global market to keep emerald. Why Colombian emeralds is so highly regarded that they have a dark green that is difficult to find in emeralds from other regions of the planet comes from the show. In fact, one of the most remarkable aspects of Colombian emeralds that she found particularly in the very green jungles of the country. Other countries, which are found in emeralds include Brazil, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Emeralds, although not as exorbitant as diamonds tend to be on the expensive side, be the way they are in the hands of a privileged few celebrities and ordinary people. Here is a list of some celebrities whose birthdays fall in May, and would benefit greatly from wearing emeralds in one form or another.

The incredibly colors of famous and equally Diamonds

2012-07-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

In late 2008 an enormous fancy deep grayish blue diamond that weighed in at a whopping 35.56 carats was auctioned for over sixteen million British pounds. That translates to over six hundred and eighty thousand dollars per carat. The “Wittlesbach” diamond, however, did not set the world’s record with its price. This was achieved by another blue stone in October of 2007. The 6.04 carat flawless blue diamond sold at auction in Hong Kong for six hundred and fifty thousand pounds (over $1million!) per carat set the world’s new record. When the hammer fell, the diamond had smashed a twenty year record held by the world’s most famous red diamond.

Out of all colored diamonds, red is the scarcest of all. The famous “Hancock Red” sold in the late 1980s for over $800,000 which gave it the record at the time for the highest price paid per carat.

So, an interested buyer might ask, how do colored diamonds get their hues and why are they worth more than colorless ones? Well, all diamonds get their color through the various chemical processes that take place while under the pressures of carbon crystallization that take more than millions of years to complete. In fact, it should be noted that scientists and even many gemologists insist that there are few to no “colorless” diamonds. There are roughly 300 shades of naturally colored diamonds recorded, and they range from “white” to “black”, and everywhere in between. The reason a diamond acquires a higher price tag because of its color has to do with the scarcity of its occurrence. Consider that among the world’s most famous diamonds are colored stones, in fact some of history’s most discussed, highly valued and notable diamonds are the colored stones:

The incredibly famous and equally notorious “Hope Diamond” is a deep-blue sapphire colored diamond currently housed at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. It is known for its size, color and quality as well as its “colored” history full of legend and curses.

Red carpet watchers and movie fans might easily recognize the “Pumpkin Diamond”: a vivid orange five and a half carat stone set for actress Halle Berry who wore it the night of her Academy Award win for Best Actress. The stone’s color is so truly unique that it is currently valued at over $3 million.

No list of super-valuable and super-famous diamonds can be considered to be complete without a mention of the “Tiffany Diamond”, a 129 carat cushion shape diamond. It is a canary yellow diamond, and while white diamonds with a yellow hue tend to be of lower value, the intensity of the coloration of the “Tiffany Diamond” makes it incredibly valuable both for color and size.

Interestingly, the largest diamond ever discovered in the United States was a natural color diamond of pale brown, the “Uncle Sam Diamond” located in what is now the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. The 40 carat stone was emerald-cut in 1971 and sold for approximately $150,000. Another diamond, of the yellow variety, was found in the same location and worn to the presidential inauguration of Bill Clinton by his wife Hillary Clinton. This diamond is on permanent display in the Park’s museum.

The “Green Dresden” is a truly green diamond, which is incredibly rare. This alone, apart from size makes it astonishingly valuable. The stone is also special because of its treatment; it was cut and polished, although such a process often diminishes such a stone’s green tones. The “Green Dresden” however retains a remarkably distinct green coloration. It was taken by the Soviets at the end of World War II, but returned in 1958. Today it is housed in the Albertinium Museum in Dresden.

Though black is usually described in terms of an absence of color, the largest black diamond in the world is considered a colored stone. It is known as the “Spirit of de Grisogono”, and is believed to be the world’s fifth largest diamond overall. It weighs 312 carats and is set in a white gold ring with 702 smaller white diamonds surrounding it.

Anyone interested in acquiring a colored diamond should be wary of purchasing from any dealer who is selling at seriously discounted prices. There are now ways in which colorless or white diamonds can be altered in a laboratory setting. These are not valuable in the sense of the naturally colored stones and are best avoided. The popularity of colored diamonds is making prices rise, not decline, and a low price may be an indicator of fraud.

How to Judge a Diamond's Quality

2011-10-17T13:33:00.000-07:00

When begin to search for a perfect diamond, We will certainly find that there is a big difference in price, and price is usually based on assessing the quality of the four Cs of diamonds, including cut, clarity, color, and carat.

Before we make a diamond purchase, we need to familiarize yourself with these terms, and we also need to find a reputable jewelry. Although we can examine the diamond yourself, we can ensure that we get value for the price only if we rely on the expertise of a specialist diamond.

Judging Cut
One of the most important factors in judging diamond quality is judging the cut of a diamond. It’s important because a quality cut diamond will be more brilliant and reflects light more beautifully, and yet the cut of a diamond has the least impact on the overall price of the diamond.

When judging diamond quality on the cut of a diamond, look at the stone in a well lit area. If the light seems to go into the stone and bounce back, showing a sparkling reflective surface, the diamond has a good cut. The angles and shapes of a diamond are important to judging diamond quality and the overall appearance of your diamond.

Not the shape of the stone, cut refers to how well a diamond’s facets are proportioned and aligned to maximize brilliance. According to Tiffany, an excellent diamond cut might sacrifice as much as 62 percent of a stone’s total weight.

Read more about Diamond Cut

Judging Color
Most diamonds are considered to be ideal if they are transparent, or colorless. Diamonds that are rated as colorless are the most expensive of diamonds.

There are two main ways that jewelers’ use when judging diamond quality based on color. They may pull out a set of reference stones, and find the closest match between the diamond and the reference stone to determine its letter grade. Alternatively, the jeweler may use a colorimeter, which can electronically measure the color of the stone and determine its grade within 1/3 of a grade.

When rating the color of a diamond, jewelers commonly use the letters D through Z. The more yellow or brown tint a diamond has, the less value it receives. The rating D represents a diamond that is colorless; while the rating Z has a yellow or light brown hue.

Read More about Diamond Color

Judging Clarity
The clarity of a diamond refers to whether or not the diamond is clear all the way through, or whether it has tiny flaws and cloudy areas within the gemstone. It’s actually very rare to have a diamond with absolute perfect clarity and no flaws, but most diamond flaws are not visible to the naked eye and can only be seen with a magnifying device.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses a magnification of about 10x when judging diamond quality based on the clarity. There are treatments available to make a diamond appear nicer than it actually is, and the treatments should lower the overall price of the diamond so it is important to do your research before purchasing a diamond to be sure you are not spending more money than you should.

Judging Carat Weight
Carat is the term we used to describe the weight of a diamond gemstone. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams of weight. A single diamond with a high amount of carat weight is more expensive than the equivalent amount of carats in multiple stones. This is because finding the larger diamonds is much more rare of an occurrence.

So if you want a 2-carat diamond ring, for example, you may decide to go with a half-carat diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds that add up to one and a half carats to give you the total of 2 carats! Judging diamond quality by the amount of carats is difficult, since different shaped gemstones, and stones with different levels of clarity will be priced differently even if they have the same amount of carats.

Read More about Diamond Carat Weight

How to Spot A Fake Diamond

2011-10-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

For some people, a diamond is a diamond. For others, only a natural diamond is a diamond.

Diamonds are hard to replicate, due to their very particular set of qualities. However, some replicas can be very convincing.

Diamonds can be created in laboratories, and other materials can be used to create gems that resemble diamonds closely, such as cubic zirconia, moissanite, crystal, and rhinestones.

And for some people, even a natural diamond is a “fake” if it has been enhanced. With so many definitions of fake, it is best to break this question down to address each style of “fake” diamond. The only way of making certain a diamond is real is by having it examined by a professional appraiser.

As a buyer, we should be less afraid of “fake diamonds” and more cautious about the seller representing a diamond stone as accurately as possible. When the diamond is accompanied by a third-party certificate, it is more likely to be what the seller claims it to be. All other purchases are less certain.

If you don’t know much about diamonds. There are some steps that you can take to avoid buying a fake diamond.

First, only deal with reputable jewelers, and when you find a reputable jeweler, stick with them. Avoid buying diamonds or other jewelry from jewelers that you have never dealt with before in the past. Ask to see the certificate for the stone. If no certificate exists, walk away.

Look at the setting that the stone is in. Fake diamonds, such as zirconias, are usually set in low quality metals. Take a close look at the stone. Fake diamonds are not durable – natural diamonds, on the other hand, are the most durable stone on the planet. Look for scratches or nicks.

After purchasing a diamond, take it to another jeweler for appraisal. In fact, take it to two or three other jewelers for an appraisal to make sure that the appraisals are all fairly close. If you find that you have purchased a fake diamond, you may be accused of making a switch when you return to the store of your purchase; therefore, it is important to have a certificate for the diamond. No two stones are alike.

Internal Diamond Flaws and Inclusions

2011-10-05T23:02:00.000-07:00

When you are looking for a diamond, be sure you find a jeweler whom you trust. A reliable jeweler should be willing and eager to point out various inclusions in each diamond. He should take the time to explain the make-up of that diamond and give you as much detail as possible, letting you look through his magnification tools to see for yourself.

Even with a trustworthy jeweler, however, it is wise to get an independent appraisal from a third party. Some sellers provide this service through a third party at no charge to customers buying a diamond. If not, many jewelers provide independent appraisals on pieces not sold in their store.

Diamonds flaws are common and most diamonds are not perfect and most of them consist of some inclusion or imperfections. These inclusions are also known as flaws and exist in various forms, exterior and interior. Inclusions are also classified in the manner in which they were formed. For example, syngenetic diamond inclusions are those inclusions which were formed while a diamond was being made. On the other hand, epigenetic inclusions were formed after a diamond was made.

Internal Diamond Flaws
When a diamond is considered to have a flaw, it is an imperfect gem stone. Something about the diamond did not form correctly, or there are tiny imperfections within the stone. Diamond flaws and inclusions are often not noticeable to the average person, and you need not worry about the small inclusions that occur in most diamonds. There are actually only very few diamonds which can be labeled “perfect”, and if they are placed in the category of no diamond flaws and inclusions, chances are the diamond will be extremely expensive!

There are some minor inclusions which cause a diamond to appear slightly dull. The inclusion within the diamond can affect the stone's clarity because as light passes through the stone, it is intercepted by the inclusion. Many of these flaws and inclusions can be reduced or fixed with the various forms of treatment processes that gemologists and jewelers have learned to do over the years.

Other diamond flaws and inclusions may be large enough to cause weakness within the gem stone, and the stone could shatter or break much more easily than a stone without the weakness. These are the flaws you want to be careful with, since they reduce the value of your stone.

Pinpoint Inclusions
When a diamond has speckles of dark crystals in groups or scattered throughout the stone, it is said to havea form of diamond flaws and inclusions called pinpoint inclusions. If the dark crystals are all clustered together in the stone, the clarity of the diamond is effected, and it appears to have a “cloud” inside the stone. These types of diamond flaws and inclusions may cause the diamond to be worth less, as it greatly effects the appearance.

Problems from Laser Treatments
When an imperfect diamond is treated with lasers to remove dark diamond flaws and inclusions from within the gemstone, sometimes a line is left through the diamond that looks much like a thread. The laser line begins at the outer edge of the diamond, and moves inward to the area where the dark inclusion was treated by the laser. These diamond flaws and inclusions are unsightly and easily spotted by most people, making the diamond less desirable.

Mineral and Crystal Inclusions
While most diamond flaws and inclusions are negative, there are instances when the diamond flaws and inclusions are actually an eye catching aspect of your diamond! For example, diamonds typically have smaller crystals inside the diamond, often so tiny they cannot be seen without some sort of magnifying device. The clarity of the diamond can be effected by these crystals, if there are enough of them and if they are all grouped together in one area of the diamond.

There are a few rare instances when another gem stone is actually inside a diamond, and could certainly not be seen as a diamond flaw or inclusion. For example, if you had a ruby or emerald that was surrounded by a diamond, you would see that as a special piece of jewelry- not a flawed one!

Evaluating Diamond Color, Diamonds Graded, And Fluorescence of Diamonds

2011-10-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

Evaluating Diamond Color

What exactly is diamond color? While most people think of the classic, transparent diamond, which happens to be the most rare and valuable, the colors of diamonds actually range from transparent all the way to a brownish color. There are different saturations of diamond color, and tones.

The Gemological Institute of America, known as the GIA for short, is the most commonly used system for evaluating diamond color. They've created something known as the “GIA Color Grade Scale”, and it has placed a grading system on the many different colors and shades of diamonds, classifying into 22 letter grades.

How Diamonds are Graded
The Gemological Institute of America has certified diamond color grades as “master color comparison” diamonds. When a diamond is being graded, it is compared against these master color comparison grades, to find the shades that match it most closely. The diamond that is being graded must be thoroughly cleaned and all oil must be removed from the surface before being examined, since even small amounts of dirt or oils on the surface of the diamond can alter the color.

A line of master color comparison diamonds or shade chart is set up, with each grade placed about one inch apart, ranging from the lightest and highest graded D shade, to the darkest, graded Z diamonds. The diamond color that is being graded is moved from the left side of the comparison units to the right, until it matches one of the shades.

Diamond grading should take place in a colorless environment, using a balanced fluorescent light source that has a filtered, cool white sun like ray. The room where the grading takes place is dark, all except for the special grading light, in order to obtain the most accurate grading of the diamond color.

Fluorescence of Diamonds
Yet another consideration when considering the diamond color is diamond fluorescence, and how it will effect the actual appearance in the diamond color. Fluorescence causes some diamonds to change color when viewed in our everyday, ultraviolet lighting, as well as under fluorescent light bulbs.

When a diamond color is graded, the strength of the fluorescence of that diamond must also be indicated. It may be considered to be strong, moderate, or weak fluorescence, and the reports must also indicate what color the diamond will change to due to the fluorescence. The reason for this is when people are in the jewelry store, looking at diamonds in the special lighting of the store, they may all appear to be the colorless, transparent diamonds. When you purchase a diamond and get it home under normal lighting, you could find your diamond is yellowish in color!

You can ask your jeweler to provide grading documentation and information about the fluorescent value of a particular diamond before purchasing, to make sure that you will be happy with the diamond you buy. Many jewelers also can show you the diamond under different lighting conditions, which will enable you to fully appreciate the beauty of the diamond before you buy it. Some individuals like a diamond color with a darker shade, while others are insistent on the transparent diamond color. The diamond color is one of personal preference, so be sure to do a little research before making your final selection.

Diamond Carat - What is Diamond Carat Weight?

2011-09-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Diamond Carat - What is Diamond Carat Weight?

When shopping for a diamond, you've no doubt heard references to the 4 C's of diamonds. Diamond carat is one of those popular ”c's” to consider when evaluating a diamond, and it's a term used to describe how much the diamond weighs. A single diamond carat is equal to the weight of 200 milligrams, or .2 grams.

Diamonds are described two different ways in regards to the diamond carat. An abbreviation of “ct” is used to describe the weight of a single diamond stone while an abbreviation of “ct TW” is used when describing the total weight of an entire piece of jewelry- when it has more than one stone in place.

It's important to recognize that two stones may have the exact same carats, meaning they have the same weight measurement, and yet they are completely different in size and appearance. This is due to the actual density of the gemstone. The more dense a stone is, the more weight they have, and sometimes a smaller stone will actually weigh more than a larger stone because of density.

When selecting your diamond ring, you can choose between a single, solitaire style setting (a single diamond on the ring) and a setting that has multiple, smaller stones to make up the ring. The value of a solitaire one diamond carat will actually be more than if you buy a ring that has two diamonds that add up to one carat or greater. Larger sized diamonds are more rarely found when mining diamonds, making them more valuable and expensive than purchasing the same amount of diamond carats in smaller stones.

So how do you determine what size diamond to buy? Do you want a diamond carat of 1, or 2, or do you want a ring with multiple, smaller stones? The answer to this will depend greatly on your budget, as well as the person who will be wearing the ring.

A diamond will look larger on a slender finger, so keep that in mind if the recipient of the ring has thin hands. The actual diamond carat measurement is probably not as much of a concern as the appearance, shape, and setting of the ring. Particularly because a 1 carat diamond ring will not look half the size of a 2 diamond carat ring, it's far more important to select a ring that is pleasing to look at than it is to buy one with the most carats you can afford.

Determine how much money you have to spend, and then decide on the cut of the diamond. Once you have these two pieces of information narrowed down, you can start browsing the diamonds in your price range, in the style you want, and find out what diamond carat you are in the market to buy.

Treated Diamonds - Why Treated Diamonds Exist

2011-09-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

Treated Diamonds - Why Treated Diamonds Exist

For centuries, people have always tried to improve objects that are a result of nature. We've cross bred plants and even animals to produce new species, and we prune and shape trees and bushes to make them more pleasing to the eye or to create fancy borders around our yards and in front of our homes. When it comes to diamonds, many become treated diamonds by the jeweler, in order to improve their appearance.

Treated diamonds can have improved clarity, improved color and even be completely coated to improve it's overall appearance. On the positive side, treated diamonds can help people with limited budgets have the ability to purchase a gorgeous looking diamond.

Clarity Improved Diamonds

In order to improve the clarity of diamonds, sometimes tiny cracks in the diamond are filled with molten glass. This can cause the diamond to move up a grade in the GIA grading system, and it does not affect the overall weight of the diamond. The process was invented by Israeli diamond cutter, Zvi Yehuda in 1982. Since this invention, some companies have begun a new process that fills the cracks with bromine instead of the molten glass, however, bromine will sometimes discolor the diamond under certain lighting conditions. It's always best to ask what method the diamond has been treated with when considering treated diamonds, so that you are not surprised when you view the diamond in light outside the jeweler's.

Colored Diamonds

There are a few different types of color treated diamonds. Colored diamonds are actually painted in order to take away a yellowish tinge, and make the diamonds appear more white and transparent. Some are colored darker, in order to permanently alter a diamond to a different color by using electron bombardment. Others become treated diamonds by way of laser drills. In the 1970's people began using lasers to drill miniscule holes into the diamonds to reach dark colored spots. Once they reach the dark colored areas within the diamonds, they are able to bleach them with acid so that they are not as noticeable. Sometimes they finish the laser treated diamonds by then filling the tiny holes with molten glass.

Coated Diamonds

Coated treated diamonds are much like a colored diamond, except for the entire diamond gets a coating of a substance that is designed to make the diamond appear brighter and more translucent to the naked eye. In fact, the coating is so good on most treated diamonds that it can go undetected unless an experienced gemologist studies the diamond for it's value.

Treated diamonds are often very beautiful, and can be more affordable than diamonds that are not treated. If you decide to purchase a treated diamond, just be sure you inform the jeweler when you bring your diamond in for cleaning, as they may need to use different chemicals to clean it and maintain it's treatment.

The Best Diamond Pricing Process

2011-09-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

If you have been shopping for diamond jewelry, you have probably noticed that jewelry such as engagement rings, eternity rings, diamond necklaces and earrings are on the market for a wide range of prices. In fact, the difference from one diamond ring to the next can easily be several thousand dollars. For most consumers, price is an important factor in a buying decision, so it is important to understand what you are paying for when you purchase a brilliant piece of diamond jewelry.

Pricing most products is quite easy. Determine how much it costs to make the item, how much it costs to market that item, and then mark it up by 15 – 30% or more. Simple, right? Well, pricing diamonds isn’t quite that simple. There are many factors that are considered when diamonds are priced.

Diamond prices are determined first by adding the cost of the rough diamond, the cost of cutting the diamond, and all other costs necessary to turn the rough diamond into a marketable diamond. Depending on the importance of the diamond, an independent company may be called in to certify the grade of the diamond based on color, cut, clarity, and weight.

At this point, the diamond becomes more expensive each time it changes hands, untilit finally reaches a retailer, where the price is raised a bit more. Before reaching the retailer, however, the diamond must travel from the mine, to the cutter and polisher, to the independent grading company, and then to the Primary market. Once it has reached the primary market, it will be purchased by diamond dealers and wholesalers, and from there it will be sold to retailers.

As you can see, the earlier you can purchase a diamond in the process, the lower the cost of the diamond will be – but not the value. The value is based on what the diamond will sell for in the market place – through a retailer.

If you own a diamond, and you have no idea how much it is worth, you can have it appraised, but the appraisal may not be accurate. You will be better off obtaining a certificate through GIA – Gemological Institute of America. With the information on this certificate, you can use a cutter’s guide to accurately determine what yourdiamond is worth.

There are also many diamond price calculators available. These can be found on the Internet, and many diamond dealers use these as well. You must realize, however, that before you can accurately price a diamond, without a Diamond Grade Report, you need to know quite a bit about diamonds, such as different cuts, clarity, color, and weight – and how each of those aspects adds to the value of a diamond, or decreases the value of the diamond as the case may be.

Again, you will be better off if you get a Diamond Grading Report on the diamond, and use that information to look up the price in one of the guides that the diamond cutting industry uses. This will give you the most accurate value of the diamond in your possession, or of the diamond you are considering purchasing.

Where diamonds are mined and how they are mined

2011-09-16T03:01:00.000-07:00

Diamond has remarkable optical characteristics. Because of its extremely rigid lattice, it can be contaminated by very few types of impurities, such as boron and nitrogen. Combined with wide transparency, this results in the clear, colorless appearance of most natural diamonds.

where diamonds are mined and how they are mined?

Probably a little more detail about diamonds than you were expecting but I’m sure it’ll impress everyone else about how much you know about diamonds, yeah? I’m sure if you throw a few of these diamond mine names around, you’ll get the attention of the sales assistants at the jewelry shops, too.

Argye mine located in the Kimberley region in the far north east of Western Australia. Owned by Rio Tinto, this mine is the world’s largest single producer of volume of diamonds. However, due to low proportion of gem quality diamonds it is not the value leader. It does produce 90-95% of the world’s supply of pink diamonds.

Diavik is also owned by Rio Tinto, located in Canada it is a very large mine. It is located north of Yellowknife and south of the Artic Circle on an island. The island is connected by an ice road. It is also an important part of the regions economy employing more than 700 people and producing more than 8 million carats annually.

Ekati diamond mine is owned by BHP Billiton and located south of the artic circle in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The Ekati is Canada’s first operational diamond mine. Diamonds mined here are sold under the Aurias trade name Authenticity is verified through Canada Mark service. CanadaMark service is also owned by BHP Billiton Diamonds, Inc.

Baken diamond mine is located along the lower Orange River in South Africa. It is owned and operated by Trans Hex. The average size stone for 2004 was 1.29 carats. In 2004, this mine produced a 78.9 carat D color flawless diamond that sold for more than 1.8 million dollars (US), as well as a 27.67 pink diamond that was sold for over 1 million US dollars.

Merlin is the second of only two diamond mines in Australia. No longer operating it was owned by Rio Tinto and sold to Striker Resources, who has explored the possibilities of reopening the mine.

Orapa is the world’s largest diamond mine. It us located 240 Km west of Francistown. The mine is owned by “Debswana” which is a partnership between DeBeers and the government of Botswana. This mine operates 7 days a week. It maintains pre primary and primary schools for its employee’s children. There is also a 100 bed hospital and game park. This mine began production in 1971 and is the oldest mine owned by the Debswana Company.

The Premier mine located in Cullinan, South Africa produced the largest gem diamond ever in 1905. The Cullinan Diamond weighed 3,106.75 carats. This mine also produced the Golden Jubilee diamond which weighed 545.67 carats. This mine is owned by the De Beers Company and was renamed The Cullinan Diamond Mine in 2003 in celebration of its centennial.

Spanish Inquisition Necklace

2011-09-11T23:43:00.000-07:00

One doesn’t normally associate beautiful jewelry with the time of the Spanish Inquisition. But in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of gems, there is an exquisite necklace of diamonds and emeralds.

It is a spectacular double row of diamonds and emeralds ending in a chandelier of emeralds. There is unfortunately very little information about the provenance of this necklace. The large diamonds and Columbian emeralds were most likely cut in India in the 17th century. This would make them one of the earliest examples of cut gemstones in the Smithsonian’s Collection. There are really only legends surrounding this necklace. They indicate that it was worn at times by Spanish and French royalty. In the early 20th century, it was purchased by the Maharajah of Indore, whose son sold the necklace in 1947 to Harry Winston. Winston subsequently sold the necklace to Mrs. Cora Hubbard Williams of Pittsburgh. She bequeathed it to the Smithsonian in 1972.

Emeralds are a form of crystal known as beryls. Beryls are normally clear crystals, but when infused with chromium or vanadium, they attain various gradations of green. The purest green are the rarest emeralds and many people actually prefer an emerald that has a blue-green tint.

Before the 16th century, the only known emerald deposits were in Cleopatra’s Egyptian mines. But after emeralds were discovered in Columbia, those became the “gold standard” in emeralds. Columbian emeralds have been discovered by archaeologists among artifacts of such tribes as the Inca, Maya, Aztec, Toltec and the lesser-known Chibcha Indians. Emeralds are among the rarest of gemstones and can be more expensive per carat than even the finest diamonds! They are a hard mineral, with a Moh’s hardness scale of 7 or 8 (compared to a diamond’s 10). While most emeralds are found in Africa, Russia and Africa, there have been discoveries of emerald deposits in North Carolina!

Characteristics of the Spanish Inquisition Necklace
The lower-half of the necklace which is double-stranded consists of two concentric semi-circles, made up of smaller diamonds interspersed with pairs of large barrel-shaped diamonds and emeralds, placed symmetrically on the strands. There are eight pairs of larger diamonds and four pairs larger emeralds on these strands. A chandelier-shaped pendant made up of five large emeralds is placed centrally on the double strand, with the largest emerald in the necklace centrally placed on the lower strand.

The upper-half of the necklace is single-stranded made up of smaller diamonds only. At the two points on the necklace where the upper-half and lower-half meet, two large emeralds have been placed. Altogether, there are 15 large emeralds, 16 large diamonds, and around 120 smaller diamonds in the necklace.

The largest emerald in the necklace is an old Indian-cut, 45-carat, barrel-shaped emerald placed centrally in the necklace. According to the Smithsonian, "The rich velveteen color and exceptional clarity place the large emerald among the world's very finest quality emeralds. The shape closely approximates the form of the original elongated hexagonal crystal, suggesting that the crystal faces were simply rounded off to yield the largest possible gem."

Blue Heart Diamond

2011-09-08T23:15:00.000-07:00

Photo by Chip Clark

There is a spectacular diamond in the Smithsonian Collection called the Blue Heart Diamond. Fans of the movie Titanic might think the “Heart of the Ocean Diamond” was based on this stone, and it may have been! However, this diamond hasn’t been cast in the ocean, but is safe and sound at the Smithsonian!

It has also been called the Eugenie Blue Diamond, although it’s uncertain that the Empress Eugenie ever owned this particular stone. It was cut in Paris between 1909 and 1910, but the stone’s origin – Africa or India – is unclear.

It is an enormous heart-shaped, blue diamond weighing 30.82 carats. Its current setting is in a platinum ring, surrounded by white diamonds. It changed hands among famous jewelers – such as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels - and owners until it was bought by Harry Winston in 1959 who mounted the diamond in its current ring setting. Winston sold the ring to Marjorie Merriweather Post. Mrs. Post donated the ring to the Smithsonian and it remains there with other famous blue diamonds, including the Hope Diamond and the Heart of Eternity Diamond.

These famous blue diamonds have recently gone through a grading and examination process, to classify their colors and to determine the source of the color. The Hope Diamond is classified as Fancy Deep Grayish-Blue. The Heart of Eternity has been classified as a Fancy Vivid Blue. The Blue Heart Diamond has not yet been classified, but some experts categorize it as either Fancy Vivid Blue or Fancy Deep Blue. Blue diamonds are of particular interest to scientists not only because of the color and the impurities that create it, but because blue diamonds also have an electric conductive property that makes them unique among clear and other colored diamonds.

Napoleon Diamond Necklace

2011-09-06T23:01:00.000-07:00

One of the most spectacular all-diamond pieces of jewelry in the Smithsonian Insitution is the Napoleon necklace. Thought to have originally been owned by Catherine the Great of Russia, it was presented by the Emperor Napoleon of France to his second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria on the birth of their son in 1811. The silver and gold set necklace contains172 diamonds weighing 275 carats - 28 oval and cushion-cut diamonds, dangling 19 briolette-cut oval and pear shaped diamonds and accented by small, round diamonds and diamond set motifs in a silver and gold setting. The diamonds are cut in "old mine" style, the precursor to the modern brilliant cut, and have a high degree of fire (flashes of color as the stone moves in light), but less brilliance due to less light refraction through the top of the stone.

The necklace has an estimated total gem weight of 275 carats, and the largest single diamond on it weighs approximately 10 carats. When Marie-Louise died in 1847, the necklace was given to her sister-in-law, Archduchess Sophie of Austria, who removed two stones to shorten the necklace. Earrings were made with the two removed stones, the whereabouts of which are unknown.

In 1872, the necklace was bequeathed to the Archduchess' son, Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. In 1948, Archduke Ludwig's grandson, Prince Franz Joseph of Liechtenstein, sold the necklace to a French collector who then sold it to Harry Winston in 1960. Marjorie Merriweather Post obtained the necklace from Winston and donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1962.

It’s difficult to value a piece like this in today’s market. However, in 1993, the auction house Christie’s in Geneva sold another necklace that Napoleon had given to Marie-Louise that was composed of rubies and diamonds. This necklace sold for $13 million.

Diamond cutting styles and variant

2011-09-05T22:45:00.000-07:00

Our love of diamonds and admiration of their fire and brilliance has given rise to many different cuts of diamonds. While we still see some of the earliest styles of diamond cuts – such as the round and emerald-cut, there are many more cuts today, some of them patented by their designers and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The most popular cut for a diamond ring today is still the round, brilliant cut. It was developed in the 17th century in Venice. It is still preferred when the raw crystal is in an octahedron formation. Even though as much as 50% of the stone is cut away in the process, often two stones can be carved from an octahedron. More unusually-shaped stones are used for fancy cuts, such as a marquise, pear or heart-shaped diamond. The earliest brilliants had 17 facets on the top of the stone and were called double-cut. This was soon improved with stones cut with 33 facets and were called triple-cut brilliants.

In the 19th century, with the development of better gem-cutting tools, more innovations in diamond cutting styles were developed. In 1919, Marcel Tolkowsky combined the art of cutting with the science of light and refraction and published his book, Diamond Design. These relatively recent geometric calculations were the forerunner of much of diamond cutting work today and led to other, more precise mathematical models engineered to enhance the fire and brilliance of diamonds.

There are now cuts such as the princess cut, trillions, ovals, pear and heart-shaped. Some innovative cutters have even fashioned star or butterfly-shaped diamonds! One patented cut, the Ashoka diamond, is an oblong cut with rounded, brilliant ends, and requires a stone 3 carats or larger. It’s an exceptionally beautiful (and pricey!) diamond shape. Tiffany has also patented a cut of diamond called the Lucida cut. It’s the lucky bride whose fiancé gives her one of these highly coveted stones!

Choosing The Cut of A Diamond

2011-09-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

There are many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut into – unless you are in the diamond or jewelry business, but this shape has a great impact on the much the diamond sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on how much the diamond sparkles, but the

actual cutting itself – when the diamond cutter actually cuts the diamond into a particular shape – also matters a great deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.

However, in the diamond industry, the cut of a diamond doesn’t refer to its shape at all. Instead, this is a reference to the stone’s depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and other aspects of the diamond. Common cutting problems include a missing or off center culet, misalignment, a diamond that is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken culets.

When shopping for a diamond, you should of course choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut – the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.

The cut of the diamond determines its shape. There are many different shapes for diamonds. What gives diamonds its brilliance is its facets. Each flat surface you see on a diamond is called a facet. These allow light to enter the diamond where it refracts into a rainbow of colors reflecting against other facets until the light comes out another facet. A diamond cut ideally will reflect the light towards your eyes as shown in the example.

As the image shows, an ideal cut diamond is more effective at reflecting the light back at the viewer. The less-than-ideal cuts lose the light either through the side of the bottom.

Why are most minerals not popular as gems?

2011-09-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

A gemstone or gem (also called a precious or semi-precious stone, or jewel) is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments. However certain rocks, (such as lapis lazuli) and organic materials (such as amber or jet) are not minerals, but are still used for jewelry, and are therefore often considered to be gemstones as well. Most gemstones are hard, but some soft minerals are used in jewelry because of their lustre or other physical properties that have aesthetic value. Rarity is another characteristic that lends value to a gemstone. Apart from jewelry, from earliest antiquity until the 19th century engraved gems and hardstone carvings such as cups were major luxury art forms; the carvings of Carl Fabergé were the last significant works in this tradition.

There are millions of minerals that exist on the earth, but few of them are prized as gems and used for adornment. Many of them aren’t in colors that are usually highly prized for jewelry. Or they’re not able to be cut and polished to be made wearable as jewelry.

Often it’s a matter of changing taste and times. In Imperial Russia and in the Victorian era, the mineral malachite and other opaque minerals were highly valued as gemstones jewelry. It is often a by-product of copper mining, and is distinguished by a brilliant green color, with dark concentric circles of color swirling through it. It’s not as highly valued because it’s easily available and not as expensive as an emerald or ruby. But there is an entire room devoted to malachite in the Russian museum, the Hermitage, as testament to its desirability among the most privileged class of people.

There have been discoveries that indicate that malachite was mined in Egypt as early as 4,000 B.C. It’s a soft gem, and easily carved and shaped. It polishes to a beautiful, rich sheen. But still is not highly prized in the U.S. as a gemstone.

Very often some minerals simply shouldn’t be used as gemstones, but because of their beauty, people wear them as such anyway. A moonstone is one such gem. It’s relatively soft, with a rating of 6 on Moh’s scale of mineral hardness, compared to a diamond’s hardness rating of 10. It’s a type of mineral called orthoclase, but when it exhibits a translucent, milky quality, it’s then called moonstone.

Other minerals exist, but are simply not prized for gemstones. Among the more common minerals, quartz stands out as one that can be used for jewelry, as well as decorative items.

Minerals are crystals Specimens

2011-08-28T22:17:00.000-07:00

The earliest forms of jewelry were items that early humans found naturally, such as shells or bits of bones. Early gravesites have also revealed that pre-historic man buried his dead with flowers and with carved ivory beads. These primitive beads would have taken at least an hour each to make.

Early man also might have found bits of turquoise that occurred naturally in areas of Turkey and North America. The pearlescent swirls found inside an abalone or conch would have also been used as jewelry.

They might have also found the earliest types of precious gems in the form of natural crystals, such as quartz or diamonds. Crystals are solid substances where the molecules are arranged in a symmetrical fashion, and they generally fall into one of six shapes:

Isometric, or cubic crystals are shaped like blocks and are symmetrically shaped. An example of an isometric crystal would be pyrite. This is also called fool’s gold because it has a metallic yellow or brassy color similar to gold.

Tetragonal, where the crystals are shaped like four-sided prisms and pyramids. An example of a tetragonal crystal is the zircon.

Hexagonal crystals are shaped like six-sided prisms, or pyramids. An example of this kind of crystal is the beryl, which includes gems like emeralds and aquamarines.

Orthorhombic crystals. An example of an orthorhombic crystal is topaz. Topaz can come in a variety of colors, although the mostly highly prized is a deep amber color. At one time, topaz was much more valuable, until rich veins of it were found in Brazil, which devalued the market.

Monoclinic crystals are short and stubby, with tilted faces at each end. Monoclinic crystals include gypsum.

Triclinic crystals are usually flat with sharp edges but no right angles. Each crystal has three unequal axes. An example of triclinic crystal is feldspar.

Palaeolithic age (Old Stone Age)

2011-08-27T22:05:00.000-07:00

As a species, we love to adorn ourselves with jewelry, makeup, hair accessories. We do it now to enhance our looks, to attract a mate and because it just makes us feel good about ourselves. Some forms of adornment are symbolic – like wedding rings. Or they’re used to make a statement about our lifestyle, like multiple piercings and earrings.

Have you ever wondered what the origins are of such self-decoration? Was there a meaning behind it? Or did we just start wearing beads, necklaces and earrings as our awareness of self increased and as we evolved?

We know that the earliest jewelry of bits of bones, shells and other personal adornments appeared in graves about 40,000 years ago. The idea that there was an afterlife, and the belief in spirits both good and bad, gave rise to the means to attract the good spirits and ward off the bad ones.

People protected themselves from evil spirits with adornments in the form of necklaces or bracelets, and pierced themselves with the same bones and shells to have these amulets on their persons at all times. At this time people also started painting their bodies with red ochre, which can be considered the earliest form of makeup. They also started lining their eyes with kohl to protect themselves against the force known as the “Evil Eye.”

Even today, much jewelry takes the form of amulets. People wear crosses around their necks, or the Star of David, or wear a claddagh ring – all to attract good fortune or ward off bad luck. There are even more throwbacks to this earliest form of magic, such as a lucky rabbit’s foot, or a lucky penny. Or we often have less well known, more personal amulets that have a meaning to us alone, but are still worn as good luck charms and amulets.

Diamond History

2011-08-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

Diamond history varies greatly depending on your source of documentation, as diamond history is as rich in myths and folklore as it is in physical facts and records. Diamond history is one filled with mythical stories, such as one where snakes guarded a land full of diamonds, and the history has fascinated people with the romance and beauty that surrounds our most precious gemstones; diamonds.

Early Diamond History

Around 3,000 years ago, in the country of India, the first ever diamond history was recorded. If diamonds had been found prior to this period of time, we have no written record of it Diamonds in this day and age were used for two main purposes, and is quite different from why we still love diamonds today. Diamonds stood as a talisman in order to fend off evil spirits, and to provide protection during battles, and they were also valued because of their ability to reflect the light.

Dark Ages of Diamond History

It is during the dark ages that the diamond history moved into having some sort of medical purpose. St Hildegarde was said to have written an anecdote to heal wounds and cure illnesses that instructed the sick to hold a diamond in their hand and make the sign of the cross. Some people in diamond history went as far as swallowing diamonds, hoping it would cure their illnesses magically.

Middle Ages of Diamond History

It was during the middle ages that diamonds began to gain popularity. It is this point in diamond history that many of the famous diamonds were discovered, including the Blue Hope, and the mountain of light, both found in India. In our current times, India remains the worlds finest polishers of diamonds.

The middle ages also saw a shift in diamond history- where previously diamonds were valued based on their mythical powers, they began to be valued more for their overall worth. As more people learned of the incredible value of diamonds, mine owners began circulating stories that diamonds were poisonous, to prevent the workers from swallowing diamonds as a means to smuggle them out of the mines undetected.

Also during this period of diamond history, people wanted diamonds more than any other time period previously, mostly because they recognized their power and worth. India's diamond supply was dwindling and was unable to meet demands of diamond buyers. South Africa's find of diamonds near the Orange River began the world's largest diamond rush of diamond history, and helped satisfy the demands of those wanting diamonds for themselves.

More Recently

Diamond history began to spread into eastern Australia sometime during the middle of the nineteenth century. During the late 1970's, Australia as a diamond producer became validated. Also in the late 1970's, 1979 to be exact, the Argyle pipe near Lake Argyle was discovered by geologists. Since that day, Argyle has become the absolute largest producer of diamonds in all the world and throughout diamond history, and produces over one third of the diamond volume each year.

Diamonds and jewelry Planet Privacy Policy

2011-08-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

At Diamonds and jewelry Planet, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by Diamonds and jewelry Planet and how it is used.

INTRODUCTION
Your privacy is essential to us. Here in Diamonds and jewelry Planet, we believe that privacy is a top priority. We know that you care how information about you is used and shared. Thus, we provide this Privacy Policy to summarize our procedures and practices as regards to information collection and use. This will serve you as a guide in making an intelligent decision in sharing your information with us. By visiting Diamonds and jewelry Planet, you agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy and hereby accept the procedures and practices stated in this herein.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites, Diamonds and jewelry Planet makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
Diamonds and jewelry Planet does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.

DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on Diamonds and jewelry Planet.
.:: Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to Diamonds and jewelry Planet and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....
Google Adsense

SCOPE
This Privacy Policy applies only within this website and other pages where this policy appears. This would describe and explain how we take care and handle your personal information you shared to us. By accepting the Privacy Policy and the User Agreement in registration, you expressly consent to our collection, storage, use and disclosure of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

COLLECTION & HOW USE
If you attempt to use the services and applications of our website and or choose to provide information to us, this website shall collect Personal Information from you. This information includes, but is not limited to: name, address, telephone number, mobile number and/or email address. Once collected, we will store your information for a reasonable period of time for record keeping purposes. The information that we store is sometimes deleted as space requires or in the normal course of business.

DISCLOSURE
We may share information with governmental agencies or other companies assisting us in fraud prevention or investigation. We may do so when: (1) permitted or required by law; or, (2) trying to protect against or prevent actual or potential fraud or unauthorized transactions; or, (3) investigating fraud which has already taken place. The information is not provided to these companies for marketing purposes.

SECURITY
All collected information is stored in a technically and physically secure environment. While we use SSL encryption to protect Sensitive Information online, we also do everything in our power to protect PII (including Sensitive Information) off-line. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect our end-users' personal information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information that you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk.

ACCESSING AND UPDATING PERSONAL INFORMATION
When you use our services, we make good faith efforts to provide you with access to your personal information and either to correct this data if it is inaccurate or to delete such data at your request if it is not otherwise required to be retained by law or for legitimate business purposes. We ask individual users to identify themselves and the information requested to be accessed, corrected or removed before processing such requests, and we may decline to process requests that are unreasonably repetitive or systematic, require disproportionate technical effort, jeopardize the privacy of others, or would be extremely impractical, or for which access is not otherwise required. In any case where we provide information access and correction, we perform this service free of charge, except if doing so would require a disproportionate effort. Some of our services have different procedures to access, correct or delete users’ personal information. We do retain personal information from closed accounts to comply with law, prevent fraud, collect any fees owed, resolve disputes, troubleshoot problems, assist with any investigations, enforce our policies and take other actions otherwise permitted by law.

MINORS
This Website is not intended for visitors that are minors or under eighteen (18) years of age. Diamonds and jewelry Planet does not knowingly solicit or collect information from individuals under the age of eighteen (18). If we determine that we have inadvertently collected personal information from someone under eighteen (18) years of age, we will take reasonable steps to purge this information from our database. We encourage parents and guardians to spend time online with their children and to participate and monitor the Internet activities of their children.

CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS & NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES
Diamonds and jewelry Planet reserves the right to change or update this Privacy Policy at any time by posting a clear and conspicuous notice on the Website explaining that we are changing our Privacy Policy. All Privacy Policy changes will take effect immediately upon their posting on the Website. Please check the Website periodically for any changes. Your continued use of the Website and/or acceptance of our e-mail communications following the posting of changes to this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of any and all changes.

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at reretrioktaviani@yahoo.com.