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Recommended Links
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Jewelry Buying Guide
Resources - Jewelry Facts and Tips
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History of
Lampworking / Flameworking Glass Beads
Renowned glass
lampworking artist and teacher Robert Mickelsen has published a fabulous
article on the history of the art at
http://www.nfobase.com/html/history_of_flameworking.html. |
Jewelry Buying Guide
Resources
The
Better Business Bureau
has an excellent article about Buying Jewelry. It contains information on
buying platinum, gold, silver, diamonds, colored gemstones and pearls, and
has sections on jewelry manufacturing techniques and repairs.
The U.S. Government's Federal Citizen
Information Center has a terrific article called "All That Glitters... How To Buy Jewelry" that
explains many common jewelry metals: solid gold, gold-filled, gold-plated,
gold overlay, rolled gold plate, gold electroplate, gold flashed,
gold-washed, vermeil, platinum, sterling silver and pewter. It explains the
differences between natural gemstones, lab-created stones and imitation
stones, and describes some of the more common gemstone treatments. Special
attention is given to diamonds and pearls, and there's a quick Jewelry
Shopper's Checklist you can take with you when shopping for your jewels. |
Diamond Buying Guide
Resources
The
Gemological Institute of America
(GIA) offers a wonderful
tutorial on its site called "How To Buy A Diamond."
The
Diamond Buying Guide"
site offers information on
color, cut, clarity and carat weight, a Diamond Grading Quiz, a Diamond
Buying Quiz, a glossary, FAQ, and coupons and discounts. You'll also find
information on Asscher Cut Diamonds.
The merchants of the 47th Street Diamond District
offer their own Diamond Guide
that contains an overview of the "4 C's" as well as information
on grading reports and treated diamonds.
Ask Mr. Jewelry
offers advice on how to buy
diamonds. He covers the ideal cut, diamond quality, care and cleaning, and tips for
buying an engagement ring. |
Diamonds
Did you know…?
• Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth.
• Diamonds were formed approximately 100 miles beneath the earth’s surface.
• Diamond crystals are brought closer to the earth’s surface through
volcanic activity.
• 250 tons of earth must be mined to produce a single one-carat diamond.
• Less than 20 percent of the diamonds mined worldwide are gem-quality.
• The earliest written account of diamonds dates back to around 500 B.C.
Sourece: Gemological Institute of America.
Did you know…?
• In their pure state, diamonds are colorless.
• Blue and pink are the rarest colored diamonds.
• Yellow and brown are the most common colored diamonds.
Source: Gemological Institute of America.
Did you know…?
• Diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth.
• Diamonds are virtually fireproof. To burn a diamond, it must be heated to
1292 degrees Fahrenheit. (The typical house fire reaches a temperature of
approximately 1100 degrees.)
• Only one polished diamond out of a thousand weighs more than one carat.
• The word carat comes from the Carob Mediterranean tree whose seed was used
for centuries as the standard of weighing precious stones.
• 1 carat = .2 grams or .007 ounces.
• The largest rough diamond, discovered in 1905, is the Cullinan diamond,
weighing in at 3,106 carats (2.8 pounds)!
Source: Gemological Institute of America.
Did you know…?
• Even though the U.S. only accounts for less than one percent of total
global gemstone production, America buys more than half of the world’s gem
quality diamonds – making it the world’s largest diamond market. (Consumers
in the united states alone purchased $9 billion worth of loose gem-quality
diamonds in 2001.)
• Australia produces the most diamonds by volume.
• Until the 18th century, the only diamond mines were in India.
Source: Gemological Institute of America. |
Estate Jewelry Buying
Guide Resources
The
Gemological Institute of America
(GIA) site has an extremely informative article on
"Tips For Purchasing
Estate Jewelry". |
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| Caveat: I'm good
at researching facts, but for my own protection and yours, let me be clear
that the information in this section is my opinion only, except where
specific attribution has been made, and does not imply or guarantee the
accuracy of these opinions or statements. |
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