Buying Advice: Jewelry
E.D. Marshall would like to provide
you with this brief guide to checking a diamond for
clarity and cut.
Almost all diamonds contain
naturally occurring internal characteristics called
inclusions. The size, nature, location and amount of
inclusions determine a diamond's clarity grade and affect
its value.
When a diamond
is cut properly, most of the light entering from any
direction is reflected through the top and is dispersed
into a display of sparkling flashes and rainbow colors.
This is called dispersion. Light entering the diamond
reflects internally from facet to facet and reflects
back through the top creating brilliance.
Buying a diamond
is not like buying a book or other generic item that
a few clicks with a mouse can accomplish. For this reason
we invite you to phone us and speak with our diamond
specialists to discuss your specific needs.
General Care
General care
for diamond jewelry is very important. Jewelry should
not be stored together since it can be scratched or
tangled. Although diamonds are the hardest substance
known to man, a diamond will scratch another diamond.
Also, diamond jewelry should never be worn while doing
heavy work.
Visiting your
jeweler a minimum of once a year is highly recommended.
The jeweler will give your jewelry a professional clean
and check that the setting is secure.
You can clean your jewelry at home between visits. There
are three easy ways to clean jewelry.
1. Prepare a small bowl of
warm sudsy water with a mild liquid detergent. Gently
brush the jewelry with a soft toothbrush while it
is in the suds. Then rinse each piece under warm
running water. Pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth.
2. In a small bowl, soak the
jewelry in a half-and-half solution of cold water
and household ammonia for thirty minutes. Lift out
and gently tap around the front and back of the
mounting with a small soft brush. Swish in the solution
a second time, rinse and drain on tissue paper.
3. Use a brand name liquid
jeweler cleaner and follow the instructions given
on the label.
White Gold
vs. Platinum
White gold
is an alloy of gold and some white metals such as nickel,
silver and palladium. White gold can be 18ct, 14ct,
9ct or any karat. For example, 18ct yellow gold is made
by mixing 75% gold with 25% other metals such as copper
and zinc. 18ct white gold is made by mixing 75% gold
with 25% other metals such as nickel, silver and palladium.
So the amount of gold is the same but the alloy is different.
When white gold rings are new they are coated with another
white metal called Rhodium. This Rhodium is very white
and very hard, but it does wear away eventually. To
keep a white gold ring looking its best it should be
re Rhodium plated approximately once a year.
Platinum is a white metal, but unlike
gold it is used in jewelry in almost its pure form (approximately
95% pure). Platinum is extremely long wearing and is
very white, so it does not need to be Rhodium plated
like white gold. Platinum is very dense (heavy), so
a platinum ring will feel heavier than an 18KT gold
ring.
Platinum is,
however, very expensive. A platinum ring will be approximately
twice the price of an 18ct white gold ring.
