The demand for moissanite, a manmade gemstone that resembles diamond, is sweeping the nation. According to manufacturers Charles & Colvard, North American sales have skyrocketed to a 113 percent increase in the first-quarter of 2005. Moissanite is sold at several department store chains and appeals to people who want to buy inexpensive alternatives to diamond jewelry.
King’s Jewelry, one of the largest jewelry chains in the U.S., has marketed moissanite as a gemstone rather than as a diamond substitute, and this message has been successfully received by self-purchasing women. These consumers do not want to buy diamonds for themselves, but do want to wear diamond-like gemstones that have a higher quality than cubic zirconia.
Although moissanite is a beautiful and affordable gemstone, its diamond-like qualities might confuse you and your jeweler into thinking that the gemstone is actually a diamond. Scams have occurred throughout the United States, including in O’Fallon, MO where a man purchased moissanite stones from con artists, thinking they were diamonds. The buyer later brought the moissanite to a local jeweler who even mistakenly deemed the stones to be diamonds.
After carefully observing the dual trends of moissanite sales and diamond fraud, St. Louis-based Neustaedter’s Fine Jewelry offers tips about both jewels to dispel their common myths.
What is Moissanite?
Originally discovered by Dr. Henri Moissan at Meteor Crater in Arizona during the late 19th century, moissanite is a mineral composed of silicon carbide. A century after its discovery, laboratories began producing crystals from moissanite, and in 1998 Charles & Colvard began selling the gemstone.
Moissanite & Diamonds have Very Different Origins
Although the original moissanite fragments studied by Dr. Moissan originated from a meteorite that struck earth, moissanite gemstones are manufactured in labs. Since moissanite is difficult to grow, the gemstone is much more expensive than diamond substitutes like cubic zirconia.
In contrast, diamonds are created by natural processes. According to South African Diamonds, a Web site devoted to diamonds originating from South Africa, the jewels were formed millions of years ago in the earth’s mantle when carbon crystallized due to high temperature and pressure. When volcanoes erupted, magma carried diamonds just below or on the earth’s surface. Later the magma cooled and turned into rock which trapped diamonds for thousands of centuries. This rock is what people mine in places such as South Africa.
Their Similar Appearances have Some Distinguishing Traits
A glistening moissanite gemstone often looks like a diamond at first glance, but magnified moissanite has several characteristics that a qualified jeweler can identify.
Your jeweler should examine a suspected moissanite stone under a 10-power loupe to get a good look at the stone and its characteristics. Magnified moissanite stones often feature subtle greenish tints whereas quality diamonds are often colorless. Under 10-power magnification, moissanite’s facets seem to multiply, which is called “double refraction,” but diamonds only reflect their facets once. Moissanite also bears white ribbon-looking imperfections which are not present in diamonds. In order for you to observe everything first-hand, Neustaedter’s has a very large screen in its shop to magnify your gemstone.
Recent technological developments have improved testing methods for moissanite. Some jewelers use special moissanite testers to detect the gemstones. When the tester’s probe tip touches moissanite, you can see the Moissanite light flashing and hear a beeping noise. But since this test is not 100 percent accurate, your jeweler must use his or her knowledge and a trained eye to perform other tests.
A less hi-tech approach that some jewelers use is a flotation test, performed in a dense liquid. If performed properly, moissanite will float whereas a diamond will sink. It is recommended, though, that your jeweler uses multiple tests to determine the true identity of your stone.
What Should You do When Purchasing Moissanite or Diamonds?
You should only purchase the jewels when you are issued a guarantee that states the authenticity of your diamond or moissanite. Neustaedter’s recommends that you go to a jewelry store certified by the American Gem Society (AGS) because they will possess the knowledge and tools necessary to identify moissanite and diamonds.
Moissanite and diamonds both have their own advantages, but you and your jeweler must to understand the differences and characteristics of each stone to make a wise purchase.
Jay Heiseler is the Operations Manager at Neustaedter’s Fine Jewelry, a South St. Louis County jewelry store. Owned by Richard and Jacqueline Neustaedter, the firm has over 42 years experience in the jewelry industry. The Neustaedter’s belong to the American Gem Society, a group dedicated to the highest industry standards which accepts less than 1% of the country’s jewelers.
Purchasing a pearl necklace can be a daunting task because if you really want top quality pearls there are a number of questions and steps to take to ensure you do get the quality that you are seeking. Pearls are beautiful and a very stylish accent to any wardrobe. The questions and steps with some explanation will be addressed below.
Do you want natural, cultured, or imitation pearls. Please note that imitation pearls are custom jewelry and they don’t have much value. Natural pearls are next to impossible to find in stores they are also of a lesser value than cultured pearls.
There are choices of the shape of the pearls that you want. Pearls can be symmetrical, baroque, or irregular. Sphere like pearls are most costly and they are greatly sought after. Symmetrical pearls and tear drop shaped pearls should be even all over.
The size of the pearl is a great issue involving the price. The size of the pearl will affect the price. Bigger is better and they are also more expensive. If money is not a big issue size will only matter by your choice.
Depending on how much you want to spend, what kind of necklace do you want? Do you want a multiple strand with smaller pearls which are less expensive or do you want a single strand of larger pearls which are more expensive.
When inspecting pearls under direct light and on a flat white surface. Check every pearl for luster. Lustrous pearls have shiny surface. There should be good contrast between light and dark, as well as strong and crisp reflections. Avoid pearls that have white and cloudy look to them.
What is the pearls ‘orient’ - a play of iridescent rainbow with high quality colors. Ask whether the color is natural or dyed. The latter is less expensive. More exotic natural colors are more effective.
What is the pearls overtones - a tint secondary to the main body color. Pink tones can increase the price and blues can reduce the price. You can verify that the pearls are clean by making sure there are minimal defects such as nicks, cracks, pits, or discoloration.
Turn the pearl around and check it at all angles. The color, the shape, smoothness, and luster cannot all cannot be different on a single pearl.
Roll a strand of pearls on flat surface to test them for roundness. If they are round they will roll more smoothly and evenly. If they are not round you will feel it when the pearls are rolled, it could feel like going over a bump.
There are three steps you need to take to recognize real pearls from imitations. Run the pearls along the bottom edge of your teeth. A real pearl will feel gritty and or sandy. A fake pearl will feel smooth.
Look at and feel the pearls. Flawless pearls and those that feel light when you bounce them in your hands are probably fake. Check out the pearl under a number 10 magnifier ( a loupe). Imitation pearls appear grainy.
This is definitely a process and it is up to you to do whatever you can to check the value of the pearls. If necessary bring someone who is knowledgeable with you.
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes
Wedding Ring and and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
Diamond colors can vary widely from colorless, (also called white), to the fancy colored diamonds, which is a term used to describe basically any desirable color of diamond other than white.
Fancy colored diamonds can be found in brown, yellow, blue, green, pink, and red, and occur in various degrees of hue, saturation, and intensity. Colored diamonds can be classified into two categories: as untreated, unenhanced, naturally occurring diamonds, or as treated/enhanced colored diamonds.
The color grading system described here was developed by the Gemological Institute of America, (GIA). It is the standard grading system used in the U.S. and, for the most part, around the world. Diamond color grades are represented by letter grades starting at “D”, which is completely colorless, the absolute best colorless grade, and goes all the way to “Z”, which would be a very obviously brown, or brownish-yellow color. After “Z”, the fancy color grading system is used. Typically, for white diamonds you will only see grades “D” through “M” or possibly “N”.
Grades are grouped in three major groups:
Colorless — D, E, and F;
Near-colorless — G, H, I, and J;
Faint yellow — K, L, and M;
Very light yellow — N - R;
Light yellow — S - Z.
Diamonds are graded with the table side down…this means upside down to the way they are mounted. Thus, when a diamond is mounted in a setting, this usually makes accurate color grading impossible using a color master set. Newer technologies now make it possible to color grade a diamond while mounted, but these instruments are very expensive and not widespread.
Diamonds presented for grading, which are mounted, will only be a “best estimate”. Color master-sets are typically used to color grade diamonds. These master-sets are diamonds, or CZ’s that have been compared against a master-master set, and can then be used to compare to other stones. The GIA maintains such a master-master set of diamonds at the Gem Trade Lab in Carlsbad, California. Other means of color grading include newer electronic technology to grade the stone automatically.
Color preferences vary and are individual in nature. Diamonds mounted in platinum may require a better color grade to ensure the color tint does not show against the pure white of the metal. Color grades of G through J can be mounted in white gold, which has a slight yellowish tint to it which can tend to hide the lower color grade of the stone. Another factor that can affect the way a stone looks is the quality of the cut. A very good quality cut can help mask the color in stones that have a yellow or brown tint to them. By paying a little more to get a stone with a better cut, you can save on the color side of costs by getting a lower color grade without sacrificing the look of the diamond. Nicer cut diamonds, of poorer color grades can look much whiter than the color grade would suggest since the quality cut allows less light leakage and thus more white light is directed out of the top of the stone “bleaching out” the natural body color
Tom Shofner is a certified gemologist and owns Palmetto Gems in Columbia, SC His website is http://www.palmettogems.com
Body jewelry has become an accepted form of self expression. We see it everywhere from the street to the gym to the pool. It is so common now that I barely even take notice when I see someone sporting lip rings or a stud in their tongue. A few years ago this would have been completely shocking to me, but now it is normal and almost passé. However, sexy body jewelry is something that will always be noticed, or perhaps will never be seen by anyone but that special someone.
One of the sexiest places for women to be pierced is the belly button. Of course for the ultimate effect of the sexy body jewelry it’s preferable that the woman have a toned and tanned stomach to go along with the jewels. For men, nipple piercing has become more popular. It’s not uncommon to go to the beach, pool or local gay bar and see more than a few men sporting some sort of jewelry in their nipples. Of course women may have their nipples pierced as well, but it’s not something most of us will encounter in a public place. There are plenty of other sexy places for piercing and body jewelry, but I will leave that discussion to your imagination.
