Posts Tagged ‘man made diamonds’

The Decade’s Top Diamond Scams: What You Will Be Shocked to Learn

High quality man made diamonds are a bargain at less than $100 per carat, and they do not increase in price steps as carat weight increases. For example, a one-carat diamond alternative costs about $100. A one-carat mined diamond that sells for $3100 would go for $45,000 in a three-carat size, all things being equal, which with mined diamonds is never the case. Perplexing comparative evaluations, exponential price growth, consumer confusion, and the reality of diamond industry antics is why the mined diamond business is awash in dirty tricks. Here are descriptions of the most sneaky and pervasive mined diamond scams:

THE BLUE-WHITE SCAM: A jeweler tells you: this is a blue-white diamond. This is a very old term. The dealer will probably tell you that it is a better diamond, but actually it is just the opposite. Blue-white refers to the fluorescence that results in natural light, which contains ultraviolet wavelengths. This blue fluorescence actually makes a colorless diamond look a little oily or milky in sunlight and decreases its value.

THE LIGHT MAKES WHITE SCAM: Diamonds look so much better in brilliant lighting. Naturally, every jewelry store wishes to have their diamonds portrayed in the most favorable lighting. Knowing this, there are several scams to watch out for. Stores know that yellowish diamonds will look more white under bulbs which have a stronger blue hue. Specialized light bulbs with heavy ultraviolet wavelengths will make the majority of diamonds blue in fluorescence. However, this actually whitens the look of lower grade stones which aren’t naturally clear and white.

THE GRADE BUMPING SCAM: A jeweler exaggerates the grade. The FTC says that a jeweler must be accurate within one grade of color and one grade of clarity on a diamond. So many jewelers bump the color and clarity just one grade. Unfortunately, this can mean a great deal of money if you are talking about a 1-carat diamond. For instance, you might find a stone that the jeweler quotes as a 1.00 carat F color / VS1 clarity for $6,600. However, if you sent it to a reputable gem lab like GIA, it would come back as a G color / VS2 clarity, which is only worth about $5,400. This means you lose (and they profit) about $1,200.

THE FRACTION SCAM: The sticker says it is a 0.75 carat diamond, and the FTC will unfortunately enable jewelry stores to round off diamond weights. Therefore, a diamond tagged as a .75 carat in weight may very well weigh between .69 and .81 carats. This will mean a lot of money, because diamond costs jump when they get to common sizes. In using this instance, you could be purchasing a .69 carat round G/VS2 worth approximately $2,700 yet instead shelling out cash for something you were told was a .75 carat diamond worth $3, 700. A $1000 loss for you.

THE LASER DRILLING SCAM: Dealers drill holes to burn out black carbon spots from cheaper diamonds. About 1 in 3 diamonds are laser drilled. Dealers use lasers to drill a tiny hole into the diamond to burn and evaporate large black inclusions to make them disappear. The trouble with this little trick is that laser drilling can make the diamond a little more fragile to breaking with a good knock. Some dealers should sell laser-drilled stones for much less but don’t.

THE HIDING THE FLAWS SCAM: All jewelers cover up defects in diamonds under or around the prongs if they are able. Oftentimes, a cheap diamond will look fairly nice and more pricey if one were to just view it in the setting. Yet the concern is that with these defects being hidden right by the prongs, it makes the diamond weaker at each of the points.

THE FRACTURE FILLING SCAM: New procedures which cause blemishes to be concealed. A brand new treatment has been developed which dissolves a type of glass into exterior-damaging cracks in a diamond. This approach is tricky because the customers can’t readily see it. Fracture-filled diamonds really need to be sold for significantly less than unfilled diamonds but unfortunately the never do since jewelers can sell them for the a lot more since they appear to be a greater, finer grade in clarity.

THE CHEMICAL COLOR COATINGS SCAM: Some paint can sure make a diamond look good. An incredibly dishonest method used is when jewelers place a little dot of purple or blue paint beneath the tip of the diamond which is called the culet. What this means is that although it is so small that the naked eye can’t see it, the paint dot actually reaches all over the a normally yellowish diamond in cheaper grades, making it appear significantly more pricey and without the yellow coloring.

Synthetic gemstones or diamond alternatives are created under perfect lab settings, and because of this they look absolutely perfect–which is the only way jewelers can tell if they are real or not under magnification. Jewelers know that all diamonds have some sort of flaw or blemish so when they look at it under the scope they will be able to see the difference. Because it is impossible to tell the difference between gorgeous synthetic gemstones and the finest mined diamonds, you can be assured of saving a great deal of money. Therefore, all who are about to consider diamonds should realize that synthetic gemstones or diamond simulants are a viable alternative. As well, if you buy man-made gemstones, you will never have to worry about insuring your ring and can use all the money you save elsewhere!

Author Julia McKinnen has been lecturing on the diamond deceptions in the United States for the past ten years. Her fascinating insights into the diamond industry and diamond simulants are available on her blog and new web site.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Man-made Synthetic Diamonds – Panic brewing for DeBeers?

There has been a remarkable buyer shift in the direction of diamond alternatives. Today surveys have revealed that only 52% of women want the “genuine thing”. Customers are opting for less high-priced diamond simulants, and have strong rising considerations concerning conflict/blood diamonds, the exploitation of child slave labor in Africa’s diamond cutting operations. Additionally, buyers are tired of the diamond cartels employing its monopoly position to inflate prices. They are tired of being manipulated frequently and being bought flawed or “improved” stones by a jewelry shop at the emotional time of a purchase, in particular in the case of engagement jewelry.

Then there is the sensible issue of money. Diamonds can tens of thousands, depending on carat weight, clarity, cut and color. Nonetheless, synthetic diamonds are available for less than 100 dollars a carat, selling retail for a diminutive portion of the price of mined diamonds.

Consider two solitaire engagement bands with identical solid gold settings, each with one 2 carat round cut middle stone, one flawless artificial and one a natural mined diamond of good but not exceptional quality. The ring with the synthetic stone can retail for about $600. The ring with the natural stone will sell to the consumer for about $20,000. The distinction is astounding in financial savings realized by the couple by going with a stone that can’t be distinguished without the aid of gear. $20,000 that can be considerably better put to use and invested in a recently married couple’s own home, an intelligent choice that will surely “enshrine core human values and emotions”!

The main diamond cartels hav been dismissive by publicly ignoring the development of artificial diamonds in the market place, but measures speak louder. With the industry penetration of cultured diamonds, they have set up what it calls the Gem Defensive Program. At no cost, the manufacturer is supplying gem labs with subtle equipment developed to help differentiate man-made from mined gemstones. De Beers has been sending out its testing equipment “called Diamond Sure and Diamond View” to the gem labs. Typically, these labs examined and licensed color, clarity, and measurement. Now they have to distinguish between man-made and mined. The Diamond Sure device shines light via a gemstone and analysis its refractory characteristics. If the gem comes up suspicious, it must be examined with the Diamond View, which uses ultraviolet light to reveal the crystal’s internal structure.

Are the main diamond cartels spending greatly on screening tools if they have been not concerned regarding the influence of synthetics? No. Does this genuinely matter to a shopper with moral difficulties regarding natural expensive diamonds or wanting to conserve tens-of-thousands of dollars? No. For the time being, synthetics only threaten the way the diamond companies needs the consumer to believe of a diamond. Nevertheless, the arrival of manufactured diamonds is threatening to correct the public’s perception regarding expensive diamonds, and will eventually transform the multi-billion dollar diamond industry, possibly even bankrupt it, or at the very least devalue just about every existing diamond on each finger.

With superior science, companies making diamond simulants will pose a menace to diamond producing and exporting countries. If the laboratory-made diamonds go on attaining popularity, commerce in the earth’s most high-priced gemstone will falter. Leaders in the diamond organization have depicted fears that the synthetics will eliminate the worth and marketplace of natural gemstones as the clients certainly pick a much less costly, more smart alternative. Therefore, before you rush out to the mall or your neighborhood jewelery retailer, look on the internet for alternate options to expensive diamonds so you do not needlessly pay thousands more for fundamentally the same looking product.

Author Brett Mattock has been a diamond cartel professional for the past two decades. His articles on conflict diamonds and the DeBeers cartel have been published throughout Europe and North America. Visit his blog and new website geared towards exposing the scandals of the diamond cartel.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Cultured Diamonds Created as Memorials and Heirloom Keepsakes

It has often been said that diamonds are eternal. Taking millions of years to form in nature, they are the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth. It’s no wonder that they have become a symbol of enduring love and stability. Recent scientific advancements now allow for efficient production of jewelry-quality cultured, or man-made, diamonds. In some cases, these can be far more precious, unique and personalized keepsakes and heirlooms than mined stones.

Man-made stones are “grown” from a tiny seed of diamond, resulting in a flawless gem that is optically, chemically and physically identical to natural mined jewels. They are produced over a period of several weeks rather than millions of years. However, it is now possible to include carbon from sources as diverse as human hair and the ashes of the deceased.

This has led to the rise of synthetic stones that are produced using, for example, hair from the bride and groom of a wedding, or from the ashes of a beloved grandparent. While every gem is unique, these man-made stones are even more so, since the carbon which is used to produce them comes from a very specific source.

Besides the aforementioned uses in wedding bands and commemorative jewelry, these synthetic diamonds can serve as the ultimate Mother’s Day gift. A ring, bracelet or necklace with a center stone containing hair from each child will become a treasured keepsake, offering a degree of uniqueness which simply cannot be matched or repeated. In addition, those who want to commemorate a beloved cat, dog or other pet will be pleased to know that the pet’s hair or fur can also be used to create a cultured diamond.

Because diamonds are so enduring and beautiful, jewelry created as memorials to loved ones are a wonderful family heirloom. These pieces will be passed down for generations with a special heritage – not merely a cold rock like any other from the earth, but a part of friends, family members or pets that will endure for hundreds of years and a physical reminder that our loved ones never are truly gone as long as we remember them and hold them close in our hearts.

There is even a rising market for cultured diamonds created from the hair of celebrities. Many of these unique and eternal gems are being auctioned off to benefit charities or other public causes. Since all it takes is a small snip, gems made from famous performers such as Michael Jackson are already on the market. These unusual stones are becoming popular for use in charity fundraising – proceeds from sales of such celebrity commemorative jewelry going to important causes that the celebrity held dear. For those who have been touched deeply by a celebrity’s work, these unusual collectors’ items could be considered the ultimate way to honor them. These stones would also be an amazing gift for a loved one who is a huge fan.

These special cultured diamonds offer a unique way to show love and appreciation. No matter if the resulting jewelry is intended as a gift or for yourself, these amazing gems are a treasure that cannot be measured in mere material worth, and a memorial that will endure for hundreds of years.

Reproduction permitted only when all active hyperlinks are included. 2010 All rights reserved.

Stephen Daniels is an acclaimed SEO 2.0 researcher of best practices, products, and services for a wide variety of industries. He highly recommends JewelNet.com, the premiere producer of eco-friendly cultured diamonds named by EarthShare. They offer loose stones and bridal jewelry, pendants and earrings with certified stones in six vibrant colors.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Secrets Of Lab Grown Diamonds Are Revealed

Diamonds have always been considered as women have preferred jewelry. Over the years, diamonds have created conflicts, problems and environmental concerns. Some individuals believe that problems that diamonds cause are becoming obsolete because of the emergence of synthetic or lab-created diamonds. People are initially fooled by the term lab by which it’s called because they think it is a mock up. In previous years, lab-grown or synthetic diamonds had a bad connotation. Now, they are highly accepted by the public not just for its consistent quality and composition that is almost perfectly identical with a natural diamond, but because they were able to solve problems that natural diamonds have stirred up.

You see, behind the gleaming beauty and elegance of a naturally acquired diamond is the dark story of how it was taken and the negative effects that it imposes on the environment. You have to put in mind that when you are buying a natural diamond, you are condoning child labor and other inhumane practices. Most of the time, people from Africa would kill just so they could find a diamond and sell it in the market.

On top of that, naturally acquired diamonds are also smuggled in the different countries around the world because the demand is just immense. This mode of acquisition not only makes it dangerous for the people who are involved, but it is also humanely unacceptable. This, together with other factors has brought the prices of natural diamonds up.

Along with that, when purchasing naturally-occurring diamonds, you are also allowing the environment to be destroyed. Just think about it for a second; one carat of a gem diamond will extract almost 275 tons of ore. This is a staggering number that puts the environment on a massively stressful situation. The open cast strip-mining method is done in order to extract the diamond. This extraction method destroys the ecosystem of the place and further destroys the outlying environment. This seriously destructive and dangerous method not only adds to the problems of the country in which it was taken from but it also serves as a deterrent to progress. In the end, they are just shooting themselves on the foot.

Lab-diamonds completely solve these major problems. And, more importantly, synthetic diamonds are also almost in perfect tandem with real diamonds. The movie “Blood Diamond” imposes a strong message on the need for change regarding diamond mining. Lab diamonds, for one, spare the ecosystem from being destroyed mainly because these are created by machines and not taken from the earth. Because of this, the price is greatly reduced.

In addition to that, illegal syndicates and warlords would also lose their means of doing business. This would result in the dismissal of child labor, armaments supplies, and mining-related violence.

Sona Diamond custom jewelry is the world’s top-quality, Lab Grown Diamonds and they have a real diamond layer and the similar brilliance, clarity and created diamond hardness, to a natural diamond on the market today. http://www.SonaDiamondJewelry.com is a trusted online source of over 5000 affordable styles and consumer Ranked#1 in the World.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace

Man Made Diamonds Are An Environmentally Friendly Choice

An increasing number of people are choosing to purchase jewelry with man made diamonds instead of mined stones. This phenomenon is largely due to the concern over the environmental impact diamond mining has in some parts of the world.

It is a pleasure to regard the sparkle, fire and brilliance of a well cut diamond. For many years, this stone has symbolized love and commitment between partners. It is unfortunate that the diamond mining process does not reflect this beauty — in fact, it is quite the opposite. As much as a ton or rock and earth must be removed to get a single one-carat gem. A tragic, ugly scar on a once beautiful landscape is the sad reality of diamond mining.

Unfortunately, open pit mining is much more than merely unpleasant to look at. It destroys the local ecosystem and causes a great deal of serious pollution, affecting local flora and fauna as well as humans. Cyanide and mercury are used to free diamonds from their rock casings, and these chemicals are released in large quantities into local rivers and streams. Fortunately, man-made diamonds are an environmentally friendly option now available to those who would like to have their diamonds without guilt over the environment.

Created stones are produced in the controlled environment of a lab. A diamond seed is placed in a carbon environment, heated and pressurized, and allowed to grow “molecule by molecule” just as it would deep down in the Earth’s crust. The only resource used in lab creation is a small amount of electricity. No harmful products like cyanide or mercury are involved, no tearing apart the earth is required, and no local residents have to suffer, as occurs in some of the diamond mines. Up to four percent of the total mined supply of these gems is composed of conflict or “blood” diamonds, which are sold to fund acts of war and terrorism.

Diamond mining in countries like Canada still impacts the environment to some degree, but war and terrorism is not an issue. Also, Canadians have created much higher standards to protect the environment. Canadian mines are strictly regulated and carefully monitored. Most Canadian stones can be identified via a microscopic polar bear or maple leaf inscribed on the gem. While this certainly helps identify natural stones that are more eco-friendly, man made gems still have the most minimal effect on the environment.

The good news is that lab grown gems are the real thing. They are identical physically, chemically and optically to natural mined stones. They have the same brilliance and sparkle. They are even recognized and graded as diamonds by leading gemological laboratories. And it only gets better – while colored “fancy” diamonds are rare in nature and extremely expensive, lab created gems in vibrant shades like pink, green, blue, yellow, and red cost about one-third less than their mined counterparts.

Cultured diamonds are so new that not many jewelry stores carry them yet. However, these lovely stones can be purchased through reputable companies online. No matter if you’re buying for yourself or purchasing a gift for a loved one, man made diamonds are a high quality, eco-friendly choice.

Looking for environmentally friendly diamonds and jewelry? The only diamond producer recognized by Earthshare, JewelNet.com is the premiere provider of man-made diamonds. They offer loose stones and bridal jewelry, pendants and earrings with certified stones in six vibrant colors. Visit the website for a free e-book on Diamond Savings. Powered by SEO 2.0 Services

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace