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Dazzling Beauties: The Allure of Rings Embellished with Diamonds

From ancient legends to modern-day romance, the diamond ring has held an unrivaled allure. Its timeless elegance and captivating sparkle have made it an emblem of love, prestige, and sophistication. Among the array of jewelry, the diamond ring stands out, captivating hearts and mesmerizing onlookers with its breathtaking beauty. Let's delve into the enchanting world of diamond rings, exploring their allure, craftsmanship, and the magic they hold. The Timeless Appeal of Diamond Rings Diamond Rings: A Symbol of EternityFor centuries, diamond rings have symbolized enduring love and commitment. The glistening diamond nestled within a band of precious metal represents an unbreakable bond. From engagements to anniversaries, these rings stand as a testament to everlasting affection and devotion. Captivating EleganceThe allure of a diamond ring lies in its ability to captivate with its elegance. Whether it’s a delicate solitaire or an intricate halo setting, the brilliance of a diamond steals the spotlight. Its natural sparkle, enhanced by expert craftsmanship, mesmerizes all who lay eyes on it. Crafting the Exquisite Diamond Rings Artistry and PrecisionCrafting a diamond ring is an art that combines skill and precision. As a professional diamond jeweler, I understand the intricacies involved in selecting the finest diamonds. Each stone's cut, clarity, color, and carat weight are meticulously assessed to ensure its exceptional quality. This commitment to excellence ensures that every diamond ring that leaves our workshop is nothing short of perfection. Innovative Designs and CustomizationAt our jewelry atelier, we pride ourselves on our ability to offer bespoke designs and customization. From sketch to final creation, we work closely with our clients, guiding them through the process of creating their dream diamond ring. Whether it’s incorporating heirloom stones into a new design or creating a one-of-a-kind piece from scratch, our artisans bring these visions to life with unparalleled craftsmanship. The Allure of Diamond Rings for Ladies Empowerment and EleganceAs a professional in the diamond jewelry industry, I've witnessed firsthand the significance of diamond rings for women. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these rings symbolize empowerment and grace. They stand as a testament to a woman's strength, independence, and unique style. Each diamond ring is more than a mere accessory; it's a statement piece that exudes confidence and sophistication. Craftsmanship and Attention to DetailOur dedication to craftsmanship extends beyond selecting the finest diamonds. Every aspect of a diamond ring, from the setting to the finishing touches, is meticulously crafted with precision and attention to detail. Our artisans ensure that each ring not only showcases the beauty of the diamond but also reflects the individuality and elegance of the wearer. Exploring Exquisite Collections Royal Coster’s Signature CollectionAmong the plethora of offerings, Royal Coster's Signature Collection stands out for its unparalleled craftsmanship and timeless elegance. This collection showcases an array of stunning diamond rings, each a masterpiece crafted to perfection. Our dedication to excellence and passion for creating exquisite jewelry is evident in every piece, making each ring a true work of art. Innovative Techniques and SustainabilityAs a responsible jeweler, we also prioritize sustainability and ethical practices in our craftsmanship. We embrace innovative techniques to ensure that our diamonds are ethically sourced, adhering to strict ethical standards. Our commitment to sustainability aligns with our dedication to creating timeless pieces that not only captivate with their beauty but also contribute positively to the world. Conclusion As a professional diamond jeweler, I have witnessed the enduring allure of diamond rings. These timeless treasures symbolize love, elegance, and sophistication, transcending trends and generations. Crafted with precision, adorned with the most exquisite diamonds, and created with passion, these rings hold a special place in the hearts of many. Whether it’s a classic gold ring with a singular diamond or an opulent design, the allure of these dazzling beauties continues to enchant and captivate admirers worldwide. The magic of a diamond ring is not merely in its sparkle but in the emotions and stories it carries, making it a cherished symbol of eternal beauty and love.

What is a Bolshevik Diamond?

The first diamonds and cuts Diamonds have always been popular. As early as the fourth century BC, diamonds were traded in India. Even back then, it was already clear that diamond is the hardest (natural) material in the world. So there was no way to polish them. That’s why the first jewels contained rough diamonds. Cleaving and sanding It was not until seventeen centuries later that the diamond came to Europe through the Middle East. In the meantime, people found they were able to make a diamond prettier. Because of the discovery of cleaving, it became possible to remove the top of the octahedron. But people were also able to make the sides of the diamond look better. They “sanded” the sides of the gem with some diamond powder. By removing the top from the rough diamond shape, the octahedron (Pointed Cut), they were able to make the diamond a bit prettier (Table Cut) The rose and briolette Around the 15th and 16th centuries, diamonds came directly from India. As a result, the supply increased considerably and with it, the demand for diamond workers. With new techniques, it was now possible to polish facets. This led to unique cuts such as the Briolette and the Rose. The rose in particular was, and remained, very popular. Especially the Netherlands produced many rose cuts during the Victorian style period (around 1900). But instead of the standard twelve facets, Amsterdam polishers usually created rose diamonds with eighteen facets. Moreover, the curve was somewhat taller than roses from other places. That is why we also call this type of cut the “Dutch Rose” or “Amsterdam Rose”. The way to a round diamond Even though we often consider the Rose as a precursor of the brilliant, the real precursor is the Bolshevik diamond. The technique to make a non-round diamond rounder did not yet exist. That is why all polished diamonds were some kind of rounded square or rounded rectangle. In these polishes, the shape of the rough diamond, the octahedron, was still recognizable. An example of this kind of cut is the ‘Mine cut’. The Rose Cut was very famous in Amsterdam Steam-driven machines In the mid-19th century, steam-powered machines made their appearance. These machines could saw and cut diamonds. In 1840, Coster Diamonds was the first diamond-polishing factory to use these machines. We call the technique to make diamonds round “bruting”. When this bruting was suddenly possible with the new machines, a world of options opened up for diamond cutters. Suddenly it was possible to cut and polish diamonds. And fast too. A new, round diamond cut This is how the old European cut was born. Compared to the earlier cuts, this one is already a lot rounder. Nevertheless, polishers considered it essential to preserve as much of the rough weight of the diamond as possible. Therefore, the old European cut has a much steeper top than the brilliant as we know it today. In addition, this shape has much wider facets at the back and often a flattened point at the bottom. The old European cut is round and has a small table The Bolshevik diamond The Bolshevik cut is almost the same as the old European cut. But unlike the latter, the Bolshevik is not from Europe. You may have guessed it by name. The Bolshevik diamond comes from Russia! A new group of polishers After the Russian revolution, in the early 20th century, many diamonds came onto the market. Many Russians aspired to become a diamond polisher. However, they often did not have the right tools. For example, if they even had a loupe, it wasn't nearly as good as the ones the European polishers used. The Russian polishers did an on the naked eye. The goal for the Russian polishers was to make the diamond round but at the same time keep as much of the rough diamond as possible. They tried to make their cuts similar to the old European cut. But because they lacked the high-quality tools, diamonds from Russia looked a bit different. Ring with Bolshevik diamond. Image source: Catawiki The appearance of the Bolshevik diamond Compared to the newer European shapes, the Bolshevik diamond had an even steeper top. This would leave more of the rough stone, which made the diamond have a higher carat. In addition, the girdle – the widest part of the diamond – was often a lot thicker. Moreover, it appeared to be very difficult to make a diamond exactly round without the proper tools. These three characteristics make it relatively easy to recognize a Bolshevik cut diamond. But isn’t that part of the charm too? Bolshevik diamonds in Europe The pace of the Russian polishers was high. They produced a whole lot of diamonds. Although the cut was not top quality, the stones were very popular. Especially in Europe. Unlike Russia, Europe does not have diamond mines. That is how many Russian diamonds came to Europe. And where to better than in the City of Diamonds? Bolshevik diamonds are often not perfectly round because the polishers lacked proper tools. Image source: Catawiki The name Bolshevik Popularly, Amsterdam people called Russian diamonds “Bolsheviks”. Of course, this referred to Russian rulers of that time. Even though the Bolsheviks were no longer in power in Russia, the term “Bolshevik-cut diamonds” was integrated into the diamond business. And that is how the Bolshevik diamond got its name. Basically, the design stems from the old European cut. But especially back in those times, there were no specific rules for polishing diamonds. And certainly not for the names of the diamond cuts. The official terms started with the introduction of the brilliant-cut diamond. Ring with Bolshevik diamond. Image source: Catawiki Bolshevik cut diamonds in jewelry In modern jewelry, we actually never see Bolshevik diamonds anymore. Over time, the Bolshevik was replaced by a brilliant-cut. The brilliant sparkles a lot more, so that is not very surprising. But in antique jewelry, we occasionally come across a Bolshevik. Yet or many people it is not easy to recognize a Bolshevik cut. That is why it is often confused with an old European cut or the mine cut. Do you have antique jewelry and are you curious whether you have a Bolshevik cut diamond? Visit us. My colleagues and I are happy to take a look at them. If you prefer to polish a diamond yourself, I invite you to book a diamond masterclass.

The Most Expensive Diamond Cut

Cut versus cut As you can imagine, the quality of the diamond cut determines the price. A poorly cut diamond reflects less light. It is a sign of bad craftsmanship. Whereas an excellent cut diamond reflects the light optimally. We consider this good craftsmanship. But of course, this doesn’t say anything about the diamond’s shape. But the shape also most definitely determines the price of the diamond. The quality of the cut determines the price. Poorly cut diamonds reflect less light than ideal cut diamonds. Which diamond cuts are there? As you may know, there are different kind of diamond shapes. Some cuts are (relatively) cheap and others are more valuable. Let’s discuss the different diamond shapes first: Brilliant Oval Princess Radiant Baguette Emerald Asscher Cushion Pear Marquise Heart Royal 201 These twelve shapes are the most famous diamond cuts. But what characterizes them and how expensive are they? The twelve different diamond cuts. Brilliant cut We often consider the brilliant cut diamond as the 'normal' or 'regular' shape of a diamond with 57 facets. Around 95% of all diamonds that are suitable for jewelry end up as a brilliant cut. It is (almost) the ideal form for the brilliance of the diamond in its present form. Oval cut For those who want to stand out from the crowd, an oval cut diamond is a good choice. Like a brilliant, an oval cut diamond has 57 facets. The difference is that an oval appears more elegant and bigger than a brilliant diamond of the same weight. Princess cut Today’s second most popular diamond shape is the princess cut. It’s a square diamond with sharp edges. Even though it is a relatively young cut, it stole many hearts already. When you look at the Princess cut from above, it appears square. But if you look at it from the side, it looks like an upside-down pyramid. A princess cut is, just like many square shapes, a relatively inexpensive diamond cut. Radiant cut Known for its unexpected sparkle, the radiant cut diamond is quite the popular cut these days. The radiant cut is a square or rectangular-shaped diamond. It is a relatively new shape among the long-established traditional cuts. Baguette cut Baguette cut diamonds are usually not the main stone in a piece of jewelry. But they make a beautiful jewelry piece stunning and a stunning piece a sparkling one. That is why the baguette is actually a quite fascinating diamond cut. Emerald cut The Emerald cut diamond is one of the first and oldest cuts of diamonds and other precious stones. The name of this cutting comes from the gemstone Emerald. To maintain as much of the gem as possible, they cut the stone in a rectangular shape with so-called “step-cut facets”. Asscher cut The Asscher Cut is one of the most popular diamond shapes. It is a diamond shape from the Netherlands. We often compare to a square emerald cut because it has the same “step-cut facets”. Emerald cut diamonds and other "step cuts" are not expensive because of their shape but because they often have a very good clarity. Cushion cut The cushion cut is a square diamond shape with rounded corners. The shape looks a bit like a pillow, hence the name. This cut reflects the light in a chunkier way than for example a brilliant. This is what we call ‘the crushed ice effect’. This shape was very popular around the 1920s but made a huge comeback recently. Pear cut The pear cut diamond has many names. We also call it a teardrop of pear-shaped diamond. Regardless of how you call it, the pear cut diamond is one of the most beautiful shapes. The gorgeous silhouette combines sharp edges with round curves. Marquise cut The marquise cut is a popular diamond shape. We also call this the “Navette” shape. This means “little boat”. The marquise is an oval-shaped diamond cut with pointed ends. The romantic history of this diamond shape makes the marquise a beloved diamond cut for engagement rings. Heart-shape Probably one of the most meaningful icons in the history of humanity is the heart. Hearts symbolize love and affection for almost as long as we can remember. It may not come as a surprise when I tell you that there also is a diamond cut in the shape of a heart. The Royal 201 The Royal 201 is our very own worldwide-patented diamond shape. Praised for its sparkling brilliance. The Royal 201 is a great example of the evolution of the diamond shape, with more facets, more fire and more sparkle. In total, this diamond shape has 201 facets. That is why we call it the Royal 201. Experts consider this the most sparkling diamond cut in the world. The Royal 201 is famous for its unparalleled sparkle. What is the most expensive diamond cut? Now that you know the different diamond cuts, it is time to reveal which cut is the least valuable one. And of course which one is the most expensive diamond cut. The least expensive diamond cuts The least expensive diamond cuts are the baguette, the princess and the radiant cut. These are square/rectangular cuts. The most expensive diamond cuts The most valuable diamond shapes are the brilliant cut, the oval cut, the heart-shape and the Royal 201. Creating a Royal 201 requires great skills. Why are certain shapes more expensive? The prices of the shape all have to do with polishing skills and polishing loss. That is because all polished diamonds start out as a rough diamond. The polisher decides the shape he’ll make the diamond into. Certain cuts have more polishing loss than others. For example: when the diamond polisher turns a rough diamond into a princess cut, he loses about 20% of the rough diamond. We call this “polishing loss”. 20% sounds like a lot. But when the polisher transforms the rough diamond into a brilliant, there is about 50 to 60% polishing loss. The rough diamond as a baseline As you can imagine, to a brilliant, you need a (relatively) bigger rough diamond than for a princess cut with the same weight and size. After all, to gain a 1 carat brilliant, you’ll need a 2-carat rough diamond. Whereas for a princess, you only need about a 1.30-carat rough diamond. That is why a princess is relatively less expensive per carat. The same applies to other square cuts such as the baguette cut and the radiant cut. A rough diamond is the base of every polished one. Craftsmanship is worth every penny There are also shapes that need a high level of skills. For example, the heart shape. The heart shape does not only have a relatively high polishing loss. It also requires great skills to create it. Visit http://www.dustandmop.com. The heart-shape is very difficult to make. The polisher needs to make sure both curves are exactly symmetrical. One off-movement can ruin the diamond! A combination of polishing loss and required craftsmanship Finally, very special cuts take the crown. Just like the brilliant cut, the Royal 201 has quite some polishing loss. But it also takes a skilled polisher to make it. The incredible amount of extra facets need to be placed extra careful. Some facets are extremely tiny so the slightest mistake can have crucial consequences. The combination of the amount of polishing loss and the high level of craftsmanship make the Royal 201 the most expensive diamond cut. Looking for the perfect diamond? Are you looking for the perfect diamond? Check our webshop to see all the diamond cuts we offer. Perhaps you already have a diamond shape in mind. But don’t forget to take the other 4 C’s into account. The carat, color, clarity and quality of the cut are also very important when choosing a diamond. Our diamond consultants are standing by. They will provide you with all the information you need, so you can make an informed decision. You can schedule a consult or drop by our store in the heart of Amsterdam.

The 4 C’s of Diamond Valuation

What is a diamond? A diamond is the hardest natural material. It is formed deep inside the earth. Under a high temperature and a high pressure, carbon atoms are pressed together. The atoms bond together and become a crystal. With (volcano) eruptions or earthquakes, the diamonds come to the surface where diamond workers find them. However, when the workers find diamonds, they look nothing like the ones you see in the jeweler's window. It’s easy to mistake a rough diamond for a worthless pebble. Which diamonds are valuable? Many diamonds that are found, are of bad quality. About 95% of the natural diamonds are unsuitable for jewelry. We only use them for industrial purposes, such as certain equipment. But we also use them to polish the diamonds that do have good quality. The remaining 5% is of good quality. These are the stones that eventually end up in jewelry. But its values isn’t decided yet. When gets a diamond’s value determined? First, the diamond is polished by a (professional) diamond polisher. When he or she sees the rough diamond, he or she has a general idea of the diamond’s potential. They make a rough estimation of how the diamond will look after it is polished. He has an idea about the probable carat, color, clarity and cut. However, the diamond’s value is still not decided. When the polisher finished the diamond, it’s sent to an (independent) certification authority. This authority examines the diamond up close. They measure and weigh the diamond. They examine its color exactly to determine where it falls on the diamond color scale. But they also investigate the inclusions with a very detailed microscope. Finally, they measure the quality of the craftsmanship. Usually, there is more than one person who examines the diamond. It gets looked at by multiple people to minimalize error. After that, the authority determines the final value of the diamond. Now, it is up for sale and can be placed in jewelry. But how do the so-called 4 C’s determine a diamond’s value? What to the authorities look for? We’ll tell you. Carat The first one of the 4 C’s is Carat. Carat is the standard unit of weight for diamonds. There is a difference between Carat with a C and Karat with a K. Karat with a K is the percentage of gold in a mix. Carat with a C is the diamond weight. Carat takes its name from the carob seed. These small seeds had a uniform weight of 0.2 grams. That’s why early diamond traders used them as counterweights in their balance scales. In the modern metric, one carat still equals 0.2 grams. However, most diamonds sold are under one carat. That’s why we have a point system. 100 points is equal to 1 carat , 50 a ½ carat , 25 a ¼ carat and so forth. Generally, we can say: the bigger the carat, the more expensive the diamond. But the value also depends on the other C’s. Color The second C, stands for Color. In the category of white diamonds, rule of thumb is: less color equals a higher value. As the diamond becomes more yellowish, the value drops. Sometimes we can’t see the difference in color with the naked eye. We use ‘master stones’ to see it. Diamond comes in many colors due to errors in crystallization and carbon. For example: brown and yellow diamonds are very common. However, there are also diamonds with a specific color. We call these Fancy Colored diamonds. Fancy colored diamonds are created by slight quirks of nature. Every colored diamond has its own story. For example, when a bit of boron slips into the carbon while it is becoming a diamond. In that case the diamond will not become white, but becomes blue instead. A bit of nitrogen makes a diamond yellow. Natural Fancies are extremely rare. There have been many notable colored diamonds throughout our history. One of the most famous ones is the Hope Diamond. Clarity The Clarity of a diamond tells us something about its purity. The 4 C’s International grading system was created in the 1940s. Before that, a diamond’s purity was basically “without flaw” or “with flaw(s)”. We now know there are various degrees of diamond clarity. There are many different kind of inclusions. The type and amount of inclusions determine the diamond's clarity grade. This clarity is based on what we can see with a 10x magnifying loupe. That is where the term ‘loupe clean’ comes from flawless and pure. Some inclusions such as SI2 up to pique are visible to the naked eye. But other inclusions are only visible with a loupe. Clarity scale of the GIA (gia.edu), in Europe we use the word Pique instead of Included. Cut The last but not least C stands for cut. This is the way the diamond is polished. It is the only one that is influenced by humans. The first ones are made by nature, the 4th one by us. Diamond cuts can be traced back to the middle ages. The first "improvements" on nature's design involved a simple polishing of the natural facets. This was called the point cut and dates from the mid-14th century; by 15th century, the point cut began to be improved upon. Sawing off one half off the diamond would create the table cut. By the 17th century the first brilliant cut in simple form was fashioned. Quality of the cut This is the historical evolution of the modern brilliant, facets added to the stone in just the order they were developed through the centuries and under the hands of the diamond cutter. The skills of the polisher plays a crucial role in this. It is why two diamonds with exact the same specifications can be very different in look and price. Up to 40% in some cases. The sizes need to be polished perfectly to get the perfect brilliance. Not too fat, not too skinny, but perfect. It can happen that two diamonds have the same specifications but because of the way it is cut, one sparkles more than the other. It seems alive. We call this fire or sparkle. A diamond needs to be polished perfectly: not too fat, not too skinny, but perfect Different diamond cuts And then there is a different kind of diamond cut. Even though the C for cut refers to the quality of the shape, a diamond can also get cut in any shape imaginable. There are round cuts such as the brilliant, the Royal 201 and the oval cut. But also rectangular cuts such as the princess cut and the radiant cut. And of course, there are many more. A great diamond polisher can create any diamond cut imaginable. But for the value it is also important to make the ratio perfect: not too fat, not too skinny. What determines a diamond’s value? Now you know the 4 C’s of diamond valuation. These four: the carat, color, clarity and cut determine a diamond’s value. To recap this really quickly: Carat: a higher carat makes a diamond more valuable. Color: the whiter the diamond the more valuable it is. However, fancy colored diamonds are even worth more than white diamonds. Clarity: diamonds with no or little inclusions are more valuable than stones with inclusions. Cut: if the polisher cut the diamond well, the diamond has a higher value. If you want to get an amazing diamond, you have to keep the 4 C’s in mind. If you want to learn more about the 4 C’s, book our Royal Experience. This is an extensive tour about the history of diamonds and how to evaluate them. You also get to see and experience the difference between all sorts of diamonds. If you like to take a step further, you can also book a Diamond Masterclass. This is a 4-hour Masterclass, given by our master polishers. You go home with your own polished diamond and a certificate of completion.

Fancy Colored Diamonds

The color of a diamond A regular diamond’s value depends on the 4 C’s. One of these is ‘Color’. The color of the diamond, or rather the lack of color, makes the stone more valuable. A colorless diamond is very valuable. That is because most natural diamonds have a yellow or brown tint in them. The diamond color scale determines the actual color of the stone. This scale runs from D to Z. D means colorless and Z means very yellowish. Fancy colored diamonds Outside of the “regular” white, yellow-ish and brown-ish diamonds, there are also stones with another color. We call these ‘fancy colored diamonds’. Natural (fancy) colored diamonds are extremely rare. Only one out of 10,000 carats is a natural colored diamond. There are two types of fancy colored diamonds. The first category is those with more depth of color than the color scale up to Z has. The other one is any other color than yellow. This means fancy colored diamonds can be any color except white (colorless) or black. Black diamonds are something completely different. Which colors are there? There are many various colors and shades we consider fancy colored diamonds. These are: Yellow Brown Orange Pink Purple Blue Red Grey Besides the classic 'white' diamonds, there are also diamonds with a (bright) color which we call fancy colored diamonds. The vividness of diamond color But besides these different colors, there are also levels of vividness. The GIA grades colored diamonds in an increasing color strength: Faint Very Light Light Fancy Light Fancy Fancy Intense Fancy Vivid Fancy Deep When we look at the vividness scale (from faint to fancy deep), not all diamonds in this scale are considered fancy. Only diamonds with a color from ‘fancy light’ and up deserve the Fancy title. Usually, the color that pops most is the most valuable one. In this case “Fancy Vivid” and “Fancy Deep” command the highest prices This chart shows the color grading scale of pink diamonds. But these characteristics are the same for all fancy colored diamonds. Image source: Capetown Diamond Museum Yellow diamonds Fancy yellow is the most popular of all colored diamonds. I already mentioned the diamond color scale that ranges from D to Z. In general, we can say, the closer the color of the diamond comes to Z, the lower its price. However, when the yellow of the diamond exceeds the scale, it gets another name: fancy yellow. Instead of the faint yellow color (we see at Z) the color pops more. Rarity of yellow diamonds Fancy colors are always rare. But some colors are less rare than others. About 60% of all fancy colored diamonds are yellow diamonds. This may sound like a lot. But it actually means that about 1 out of 16,500 mined carats is a yellow diamond. When you look at it that way, yellow diamonds are very rare. Yellow diamonds with good quality - VS or higher, good cut, over 2 carats – are actually very hard to come by. Over the last few years, we noticed an increase in the demand for yellow diamonds, which makes them even rarer. Fancy light yellow radiant cut diamond Value of yellow diamonds The rarity of a diamond determines its value. Therefore, one of the things that may strike as odd is the price of yellow diamonds. A yellow diamond can actually have a lower price than a white diamond with similar characteristics. However, this only applies to the ones with a low intensity or vividness. A stone with a higher intensity grace easily surpasses the similar colorless stone in price. But this high-intensity yellow diamond is less valuable than any almost any other colored diamond. In terms of prices, we can say that a fancy light yellow diamonds has about the same price as an I-colored (VS) white diamond with similar specifications. This flower-shaped ring contains a 2.38-carat fancy yellow diamond. It is for sale in our diamond polishing factory. Brown diamonds Just like yellow diamonds, brown diamonds are less rare colored diamonds. Also, like yellow diamonds, we call the brown diamonds ‘fancy’ when they exceed Z on the color scale. Initially, brown diamonds were only used for industrial purposes. People simply didn’t like the brown color of the gem. But times changed. Trendsetters and famous celebrities started to wear brown diamonds and soon the rest of the world followed. The color scale can help you to find out the shade of brown. C1 - C3 are Top Light Brown diamonds; C4 - C5 are Champagne diamonds and C6 - C8 Cognac diamonds. The rarity of brown diamonds Make no mistake, brown diamonds are still valuable since they are fancy colors. However, they are more affordable fancy colored diamonds because there are so many available. The color of brown diamonds determines it value. You already know the vividness scale from above. Obviously, the more vivid the color, the more valuable the stone. But there is more. Many brown diamonds have another extra hue in it. This hue can be yellow or a whole other color, such as pink. Brown diamonds with a pink hue are rarer and more valuable than those with a yellowish hint. Value of brown diamonds The value of a brown diamond really depends on its color. If you have a popular color, such as chocolate, cognac or whiskey, the brown diamond will cost you a bit more compared to a gem with a lesser intensity. Brown diamond with a soft hue can be even less valuable than a F-colored white diamond with the same carat. Brown diamonds look good in rose gold. Orange diamonds Natural orange diamonds are rare fancy colored diamonds. Because they are so exceptionally rare, they are very desired by collectors. The color orange is a combination of red and yellow and is caused by the presence of nitrogen in the diamond’s carbon lattice. This means the color ranges from orange red to yellow-orange. The rarity of orange diamonds Even though orange is not the rarest fancy color, they are very, very rare. The GIA determines the vividness of an orange diamond. If they consider the diamond as “pure” orange, we consider the diamond extremely rare. Pure orange diamonds are almost as rare as fancy red diamonds! Orange diamonds are rarer than yellow and brown diamonds. This ring has a 0.37-carat orange brilliant cut diamond and is for sale in our diamond polishing factory. Value of orange diamonds The value of the orange diamond depends on the vividness and hue. If the diamond holds brown and/or yellowish hues, the diamond is less expensive. But if the orange fancy colored diamond looks more orange or has a reddish hue, it is very valuable. The same applies to the vividness. If the diamond only has a light orange tint, it will cost you less than a more vivid color. However, due to the rarity, a natural orange diamond will never come cheap. This ring has a valuable 1.92-carat radiant cut orange diamond. It is for sale at our diamond polishing factory. Pink diamonds Natural pink diamonds are a bit odd. That is because we do not know for sure how they got their color. But the most accepted idea is that it is because of the enormous additional pressure that these diamonds face during their formation. The rarity of pink diamonds More than 90 percent of the world’s supply of pink diamonds come from the Argyle Mine in Australia. This is also the most famous mine for brown diamonds. However, 80% of the diamonds from this mine are brown diamonds and only 1% are actually pink diamonds. Natural pink diamonds are as rare as they are beautiful. Only a limited number exists and experts believe only 500 gem-quality pink diamonds are left to be discovered. Pink diamonds are very valuable; they are true collector's items. Value of pink diamonds Just like other valuable fancy colored diamonds, pink diamonds vary in vividness. A very light pink diamond is less valuable than a fancy vivid or fancy deep pink diamond. Pink diamonds often have a secondary hue, which we describe as purple-pink or orange-pink. Purple diamonds Purple diamonds look a lot like pink diamonds. However, their shade is a bit darker. This makes purple diamonds even rarer than the already scarce pink ones. Just like these, most purple diamonds are found in the Argyle mine. Yet there are a few other finding locations around the globe. But in contrast to pink diamonds, purple diamonds are a result of an unusually high presence of hydrogen. The rarity of purple diamonds Since purple diamonds are so rare, they are a dream for every diamond collector. After all, a collection is only complete when you also possess the rare ones. Purple diamonds are extremely rare. Value of purple diamonds Remember that I told we have names for brown diamonds, such as ‘chocolate’ and ‘cognac’? We have the same for purple diamonds. We call these plum diamonds, orchid diamonds, lilac diamonds, mauve diamonds, lavender diamonds, and grape diamonds. All different shades of purple. The intense the color the more valuable the diamond. But don’t forget, something so scarce means it always comes with a certain price tag. Blue diamonds The color of royalty, wisdom and prestige. There are many well-known blue gemstones such as sapphires and aquamarine. But did you know there are also blue diamonds? Blue diamond get their color from boron that’s trapped in the crystal’s structure. This means that, when a boron atom is in a diamond, one of its four carbon neighbors has an unused electron. The electron absorbs red light. White light that comes in through a boron-affected diamond comes out blue. The rarity of blue diamonds Apart from red ones, blue diamonds are the rarest fancy colored diamonds of all. We can only find them in India, South Africa and Australia. Most Australian blue diamonds are found in the Argyle mine. Many blue colors contain a greyish secondary hue and sometimes even a violet color. Every blue diamond is rare. But the ones with pure colors are even more unique. Extremely rare blue diamond sold for almost $15 million. Image source: mining.com Value of blue diamonds Those who want to purchase a blue diamond need to have deep pockets. As with all other fancy diamonds, the ones with a faint or light color are less valuable than those with vivid colors. However, a 0.3-carat light blue diamond has an average price of $15,700 already. A 0.5 carat will cost you almost double with $26,280 on average. A deep blue vivid colored blue diamond is around $75,000. As you can imagine, for higher carats, the prices grow exponentially. Red diamonds Red diamonds are unique in many ways. Like pink diamonds, we don’t know exactly what causes the color but we believe it comes from changes to the atomic structure. We call this process ‘deformation’. This happens when a diamond travels to the earth’s surface. While other diamonds are graded on the vividness scale, red diamonds are not. The red color itself is a supersaturated level of the pink diamond spectrum. However, there are slight variations within the red diamonds. Different modifiers, or overtones, can be present along with the red color. The most common color combination is purplish red. We also have ‘brownish’ and ‘orangey’. The rarity of red diamonds Red diamonds are the rarest of all fancy colored diamonds. Especially diamonds with a deep red or purplish-red color are very rare. Right now, there are only about twenty to thirty true red diamonds in the world. Red diamonds are a supersaturated level of pink diamonds. They can have a purplish red hue, a brownish one, or an orangy tone. Image source: diamonds.pro Value of red diamonds The extreme level of rarity makes red diamonds the most expensive fancy colored diamonds in the world. Pure red diamonds are so highly-priced, they are generally even too expensive for celebrities. Especially red diamonds from over one carat. To give you an idea: a 0.70-carat fancy red diamonds with an SI2 clarity is between $600,000 and $850,000! Grey diamonds These fancy colored diamonds are a bit of a grey area (hehe). But due to their growing popularity, I’d like to address them as well. Grey diamonds aren’t just white diamonds with less of a sparkle. True grey diamonds have a different quality and a noticeable grey tone. Fancy grey diamonds are very rare and have high clarity. Just like most other fancy colored diamonds, they vary from faint to fancy dark. Most grey diamonds thank their color to a high concentration of hydrogen or (occasionally) boron. Necklace from Royal Coster Diamonds with a grey pear cut diamond. The rarity of grey diamonds Grey diamonds are not only rare, but they are also quite unknown. Most diamond lovers known about the above-mentioned fancy colors. But many of them don’t know about the fancy grey colored diamonds. However, over the past few years, they became more and more popular. They became a popular alternative to classic white diamonds. Value of grey diamonds Grey diamonds are rarer than (fancy) yellow and brown diamonds. But they are in the same price range as the lower fancy colored yellows and browns. This makes them very attractive. Example of grey Salt and Pepper diamonds. Salt and pepper diamonds Next to fancy grey diamonds, there is also a different kind of grey diamonds. These are the so-called “Salt & Pepper” diamonds. In contrast to fancy grey diamonds, the Salt and Pepper diamonds are highly included. The huge amount of diamond inclusions give them a unique look. As you can imagine, these diamonds are not only less valuable than grey diamonds. But they are also less valuable than regular white diamonds. Famous fancy colored diamonds Every now and then, diamond miners find a very large or unique colored gem. After they are polished, these diamonds often gain worldwide attention. Here is a list of the most famous fancy colored diamonds. Famous fancy yellow diamonds There are a lot of remarkable and famous yellow diamonds. Since it is impossible to mention them all, we only cover the most famous ones. The Sun of Africa While many famous colored diamonds are found ages ago, The Sun of Africa is relatively new. It is the second-largest fancy Vivid Yellow in the world and was found in the Kimberly mines of Africa. Discovered in 2007, it currently is the most famous fancy yellow diamond in the world. Carat: 127.68 carat Color: Fancy Vivid Yellow Clarity: VS2 Cut: Radiant Sun of Africa. Image source: investments.diamonds The Florentine Diamond The Florentine Diamond, also known as the Tuscan, the Tuscany Diamond, The Grand Duke of Tuscany, the Austrian Diamond and the Austrian Yellow Diamond. The diamond was found in India but we cannot say exactly when or where. The rumor says that it was cut by Lodewyk van Bercken for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy in the 1470’s. What we do know is that the French jeweler and traveler Jean Baptiste Tavernier saw the stone. It was in possession of the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1657, hence the names. The stone has had many owners since then and it ended up in the Habsburg Crown Jewels in the Hofburg in Vienna. After World War I, the stone was taken into exile in Switserland. However, it was stolen some time after 1918. Rumors say it went to the US in the 1920’s where it was recut and sold. But to this day, we don’t know where this mysterious fancy yellow diamond is. Carat: 137.27 Color: Light yellow with slight green overtones Clarity: Unkown Cut: Nine-sided 126-facet double rose cut The Florentine Diamond (left) and the hat ornament it was once in. Source: famousdiamonds.tripod.com The Kahn Canary Diamond In 1977, an Arkansas resident called George Stepp discovered a yellow diamond in the “Crater of Diamonds state Park”. In this park you can look for diamonds and the rule is ‘finders keepers’. Stepp sold the diamond to Kahn Jewelers in Arkansas. They named the diamond after its color and their owner. There are a couple of things that are remarkable about this diamond. For example, it has a flawless clarity. Especially in colored diamonds, this is extremely rare. Another cool fact is that they didn’t polish the diamond. They kept it in its beautiful rough shape. Carat: 4.25 Color: Canary yellow Clarity: Flawless Cut: none The Kahn Canary Diamond in its ring setting. Source: famousdiamonds.tripod.com The Incomparable In the 1980’s, a young girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo found a big rough stone while playing in a pile of rubble. The pile of rubble were leftovers of old mine dumps with rejected rocks that were not worth scanning for diamonds. The stone the girl found turned out to be a 890-carat yellow diamond. The diamond was sold via multiple jewelers and ended up at De Beers who sold it to Zale. At Zale’s 75th anniversary, in November 1984, they unveiled the huge stone. Polishing the diamond was quite hard. Not only because the stone is so big. But also because it has an irregular shape. Eventually they cut the diamond in an unusual shield-shaped step cut with fourteen additional satellite stones. Carat: 407.48 Color: Fancy brownish yellow Clarity: Internally Flawless (IF) Cut: Shield-shaped step cut The Incomparable's 890-carat rough form, left, and the finished Incomparable in its gold ornament stand, right. Source: famousdiamonds.tripod.com Famous brown diamonds The popularity of brown diamonds is really something of the last decades. However, that does not mean there are no popular brown diamonds. One of the most famous one is actually one that is quite close to us. The Golden Jubilee Diamond This is the largest cut diamond in the world. It was found in 1985 in the Premier mine in South Africa from De Beers. The rough diamond was 755.50 carat by them. It was cut by Gabi Tolkowsky. He cut the diamond into a ‘Fire-Rose cushion’ shape of 545.65 carats. The diamond is now on display in the Royal Museum at Pimammek Golden Tempel Throne Hall in Bangkok as part of the crown jewels Carat: 545.65 Color: Brown Clarity: Unkown Cut: Fire-Rose cushion cut The Golden Jubilee Diamond. Image source: Israeli Diamond The Star of the South This diamond is one of the largest diamonds found in Brazil. It was also the first Brazilian diamond to receive international acclaim. It was found in 1853 by an African slave woman. For finding it, she received her freedom and life pension. The stone went to Amsterdam where we, Royal Coster Diamonds, cut the Star of the South. Carat: 128.48 Color: Fancy Light Pinkish-Brown Clarity: VS2 Cut: Cushion The Star of the South (top left diamond) has a fancy light pinkish-brown color. The Earth Star Diamond This diamond was found in 1967 in the Jagerfontein Mine that belongs to De Beers. Rough, the brown diamond weighed 248.9 carats. Though the mine existed already for a long time, there were never big or unusual discoveries. But the Earth Star was discovered very deep: at 2500-foot level. Baumgold Bros. of New York purchased the stone. They cut it into a 111.59 carat pear shape. The Earth Star is probably the 3rd largest brown diamond in the world today. Carat: 111.59 Color: Brown Clarity: Unkown Cut: Pear The Earth Star is a pear cut brown diamond. Image source: info-diamond.com Famous orange diamonds Orange diamonds are a lot rarer than yellow and brown diamonds. Therefore, there are less remarkable or famous orange diamonds. But that does not mean there are not any. These are actually so rare we already dedicated some articles about them. The Pumpkin Diamond The Pumpkin Diamond is an orange 11-carat diamond, mined in 1997 in Central African Republic. It ended up at Sotheby’s who put it up for auction on the day before Halloween. Harry Winston bought the diamond and named it the Pumpkin Diamond after the combination of the auction day and its color. Winston put the diamond in a ring that later was worn by Halle Berry to the 2002 Oscars. The combination of the rare color grade and the rarity of the color orange makes the Pumpkin one of the rarest of rare of fancy colored diamonds. Carat: 5.54 Color: Fancy vivid orange Clarity: Onbekend Cut: Cushion The Pumpkin Diamond. Image source: Pinterest The Koi Diamond In the early 2000s, a big 60-carat multi-hued orange and white diamond was discovered in Congo. Because of its many inclusions and odd colors, it was slated for industrial use. But at last minute, an anonymous diamond polisher saw the stone’s possibilities. He shaped it like the Japan’s celebrated Koi fish that matches well with the pattern of the colors. Now, it is one of the most unique diamonds on the planet because of its remarkable graduations in color such as white, orange, yellow, black and even dark blue. In 2019, we welcomed our own surprise Baby Koi Diamond. Carat: 32 Color: Orange with white, light yellow, dark blue and black Clarity: Highly included Cut: Pear shape The Koi Diamond has the shape of the famous Japanese fish. Image source: luxurious magazine Famous pink diamonds Even though pink diamonds are rare, there are actually quite a lot of large famous pink diamonds. Just to name a few notable ones: Daria-I-Noor Noor-ul-Ain Williamson Pink diamond Martian Pink Unique Pink The Pink Star Hortensia Diamond The Graff Pink Pink Legacy Condé Diamond Agra Diamond Princie Diamond Since we cannot cover them all, I chose the ones that are – in my opinion – the most special ones. The Pink Star In 1999, De Beers mined a large diamond in one of their mines in South Africa. The large gem was 132.50 carats. But besides the size, there was something else that was remarkable: its color. The diamond had a Fancy vivid pink color, which almost never happens for diamonds this big. Steinmetz Diamonds bought the stone from the Beers. They wanted to polish the pink gem, but this was no easy task. It took 8 polishers 20 months to cut the diamond. Steinmetz sold the pink diamond to an anonymous buyer who named the diamond “The Pink Star”. Carat: 59.60 Color: Fancy vivid pink Clarity: Internally Flawless (IF) Cut: Mixed oval brilliant The Pink Star Diamond The Graff Pink The Graff Pink is quite a special case. The early history of the diamond is not clear. But it was sold in the 1950s by Harry Winston to a private collector. That’s why the audience never saw it for 60 years. But in 2010 they put it up for auction. The estimated auction price was between 27 and 38 million of dollars. However, Laurence Graff purchased the stone at Sotheby’s for the whopping price of 46 million dollars. Laurence named the diamond the “Graff Pink”. The stone went into the books as the most expensive pink diamond price per carat ever paid at auction. Carat: 24.78 Color: Fancy intense pink Clarity: VVS2, with potential of being internally flawless after repolishing. Cut: Emerald with rounded corners The Graff Pink. Image source: investments.diamonds Famous purple diamonds As you know, purple diamonds are extremely rare. That’s why there are only three purple diamonds that are actually very famous. The Purple Orchid The journey of this precious purple stone starts in South Africa where it was unearthed in 2014. Upon discovery, it was immediately clear that this was a unique piece. Fancy purple diamonds account for only 0.2% of all colored diamonds. Let alone those that surpass 3 carats. The 4-carat stone had various owners. It eventually made its way to India where it was

The Different Kinds of Diamond Rings

Do you already have your idea about carat, color, clarity, and cut? But another thing he will definitely ask is whether you already have something in mind. To help you get started, I compiled a list of the different kinds of diamond rings. Which different kinds of diamond rings and ring settings are there? As you can imagine, there are numerous different kinds of rings and ring settings. It is nearly impossible to mention them all. Therefore, I will stick to the most well-known different diamond ring settings. These are: Solitaire You & me Trilogy Semi-alliance Eternity Pavé Halo Illusion Vintage Cocktail For men Solitaire rings One of the most famous designs for diamond rings is the solitaire. A solitaire is a ring with a single diamond. It is THE classic when it comes to diamond engagement rings. Any ring with only one diamond or other gemstone is called a solitaire. However, there are many different types of solitaire engagement rings. Classic solitaire diamond ring Besides the different styles, you can also vary the diamond cut. For the term solitaire, it does not matter whether you choose a classic brilliant cut or another cut, such as a heart-shape for example. We refer to both as them as solitaires. However, many people jump to the brilliant as 95% of all diamonds are brilliant cuts. So if you prefer a solitaire with a different cut it is always wise to mention that as well. You & Me rings The name says it already. This type of ring represents the two of you. The You & Me ring contains two diamonds that are somewhat “curled” around each other. It looks a lot like a bypass solitaire ring, but with two stones instead of one. One of the great things about a You & Me ring is the flexibility. You often have the option to choose your own (gem)stones. The most popular option is a ring with two diamonds. However, you can also select a diamond and a gemstone. Or two gemstones for that matter. You & Me diamond ring You & Me rings are one of the most beloved engagement rings. But we also see them as promise rings or ‘friendship rings’. A lovely idea for such a promise ring is the birthstones of the two of you. Whichever stones you chose, there is no better ring to represent the two of you. Trilogy rings Another ring that symbolizes your relationship is the trilogy ring. This is a three-stone diamond ring. Usually, the stone in the middle is bigger than the one on the side. Rule of thumb is that the combined weight of both side stones is approximately the same as the weight of the center stone. The ring represents the past, the present and the future together. That’s why trilogy rings make great engagement and wedding rings. Even though “the past, the present and the future” is the most common meaning for the trilogy ring, it can also have another meaning. For example: Friendship, love and devotion Family The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit To love, honor and cherish There is no rule about which meaning to choose. A Trilogy Ring often represents the past, the present and the future together. Semi-alliance rings An alliance is a row of diamonds. When we speak about an alliance ring, we mean a ring with a row of diamonds on it. This can be a continuous string all the way around. But we usually refer to these as eternity rings or full-alliance rings. Semi-alliance rings have a partial string of diamonds that usually is enough to cover the top of the finger. We see semi-alliance rings often as a wedding band that complements the engagement ring. The Willeke is a semi-alliance ring There is not a preset amount of stones for a semi-alliance ring. However, we usually see them with five, six or seven stones. In our experience this is enough to cover the upper part of the ring. An example of a five-stone semi-alliance is the Willeke ring. This is our own design. The five diamonds in this ring stand for: “You are special to me” or “I will always love you”. These meanings make this semi-alliance ring not only suitable as an engagement ring or a wedding band. They are also the perfect gift for a daughter, granddaughter or a good friend. Eternity rings Eternity rings look a lot like (semi-)alliance rings. The only difference is that the row of diamonds is continuous. It goes all the way round. ‘Eternity’ has a double meaning for this ring. On one hand it refers to the row of diamonds that does not seem to end. On the other hand it stands for eternal love. The eternity ring is a popular wedding ring. You can wear it together with an engagement ring. Whether you choose a semi-alliance ring or an eternity ring is a matter of personal taste. Eternity rings go all the way round Pavé ring A pavé ring is a ring with lots and lots of small diamonds. Just like a street is paved, so is the diamond pavé ring. Unlike the solitaire and the other rings, the pavé ring does not serve a specific goal. However, certain pavé rings are so exclusive and so extravagant that they work well on special occasions. Classic pave ring A different kind of pavé The real definition of a pavé is the cluster of lots of small diamonds. However, many people mean something different when they mention a ring with a pavé. They refer to the pavé as a string or row of diamonds on the band of the ring. However, they are complementing a bigger stone or multiple bigger stones. This kind of pavé is not a type of ring setting per se. But it is often used to add extra sparkle to a solitaire ring setting. Over the years, this definition of pavé integrated in the jewelry world. Therefore, if you are looking for a pavé ring, I recommend bringing a picture or a clear description of what you have in mind because there are in fact two separate definitions. Solitaire ring with pave Halo ring Just like the pave on the band, the halo more a setting option than a kind of diamond ring. Halos are often paired with pave bands. A halo is a circle or square of (small) diamonds around a larger stone. The benefits of a halo are that the main stone looks bigger and the ring sparkles more. Especially for gemstones, the halo is very popular. That is because gemstones, in general, sparkle a lot less than diamonds. The halo can provide a lot of sparkle and literally brighten the ring. Diamond ring with a halo around a large Royal 201 cut and a pave on the band Illusion ring Just like a pavé, the illusion consists of multiple diamonds. But whereas the pavé is simply a cluster of diamonds, the illusion is different. The Illusion ring is a cluster of specific diamonds that together create the illusion of a single bigger stone. For example, four princess cuts in a square can give the illusion of a bigger princess cut. And four triangles with rounded edges can look like a big brilliant cut. When multiple small diamonds look like one larger, we call this an Illusion ring The most common reason to choose an illusion rings is the price. The price of the diamond grows exponentially. Therefore, four smaller diamonds with a combined weight of 1,00 carat are less valuable than one diamond with the same weight. Vintage ring A vintage or antique diamond ring can be found in thrift stores. However, there are also plenty of new vintage diamond rings. It is just another setting among the different kinds of diamond rings. Characteristic for vintage ring setting is that the Edwardian or Art Deco style. This means a lot of curling and floral details mounted in the gold band. Another typical feature of the vintage ring settings is the “open” cathedrals. This means there are artistic ‘holes’ in the ring to give the ring a more romantic look and feel. Vintage rings often have 'open spaces' and a floral design Cocktail ring There are many different kinds of diamond cocktail rings. But one thing is absolutely clear. A cocktail ring is always big, bold and beautiful. It is sure to capture the attention and a true conversation starter. Diamond cocktail rings are not an essential piece. They are the absolute top of luxury. After all, they are often only worn on special occasions or at special events. The Queen of the Night is a cocktail ring with a big black diamond in it One of the nice things about diamond cocktail rings is that they are usually one of a kind. Solitaires and alliance rings are rarely unique. I can’t speak for other jewelers, but with one of our cocktail rings, you know you have something no one else has. Rings for men Most diamond rings are for women. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any options for men. There are actually many different kinds of diamond rings for men. Roughly there are two kinds of rings: minimalistic with little or no diamonds and full-on diamond rings. Especially for wedding rings, we usually see straightforward rings for men. More often than not, they don’t have a diamond in it. However, for the diamond lover, we also have a special collection of diamond rings for men. These rings have a cool and sturdy look and feel and contain a number of diamonds. Choosing the right diamond ring Are you looking for a diamond ring, for yourself or maybe for your partner? We have over 20,000 diamonds in stock. Our diamond consultants are standing by to help you find the perfect piece.

The Heart-shaped Diamond

History of the heart-shaped diamond Though the heart-shape looks pretty modern, the diamond cut is actually centuries old. It dates back to the late 1400’s when this particular cut was considered a symbol of royalty. The first heart-shapes The first time a heart-shaped diamond popped up in history was in 1463. It was mentioned in a conversation between the Duke of Milan, Galeazzo Maria Sforza and Nicodemo. The seed was sown. Almost a century later, in 1562, Mary Queen of Scots send Queen Elizabeth a beautiful ring that contained a heart-shaped diamond. This diamond became one of the most famous heart-shapes in history. In this period of time, it symbolized friendship and goodwill. Another well-known heart-shaped diamond from that time was the 20 carat that was owned by nobleman Cardinal de Richelieu. Characteristics heart-shaped diamond Just like many other diamond cuts, the heart-shape stems from the brilliant cut diamond. This means that a polisher uses the same polishing technique for a brilliant and – in this case – a heart-shape. This is in contrast to other cuts, like step-cuts such as the emerald and the Asscher cut. The heart-shape diamond often has 58 facets. However, this can differ between polishers. Some prefer to make them with 56 or 57 facets. How to make a heart-shaped diamond? Heart-shapes are probably one of the more difficult diamond cuts. As you know, symmetry is already very important for diamonds. Look for example at the hearts & arrows in a brilliant cut. But for heart-shapes it is even more important! After all, both sides of the heart have to be exactly symmetrical. Eye for perfection Making a heart-shaped diamond starts with a pear cut diamond. When the pear cut is done, the diamond polisher creates a v-shape at the widest part of the pear. Then he rounds both sides. These sides need to be perfectly symmetrical. One wrong move and the symmetry could be lost. That’s why it is crucial that the diamond polisher knows what he does. Only the most skilled craftsmen can successfully create the heart-shaped diamond. Consider carat When you want to purchase a heart-shaped diamond, one of the things you should take into account is the carat. As I explained, the cut is obviously the most important one of the 4 C’s. But carat also plays a vital role. The heart shape is a complex shape. Therefore, to fully enjoy every angle of it, I recommend heart-shaped diamonds from at least 0.50 carat or up. Diamonds that are smaller are harder to immediately recognize as a heart-shape. Heart-shaped diamonds in jewelry Since both hearts and diamonds represent love, the heart-shaped diamond is a beloved choice for engagement rings. But also other heart-shaped diamonds are popular, like solitaire earrings or pendants. All and all, the heart-shaped diamond is about the 9th most popular diamond shape. Heart-shaped hero Because the heart shape is so distinctive, we mainly see it as the hero in diamond jewelry. After all, if you have something special and unique, you don’t want to hide it. We often find heart-shaped diamonds in rings and necklaces. Rings with heart-shaped diamonds A solitaire ring is by far the most popular choice for heart-shaped diamonds. That is because this diamond cut is perfect for a romantic proposal. Usually, the diamond is kept in place by three prongs. A heart-shaped diamond in a solitaire ring setting is usually kept in place by three prongs Necklaces with heart-shaped diamonds Another beloved option for heart-shaped diamonds are necklaces. Just like the solitaire ring, we often see solitaire necklaces. This means that there is only one – usually a bigger – diamond in it. In this case a heart-shaped diamond. However, we also see diamond-hearts that have a diamond halo around it. A halo is a great way to emphasize the main diamond. Especially when it’s a unique shape such as the heart. Earrings with heart-shaped diamonds Last but not least are heart-shapes in solitaire earrings. As you already know, it is very difficult to polish one heart. Let alone make two that are exactly the same! That’s why you don’t see a lot of heart-shaped diamond earrings. If you do find them, they probably come with a certain price tag. Unless the quality of the cuts is poor of course. Heart-shaped diamonds as side stones? Some diamond cuts are almost exclusively used as side stones. For example the baguette cut diamond. But there are also many cuts that are often the hero and just as often the sidekick in diamond jewelry. Think about the brilliant cut or the princess cut and the emerald cut. But the heart-shaped diamonds are not often side stones. However, every now and then we use them as the side stones in a trilogy ring. In that case both side stones are a heart shape that “hug” the diamond in the middle. The hugging heart-shapes symbolize an everlasting love for the past, the present and the future. A heart-shape is often the hero in diamond jewels. It can have a halo of diamonds for extra sparkles and shoulder stones as sidekicks. Celebrities with heart-shaped diamonds Over the years, many celebs rocked the heart-shaped diamond. Every now and then, a lavish proposal with a heart-shaped diamond ring makes the headlines. As you can imagine, the demand of heart-shapes immediately increases after such events. An example of celebrities with heart-shaped diamond rings are: Lady Gaga Nicki Minaj Gwen Stefani Katie Price Allegra Riggio’s Lady Gaga's diamond heart engagement ring. Source: WireImage.com Pros & Cons of heart-shaped diamonds Every diamond cut has its pros and cons. As does the heart-shaped diamond. Pros Positive features of heart-shaped diamonds are: The meaning: heart shapes symbolize love more than any other diamond cut. Uniqueness: being the 9th most popular diamond cuts, a heart is probably not what other (recently) engaged friends are flashing. Eye-catching: because of its unorthodox shape, a heart-shaped diamond is often a conversation starter. Cons While the pros are important, there are also some downfalls for this romantic diamond cut: Poor craftsmanship is a no-go. When you purchase a diamond cut, you have to be absolutely sure you do it at a place that is known for its quality. Nothing breaks my heart more (pun intended) than a poorly cut heart-shape. Only for an acquired taste. The heart-shape is a cut you absolutely love or absolutely hate. Some find it very romantic while others think it is too corny. If you are not sure whether she will love it, you probably shouldn’t take the risk. What to look for in a heart-shaped diamond? Are you looking for a heart-shaped diamond? If so, it is important to take the characteristics and the pros & cons into account. The most important thing is that you buy it at a trusted seller that is known for its craftsmanship. We are in the diamond polishing business for 180 years. Our diamond polishers are the best around. Our diamond consultants are trained experts who gladly share their knowledge with you. Contact a diamond consultant now to find your perfect diamond heart.

The Pear Cut Diamond

History Even though the pear cut looks very modern with its pointed tip and rounded bottom, it is anything but. The pear cut dates back to the 1400’s. 1458, to be precise. You can't say pear cut without mentioning the creator: the Flemish Lodewyk van Berquem. Lodewyk van Berguem Lodewyk is a famous name in the diamond world. He is the one who said diamonds should be symmetrical and cut in a certain way to gain the most brilliance. Note that this is a few hundred years before the invention of the brilliant cut! In 1456, Mr. Van Berguem invented the scaife. This is a polishing wheel infused with olive oil and diamond dust. The scaife revolutionized the industry. To this day, we still use this to polish diamonds. The scaife allowed Lodewyk to discover and create new diamond cuts. That’s how he came up with the pear cut, only two years after his invention. Characteristics of the pear cut diamond We call the pear shape a “fancy shape”. This basically means it is a shape other than round. The pear cut diamond looks like a tear drop. It looks like a combination of a round shape and the marquise cut diamond. Carat or an ideal ratio The ideal length-to-width ratio of a pear cut diamond is between 1:1.50 – 1:1.75. However, an ideal ratio is always subjective. As you may know, a polisher can deviate from the ideal cut. Usually, this has one of two reasons: To exclude a nasty inclusion. By polishing the pear a bit steeper, he or she makes sure that the inclusion is polished off. To gain a higher carat. By making the shape a bit wider, the weight of the polished gem goes (a little) up. Instead of a 1.98 carat, it can become a 2.00. I can tell you: it’s a great feeling! I’ve seen pear cuts that look very subtle because they have a 1:1.40 ratio. Yet I’ve also come across very long pear cut diamonds with an almost 1:2 ratio. This can look unbelievably elegant in a necklace. For rings, I prefer between the ideal 1.50 and 1.70. But the most important thing is that you choose a shape you love. Consider color Just like marquise cut diamonds, pear shapes tend to hold more color. Especially to the naked eye. This means that a brilliant cut diamond with a ‘Crystal’ or ‘Top Cape’ color can appear pretty colorless. But the same color in a pear shape, looks a lot more yellow. That’s why I recommend choosing a good color for pear cut diamonds. Ideally ‘Top Wesselton’ and up. Another valid option is a fancy colored pear cut. That’s why we often find pear cut diamonds in a large variety of colors. Pear cuts lend themselves perfectly for rare colors like pink diamonds Cutting quality The most important C of the pear shape is definitely the Cut. The quality of the pear shape immediately influences its value. Lodewyk van Berguem already stressed the importance of symmetry in polished diamonds. Symmetry is always key to the overall beauty of gemstones. But it is even more important in shapes that aren’t round; therefore also the pear shape. To find out of a pear shape is symmetrical, draw an imaginary line across the length of the diamond and examine the two sides. If the shoulders, bellies and wings (see illustration) mirror each other, there is good symmetry. Notice how the shoulders, bellies and wings in the illustration above are identical on either side of the line, and how the shape, size and placement of the facets in each half of the stone mirror one another. This is an ideal pear shape. Source: gia.edu Pear cut diamonds in jewelry When the pear cut was introduced, it was not very popular. But diamond cuts are just like other trends. When celebs started rocking them, they immediately become attractive to the public. The same happened with pear cut diamonds. Celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Paris Hilton rocked stunning pear cut diamonds. But the most famous example is the one from Elizabeth Taylor. The Taylor-Burton Diamond In 1967, jeweler Harry Winston cut a 69.42 carat pear shaped diamond. They sold it, but two years later it was put back up for public auction. Bidding started at $200,000. Bidders included (a.o) Richard Burton (Taylor’s then-husband), Harry Winston, and Robert Kenmore – owner of the parent company of jewelry house Cartier. Kenmore won the auction and decided to name the stone the “Cartier Diamond”. However, Richard Burton was dead-set on getting the diamond; and can you blame him? Elizabeth Taylor was famous for her love of diamonds and her diamond quotes, like “Big girls need big diamonds”. Elizabeth Taylor wearing the Taylor-Burton Diamond. Source: bestdesignevents.com Burton wanted to buy the diamond, regardless of the price. The next day, he bought the stone for $1.1 million and named it the “Taylor-Burton Diamond”. Taylor had the diamond set in a necklace. Its incredible size and beauty made it one of the most well-known pieces in Taylor’s extensive jewelry collection. Pear cut diamonds in modern jewelry You can find pear cut diamonds in practically all jewelry pieces. But they are most popular in diamond rings, diamond earrings and diamond necklaces. Pear cut diamonds in rings When you wear the tip of the diamond towards the nail, pear cuts make the finger look longer and slimmer. That’s why many women love this particular diamond shape. They also appear bigger than round diamonds. So you feel like you get more rock for your money. Pear cut diamonds in earrings Pear cuts are very popular in drop earrings. They provide a certain elegance that no other diamond cut can compete with. They are feminine and romantic. This makes them very suitable for special occasions. Yet they also lend themselves for everyday use. Pear cut diamonds in necklaces Just like raindrops, pear cut diamonds fall in a natural way down. This effect is highly visible in necklaces. The drop accentuates the collar bones. It is the summit of sophistication. You saw it already in Elisabeth Taylor’s necklace. But I guarantee you that it also works with (much) smaller pear cut diamonds. Main stones or sidekicks Some diamond cuts are almost always the main stone in a piece of jewelry, for example oval cut diamonds. I rarely see them used as shoulder stones. Whereas other cuts are almost exclusively used as sidekicks. For example the baguette cut diamond. So what about the pear cut diamond? The beauty of a pear cut is that we can use them as a center stone, a solitaire engagement ring or as side stones. Pros & cons of the pear cut diamond Just like any other diamond cut, the pear shape has some pros and cons. Let me summarize what I explained so far. Roughly said, there are 5 pros and 3 cons of the pear cut. Pros In general we can say there are 5 pros of the pear cut diamond: Price: pear cut diamonds overall have a lower price than the popular brilliant cuts. You can get a pear cut diamond that is bigger, better colored or clearer compared to a round cut diamond. Size: besides the fact that the pear costs less in general, it also looks bigger than a brilliant cut. The pear is actually around 8% larger on the surface than a round cut. Versatility: like mentioned earlier, the pear cut lends itself for different jewelry pieces. You can wear it as a necklace or in a ring. Moreover, pear cut diamonds can be used as the main stone or as side stones. Slimming, elongating & sophisticated: many women love the visual effect of the pear cut diamond. In a ring, the pear cut diamond makes the finger appear longer and slimmer. A pear cut diamond in a necklace looks sophisticated. It highlights the collarbones and can emphasize the bust in a classy way. Vintage: the pear cut is around for many centuries. Therefore, we consider the pear one a timeless classic. Especially for the vintage woman, the pear cut is an all-time favorite. Cons Where there are pros, there are also cons. When we look at what we know, there are 3 cons to take into account: Expertise is a must: as discussed, symmetry is essential for a pear cut diamond. A poorly polished pear loses it symmetry and with that its scintillation and sparkle. That’s why pears need to be polished by true craftsmen. Therefore, I recommend purchasing pear cut diamonds only at renowned jewelers. Another important reason to choose high-quality craftsmanship is because of the bow-tie effect. Many pear shaped diamonds show a dark pattern that looks a bow-tie. On well-cut pears, this effect is minimal. Fragile tip: the tip of a pear cut is very narrow. But it is also a reservoir for sorts of inclusions. This makes the tip susceptible to damage. That is why it is important to opt for a setting that protects the tip of the diamond cut. Fewer options: a pear cut is less popular than a brilliant cut. On one hand, it’s a pro since there are less people competing for the same diamond cut. But on the other hand, lower demand means also fewer options to choose from. What to look for in a pear cut diamond Are you looking for a pear cut diamond? If so, it is important to take the characteristics and the pros & cons into account. But you should also purchase them at a trusted seller. Fortunately, Royal Coster is here for you. We are in the business for 180 years. With almost two centuries of expertise, our diamond consultants can help you to choose your perfect pear cut diamond. Contact a diamond consultant now.

Diamond Tiaras

Tara The word tiara is Greek and originates from the Persian ‘tara’, which was used for head-dresses of Persian kings. Now, it stands for a piece of jewelry a woman wears on top of her head, most of the time on formal occasions. Tiara vs. crown Even though the terms are used interchangeably, a tiara and a crown are two different things. A tiara is a type of crown, but not the other way around. And unlike a crown, only women can wear a tiara. The shape is different as well. A tiara is semi-circular and is often placed into the hair, with the focus on the front. A crown, however, is circular and placed on top, covering the head. Also an important distinction: while crowns are worn by royalties only, tiaras are worn by brides and pageant winners as well. Royals As princess Margaret once said: "The Queen is the only person who can put on a tiara with one hand, while walking downstairs". Over centuries we have seen queens, empresses and princesses wearing tiaras. One more beautiful than the other. They are often passed down by generation and are filled with diamonds and gemstones. Below, we have gathered some of the most sparkling pieces. The Diamond Bandeau Starting off with one of our own: the Dutch Diamond Bandeau. This special tiara was once a necklace. The Dutch people gave it to Queen Emma of the Netherlands in 1879. Queen Wilhelmina, Emma’s daughter, had the necklace remade into the tiara in 1937. The stunning diamonds across the bandeau weigh in total more than one hundred carats! Today, the beautiful tiara is a favourite of queen Máxima, who has worn it to many occasions. Source: Pinterest The Kokoshnik Tiara Protected by a wall of diamonds, you’ll never have a bad hair day. This tiara has a total of 488 diamonds set into 61 platinum bars, just like a Russian Kokoshnik tiara. The tiara is now in possession of Queen Elizabeth II of England. Source: Pinterest The Bragança Tiara Worn by Queen Silvia of Sweden. The Bragança tiara is 12.5 centimetres tall and weighs 3 kilograms! The tiara is originally from Brazil and is still one of the largest tiaras in the world. Source: Pinterest The Luxembourg Empire Tiara Even though the Bragança tiara wins in terms of numbers, the Luxembourg Empire Tiara deserves its place on this list as well. It’s a 19th century piece and now in the possession of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, who wears it to major events. And we can see why! The tiara is over 10 centimetres tall and covered in diamonds; a true showstopper. Source: Pinterest Brides While many brides say they’ll never wear one, when push comes to shove, a lot of women are following in the footsteps of royals. And why wouldn’t they? Nothing says glamour like a diamond tiara. It’s the ultimate statement piece and finishing touch to any bridal look. You can wear them with an updo or loose hair; the possibilities are endless. Want to see more tiaras? The Diamond Museum has one of the largest collection of crowns and tiaras on display. Plan a visit and discover all the amazing diamond products. Want to own one? We can make diamond tiaras in any shape or size! Contact an experienced diamond consultant for advice on creating diamond pieces.

What is a diamond appraisal?

What is a diamond appraisal? The diamond appraisal is a document that contains the key characteristics of a diamond, like carat, color, clarity and cut. But also the measurements of the diamond. For example the quality of the diamond cut. It tells whether the diamond has an ideal cut, or if the cut is too wide or too steep. But it also tells us something about the setting. When the diamond is in a setting, like a ring or a pendant for example. In that case, the appraisal also holds the characteristics of the combination of the setting and the diamond. It describes the weight, purity and style of the ring, pendant, earrings, or another diamond jewel. In other words, the appraisal is a document that is like a diamond’s passport. Every bit of information, you can find in here. Why do I need a diamond appraisal? The main purpose of a diamond appraisal is to establish the value of the diamond (with or without the setting). For example for jewelry insurance purposes. Let’s say you want to insure your diamond piece, or reimburse when it was stolen or destroyed. In most cases, your insurance company will ask for an appraisal. In the appraisal, you find the diamond’s value based on current market prices. This means the value can be higher than what you actually paid for the diamond. In contrast to a diamond certificate, not every diamond or diamond jewel gets a diamond appraisal. Not every jeweler is allowed to provide a valid appraisal. We usually provide it only for very specific pieces. But if you want a complementary diamond appraisal with your purchase, we arrange it for you. The difference between an appraisal and a diamond certificate An appraisal and diamond certificate share a couple of similarities. In simple terms: diamond certification is the equivalent of a car title. A car title contains important information about the car such as the make, model and year. As well as unique information, like the VIN number. A diamond certification, or grading report, includes characteristics of the diamond. Features like carat, color, clarity and cut and internal characteristics or inclusions. It also officially confirms that the gemstone is indeed a diamond. The diamond certificate shows it if the diamond in question has undergone any enhancement. Like making the color or clarity of the diamond more beautiful, laser drilling, fracture filling and irradiation. Unlike the diamond appraisal, the diamond grading report never lists the value of the diamond. The characteristics on an appraisal Both diamond appraisals and certificates include the 4 C’s. However, with an appraisal, this data is specifically for obtaining the monetary value of the diamond. The following things are included in a jewelry or diamond appraisal: Certificate number Invoice number, as proof of purchase Date Name of the purchaser Address Article number Description: the vendor writes down an as detailed as possible description of the diamond and/or jewel Weight of the diamond(s) Color grade: the color of a diamond rates from D to Z, with Z denoting the deepest (yellow) color Clarity grade: the type of clarity and – if possible – a detailed description of the amount of impurities and the type of imperfections Cut: diamond shape and – if possible – the quality of that shape, varying from “Ideal” to “Poor” Retail value, including the currency Appraised by The last one is important because that way, the insurance company or potential buyers know the diamond comes from a trustworthy organization. How do I get an appraisal? Not every diamond company or jeweler issues an appraisal. This is a shame, because, especially for the larger purchases, it can come in very handy. We understand the importance of the jewelry and/or diamond appraisal. That is why we can always make one for you. When you purchase(d) your diamonds here, we issue an appraisal for free. But we can also provide appraisals for diamonds and jewelry that you bought somewhere else. However, since we need to evaluate the diamonds properly, we request a small fee (between €50 and €150) for it. Steps for appraising a diamond Whether it is for our diamonds or stones from somewhere else, making an appraisal starts with the gemologist: First, he or she needs to clean the diamond(s). When the diamond is perfectly clear, he can start his examination. The gemologist looks for imperfections. Some are quite large and you can see them with the naked eye. But others are more hidden. With a microscope, the gemologist is sure to find each and every one of them. After the inclusions, he or she looks for the engraving. Every diamond has its own serial number engraved in it. You can only find it with a 20x magnifying glass or microscope. With a daylight lamp and a special white cardboard, the gemologist determines the diamond’s color. “White” diamonds are more easily graded than colored diamonds. The gemologist uses a very precise scale to weigh the diamond. As you know, we express a diamond’s weight in carats. For loose stones, weighing is relatively easy. However, when the diamond is set, the gemologist uses a “leveridge” as a counterweight. After this, it is important that the gemologist assesses the cut and the quality of this cut. Was it done properly, or are there any deficiencies? The next step is determining the fluorescence. Fluorescence occurs when a diamond contains gas. A high amount of gas can seriously decrease a diamond’s value. Do you want to make sure your diamond jewelry comes with an appraisal? Just ask one of our diamond consultants for the possibilities when you purchase one of our stunning diamond pieces.

The Radiant Cut Diamond

History of the radiant cut We consider the radiant cut, still a “newbie” in the diamond scene. In 1977, Mr. Henry Grossbard cut the first radiant. There were other square and rectangular cut diamonds. But they were not nearly as sparkling as the radiant cut. A radiant cut diamond almost sparkles as bright as a brilliant cut one Mr. Grossbard’s hybrid cut Grossbard labored in the RCDC (the Radiant Cut Diamond Company). His goal: perfect a hybrid style of diamond cutting that changes industry standard on cutting rectangular and square diamonds. In 1981, he perfected his creation. The radiant cut diamond was more brilliant than any other angular cut diamonds. It did not exceed the brilliant cut’s sparkle, but it does come quite close. Characteristics of the radiant cut A radiant cut diamond has 70 facets. The edges are trimmed carefully and distinctive. In contrast to most diamond cuts, radiants can be square and rectangular. Ratios between 1:1.05 and 1:1.50 are common. Because of this variety in shapes and sizes, people often confuse the radiant cut with a cushion cut. Radiant cuts vs cushion cut diamonds Cushion cut diamonds date back to the early 1800s, so they are much older than radiant cut diamonds. Cushion cuts have a more traditional, vintage flair, while radiant cuts have a modern edge. Both are stunning and valuable, it is just a matter of taste. Cushion cut diamonds look a lot like radiant cut diamonds. But there are certain important differences. The corners of a cushion are less angular than those of a radiant cut. This makes the cushion cut diamond look more oval. The vintage cushion cut has larger facets compared to the radiant, making the cushion to be less sparkling. Radiant cuts vs round-cut diamonds Radiant cut diamonds appear larger than round ones, like the brilliant cut, when it comes to diagonal measurement. So when it comes to carat, a radiant cut of 1.00 carat looks bigger than a 1.00-carat brilliant cut. In terms of brilliance, it is hard to outshine a brilliant-cut diamond. But a radiant cut diamond gives the brilliant a run for its money. A radiant cut is probably the most sparkling angular cut. Radiant cuts vs princess cut diamonds Radiant cuts are very often mistaken for princess cut diamonds. The shapes and cutting-techniques are very much alike. They are polished in the same way. But whereas the radiant cut has 70 facets, the princess only has 58. This is why radiants sparkle more. Another noticeable difference is that the princess cut has sharper corners than the radiant cut. Radiants have beveled corners while those of princess cuts are square. The sharp corners of the princess cut are a little more likely to chip or snag. Why people love radiants Here are some other pros of Radiant Cut Diamonds: The extra facets on a radiant cut conceal any flaws and inclusions better, therefore, giving it a higher level of clarity. The brilliance of a radiant cut diamond ond gives it a superior diamond color compared to other diamonds. Radiants maximize the carat weight of the diamond. It visually highlights the gem as opposed to hiding the bulk of its weight under the stone’s surface How to wear radiant cut diamonds Just like any other diamond, you can wear radiant cuts any way you like. But if you’re looking for recommendations, I can give you a few, based on the diamond’s characteristics. Rectangular Radiant Cut Diamonds Due to their size, particularly their length, Radiant Cut Diamonds are especially stunning in a solitaire pendant. Regardless of whether you wear them on a short or long chain, they surely captivate your audience’s attention with their brilliance. Square Radiant Radiant cuts with a square shape are perfect for diamond solitaire ring for an elegant and sophisticated look. Radiants in engagement rings The square or rectangular shape of the radiant cut makes it the ideal accent for a diamond engagement ring. But it also makes an exceptional wedding ring. From Drew Barrymore to Khloe Kardashian, radiant shaped diamond engagement rings caught the eye of many celebrities. If you want to go for a sparkling diamond with a rather uncommon shape, the radiant may be your cut. Discover all various diamond cuts and learn about the 4 C’s of diamond valuation during a free guided tour.

Black Diamond Rings

While white diamonds are a classic choice, some people prefer black ones. Black diamonds show one's personality. Because no matter what, wearing a black diamond is a sign of a person who knows what he wants. Black diamond engagement ring There are different reasons to pop the question with a black diamond ring instead of a ring with a white diamond. There are different styles of black diamond engagement rings. Varying from solitaires to big bold statement rings. Some prefer a modest ring, like a solitaire setting with a single black diamond. Yet others like to go all out. You can go for a unique design with a combination of black and white diamonds. Especially the bigger rings are to stand out and set you apart from the crowd. But it really depends on what you and your partner like. Fortunately, we have all the black diamond rings you can imagine. You can choose a loose diamond yourself or opt for one of the preset designs. One thing is for sure: a black diamond is for a unique person. Black diamond wedding band But black diamonds are not only for engagement rings. Also in wedding rings, black diamonds are a popular choice for both men and women. Wedding rings with black diamonds come in all shapes and sizes. Women tend to go for a slimmer shape than men. Black diamond ring for women An example of a (wedding) ring for women with black diamonds is the alliance ring. An eternity ring with a continuous string of diamonds is an all-time favorite. Normally you see these types of ring with white diamonds. But of course, we also have it with black stones. The black diamond alliance ring stands for eternal and strong love, just like your marriage. Another viable option as a wedding ring for women with black diamonds is a twisted ring. It is still a slim design and a combination of black and white diamonds. The contrast between the black and white diamonds is a timeless one. But of course, there are a lot of different options regarding black diamond wedding rings for women. Black diamond ring for men Many men favor black diamond rings over (wedding) rings with white diamonds. The robust and sturdy look and feel of a black diamond often appeals. Even if you are not really into them, a black diamond can capture your heart. Also for him, there are different options for black diamond rings. Just like white diamonds, black diamonds come in different shapes and sizes. The most popular diamond cut for black diamonds is the round brilliant. But we can also make them into a square princess cut or any other shape. We can make every black diamond ring for men and for women. That’s how we make sure the diamond ring really reflects you. Triggered? Are you interested in one of the rings from the pictures above? Or would you like more information about the options for black diamond rings? Please contact a diamond consultant. He or she helps you to find the perfect black diamond ring, for any budget.

What is a diamond tennis bracelet?

The popularity of the tennis bracelet Thanks to the incident during the match 30 years ago, this kind of bracelet received an international boost of attention. Suddenly everyone who could afford diamonds wanted one. However, that’s not the only reason diamond tennis bracelets are still such beloved and considered must-have accessories. The endless row(s) of diamonds provides the feeling of eternal beauty. Who doesn’t want to feel like that? A timeless beauty The story of the tennis bracelet is already more than 30 years old. And the design of this piece of jewelry even older. But nevertheless, we consider the tennis bracelet a timeless beauty. The versatility and sophisticated style makes a tennis bracelet one of the most popular jewels of all time. It is there right along with the solitaire diamond engagement rings and eternity bands. One thing is for sure: you can never go wrong with a diamond tennis bracelet. It will simply never go out of style. What is a diamond tennis bracelet made of? The classic tennis bracelets consist of round, colorless diamonds in an 18 karat white gold or platinum setting. Yet over the years new versions of the tennis bracelet appeared. Nowadays, we also see tennis bracelets of 18 karat yellow gold and 18 karat rose gold. But jewelers also experiment with the stones itself. New versions of a classic design Why should we only have a tennis bracelet with white diamonds? We also see tennis bracelets with a combination of black and white diamonds or with only black diamonds. Another popular design is a tennis bracelet with brown diamonds. Not only are brown diamonds lower-priced than white ones, but they also look amazing in rose gold. But why stop there. Another trendy design is the tennis bracelet with gemstones. Just like with black diamonds, there are bracelets with a combination of diamonds and gemstones. But there are also tennis bracelets that feature only gemstones, such as rubies, emeralds, or sapphires. Sometimes there are multiple types of gemstones in one bracelet. Of course, we don’t refer to these gemstone bracelets as diamond tennis bracelets anymore. How to wear a tennis bracelet? Wearing the tennis bracelet properly can make or break your outfit. A tennis bracelet should not be too tight, nor too loose. When you can fit one finger between the bracelet and your wrist, it’s a perfect size. A diamond tennis bracelet is often worn on the left wrist. That’s because most people are right-handed and therefore use their left handless. Lesser usage means a smaller change to damage the bracelet. But if you’re left-handed, you may consider wearing the tennis bracelet on your right wrist. Stack or combine The beauty of tennis bracelets is that you can wear them however you like. A single tennis bracelet doesn’t look bad at all. But you can also choose to wear multiple tennis bracelets and simply stack then. Especially for glamourous occasions, stacked tennis bracelets can steal the show. Or combine tennis bracelets in different colors. Personally, I love the combination of a white gold bracelet, a yellow gold bracelet and a rose gold one. You can wear them separately but they also work very well as a set. The possibilities are endless. Diamond tennis bracelet for men In general, diamond bracelets are for women. Throughout history, influential men would wear a lot of diamond jewelry. But they didn’t wear diamond bracelets. Up to this day, it’s still quite rare to see a man rocking a diamond bracelet. Which is odd since there is a lot of diamond jewelry for men. Diamond rings, earrings, and necklaces are a lot more integrated into men’s fashion. However, we see that more and more men have a total disregard for this. As a new trend, they started wearing diamond bracelets anyway. We welcome this, because – let’s face it – it looks amazing! Note that there is a traditional rule of thumb. A man should only wear a diamond bracelet when it’s a gift from a woman. He can receive it from his wife, daughter, or mother for example. But if you are not fond of traditions, you can always purchase one for yourself. How to clean a diamond tennis bracelet? Cleaning diamonds isn’t something you should do in a rush. Though it doesn’t take long, you should do it with care: Step 1: the utilities Take a small bowl and mix a little dish detergent with some warm water in it. Use not more water than necessary to cover the bracelet and just enough detergent to make the suds bubbly. Usually, a few drops will do. Step 2: soaking Let the bracelet soak for about fifteen minutes. Soaking will make the dirt come loose. Step 3: scrubbing Scrub the diamonds clean gently with an extra-soft toothbrush. The grease and dirt are already loosened because of the soaking. So there is no need to scrub hard. Make circular movements to make the diamonds sparkling again. Let us clean your diamond tennis bracelets Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable cleaning the diamonds yourself. I get that. Fortunately, our goldsmiths can do it for you. When you purchased the diamonds at Royal Coster, we clean them for free for the rest of your life. If you bought the diamonds anywhere else, you can drop by as well. It’s very likely we are able to clean them for free anyway as well. We consider this part of our royal service. Diamond tennis bracelets at Royal Coster Are you looking for a diamond tennis bracelet? We have a wide variety of them. Browse our online catalog of diamond bracelets for an impression. For more information on a specific diamond tennis bracelet or diamond bracelets in general, please contact our diamond consultant. He or she will help you to find the perfect one. You can also contact them for a personalized offer. After all, we can make any piece of jewelry for any budget. So there is definitely something we can do for you if you’re looking for a diamond tennis bracelet.

The Brilliant Cut Diamond

History of the brilliant cut The history of the brilliant is actually exceptionally old. The first form, the prototype of the brilliant, is the double pyramid. This is also known as an octahedron. The upper section of the cut is flattened so the diamond as four facets on top and for at the bottom. Then someone had the idea to grind the sharp corners, giving the diamond a rounder shape overall. Once in a while, the brilliant was optimized a bit, but real development took a while. This was until the diamond cutter Tolkowsky laid the foundation for the modern brilliant in 1919. From there on, the brilliant has evolved into its current form and to the standard, we use today: the “Scandinavian standard Brilliant”. How is a brilliant diamond cut? The production of a brilliant cut diamond goes as follows: 1. The rough diamond is cut into two parts, one large and one small one. In former times, this was done with a saw, but nowadays it is more often don with a laser. 2. Thereafter, the large diamond is placed in the cutting machine (a kind of turntable) and clamped between two pins. As the machine starts rotating, the diamond is rounded off by means of another diamond that is placed in a container. The diamond in the container presses against the big diamond to grind that one. 3. After this first grinding, the diamond has the form of a cone and is pressed into a collet. The collet is placed in the grinding rod and then the grinding process can begin for real. Cutting the first facets on a brilliant diamond The first facets are now about to be cut on the diamond. The diamond is held against a cast iron disc, which is greased with olive oil and diamond powder and rotates with about 3500 rpm. Slowly, eight facets are grinded on the upper and lower part of the diamond. Especially the first eight facets of a diamond are of great importance. They need to be at the right angles because these facets determine the brilliance and shimmering of the diamond. After the first eight facets, there are placed eight more on the sharp corners. When the sixteen facets are created, the pavilions (the lower facets) and the bezels (the upper facets) are grinded further into the diamond’s final form. This detailed diamond cutting is called brillianteering. Detailed cutting of the brilliant diamond The girdle is the part at which the diamond is the widest. This is the separation between the bottom and the top of the diamond. Against the girdle and the top, each facet is also provided with two facets. At the bottom of the diamond, each facet is provided with two extra facets. At the girdle and the table (the top of the diamond) eight stars are placed. The brilliant is now finished! In all, the brilliant diamonds contains 57 facets: 33 on top (including the table) and 24 facets below. Royal 201: diamond with the most facets in the world A beautiful and unique twist on the classic brilliant is the Royal 201. This is a patented cut by Royal Coster Diamonds with 201 facets in instead of 57 facets. The Royal 201 has a whopping 144 extra facets on the brilliant. 144 extra mirrors reflecting light within the diamond. This makes it the most dazzling diamond in the world and a feast for the eyes. Want to know more about the brilliant, the Royal 201 and other diamond cuts? See all kinds of cut and uncut diamonds? Book a tour through our diamond factory in Amsterdam.

The Emerald Cut Diamond

Development of the cut The Emerald Cut was quite popular in the Art Deco period, from 1920 to 1939. They started to add more and more facets. In 1940 the modern emerald cut received its present form. Today, this diamond cut is mainly to show how clean the stone is and what a beautiful color it has. The cut leaves no room for imperfections. Because imperfections are highly visible in the reflection inside the stone. The facets in an emerald cut diamond Emerald cut diamonds have step facets. This means it belongs to the 'step cut' diamonds, just like the Asscher cut. This name comes from the stepwise positioning of the facets, three rows of steps above and 3 below the stone. The Emerald has 57 facets. They are subdivided into 25 on the top, 24, at the bottom and 8 facets on the girdle. The table width is very large and bright. Therefore, the inclusions are very clear. A high-quality stone in color and purity is a must. The proportions of the emerald The most common ratio of an emerald shape is 1:5 which makes the stone rectangular. This ratio is very common in rings with green emerald stones. Women's fingers look longer and more elegant with this shape. The shape of the cut is close to the natural shape of the diamond. There is therefore relatively little loss of the stone. This makes the emerald also very popular price-wise. Mistakes As with many diamond cuts the "Bow Tie" effect happens in Emerald cuts. If a polisher places the facets incorrectly, the light doesn't reflect in the proper way. You'll end up with dark spots in your diamond. Though a bow tie is actually a mistake in an emerald, some people like it anyway. Therefore, these effects are not included in the quality requirements. The value of an Emerald The value of every diamond is determined by the four C's: - Carat: This is the weight of the stone, 0.02 grams per carat - - Color: From white to a yellowish hue, the color of champagne - Clarity: This is determined by the number of imperfections or inclusions in the diamond - Cut: The quality of the cut: Proportions, finish, and symmetry of the polishing. Famous Emeralds Emeralds make the most beautiful and elegant engagement and wedding rings. It is no wonder diamond emerald rings are very much beloved by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian. > 7 famous diamond emerald rings you need to see

Famous Emerald Diamond Rings

As the name suggests, this diamond shape was initially for the emerald gemstone. One of the key features for this cut is that only the purest of diamonds are suitable for this shape. That's why emeralds are often used as a special wedding- or engagement ring. The Emerald of Melania Trump is one of the famous emerald diamond rings, but certainly not the most expensive or largest. With this a few great examples: The Emerald diamond engagement ring of Jennifer Lopez Yes, JLo just got engaged (again)! Alex Rodriquez gave her a stunning huge emerald engagement ring. Experts say it is somewhere between 10 and 15 carats. They expect it costs something in the range of 1 and 5 million dollars. Jennifer's emerald diamond engagement ring probably won't be the last one this year. After all, being the trendsetter she is, emerald cuts will be a big hit in 2019! The Emerald diamond ring of Amal Clooney A timeless and classic beauty. And the diamond on her hand is not bad either! Amal Clooney's engagement ring has a 7 or 8 carat emerald diamond in it. This ring is a stunning piece, but 'what else' could we expect from Mr. Clooney? The Emerald diamond ring Angelina Jolie got from Brad Pitt This multi-emerald ring is a real eye-catcher. But do you think she still wears it every now and then, or should we scour thrift shops yet? The diamond ring with Emerald of Eva Longoria A three-stone diamond ring, also known as a Trilogy ring, is always in style. Ever since Harry & Megan's engagement, we receive even more requests for this kind of ring than usual. The Emerald diamond ring of Kim Kardashian Kim K's emerald diamond ring received international fame. Robbers stole her emerald ring in Paris. It is, however, unclear whether it was this famous emerald ring or another one of Kim Kardashian's rings. The Emerald diamond ring of Maria Carey No words needed. What. A. Rock! The emerald cut of the First Lady of the USA Big and striking, yet still classy. Just like a first lady should look like. The emerald cut at Royal Coster Diamonds Won't you agree the emerald shaped diamonds make some of the most beautiful (engagement) rings? The secret lays within its cut and facets. Learn more about emeralds and other diamond cuts during a Royal Experience tour at our premises. See our collection of rings to see a few diamond emerald rings.

The Princess Cut Diamond

Although the Princess cut is often placed in engagement rings, it looks great in all jewelry because of its versatility. The Princess is beautiful in diamond rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. The history of the Princess Cut The Princess cut as we know it today, can be traced back to 1971. In that year, the diamond cutter Basil Watermeyer patented a new diamond cut with the name “the Barion”. This looked already a bit like the Princess, but the many symmetrical lines of the Barion made it very difficult to cut this shape correctly. In 1979, the “Quadrillion” was introduced. This cut looked a lot like the Barion with one big difference. While the Barion had over 80 facets, the Quadrillion only had 49. The Barion and the Quadrillion were important steps in the foundation of the Princess cut. However, the basics of the famous square cut date back to 1961. The diamond polisher Arpad Nagy from London created a new cut he called the “Profile cut”. Years later, this name changed into the Princess cut. Cutters like Watermeyer have made the Princess cut popular with their tweaks. The modern Princess What makes the modern Princess such a beautiful and popular diamonds? You can thank this to years of research that were dedicated to exploring the customer’s wishes. There was investigated which diamond shapes consumers missed and many hours were spent in perfecting the grinding corners. This led to the modern Princess cut. The 59 facets are positioned in almost the exact same way like on a brilliant cut. Therefore the Princess has almost the same glimmering as the famous round diamond cut. Pros and cons of the Princess cut The Princess cut is square. Therefore the cutter needs to polish away less material to achieve the optimal sparkle for this cut. A diamond only loses 20 to 25% of its rough material when it’s cut into an ideal Princess shape. To create a Brilliant cut, a diamond will lose up to 60% of its material. Therefore, a one carat Princess is always more economical than a one carat Brilliant. One of the cons of a square stone is that because of the sharp edges, there are always dead corners in the cut. A part of the light and therefore the sparkle gets lost. That is why a well-polished Princess will never shimmer as bright as a well-polished Brilliant. On the other hand: you can get a bigger diamond for the same amount of money when you go for a Princess instead of a brilliant. So that’s up to you.

Diamonds as an Investment

Diamonds vs. Gold What makes the whole situation complicated is that unlike gold, for example, diamonds don’t have a universal price per unit of weight. In other words, not all diamonds of the same weight will be worth the same amount of money. There are many contributory factors that determine the value of a diamond. Of course, supply and demand also play a significant role, the latter especially important for large markets such as China and India. Therefore, one must be well informed before making the final decision on investing in diamonds. The price of a diamond is determined by 4 essential characteristics: carat, color, clarity, and cut. Carat The number of carats is a case of “bigger is better”. More carats equals a more valuable diamond, but interestingly, a 2-carat diamonds is not going to have twice the value of a 1-carat diamond. Instead, it’s actually going to be 4 times more valuable. That’s because of the Tavernier's law (also known as Indian law), which looks like this: Price = W2 × C In this equation, W stands for the weight of the diamond in carats, while C represents the basic price of a 1-carat gemstone. As you can tell, with more carats, the price will increase significantly. Color When it comes to color, you will want either near-colorless or colorless diamonds. However, colored diamonds can also be quite interesting for investors, if they are particularly rare. Clarity Next, we have the matter of clarity, or in other words, the number of imperfections. As you can imagine, the fewer imperfections a diamond has, the more valuable it is. However, flawless diamonds are extremely rare. Cut And finally, we have the cut, generally considered the most important characteristic of a diamond. It determines how much light is reflected in the diamond, and the best ones reflect most of the light that enters them. Invest or not to Invest Since there is no universal price per unit of weight for diamonds, experts have to consult special price guides to keep up with the prices of diamonds thelockboss.ie. These guides, which are published quarterly, monthly or weekly, include the Troy Diamond Report, the Ajediam Antwerp Diamonds Monthly, and the Rapaport Diamond Report, just to name some. In addition to that, there are various online sources, where you can check the availability and the asking price for different types of diamonds. An example of the Rapaport Diamond Report In investing, one of the advantages diamonds have over stocks and shares is that they are physical assets. They are virtually indestructible, and difficult to lose when correctly insured. Compared to real estate, a diamond is much easier to maintain. Diamonds are fairly easy to obtain (obviously, as long as you have sufficient funds to pay for them). And finally, as a certain company would say, a diamond is forever. There’s certainly a lot of truth to it, and investors are well aware of that.

Diamond Anatomy

The girdle of a diamond We’ll start with the middle part, the Girdle, as it’s easier to grasp the anatomy of a diamond in this way. The girdle is the outer edge of a diamond. It is that thin middle section that’s sometimes least noticeable on a diamond or gemstone. This part of a diamond is sometimes faceted and sometimes smooth. The crown of a diamond Let’s move upwards. The upper portion of a diamond, above the Girdle, is the Crown. However, the crown is not a uniform section. This part of the diamond consists of four additional components: table, star facets, bezel facets, and upper girdle facets. The Table is the very top part of the diamond which is completely flat. The table runs parallel to the girdle but is in fact not really a part of the crown. The Star facets are right next to the table. They have the important task to direct the light that goes into the diamond. The bezel facets also direct the light. What makes them particularly interesting, is that they’re shaped like kites. Last, but not least, we have the Upper Girdle Facets. As their name suggests, these are next to the girdle. They are also the lowest facets in the crown. The pavilion of a diamond The Pavilion is the part of the diamond below the girdle. This part also has its own subjects. The first subject is the lower girdle facets. These are similar to the upper girdle facets. But they are below the girdle. These facets redirect the light that enters the diamond and send it back to the crown. Complementing them are pavilion facets. They are adjacent to the culet: the final consentient part of a diamond. Or the first one, if you happen to be looking at the diamond upside down. The Pavilion Facets redirect the light back to the crown. This is all completed with the culet, sitting at the bottom of the pavilion. When discussing the anatomy of a diamonds, you should also take key some measurements into account. Starting with the diamond’s length and width. Both are stated in millimeters, but the number of facets is not the only thing that matters. Their ratio is important as well. The ratio is calculated by dividing the length by the width. A diamond with exactly the same length and width (= either a perfectly square or round diamond) has an L/W ratio of 1. The girle width determines the diamond's class on a special scale from 'extremely thin' to 'extremely with'. The culet is a single point or even a small facet.

Diamond Carat Size

Some people prefer big diamonds, others fancy a more subtle shiny rock to adorn their finger, ears or neck. Each and every one of us is unique, just like diamonds are, and that is why we are entitled to have a preference when it comes to diamond carat size. Did you know that there is a whole chart dedicated solely to diamonds? This informative chart shows the different weight/measurement and sizes of various diamonds. Carat, or its abbreviated form, ct. is a unit exclusive to gem and diamond measurement—it denotes their weight. However, many people, think carat weight to be the actual size visible to the naked eye. It is also important to note that there are different shapes and sizes that the diamond can come in, and the weight of the stone will alter accordingly. Let’s take a 1.00 ct. round diamond for instance, this will equal to approximately 6.5 mm in length. However, if we take a sapphire, the number will be slightly different; the same 1.00 ct. will result in a 6.0 mm length. The reason for this is found in the density, which is different for every single gem stone. Thanks to professional jewelers and assistants, one can be certain that the masters will do everything in their power to find the perfect sized gem that can fit your own budget. Though, believe it or not, carat size is not the only factor that will majorly dictate the price of a gem. There are various other facets included, such as color and clarity. Another interesting fact about diamond size is that big diamonds (naturally large in size) are really hard to come by in nature, which is another reason they are deemed considerably more valuable than smaller diamonds. Continually, the price of a diamond will depend on the weight itself (ct.) and not the actual metric size (mm). On a similar note, two diamonds that weigh 0.50 ct. are valued less than one big diamond of 1.00 ct. Another diamond sector worthy of attention is the “under-size” diamond category. These diamonds reach the maximum weight of 1.00ct. They usually start at 0.50 ct., to 0.75 ct. and 0.90 ct. One is considered lucky to find them, since they are rare and hard to come by. Often, certain types of jewelry such as diamond solitaire earrings are accompanied by other various gems. They are simply an esthetic addition to the piece. Consequently, a pair of earrings like that would be measured in total carat weight, or t.c.w. Thus, to sum up, t.c.w. denotes the overall weight of all diamonds or other stones found in a jewelry piece. Whatever size you decide on, remember that diamonds and sapphires are special. Whether it’s a 3 ct. or a 0.75 ct. stone, shine and brilliance is guaranteed. Sometimes the smallest, most delicate pieces are the ones that grab the most attention… But let’s not forget about the huge star-like quality gems that simply cannot be missed. Whatever your choice and preference, getting a diamond will definitely spruce up your day.

8 Quick and Easy Ways to Tell if a Diamond is Real or Fake

Apart from your renowned jewelers, there are a lot of sinister "diamond businesses" out there. Not only do they try to sell you a diamond of bad quality. Sometimes they try to sell a diamond that is not even real at all. If a bargain sounds too good to be true, you better make sure you're talking about the real thing here. Luckily, there are a few quick and easy tests to find out if a diamond is real or fake. You can do these tests at home and some even on the spot. Test 1: Search for impurities 99.9 percent of the diamonds are not pure; they have small imperfections. The fake diamonds are generally perfect. If you got a flawless stone, you're either dealing with one the 0.01% perfect diamonds, or you got a fake one. Necessities: Magnifying glass or loupe, preferably 10x magnifying Level of difficulty: Quite hard Accuracy: 4/5 How do I search for imperfections in a diamond? Examine the diamond with an as enlarging lens as possible, preferably 10 times enlarging. Search for small black spots, air bubbles or tiny fractures. Know what you are looking for and don’t confuse ‘scratches’ for impurities. This is because a real diamond doesn’t get scratched easily. Can’ find any impurities? I’m afraid I’ve some bad news for you then… Keep in mind however that using a loupe correctly is very difficult for the untrained eye. > Find out if you’re using the loupe correctly Test 2: Examine the facets Look at the facets that the diamond has been cut in. It’s way easier to check the facets rather than look for impurities Necessities: Magnifying glass or loupe, preferably 10x magnifying Difficulty: Medium Accuracy: 4/5 How do I examine the facets of a diamond? Real diamonds have sharp edges because they are cut by professional diamond cutters. Fake diamonds are often created by molds to melt the glass or zircon in. When molds are used, the “diamond” will not have sharp edges, but round ones. However, it is possible that a zircon or a piece of glass is cut like a diamond. In that case it will have sharp edges, even though it is not a real diamond. Test 3: Look at the metal The kind of metal the diamond is mounted on, can tell you a lot. Necessities: None Level of difficulty: Easy Accuracy: 2,5/5 Where do I look for when checking the hallmark in the metal of a diamond ring? Even though it is not a foolproof test, it is super easy. Since diamonds are expensive, they are often set in more luxurious and expensive material. If the metal is silver or gold plated, you can, therefore, be quite sure the diamond is fake. Real diamonds are normally set in white , yellow or rose gold or in platinum rings. Our diamond jewelry is also all made of 18 karat solid gold. Test 4: Evaluate the setting and craftsmanship A real diamond polisher and goldsmith take pride in their job. Necessities: None Level of difficulty: Fairly easy Accuracy: 3/5 How do I evaluate the setting of a diamond ring? This test is basically an addition to the previous one. If the setting is of poor quality or if the craftsmanship is poorly done, the diamond is probably fake. A real diamond worker makes sure the diamond is carefully placed because he takes pride in his work. The overall impression of the ring is therefore perfect. Test 5: Sandpaper the diamond Sandpapering the stone is only a good idea if you’re sure you have a real diamond or if you don’t mind losing a fake one. Necessities: Sandpaper Level of difficulty: Easy Accuracy: 4/5 How should I sandpaper the diamond? This one is for the risk-takers. Make absolutely sure you use regular sandpaper and not one that is covered with diamond powder. As you might know, a diamond is extremely hard; sandpaper won’t damage it. If you sandpaper an unreal diamond though, the stone will be scratched. Only use this method if you don’t mind damaging a fake diamond. Test 6: Breathe on the diamond Do you know how to make a window foggy by using your breath? Let’s see if we can get your diamond fogged up. Necessities: None Level of difficulty: Easy Accuracy: 3/5 How do I fog a diamond? Breathe on a diamond with warm breath, just like you would do on a window to create fog on it. A fake diamond is going to be covered in fog for a short time; a real diamond will not get foggy. A real diamond does not retain the heat of your breath. The difficulty in this test is mainly related to the size of the diamond. For small diamonds, it is harder to decide whether they are fogged up or not. If possible, try the same trick with a stone you know it’s fake. If both “diamonds” fog the same, you know they’re both not real. Test 7: Watch the rainbow The way a diamond reflects light is unique. Keep a diamond in the light and see the glare. Necessities: Natural light Level of difficulty: Medium Accuracy: 4/5 How do I find the diamond rainbow? As you may know, a diamond can create a rainbow on any surface when it reflects light. Within the stone, the light reflects gray and white. Outside the stone, you will see the rainbow colors. While stones that glare with the prism effect and let the rainbow colors show also inside the stone are usually fake. The difficulty in this test is that some fake diamonds shine even brighter than a real one. A moissanite for example. Test 8: Read the news If you can read the newspaper, I’m afraid it’s bad news. Necessities: A newspaper Level of difficulty: Easy Accuracy: 4/5 How do I use a newspaper to test a diamond? Unfortunately, this test is only usable for loose (unset) diamonds. Look at the reflection of the stone. Place the diamond on a newspaper and if you cannot see the letters through the diamond, it is a real one. This is because the diamond bends the light in a different way. A fake diamond shows the letters and the whole newspaper through the stone. The best way to tell if a diamond is real At-home-tests are pretty accurate when it comes to checking if a diamond is real. But it’s almost impossible to be 100% certain. If you want to know for sure whether the stone on your finger is a real or fake diamond, please drop by. Want to make sure you have a real diamond? Take a look at our signature collections. You can also take a free guided tour through our diamond factory. Because our diamond experts will gladly check the diamond for you. They can tell you if your diamond is real or fake. But there is also a way to learn how to tell if a diamond is real by yourself. Just sign up for a Diamond Masterclass Deluxe. Our master diamond polishers teach you everything there is to know about the craft of diamond cutting, including diamond evaluation. After the masterclass, you can stun your friends and family. You'll be able to tell them who has a real diamond and who's diamond is not... You can also contact one of our consultants. They are more than happy to answer your questions.

The Story of Blood Diamonds

Although most people disapprove of blood diamonds, they don’t exactly know how to deal with it. After all, how can a consumer see or know the difference between a regular and a blood diamond? The only way to make sure you have a “clean” diamond is to purchase it from a trustworthy seller. Royal Coster Diamonds is one of these reliable sellers. We stay away from blood diamonds and only buy and sell conflict-free diamonds. However, we still like to inform you about blood diamonds. What are blood diamonds? Blood diamonds are the same as conflict diamonds. The name comes from the awful way these diamonds are obtained and what the sellers use its profit for. Conflict diamonds come from war areas. In these areas, dangerous groups operate against the established order. They force people to mine diamonds under scandalous work conditions. The poor miners are horribly mistreated and tortured. The profit of blood diamonds Blood diamonds are often sold via small, semi-legal organizations. Compared with “good” diamonds, these diamonds are sold at lower prices to make them attractive for certain buyers and sellers. The money these terrorist groups make with the sales of conflict diamonds is used to finance their criminal activities. These activities include the purchase of weapons, bribe money, slave trading or simply to become even richer. This dulls the sparkle of a diamond somewhat, don’t you think? Actions against blood diamonds In July 2000, the complete diamond industry introduced a “zero tolerance” policy against blood diamonds. This policy became an agreement in the so-called Kimberley Process Certification System. This was the first step towards a world without blood diamonds. Away with blood diamonds! In 2003, the EU and 46 other countries, the UN, various NGO’s and human rights organizations came together in Kimberley, South-Africa. In this meeting, all parties agreed upon some rules to prevent the sale and purchase of diamonds from conflict areas. Apart from these agreements, the diamond industry created another voluntary system of guarantees for diamonds. They hoped this system would convince consumers that their diamonds really are from conflict-free areas. Where are good diamonds from? Conflict-free diamonds are from Australia, Canada, Namibia, Russia, South-Africa, and Tanzania. These countries use the profits from diamond sales for their country in a good and responsible way. They invest in the infrastructure, better education, and building hospitals near the diamond mining areas. One of the requirements for a “good” diamond is that the country’s population benefits from the sales in some way. 1% is still too much Thanks to all actions taken, we can safely say that 99% of the currently traded diamonds are not conflict diamonds. Yet, we still feel like that 1% blood diamonds is too much. That’s why the diamond industry, governments, the UN and various NGO’s are still actively trying to reduce this percentage. We won’t stop until blood diamonds are something from the past. Am I still allowed to enjoy my diamonds? Of course, you are! Diamonds are unique: they represent love, beauty and, happiness. Over the past years, the images of conflict diamonds have put a mark on all diamonds. Suddenly, we faced pictures of mutilated children, horrible conditions and terror groups showing off their weapons they bought with their diamond money. These images are painful to watch but also important. They caused the diamond industry and many other organizations to take action together against these crimes. Never blood diamonds at Royal Coster Naturally, at Royal Coster Diamonds we think it’s important that our diamonds are clean. We want to guarantee our customers of the best products after all. The Netherlands has, just like all other European Union countries, signed the Kimberley Act. In general, this means that all diamonds that are sold in “normal stores” in the EU are not blood diamonds. Although this is the best system so far, it is not completely foolproof. That is why our buyers track for each and every diamond where it originally comes from. This is how we can assure our clients that they will never receive a blood diamond. Every diamond from Royal Coster Diamonds is, therefore, conflict-free and ready to shine in the most beautiful jewelry. Learn more about (blood) diamonds during a guided diamond tour or view a part of our diamond jewelry collection. Of course, you can see our complete collection of loose and set diamonds in our store. We’re located in the heart of Amsterdam and are open every day from 9:00 to 17:00 hour.

The Oval Cut Diamond

The brilliant’s nephew For centuries, diamond workers polished diamonds in oval shapes. However, the oval cut as we know today was only created in 1957 by Lazare Kaplan. Kaplan came from a family of jewelers and diamond workers. He worked very closely with his uncle Abraham Tolkowsky. Tolkowsky was (and is) famous for creating the modern brilliant: the “Ideal Cut”. Kaplan became well-known for his ability to cleave diamonds. This is a method to cut diamonds with fractures and low clarity into smaller, yet clearer diamonds. Unusable diamonds get a second chance Kaplan specialized himself in improving diamonds that everyone else thought were unusable or worthless. His abilities as cleaver gave him the opportunity to transform these diamonds into some of the most beautiful polished diamonds from that era. The modern oval cut The name Kaplan was already known, but he wasn’t famous yet. This changed when Kaplan created the “Modern Oval Cut”. This brought him a spot in the Hall of Fame of jewelers. Nowadays, oval cut diamonds are one of the most beautiful and sparkling cuts in the world. Considerations when buying an oval diamond For a brilliant cut diamond, the ideal ratio is 1:1. For an oval diamond, the ideal ratio varies from 1:1.35 to 1:1.50. There is no golden standard for this. I can tell you that long and thin ovals appear sharper and more striking, while short broad ovals look more smooth and elegant. For a ring with multiple ovals, I would recommend slender ovals. Watch out for the Bow Tie Effect Every oval cut diamond has a “bow-tie effect”. This is a dark discoloration in the center of the stone. This is an effect of the facets placement and the reflection of light within the diamond. Often a light bow tie effect will improve an oval cut’s beauty. However, when this effect is too strong, it has a negative consequence – it makes the diamond less pretty. The best way to find out how much of a bow tie is too much is just visual inspection and personal preference. Appearance Oval cuts appear bigger because the table of an oval is 10% larger of the one from a brilliant of the same weight. It is, therefore, not that strange that people often opt for an oval diamond instead of a round one. Even though oval diamonds are a bit rarer than “Princess cuts”, they aren’t necessarily more expensive than the square cut. Ovals and Princesses have a similar polishing loss. The polisher aims to lose as little diamond as possible when creating an oval or a princess. Celebrities with oval cuts Blake Lively received an oval cut from her husband Ryan Reynolds. This diamond is the center stone on a ring and has three ovals on every side. Selma Hayek got from her boyfriend Francios-Henry Pinault a platinum ring with a 5-carat oval diamond, flanked by trilliant cut diamonds. This ring has a value of $ 200000. Kate Middleton wears the most famous oval of all times: the sapphire that once belonged to Princess Diana. She got this ring from Prince William. Heidi Klum owns a 10-carat canary yellow diamond. Katie Holmes received from Tom Cruise – when all was still well – a 5-carat oval cut diamond. This diamond was mounted in platinum and rose gold ring and has a value of $250000. An engagement ring with an oval diamond An oval has almost the same sparkle as a brilliant but looks bigger than a brilliant with the same weight. Ovals are feminine and elegant. At Royal Coster Diamonds, we have the most beautiful wedding and engagement rings with this diamond cut. Contact a diamond consultant for rings with oval cut diamonds.

What are brown diamonds

What is a brown diamond? Around 15% of the mined diamonds is brown. Initially, brown diamonds were not very popular. Because of the reduced sparkle, brown diamonds were mainly used for industrial purposes. But over the years, more and more people discovered the beauty of brown diamonds. After all, a brown diamond in – for example – a rose gold setting looks marvelous. Champagne, cognac and chocolate diamonds Because of the gaining popularity, people wanted to know more about that mystical brown little rock. Just like white diamonds can vary in hue, the same goes for brown diamonds. The color brown can vary from a yellowish-brown to a deep chocolate brown color. Many companies decided to attach their own name or trademark to a specific brown color. But the most widely used color grades are champagne diamonds, cognac diamonds, and chocolate ones. Champagne diamonds Champagne colored diamonds are the lightest form of brown. We use the term champagne for stones that are light brown(ish) and have some yellow tints. Often, these light-colored diamonds come from the range of white diamonds. A champagne diamond can be a top cape diamond or crystal-colored diamond. Cognac diamonds Cognac diamonds get their name from the famous drink. They are a lot darker than champagne diamonds. Instead of a yellow tint, they have a deep orange or red hue in it. You might even say cognac diamonds have a golden tone. Cognac diamonds, therefore, have a much warmer color than the summery champagne diamonds. We sometimes refer to cognac diamonds as ‘fancy cognac’. Fancy colored diamonds have a certain range of color strength, intensity, and vividness. In other words: these diamonds have a beautiful color. Chocolate diamonds Most chocolate diamonds come from the Argyle diamond mine in Australia. The term ‘chocolate diamonds’ was trademarked by the fine jeweler ‘Le Vian’. We can best describe chocolate diamonds as natural fancy (dark) brown colors. The classic deep brown diamonds add great warmth to the piece of jewelry it is set in. Are brown diamonds rare? From all colored diamonds, the brown ones are the least rare. Compared to (perfectly) white diamonds, brown diamonds often have attractive prices. Even though brown diamonds are rarer, they actually cost less than the white ones. However, every rule has its exceptions. The value of a diamond is determined by the 4 C’s, including the color. For example, brown diamonds that come close to red are a lot rarer and more valuable than brown ones with yellow hues. If the hue of the brown is special, rare or in another way out of the ordinary, it affects the price. Triggered? Want to learn more about brown diamonds or get lost in the world of other colored diamonds? Discover more during one of our diamond tours.

Diamond Color Scale

Names and letters to identify a diamond color Every tint in the white color range has its own letter and name. The thing that makes it difficult is that some diamond companies exclusively use names while others stick to the letters. Both the letters and the names say something about the diamond’s color. But they are not exactly the same and they partly overlap. Color scale with names In Europe, we mainly use names to describe the color and color intensity of a certain stone: River Top Wesselton Wesselton Top Crystal Crystal Top Cape Cape Low Cape Light Yellow Yellow River refers to the whitest, or actually colorless, color possible. Top Wesselton is also known as a rare white. Wesselton is also still white. When you go further down, you find the slightly tinted colors. For commercial use we usually recommend diamonds up to Crystal. Every color below crystal is noticeably more yellow. If you want a diamond without a yellow hue, we recommend not going below Wesselton. Color scale with letters The United States and other parts of America mostly use letters to refer to the color of a diamond. The letters run from D to Z. D refers to the whitest diamond (River) and Z is a dark yellow color. The diamond color names do somewhat correspond with the letters, but they are not 100% aligned. D and E are River. F and G are the same as Top Wesselton. H is Wesselton, I and J are somewhere between Top Crystal and Crystal. That’s why we recommend to not go below J-colored diamonds. If you want to stay in the safe ‘white diamond’ zone, opt for an H-colored stone or higher. Why does the diamond letter scale start with D? The Gemological Institute of America (the GIA) created the letter color grading system. Before they made it, there were different grading systems in circulation. Some used A-graded diamonds. Or A++. Some scales had numeric systems, and others had vague descriptions such as “gem blue” or “blue white”. It was a complete mess. The GIA decided to implement a whole new system without any associations with old systems. That’s why they started their new diamond color scale with the letter D. Get the best-graded diamonds At Royal Coster Diamonds we have the best and most beautiful diamonds. If you are looking for a river-colored diamond or have another specific diamond color in mind, we can help you with that. We also have diamonds for every budget. With our stock of over 20.000 loose diamonds, we have the perfect stone for you.

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