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Certificates Explained

Stress, sweating, nervousness… these are all common aspects of future fiancées-to-be when planning to buy the perfect diamond ring. “What if my partner does not like it? What if it is not shiny enough?” These are just some of the doubtful questions that enter the buyer’s mind as they try to pick the perfect gem. They try to remember the 4 Cs and do everything to follow the pre-set rules. Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. These are the four Cs to be considered when making what could be the biggest, most important purchase of your life. However, before you decide on the diamond of her dreams, consider another (Big) C—The Certificate. Even though, the majority of diamonds look the same to the naked eye, only specific and high-quality ones come with a certificate. The certificate is basically a report that proves that all the other Cs are in place. It is a written document that guarantees the quality of the diamond. Because there are numerous evaluating agencies available to the public, the certificates vary based on the agency that issued the report. Various high-powered microscopes are used in special laboratories, where professional gemologists measure and study the symmetry, color, size and shape of specific diamonds. They also pay great attention to blemishes and polish. Once the professionals have determined all the different properties of a diamond, they can attach a report with an accurate description of the examination. In some cases, the gemologists use high-level heat or lasers to improve certain properties of the diamond. Subsequently, these enhancements appear on the report to inform the buyer of the “upgrade” that has taken place. Here’s a list of some of the most famous grading agencies across the United States and Europe: - International Gemological Institute (IGI)- Gemological Institute of America (GIA)- American Gemological Society (AGS)- European Gemological Laboratory (EGL)- Diamond High Council (HRD, which is an abbreviation of the Dutch “Hoge Raad voor Diamant”)- International Confederation of Jewelry, Silverware, Diamonds, Pearls, and Stones (CIBJO) Another advice for diamond shoppers is to buy a warranty. Besides having written proof of the diamond’s value, a warranty serves as a safety net in case something were to happen to the piece of jewelry. Even though the diamond is the most durable material known to man, it is not indestructible. It can crack or get scratched. In case this does happen, one can use the warranty to salvage the situation. Overall, it is highly advised to have a certificate accompany your diamond-related purchases, not merely to have a written document to prove the value of your investment, but also for the calm of your own conscience. It is surprising how quickly certain ill-intentioned jewelers choose to take advantage of the situation and lure inexperienced shoppers into buying faux diamonds. To avoid such unfortunate scenarios, it is suggested that the shopper does the adequate research before setting out to purchase the diamond. After all, it is a serious investment—an emotional one at best. So, taking the extra time and effort will definitely be worth it in the long run. Purchasing a warranty is also suggested in order to be able to have the jewel highly maintained, more often than not, completely free of charge. However, purchasing a warranty would mainly serve to avoid paying huge amounts of money in case it gets damaged.

10 Reasons to Buy Diamonds From a Renowned Jeweler

1. Reliability Definitely one of the main reasons people buy from a renowned jeweler is reliability. Recognized jewelers are affiliated with multiple diamond approval agencies and have the certificates to show it. Basically, it’s your assurance. When buying from a renowned jeweler, you know the diamonds are obtained fairly and you truly get what you pay for. Buying from a renowned jeweler one of the few ways to make sure you won’t get scammed. An example of this is that you always get the certificate that belongs to the diamond. This certificate is provided by the Gemological Institute of America. They grade every diamond and note its characteristics on the certificate. Therefore, you know everything about your diamond. 2. Knowledge You’ll probably prefer doing business with someone who really knows his products instead of some random salesperson. You’ll get honest advice and can ask as many questions you want. Even when you’re not ready to buy (yet), they will gladly answer your diamond questions. Our sales staff is passionate about diamonds and love to share their knowledge with you. You should take advantage of that. 3. Craftsmanship Diamond polishing is not something anyone can do. It’s a true art and craftsmanship. Only the best-trained diamond cutters know exactly how to polish a diamond. They can do it so that it reflects the light in the best possible way. This is what makes a diamond sparkle and marks true craftsmanship. An unrenowned jeweler often equals bad polishing quality. When a diamond is polished badly, most of the times it’s ruined forever! Do yourself a favor and go for craftsmanship. 4. Quality Every self-respecting and renowned jeweler has a reputation to uphold. They can’t afford to sell bad quality diamonds. Therefore, if your diamonds come from a respectable seller, you’re sure your diamonds and jewelry are of great quality. New and unauthorized jewelers don’t have a name to maintain. If they sell bad quality and get bad reviews, they just take your money and change their name. Under that new name, they continue their scandalous business. Established names and renowned jewelers are not willing to take that risk. They also feel it’s their moral duty to sell you something they vouch for. 5. Education Buying a diamond is for most people not something they do very often. Even though you’re probably not an expert, you definitely want to have some knowledge about diamonds before buying a one. A real renowned jeweler will be happy to teach you about the 4 C’s and other important diamond related things. He will take his time to educate you. After that, you can make an informed decision on your own. 6. Lifelong warranty Despite all efforts and education, it can happen that you are not 100% happy with your purchase. Renowned jewelers will have no problem giving you a full warranty. They stand behind their products but also know their customer is king. However, you may not be so lucky when your purchase comes from an unrecognized or unauthorized jeweler. In such a case it’s very well possible you only get a partial refund or not even one at all. 7. Large stock Nothing feels worse than seeing the ring of your dreams and having to wait for weeks for to arrive it. Many renowned jewelers have a lot of diamonds in stock. This way, they can create the perfect ring for you in just minutes. Do you want setting A with diamond B? No problem! We fix it for you while you enjoy your complimentary glass of champagne. Here you don’t have to wait before the store has ordered your diamond or your entire piece of jewelry. They simply have it ready in the back. Small and unreliable stores can’t afford a large stock, but larger and renowned jewelers can. 8. Personal advice As a renowned jeweler, it is our job to make sure you go home happy. Sometimes, this requires professional and personal advice. All people are different and some pieces of jewelry complement you more than others. When you ask for it, a renowned jeweler will always give you honest and personal advice. We want to make sure you look your best and leave with a smile. 9. Custom designs are possible Maybe you have an exact idea of what your perfect ring looks like. Chances are, you have been looking for hours but can’t find that exact ring. So frustrating! Now you’ve set your mind to it and no other ring will do. The good news is that renowned jewelers (with that large stock) have no problem recreating that perfect ring of yours. You describe it, we make it and you’ll have that ring you’ve dreamt about in no time. 10. Privacy Buying diamonds can be a delicate business. You’re probably not comfortable with doing that in the shop’s window for everyone on the streets to see. Make your decision in a calm and sensible way in a showroom. Renowned jewelers have a couple of private showrooms in their building(s). Here you can look at jewelry at your own pace. Checklist to find a renowned jeweler Essentially, for a perfect experience, it’s ten times better to shop at a renowned jeweler. Maybe now you’re wondering how to know if a jeweler is renowned and trustworthy. You’ve found yourself a good jeweler if they: - Are a member of the Diamond Exchange - Have the proper certificates: HRD, GIA, IGI and diamond certificates - Offer a lifetime warranty - Can provide an upgrade service - Have a rich history Remember: if something sounds too good to be true, it often isn’t true.

Who Can I Really Trust when buying a diamond?

In the past, there were stories of dealers who cannily knew how to deceive potential buyers. They persuaded them to buy stones closely resembling diamonds. One of these stones was the rare variant of sapphire, called the Colorless Sapphire. mmorog coupons Nowadays, it is extremely hard to come by one, but there are definitely other faux diamond replicas that can be used to deceive inexperienced customers. Thus, what happens is that the buyer pays the same amount of money for goods that is half as valuable as the genuine gem. A diamond certificate One of the most secure ways to purchase a real diamond is to have a written document accompany the brilliant, as well as other gems. This document is the Diamond Certificate or the written report that serves to prove the value of the diamond. Most serious diamond businesses will be happy to suggest a few agencies they co-operate with to obtain this document. They might also offer an additional form, which is the Warranty that you are also encouraged to purchase. The warranty serves as a safety net or a back-up plan. For example, if you damage the jewel. Diamond evaluation The evaluation of a diamond takes place at a highly equipped laboratory. Professional gemologists study the various properties of the gem. They easily determine whether a diamond is real or fake. Most high profile jewelry shops don't lure you into buying anything fake. The highly accomplished, registered and revered shops, such as Royal Coster Diamonds, only offer genuine, great quality gems. But if you opt to try your luck at some cloak-and-dagger, barely heard-of jeweler, make sure you take a pro with you. He or she helps you determine whether the goods are real or not. Forwarned is forearmed Jewelry shows can be amusing, alluring and deceiving. They display great advertisements like “When the jewelry show visits your town…Diamond on sale…When you find yourself in another country…..” etc. We advise you not to trust any of that. This for one simple reason: real diamonds cost the same in every country. They have a universal exchange rate, thus coming across something less expensive than the real diamond price is probably a scam. However, miracles do happen, so if you have a diamond expert near you, who can evaluate the gem for you and advises you to purchase the rock for cheaper, than great! You are a lucky one! Overall, to avoid buying faux jewelry, just consult experts and ask for help, so that you can be a hundred percent certain that the diamond you are about to purchase is real. Especially when buying it outside of trusted stores.

Royal Diamonds at Royal Coster

From the 7th of july you can get Royal Diamonds in Amsterdam at Royal Coster. It pleased His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands to bestow the Royal Title upon Coster Diamonds. The formal representative mr. Johan Remkes and the Mayor of Amsterdam mr. van der Laan were present on behalf of the King to declare the title to CEO of Coster Diamonds, mr. Kees Noomen. Coster diamonds was founded in 1840 and in the 175 years of its existence many royalty from all over the world visited Coster to see the most beautiful royal diamonds and the craftsman who make them. CEO Kees Noomen: "companies can be considered for the Royal title if they are at least 100 years old, are solid and reliable and are leaders in their field, preferably internationally. With pride we can say we fulfill all of these demands and more. We have been one of the most important diamond polishing factories for the last 175 years and will continue to serve our every single tourist who comes to Amsterdam, the city of diamonds. People are used to buying diamonds from us if they want the best and because the royals get their diamonds from us, but now we can say that our customers buy real Royal Diamonds from Amsterdam". For this occasion we have published a beautiful, richly illustrated book about the history of diamonds, Amsterdam as City of Diamonds and of course the legacy that Manus Coster started 175 years ago. It is available on request and at our museum shop in our villa's in the heart of Amsterdam.

The Crest of Royal Coster Diamonds

The history as a promise for the future Ever since we got the Royal title in 2016 from King Willem-Alexander, we know we needed something special to emphasize that special recognition. This crest should be a representation of our rich history as well as our bright future. The inspiration for the Crest Martin was the son of Mozes Elias Coster, the founder of Coster Diamonds. We don’t know exactly when Mozes founded the organization. However, the oldest document we have is the one in which he transfers the ownership of Coster Diamonds to his son, Martin. What we do know, is that while Mozes was the true craftsman, it was Martin who made the company great. There was no doubt Martin was a great man. At one point he became Consul General for the Netherlands in Paris. Therefore, his grave is in the heart of Montmartre in Paris. Though Paris is not around the corner, it just made sense to go there to find the inspiration for our crest. The grave of Martin Coster Besides the location, there are many things that are remarkable about Martins grave. However, one of the things that stood out most is the top of his tombstone. This top has a beaver and the text “Honestas Optima Politia” on it. If Martin only knew that after all these years, these two things would still represent his beloved company today. The items on the crest explained The beaver The beaver stands for hard work and strong work ethics. This is how we worked in 1840 and how we still work today, in 2017. We don’t complain (much); instead, we just get the job done. It’s not always the most efficient or modern way to work, but it results in quality. And after more than 175 years, we still feel that quality beats rushed quantity any day. “Honestas Optima Politia” The motto of Martin Coster translates to “Honesty is the Best Policy”. We’ve experienced that in any business, but especially in the diamond industry, this is the best way to handle your business. It’s also the best way to handle yourself in any other situation as well for that matter. The Royal 201 Diamond The Diamond in our crest is not just any diamond. It is the patented Royal 201 diamond. Where a regular diamond has 57 facets to reflect the light and create ´the sparkle´, the Royal 201 has 201 facets creating the ultimate sparkling diamond. Or how Mr. Bobby Low -creator of this unique shape- would put it: "More Facets, more Fire more Sparkle." The 2 Lions The 2 lions on each side of the crest are a reference to the 2 lions on the dutch coat of arms which symbolize the monarchy. Our King, our Queen and the young princesses and the entire royal family for that matter represent their people remarkably well and with great dignity. We hold them very dear. The three Saint Andrew's Crosses Founded in 1840 in Amsterdam and today in 2017 still in Amsterdam. We love the city and are proud to call it our home. That's why the inclusion of the 3 Saint Andrew's Crosses, which are the symbol of Amsterdam. The Crown The Crown is an abstract version of the crown that is part of the British Crown Jewels that holds the legendary Koh-I-Noor diamond. In 1852 Royal Coster Diamonds was commissioned to re-cut and polish this diamond for Queen Victoria. A replicate of this crown has the best place in our building; right in the middle of the polishing area. This crest is definitely a product of team effort. We are stoked with the results and look forward to implementing this throughout our branding in the coming period with our entire team. We hope you love it as much as we do. For pictures from my trip to the grave of Martin Coster and to read more about the story, you can read this blog.

Unveiling of a Life-Size Miffy at Royal Coster Diamonds

A Dutch Tribute The new statue is a real eye catcher at the Museum Square and a beautiful tribute to the earlier this year deceased creator of miffy (Dutch: nijntje), Dick Bruna. Moreover, it’s a unique combination of two entirely different subjects that are both characteristic for the Netherlands: miffy and diamonds. The Dutch bunny is famous all over the world. And for centuries, people come to Amsterdam for the most beautiful diamonds. That’s why Amsterdam's nickname is "the City of Diamonds". Therefore, this mosaic sparkling statue is a true representation of a Dutch legacy. Official sponsor Unicef By using the trademark “nijntje” (miffy), Royal Coster Diamonds became an official sponsor of Unicef. The beloved children’s icon is inseparably connected to this foundation. We are very proud to be a part of an organization that helps children in need all around the world. Curious? Want to admire Miffy in person? Discover Miffy and more during one of our diamond tours.

The Koh-I-Noor: More than only óur heritage

A Royal task In 1852, Queen Victoria of England was looking for someone to repolish one of her most important diamonds. However, no diamond polisher in all of Great Britain was skilled enough. Experts said a diamond this big would break if people would try to polish it. Nevertheless, the British Royal House wanted the diamond repolished. That’s why they broadened their search. They ended up at an Amsterdam diamond polishing factory, owned by Martin Coster. Martin Coster and his company “Coster Diamonds” already made quite a name for themselves with their incredible craftsmanship. So when the queen asked Coster to repolish the Koh-I-Noor, he was more than happy to accept this royal honor. To England Normally, Coster would polish the stones in his own factory in Amsterdam. But a diamond as large as the Koh-I-Noor was very rare, and security was not as advanced as it is now. In other words, it was too dangerous to send the diamond overseas. So for this case, Coster made an exception. Martin sent two of his best master polishers to London: Mr. Levi Benjamin Voorzanger and Mr. Joseph Abraham Fedder. In London, Voorzanger and Fedder installed a steam engine that was similar to the ones they had in Amsterdam. On 16 July 1852, they started their Royal task. After almost two months, they finished on 7 September 1852. From that moment on, the Koh-I-Noor shined more than ever. Visit from a Legacy As anyone may understand, we are very proud of this special heritage. Little did we know, there is someone who shares that heritage with us. Last Monday, we got a visit from Ms. Linda Kaye. She told us, she is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Mr. Levi Voorzanger. Linda lives in New York (USA). Through genealogical research, she found Voorzanger’s name. From his name, she discovered his amazing legacy and of course the work he did. She decided to contact us and even come to Amsterdam to see where her great-great-great-grandfather worked. Mr. Levi Voorzanger (left) was a diamond polisher at Coster Diamonds around 1852. Ms. Linda Kaye is his great-great-great-granddaughter (picture: 2019) Well-preserved history Director Ronald and polisher Frank gave Ms. Kaye a tour through our diamond polishing factory. Linda saw our in-house polishers working on some sparkling diamonds. Of course, the techniques of diamond polishing are improved over the years. But the core of our craftsmanship is still the same. Our special guest was happily surprised to see we still carry out the job in the same way that made Mr. Voorzanger famous. She saw the replica of the Koh-I-Noor that is in the center of our polishing area. Who would have thought that after 167 years, the great-great-great-granddaughter of the polisher who polished this remarkable stone would visit us? And to see his legacy and the place he used to work. There is more But Frank and Ronald had a surprise for Linda. They took her to our diamond museum next door. Among other diamonds, the Diamond Museum Amsterdam also tells the story of the Koh-I-Noor. That story includes some old photographs of the diamond workers who polished it. At the museum is also an antique diamond polishing table. It is identical to the one our diamond polishers worked on in 1852. Of course, Ms. Kaye had to take place behind the table for a moment. You can feel history come alive. The Royal Legacy The visit from Ms. Linda Kaye was not only special for her, but also for us. It is inspiring to see that our legacy continues to live on. That our stories and all the diamonds we are so proud of never get lost. It is one of the reasons we introduced our Royal Experience earlier this year. If you want to learn about our rich heritage and the craft of diamond polishing, we highly recommend this tour.

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