by | Jan 9, 2020 | Fashion, Lifestyle |
Diamonds take literally millions of years to form under intense pressure from tectonic plates, and these pure carbon stones are very valuable in their own right, yet when we are talking about a diamond that is set into an antique jewellery item, there is much to consider when appraising its value.
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The 4 Cs
The 4 Cs are used to grade diamonds, namely: cut, colour, clarity, and carat. To a large extent, the same would apply to a diamond set into an antique piece of jewellery. Admittedly, cuts have been developed a lot in the past 50 years, and modern diamonds tend to have more brilliance than stones from antique or vintage jewellery.
The Cut Of The Stone
As mentioned, diamond cuts of today tend to make the stone more brilliant, and if you are looking for a suitable diamond engagement ring, Kalmar Antiques has a collection of engagement rings at very attractive prices, and with a range of cuts, you can choose one that best shows off the stone.
The Clarity Of The Diamond
There may be surface marks on an old diamond and this could affect its value. If an antique diamond has some inclusions, this would affect the price also. It is important to clean a diamond that is inset into an antique jewellery item prior to inspecting it for clarity.
The Colour Of The Stone
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Some antique diamonds have a yellowish tint and this can affect the value, and generally speaking, the less colour, the higher the value. Many vintage jewellery items contain coloured diamonds, as they have always been popular, with pinks, blues, reds and yellows commonly found in antique and vintage rings.
Carat Size
One carat is equal to 0.2 grams, and as you would expect, the lower the carat weight, the less valuable the diamond. It is difficult to know the exact weight of a diamond when it is part of a jewellery item, and most jewellers could make a calculated guess. Here is some more detailed information concerning the grading of diamonds, which is recommended reading if you are a novice collector.
Have The Diamond Appraised
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If you want an accurate appraisal of a diamond, you can ask an expert to assess the stone, and this will give you an accurate assessment of its value. Most jewellers offer such a service and if you are buying a diamond antique or vintage engagement ring, you can ask the dealer for an appraisal of the diamonds. In some cases, the real value of the diamond lies in the value of the antique jewellery item, which might be extremely rare and therefore have more value than the flat price of the stone.
If you are looking for that ideal vintage diamond engagement ring, start your quest with an online search, as the online antique dealer has a wide collection of quality items, all at very affordable prices.
by | Nov 27, 2019 | Lifestyle |
If you are planning to propose to the woman you love anytime soon, you will surely focus on finding the perfect engagement ring for her. Choosing a diamond engagement ring can be a daunting task at the best of times. You are advised to do some research prior to looking for suitable rings. There are many components that come together to make up a diamond ring; the band, the setting, and the stone. In this article, we will focus on the band, the circular piece of metal that forms the foundation of the ring.
Custom Made Diamond Engagement Rings
Rather than trying to find an existing ring that ticks all the boxes, when thinking about a unique diamond engagement ring, you can have the ring designed by a specialist jeweller, such as custom made engagement rings by the Sydney jeweller, Certified Diamond Network, who happens to be a leading custom jeweller in Australia. You can browse loose stones and different metals, and with your concept and the jeweller’s expertise, the perfect diamond engagement ring awaits.
Forms of Gold
Rose Gold
Gold comes in many forms and purities. For a diamond engagement ring, rose gold is a popular choice, as it adds a touch of unusual colour and looks stunning with pink diamonds. Rose gold contains copper, which gives it added strength, plus a nice pinkish tint, which is very attractive when combined with sparkling diamonds. This is the ideal choice for the hopeless romantic, with some coloured stones to create a really unique ring. By working with a custom ring designer and choosing loose diamonds, her ring will be one of a kind.
White Gold
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White gold is another firm favorite, which goes nicely with colourless diamonds. White gold is usually plated using rhodium, which is a very rare metal indeed. A ring with rhodium plating might need to be re-plated after 5-10 years, which a jeweller can do for you.
Yellow Gold
Yellow gold tends to be more popular with Asian cultures, where they prefer to use 24k gold for all their jewellery, which is a little too soft. The best purity of yellow gold for rings is 18k, which is hard enough to withstand the daily pressures of wearing a ring, as the gold is alloyed with other metals to give it extra strength and durability.
To conclude, rose or white gold are the most popular for diamond engagement rings, while yellow gold is also used, but mainly in 18k format.
Platinum
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Perhaps the most popular choice of all, a platinum ring is extremely hard and it will not taint or fade over time. The smooth, hard surface makes for the perfect ring, and this precious metal is 5 times rarer than gold and is the ideal choice for the woman who lives an active outdoor life. The white glow of platinum goes well with the sparkle of diamonds, and the properties of this rare metal are perfect for jewellery.
Once you have an idea of what metal to use for her custom ring, discuss your requirements with your trusted local jeweller. By designing the ring yourself, you are creating the perfect symbol of your undying love and your wife-to-be will cherish such a rare item.
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by | Nov 16, 2019 | Fitness, Lifestyle |
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There’s nothing like sitting down at the end of a long day and relaxing. Binge-watching some Netflix shows may be a fun way to spend your free time, but you might not want to spend the entire evening doing that. And you probably don’t want to spend the entire weekend doing that, either. Of course, it can be hard to think of fun and productive ways to use your spare time. When you’re not working or relaxing with friends and family, what should you do? Well, here are a few suggestions.
Start exercising
Okay, this might not be the exciting suggestion you expected to see at the top of the list. However, before you scroll past this point, consider the benefits of exercising. Physical activity can benefit your physical and mental wellbeing, so this could massively improve your mood, as well as your bodily health. And it doesn’t have to be a chore, either. You just have to find a form of exercise that appeals to you. If you don’t like the gym because it’s crowded and noisy, for example, then you could start doing press-ups at home. Or perhaps you just want to work out in a way that doesn’t feel tedious and repetitive. Maybe you could join a local dance class in your area. Or you could join a local basketball club. Exercise could become a social activity to do in your spare time. There are so many forms of physical activity in the world; all that matters is you find a way to get your body moving on a regular basis. Maybe you could start going on weekend hikes with your buddies, as a way of catching up and staying fit. Despite any reservations you might have, exercise doesn’t have to be boring. It could be a fun way to make use of your free time.
Learn an instrument
Another great use of your time might be to learn an instrument. Hobbies are always worthwhile if you’re trying to find an enriching way to spend your evenings and weekends. Music is a beautiful thing, so you could find it very relaxing and rewarding to master the art of playing an instrument. If you want to figure out whether it’s a hobby that’s right for you, before you pay for lessons, then you might want to try teaching yourself. You could do some research to learn how to play piano in 21 days. Mastering an instrument takes time, but learning the basics is quicker than you might think. This could become a very rewarding hobby for you in the space of a few weeks.
Meditate.
Meditating could be a therapeutic use of your free time, too. Your emotional wellbeing matters, and regular meditation could be a great way to safeguard the health of your mind. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety, but it can also benefit the health of your heart. Your physical wellbeing can be improved by this mental exercise. Practice breathing and focusing on the present moment. This could help you to unwind at the end of a long day. It could be a great way for you to relax in your free time.
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