Laura's Insight

Fluorescence

Diamond fluorescence is a form of illumination that is created when a diamond is exposed to Ultraviolet (UV) light.  Your diamond can be exposed to Ultraviolet light from the "backlights" often found in nightclubs, the drying lights used in nail salons, fluorescent lights or direct sunlight.  Diamonds emit light due to fluorescence when small amounts of the element boron are present in the stone. Blue is the most common color of fluorescence, but other colors (yellow, greenish blue, green, white and pink) are also possible.

Approximately 35 percent of gem quality diamonds have fluorescence when viewed under an ultraviolet light.  Roughly, 10 percent of gem quality diamonds have enough fluorescence to make a noticeable difference in the diamonds color when seen under incandescent light (low in UL) and in sunlight or fluorescent light (high in UL).  In less than 2 percent of diamonds, the level of fluorescence is high enough too visually cause the diamond to appear foggy or milky in appearance.

High Gold Prices

The rising price of gold has been a topic recently in many of the industries top journals.
Gold is at its highest in 25 years.  Today's current per ounce price of gold is $700.  In January, gold reached $580 per once, the highest since 1980, when it topped $800.

In the May 12th issue of the GIA Insider, the soaring price of gold sent shock waves through the Indian International Jewellery Show, May 4-8th in Mumbai. India is by far the world’s largest consumer of gold jewelry.  Despite the country’s growing economy, business is down considerably from the year before.  A local manufacture said, “Many retailers aren’t buying because they are worried the price may come down suddenly” and “consumers simply do not want to pay the higher price.”

JCK magazine polled jewelers nationwide to see how high prices have affected operations.  According to the poll, 58.5 jewelers stated that their businesses were not impacted in the past year.  Fewer than one in five cited negative effects on their business due to the increase of gold.  The mild effect of price increases maybe due to the constant rise in prices annually for several years.   What has been frustrating to some is that they were unable to change their retail prices fast enough, and found that catalog prices were no longer reliable.

Many jewelers have been able to use gold’s increasing price as a marketing tool. When selling an item that was bought more than a year ago, when prices were lower, they emphasize that the customer is getting a bargain, considering the jump in gold prices today. 

With today’s 24/7 multimedia news culture, consumers are well informed of the metals market.  Perceptive customers are asking more questions, such as why special orders are more expensive than the in-stock merchandise.  My perception from reading the JCK article is that consumer reaction is varied.  Some jewelers have found that their customers have “sticker shock” and delay jewelry purchases or by less expensive pieces.  On the other hand, consumers are more aware of gold, and that translates into a sense of increased value, which has helped some sell in-stock  merchandise at full price.

My First Choice

When I first came to interview at my current position, I of course noticed all of the beautiful diamond jewelry the women in the office were wearing.  I especially took notice of the 5 carat on my future boss’s hand.  Later, after being hired, I was privileged enough to wear the “Queen Mother” as it is fondly called, since the head that holds it is shaped like a crown.  Being the gem geek that I am, I had to know all of the particulars of the diamond.  What I found out was a little stunning seeing how the Queen Mother gives off the most beautiful icy blue color in person.  The Queen Mother is I color and SI1 clarity, with no fluorescence. 

I was stunned to learn the color of the Queen Mother, because I had expected it first to be colorless.  Secondly, if you have two diamonds with the same color grade but of different carat weight, the diamond that is of larger carat weight will appear darker.  My analogy for this is if you have a bottle of wine and you pour two glasses, but one is skinny and one is fat. The fat glass will look darker because there is more material to look through. 

Since then, when I am speaking to a close friend or a customer, I always say the same thing when talking about diamond color.  All girls want white and bright diamonds, and the most common response that I receive is,  “Does that mean I have to buy a diamond in the D, E, and F (colorless) color range?”  No.

My recommendation when you first begin looking at round cut diamonds is to start out at I color.  I have found that I color is white and bright in 14 karat white gold or platinum engagement rings.  However, with fancy shapes I find that it is best to go up a color grade and begin at H color.  For some reason fancy shape will show more.