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How to Choose Diamonds from The Woodlands Jewelry Stores

"Diamonds are forever." So goes the song of Shirley Bassey from the James Bond movie of the same title. A diamond, true to the ancient Greek origin of its name "adamas" meaning unbreakable, can only be cut by another diamond.

The history of diamonds dates back some 3,000 years ago in India where it was used for decorative purposes and as a talisman to ward off evil spirits.  In the 19th century, the popularity of diamonds soared due to the growth of the world economy, the increase in supply of diamonds, improved cutting and polishing techniques, and successful advertising campaigns. In 1979, the richest diamond deposit in the world was found in Argyle, Australia. Today, diamonds are primarily used for jewelry all over the world including The Woodlands, Texas

Diamonds are described and graded according to the four Cs: carat, clarity, cut and color. It is called a paragon if it is perfect and without inclusions.  Inclusions are the minerals trapped inside the diamond during its formation.

Carat is a unit of mass for gemstones and pearls. This was used since the 1570s to measure the weight of diamonds.  One carat is 200 milligrams or 0.007055 ounces. A paragon is 100 carats or 0.7055 ounces.

Diamond clarity refers to the visual appearance of the diamond. This visual appearance includes the surface and the internal parts of the diamond. The internal parts are called inclusions, and any surface defects are called blemishes. In the US, diamond clarity is determined using a binocular stereo microscope with darkfield illumination and adjustable zoom magnification. The higher the clarity grade, or the lesser flaws, the higher the value of the diamond sold by The Woodlands jewelry stores.

The cut of diamonds refers to the style and shape of the diamond. The Woodlands jewelry stores have diamond cutters that specialize in bringing out the best qualities of a diamond.  Diamond cutters use technology like laser and computer design to cut diamonds. Brilliant is the most popular cut since this brings out the full luster of the diamond. The brilliant cut resembles a cone that returns the most amount of light on top of the diamond.

The color of diamonds is affected by chemical impurities, and can enhance or lessen its value. Pure diamonds are perfectly transparent and colorless. White diamond is the least valuable and costs less.  Blue and yellow are rare colors therefore have more value. Among colored diamonds, red is the rarest and the most valuable. The diamond's value increases when it is heavier, brighter, cut more skillfully and has a relatively rare color. For more information on buying diamond jewelry The Woodlands stores sell, read thediamondbuyingguide.com.


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