Rocos Fine Jewelry

What you need to know when you buy a diamond

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:26:00 +0000

You may already know that diamonds are the hardestsubstance known to man. Their crystallization process takes literally millionsof years, and it's believed that some diamonds can actually be billions ofyears old! That interesting fact probably doesn't help you when it's time tobuy diamond jewelry, however, so let's talk about some practical things to keepin mind when you're heading off to the jewelry store. Another thing to rememberwhen choosing a diamond jewelry is that it is good to be attune to your style.Many men struggle in this area, but paying attention to a few clues can helpyou.

The Four C's of Diamond Jewelry Grading:

You may already know that the Four C's of diamondjewelry are cut, color, clarity, and carats.

The cut refers to the shape of the diamond, butinvolves much more than that. A skilled jeweler can cut a diamond in such a wayso that light bounces off of it brilliantly, giving it the most sparklepossible. There can actually be a poor cut of a diamond which you may not beable to tell with the naked eye. The shape of it is the same on the top, butthe diamond itself is too deep or too shallow to reflect light properly. Andreally, unless you're buying diamond jewelry as a financial investment, isn'tthe sparkle the real reason you want to own it? So getting a good cut isimportant in your selection.

The color of a diamond is graded by letters. A perfectdiamond is one that is colorless, although these are said to be quite rare. Theyellowish or brown tinge of a diamond will determine its color grade. Somediamond jewelry is purposely colored, such as yellow or blue diamonds, andthese are called "fancy." But for most, grades of D, E or F areconsidered colorless, G, H and I are called near colorless, and the rating goesfrom there. Just like school report cards, you want the highest grade possiblewhen selecting diamond jewelry.

Flaws inside diamonds are called inclusions, andclarity grades the number of these inclusions. Most inclusions in diamondjewelry cannot be seen with the naked eye, and so you need to use agemologist's magnifier to see them.

Beware of gold-buying ripoffs on Television

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:58:00 +0000

With all of the ads on Television, finding out the truth about gold and silver exchange can by dizzying.

The sell sounds great on the surface: You pack up all your old jewelrythat you'll never wear again into an envelope and send it, & insured.They melt it down and cut you a check for the value of thegold. End of process. It sounds better than going to a pawn shop -- the process is simple and requires no personal interaction with anappraiser -- so what could go wrong?

One of our customer took up a bunch of old rings, necklaces, and earrings, and taking them to a regular pawn shop to be appraised. The offer: $375 for the lot. Thinking that he could get more money from the TV ad, he then sent the items, and waited for a check in the mail. It arrived within a few days as promised... in the amount of $ 105. (You don't have to accept the check; the deal isn't doneuntil you cash it.)

That price alone is practically criminal, but that's where the truly slimy part of the operation begins. First, if you call and ask for your stuff back, you abruptly get a better offer: In the above caset, the offer was a whopping $190. That's a better deal, but still not market rate, though the caller was told that they could "manipulate the numbers on their end" to make it appear that more product was sent than was in reality. Bizarre, but it's really the only way they can cover its behind to convince you the original offer wasn't a wholesale ripoff.

As bad as that is, it's far worse if you opted for the company's "FastCash" option. Here, that original offer ($105) is wired into your bankaccount within 24 hours of them receiving the booty. It sure is fast,but it's not much cash -- and you don't have the option of decliningthe offer at all. You're stuck with a pittance for your valuable gold items.

So all you folks that are thinking of selling your valuables scrap gold and silver and haven't done so yet, consider your local coin and bullion dealer, they generally pay much more than other places you can take it to, and really the best advice, if you can afford to, keep in a safe place for a rainy day, and even buy more if you can!

Be careful out there folks and good luck

Taking care of your ring

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:26:00 +0000

General Dos of Caring for Your Engagement Ring

Do take your ring off before participating in a sport or other vigorous activity that could involve sharp blows.
Do place your ring in the same, safe place every day to avoid accidentally misplacing it.
Do clean your ring at least once a week to keep it as brilliant as the day you first put it on.
Do remove your engagement ring before beginning housecleaning or yard work that involves harsh chemicals or rough equipment.
Do have your ring inspected at least twice a year by a qualified jeweler to guarantee the settings are secure.
Do have an accurate appraisal of your engagement ring updated every few years in case of loss.
Do insure your valuable engagement ring against theft, loss, or accidental damage.

General Donts of Caring for Your Engagement Ring

Dont take your ring off or place it near vulnerable places, such as sinks or bathtubs, where it could easily be knocked off and lost.
Dont wear your engagement ring while cleaning with harsh chemicals because they may discolor, dissolve, or otherwise damage either the stone or the metal.
Dont wear your ring while applying heavy makeup, lotion, or creams to your hands to avoid excessive buildup that can dull the stones.
Dont wear your ring while swimming in a pool or other open water such as a lake or the ocean when your fingers could shrink, allowing the ring to fall off.
Dont excessively touch the stones in your ring ï¿½ the oils in your hands can cloud the gems and reduce their sparkle.
Dont store your engagement ring with other jewelry where it can be easily scratched or chipped by other diamonds or gems.
Cleaning Your Engagement Ring

Many people believe that simply wearing your engagement ring while washing your hands is an adequate way to clean it. In fact, the soaps and other cleaners used on your hands can cloud and dull your ring, and it should be cleaned periodically to keep it brilliant.

The easiest way to clean a diamond ring is with solution of water and mild liquid detergent. A soft bristled brush can loosen dirt and a soft, lint-free cloth should be used for drying. Store-bought jewelry solutions may also be used for soaking diamond rings as well as solutions of ammonia and ethyl alcohol. Ammonia (in a mild solution with three parts water) is particularly good for brightening yellow gold, but should never be used with fracture-filled diamonds as it may cause the diamonds to become cloudy or discolored.

Engagements Rings

Can also be professionally cleaned if they become overly dirty. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are the most popular choices among jewelers. Diamonds can also be boiled in sulfuric acid by a professional if they become extremely dirty, though this is often a last resort. If your engagement ring has any serious flaws, however, such as fractures or cracks in the stone, be sure the jeweler is aware of them because certain cleaning techniques may exacerbate the flaws.

If your engagement ring contains different types of stones, be sure that whichever cleaning method you choose is appropriate for all of them. Pearls, for example, are far softer and more delicate than many gems, and can easily be scratched or pitted by cleaning solutions recommended for diamonds.