DIAMONDS

Diamonds are brilliant, natural, and the hardest substance available to man. No two diamonds are ever alike, even though they may sometimes look identical. All diamonds have variations in cut, clarity, color and carat weight. These four characteristics are commonly referred to as the 4 c`s; they are what determine the quality and the value of every diamond.

CUT

The cut is what gives the diamond its fire and sparkle. It separates a dull listless stone from a lively brilliant diamond. The facets (polished surfaces) of the diamond reflect and refract light out through the top. The number of facets and their alignment can exponentially increase the gems' brilliance. The standard round diamond or brilliant cut offers 58 facets. Cut also refers to shape, such as round, square, pear or marquis, to name a few.

COLOR

Color anachronistically, refers to the diamonds lack of color. The GIA (Gemmological Institute of America ) grades them from D to Z. D indicates colorlessness though E and F may not show visible difference. The diamonds are certified under controlled lighting.

CLARITY

This third “C” refers to a diamond's lack of inclusions. Because diamonds are a natural gemstone, most do contain some degree of inclusions, but most of these are very minute and will be visible only under high magnification. The lack of inclusions influences the price of the diamond.

CARAT

The 4 th “C” Carat refers to the weight of the diamond and not its size as is the general misconception. 5 carats make one gram and hence a one carat diamond weighs .02 grams. Jewelers refer to diamonds using carats and points (percentage of carat). 100 points equals a carat, 50 points is half a carat. But ideally diamonds are weighed in decimal points for ex. 1.29 carats.

What do you think should be the price of a 2 carat diamond all other C'S being equal; double that of a 1 carat stone? Wrong! Most probably it will be two and a half times, because the bigger the size of the diamond, the rarer it is to find. This is presuming all the other attributes remain constant.

THE FIFTH C

Most of us have heard of the 4C's but the fifth C is unique to MIRROR WHITE. It stands for Customer Satisfaction. This is what our company guarantees!



DIAMOND CARE

Even though diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man, a diamond Will scratch another diamond. So it is important not to store jewelry together, since It can be scratched. Settings and prongs are vulnerable to wear and tear, and everyday Activity can loosen a setting, so it is important to have your jewelry checked periodically.

SETTINGS

THE PRONG OR CLAW SETTING: This is the most popular setting for diamond jewelry. It consists of 4 or 6 claws that cradle the diamond and allow maximum light to pass through all angles.

THE CHANNEL SETTING: Like the name suggests the stones are set right next to each other with no metal in between (usually used for wedding or anniversary bands). The outer ridge of the metal is worked over the edge of the stones. This setting provides a smooth exterior surface.

THE BEZEL SETTING: In a bezel setting, a rim of metal holds the stone and completely surrounds it. Bezels can have straightedges, scalloped edges or can be modeled into any shape to accommodate the stone.

PAVE SETTING: This setting is usually used for smaller size diamonds. The diamonds are usually embedded in the metal surface. The setting is usually flat with the metal surface.



GOLD

The timeless nature of gold is a perfect match for diamonds. Diamonds look stunning whether set in white or yellow gold. Gold never tarnishes or wears away; it is versatile, ductile, malleable and durable. Pure gold is too soft to lend itself for jewelry making hence it is usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness. Most gold used in jewelry making is alloyed with silver and copper to produce various shades of yellow gold or with palladium, copper and zinc to produce white gold. The gold content in jewelry is measured in carats. They range from 1 to 24 carats. For ex. 18k is eighteen parts gold and 6 parts of other metals. The higher the karat of a piece of jewelry, the greater its gold content. MIRRORWHITE consistently uses an 18k Standard in all its jewelry, be yellow or white gold.



PEARLS

Pearls are regal, royal and mysterious. These beautiful gems are not mined, but are formed inside oysters. They are also the birthstone for the month of June. There is no grading system like the 4c's for diamonds, but there are various factors that affect their value like luster, surface blemishes, shape, size, color, uniformity and availability.



GEM STONES

Gemstones, through centuries have been attributed with mystic, curative and protective powers. They are beautiful, sought after and treasured. Gemstones come under any color of the spectrum. The prices depend on their rarity and durability. Though there are no official 4c's for gemstones, many of the same priciples apply in determining the value of gemstones.