Jewelry

Diamonds are the traditional symbol of love: not only are they beautiful in their own right, but, because they are the hardest substance, they also are a tangible expression of the durability of love. Choosing a good one is a matter of knowledge and following some basic rules.

Those rules actually come from an institution with a worldwide presence and a Southern California connection. High on a hill in the San Diego County city of Carlsbad not far from I-5 sits a beautiful building with a spectacular view. This is the international headquarters of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the originator of many of the gemological rules that the industry and the public use to make sure they’re getting their money’s worth in gemstones.

Choosing the Best
To help the public get the best value the GIA invented the four Cs and has dedicated itself to training the best gemologists. The GIA’s grading report for a diamond is the only official blueprint of the quality of that diamond. If you’re buying a good diamond, it should come with one, probably also prepared by a GIA graduate.

“ The price can be dramatically affected by even the slightest shift from one grade to another,” says Jeffrey Martin of John Franklin Fine Jewelers. “[GIA] guidelines serve as a universal language that bridge the knowledge gap between customer and jeweler.”
Stones with the most intense color are the most expensive. Diamonds come in not only the familiar colorless stones of fire but also in pink, blue, green, grey, purple and other colors. Because colors are more rare, they are generally more expensive than their less colorful counterparts.

“ My biggest encouragement to couples shopping for rings is have fun!” says Martin. “But don’t settle for just anything. Be sure to purchase a ring that reflects your personal style.”

Before You Buy Gems—Learn!
Your engagement ring is not the end of your gem-buying experience. You’ll have other occasions during your engagement and certainly during your marriage to purchase gems. Get yourself up to speed by logging onto the GIA website, www.gia.edu, and go through their tutorial to make yourself into an instant expert. That way you can get the best values at the right price.

How to take care of your own engagement ring:

1. Keep it clean. A clean stone is even more beautiful.
   Clean with a bit of isopropyl alcohol
   
2. Check the prongs that hold the diamond at regular
   intervals so you can make sure your precious gem
   is safely ensconced in its setting.
   
3. Have your ring appraised and insured. If the
   unthinkable happens, you’ll be covered
   
4. Take a photo for insurance purposes. The photo(s)
   should be detailed enough so that the ring can
   be identified.