When determining a diamond’s quality and value four major components are to be considered  They are known as the Four C’s.  Understanding color, clarity, cut, carat weight and how they interact can help you select a diamond that suits your taste and your pocketbook.

Color: Refers to the degree to which a diamond is colorless.

Diamonds are graded on a color scale which ranges from D (colorless) to Z. For settings in yellow gold warm colored diamonds (K-Z) are desirable and for settings in platinum, palladium or white gold icy winter whites (D-J) look their best. It is difficult to see the difference between two close shades of white. Therefore, colors are graded under controlled lighting conditions and are compared to a master set for accuracy. Truly colorless stones, graded D, are treasured for their rarity. Color, however, ultimately comes down to personal taste.

Carat: Refers to the standard measurement of a diamond weight.

It is important you do not confuse a gemstone’s carat with gold karats. Although the pronunciation of the two words is the same, the meaning and the writing is different. While “carat” is used when referring to a gems weight, karats are pointing to the gold purity in gold alloys. Also people often confuse carats with size even though it is actually a measure of weight.

• 1 carat = 200 milligrams
• a 0.75 carat diamond is the same as a 75-points or 3/4 carat diamond
• a 1.00 carat diamond does not cost exactly twice the price of a half-carat diamond because larger diamonds are found less frequently in nature which makes them rare.

Clarity: Refers to the clarity of a diamond.

Inclusions are natural identifying characteristics such as minerals or fractures, appearing while diamonds are formed in the earth. They may look like tiny crystals, clouds or feathers. A magnifying loupe allows jewelers to see a diamond at 10x its actual size so that inclusions are easier to see. The position of inclusions can affect the value of a diamond and the very few flawless diamonds found in nature are very valuable. Inclusions are ranked on a scale of perfection, known as clarity. The clarity scale, ranging from FL (Flawless) to Included (I), is based on the visibility of inclusions at a magnification of 10x.

Cut: Refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond.

Cut is very important in the evaluation of a diamond because only well-cut stones will produce the perfect luster and beauty. Physics help the experimented cutters to get the best from a rough diamond, to add light to it and to avoid the dull appearance. Based on scientific formulas, a well-cut diamond will internally reflect light from one mirror-like facet to another and disperse and reflect it through the top of the stone. This results in a display of brilliance and fire, thereby being more sought after than deep or shallow-cut diamonds.

Note: Cost and Certification are two additional but lesser known C’s that can greatly impact your search for the right diamond.

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There are some things you should consider when you want to purchase a ring. Choosing the right engagement ring is strictly a matter of personal style.

The most simple engagement ring available on the jewelry market is called a solitaire and is a setting with a single stone. There are also multi-setting stone rings, side stone rings or baguettes. It is true that the price of such a jewel is a bit higher but it the ring is more individualized.

I will explain the two main parts of a typical engagement ring:

• The band (surrounds the finger)
• The setting (which holds the diamond)

The band must be firstly have the right size. If you are not shopping for yourself and want it to be a surprise, make sure you have the right ring size. The jeweler will help you buy the best fit if you have some clues about the size (secretly “borrow” a ring from your partner and take it to the jewelers to measure it or simply draw on a piece of paper the interior of a regularly worn ring).

The second thing you have to consider when choosing the band of the engagement ring is the material. The most common choices for engagement rings are white gold, yellow gold and platinum. Not only these materials look gorgeous when crafted into jewelry but they are also quite suitable for intensive wear (strength and durability). Remember also that platinum is hypoallergenic and will not irritate the skin.

Settings are usually made out of platinum (even on a gold ring) because of platinum’s characteristics.  It is a “hard” material and is the common choice in 4 or 6 prongs rings.  When it comes to choosing the number of prongs that sustain the stone on your ring you must know that 4 prongs rings will show off more of the diamond, and 6 prongs rings will hold the diamond much more securely.

There are also types of settings that do not use prongs.  Some settings use pressure to keep the diamond in place, and others form a “channel” where the diamond is inserted.  Again, your personal sense of style should guide you in selecting the setting.

When worn daily, gold, palladium and platinum will tend to look dull. Simply soak the ring in warm water and detergent-free soap, and scrubb it gently with a soft-bristled brush.

Note: The purity of platinum is measured by a 3-digit number.   If your band is marked “950 platinum”, the band is 95% platinum alloyed with 5% palladium or iridium. Read more also about the purity of gold.

Gold is one of the most precious metals in the world. It is expensive and difficult to extract but the many desirable qualities found in gold, along with its scarcity, have made it the most popular metal for use in jewelry today.

In America and Europe gold jewelry is made from gold alloy and the purity of this alloy is stated in Karats. By definition, the karat system is used to reveal the amount of pure gold found in an item.

• 24 karat (24K) gold is pure gold.
• 18 karat (18K) gold contains 18 parts gold and 6 parts another metal or metals, making it 75% gold.
• 14 karat (14K) gold contains 14 parts gold and 10 parts another metal or metals, making it 58.3% gold.
• 10 karat (10K) gold contains 10 parts gold and 14 parts another metal or metals, making it 41.7% gold. 10k gold is the minimum karat designation that can still be called gold in the US.

Karat Value Definitions:

• Karat System: A system of measurement based on 24 karats being “fine” or “pure” gold. 1 karat equals 1/24th fine gold by weight. This is the system used in the United States.
• Plumb Gold: Karat weights are usually determined with a small, fractional variance allowed. Karat gold which has no variance and is exactly the precise fractional karat weight is called “plumb” gold.
• European System: A system of measurement based on a fraction of 1,000; or the number of grams of gold in 1 kilogram of alloy.

Gold in its pure state:

• Has a melting point of 1945 degrees Fahrenheit (1063 degrees Celsius). When alloyed (chemically combined) with other base metals the melting temperature of the resulting alloy is changed. 18K yellow gold has a melting point of 1675 degrees Fahrenheit and 14K yellow gold has a melting point of about 1550 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Has a specific gravity of 19.33. It is relatively heavy compared to most metals, such as silver (SG 10.7) or iron (SG 7.8). A notable exception is platinum (SG 21.4).
• Is more malleable than any other metal and can be hammered into foil so thin that it is almost transparent.
• Has a unique ductility property allowing it to be drawn into wire so fine it can barely be seen.
• Is deep yellow in color. Its great reflectivity properties help keep its brightness and color from fading with time.
• Will not rust, tarnish or corrode. Gold jewelry recovered from ancient Egyptian tombs is in the same state as when placed there over 4000 years ago.
• Is softer than most other metals. On the Mohs scale of hardness (which is a measure of a gemstone or mineral’s resistance to scratching), gold has a hardness value of 2 to 2.5. Diamond has a value of 10. Pure gold may easily be scratched. Fortunately, gold becomes harder when alloyed with other base metals.
• Is relatively scarce and therefore expensive. It is estimated that only 125,000 tons of gold have been mined the world over since the beginning of time.
• Is able to bond with other base metals. This property gives rise to the many different colors available in modern gold alloys.

JR Jewelers presents its Triton designer collection, as a retailer of Triton jewelry.

The modern man is praised by Triton designer jewelry since they are all about the man of today. Giving a new and original look to mens’ jewelry, Triton has captured our attention by unconventional metal use for their creations and rugged elegance designs. The image Triton wants to project is dynamic, strong and modern.

Steel and black diamonds

Steel and black accents

Steel and titanium

Triton uses a wide range of metals, clearly suited for a man. Most of the jewelry is made of steel and another material like: gold, rubber, enamel, titanium, black diamonds and tungsten carbide.

Steel and black matte

Steel and diamond dot

Tungsten carbide and sterling silver bands

Stainless steel bands

Source: Triton Jewelry Design