Tips on Auctioning Off Your Gems

When Diamonds Aren't Forever

Here are tips for auctioning off your gems

Do you have an old diamond ring you'd like to sell, or
some jewelry you've inherited that you'd like to
auction?

Increasingly, auctions--whether held in traditional
auction houses or online--are ways to easily reach an
audience of buyers.

But before you visit an auctioneer, there are several
steps that you should take to determine the value of
your diamond.

First, your item must be assessed by an appraiser.
That person will have the complex job of determining
the ring's value based not only on the 4Cs (the color,
clarity, cut, and carat weight) but also on the quality
of the workmanship. The appraiser can also
determine if it was made by a prominent maker, like
Tiffany & Co., for example.

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The History of the Hope Diamond

Is there really a curse? Whether or not you believe in the curse, the Hope Diamond has intrigued people for centuries. Its perfect quality and large size make it unique and beautiful.In addition, its history being once owned by King George IV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to earn money to pay debts, worn to raise money for charity and then donated to the Smithsonian Institution. The Hope diamond is truly full of twists. Everywhere it goes, news reports are filled with the stories of its notorious past, raising curiosity and magnifying the legend. Today the gem resides in the Smithsonian Institution museum's Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, revolving sedately behind three inches of bullet proof glass in the new Harry Winston Room.

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Emerald Cut Diamonds

The Emerald Cut is a stunning variation of diamond cuts.The Emerald Cut is rectangular with cut corners. It is a step cut as opposed to a brilliant cut. The facets are cut broad with flat planes resembling steps of a stair, that is why it is referred to as the step cut. It would better be refer to octagonal diamonds, or the octagon cut because for the slight misnomer is that not only are rough emerald often found in an octagon shape, but they often retain more weight when cut as octagons. It also retain more color saturation in this shape. So, because octagonal is traditionally a common and good shape for emeralds, any other stone cut in a similar manner gets referred to as an emerald cut. The optimum shape is length to width ratio 1.35-1.65 : 1.

The open appearance of some step cut diamonds can make large inclusions more obvious in the set stone. Because they don't look as good as brilliant cut, emerald cuts normally sell for less than brilliant cut of the same quality. When purchasing an emerald cut diamond, always pay attention to quality. Select the highest grade stone you can afford.


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Princess Cut Diamond Shapes

If you love the fire of the round brilliant cut but want something different, you might want to take a look at the icy fire of the square Princess Cut Diamond. The Princess Cut is the most important new cut or shape for diamonds since the invention of the brillant cut over 60 years ago.

Because of the extra facetting, and the effects it produces, princess cuts are naturally more brilliant and sparkly than ordinary square diamonds. Square stones are better for certain design applications such as eternity rings but the princess cut also has its limitations. Watch out for girdles which are too thin as it is more prone to chipping. Always ensure that the setting for your princess cut diamond protects the four pointed corners.(these are the points most likely to chip).

To find out more about the Princess Cut and other Diamond Cuts visit
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