precious stones set

 precious stones set

A Touch of Colour for the Stately Look

There is no disregarding the beauty that is gold jewellery. Yet, the glamour that a little colour adds to these precious metals cannot be denied. No matter what jewellery trends are currently on in the market, you will find that precious stones set in these metals add a new dimension in terms of colour and beauty. Here are some ways in which coloured stones make for some beautiful jewellery:

Rubies: Uncut or polished, you will be able to place these in chokers, necklaces and finger rings. They can be moulded into a range of shapes to suit the setting they are placed in. They look great in single stone settings for a finger ring, or as the focal point of dangling earrings. The great thing about rubies is that they can be paired with emeralds to make them look even more gorgeous in their precious metal settings.

Emeralds: The deep green of these stones have charmed many a jewellery lovers. Set in gold or platinum, they work very well in intricate temple jewellery and jhumkis as well. Wrist cuffs, solitaires, ruby and emerald earring settings all make for pretty designs.

Sapphires: The blue hues of a sapphire can be exceptionally mesmerising when placed in platinum. Set them in a ring with diamonds surrounding them. This enhances the colour of the sapphire and makes it the perfect accessory to an evening gown or a saree. Whether ensconced with other precious stones or stacked together in a range of precious metal settings, sapphires lend themselves to a rather regal look. They look especially beautiful in Victorian style intricate jewellery as well as in chokers and heavy set Indian jewellery.

Pearls: This white gift of the sea is by far a popular coloured precious stone that is used in Indian jewellery. Especially in cities like Hyderabad where cultured pearls are a thriving industry, these have found their way into a number of jewellery pieces—pearl necklaces and bangles in a range of designs are extremely popular for traditional Indian attire. Pearls are also used to accentuate other stones that may be used like rubies, garnets, sapphires and even diamonds. In fact, pearls are also available in pink and black among a few other rare colours which further enhances the look of jewellery.

Adding colour to traditional jewellery has been an age-old concept as seen in Kundan and Meenakari sets. Over the years, jewellers have moved with the times and create pieces that incorporate coloured stones and stains to create unique pieces unlike any other.

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Know your diamond

Why you pay more for some diamonds

A diamond sure is a woman’s best friend. So, it is only judicious to choose a rock that is best in quality and would not let you down.

Gold has, time and again, proven to be a valuable investment proposition. But what about diamonds? Diamonds are no longer considered to have no resale value. Good quality diamonds with a high grading go up in value year-on-year, which makes them wise investment options.

If you consider diamonds to be more than just a piece of jewellery in your collection, you would like to know how to purchase the best quality ones. It is imperative to understand the process of quality grading of this precious stone. The secret lies in the 4Cs of diamonds: Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut. These grading parameters were developed by the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) and are accepted as the most respected standards of evaluating diamond quality the world over.

Know your diamond

Why do diamonds that look the same have different price tags at different stores? The answer lies in the grading of the diamond.

The clarity of a diamond is considered to be the primary determinant of the stone’s quality, and, consequently, its price. Clarity, in common parlance, determines the refractive index and thereby the shine and lustre of a diamond. Considering the fact that the brilliance of a diamond lies in how well it shines, you should give clarity the utmost importance while purchasing diamonds as an investment.

The clarity of a diamond is determined by the level of inclusions and blemishes in the stone. Most diamonds have natural inclusions, which determine their clarity. The lower the level of inclusion, the more the clarity of the stone.

The GIA grading process is considered to be the most flawless system of grading where the stones are inspected by experts under a microscope that is equipped with darkfield illumination. On a 10X magnification scale, if inclusions are not visible, the stone is considered to be flawless or internally flawless. It is extremely rare to find a diamond that has zero inclusions/ blemishes; which is why the next level of VVS1 and VVS2 (Very Very Slight Inclusion) grade diamonds are considered to be of excellent quality and have high value in today’s market.

There are various characteristics of testing the clarity of diamonds.

• Size: whether the inclusions/ blemishes are of large or small size – larger inclusions obviously scoring lower on the quality grading scale
• Number: number the inclusions present in the stone
• Position: if the blemish is directly under the table of the diamond – which is the flat surface on the top – then the quality score is lower
• Nature: this determines the nature of the blemish – abrasions, polish lines, polish marks, etc are all types of blemishes
• Colour or Relief: coloured inclusions naturally hinder the flawlessness and hence have a lower grade point

Diamonds at Jos Alukkas

At Jos Alukkas, we take pride in our diamond collection. All our diamonds are certified and graded by International Diamond Grading laboratories like GIA, IGI etc., and come in round, princess-cut, Asscher-cut and emerald-cut shapes. We have one of the highest clarity graded diamonds in our stores, which is the VVS1 grade. This assures you get the best sparkle that is worth every penny you spend on it.