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Diamonds

Era Custom Design Modern and Vintage Jewellery is a Vancouver based jewellery store that prides itself on the quality of the diamonds it sells. Several things set Era apart from traditional jewellery stores in the services it offers for diamond customers.

Wherever possible Era offers for sale diamonds that are certified by an independent laboratory. This includes GIA Certified Diamonds, EGL Certified Diamonds, and AGS Certified Diamonds. This gives our customers assurance of the quality and origin of our product. Era is also proud to sell Canadian diamonds, Polar Bear diamonds and Maple Leaf diamonds.

Era sells loose diamonds. We do this to ensure that our customers get the best possible value for their purchase, and know exactly what they are buying. Era does not carry a stock of diamonds pre-set into engagement rings ready and waiting for the "right" person. Rather, we work individually with our customers to create each ring to suit their lifestyle and budget. Era shops the international diamond markets for the best quality and price.

Era offers its customers comprehensive education about diamonds, jewellery and gemstones. We see this as an integral part of Era Custom Design Modern and Vintage Jewellery. Every purchase of a diamond is important, and knowledge about diamonds makes decisions easier and more enjoyable. We don’t just give you the "Four C’s" (which are explained in the paragraphs below); there are also many insiders’ tips to help you.

In many ways the diamond is an extraordinary gemstone. It is essentially pure carbon, making it the only gemstone composed of a single element. No other gemstone has the same combination of hardness (10) transparency, and brilliance. These attributes alone make it an ideal stone for everyday wear. The singular beauty of diamonds have also made them symbolic of love and fidelity for centuries.

There are many things to keep in mind when shopping for a diamond. First of all set a realistic budget, and do not feel you have to spend three months’ salary. Just buy the best quality you can afford. At Era we work within our clients’ budget to give each person the best possible value.

THE FOUR C’s OF DIAMONDS

CLARITY: refers to a diamond’s position on the flawless (FL) to Included (I1-I3) scale that is used by the internationally recognized GIA. Clarity characteristics are classified as inclusions. The size, number, positions within the stone, and colour of inclusions determines the clarity grade. Clarity grading is done under 10x magnification. The clarity grades are:

Flawless (FL) and Internally Flawless (IF) are the rarest grades. Very Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) the inclusions are so minute that a skilled grader may take 20 minutes to find the inclusions within these stones. Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) these diamonds have minor inclusions that are difficult to find. Typically the inclusions will be towards the outer edge of the stone. Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) will have noticeable inclusions under 10x magnification. Included (I1-I3) have visible inclusions to the unaided eye, usually in the center of the stone.

How important is clarity when you are buying a diamond? Most of the members of the public will say that clarity is the most important factor after the carat weight (size). However, most trained jewellery professionals see things differently. Colour and cut can affect the overall brilliance and beauty of a diamond more than clarity. The whiteness of a diamond can be seen from a distance, whereas the clarity is graded under magnification. If you are working within a budget, think about choosing a high colour stone (say, D,E,F,G,H) with a lower clarity (SI1, SI2, I1)

COLOUR: Colour in diamonds usually refers to the absence of colour. Most diamonds have some trace of yellow or brown undertone. The GIA colour scale starts at D and ends with Z. A "D" colour diamond is the rarest and most expensive, E,F,G,H stones have a very slight tint of colour. The tint of colour becomes more noticeable as you work your way down the letter scale. Fancy colour diamonds such as blue, pink, purple, or red, are naturally occurring. More recently it has become popular to heat treat diamonds to produce such colours. Yellow and brown diamonds can only be considered fancy coloured diamonds if they are graded as more intense than a Z colour grade.

CUT: refers to the shape, symmetry, and finish of a polished diamond. Cut affects both the brilliance of the diamond and the weight yield of the rough. A poor cut frequently will be cut too deep or too shallow creating a dark or dull diamond. Sometimes you’ll find diamonds that are graded as "ideal", but there can be quite a variance between different cutters on what "ideal" is. Here are some numbers to keep in mind: table size 53-59%, crown angle 32-35º, pavilion depth percentage 43-44%, the girdle should be thin to medium thickness, and the culet should be small.

CARAT WEIGHT: Is a measurement of weight, not size. The metric carat, which equals 0.200-gram, is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and most other gemstones. There are price breaks in diamonds; for instance a .99ct diamond will be less expensive than a comparable 1.00ct diamond and very few people would know the difference.

These notes give you a very general introduction to the world of diamonds. For further information visit our Yaletown store in Vancouver and meet with an on-site designer.

ERA DESIGN INC.
1266 Homer Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6B-2Y5

t 604.688.2714
f 604.688.2961
e studio@eradesign.ca