Rose gold jewelry is appearing on the scene this year as the latest backdrop to set off diamonds and gemstones with spectacular style and a unique touch. Diamonds and other gemstones have always sparkled set in more traditional yellow gold or white gold, but in recent years, and this year in particular, rose gold has become the choice of jewelry lovers everywhere. The unusual properties of rose gold jewelry make it a great eye-catcher as well as setting off your finest gemstones to their best advantage. When shopping for new jewelry this year, most won't be finished until they have something in rose gold.

There is no such thing as pure gold jewelry. Pure gold is much too soft for jewelry making. It would bend, break and twist out of shape. Although it is mostly gold, there are alloys (other metals) added to the gold to give it strength, including silver, nickel and copper. These other metals affect the color of the gold. Rose gold has a higher copper content, giving the gold a warm tint that can range from a soft pink to a deep, glowing red depending on how much copper is used. The most popular rose gold jewelry is a warm, blush pink hue.

You may sometimes hear rose gold jewelry referred to as Russian gold because it was so popular in Russia in the 1800's, but that popularity soon swept over Europe and the United States. In the Victorian era, most women wanted an engagement ring of rose gold from their fiance. The rosy color was seen as more romantic and elegant.

Today there are many reasons to love rose gold jewelry. For one thing, rose gold has rich warmth to it that suits any skin tone, warming up skin and imparting a healthy glow when warm next to the face. The soft pink is universally flattering to every complexion, so it is ideal for chains or pendants.

Rose gold jewelry is also great for mounting gemstones. The rich color is the perfect foil for just about every color of gemstone. It's particularly prized for making diamond jewelry. While setting a diamond in yellow gold may give the diamond a slightly yellow cast, a diamond set in rose gold will shimmer brightly with pink/blue reflections that actually make it appear very clear.

Other gemstones really pop against the unique color of rose gold. Citrines, peridots and canary diamonds that would otherwise just fade into the background of a more traditional yellow gold look fabulous set in rose gold. Sapphires, rubies and emeralds are all complimented by the lovely color.

The finest rose gold jewelry is of 14k gold, which is stronger than the softer 10k gold. Because of the higher gold content in 14k gold, this rose gold will have the popular blush pink shade that most people think of when they hear the phrase rose gold jewelry. If you are looking for a deeper, more reddish version, look for 10k rose gold, which will have more copper but will also be a bit softer and will tend to scratch a bit more.

Whatever your choice when shopping for rose gold jewelry, you're sure to end up with a lovely piece of jewelry that others will admire for its lovely color and unusual style.

Diamond eternity rings are so beautiful and have such sparkle and fire that everyone admires them. While they originally were referred to as anniversary rings, these circles of diamonds are the ideal gift to commemorate any special event in a loved one's life. Because the price of them is now much more within reach of the average jewelry buyer, they are more affordable than ever.

A diamond eternity is often given to commemorate a special milestone such as a major anniversary, the birth of a child or a major accomplishment. The particular occasion isn't nearly as important as the sentiment that the ring is intended to convey. An eternity ring symbolizes that the love of the giver will last for all eternity; it is as never-ending as the circle of the ring of diamonds, which is precious and has no beginning and no end.

Today, more and more couples are choosing matching diamond eternity rings as wedding bands rather than using plain metal bands. The groom will usually wear a larger version of the bride's ring with diamonds that are larger in size but in the same style as the bride's ring.

Diamond eternity rings can be either full circle, with the diamonds completely encircling the ring, or half circle, with the diamonds going only half-way around the band. It is purely a matter of preference, although some people prefer the half-band for comfort if the diamonds are particularly large. Keep in mind that a half-band will also be easier to re-size if you gain or lose weight.

Eternity rings are available in wide variety of styles, from vintage-inspired designs to sleek, modern pieces. Materials include white, yellow or rose gold, platinum or titanium. The diamonds themselves can be cut in almost any style desired. The most popular tend to be princess cut and emerald cut because they fit snugly side-by-side in an eternity band, allowing for many diamonds close together on the ring; however, there are also lovely eternity bands with intricately mounted brilliants, marquis, baguette and round cut diamonds.

For more dramatic effect, some diamond eternity rings alternate two different cuts of stones such as baguettes and rounds. This creates added sparkle and gives the outer edges of the ring a scalloped effect where they follow the contours of the diamonds. It's a lovely, lacey look that is delicate and sophisticated. More contemporary styles may feature channel set or bezel set stones that are flush with the surface of the ring itself.

The most traditional way for a woman to wear a diamond eternity ring is to place it behind her wedding band and engagement ring. Some women, however, choose to remove their wedding ring and wear the eternity ring in place of the wedding band, particularly if the setting enhances her engagement ring. Other women choose to leave their wedding and engagement rings undisturbed and wear their diamond eternity ring on their right hand where it can take center stage all by itself.

Men often reserve a diamond eternity ring to wear as their dress wedding band, wearing a plain band most of the time. This is often because they fear damaging a diamond ring, particularly if they work with their hands. However, diamonds are one of the strongest materials known to man, and if a ring is well made, it should hold up to most everyday wear and tear. If a man would like to wear an eternity ring every day, he should consider looking at bezel set or channel set diamonds, which are less likely to snag or come loose from their settings.

Earrings have always been a very popular piece of jewelry. If you want to define your features in the best possible manner, it is very important to choose the right style according to the shape of your face. In order to help you understand, listed below are few face shapes, their defining features and some examples:

Round Face
Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore and Penelope Cruz are few celebrities who have a round face. The main feature of a round face is the circular shape that is as wide as it is long and is usually characterized with a round chin. Earrings with lean, long and angular curved lines can be the perfect choice because it helps in elongating a round face. You can wear drop earrings in dangles, ovals and oblongs. Even an angular stud earring will look good on a round face. Make sure that you steer clear of small studs and hoops. Always avoid wearing chunky large earrings.

Oval Face
The main feature of an oval face is the forehead which is usually wider as compared to the chin. The hairline is gently rounded and the approximate length is equal to one and a half times width. Celebrities like Charlize Theron, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson and Beyonce Knowles have an oval face. If you also have an oval face then earrings with soft shapes like studs, ovals and teardrops will look good on you. People with a face shape like this can wear almost any design. You can always do some experiment with different styles and decide what looks good on your face.

Square Face
The main features of a square face are broad and strong forehead, square hairline and angular jaw. Earrings with a round and angular edge will work best because it will help in softening a square face. If you have a square face, avoid wearing angular style, large earrings so that your face doesn't look wider. Instead wear hoops and medium to long styles. Celebrities like Demi Moore, Katie Holmes, Geena Davis and Salma Hayek have a somewhat square face.

Heart-shaped Face
Heart shaped faces are usually narrow at the jawline and wide at the forehead or cheekbone. It is very much similar to an oval face but below the cheekbones it is narrower due to which the chin looks more pointed. Stars like Sohie Dahl, Reese Witherspoon and Scarlett Johansson have a heart shaped face.

If you feel that you also have a face shape like them, wear earrings with a wide bottom. You can try out earrings that have a soft curve like ovals or teardrops. Pyramid style earring can work best on your face shape because it is wide at the bottom. Always avoid wearing earrings that are heart shaped.

Diamond Face
The main features of a diamond shaped face are broad and strong forehead with square hairline and angular jaw. Such faces are wide at the cheeks but narrow at the forehead and chin. Katherine Hepburn and Sophia Loren are celebrities with a diamond face. If you also have a face shape like this, wear earrings that are less in length and more in width. A straight line and curves combination will work best. You can also try studs and small drop earrings.

Oblong Face
An oblong face is very much similar to a square face but it is longer and not very wide. Simple studs and chandelier style earrings look very good on an oblong face. However, angular and long earrings must be avoided. Few celebrity examples are Terri Hatcher, Sarah Jessica Parker and Angelina Jolie.

There are many different styles of diamond earrings you might want to choose from. Earrings are the perfect gift and women are always wearing them. The different styles of earrings you can choose from include studs, drops, and hoops.

When you are shopping for a gift or even for yourself there are different earring styles that look good with just about anything. Some diamond earrings look better for certain occasions while others can even look great with a casual look. Earrings are always the perfect fit and you never have to worry about taking them back to the jeweler. You can never go wrong with a nice set of earrings as a gift for a friend. You can also choose from the different types of precious metal you want the earrings to be set on.

Studs are small and round and sometimes the perfect diamond earrings. They go with just about anything and they are perfect for anyone. They are the perfect first set of earrings for a child or a teen too. Studs look great with casual or formal wear. You might choose a pair with diamonds, pearls, or even your favorite gemstone. Many men like to wear a nice set of diamond studs also. Studs are becoming a new trend and they make a statement of total class. They can be worn with just about anything and they make any outfit look so much nicer.

Hoops are favored by a lot of people and they make a statement depending on the size. Most hoops come in many sizes from small and petite to long, dangly and almost touching your shoulders. You can find a pair of diamond earrings in hoops which give a fabulous feminine touch. Whichever precious metal you choose from will go with just about anything. Smaller hoops look best with someone who has a short neck. Women who have a long and beautiful neck can wear hoops and look fabulous.

Drops are earrings that dangle below the stud setting and they can range in many different lengths. Usually when you choose a set of diamond earrings that are drops the diamond may be what is dangling at the end and even in the stud position. These types of earrings add elegance and they look great with long hair. Drops are available with many different types of gemstones, pearls, and diamonds. Diamonds and stones look wonderful dangling or set at the ear as a stud. If they are dangling then it is important to be careful they do not catch on anything and you lose a stone. This could be devastating.

If you are looking for a gift this year for a friend or even a family member you might consider a set of earrings if their ears are pierced. This is because diamonds are the best way to show someone how much you care about them and earrings are a wonderful option. Earrings are the safest piece of jewelry because you wear them closest to your body so you have less of a chance of losing a stone. Because your hands are so active it is common to knock a ring around and loosen a stone.

Earrings are popular and some women wear them on a daily basis. You can never go wrong when you choose from the many different styles of earrings. The different styles include studs, drops, and hoops. Most earrings can be simple and include only the precious metals or you can choose from earrings with your favorite gemstones, pearls, and diamonds. Earrings are usually one of the most affordable gifts you can buy and they will last for a very long time.

Jewelry has its trends and its stages in fashion too. What are the current trends in America? Interestingly enough, it doesn't seem to depend on what age group you're looking at. Across the board, for virtually all ages, brooches or pins have almost entirely left the world of accessories. While many women still have many pins in their collections, they are rarely seen in comparison to the frequency of seeing earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. For some reason, pins have seemingly fallen out of favor with the current trends in fashion, and many women are no longer wearing the brooches they inherited from their grandmothers. It should also be said though that women are not throwing them out; like all trends in fashion, pins are certain to come back at some point, the only question is when.

As for earrings, it seems that earrings have seen the most change in jewelry fashions in recent years. The small studs, small hoops and occasional small dangles are being replaced with oversized dangle earrings. These earrings are not like the old fashion of oversized hoops; this current fashion is for oversized dangles, not oversized in length, but in width. Dangle earrings are currently quite long, but their length is not remarkable; the width, however, is quite shocking. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish the hair from the earrings because the dangles seem to fill virtually the whole area surrounding the face. Despite their size, these dangle earrings are quite pretty, feminine and elegant. They are not the 21st century equivalent to oversized hoops that were frequently worn as a kind of rebellious style of jewelry; these dangles are in the mainstream and they are beautiful despite their size.

Everyday wear rings have not changed drastically in recent years, at least not in style. Styles are similar, although an important change to note is the frequency of platinum that is now being used. Traditionally, platinum was often used for wedding or engagement rings, now it is still used for both of those types of rings, but there are also a lot of simple gemstone rings that are platinum. Another current jewelry trend, in wedding bands only, is to have a solid band of diamonds instead of a solid band of gold or platinum. More and more women are choosing this style of wedding band; it can be seen on the fingers of many recent American brides.

Changes in necklaces and bracelets are also minimal, although one trend is that some jewelry is becoming more 'tribal', or having more of an ethnic look to it. While simple solitaire pendants and simple bracelets are still popular, bolder, heavier, more colorful styles in necklaces and bracelets are also hitting the jewelry scene. What is nice about this is that it doesn't seem to be competing with more traditional styles of bracelets and necklaces, whereas the current trend in dangle earrings certainly seems to be virtually eradicating other styles of earrings.

By Amanda Gizzi of the Jewelry Information Center

This holiday season, consumers everywhere will be searching for the perfect gift items for their loved ones.

Most, given the economic conditions, will want to be conservative. However, conservative should not mean boring and it most certainly should not keep them out of the jewelry store. This year, help shoppers rediscover the brilliance and lure of diamonds, hoops and the everyday basics that keep our industry alive and well.

Basics are not only the finishing touch on wardrobes, but they are also the best gift to give and receive since they are overall crowd pleasers. Whether they are going to a black-tie gala or a dinner party with their best friends, the perfect piece of jewelry, much like the little black dress, will be a staple in their wardrobe. Jewelry Information Center offers this guide to the original basics, updated classics and items to stock this holiday:

1. The Original Basics – Every woman needs the so-called basics in her jewelry box. The ultimate basic is the diamond stud earring. If a woman doesn’t have diamond stud earrings, chances are she wants them. Often overlooked, studs make the perfect gift item because they are available in countless sizes, styles and within any budget. The stud earring can also be taken to new heights this season with earring jackets and extensions exploding on the market. Those simple studs become the backdrop to drops, hoops and diamond circle jackets. If she already has a pair of diamond studs, I can bet money that she would be interested in an upgrade. Don’t overlook color gemstone studs as a great alternative as well.

2. Bling for their Buck – Everyone loves sparkling baubles. For those looking for maximum sparkle, size doesn’t always matter. Pavé diamond jewelry is more abundant than ever it seems. We all know why people are drawn to pavé beauties; it gives customers the chance to have a huge diamond look at a fraction of the price. Big items are stacking diamond bands and hoop earrings. Because they are saving on having pavé styles, upgrading carats weights should not be out of the question, or conversation.

3. Hoops, Hoops and More Hoops – Hoop earrings are one of the most popular forms of earrings and it seems they are always in fashion. Now take hoop earrings and cover them in diamonds and you will really be fashion ready at all times. Diamond hoops are quickly becoming new staples and a “must” in women’s wardrobes. From pavé diamonds all the way around the hoop, diamond stars accenting a simple hoop, to a diamond solitaire placed right on the outside of the hoop, every hoop is special. T hey make a great gift and ultimate holiday accessory.

4. Manly Diamonds – Diamonds, finally, are no longer reserved just for women. Diamonds are for manly men of all shapes, styles and lifestyles. Men are finally realizing that diamonds are wearable and fashionable.

That new enlightenment is thanks in part to new styles hitting the market. Styles to look for include dog tag pendants with simple diamond accents, stainless steel bracelets mixed with diamonds, a handsome watch with diamonds on the hour markers and rings and wedding bands with diamonds as large or as small as the man feels comfortable with.
This holiday season, reinventing the wheel is not necessary. Consumers need to be reminded that during these times it is most fitting and appropriate to purchase gifts of fine jewelry. Updated classics provide them with a no-lose gift giving opportunity.

With an illustrious career spanning almost six decades and numerous fantastically large polished diamonds to his name, Gabi Tolkowsky knows diamond cutting – or, as he prefers to call it, diamond fashioning.

Although this expert master cutter knows better than most the technical, mathematical side of diamond cutting, he seems most passionate about the philosophical side of the process – for example, whether turning a chunk of rough carbon extracted from the ground into a masterpiece of a polished diamond is more of an art or a science. “It is definitely an art. It’s an art that uses all the discoveries of technology and the technological tools.” But this is by no means the end of the discussion.

The point, Tolkowsky says, is not that the process involves technology or is done according to scientific principles, but that “people are planning, designing, splitting and fashioning the stone according to its individual beauty.” Admittedly, ‘science’ is a vague term, but a relevant definition would include those aspects of the diamond cutting process that can be measured and calculated. Art, on the other hand, is more nuanced, and measuring it – its quality, beauty or worth – is about as subjective as it gets.

Both art and science, Tolkowsky explains, are necessary in the process of creating polished diamonds. After all, it was his great uncle, Marcel, who published one of the most important scientific works on diamond polishing to date. His 1919 publication, Diamond Design, part of an engineering dissertation, examined the dispersion and behavior of light in a diamond and presented ideal proportions for drawing the maximum amount of fire and brilliance from a polished stone. It was the first mathematical and optical analysis of a diamond’s cut and, according to Gabi Tolkowsky, its significance lay in its description of the “journey of light inside a diamond.” In short, this ‘journey of light’, he explains, “functions the way it does because of the diamond’s characteristic as a limpid and transparent matter, like a mirror or like water.”

“The light reflects back out of the diamond, creating a tremendous return of fire, light and scintillation – the entirety of light,” in a well-cut diamond, of course. So, in fact, as Tolkowsky explains, the polished diamond’s resultant beauty, or the artistic aspect, is dependent upon the polisher having effectively worked with the scientific principles of the process to create the maximum amount of light return and scintillation.

Tolkowsky notes a discrepancy, however, between the aesthetic properties of diamonds, which he asserts are the main drive behind the diamond industry in the first place, and the technical and mathematical aspect of grading or deciding that a diamond cut must adhere to certain proportions and measurements. “Who decides,” he asks rhetorically, “when they examine a diamond, that it’s beautiful? The diamantaire? The graduate gemologist? The wholesaler? It’s none of these. The retailer is the only one who looks at a diamond and judges its beauty.”

The point, he says, is that throughout the pipeline, diamonds are valued according to scientific and mathematical principles, but the overarching goal is to create an end product with beauty – one that is, in essence, a work of art.

“The consumer, the one actually buying the diamond in the end, doesn’t care about its proportions. They care if it has fire, if it’s beautiful, but there’s no room in the process for a polisher, diamantaire or grader to judge a diamond’s beauty.”

Diamonds are created, according to Tolkowsky, for adornment, which is the oldest language of humanity, going back to our earliest ancestors. “Even before humanity had a language, adornment was a form of communication – of one person physically showing another what they thought was beautiful by, for example, taking a piece of bark and turning it into a piece of jewelry.” And adorning is in itself a form of art, which, he says, is how they should be created.

In addition to being works of art created with the help of science, diamonds are also becoming more commoditized. Tolkowsky recalls that the trade is, in fact, very young. In the years following World War II, a mass of ‘luxury’ products that had previously been accessible only to the rich and powerful began to be acquired by the burgeoning middle class in western countries; diamonds, once the darlings of the wealthy and super wealthy, have similarly been on a steady path of commoditization. The drive to market diamonds to everyone, he says, has created a situation in which almost anyone can buy a diamond, which in turn has encouraged a situation in which diamonds are increasingly mass produced.

Today, a growing middle class, one with deeper pockets and aspirations toward luxury, has been one of the factors contributing to the democratization of diamonds. Another, notes Tolkowsky, is the development of technologies in the cutting and polishing processes, allowing mass numbers of diamonds to be polished almost entirely by machine – without any human expertise. Although this is good for business in some sectors, it is admittedly not such a pretty picture for those who, like Tolkowsky, see diamonds as first and foremost one-of-a-kind works of art.

Perhaps it’s his years of working intimately with individual facets of diamonds large and small, but Tolkowsky does not believe that machines will ever replace humans completely in diamond polishing. To illustrate, he rhetorically asks how many hundred carat diamonds people would want to cut with machinery – none, of course. How about 10 carat diamonds? Also none. The fact is, he explains, that inserting a rough diamond into a machine, pressing a button and getting a polished diamond on the other side, only works for very small stones, sizes of which there are enough to mass produce in the first place.

The larger stones, of which there are far fewer, are so big, and their designs and facet structures so intricately complex, that it will always take a highly skilled polisher to work with them. In addition, a machine, even one that’s technically precise down to the last nut and bolt, cannot judge beauty. “The human eye, and human expertise, will always be necessary to determine the beauty of a diamond,” he says.

In an age of increasingly savvy and persuasive marketing, it is worth asking whether this ‘beauty of a diamond’ Tolkowsky speaks of is inherent to the material or if it is a result of decades of well-funded marketing campaigns.

“Indeed, mining companies have found it necessary and lucrative to invest heavily in marketing and publicity for the products they sell,” he explains, “just like with any product, especially luxury. But the story of diamonds is much more than just luxury. Not one diamond is similar to another. This fact is physically, scientifically and geologically confirmed. And so we can promote this, and we know that diamonds are in fact different.”

So different, in fact, that when one with substantial size is discovered and polished into a veritable masterpiece, it makes headlines. Tolkowsky himself has had the opportunity – and skill – to fashion a few exceptionally large diamonds. In 1989, he began working on De Beers’ 599 carat rough stone, which he eventually fashioned into the 273.85 carat Centenary diamond. He was also at the same time working on the 545.67 carat Golden Jubilee, the largest polished diamond in the world, presented to the King of Thailand in 1997 for the 50th anniversary of his coronation.

The process of designing and polishing the Centenary, which was carried out in a specially designed underground room in the De Beers Diamond Research Laboratory in Johannesburg, took three years to complete. Tolkowsky explains that he was inevitably changed by the process, which he describes as “a challenge and a conversation with the diamond until the last facet.”

Although he implies that, despite his famous family legacy in the diamond world, he is not much different than anyone else in terms of skill, only in opportunity, he says the process was extremely challenging. “You are challenged every moment while you are dealing with that kind of diamond. Every experience brings new challenges, and, as the diamond changes, you change, and the world changes around you.”

By Amanda Gizzi of the Jewelry Information Center

For the past few seasons, earrings have been the number-one jewelry item of choice. However, necklaces are quickly regaining their control and are becoming the season’s hottest accessory. From casual designs to red carpet stunners, necklac abound in an amazing array of styles. With so many to choose from, necklaces should be receiving the real estate in jewelry cases that they so rightfully deserve. Here are a few of the styles that are trendy and timeless all at the same time:

Multi-Strand Necklaces
The runways from New York to Milan have been covered in multi-strand necklaces that are providing maximum impact. The style inspirations on the catwalk are metal intensive with layers and layers of silver or gold. Charms and pendants are hung from the chains to create a thoughtful yet haphazard appearance. Runway looks often come with everyday translations or versions. Multi-strand necklaces for everyday women are delicate gold chains mixed with gemstones and pendants. They can also be long necklaces that can be wrapped to create a multi-strand look.

Bold Bib Necklaces
Bold bib-style necklaces are coming back in vogue. Fashion show runways have been featuring an assortment of oversized, metal and gemstone necklaces. There are two ways to translate the looks that pop on the catwalk. The first is with ornately crafted necklaces that mix a variety of gemstones and precious metals. The key to getting the look right is to find large styles that fully cover the collarbone. The second way to get the bold look is by incorporating large, super-sized cabochon gemstones. Mixing different shaped gemstones provides even more visual interest.

Tassel Necklaces
Fine jewelry with movement is flattering and always gets attention. Silky strands of gold, silver or platinum moving to-and-fro give a carefree, fun vibe. Tassels of gemstones give a pop of color. Tassel necklaces are best in the forms of lariats that can be worn multiple ways. However, single tassels at the bottom of bold pendant style necklaces are the newest way to wear this trend. These styles work perfectly with v-cut shirts and can be worn informally as well as formally.

Personalized Pendants
Everyone loves getting and wearing something designed just for them. Personalized pendants give the illusion of individuality. It feels as though there is a story for each piece. Some would consider a lot of these personalized styles less as a “trend” and more as a timeless staple. However, due to the sheer volume of new designs available, they have to make the list of necklaces to stock up on. Custom-engraved pendants with initials make great gifts. Women wear them as their everyday necklaces. Numbers are always lucky and work in sterling silver for entry-level purchases. Zodiac symbols, personal mantras, and family crests are just a few other ways this trend can relate to nearly everyone.

It was hard to tell who was the big winner on Emmy night - the celebrities or their diamonds. In celebration of the Primetime Emmy Award 's 60th diamond anniversary, there was plenty of bling to mark the occasion - from Heidi Klum 's diamond butterfly earrings to the commissioned $10 million Hearts On Fire Diamond Chandelier.

The heart-stopping, one-of-a-kind chandelier was designed by Hearts On Fire, a jeweler based in Boston. The shimmering, three-tiered fixture served as the centerpiece of the Architectural Digest Green Room where final preparations were made by the celebs before appearing on stage. With more than 3,300 diamonds totaling over 1,000 carats, the Hearts On Fire Diamond Chandelier glittered with a series of diamond strands which were illuminated by fiber optics. The diamond beauty was safeguarded 24/7 by a team of security guards.

For celebs who wanted to get up close to the chandelier, white glove service was provided. According to a spokesperson from Hearts On Fire, the piece is nothing short of spectacular when lit.

Back on the red carpet, it was clear that style for the evening was bold and dazzling. Sandra Oh, a clear fashion winner for the evening, swept hearts in her Oscar de la Renta black lace dress and 5.5 carat, emerald cut diamond stud earrings from Bulgari. America Ferrara 's stylists bathed her tastefully in diamonds, including the Fred Leighton 19th-century diamond flower necklace, 2.5-carat pendant earrings, a diamond cluster bracelet, and a 19th century diamond line bracelet. Meanwhile, Ferrara 's co-star Vanessa Williams illuminated the red carpet in diamond drop earrings, accentuated with iridescent pink and yellow diamonds. On her wrist, princess-cut diamond rows of 72 carats total weight set in platinum accented her Kevan Hall mermaid gown.

Another star who beguiled onlookers was Christina Applegate adorned with fancy colored diamond chandelier drops which perfectly complemented her elegant Reem Acra gown in ice blue with metallic touches. Booke Shields was stunning in a hot pink gown, a fashion season favorite, accessorized with a 19th-century diamond bow brooch and bold, diamond-statement earrings.

While most of us may never sashay down the red carpet adorned in diamonds, the diamonds we do own are priceless treasures. And they should be cared for as they are typically some of our most often worn jewelry. Products such as lotions and cosmetics can leave a diamond dull-looking from daily wear so it 's important not to wait too long in between cleanings.

Diamonds may be the hardest substance known to man, but they should not be cleaned with just any cleaner. A piece that is need of a really good cleaning may require an ultrasonic cleaner to remove encrusted dirt. This method should not be used on fragile settings, however, as ultrasonic cleaners can shake loose stones from their settings.

An effective but gentle method for cleaning diamonds begins with warm water and a small amount of liquid detergent. After soaking the piece for several minutes, a soft brush may be used to remove dirt, but avoid using a brush with stiff bristles as this may scratch any metal settings. Afterward, rinse the diamond in warm water and dry with a lint-free cloth.

Diamonds should be stored separately in a jewelry case with a fabric lining from other pieces of jewelry. They can also be wrapped individually in tissue paper and kept in a box. Storing jewelry together in a case can result in scratching. And for those who are in the habit of leaving a diamond ring on the rim of a sink, you may be tempting fate. Rings can easily slip down a drain and their retrieval can be both inconvenient and messy.

Floral designs are expected to be the number one trend in fashion and fine jewelry for summer. It is evident from the multitude of designers from Italy to New York, and everywhere in between, who are creating jewelry designs with a universal floral theme. Tulips, roses, calla lilies and orchids are all prevalent blooms.

Here are just a few of the ways flowers will work their way into fine jewelry wardrobes and stay there all year round:
 
Dazzling in Diamonds
Diamonds accentuate every type of jewelry in special ways.The floral designs budding this season shine with the help of  girls’ best friend. When you think of flowers, one of the first
words that comes to mind is color. Where diamonds are concerned, it is the lack of color that makes the designs so sensational. Diamonds are doing everything from covering the entire surface of floral brooches and earrings to accenting simple flower pendants. If a customer is looking for a timeless heirloom, a diamond flower brooch could be just what they are seeking.

Gold Geraniums and Platinum Posies
Glowing gold, perfect platinum and simple silver can be transformed into spectacular floral designs. A sunflower is revitalized in yellow gold, and a grouping of unassuming daisies gets a breath of life in nearly every shade of gold. The icy white glow of silver evokes feelings of happiness and bliss when it is fashioned into fun, festive flowers such as chrysanthemums, gerbera daisies and lilies. Rose gold is a natural setting for what else but roses. One of the great things about these metal beauties is that their natural shapes come shining through refined metalsmithing. They are also available in countless shapes, sizes and price points.

Works of Art
Just like a fine painting, enameled jewelry can truly be a work of art. Enamel brings floral designs to life through vibrant colors and intricate design details added to otherwise blank canvases of metal. Enamel is paired with sterling silver for a fun, festive piece of flower jewelry.
However, enamel also becomes a stunning backdrop when it brings to life bright green leaves on a diamond flower brooch.

Gemstone Petals
Wandering through a garden, it is usually the bold flowers that grab your attention. It is true that vibrantly hued flowers tend to take center stage. This is also the case when it comes to jewelry. Every variety and colored gemstone brings to life floral jewelry in different ways. Pink sapphires, rose quartz, garnets, rubies, amethyst, turquoise and citrine are all vivid choices that will inevitably make fine jewelry wardrobes a garden of color. The bottom line with the floral trend is that flowers make people happy. Jewelry makes people really happy. Now just imagine the smiles that arise when the flowers and jewelry collide.

More than just ornamentation for the body, jewelry has long served as a palette for artistic expression. From Bulgari to Cartier to Harry Winston, the world 's famous jewelers have created pieces of bejeweled art that have captured the attention of collectors worldwide, as well as the imagination of those who appreciate fine jewelry.

Frederic Boucheron
Acquiring fame as an expert in precious stones, Frederic Boucheron opened his first jewelry salon at the Palais Royal in 1858. The masterful creator of beautiful jewelry, Boucheron also set up shop at the Place Vendome in 1893, which is still in successful operation today. Boucheron branches are also located in Moscow, Japan, London, and the Far East. Historical international expositions included exhibitions of Boucheron 's pieces, including the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, the 1889 and 1990 Expositions Universelle, and the 1925 Exposition des Arts Decoratifs, all in Paris.

Sotirio Bulgari
Sotirio Bulgari of Greece began his firm in 1879 when he moved to Rome to open his first shop in Via Sistina. Bulgari 's distinctive style was carried on by his sons after his death in 1932. Bulgari jewelry-lovers admire the firm 's classical and Renaissance-inspired art, which features colors and patterns found in mosaics. Bulgari is also famous for transforming ancient coins into jewels. Bulgari boutiques grace Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Milan, New York, Paris, Singapore, and Tokyo. In 1998, a Bulgari diamond and colored diamond brooch auctioned at Christie 's for $1,186,400.

Louis-Francois Cartier
Renowned French jewelry and watch maker, Cartier may have gotten its start in 1847 by Louis-Francois Cartier, but it took it his grandsons Louis, Pierre and Jacques to build Cartier into the world famous empire it is today. Throughout its history, Cartier has undergone continued changes which have made it an international phenomenon. In 1983, the Cartier Museum was initiated; and in 1993, Cartier became a part of the Vendome Luxury Group.

Joseph Chaumet
Official jeweler to Napoleon, Chaumet was originally founded under another name. This jewelry firm captured favor for its grandiose creations and royal clientele including the Empress Josephine and later Empress Marie-Louise. Following the fall of Napoleon, the firm garnered continued acclaim under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Fossin and his son, Jules. Both were artists in their right who captured a spirit of Romanticism in their jeweled creations. In 1889, Joseph Chaumet, a Bordeaux jeweler took over the company and changed its name to Chaumet. The successful change in ownership thrust Chaumet onto the international scene, serving as jeweler to European royal houses and winning copious awards at international exhibitions.

Laurence Graff
Creating jewelry with some of the rarest gems available, Graff Diamonds was founded in London in 1960. The revered firm has handled some of the world 's most treasured gemstones, including The Idol 's Eye, The Emperor Maximillian, and The Begum Blue. The jewelry maker 's glamorous style is a result of its highly skilled in-house craftsmen. In 2002, a pair of Graff diamond and emerald ear-pendants sold at auction for $772,000. The House of Graff has locations in London, New York City, Monte Carlo, Dubai, and Moscow.

Tiffany & Co.
While Tiffany & Co. may have begun as a fancy goods store in the 1800s, by the 1950s Tiffany & Co. had captured its emphasis on the jewelry business. Its most famous pieces were created and sold by the founder 's son, Louis Comfort Tiffany. However, other esteemed jewelry designers, as well as renowned gemologist George Frederick Kunz were later instrumental in propelling Tiffany & Co. to international jewelry stardom. Today, Tiffany & Co. can be found in more than 100 locations worldwide.

Harry Winston
At only 24 years of age, Harry Winston opened his first jewelry store in New York City. A little more than a decade later, Winston established a company under his own name. Here, he handled such famous diamonds as the Jonker, the Taylor-Burton, the Star of Sierra Leone, and the Vargas. He was also responsible for donating The Hope, The Portuguese and, the Oppenheimer diamonds to the Smithsonian. Known as the "King of Diamonds," Winston owned nearly one third of all the famous museum diamonds at one time or another. After his father 's death, Ronald Winston continued the Winston dynasty, expanding into additional markets in Tokyo and Beverly Hills.

While some of the world 's most famous jewelers have made their mark in history, many local jewelers also carry on this tradition of beauty - fashioning jewelry that delights and commemorates. Whether famous globally or just well-known to a local community, artists in jewels are part of a long legacy - creating today 's jewelry for tomorrow.

Summer is a popular time for weddings. Sunny days, warm weather and a profusion of flowers provide the beautiful back drop for brides who take their vows in a church, at the beach, in a garden, or other unique setting. From the ambiance to the wedding wear to the reception, couples today wish to infuse their personalities into every detail of the day. As personalization of style also extends to the wedding jewelry, couples are giving more special thought to their wedding rings. Gone are the days of simply choosing a matching set for both the bride and groom. Instead, they are looking at everything from vintage-inspired to unique colored stones. The available ring styles include some of today 's outstanding trends which are destined to become tomorrow 's classics.

An important thing to remember is to find a style that appeals to both the man and woman and which will continue to bring joy for years to come. Perusing through magazines and jewelry stores allows a couple to define their style and narrow down their choices.

Several styles are turning the heads of couples this season:

Pave Settings
For a look that truly shimmers, pave settings make a band appear as if it 's paved in diamonds. Tiny, fully-cut diamonds are set extremely closely together, so to make the metal around them disappear. This style affords the wearers a look nothing short of luxurious without being over the top. Couples may find the look in everything from yellow gold to platinum.

Vintage Styles
For those who love a vintage look, celebrity brides are leading this trend. Several recently-engaged celebrity couples have sealed their promise to marry with vintage family heirlooms. Even if a beautiful ring from grandma 's jewelry box is not an option, vintage-inspired choices are popping up everywhere. The delicate look of vintage-inspired rings reminds us that what is old is new again during the wedding season. The most recognizable style is the Old European, but styles also come in Asscher cuts and others. For those who want to don this look, seek out styles with small scroll-like engraving; tiny, half-point diamonds, also called microset and dainty milgrain work; or raised beaded edges, as well as filigree.

Colorful Creations
For the bride who enjoys a hint of color, colored stone wedding rings are making a splash in canary yellow diamond, blue and pink sapphires, and rare light pink diamonds. Many brides choosing colored stones are also selecting a modern look, such as a tension setting. Meanwhile, colored stones are also making their appearance in four-prong classic or vintage filigreed settings. Colored stones are a great way to personalize wedding rings through a favorite color or birthstone. Brides might even opt for a setting that incorporates her and her intended 's birthstones.

Stacked Bands
Stacked bands are a huge wedding ring trend this season. Two or more bands stacked together make a dramatic and beautiful statement. One way to achieve this look is with several eternity bands worn piled one atop the other. These rings, with stones designed all around the band, garner sparkling attention when several are worn together. With this flexible and modern look, a bride may wear her engagement and wedding bands together one day, and the next day, wear the engagement ring on her right hand and wedding band on the left. Stacked bands are also a great alternative for couples who want to start a small collection. For instance, begin with one or two rings on the wedding day and add to it over the next several anniversaries.

by Ronit Scheyer

Since the beginning of recorded history, not only has humankind maintained a deep fascination with this “precious” metal, it has also sought ways to tinker with it.

Chemistry, the modern science of atoms, molecules and matter, evolved out of alchemy, the most famous goal of which was transmutation – attempting to turn base metals such as lead into silver and gold. In the interests of aesthetics and forays into hitherto uncharted areas of fashion, pure gold has been mixed with other less-precious metals to produce all different colors of gold.

Today these colors, called gold alloys, include white, brown, pink, purple, red, green, blue and even black gold, all of which have been used to make different colored gold jewelry. They can be anything from 10 karat to 18 karat gold, and changing the composition percentage of gold and the metal it’s mixed with produces different shades and hues of each color.

Gold, in its purest state, is a soft and malleable material with a warm yellow color. All gold jewelry is in actuality an alloy (24 karat gold is too soft to make jewelry from, and gold jewelry of any karat weight – 14, 18, 22 – is pure gold mixed with other metals).

Mixing gold with nickel, zinc or palladium makes white gold, which can be in 18 karat or 14 karat gold. Nickel mixed with gold produces a white or grey color, and, although palladium is a good option for those who have an allergy to nickel, it is more expensive (around $370 per ounce).

This is probably the most popular gold alloy and is useful for people who want something non-yellow and more precious than silver, but who aren’t able to afford the skyrocketing price of platinum (now hovering around $1,800 per ounce). White gold has some drawbacks, however –  in most cases, it is not truly white, but ends up with a slight yellowish tint; furthermore the white plating may eventually begin to wear, meaning higher maintenance costs over time.

Rose or pink gold is produced by mixing copper with yellow gold. Despite the assertion of some in the industry that rose gold wouldn’t take off in the U.S. because American women “do not understand it,” rose gold is slowly but surely finding its niche in the American market, as the number of designs incorporating it increases. The more copper added to the mix, the deeper the rose color will be. Rose gold can include anything from a light pink hue to a much richer, almost red color.

Gold with a slight green glow is produced from a mix of silver and gold (leaving copper out of the mix), and actually appears more greenish-yellow than its name would suggest. Amethyst, or violet gold, are names used to refer to a gold alloy with a purplish hue, which is created from a combination of gold and aluminum, while mixing gold with indium (a chemical element with similar properties to aluminum and zinc), gives gold a bluish color.

Both brown and black gold are created by a number of chemical techniques, including electro-deposition, controlled oxidation or a plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition process.

The different colors of gold may say more about the wearer than what’s on the surface. Those who opt for yellow gold may be seeking to convey messages of tradition and wealth (as well as warmth, purity, eternity and intensity).

White gold, by contrast, may be used to communicate a more modern and simple, and even youthful message. White gold has been particularly popular in the bridal industry, promoted by many who say that white metal reflects the brilliance of diamonds better than other colors. However, white gold’s status as a modern metal for the modern man or woman could be changing, as more alternatively colored gold begin to symbolize what’s hot and new.

But gold in general has not served as a particular symbol of innovation or cutting-edge design.  On the contrary, gold has always been associated with wealth, as a currency standard, with royalty, and with jewelry made from alternative metals such as palladium and titanium coming on the scene, gold has come to be a sign of tradition and familiarity.

However, the very recent advent of colored gold has given the metal a more modern side, and has helped to boost its status as a fashion forward material. While not the hottest item in town, different hues of gold are offering fashion-savvy customers something fresh, new and hip, according to The World Gold Council’s (WGC) Manager of Jewelry Public Relations and Promotion in the U.S., Duvall O’Steen. She points out that today’s buyers are “well trained by the fast-paced field of personal electronics and the large levels of consumer marketing spend. Today’s consumer is always looking for what’s new and what’s interesting.”

Just as high-tech buffs are always on the lookout for the next great gadget, fashionistas may be looking to colored gold to satisfy their craving for something cutting edge. “Colored golds offer a unique and beautiful product to meet this demand for novelty while maintaining a sense of stature and lasting beauty,” says O’Steen.

A popular shade being touted recently as a resurrected shade and even as “a new black” is brown or chocolate gold. Jewelry in brown gold permeated last year’s Basel and JCK shows, and jewelers continue to reinvent this color into new designs. Some of the most prominent to “resurrect” this earth tone have been Roberto Coin, with brown gold designs, and Mattioli’s rich chocolate gold pieces.
 
Daniel Bogue, director of Mattioli USA, explains that for the last six years or so, the general direction of fashion has been toward things white – including white gold – white-intensive, and very “diamondy.” But in the last two years, the emphasis has most definitely shifted. One of the products of this shift has been Mattioli’s brown gold, which was released in early 2007 in the form of the Cacao line – a collection of bracelets and necklaces characterized by big, open-links.

Mattioli couples brown or champagne diamonds with the brown gold, and, as Bogue explains, one of the most interesting features of brown gold is its versatility – it can be paired with other colors of gold (yellow, white, black) and worn with a number of fashions.

According to Bogue, brown gold was Mattioli’s answer to a need in the market for something new and novel – something that hadn’t been done before.  It targets a very specific segment of the market – a fashion-forward, modern woman who wants to have the latest and greatest in the world of wearable art, a connoisseur, in a way. The firm has found strong interest in its colored gold.

Rose gold, as well, has been a growing trend for the last few seasons, notes O’Steen. As fashion designers continue to embrace feminine styles, fabrics and colors, they are increasingly utilizing the feminine allure of rose gold, which, incidentally also looks good on almost every skin tone, enhancing its salability.

Italy, ever the fashion-forward nation, already has a huge market for rose gold. Bogue says that nothing in Italy is yellow any more in terms of gold – it’s all gone red.  As Roberto Coin’s North America President, Peter Webster says, “The U.S. market’s demand for rose gold is growing slowly, but not at the pace of Europe. We feel it is the most feminine color, warmer and the ‘style’ color of the year.”

In 2003, H.Stern released a brand new color “Noble Gold” – a flesh-colored metal that H.Stern’s design team spent years working to perfect. The goal was to create a new color of gold that would go well with any skin tone. According to Courtney Stursberg, coordinator of H.Stern’s Celebrity and Public Relations, it doesn’t matter whether your skin tone is fair, olive, tan or dark, Noble gold will look good on it.

Noble gold is a secret formula of metals that, when combined, generate a new color of 18 karat gold, one that, as the company says, “is neither white nor yellow but retains the elegance of the former and the warmth of the latter.”

Most of the company’s Noble gold is sold through its Cobblestone and Star collections.

Stursberg says the response from the general public has been “huge,” with customers specifically requesting pieces in Noble gold over and over again.

On the luxury end, the more alternative and cutting edge colors of blue, chocolate and black gold are making noteworthy and fashionable forays. Conversely, at the mass market level , more standard selections of yellow and white gold, or two-tone pieces incorporating both white and yellow together, are maintaining their prominence – given their high degree of flexibility in a jewelry wardrobe. 

There are also cultural considerations to take into account regarding different colors of gold. In some parts of the world, white gold carries strong associations with diamonds, prized for their brilliance and glamour, while in others, (China and India, for example), white gold is often confused with platinum, a much more expensive white-gray colored precious metal, which may or may not add to its popularity.

For holidays, romantic or feminine undertones of rose or pink gold may appeal to some for Valentine’s Day, the holiday of red hearts and love. Additional colors, including purple, green or peach gold may resonate with those looking to make a statement of individuality.

Yellow and white gold still make up the majority of gold purchased in the United States and Europe. But when it comes down to it, colored gold is slowly but surely being established as a material with which fashion-conscious consumers can find something new and unique, past the traditional yellow gold into the innovation and cutting-edge personality of blue, green, purple, brown and black gold.

By Ronit Scheyer

What do chameleon, olive green and chocolate all have in common? They are all colors in the natural fancy colored diamond hue collection. Counted among such geological cousins as the infamous Hope Diamond, with its deep and mysterious sapphire blue color and its suspiciously vicious past, and the fiery – and very large – canary-yellow Tiffany stone, these wondrous “freaks of nature” have been revered throughout history for their glow and grace.

Ring by AmgadAlthough both technically in the diamond category, natural colored and white diamonds have some key differences when it comes to moving them through the pipeline from mine to market. In terms of business, selling colored diamonds differs from selling white diamonds in a number of ways. For one thing, it is difficult to sell a colored diamond on paper. With white diamonds, a prospective buyer can look at a grading lab report and be told almost everything they need to know about a stone without seeing it – including its color, its cut, its clarity and its carat weight. A natural colored diamond, however, has one defining characteristic that can preclude buying based on what’s written on a piece of paper, or described over the phone – its color.

Therefore many sellers of colored diamonds will have high-quality and highly descriptive photos of examples of the colors of diamonds they sell, although nothing can replace looking at a stone in person. As Eden Rachminov, owner and CEO of Rachminov Diamonds 1891, a market leader in fancy color diamonds, says, “These stones definitely travel more than the whites.” By this he means that before making a sale final, many times the firm will send the colored stones to prospective buyers to ensure that the stones in question are exactly what they want to buy.

Manufacturing colored diamonds is also different from producing white diamonds and much more complicated. Polishers of fancy colored stones are specially trained for that sector, which involves taking into account elements that do not exist in white diamonds. For example, color in a fancy stone is very rarely evenly distributed throughout the stone. It may be splotchy, limited to a few main areas or concentrated on one side, making their cutting extremely difficult.

A polisher’s challenge when working with fancy colored diamonds is to cut and polish them in a way that will obtain the maximum amount of color possible from the stones – so that the light making its way through the diamonds brings out the richest color possible. A fancy colored diamond’s price is based less upon its clarity and more upon its color, making both the cut and how it brings out the stone’s color, extremely important.

Price-wise, natural fancy colored diamonds have become more valuable every year. One dealer in fancy colored stones puts the overall price increase at upwards of 15 percent per year for the last 38 years. Another says that in the next ten years, if the frend continues, the prices for yellow fancy diamonds specifically, are expected to rise at least 150 percent.

The general consensus seems to be that the prices for fancy colored stones are not rising independently, based solely on demand for them, but that they have been pulled up by the rising prices in the larger diamond market in general. Both rough and polished prices have in the very recest past gone up quite dramatically (16.1 percent from June 2007 to June 2008, according to IDEX Online Research).

Yellow diamonds, the most prevalent color, still sell for less per carat than white diamonds, mostly because they are more common than blues, pinks and reds. In addition, demand for yellow stones still falls short of that for white diamonds. This exemplifies the observation that rarity does not always equate to high price. Demand is the other deciding factor. As Shmulik Polnauer, a diamond buyer with Leibish & Co. explains, orange natural color diamonds are much rarer than blues, but demand for the former cannot compete with the same for the latter, which have fetched upwards of $1.3 million per carat at auctions.

The recent Christie’s and Sotheby’s auctions of diamonds and diamond jewelry are worth looking at. Christie’s in October auctioned a 5.07 carat regular cut fancy intense blue diamond for $2,885,700 – $570,000 per carat.

During the same month, Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong saw the sale of a 6.04 carat emerald cut IF / fancy vivid blue diamond ring for $7,981,835. The sale marked a record per carat price for Sotheby’s at $1,321,590, exceeding the previous record of $926,000 per carat for the Hancock Red, a 0.90 carat red diamond sold in 1987. A month after that, Sotheby’s sold a rare fancy vivid blue pear shaped VS1 diamond weighing 4.16 carats, framed by brilliant cut pink tinted diamonds for a total of $4.72 million, or approximately $1.134 million per carat.

In May of this year, Sotheby’s auctioned a rare 3.37 carat VVS1 pear shaped fancy vivid blue diamond, mounted in a platinum ring, for $4.961 million, or $1.33 million per carat. In the same auction, a 6.26 carat fancy light pink diamond ring went for $1.596 million, or $254,952 per carat. Also in May, Christie’s sold a 10.36 carat square shaped fancy green diamond, for $3.485 million, or $336,500 per carat – a world auction record price for a green diamond.

Gary Schuler, senior vice president and director of jewelry for Sotheby’s New York, describes the situation as “tremendous strength (in prices) and continuing interest when these diamonds are the best of the best.” Every fancy colored diamond is different, he says, but the market and its buyers are well-informed and recognize high quality. When they see diamonds that are the very best of the best coming to auction, they are going all out to obtain them, which is the key factor behind the price records.

A discussion of prices brings up another point: the market for natural colored diamonds is much less regulated than the white diamond market in terms of price. Although grading institutions have developed standards for grading colored diamonds, price-wise, there is no price list or set price for any certain color. This, argues Leibish Polnauer, president of Leibish & Co, actually benefits the jeweler, who can set the price on individual stones according to their individual colors and cuts. No two colored diamonds, even when receiving the same descriptive grade, such as fancy vivid grayish blue, even have the same hue.

The target audience for selling natural fancy colored diamonds is also very different than for white diamonds and could be described as the difference between the target audience for a mid-sized practical sedan and the hydrogen-powered car recently released by Honda, which costs more to build than a Ferrari. These stones are very rare and very highly valued. The number of white to colored diamonds in the market has been estimated at 15 to 1, and, while more white diamonds are being mined every single day, apart from browns and yellows, there are very few, if any, known sources of fancy colored diamonds that will last beyond the coming decade. (Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine, the sole source of the very rare fancy pinks, for example, is now moving underground. Its production is only expected to last for another ten years.)

Further, demand for them is continually driven by “rich people wanting to show their wealth,” Leibish Polnauer says, meaning the prices will continue to go up as more people with money are willing to pay more for them.

Sotheby’s Schuler, although silent on the details, describes the buyers of these stones as “a very broad-based group, from countries all over the world.” Sotheby’s fancy colored diamond buyers include high-net worth individuals from such international locales as Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Russia and the U.S. And, he adds, in general the buyers are men. “If you go back and look at some of the great collections that have been formed over the years,” Schuler explains, “in general the men are very much involved. Women are also involved, giving strong opinions, but it is mostly men that are acquiring the stones.”

Christie’s European Director of Jewelry Raymond Sancroft-Baker says most of their buyers for fancy colored diamonds are from “the Middle East, America and, to a certain extent, Russia.” Buyers from China and India, two very important emerging markets for the diamond industry, participate sporadically. In addition, most of the people that are buying are collectors, along with some investors.

The market for high-priced, fancy colored diamonds is growing in the same way the market for fine art is booming. These are people who have money to spend and want to spend it on something unique and special, something not everyone has or can get, Rachminov says. White diamonds, he says, have almost become blase, very ‘yesterday,’ if you will. Almost anyone can get one, but fancy colored diamonds are rarer. In general, it seems many of these people driving demand for colored diamonds are popping up in the world’s emerging markets – Russia, India and China – where not only are economies booming, but so are the numbers of millionaires. As Schuler puts it, as with the white diamond market, new demand for fancies is cropping up from the world’s emerging pockets of prosperity.

To add to this, Robert Bogel, a gemologist, manufacturer and dealer of rare diamonds, cautions that when selling colored diamonds to the trade, to a retailer or even to a private collector, “You cannot take it for granted that they know what you think they should know.” He cites an example where he and the owner of an important vivid orange diamond with strong orange fluorescence were discussing the stone. Bogel says because the owner saw the fluorescence as a negative aspect of the diamond, he was “uncomfortable” about Bogel discovering it. But Bogel says this is a common misconception – whereas in white or yellow diamonds, fluorescence can be problematic to sell, in some colored diamonds it can add to the overall effect.

“I told [the owner],” Bogel says, “that he should emphasize this phenomenon as an enhancement, not as an embarrassment. It adds an exciting aspect to the stone and is actually helpful to the color.”

Bogel brings up another technical point that describing a colored diamond by a singular color – without a modifier – does not necessarily help a retailer or dealer sell it up. A modifier is a descriptive term like ‘brownish orangy’ or ‘purplish pink’ that precedes the main color. “Many color dealers take the easy route and only want a singular color, instead of one with a modifier. It's easier to deal with and explain to a customer without having to educate them that some Earrings by Amgadmodifiers can juice up the appeal of the stone and enrich the color. Purplish reds are a perfect example of a modifier that can add vibrancy to the color red.”

“Suffice it to say,” Bogel continues, “with white diamonds you concentrate on the brilliance of the cut, but in colored diamonds you have to be sophisticated enough to realize that your choices are much more limited, and often intelligent compromises should be made…with the main influence being the color itself. ”

On the retail front, it is not just the sellers that lack technical knowledge of fancy colored diamonds, as Sean Moore, director of diamond buying with fine jeweler Borsheims explains. “Selling natural color diamonds is different than selling white diamonds as most of these customers do not know technical information about color diamonds, although,” he clarifies, “they tend to know exactly what they like.”

He continues by saying that because the information available for consumers regarding colored diamonds is unfortunately often incorrect, inconsistent or scarce, Borsheims invests time educating the consumer about buying fancy colored diamonds so they know exactly what they’re buying.

Moore explains that the average consumer seems to know about fancy color diamonds as a result of their popularity with celebrities. He also reveals that although interest and the number of purchasers is growing, “Only a small percentage of consumers are interested in purchasing fancy colored diamonds.” Most of Borsheims’ colored diamond sales are, Moore says – echoing Rachminov and Bogel – “to repeat purchasers who have already acquired white diamonds.”

But the final word on colored diamonds should rest with Bogel, who says, “The customer base who actually buys important color diamonds is usually wealthier and more sophisticated. They often already own a beautiful white and are looking for something more unique and sexy.”