Pricescope Diamond Journal - News

Performance and the p3 facets, a discussion about step cut diamonds.

Karl K — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This is the beginning of a discussion on steps cuts, how they work, what they are and what to look for when buying one.

It’s a long road but one I think is well worth investigating.

I will be starting at the bottom of the diamond and working up to the table.

Two of the most common step cut diamonds are the Asscher* and the Emerald cut

These cuts are closely related and the Asscher* is also known as the Square Emerald cut.

A third is the baguette (which may outsell the others in total numbers).

I will not be discussing baguettes in detail but the p3 angle problems apply to them as well.

“Appraise the Appraiser” - Help for Consumers

Brian Gavin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dedicated to the memory of Bill “Rockdoc” Lieberum, 1948-2007.

The average consumer is often shocked to learn that only a small percentage of “independent appraisers” are unbiased and/or current on continuing education, grading systems, equipment and standards. Since there are no requirements to be a jewelry appraiser, a vast number of so-called appraisers lack the knowledge, tools or independence to satisfy a well-educated consumer.

A commitment to “smart shopping” should not end after researching your seller. If an appraisal is sought, you should appraise the appraiser with the same tenacity.

As a retailer we do not endorse any specific appraiser. Nevertheless, we took time last year to interview several accredited and respected professionals whom we consider “role models;” well-known in several sectors of the trade. We hope our questions and their diverse answers about appraisals will be helpful as a guideline for those who do their “smart shopping” globally.

- Many thanks to John Pollard for his role in producing this article

Buying Safely

Neil Beaty — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Diamonds are a difficult item to buy in the best of circumstances. For most shoppers it’s one of the most expensive purchases of their lives and it’s aggravatingly necessary to rely on the advice of salespeople who may not have your best interest at heart when they tell you that something is a fabulous deal. The Internet merchants come with their own risks of providing a credit card, waiting for delivery and the ever present possibility that you will need to make a return and collect a refund. Here are some tips on buying diamonds safely, both online and on the street.

Stuck with a Problem? Has your diamond, jewelry or gemstone deal gone sour?

David Atlas — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How to involve an expert in curing your situation before it explodes prematurely into costly and potentially fruitless litigation.

A jeweler’s guide for how to get along with Pricescope.

Neil Beaty — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Pricescope represents an amazing opportunity for jewelers who are willing to take the plunge but it’s a difficult step to take. Quite a few industry pros have asked for advice on how they can increase their presence here on Pricescope without coming across as either a fool, a blowhard, or an apologist. Hopefully this will help.

A screening tool for all diamond grading

David Atlas — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A shortcut method for consumers to know how much to trust what they are reading when they shop for a diamond. Also, a "standard" approach for appraisers to express the level of their own grading ability and self-confidence in a shorthand format.

"American Cut - The First 100 Years," by Al Gilbertson, G.G.

John Pollard — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

GIA Research Associate Al Gilbertson has written a thorough and informative book about diamond cutting in the United States between 1850 and 1960. With a special focus on American production prior to Marcel Tolkowsky’s “Diamond Design,” readers will find plenty of illuminating information…and a few surprises.

What do you mean diamonds can chip?!

Neil Beaty — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Diamonds chip. This comes as something of a surprise to a fair number of people because we’ve all been hearing that a diamond is forever for our whole lives. Chip, break, crack, call it what you will, when it happens it leads to a whole set of questions that most people never thought to ask.

Why a Two-Dimensional Cut Grading System is Passé

Peter Yantzer — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

AGSL discontinued the proportion set based DQD on March 31 of this year. Now the only available DQD is the performance based version. Requests from industry members wanting us to define Ideal proportions prompted us to write this article. Just as some people still like to talk about a fine diamond being a 60-60, so too many people like to ‘hang their hat’ on a range of proportions. Change can cause fear or anxiety and it’s just human nature to not want to lose a grading system that they were comfortable using. With today’s technology, it is less accurate, impractical and virtually impossible to try and define a set of Ideal proportions. The examples in the article convincingly demonstrate this.

Letter to the Editor of the Australian Gemmologist

Cut Group — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This journal article documents letters to the Editor exchanged between the GIA cut study team and the cut group who wrote an article in The Australian Gemmologist

The original article from Volume 23, Number 1, January – March 2007 is not reprinted here, but a similar article was posted here on this websites on-line Journal.

With kind permission of The Australian Gemmologist