The Journal · Topic
Antique Diamonds & Diamond Cuts
Old mine, old European, rose and transitional cuts — how antique diamonds are cut, graded, priced and worn, from a dealer who handles them every week.
What a 1 Carat Diamond Really Looks Like: Size, Price Jumps and Smarter Choices
What a 1 carat diamond really looks like: about 6.4 to 6.5 mm for a well-cut round, why ovals and pears look...
Read more
Can Diamonds Chip or Break? What 'Hardest Material' Really Means
Can diamonds chip or break? Why Mohs 10 hardness is not toughness, how octahedral cleavage works, where diamonds chip, why old cuts...
Read more
Diamond Shapes Guide: Oval, Cushion, Emerald, Pear and Marquise — and Their Antique Ancestors
Diamond shapes compared: oval, cushion, emerald, Asscher, pear and marquise, with face-up size, bow-tie, length-to-width ratios, durability, colour visibility and price per...
Read more
How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring? The Strange History of the Salary Rule
How much to spend on an engagement ring: the De Beers and N.W. Ayer history behind the two months' salary rule, why...
Read more
Diamond Fluorescence: Good, Bad, or Overblown?
Diamond fluorescence explained: what the blue glow is, GIA grades from None to Very Strong, what GIA research found about appearance, rare...
Read more
Salt and Pepper Diamonds: The Imperfect Stone Everyone Wants
Salt and pepper diamonds explained: what the black and white inclusions are, why the stones are popular, rose cuts and hexagons, durability...
Read more
Diamond Color Scale D to Z: Why Warm Antique Diamonds Deserve a Second Look
Diamond color scale D to Z: the five GIA colour groups, how colour is graded against master stones, how setting metal and...
Read more
Diamond Clarity Chart: FL to I3, Eye-Clean, and What Actually Matters
Diamond clarity chart from FL to I3: what each GIA grade means at 10x, the inclusion types on a report, which grades...
Read more
Bezel-Set Engagement Rings: Pros, Cons and Why They Suit Real Life
Bezel vs prong setting, honestly compared: security, snagging, the light performance myth, cleaning, resizing and cost, plus why the oldest setting in...
Read more