April Birthstone: The Diamond
We don’t talk about birthstones every single month, but we love any opportunity to talk about our favorite gemstones. Diamonds are among our favorite gemstones. The diamond is the birthstone…
- Third generation of a family business, established in 1898.
- PriceScope Diamond Concierge Lead.
- US Distributor of Ideal-Scopes and related tools.
- Certified Senior Member, National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA).
- Associate Director and Chair of NAJA Ethics Committee.
- Appraiser, consumer consultant, and lecturer.
Last 5 articles of this author
The Modern Quest for Old Cut Diamonds
Over the past few years there has been a marked increase in the purchase of old cut style diamonds. We more and more often deal with questions from consumers who are considering both newly minted old style cuts and authentic old cut diamonds. Of course, the diamond material is hundreds of thousands of years old an...
Thin is In: A Vendor’s Dilemma
The thin jewelry trend
Fashion is often influenced by the cost of production. With precious metal prices rising to record levels we have seen fashion take to a course where thinner and lighter is "fashionable". It certainly is logical, but it is my belief we have reached and likely have passed beyond a reasonable...
60/60 or ideal cut. How do you know what to choose?
Recently, I had the opportunity to examine two very similar diamonds, one cut to near Tolkowsky ideal AGS0 specifications and one cut to near what dealers refer to as 60/60 make. 60/60 refers to 60% table, 60% depth. Diamond dealers would consider both of these cut styles as very good cutting, but the ideal spec sto...
60/60 or ideal cut. How do you know what to choose? VIEW POST
Stuck with a Problem? Has your diamond, jewelry or gemstone deal gone sour?
How did I get here and how do I get finished with it without going to my attorney?
Are you in a situation where you made a purchase, had a piece of jewelry break, a diamond chip, a stone get lost, or some other issue with a jewelry purchase or a vendor problem? Do you feel like it’s you against the entire industr...
Stuck with a Problem? Has your diamond, jewelry or gemstone deal gone sour? VIEW POST
A screening tool for all diamond grading
"Levels of Confidence"
A pre-purchase, screening tool for the consumer. An explanation tool for the appraiser.
Intended to gauge the credibility of represented color, clarity and cut grades compared to GIA or AGSL grading.
Highest Confidence: SCORE = 1
The grade will exactly match GIA/AGS 65% to 70% of the time. ...
The Modern Quest for Old Cut Diamonds
Over the past few years there has been a marked increase in the purchase of old cut style diamonds. We more and more often deal with questions from consumers who are considering both newly minted old style cuts and authentic old cut diamonds. Of course, the diamond material is hundreds of thousands of years old an...
Thin is In: A Vendor’s Dilemma
The thin jewelry trend Fashion is often influenced by the cost of production. With precious metal prices rising to record levels we have seen fashion take to a course where thinner and lighter is "fashionable". It certainly is logical, but it is my belief we have reached and likely have passed beyond a reasonable...
60/60 or ideal cut. How do you know what to choose?
Recently, I had the opportunity to examine two very similar diamonds, one cut to near Tolkowsky ideal AGS0 specifications and one cut to near what dealers refer to as 60/60 make. 60/60 refers to 60% table, 60% depth. Diamond dealers would consider both of these cut styles as very good cutting, but the ideal spec sto...
60/60 or ideal cut. How do you know what to choose? VIEW POST
Stuck with a Problem? Has your diamond, jewelry or gemstone deal gone sour?
How did I get here and how do I get finished with it without going to my attorney? Are you in a situation where you made a purchase, had a piece of jewelry break, a diamond chip, a stone get lost, or some other issue with a jewelry purchase or a vendor problem? Do you feel like it’s you against the entire industr...
Stuck with a Problem? Has your diamond, jewelry or gemstone deal gone sour? VIEW POST
A screening tool for all diamond grading
"Levels of Confidence" A pre-purchase, screening tool for the consumer. An explanation tool for the appraiser. Intended to gauge the credibility of represented color, clarity and cut grades compared to GIA or AGSL grading. Highest Confidence: SCORE = 1 The grade will exactly match GIA/AGS 65% to 70% of the time. ...
