Diamond jewelry is the ultimate adornment for a woman or even a man. It is something which takes us beyond the realm of time. Diamond jewelry is a timeless classic adornment, which can never go out of style and will always be looked up amongst all kinds of jewelry.

In buying diamond jewelry it is important to keep some factors in mind. The diamond history, diamond shape (Diamonds come in more shapes than any other gem. Diamond jewelry with spectacular center pieces are available in round, emerald cut, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, radiant, and trillion. Diamonds as accents are usually found in small round shapes and baguettes. Popular earrings are usually round or princess cut, though some may come in fancier shapes),

Diamond settings (such as bar, bezel, channel, chevron, invisible, pave, and prongs), diamond carats (The unit used to measure the size and weight of loose diamonds), diamond clarity (Clarity is the clearness of a diamond. The most valued diamonds are the clearest. When shopping for a diamond, look for diamonds with grades from FL to SI2. Stones from VS1 to S2 are the best value because they are lower in price without too many inclusions.)

Diamond color (Diamonds that are colorless or near colorless are the most prized.) And diamond cut (The diamond cut determines the brilliance of the diamonds. If a diamond is poorly cut, the light is lost through the sides and bottom of the diamond and there will be no radiance)

Diamonds are more commonly found in certain shapes; baguette, emerald, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, radiant, round and trillion. The most popular diamond shape has been the round brilliant because people believed it to be an "ideal cut" that displayed the most brilliance and sparkle in a diamond. The design also allows it to hide flaws and imperfections. However, new technology has made other shapes just as brilliant, such as the princess cut and trilliant cut. Today, there is no such thing as an "ideal cut" when it comes to diamond jewelry.

In diamond jewelry, the diamonds are set in different kinds of settings. Some of these kinds of settings commonly used in diamond jewelry are-

- Bar: Metal bars hold the loose diamonds in a channel-like setting.

- Bezel: The metal is formed to fit around the diamond, cupping it into place.

- Channel: A row of small diamond stones are set in a groove in the diamond rings.

- Chevron: V-shaped prongs that usually hold a marquise or princess-cut diamond for solitaire style rings.

- Invisible: Diamond set in a groove without visible prongs.

- Pave: Tiny stones are embedded to look like the piece is paved with loose diamonds.

- Prong: Several prongs hold the diamonds to let light pass through without interference.

Though diamond jewelry is made of diamonds, which is one of strongest materials on earth, a hard blow can cause the diamond to chip. If proper care is taken then the diamond jewelry can last a lifetime. To clean diamond jewelry, use water and a little bit of ammonia with a gentle brush while being careful of the metal. Also keep it away from lotion, perspiration and other household cleaners. These items can dull the surface of the stones. Store your diamond jewelry separated with paper or bags, so they do not scratch or dull each other. It's also wise to keep the diamond jewelry in its original velvet box.

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