Believe it or not, 2013 is nearing its close and 2014 trend reports are already on the horizon. But with engagement season upon us (according to a survey conducted by prominent online wedding site The Knot in 2011, 32% of engagements take place in November and December), let’s review a few of the hottest 2013 engagement ring trends of 2013 for those who are considering popping the question this holiday season.

Kelly Clarkson’s got engaged earlier this year with a stunning fancy color yellow diamond center stone.

Color Explosion
One trend seen from home décor to fashion to jewelry is the explosion of color. While it used to be that nearly every engagement ring featured a solitaire diamond, that trend has shifted with a number of brides choosing colored gems. Fancy yellow, pink, cognac and champagne diamonds, and also gemstones like sapphire—due in part to royal trendsetter Kate Middleton—are continuing to rise in popularity.

Desiree Hartsock’s engagement ring is a diamond, platinum and 18K rose gold “Romantic Entwined Ring” set with a central cushion-cut diamond.

Mixed Metals
The color trend isn’t limited to the center stone. Designers are incorporating mixed metals into engagement rings for a unique and colorful look. While platinum is still a top choice, the mixing of different colors of gold—white, yellow, and rose—creates a look that appeals to many brides looking for something distinct and versatile.

Scarlett Johansson shows off her Art Deco-inspired engagement ring.

Vintage and Art Deco
There’s something about vintage design that captures the romance for many brides-to-be. Vintage rings have increased in popularity over the last decade, and 2013 saw a particular interest in the Art Deco period. Many appreciate the intricate detailing, and the popularity of period shows like Downton Abbey and The Great Gatsby film have continued to fuel interest in designs iconic to the era. While many men propose with current interpretations of vintage or Art Deco designs, some, like Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine, choose true vintage pieces, as when he proposed to Behati Prinsloo earlier this year with a 1930s ring.

Olivia Wilde’s engagement ring features a stunning halo design of emeralds surrounding the center diamond

Halo
While the double halo has been regaining popularity the past few years, 2013 took it up a notch.. Two tiered halo settings create the impression of an even larger center stone. The halo (or double halo) setting is often paired with a square or cushion-cut diamond, in place of the traditional round brilliant.

If you were engaged in 2013, tell us about your ring design. Does it follow one of these trends? Or do you wish one of these trends was around when you got engaged?

The post 2013 Engagement Ring Trends: Beyond the Diamond Solitaire appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Earlier this month, Pantone—the worldwide authority on color–determined its color of Spring 2014, called “dazzling blue.” As fashion and home décor designs roll out over the coming months, you will surely see lots of this rich cobalt color, and the fall auctions already have a number of “dazzling blue” pieces up for sale.

Perhaps the most dazzling of all is a 7.59 carat Fancy Vivid blue diamond, part of Sotheby’s October 7 Hong Kong auction, Celebrating 40 Years in Asia. As mentioned in an earlier blog, this special auction is also expected to sell an 118.28 carat colorless diamond for a record-setting amount.

With an expected sale price of $19 million, this blue diamond is also expected to break another record for per-carat price for any diamond. Called “The Premier Blue,” the internally flawless blue diamond is larger in size than most shirt buttons, and its size, vivid blue color, and round cut make it exceptionally rare. The round brilliant cut is rarely used in colored diamonds because it is designed to maximize brilliance and lessen the effect of color.  This stone is the largest round brilliant Fancy Vivid blue diamond ever graded by GIA. (Update: the Premier Blue diamond didn’t find a buyer)

The Premier Blue. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.

While not a blue diamond, this sapphire and diamond ring is an example of why the Kashmir sapphire with its velvety blue appearance is considered by many to be the most desired of all  gems. The 11.81 carat cushion-shaped sapphire in this white gold ring originated the Kashmir mountains, an intersection of three prominent mountain ranges between Pakistan, India and China. The gem’s exceptional appearance suggests that it came from a gem deposit that was exhausted more than 100 years ago.  The gem shows no indications of heat treatment, a common treatment to enhance color or clarity in sapphires. A natural sapphire from Kashmir of this size and quality is exceptionally rare, which is why it is expected to fetch somewhere between $1.2 and $2.0 million at Christie’s first Shanghai auction on September 26. (Update: final sale price was $1,688,389)

Sapphire and diamond ring. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images LTD. 2013.

GIA quality analysis: oval-shaped diamonds weighing from 1.02 to 0.51 carat range from D color, VVS1 to VS1 clarity.

Another important blue diamond is included in Christie’s October 15 Magnificent Jewels auction. As one of three spectacular colored diamonds featured in this sale (read more about the fancy yellow diamond) , this 3.81 carat cushion-cut Fancy Vivid blue diamond is set into a ring and expected to sell for $2.5 to $3.5 million.

A Rare Colored Diamond Ring. Image courtesy of Christie’s Images LTD. 2013.

GIA quality analysis: 3.81-carat cushion-cut diamond is fancy vivid blue, natural color, VS1 clarity (GIA report 2155517964)

While not exclusively blue, the number of sapphires in this colored stone Tiffany & Co. bracelet certainly qualifies it as “dazzling.” This unique flexible strap bracelet is decorated with a rose branch designed from emeralds and yellow sapphires set against a background of round white diamonds. It’s topped off with an “evening sky” composed of emerald-cut sapphires around a crown rose-cut diamond “moon.” The intricate design and detail work makes it a special piece, and is expected to sell between $150,000 and $200,000 at Sotheby’s September 24 auction in New York. (Update: final sale price was $173,000)

Platinum, Diamond and Colored Stone ‘Rose’ Bracelet, Tiffany & Co. Image courtesy Sotheby’s.

Do you love blue diamonds and gemstones? Are you excited to see “Dazzling Blue” take over fashion and home décor trends for next spring?

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When it comes to diamonds, most consumers tend to use the words “cut” and “shape” interchangeably.  But for diamond professionals, there is a big difference.  Diamond Shape refers to the outline of the stone (pear, oval, round, etc.).  Diamond cut refers to a stone’s facet arrangement.  So a shape can be faceted in a variety of ways, or cutting styles. The most common facet arrangement, known as the brilliant cut, is applied to many shapes. It consists of 58 facets (if a culet facet is included) or 57 facets (if the culet is pointed). There will be one octagonal table, or top flat surface of the diamond and 16 kite-shaped facets and 40 triangular shaped facets and an optional small octagonal facet at the culet.

Round Shape

The round shape is the most popular, often used as a solitaire in engagement rings, earrings, or pendants. It’s estimated that 75% of all diamonds sold are round-shaped and according to research by The Knot, 53% of engagement ring center stones are round. The cutting style known as the round brilliant has been around since the 1700’s, but has been modified over the years.  The angles we see in today’s modern round brilliant – angles that help to enhance the diamond’s fire and brilliance – were first suggested by Henry Morse of Boston in the 1860’s and later slightly enhanced by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. In 2005,  a scientific way to assess — and help cutters plan and predict — the cut quality of round brilliant cut diamonds was introduced by GIA.

Oval Shape

The oval shape has probably the longest known history, with the first mention of an oval shaped diamond occurring in 1304:  the famous Koh-I-Noor, which now resides in the Tower of London. One of the most notable oval brilliant cut diamonds is the 184 carat Victoria, which was cut in 1887. The oval brilliant was popularized and modernized in the 1960′s. Containing fire and brilliance, the oval is suggestive of the round shape but is more unique. This shape also creates an illusion that the finger is longer and slimmer. The oval can be narrow or wide, depending on personal preference.

Marquise Shape

The marquise shape was named in 1745 for the Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV of France.  The long and narrow shape, said to resemble the shape of the Marquise’s mouth,  creates an illusion that the diamond is of greater size. Symmetry is quite important with this shape, as even the slightest difference can create and uneven, imbalanced look.

Pear Shape

The pear shapes trace their history to the 1400’s, with the brilliant style being added in the 1700’s.  Pears have gently rounded shoulders and wings (the sides near the point) for an appealing outline. The point should always be directed out toward the fingers of the wearer, and the shape has a slimming effect on the hand. This shape is similar to the marquise shape, in that symmetry is extremely important.

Emerald Cut

An octagonal shaped diamond, the emerald cut was designed to highlight the qualities of emeralds. This cut is highly coveted due to its square or rectangle table-top cut and step-cut facets. The emerald cut’s smoothly beveled corners add visual appeal and provide a secure setting area for the prongs. This cut results in a more mirror-like look and requires a stone of very high quality.

Square shaped diamonds include the princess cut and quadrillion cut.  These cutting styles were created in the 1980′s and are also very popular cuts for engagement rings. The square shape creates the illusion of a larger diamond.  A princess or quadrillion cut diamond should always be set with prongs that protect the four corners–the areas most prone to chipping.

Among other square or rectangular shaped diamonds, some of the most notable cutting styles include:

The cushion cut. The brilliant style has been around since the mid-1700’s, it was the most common cut until the early 20^th century. Originally designed to retain as much weight from the original crystal as possible, this brilliant cut combines a square cut with rounded corners (much like a cushion). Antique dealers are often on the lookout for the older version of these diamonds, as their light patterns tend to be chunkier and more distinctive than modern-cut diamonds.

The radiant and barion cuts. Perfected around in the 1970’s, these create vibrant and fiery diamonds, ideal as a center-stone surrounded by smaller diamonds.

The baguette cut. Named for the French word baguette, which means “long rod,” this cut became popular during the 1920′s, an era when the Art Deco movement encouraged geometric shape and symmetrical flow. This cut is generally used for smaller side stones. They are often measured by dimensional size, rather than carat weight.

The Asscher cut.  Developed in 1902 and named after its creator, Joseph Asscher. It was also a popular cut for Art Deco jewelry. It is similar to the emerald cut, though it differs in that its facets are larger and it tends to be square rather than rectangular. Around 2002, this cut became popular again as modifications were made to the cut.

Heart Shape

The heart shape diamond can be a beautiful symbol of love and romance. A skilled cutter creates the heart shape, always keeping an eye on the heart’s balance and symmetry. This shape is ideal as a pendant and is very popular around Valentine’s Day.

Last, and by no means least, triangular shaped diamonds first made their appearance in the 1500’s. Brilliant cut versions of this shape gained popularity in the 1960’s with the appearance of a variation called Trillion. In 1978 an additional variation called the Trilliant came on the market. It was developed as a triangular version of the square-shaped radiant diamond and is sometimes considered an adventurous and provocative diamond choice.

The post How Diamonds Shape Up appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

When it’s time to buy a diamond, many people spend a lot of time educating themselves on the 4Cs of diamond quality, and then determining what the personal trade-offs between those various quality characteristics will be. Will size, or carat weight, be the main factor when purchasing? Or will it be the clarity of the stone? Diamond color almost always plays a significant role in making a diamond purchase.

While a lot of people consider diamonds as glimmering, colorless gems, some rare diamonds have magnificent color. These colored diamonds are called Fancy-Color Diamonds. Occasionally nature will get creative and produce a diamond with almost magical colors: blue, pink, deep yellows and even green hues. And sometimes man intervenes to enhance or create color. Fancy-color diamonds are highly prized, but even more so if their color is the result of natural processes

Photo courtesy of Sotheby's Hong Kong

Early this month, Sotheby’s Hong Kong auctioned diamonds with exceptional color, some extremely rare blue and pink diamonds – an 8.01-carat, vivid blue diamond ring and a 5.03-carat, pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond ring. The brilliant blue diamond ring brought the second-highest per-carat price of a blue diamond. This diamond sold for $12.7 million.

The blue diamond is one of the most rare fancy diamond colors, which is why this particular stone is so special

GIA evaluates these fancy-color diamonds less for their brightness or fire and more on the diamonds’ color intensity and hue. And evaluation is key. Many diamond retailers will have a “GIA Colored Diamond Grading Report” that accompanies the diamond. If the stone doesn’t, we recommend getting the stone graded so that the buyer knows its color grade and whether the color is natural or the result of treatment.

The post Fancy-Color Diamonds appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Shimmering with an internal fire all its own, diamond is one of the world’s most sought-after and adored gemstones. Those born in the fair month of April are lucky enough to call this scintillating stone their “birthstone,” a symbol of clarity and strength. Diamond is so strong, in fact, , that its name comes from the Greek “adamastos,” or “invincible.”

A diamond’s quality is evaluated by the 4Cs: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.

Color refers to the absence of color in a diamond. The less color in the stone, the more desirable and valuable it is.

Clarity measures the amount, size and placement of internal inclusions, and external blemishes. Grades run from Flawless, with virtually no imperfections, to Included, with a significant number of imperfections.

Cut refers to the proportion and arrangement of the diamond’s facets and the quality of workmanship. The amount of brilliance, sparkle and fire in a diamond is determined by cut.

Carat weight refers to a diamond’s weight. Most often, the higher the carat weight, the more expensive the stone.

Diamonds have remained a staple in historical and modern culture, adored by everyday girls and movie stars alike. Elizabeth Taylor’s famous book, My Love Affair with Jewelry, is filled with diamond images and memories; in December 2011, one of her larger diamonds sold for a record $11,842,500 at auction. The 50-carat stunner was sold after only four minutes of bidding. In 2006, actress Ellen Barkin’s post-divorce auction of the GIA-graded diamond gifts her husband had given her yielded very large numbers, including a diamond hair pin that went for $4,800 and a diamond solitaire “thread” ring for $1.8 million.

Other leading ladies who fancy diamonds include Queen Elizabeth of England (also born in April), who frequently decorates her outfits with diamond necklaces and other beautiful pieces of diamond jewelry. Red carpet events in the U.S. and around the world are replete with starlets donning diamonds from earrings to necklaces to surprising accessories. Actress Nicole Kidman once wore dueling diamond cuffs on each wrist, with 375 carats of diamonds on each, worth over $2,000,000 combined.

Diamond holds center stage for pop culture and historical jewelry references. Perhaps this is because the inherent strength and beauty of a diamond is unmatched. The famous phrase “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” just might ring true for you; and those born in the month of April rejoice in being gifted with a diamond stone to celebrate.

The post The April Birthstone Sparkles and Shimmers appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Diamonds are famously known for being one of the hardest substances on earth – we know you’ve heard the rumor that a real diamond can cut glass. But do you know why diamonds are so hard?

We at GIA have spent a lot of time studying diamonds – we thought it’d be fun to share a small fun fact with you about why diamonds are so hard.

The minerals that create a diamond along with their shape make them the strongest gemstone. Diamonds are made from carbon that has been under extreme pressure and heat found in depths of 87 to 120 miles of the Earth’s mantle, where they are created in during a 1-3.3 billion-year time frame. The heat and pressure causes the diamonds molecules to change so that they’re so close together, the molecules can’t move (known as covalent bonding). The closeness of these molecules forms a rigid bond, therefore making the diamond hard.

Diamonds are rated 10 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness was created in 1812 by German geologist and mineralogis Friedrich Mohs.

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