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BIG Diamond Rings

Written by Kathy Jones On December 30, 2020.

Have you ever wondered about a ring you saw, but thought it may be too big for you to wear? Since we all have individual tastes, in every area, who’s to say? Some people are concerned by other’s opinions, and then there are many who really are not concerned by what others may think. I do not know where you may fit in those categories, but, let’s take a moment to consider this and look at some beautiful Big Diamond Rings!

There are many people who love jewelry. They may love all kinds, colors, styles, and sizes! Jewelry is such an individual opinion, like everything else!  While some only like little or occasional jewelry, there are those, like me, who love to wear lots, all the time. Depending on your finger and hand size, those factors may help you decide on the size and quantity of rings you may wear.

With the changing of styles, it does seem more acceptable to wear multiple rings on more than just one finger per hand. And if you do this, you definitely have lots of choices to enjoy!

We often mention the custom work we do to make unique and special jewelry for our customer’s taste and style. Every ring in this article has been produced by Royal Diadem Jewelers for our customers over the years. Many contain family diamonds used in making a new ring to be enjoyed in a new style, but keeping the sweet memories from the past.

Using family diamonds, this ring was made as an engagement ring, and the special detail using the bride-to-be initials created a truly one of a kind family piece.

So, as you can see, since we all enjoy different styles and shapes, we can make whatever you would like that is good for your taste. And even if you do not WEAR a big ring, I hope you enjoy seeing them on others. 

What is Tantalum?

Written by Kathy Jones On May 1, 2020.

Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion-resistant.

Sea blue cerakote sleeve, just one of many colors to choose from for your own special band

It has many uses, such as in the electronics industry for capacitors and high power resistors. It is also used to make alloys to increase strength, ductility and corrosion resistance. The metal is used in dental and surgical instruments and implants, as it causes no immune response.

A fun fact about this metal – it was previously known as tantalium, and it is named after Tantalus, a villain from Greek mythology.

It’s mainly found in in Australia, Brazil, Mozambique, Thailand, Portugal, Nigeria, Zaire and Canada.

Hammer finish with Red heart wood sleeve

When mentioning that a certain metal causes no immune response, using it for jewelry is a great benefit to those who have concerns. Because it does not react to most chemicals, Tantalum is hypoallergenic. When a piece of jewelry is considered hypoallergenic this means that you can expect to wear and enjoy your jewelry with little to no reactions, even for many who experience reactions to most jewelry. Tantalum, like gold, is highly malleable and can be resized as needed. It can even be cut in an emergency.

The weight of Tantalum is similar to platinum and the color will not fade or change over time. Even though the metal will show wear over time, it can take daily wear without cracking and breaking.

TheTantalum is an element found on the periodic table

Looking for a metal with a gray tone? Try designing your band in Tantalum with an inside sleeve of Damascus steel, from Lashbrook designs.

The great variety of options with Tantalum is one of the advantages of working with Diadem Jewelers. As we work with Lashbrook, we are able to design your own look with your own choices of metal and colors, so your Tantalum ring is truly unique.

All Tantalum rings in this blog were designed from the Lashbrook website, and we can do this for you while here in the store. You can also enjoy your designing at home, if you would like to try that, and then let us know what help we can be for you.

Distressed finish with Antler sleeve on this band a hunter may enjoy
Marble Damascus steel sleeve, just one of several choices available

Tantalum band with diamonds for that special one-of-a-kind, just for you look
Tightweave Damascus steel sleeve on this Tanalum band

,.. opened a can of worms

Written by Sterling VanDerwerker">Sterling VanDerwerker On March 19, 2020.
Ideal Cut Diamond image from AGS labs

Since i opened a proverbial can of worms yesterday,.. this is what an “Ideal Cut Diamond” is according to American Gem Society Laboratory standards:

all of the following content is directly from the AGS resources, as a Certified Gemologist Appraiser, AGS I am happy to refer you to the “customer” side of the site: https://www.americangemsociety.org/page/agsdiamondgrading

“The AGS 0–10 grading scale is easy to understand: the highest possible grade is zero, and the lowest is 10. Easy, huh?
So, a diamond with a color grade of 3 has less color than a diamond with a color grade of 5. Diamonds having less color are rarer; therefore, they may cost more. When writing the grades of a diamond using the AGS Scale, diamond Cut grade is first, then diamond Color, Clarity, then Carat Weight—in that order. If a diamond possessing the finest diamond Cut grade is also colorless, free of inclusions and blemishes, and weighs one carat, it would be written as: 0/0/0–1.000 carat. “

“Keep in mind that a well-cut diamond will have more life and sparkle than one with a lesser cut quality. Not only will an AGS Ideal cut diamond have more sparkle, but it can even appear to have a better face-up color or clarity! And, if you compare a well-cut small diamond side by side with a slightly larger diamond of lesser cut quality, the smaller diamond may look larger to the naked eye. Overall, it’s important to have your diamonds graded by a credentialed expert or a reputable diamond grading laboratory such as American Gem Society Laboratories. You need a certified appraiser that truly understands the Ideal diamond cut. “

The Science of Scintillation™ Scintillation Metrics and Maps
Scintillation is sparkle. Scintillation is the play of white and colored flashes of light seen when the diamond is viewed in motion. Viewable with the naked eye, scintillation is the life of the diamond. The two dynamic aspects of sparkle are called flash scintillation and fire scintillation.

The diamond’s SPARKLE (flashes of white light)
The Diamond’s FIRE (refracted white light yields spectral color)
Performance Mapping (balanced symmetry)

An example of an AGS IDEAL CUT Certificate

Look for AGS jewelers to find reputable AGS member stores, and remember to ask for an American Gem Society Laboratory graded diamond.

China Syndrome?

Written by Sterling VanDerwerker">Sterling VanDerwerker On March 18, 2020.

“there is a “Slow Train Coming “

Is the American Marketplace finally going to resist the cheap labor of China in favor of dependable hard working innovative american labor? I believe that this Corona Virus 19 quarantine will drive many American Businesses to shun Cheap Chinese Communist Labor ( CCCL ) in favor of Bring Home American Work.


Cheap Chinese Communist Labor ( CCCL ) CVD Synthetic Diamond Farm

I noticed an email broadcast today from one of my long time favorite AGS Ideal Cut diamond vendors headquartered in Arizona. The proprietor (left anonymous due to security concerns,.. after all he or she (H/S) travels to buy diamonds :-O ) hand picks the finest cut diamonds available two to three times each year in the international diamond markets, here at home and abroad. H/S has solid long time friendships in the world diamond market and offers small businesses like Royal Diadem Jewelers, LLC superb quality and fair prices for natural diamonds. They re-posted some very good facts about the Natural Diamond marketplace,… “We support arsenal miners and diggers and the good that diamonds do in their countries. We only offer Natural stones and don’t recommend or sell LGDs.

On the other hand (ironic during toilet paper hoarding 😉 the current state of the diamond market is falling in love with CHEAP CVD & HPHT synthetic Diamonds,.. with gobs of it coming from,…. drumroll please…. CHINA.

HPHT Diamond Press installation in China

Personally,.. the “MADE IN AMERICA” slogan rings TRUE in light of the current day small business challenges exacerbated by Big Business doing business with China. So,. go ahead blame me for directing your attention to the natural diamond marketplace and the people who are working to feed their families from work producing “Natural Diamonds”:


Poor Diggers in Angola

Natural Diamonds, the life blood of poor workers trying to feed their families face increased competition from Chinese synthetics !

Woman Diggers in Africa
Women Diamond Polishers in Botswana

Diamonds = Survival

Diamonds give back to poor communities:
Diamond Empowerment Fund School, Botswana

This is not a sob story. These are hard working people who love to work and have an opportunity to do so when most of their peers CANNOT WORK! Their countries have their own problems, yes, but not significant when considering the relationship we have with China. I’m not asking for a boycott, sullying the name of synthetics or that type of nonsense… but I am asking that customers consider the origin and the business model of the Genesis (yes biblical references made here often) of the materials used to make a lovely piece of jewelry locally.

Our store is a dinosaur when it comes to “old fashioned Christian ethics”, but our business practices are accomplished in real world, real time market places with real consumers. We participate in world class education and world class technology in the design and manufacturing of our jewelry to meet the customers needs.

So what is the issue? Glad you are still reading… Its all about American consumption and American production. Lets think a little more as a business person who supports American businesses, American Production of Materials and finished goods and the American consumer who we serve.

Yes! SERVE. After all,… “you’re gonna have to serve somebody,.. it might be the devil, it might be the Lord, but you gonna have to serve somebody”. And I bet Bob Dylan would agree:

You might be a rock ’n’ roll addict prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You may be a businessman or some high-degree thief
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody

http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/gotta-serve-somebody/

Bring the labor back home.

Sterling VanDerwerker CGA (American Gem Society) GG (GIA)

Lapis Lazuli: BIG BLUE!

Written by Sterling VanDerwerker">Sterling VanDerwerker On March 17, 2020.

One of the oldest gemstones known is the BIG BLUE Lapis. It has a broad and long history in jewelry and remains a staple, rich, inviting gemstone. Reasonably priced and fashioned, carved and set in any metal. Lapis is a wonderful choice for a fashion staple in any person’s jewelry box.

fine lapis… from the GIA education resources

“The fascination of deep blue matrix speckled with golden colored pyrite flecks of lapis lazuli goes back several millennia, almost to the beginning of all civilizations. So much so, that the majority of Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian jewelry contained lapis lazuli and it was sourced all the way from Middle Asia, today’s Afghanistan. The trade is well known between these geographies, yet why and how will always remain as unanswered questions because it all started before any written reference could be created. Pigments and dyes were important commodities as everything was derived from natural sources until the industrial revolution. Most dyes were plantbased while pigments were mostly from minerals such as hematite, malachite and, of course, lapis lazuli. Until the production of synthetic dyes, deep blue pigment, aka, ultramarine, from lapis was worth as gold. Today, lapis lazuli is mostly regarded as a gem material and utilized at almost all level of jewelry market from high end to inexpensive beads. Large boulders are popular display pieces and its tough but not so hard structure makes it an attractive carving material. Lapis lazuli is mostly known to be from Afghanistan but also found in Russia, Chile, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Colorado, USA. As mentioned above, Afghan material is the oldest known. Russian lapis has been used in Faberge eggs historically and still in production. Chilean lapis is also known to be used in indigenous artefacts of the region and was part of the ancient trade.” (From Gemworld International this month )

Lapis lazuli is a rock, which means it’s an aggregate of several minerals. This ancient gem contains three minerals in varying amounts: lazurite, calcite, and pyrite. Sometimes, it also contains one or more of the following: diopside, amphibole, feldspar, and mica.
https://www.gia.edu/lapis-lazuli-description-v1

“Afghanistan is the world’s major source of lapis lazuli as well as the major source of the gem’s best color.” – Dr. Edward J. Gubelin
https://www.gemguide.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/2020GemFocus-M