diamond Archives | Designers and Diamonds

Eye Candy: Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings!

June 19, 2013 10:53 am , 1 Comment , Raymond Lee Jewelers

Yesterday’s profile on fancy yellow diamonds got us craving more canary. Luckily, we’re feasting our eyes & bling loving hearts today on some of the most fabulous engagement ring eye candy we’ve devoured in quite some time. Today is all yellow diamond engagement rings, all the way. Besides the yellow diamond celebrity engagement rings we mentioned yesterday, women who love a yellow diamond engagement ring crave something different, something opulent, and something warm. Rare, breathtaking and absolutely captivating, a fancy yellow diamond is a prized possession, and today we’re giving you5 glorious options to rock on your finger!

First up, this stunning 2.02 carat oval. Its soft, buttery richness is amplified by a warm gold bezel setting, while its bling factor is boosted by a cut cornered halo of white diamond pave. A micropave split shank gives this ring major presence on your finger, and even the gallery boasts a little micropave, adding another .63 carats of diamonds.

This ring takes the same setting, but loses any negative space by putting a larger diamond in the middle, and this one is cushion cut for our modern brides. The grand total for yellow diamonds on this ring: 2.62cts, while the white diamond total jumps to 1.20ctw.

This fancy yellow, another cushion cut, takes on a decidedly more radiant shape. Its yellow gold bezel is cut cornered like a radiant would be, but the cushion cut suits the diamond better and lets all 2.26cts of it shine. We love the rounded corners on the micropave frame, and rows of micropave on the thick shank, adding .87ctw of white diamonds.

We’re smitten witht his two tone vintage inspired fancy yellow engagement ring. This is one of the most unique settings we’ve ever seen, thanks to its two-tone, carved and diamond studded gallery and its play on traditional engagement ring elements. Let’s start with the center stone, a 1.71ct cushion cut fancy yellow set snugly into yellow gold. Its “halo” is a radiant shaped white gold border with round white diamonds embedded, a play on the micropave and pave above. The shoulders, where you’d at first glance see half moons, trapezoids or trillions, are in fact several light fancy yellow round brilliants set into formation. And again – this gallery is unlike any we’ve seen recently. You get a bonus pic:

Last, but by no means least, may we present one of our favorite things: a big, huge yellow diamond.

Ah, an 8.02 ct light fancy yellow in all its glory. The internal characteristics on this giant rock earn it an SI3 in clarity (which would render a colorless diamond practically industrial grade). However the yellow tint of this diamond masks some and gives the visible inclusions an antique feel, almost like mercury glass. This old fashioned vibe is played up by a gorgeous frame of white diamond pave that almost reminds us of a Victorian locket. The triple split shank also boasts some pave, making this ring sparkly from every angle.

Posted in: Diamonds, engagement ring Boca Raton, Engagement Ring Eye Candy, engagement rings, wedding rings, Wedding Wednesday, Weddings , Tagged: Bezel setting, Colored gold, diamond, Diamond cut, EngagementRing, fancy yellow engagement ring, Jewelry, yellow diamond, yellow diamond engagement rings, yellow diamonds

What Makes A Fancy Yellow Diamond So Fancy?

June 18, 2013 5:31 pm , Leave a Comment , Lizrlj

Only one diamond of every 10,000 is not colorless. If additional trace elements and distortions were introduced to interact with the carbon atoms during the diamond’s formation, some lovely shades of color occur. They are called fancy color diamonds.

A fancy yellow diamond, sometimes called a canary diamond is one such gemstone. A yellow diamond occurs in nature when nitrogen molecules combine with carbon atoms and absorb blue light. They have been unearthed in the rough mainly in Australia and South Africa. Some have been found in Russia. The largest and most famous ones were discovered in South Africa.

Tiffany diamond in Schlumberger Bird on a Rock setting

The Tiffany Diamond in its ‘Bird on a Rock’ setting. The 128.54 carat diamond is now set in a necklace.

The most well-known yellow diamond is the Tiffany Diamond, mined in 1877 and famously set in Schlumberger’s ribbon necklace for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, his “Bird on a Rock” brooch, and now a diamond necklace to commemorate Tiffany’s 175th anniversary.

The Four “Cs” and Shape

fancy yellow diamonds, canary diamond engagement ring, yellow diamonds

A diamond is graded by using the four “Cs” known as cut, color, clarity and carat and then by shape. The depth and intensity of color is what matters most in a yellow diamond. They are ranked in an order of intensity that ranges from fancy light yellow to fancy vivid yellow.

Carat weight is the next most important factor that impacts the price of a yellow diamond. It is rarer to find larger yellow diamonds than smaller ones; therefore the larger the more valuable. Clarity is not as important as it is in colorless ones. That’s because the diamond’s color distracts from its inclusions. Yellow diamonds are cut to emphasize color while colorless ones are cut to bring out their brilliant sparkle.

Different from cut, shape refers to the outline of the diamond while looking down at it. Fancy yellow diamonds are often cut in less traditional shapes to emphasize their color.

Yellow Diamonds and Celebrities

Carrie Underwood engagement ring with a fancy yellow diamond center

Yellow diamonds seem to be highly preferred among celebs. Former American Idol stars Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood both have gorgeous yellow diamond engagement rings.

Rebecca Romin has a fancy yellow diamond engagement ring

Heidi Klum wore a 10-carat one during her marriage to Seal. Actress and model Rebecca Romijn sports a 6 carat yellow diamond engagement ring on her left ring finger.

Posted in: buy diamonds, Celebrities, Celebrity Fashion, Diamond Tuesday, Diamonds, engagement ring Boca Raton, engagement rings, Hollywood Stars, jewelry boca raton, Raymond Lee Jewelers , Tagged: canary diamond, Carrie Underwood, diamond, EngagementRing, fancy yellow diamond, Heidi Klum, Rebecca Romijn, yellow diamond, yellow diamond engagement ring

Snake Charmers: Boucheron Serpent Boheme

June 18, 2013 10:01 am , Leave a Comment , Raymond Lee Jewelers

All that slithers is not gold. It is also, occasionally, diamonds, as it turns out–at least in the (jewelry) case of Boucheron’s latest collection, the fabulously named Serpent Boheme. The luxe line–launched last month to a spellbound crowd of admirers in the Far East–features a sophisticated, glittering assortment of necklaces, bracelets, rings, brooches and earrings. The stunning collection is unexpectedly charming, as serpents go: an enchanting celebration of the brand’s reptilian roots.

Serpent Boheme Ring in yellow gold, Boucheron jewelry Boca Raton

The iconic Boucheron serpent dates back to 1888 when Frederic Boucheron created the brand’s inaugural serpentine masterpiece in honor of his beloved wife. In the 125 year since, the snake has appeared in several different Boucheron incarnations, always as a symbol of protection and eternity consistent with the designer’s long-ago intentions. The new Serpent Boheme collection takes its inspiration from pieces throughout the line’s history–such as the “scaly” diamond-studded rings popularized in 1968–but with a modern spin. At once delicate and sculptural, Serpent Boheme bangles and baubles show off the glamorous contrast between yellow gold and white diamonds.

serpent jewelry, snake jewelry boucheron serpent boheme, pre owned boucheron

Serpent Boheme white gold bangle bracelet

The Serpent Boheme collection made its dramatic debut in mid-May at a festive luncheon in Singapore. The famed Au Petit Salut restaurant dressed for the occasion, resplendently bedecked in accordance with the jewelry’s high-drama gold and white theme. Samples from the line were elegantly displayed alongside museum pieces from the original collection, while Boho-chic models circulated among the wearable wares. A veritable “who’s who” of Singapore society, the delighted attendees were given the unique opportunity to try on the dazzling pieces at the end of the evening.

Small yellow gold ear clips

From red carpets to the runway, fierce and fanged snakes have been turning up almost everywhere except on a plane. With the Serpent Boheme collection, Boucheron proffers an entirely original departure from convention; anything but menacing, these sweet pieces offer a tempting twist on a familiar fiend.

Posted in: Designer Jewelery, Jewelry Business, Jewelry Trends, pre-owned jewelry, Raymond Lee Jewelers , Tagged: Boucheron, diamond, Jewellery, Jewelry, secondhand Boucheron, Serpent Boheme, serpent jewelry, snake jewelry, year of the snake

Engagement Ring Eye Candy: Important Diamond Rings

May 29, 2013 1:29 pm , 3 Comments , Raymond Lee Jewelers

Last week we showed off rocks – diamonds with beautiful color and clarity that command attention. Today we’re taking it the next level with some jaw-dropping important diamond rings. An important diamond is one that has an uncommonly excellent grade for its cut, color, clarity and/or is a rare (large) size. Today, we’ve got 4 important diamonds we can’t stop fawning over. We’ve been stocking up our showcases for Vegas, and our diamond buying binge has us well-suited in the bridal department. Luckily, it’s Wedding Wednesday, giving us the perfect opportunity to show off engagement rings Boca Raton swoons for with big, icy, sparkling diamonds.

Let’s jump in with both feet, shall we? This stunning round brilliant weighs in at 4.01 carats and is GIA certified with a nice clarity grade of SI2. The color is N, so this stone is a perfect example of creating a serious impact with a budget in mind. Want a huge ring (like this sparkler?) Then your best bet is sticking with a strong cut grade (this one is Very Good) and playing with the color spectrum and clarity grades. You’ll still need a loupe and a trained eye to spot any of this ring’s inclusions, and N is still on the colorless diamond spectrum, so you end up paying $36,995 for this ring, whereas this 5 carat marquise, also SI2 but with a K color grade is $59,995. Both big, both beautiful, but one is $23k less.

We’re obsessed with this radiant cut stone. It too is a 4.01 carat diamond accented with an additional 1 carat of white diamonds. It’s a K color, VS1 Gia certified stone that’s certifiably gorgeous. Mounted in yellow gold, this ring is a bold statement piece with invisibly set princess cuts stacked on the shank.

When a client comes in wanting to sell a designer engagement ring it’s always exciting. Tacori is one of our favorite engagement ring designer, thanks to their infinite attention to detail – check out the milgrain border on the shank’s diamonds. But this ring is relatively understated and in a very good way. The center stone is a bright, lovely I/J with an I2 clarity grade. It sparkles with so much fire it’s scintillating just sitting in the showcase – imagine the show it’ll put on once you’re wearing it!

We’ve saved our favorite (this week) for last. It doesn’t get much more magical than this 2.33 carat VVS2, K colored radiant cut center stone. It’s bright, it’s sparkly, and it’s so clean you could eat off of it. Add two trillion cut diamonds on both sides weighing .60 carats each and you’ve got a seriously unique, seriously beautiful engagement ring.

Posted in: engagement ring Boca Raton, Engagement Ring Eye Candy, engagement rings, Wedding Wednesday, Weddings , Tagged: Boca Raton Florida, Brilliant (diamond cut), diamond, Diamond clarity, engagement rings Boca Raton, EngagementRing, Jewelry, Tacori, Tacori engagement rings, Tacori ring Boca, wedding wednesday

A Diamond Encrusted Blackberry Q10 for $31k

May 28, 2013 5:45 pm , Leave a Comment , Raymond Lee Jewelers

We write a lot of stories about a $200,000 this or a $76,000 that. Here you’ll read about $30,000 purses and $100,000 watches. So why should anyone care about a $31,000 diamond encrusted smartphone? Because it’s a…well,…it’s a Blackberry.

I’m not talking Android or iOS, or even a Window phone. I’m talking Blackberry. This particular Blackberry Q10 from Alexander Amosu is encased in about 700 diamonds with a total weight of about 4.7 carats. The diamonds are set in a case that is also created out of 18k white gold. White gold not your style? There are apparently options for lovers of yellow gold, rose and even silver and platinum. Sorry, we haven’t heard any reports of a sterling version for those on a budget.

If you are still into getting a Blackberry, there are reportedly only 25 of these editions being made. But come to think of it, this may outpace the regular production of the phone. Ok, so it’s not quite that bad, but if you’re interested, by the end of this year, experts predict 1.4 billion smartphones will be in use. Here’s how the 1.4 billion break down:

798 million Androids
294 Apple iOS phones
45 million Windows phones
20 million Blackberry 10 phones

This has Blackberry at less than 2% of the smartphone market. So maybe the story isn’t that there is $31,000 smartphone available in 18k white gold and diamonds. The story is that such a phone was created as a Blackberry. Then again, we understand the government uses a lot of Blackberry phones. Maybe someone knows something about Blackberry that we don’t. What do you think?