Volume 1 Issue 15
September 1, 2008

Dear Friends,

As I write, I think of the events of today. There are potential storms, an uncertain political climate and an economic roller-coaster. I then realize why we have art, literature, jewelry and objet d’art. They all make us feel better and help us to forget for a brief moment in time the troubles of today.

How does one store offer “the same” diamond for much less than another? Both diamonds carry certifications guaranteeing the sameness of the diamonds. All gemological laboratories are not equal. The most prestigious certifications come from the Gemological Institute of America and the American Gem Society. These follow the strictest standards for determining the grades of diamonds. The European Gemological Laboratory is widely used in the jewelry industry as their grading is more relaxed. The International Gemological Institute is questionable, not only for a relaxed grading standard, but also for including the “appraised” value of the diamond with the certification. Private laboratories should not be considered. This is the BEST time for a consumer to buy diamonds. The internet has commoditized the prices. It is however important to understand what details most affect the price of a diamond. A knowledgeable jeweler must address these concerns.

Our British friends, Mette and Richard Bibb, surprised us with a video illustrating the usage of the clasp system:Clasp Video Many of our clients are bringing us their tired jewelry to trade or modernize for utilization into this system.

We are now proud members of the Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee. They are the guardians of ethics and integrity in our industry.

Thank you again for your patronage and friendship. We appreciate all of you.

With love,
Lornie and Rose