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Here are some previously asked questions:

Q:   How do I care for my diamond? I wear it on a daily basis and never take it off. Will the brilliance deteriorate?
-Eunice Lim, Singapore"

A:   "No, you will not affect the brilliance of the diamond by wearing it everyday. Diamonds do collect oils from fingers, lotions, cosmetics, and some surface dirt, and need regular cleaning to look their best. A cleaning solution purchased from a Jewelry store would be great, or you can clean it using some common household cleaners. Mix together one part mild dish-washing soap (in the US, I would recommend Ivory, by Procter and Gamble, but I'm not sure what you may have available), or an antibacterial-type hand soap, and 3 parts water in a container. Put your diamond jewelry in the container and let it soak for at least 15 minutes. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to gently "scrub" the diamond, especially the underside. Then rinse it off well, and let it dry on a soft cloth or paper towel. DO NOT use any cleaning solutions that may contain bleach, because chlorine can affect the metal that the diamond is set into. Although diamonds are very durable, they are not completely impervious to wear, and many mountings are not sturdy enough to withstand heavy wear-and-tear.

Q:   "What is customary—is an engagement ring modified, such as a new setting upon marriage?
-G.W., 8/4/99"

A:   "I think you may be asking whether the engagement ring is modified when you get married. Although there are no real rules (whatever is most appropriate for you), the general rule of thumb is that there are 2 rings. One is given at engagement, and often has a more prominent center stone. The woman wears this by itself until the wedding ceremony, and then a separate band-style ring is often exchanged during the ceremony. After the ceremony, the woman then wears 2 rings, usually on the same finger, with the wedding band on the inside (closest to the heart!). But this depends on the style of the rings selected. Some rings do not easily sit next to the engagement ring, and some hands are too small to carry off 2 larger rings. I have known people to wear the rings on separate hands, or to just wear 1 ring (it is worn through the engagement, then exchanged as the wedding band. Whatever is most appropriate for her finger and lifestyle would be best. Also, in order to reduce wear and turning on the finger, sometimes the 2 rings are soldered together."

Q:   "Do I need to know an exact ring size? Or can that be adjusted later?
-J.C., 7/26/99"

A:   "Usually, the ring can be adjusted to an exact finger size after it has been presented. You don't have to spoil a surprise to get the size first! There are some mountings, such as custom-made tension mountings and mountings with accent diamonds channel-set down the sides, that are difficult to size, and should be made in the correct measurement. A traditional solitaire mounting is no problem to size. So it does depend a little, but the vast majority of mountings are meant to be sized at least once. A skilled jeweler should have no problem, even with platinum."

Q:   "How many months salary is a diamond engagement ring supposed to be?
-M.G., 4/22/99"

A:   "According to De Beers, a diamond engagement ring expenditure should be equal to about 2 months salary. (Of course my very witty friends ask "Is that gross, or after taxes?). While I think that this has some value as a guideline, you will need to look at your individual needs and finances, and come up with your own ratio. This is perhaps the only purchase you will make that will last forever, so balance that with good judgement."

Q:   "A jeweler has mentioned the possibility of buying a "clarity-enhanced" diamond, where a diamond with visible inclusions is treated so that the inclusions are no longer visible to the naked eye. Is this possible and what are the ramifications of purchasing a clarity-enhanced diamond?
-T.T., Houston, 2/8/99"

A:   "There are several companies that provide clarity enhancements, and they may use slightly different methods. The end result is the generally the same: the formerly eye-visible and durability-threatening inclusions are "gone", and the diamond appears eye-clean. The most common way of doing this is fracture-filling, using a clear silicon-like substance that through a patented process hardens and fills in fractures and cavities within the stone. The best-known company to do this process is Yehuda. There is quite a bit of controversy in the Jewelry Industry regarding this treatment process, and not just from diamond purists. There is good reason to be concerned, because if the diamond is subjected to heat, the treatment can expand and actually shatter the diamond. This can be heat from a Jeweler's torch, if the ring is soldered or sized, or even a really hot Ultrasonic cleaner. Plus, long term affects of wear and tear, hard blows, and chemicals are not fully understood. Remember that this is a diamond that is structurally weaker to begin with, because of the extremely large number, size, and type of inclusions it has. Fracture-type inclusions are much more prone to breakage issues because the fractures break up the crystal lattice that makes a diamond tough. Laser-drilling is another clarity enhancement, and involves using a laser to drill tiny holes (usually through the top) to the dark carbon inclusions. The dark areas are then "bleached" using chemicals, and this dramatically improves the prominence of dark carbon and crystals. Again, there are issues with durability, visibility of the laser holes, and dirt collecting back into the holes (thereby negating the process). There is an initiative in progress right now that would require the disclosure of laser drilling to consumers. Right now it is not required to disclose this! Because of these and other, emerging issues, I would not recommend a clarity-enhanced diamond. The idea of having to be really careful with the most durable substance known to humans doesn't sit well with me. Diamonds are the symbol we use because of their purity, their beauty, and their ability to endure. If a diamond is so included, it is none of those things. As long as you have a reasonable budget, there should be a way to balance the size, color, clarity, and cut to come up with a beautiful diamond that will fit the budget you have in mind."

Q:   "I'm looking for a 3.00 carat diamond. Does idazzle.com's price list also include larger stones than the range presented on the site? And if so, how do I go about finding the price range for that stone?
-A.C., 12/98"

A:   "Our price database includes diamonds up to 2.50 carats, but over that weight, it becomes harder to standardize prices. At this size range, hypothetical prices must be compared against actual, available diamonds. For requests that are larger than 2.50 carats (the largest size in our price database), or for more unusual diamonds, I will research a realistic retail price range, as well as the approximate idazzle.com price range. Then, when you are ready to see actual diamonds, I would be happy to have an idazzle.com Authorized Jeweler contact you with information on specific diamonds that come as close to your request as possible."

Q:   "I recently came across a 3 carat canary diamond. It is an estate piece handed down from my Great Aunt. I am considering selling it and the jeweler wants a considerable amount to sell the stone. I am wondering what would be a fair consignment price to the jeweler. Do you think I should auction it? If so what auctioneer would you recommend? Thank you."

A:   "Sometimes it is necessary to make a consignment agreement to sell a piece of jewelry. Because of the value of this diamond, the Jeweler who has offered to sell it will collects a fee or percentage that is going to sound steep. To be fair to the Jeweler, they will definitely earn their fee. It will take the right client, the right timing, and skillful selling to a collector of these types of gems. Bottom line, you probably don't have the connections to sell this on your own, and paying them a percentage of anything is better than not collecting any money at all! Regarding auctions, this is not my area of expertise, but I will say that the best places to consider are Sotheby's, Christies, and on-line auctions such as eBay. You must be careful to set a reserve price that is the lowest amount you would consider receiving for the diamond. Remember that the auction houses collect a sizable fee for their services, as well. Of course, another option is to keep the diamond, and wear it. Because of the family history, and the beauty of the fancy yellow, you could enjoy the gem, then continue the tradition of handing it down."