The Pearl

Model Number: FPJ0154Description:QTY   STONES
4       0.070 Ct — 2.20 MM
         SI1-2 G-I Princess Diamond
8       0.033 Ct — 1.60 MM
         SI1-2 G-I Princess Diamond
8       0.060 Ct — 1.90 MM
         SI1-2 G-I Princess Diamond14K WhiteItem # S61371

To purchase or view this 1 Ct Anniversary Bandvisit:

http://www.fpjewelers.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=226_227_228&products_id=7404

Model Number: FPJ0145Description:QTY   STONES
5      .20 Ct - 03.80 MM Full Cut
        SI2/I1 ROUND FACETED GHI GENUINE
        DIAMONDS14K WhiteITEM # 60221

To purchase or view this 0.52 Ct Anniversary Band visit:

http://www.fpjewelers.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=226_227_228&products_id=7399

Model Number: FPJ0145Description:QTY   STONES
5      .20 Ct - 03.80 MM Full Cut
        SI2/I1 ROUND FACETED GHI GENUINE
        DIAMONDS14K WhiteITEM # 60221

To purchase or view this 0.52 Ct Anniversary Band visit:

http://www.fpjewelers.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=226_227_228&products_id=7399

 Model Number: FPJ0205 Description:QTY   STONES
42     01.50 MM Princess
         SI SQUARE PRINCESS GHI GENUINE
         DIAMONDPlatinumItem # S62222SIZE 7 

To purchase or view this 1 Ct Diamond Anniversary Band  visit:

http://www.fpjewelers.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=226_227_230&products_id=7458

A rich, velvety blue or violet with flashes of red, like lightening in an evening sky. Ever since tanzanite was first discovered in the early 1960s, this exotic gemstone has tantalized us with its incredibly beautiful colors.  To help you make a wise decision in your next tanzanite purchase,  I offer the following answers to the most frequently asked questions about this wonderful gemstone.

Some exceptional sapphires and rubies display a six-rayed star,  a phenomenon known to gemstone connoisseurs as “asterism.”  This star-like effect is created by thousands of needle-like inclusions crisscrossing the crystalline structure of the gem.  Star sapphires and rubies are usually cut as polished domes  ( en cabochon )  to showcase the star-like effect. Star sapphires were a great favorite among the movie stars of the 1920’s and 1930’s.  Silent-film actress Mary Pickford treasured a 182-carat star sapphire,  the Star of Bombay,  given to her by her husband Douglas Fairbanks, Sr.  She later donated this beautiful blue-violet gem to the Smithsonian’s Museum of

Uncut diamonds so closely resemble pebbles that most people would pass them by without a glance.  Only a skilled diamond cutter can unlock the fiery and brilliant beauty of this rare gem.  The diamond cutter cannot afford to make mistakes;  not only at risk is the diamond itself,  but also the several hours to months of work required to mine,  examine,  cut and polish each stone.  On the average,  each rough diamond crystal loses 50% of its original weight during this time-consuming process.Since the diamond’s beauty depends on the way it reflects light,  the cutter must shape the stone in such a way as to allow light to enter through the top,  bounce around the inside and return out the top again.  Proper cutting results in a maximum amount of light reflected so that the diamond sparkles with fire (spectral colors),  brilliance (white light),  and scintillation (sparkling effect). Improper cutting can affect not only a gemstone’s beauty,  but also its durability.  Unfortunately,  most diamonds on today’s market are cut with a spread table (the large,  octagonal-shaped facet on the top of the stone).  This results in a stone that displays more brilliant white light but less fire and scintillation.  Also, such stones look bigger than their actual weight due to a shallow total depth,  which may be hidden in the mounting.  Diamonds with spread tables offer “more flash for less cash” because they look bigger,  are more brilliant and cost less.  Be aware that these stones actually weigh less than they look and are more susceptible to chipping and damage. Another cutting mistake to avoid is an extremely thin girdle,  as this area is especially susceptible to chipping.  Think of the girdle as the waist or diameter of the stone.  This area is the most exposed region of the stone and thus more likely to receive abuse as your hand hits a hard surface. Another section of the stone to consider is the pavilion.  This is the bottom region which is buried within the prongs of the setting.  Although this area receives minimal abuse,  its cut can drastically affect the beauty of the stone.  Deep pavilions result in a stone that is quite dark,  while shadow pavilions produce a watery or dead appearance.  Both of these problems are the result of “unplanned light leakage” - whereby light entering the stone does not bounce around and exit through the top,  but instead,  leaks out through the bottom of the stonme. How can you compare the cut of diamonds and understand its affect on value?  There is a specific set of standards to which diamonds should be cut;  these “Ideal Proportions” best display a diamond’s optical features and durability.  The jewelry store you visit should discuss the cut on either the GIA (Gemological Institute of

When shopping for diamonds,  remember to compare all of the four C’s - Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight.  You should add a fifth “C” to the list - Confidence in your jeweler.  Choose a jeweler or gemologist who will explain each of the four C’s to you and how these factors affect a diamond’s beauty and value.  Also, be wary of “discount” or “bargain” diamonds  -  they may be a poor trade-off between quality and cost!

Would the Mona Lisa be as captivating without her smile?  Does Beethoven’s Ninth sound as majestic when played on a kazoo?  Or more practically,  would you pay full price for a set of retread tires?  The increasing number of fracture-filled diamonds being offered by jewelry retailers has raised similar questions for the jewelry consumer. Fracture-filling (a.k.a. “clarity enhancement” and,  less kindly,  “diamond retreading”) is a legitimate process by which disfigured diamonds are made to appear whole.  During fracture filling,  the blemishes and fractures in a damaged diamond are filled with a glass-like paste which shares the same optical properties and color as the host diamond.  When finished,  the imperfections of the fractured-filled diamond are invisible to an untrained eye and the visual appearance of the diamond is greatly improved.  In fact,  the presence of the fracture-filling paste often can only be detected using gemological instruments. If fully disclosed to the consumer,  fracture filling is an acceptable treatment for damaged gemstones.  However,  problems arise when the value of a fracture-filled diamond is misrepresented or the impermanence of the fracture-filling paste is not fully disclosed to the consumer.  Remember,  fracture-filled diamonds are “repaired” diamonds and should cost significantly less than untreated diamonds with the same weight,  color and clarity. In my next column I will further discuss the uses,  abuses and short-comings of the fracture-filling process.  Until then,  you should protect yourself against treated or misrepresented diamonds by always observing the following two rules: 1.   When purchasing a diamond or precious colored gemstone,  obtain an independent gemological appraisal to assure that the gemstone’s quality and value have been accurately represented. 2.   Require the seller to state in writing whether the diamond has been fracture-filled or otherwise treated.  Any such treatments should be fully described and their limitations disclosed.  

Mention of the White Mountains brings to mind the relaxing elegance of the Mount Washington Hotel, a challenging hike up to Arethusa Falls (New Hampshire’s highest waterfall), and the majestic rise of the cliffs at Frankonia Notch.   But the lore of