Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Fancy Colored Diamonds


With so many stones out in the market, we mostly associate diamonds with the clear and sparkly nature that they are most known for. In fact, when determining the quality and value of a diamond, it is graded on a color scale, where less color generally equals a better quality. (of course there are other factors including cut, clarity and carat to consider as well) .

And while colorless diamonds may be the most well known, they are just one type of diamonds exist. Fancy Color diamonds are another category.  Although these color-filled diamonds are out there, they are very rare and thus usually fetch much higher prices.

Unlike the clear diamonds, colored ones are graded on a different scale. No longer does "colorless" mean better quality. The value of natural colored diamonds is determined by the vivid nature and light from the stones. The more intense color, the more valuable a stone will be.

So, what is the difference between these fancy colored diamonds and other precious gemstones such as emeralds, ruby's and saphires?  The colored diamonds contain carbon. That is the determining factor.

Here is a look at some of colors you can find in natural colored diamond.

Red Diamond: The rarest of them all. Most jewelers will never even come across these treasures in their lifetime.

Orange Diamonds: Another rare breed of diamonds. The one pictured below was worn by Halle Berry at the 2002 academy awards.
4.19 carat Orange Diamond Ring sold at Sotheby's for $2.96 million
photo credit: Sotheby's
Green Diamonds: Check out this scale that show's the varying range of green colors you can find.
Natural green color diamond
Pink Diamonds: Today, the brightest pink natural diamonds come from Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia.  There are a variety of shades but no matter what you choose, the price is going to be high for these beauties. 

Yellow Diamonds: These are slightly more common than some of the other fancy colored diamonds. 
10.12-ct Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond
http://www.gia.edu/fancycoloreddiamond-quality-factor
Blue Diamonds: Natural blue diamonds are formed by the concentration of boron in the bonding of the atoms.  Click here to see some amazing creations made with the fancy colored-diamonds.
R86 - 0.86 carat Blue Gray Marquise

We hope you enjoyed this colorful and sparkling post!


Tuesday, June 24, 2014

5 Outrageous Things Made of Gold

Check out our list of 5  OUTRAGEOUS things made of gold !

Bathtub with White Gold Tiles

Photo: Sankei | Getty Images


Brownie with Gold Leaf - $35,000

dailymail.com

Gold Casket for a Golden Funeral

thegoldencasket.com/


Million Dollar Bra- This treasure has 750 grams of 18K gold!

This bra contains over 5,000 natural colored diamonds with a total weight of 501.46 carats hand set in 750 grams of 18 karat gold.\

Golden Money Monopoly Set for $2Million


Most Expensive Board Games

Monday, March 3, 2014

Mother's Tea Set, Father's Gold Watch: Here's What To Do



Frequently asked questions at Atlanta Gold & Silver.  
As a family-owned and operated gold and silver buying business, we certainly understand and value the sentiment and memories that some jewelry may have for you. Often times, our customers tell us they feel guilty for selling the jewelry that belonged to their late mother or father. And we pride our business on trust and that trust begins the moment you walk through our door.

While we can’t decide for you whether or not you should liquidate an old jewelry collection, wipe the dust off of the old jewelry and turn that into cash, we can offer some suggestions and advice to consider when you are making the decision what to do with your old valuables.  Here we address some frequently asked questions that our customers want to know.


I have a box of jewelry from my ex-husband in my drawer, what should I do I with it? We recommend you bring it in to sell. If you are not emotionally attached to the pieces, such as your diamond engagement ring or wedding band, then get cash for the diamonds, gold and platinum and start looking ahead to a new future.
I have jewelry that I don’t wear, but I don’t need cash. Why sell?  When you get rid of the excess things in life you are able to concentrate on the true valuables. Get rid of the clutter and earn money while you do.
My ring was appraised at 2,000. Why are you only offering me $500? Based on the carat and the weight of the metal and the ring, we offer you the highest percentage around. Because we smelt our metals in our refinery, we do not have to deal with middle men. However, appraisals are meant to for retail market and for insurance reasons. If you think you can sell the piece on your own and make more money, we encourage it.
 I have a lot of 14k gold chains and rings. Can you give me an estimate on what you would offer for them? Without seeing them, we can’t make an offer. We have to test the purity of the metal and weigh the item first. However, we do offer a calculator on our website, where you can estimate the amount you have and see the total  If you have not sold jewelry before, it can be hard to estimate the scrap value you may have in your jewelry box. We invite you to bring in your jewelry with no obligation to sell it.
My mother left me a sterling silver tea set when she passed away. Should I feel guilty for selling it? No.While sterling silver tea sets may have been important to your mother, they may not be something you use. Times have changed, jewelry styles change and people change. If it is not your style, then why keep it?
 Why should we trust you? We have heard some terrible things about gold-buying places.  When the price of gold went down, the market was flooded with gold-buying businesses. Most of them did not make it because they were not giving fair prices to customers. We are a family-owned and operated gold and silver buying company in Atlanta with over 30 years of experience in the industry. We are here to stay and we want to have you as a long-term customer.
I need the money, but this necklace is the last thing of my mother I have left. I never take it off. What should I do? While we can’t tell you what to do here, we can offer some advice. This jewelry has more value to you than any amount of money will. Therefore, if possible, don’t sell this. We hate to see you regret your decision.
Do you buy silver plate?  No, we do not. Many tea sets and bowls that are marked silverplate may have value but the value is not in the metal.  We only buy sterling pieces at AGS.
To learn more about Atlanta Gold & Silver, visit our website.