Gemstone Polish | Gemstone Education

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Education
FAQ
About

Diamonds, Gems & Engagement Rings Education Center

FAQ

+ - Are any of your diamonds laser treated or modified in any way?
JamesAllen only sells diamonds that are 100% natural and untreated. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society Laboratory (AGSL), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) will not issue grading reports on diamonds that have been treated or enhanced, so purchasing our diamonds - which are GIA, AGS or IGI certified - is another guarantee that your diamond is natural.
+ - What are conflict-free diamonds?
Conflict-free diamonds are gems that were not obtained due to human rights abuses, child labor, violence, or environmental degradation. At James Allen, we make sure that our customers receive conflict-free diamonds. Our internal guidelines exceed government requirements. When you shop at James Allen, you can be certain that your diamonds are coming from the most reputable providers.
+ - What are the Four C's?
The Four C's - Carat (size), Color, Clarity and Cut - are the industry grade standard from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Every diamond is specifically graded on these features.
+ - What are GIA, AGS and IGI diamond certificates?
A GIA, AGS and IGI diamond certificate assures the value and quality of your diamond. GIA, AGS and IGI are the gold standard in diamond grading. Their reports detail key characteristics of each diamond.
+ - What does the term "eye clean" mean?
"Eye-Clean" is a term used to describe a diamond that is clean to an unaided eye in a face-up position from a distance of 8 to 10 inches. Diamonds of VS2 or higher in quality will always be eye-clean. Diamonds of Si1, Si2 and I1 need to be visually inspected to determine whether any inclusions are visible from the top. We can inspect any diamond at no charge.
+ - What is "Cut"?
A diamond's cut determines how effectively it returns light to the viewer's eye: a well-cut diamond appears brilliant and fiery, while poorly cut stones look dark and lifeless. Well-cut diamonds often appear larger than stones of the same carat weight.
+ - What kind of diamonds do you use for accent stones?
Smaller diamonds (often called melee) are cut in factories around the world and are available in a variety of qualities. The lowest quality goods are usually labeled as "commercial" and consist of I/J/K color and I1 clarity. "Promotional" goods are higher in both color and clarity, but are still cut for maximum weight. The highest quality diamonds are often referred to as "Collection". Collection diamonds are finer in both color and clarity. They're precisely cut to maximize fire and brilliance. Collection quality goods are only available from specialty dealers. We pride ourselves on using collection diamond melee in all of our engagement designs.
+ - Are any of the gemstones used in your jewelry heat-treated?
Yes. It is very common for natural gemstones to be heated. Heating the stone can intensify color and clarity, making the gemstone more beautiful and valuable. In addition, emeralds are commonly infused with a colorless oil, wax or resin to improve their appearance and luster. Nearly all rubies and emeralds on the jewelry market today are heated or treated in some fashion.

After a natural gemstone is cut to its desired shape, it is polished to a smooth, mirror-like finish. In addition to diamonds, metal oxides such as aluminum oxide (alumina), chromium oxide, cerium oxide, tin oxide, silicon dioxide (tripoli), and ferric oxide (jeweler's rouge) are used to polish gemstones. Different stones polish differently, and therefore, jewelers and gemcutters are constantly looking for new groupings of polishing agents and surfaces.

Darker-colored and opaque precious gemstones can be polished instead of faceted. This is called the cabochon cut, which consists of a smooth, rounded surface with no facets for the light to dance off of. It does, however, create the "cat's eye" and "star" effects, which are equally beautifully in their own way. Polishing gemstones helps bring out their sparkle. Although professional cleaning is preferable, you can polish gemstones yourself, from the comfort of your own home.