Diamonds: How are They Valued?

Diamonds, Ice, Sparklies, A Girl’s Best Friend: Whatever you call them how are they valued? The four C’s -- Cut, Clarity, Color and Carats. We'll talk about the first three C's here.

Cut: A diamonds’ cut influences the brilliance, or light reflecting qualities of the gem, at the same time it enhances the fire of the diamond, or that rainbow quality. A good cut enhances both qualities, fire and brilliance, without sacrificing one for the other. A well cut diamond balances the depth of the diamond to the breadth of the diamond. A poorly cut diamond of the same size can look flat and be more vulnerable to cleavage and breakage.

Clarity: Diamonds are crystalline carbon. The clarity of the diamond refers to the purity of the stone and imperfections within the crystalline structure and on its surface. There is no such thing as a flawless diamond in nature. Sometimes this clarity factor is referred to as the cleanliness of the stone. If a stone is viewed under 10x magnification and no imperfections can be seen, either internally (inclusions) or externally (blemishes), the stone is referred to in the trade as flawless. A microscopic speck of carbon, undetectable by the human eye, but visible under 10Xmagnification,can bring down the value of the diamond substantially. There are five commonly used methods for grading clarity. Just keep in mind the cleaner the stone, the more valuable it is, the more it costs.

Color: Diamonds come in colors including black. Most of the darker colors are used for industrial purposes and not for gems. The white-blue color of pure water is the most valued color for white diamonds and these are rated D-F. (There is no A-C on the scale.) As the diamond color progresses toward yellow (K-M) it becomes less valuable. Diamonds that have a noticeable yellow (N-R) to champagne color (S-Z), are the least valuable. Because the color can be influenced by the color of the gem’s setting, the color is judged when the stone is unset.

To complicate matters and value, diamonds that come in colors, called fancies, are very rare and very valuable. Deep blue, red, and green diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable gems on earth.

When purchasing your diamond for your engagement and wedding rings, consider what factors are more important to you. Size might be more important than color so a larger diamond with a barely noticeable yellow tinge might make you happier than a blue white smaller diamond.

Bridesmaids and Ushers: Is That All There Is?

No. You can involve lots of special people in your wedding festivities. Don't just limit yourself to the traditional bridesmaids and ushers. Ask everyone who is participating in your wedding to wear your wedding colors if they're female, or a nice suit if they're male. Have simple corsages or boutonnieres made for each one. There is no need for them to go to the expense of buying a bridesmaid's dress or renting a tuxedo. If they're dressed in your wedding colors and have the corsage or boutonniere they'll feel festive and look like they belong. So how can they participate? Here are a few ideas:

Host and hostesses can greet arrivals to the wedding site and hand out programs. The ushers then guide the guests to their seats. Another hostess can help guests place their wedding gifts on the gift table. Or hang up heavy coats on a coat rack. Someone can make sure that every guest has signed the guest book. If your guest book is in a three ring binder, so much the better. Split the book up so several people can encourage guests to sign. If you're having a candy or sweets table, someone to help there and thank the guest will be appreciated.

After the bride and groom have cut the cake, your special helpers can deliver slices of cake to the other guests. It's a nice touch and gets the cake served much more quickly than if the guests line up at the cake table.

Ask a few friends with digital cameras to take photos as the evening progresses. The photos can be printed onsite and then pinned to a bulletin board covered with white fabric and trimmed in your wedding colors. Guest can peruse the board and take home favorite snapshots. Since the photos are digital you'll still have your own copies. You could also give a few people disposable cameras to take photos for you. You'll probably get some unique photos you wouldn't ordinarily get. Appoint someone to collect the cameras so you can have the photos developed and your guests don't have the added expense.

Usually the bride and groom leave the wedding reception first. It's a nice touch to ask a few friends to thank the guests for attending the wedding as they leave. If you're giving out wedding favors these same people can hand out the favors as well.

There are lots of ways your friends can feel special and involved on your very special day.

Dee Power

Wedding Fun for Children

Children at a wedding can be precious, precocious and sometimes a problem. Little ones bore easily and don't really understand the meaning of a wedding. Everybody is excited and dressed up and then just sit around watching the girls in the beautiful dresses and their handsome guys, well just stand there. At least that's the point of few from the child.

Keeping kids occupied while the ceremony is going on and well behaved during the reception can be a problem. If the site where the wedding is to be held has a separate room close by in the same building, it can be turned into a nursery of sorts. Most wedding ceremonies take from 20 to 30 minutes but be prepared with activities for at least 60 minutes.

Children can color pictures of the bride and groom. Play pin the bouquet on the bride or boutonnière on the groom, or make wedding bouquets out of paper flowers. In expensive activity books for several age groups can be purchased and then divided up among the children.

If the facility allows it consider providing a snack and drinks. Ideas might include string cheese, children love it, precut apple slices, and boxed cereal. Keep drinks to juice boxes to cut down on spillage.

The children can be supervised by one adult and perhaps a preteen or two. If the wedding is held in a church, the church most likely has a nursery area which allows everything to be seen and heard.

One sweet way for children to commemorate a wedding is to give each of them a bag of rose petals and have them throw the petals in front of the bridal couple after the ceremony. No matter how hard a little boy might throw the petals they don't go very far. Or each child could be given a bottle of bubbles and bubble wand.

The reception can include special activities for children as well. A table at child's height filled with small toys and treats should keep them occupied for hours. The dollar store is a good place to collect a few toys. Stuffed toys in the bridal party colors tied with a ribbon and perhaps a few silk flowers is a favor the children will treasure. Consider taking a group photo of all the children with the bride and groom. It's a lovely keepsake for the bridal couple and each child's parent can receive a copy as well.

Older children and preteens can participate in the wedding festivities at the ceremony and at the reception with special tasks. Perhaps they can help serve the cake after it's cut. One child could ask people to sign the guestbook. Children can hand out wedding favors as the guest leave. If you plan on throwing bird seed or rose petals as the bridal coule leave the children can hand out the packages. Give each older child or preteen a disposable camera with flash and tell them to take pictures. You will be amazed at the photos.

Keep the children occupied and everyone will have a happy time.