Carat weight of diamond simulants
	Stone cutting styles
	Jewelry settings
	Pearl Facts

Carat weight of diamond simulants	TOP

The simulants used in our jewelry have approximately 5/8ths the carat weight of a carbon diamond. In other words, a 2 carat brilliant Desert Diamonds simulant would appear to be the same size as a 1.25 carat brilliant carbon diamond.  This varies slightly according to the cut of the stone click here for more information.

1.7 times the expected weight of an equivalently sized diamond. A diamond simulant is about 75% heavier than diamond.

Stone cutting styles	TOP

Jewelry settings	TOP

Our jewelry is set in 18k yellow or 18k white gold.  Below is an explanation of the different settings available.

	Prong (claw) setting - Prong setting puts the emphasis on the stones and not the metal. It involves fitting the diamond in a metal head or basket and securing it with a minimum of three prongs or metal claws. The stone sits higher making it appear more prominent and brilliant than it does in most other settings.
	Bezel (goldwrap, rub-over) setting - A band of metal (bezel) is pressed around the edge of the stone to hold it in place.
	Channel setting - Stones are lined up in a channel formed by two metal walls. No metal separates the stones, but there may be bars underneath acting as supports.
	Tension setting - Tension set rings are manufactured with special alloys by a sophisticated technique which enables the metal to retain it's memory. This setting is an excellent method of showing a stone’s brilliance.
	Pave setting - Placing stones into holes of a mounting and then forming beads (small prongs) from the surrounding metal to hold them in place.
	Flush setting - This type of setting offers good protection for stones The stones are sunk into the mounting until they are nearly level or flush with the surface. Only the table of the stone and a bit of the upper pavilion facets show.
	Filigree - A delicate, lace-like design often made by bending and soldering fine wires.
	Bar setting - Is a form of channel setting, except that the diamonds are set in channels across a ring, and stones on each end of the channel are exposed at the edges of the mounting instead of being secured in metal.
	Invisible setting - Invisible-set stones are placed tightly next to each other with the metal of the setting concealed underneath the diamonds, allowing them to form a continuous surface.

Pearl Facts

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Natural pearls are those pearls which are formed in nature, more or less by chance, by a parasite or a piece of food lodging itself in the mantle tissue of a host oyster. Cultured pearls, by contrast, are those in which humans take a helping hand. By actually inserting a foreign object into the tissue of an oyster or mollusk, pearl farmers can induce the creation of a pearl. The same natural process of pearl creation takes place.

Types of Cultured Pearls

Freshwater Pearls
Although the traditional source of pearls has been oysters which live in saltwater, as the name suggests, freshwater pearls are produced in mollusks in freshwater lakes and rivers.  Freshwater pearls are produced in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and they tend to be less expensive than saltwater pearls, making them very affordable and popular.  We primarily use freshwater pearls in our jewelry although we are able to source South Sea and Tahitian Pearls if that is what is desired.

White South Sea Pearls
White South Sea cultured pearls are grown in large tropical or semi-tropical oysters in Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia and other Pacific countries. They generally range in size from 10mm to 20mm and command premium prices because of their relative rarity and large size.

Tahitian Pearls
Tahitian cultured pearls are grown in a variety of large pearl oysters found primarily in French Polynesia. Their beautiful, unique colors (which can range from light grey to black, and green to purple) and large size can command very high prices.
 
Guide to Cultured Pearl Quality

The value of the pearls in jewelry is determined by a combination of the lustre, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry that are appropriate for the type of pearl under consideration. Among those attributes, lustre is the most important differentiator of pearl quality. All factors being equal, however, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. Large perfectly round pearls are rare and highly valued.

Lustre - refers to surface brilliance and glow of a pearl.  A good quality pearls will be bright and not dull, and the surface should be reflective.
 
Surface - a valuable pearl will have a surface free of disfiguring spots, bumps or cracks.

Shape - generally, the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is.  Baroque pearls, which are asymmetrical in shape can be lustrous and appealing, and often cost less than round pearls.

Color - cultured pearls can vary from white to tan to grey.  All other colors of freshwater pearls have been commercially dyed to suit color trends.  Recently the most popular dyed pearl colors are green, champagne/bronze and rosy pink.

Size - the larger the pearl, other factors being equal, the more valuable it will be. The average sized pearl sold today is between 7 and 7.5 millimeters. Once a pearl is above 8mm the price escalates rapidly with each mm increase.
 
Our Pearl Range

The pearls used in our Collection are sourced specially for us for their high quality lustre, while remaining very affordable.  The earrings and pendants in the Desert Diamond Collection are set in high quality 18k yellow and 18k white gold.
 
Our pearl strands that have a pearl size greater than 8mm have been knotted between each pearl.  This will prevent all of the pearls from falling off the strand in the event the strand breaks.  Also, knotting prevents the pearls from rubbing against one another and causing damage. Individually knotted strands also have a higher valuation by jewelers.

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