3 Thoughts for Families Planning to Toast Life Events With Diamonds
Life’s special occasions make the rest of our days worth living. We wait for weeks and months for a milestone birthday. Or a graduation party. A Thanksgiving dinner with the extended family. The delight that awaits us on the other side makes long waits worth it.
When distinctive events arrive in an otherwise mundane existence, it is natural to want to toast them. Some families use jewelry, particularly diamonds, to mark momentous times. Sparkling jewels for a big promotion or an anniversary can elevate the celebrations.
The mystique of diamonds is captivating, which explains its appeal to people of all ages. Plus, they are ideal as family heirlooms. When passed across generations, they can serve as cherished reminders of times gone by, still fresh in memories.
Here are three thoughts you should mull over if you’re planning to get a diamond for an upcoming event.
Plenty to Adore Beyond the Size
Scores of romcoms have convinced people that the size of the diamond matters a great deal. Perhaps even the most. But when you look deeper, the size is hardly the most important consideration for a diamond you buy for a special occasion.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) believes that the most standout property of diamonds is their clarity. Authentic and highly coveted diamonds tend to be clearer and free of inclusions. Usually, these details are visible only under specialized equipment. It is safe to derive that a larger diamond may also be less valuable than a flawless one.
These days, you can get gorgeous designs for diamond rings in an impressive assortment of cuts and colors. For instance, blue diamonds are incredibly rare. They are also astoundingly gorgeous. Their color comes from boron, with boron-rich layers in the Earth forming these coveted stones.
LiveScience discusses that diamonds are essentially carbon, comprising tightly packed molecules. It isn’t easy for other elements to enter, which is why they are usually colorless. Occasionally, if elements like nitrogen and boron sneak in, we get yellow, orange, and blue diamonds.
The GIA recommends using the D-to-Z diamond color scale, where D indicates colorless and Y-Z is light. However, colorful diamonds are outside this scale.
When you buy diamond jewelry for a special person, say, your spouse or daughter, think of their personal preferences. Their tastes will matter more than the mere size or price of the stone. They may like discreet styles they can wear often, or love to flaunt a unique color that matches their personality.
Leibish Explains The Limitations of a Simulated Diamond
As you explore the market for dazzling jewelry, you may come across choices that mimic diamonds at a mere fraction of the price. Simulated or lookalike diamonds can be a very inexpensive way to own sparkly jewelry, but are they adequate for marking momentous occasions?
Typically, these sparklies are clear glass or cubic zirconia. They could also be Moissanite, which is made of silicon carbide.
Visually, these choices are similar to diamonds. Unfortunately, they are not good at withstanding wear and tear. They may lose their shine and get chipped easily. So, they are hardly ideal for marking once-in-a-lifetime occasions like your partner’s fiftieth birthday or your daughter’s graduation.
It is worth noting that simulated stones are not the same as lab-grown diamonds. The latter are also far less expensive, but they are carefully created in labs and closely resemble natural diamonds. Their limitation is different: hardly any resale value due to their lab-confined origins. Moreover, many people don’t associate them with major life occasions due to their manufactured feel.
Sustainability and Sparkle Can Coexist
Another consideration while purchasing a diamond is assessing the sustainability of the decision. After all, they involve mining, which is forever embroiled in controversy in a world grappling with climate change.
The good thing is, responsible brands weigh these factors. Many of them commit to ethical sourcing and fair labor practices. In the diamond industry, it refers to practices that lower the carbon footprint of mining and use sustainable energy sources.
The Observer explains that the blanket belief that large-scale mining is bad may be misguided. It notes how many mining companies have made substantial contributions to the community by building schools and healthcare organizations.
At the same time, not all small-scale mining may be considered to have tenable labor practices and fair wages. Indeed, greenwashing is prevalent in the jewelry sector. The definitions of phrases like ethical practices and responsible sourcing are fairly lax.
In essence, it is vital to see the whole, unbiased picture when debating whether to invest in a diamond. So, it would be a mistake to believe that all lab-grown diamonds are naturally sustainable. What if they are grown in factories that rely solely or primarily on fossil fuels?
It is best to conduct independent research into the claims made by a manufacturer before the purchase. Brands with transparent practices will not shy away from demonstrating them.
In these times of rising inflation and high cost of living, jewelry purchases are monumental decisions. Many people find them hard to justify, and yet don’t want to miss the opportunity to serenade the remarkable moment.
Making responsible and informed choices can help you in this quest, keeping consumption mindful and memorable at the same time.
*This is a collaborative post
