WeddingDates.ie

Now we all know, Diamonds are a girls best friend, but you may be out of your depth when buying one!!  If you couldn’t tell a cubic zirconia from a 5 carat Pink diamond then you’d better read on before your purchase the ring that you will wear for the rest of your life!

Cut

We strive for maximum brilliance and beauty in every Voltaire Diamond. The cut, or make of your diamond determines the level of sparkle, brilliance and fire visible in your gem.

To reflect and refract light most effectively, Voltaire diamonds must be cut to the correct proportions and polished so that each facet is precisely placed. Diamonds which are not cut and polished to these standards do not handle light correctly, diminishing both their beauty and value.

Colour

Diamond quality and value is also determined by subtle colour differences, sometimes barely discernible to the untrained eye. The best and rarest diamonds appear colourless ( white) or near colourless and are graded D to I with D and E being extremely rare. Colour quality below I then diminishes as yellow/brown tones become more evident.

Clarity

A diamond’s clarity rating is a key measure of its overall quality. Almost every gemstone is marked with natures fingerprints called “inclusions”. The clarity grading of a diamond measures the position, volume and colour of its inclusions, which can be black or white in colour. The beauty and value of a diamond is affected by obvious inclusions, as they affect the passage of light through the stone.

Some diamonds have no inclusions and are very rare, these are referred to as Internally Flawless. However, most diamonds have inclusions, some that are so microscopic that they can only be seen under 50 X magnification and others that can be seen by the naked eye.

Carat Weight

The term carat refers to a measurement of weight as opposed to size. A carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams and is the unit of weight for diamonds. Carat is the most price sensitive part of a diamond as it refers to the mass and proportionate size. Diamonds are rare and as the size and carat weight increase they become very scarce.

These great tips come from our good friends Voltaire Diamonds an irish company who specialise in diamonds and engagement rings.  They meet their clients in person to advise and discuss ring options and because they don’t have a big retail store, can charge up to 25% less for a top quality ring!

What a fabulous idea to get creative and really have something special and memorable at the end of it!  The Irish Design House is launching its program whereby you can “make your own wedding rings”.  All details are outlined on the below flier.  They are limiting the numbers to one couple per weekend and will lay on lunch both days, take photos of the couples progress and celebrate the completion of their wedding rings over a glass of champagne!

You can watch Clare from the Irish Design Shop talking about the course and showing some of the rings on TV3’s Ireland AM

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting with Seamus Fahy, the man behind the newly established Irish Business Voltaire Diamonds.  Seamus only began selling rings privately in April of this year and already he is selling 2 rings a week.  Based in Dublin, he meets couples in their homes or in a private club on St. Stephens Green to show them the Sample Set of rings and discuss with them their preference and budget.  Because he doesn’t have a retail jewallry store, he avoids all unnecessary overheads and can sell diamond engagement rings for approx 25% less than you would pay for the same thing on the high street.

Seamus has been certified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) so he really knows what he’s talking about and can advise couples on the 4 C’s of buying a diamond.  The jewels on offer are all handmade, bespoke and finely crafted by some of the world’s finest jewellery designers in London.  Diamonds have been source in Antwerp (80% of the worlds Diamonds go through Antwerp) and all come with a certificate of authenticity.

Seamus was also interviewed in yesterday’s Irish Independent.  Congratulations to Seamus on his innovative new take on buying and selling diamonds and engagement rings in the Irish Market.  I wish him all the best and recommend Dublin-based grooms-to-be out there to give him a call if you are thinking about proposing or indeed if you are ready to buy your wedding band.

Christmas is traditionally a time when many men get down on one knee and propose to their beloved.  So a quick Christmas post to congratulate all of those newly engaged ladies out there!  Whether you were expecting it or not, whether he had a ring chosen or not or whether you will be walking down the aisle soon or having a long engagement - enjoy every minute of it!!! I could almost hear champagne bottles popping all over the country yesterday!  Congratualations ladies!

And, for the rest of the still single ladies out there - here’s a little something from Beyonce, to rock out to which I’m sure most of you will be doing in the clubs and pubs of Ireland tonight!

Beyonce - Single Ladies