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How to Buy a Diamond Engagement Ring

Find the perfect diamond for your love with our expert advice Diamond engagement rings are a long-standing tradition for a reason: they are rare, precious, and valuable—just like your love. When you’ve decided on a diamond ring to pledge your engagement, make sure you know these ring-buying tips before you head to the store to find the perfect diamond ring. Diamond Cut Options One of the most important factors in choosing a diamond is the cut. The “cut” of a diamond refers to the polish and symmetry of the facets of the finished diamond—not its shape. The way the diamond

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How to Shop for Diamond Engagement Rings

Buying a diamond engagement ring is a momentous occasion. If you’re ready to purchase a ring, but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. With such an important expenditure as a diamond engagement ring, you want to feel confident in your decision. You want to feel like you’ve purchased the perfect ring! Doing your research, shopping around, and careful consideration go a long way toward making that happen. It also helps to have informed advice from professionals in the industry. The American Gem Society is the country’s preeminent jewelry trade organization dedicated to consumer protection. We’re dedicated

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Fancy These Four Fancy Shape Diamonds

The time has come in your relationship to finally pop THE question. Various thoughts are now running through your mind, like how to ask, where to ask, and when to ask. And then it dawns on you: what type of ring should I choose? If a traditional round brilliant diamond is too traditional for your taste, consider one with a different shape. Fancy Shaped or Fancy Cut diamonds (as they are also known) are beautiful and sometimes even more affordable than the traditional round brilliant. These geometric works of art are created by diamond cutters who are master craftsmen with a

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Proposal Shaping Up? Consider these Diamond Shapes

By Donna Jolly, RJ You met the perfect person. You both like the same food, the same music, the same guilty pleasures on Bravo. You like each other’s family and friends. Everything works. It’s just…right. And so, you’ve come to realize: it’s time to pop THE question. Before you start Googling the “Perfect Proposal” or looking at YouTube videos of modern day Romeos hijacking Jumbotrons at basketball games, or even tying rings to helium balloons (which fly away…with the ring), get down to the heart of the matter: the ring. Diamond cutters are not just master craftsmen, they are magicians

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Looking at Diamonds in a Different Light

Diamonds have been celebrated for centuries as a symbol of love and status and have been revered throughout the centuries. No wonder there are literally volumes of references to diamonds in fiction and historical tomes. Though April is in our rearview mirror, we just can’t quite let go of our favorite gem, and in thinking about our obsession, three thoughts struck us that show how special diamonds really are: Diamonds are the result of both nature and man. They come from the earth, but diamond cutters, who are skilled artisans, turn diamond rough into beautiful works of art. Case in

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Tips from Jewelers Mutual: Popular Engagement Rings to Make Your Holiday Proposal Perfect

Are you planning to make one of your holiday gifts an engagement ring? With all the excitement and holiday hubbub, where do you begin? Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company has compiled a wonderful list of what to look for, based on latest trends, hottest colors and alternative alloys. But keep in mind, it’s most important to be conscious of what your beloved most desires. Learn more by reading their blog, Popular Engagement Rings to Make Your Holiday Proposal Perfect.

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August is Romance Awareness Month!

By Amanda L. Colborn Even though the American Gem Society is a professional organization dedicated to credentialing jewelers and consumer protection, we understand that one of the biggest reasons people give jewelry is to show their love. And we love…..well, love! So this blog is a celebration of romance, and lucky for us, August is National Romance month.  So we thought we’d take the opportunity to celebrate Romance Awareness Month in all its glory, and hopefully inspire you to remember to add some romance to your life as well. The online dating site, Zoosk, conducted an annual Romance Awareness Survey. From

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Happy Birthday April! It's your time to shine!

By Amanda L Colborn At the American Gem Society and especially in AGS Laboratories, we look forward to April all year long!  With the diamond being April’s birthstone, it’s yet another opportunity to celebrate our favorite things: bright, shiny diamonds! Don’t get us wrong, all other months and their birthstones are just as special! However, being part of an organization that offers you the highest quality diamond grading reports…we do have a special soft spot for diamonds. History of the Diamond as the April Birthstone Diamonds are a thing of beauty and the ultimate gift for a loved one. Thought to

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Going Gaga for Heart-Shaped Jewelry

By Amanda L Colborn In honor of Lady Gaga’s recent engagement (and her heart-stopping diamond ring), we’re celebrating the heart symbol and the heart cut diamond. Did you know that we can trace the heart symbol all the way back to the Ice Age era?  It’s true. Cave paintings have been discovered with this symbol that trace back to the Ice Age. Though we do not know what this symbol meant to the cavemen who drew them, we do know that it was important enough for them to often paint it on the inside of their cave walls. The mysterious symbol

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The AGS Perfect Proposal Toolkit! Everything you need this Valentine's Day

By: Amanda L. Colborn Ahhh…..Valentine’s Day.  Love is in the air. Everyone is getting excited. Excited about spending time with their loved one. The dates. The surprises. The perfect time to propose! Maybe you’re on the opposite end, you’re the one trying to plan the proposal. But where do you even start? There are so many things to consider! When is the right moment? Where should I propose? Do I want other people around me or just the two of us? And of course, what will the answer be?! You can rest assured, The American Gem Society is here to make

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