User Comments

1. 

   12/04/08

   burningwindmil

   I will remember that whilst in the bath this evening

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2. 

   12/04/08

   SweetViolet

   There's more to it than that. If an "A" grade stone is the epitome of perfection, it would make sense that a "Y" or "Z" grade stone are the absolute pits, right? But Y and Z grade stones are fancy yellow and fancy canary yellow and worth far more than white diamonds of similar size, cut and clarity.
   
   How many people know that TCW means total carat weight, meaning the aggregate weight of all of the diamonds in the piece? If I have two packets of loose diamonds of the same color, cut, and clarity, one packet contains 20 diamonds for a TCW of 1 carat, and the other packet contains one stone weighing 1 carat, the single stone is significantly more valuable...so buying a piece of jewellery with 20 little diamonds...even very good diamonds...that total 1 carat will cost less...and appreciate FAR less...than a piece with a single stone of the same weight.
   
   Contrary to popular belief, jewellery is seldom a good investment. For jewellery to appreciate it must be of the finest quality (platinum or 18k gold or better), the primary stones must be large and also of the finest quality, and the design must not be trendy as that will date the piece. And then, with only the rarest exception, it must age enough for precious metal and gemstone prices to escalate sufficient to amortize the cost of design, labour, and profit that was incorporated into the original price.
   
   I have several pieces of very fine jewellery, but I am not foolish enough to believe they are an investment. Not for another 20 years or so, anyway.

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