Diamonds Episodes

In Part 2 of my conversation with Shane Decker we discuss the role of jewelry in celebrating life's events and he shares the most important factors to consider when buying diamond jewelry. The conversation covers various aspects of buying an...

It seems like most, if not all, of the information and marketing messages coming out of the jewelry industry these days are geared toward women. It makes sense because oftentimes she is the driver when it comes to what sort of style she likes, and as...

This the second half of a discussion I had with my friend and hero, Maarten de Witte, aka "The Diamond Wizard."  He's a living legend in the diamond cutting world, and he decided to tackle the oft repeated (and crazy cynical) idea that "diamonds...

So I ran across a video where the guy in the video said that engagement rings were a scam and a rip-off and I just had to address it. But rather then answer it myself I brought in an expert jeweler and former director of the American Institute of...

In this episode, I'm going to summarize a brilliant talk I heard "way back when," from a legend in our industry, Shane Decker. (I got his permission, and one day I'll have him on as a guest.) His profound love for diamonds and unwavering respect for...

Gentleman, in this episode I present the official "Buy Like a Guy Diamond to Steak Conversion Chart." It's a tool designed to help you relate the 4 C's of diamond quality to the final price you'll pay, using the analogy of a great steak as a...

In this episode I discuss a listener's questions and concerns about buying a lab grown diamond online, among other things.  He had already gone "ring lookin'" with his girlfriend and had a solid budget and preference for lab-grown diamonds....

**The Truth About Diamonds** Diamonds, often touted as "forever," have a mystique of invincibility. However, the reality is that they are not indestructible. Much like everything else in our physical world, diamonds can chip or break. This revelation...

Just last week, there was a guy who was agonizing a bit over what quality and size of diamond he should get. He was clear on the ring style, and he had his budget set, so all was moving along smoothly; until he started to worry and wonder a bit about...

In , I explored the question of why diamonds hold such a special place in the hearts of women. In today's episode I'm venturing into the world of mysticism surrounding diamonds. This exploration is based on a passage from a book written over 140 years...

A common question among men (and some women) is "Why do women love diamonds?"   There are countless theories on the internet, but I'm not here to give you more to think about, but give you advice that will make the jewelry buying experience...

My dad was blunt, honest, and as funny as can be. He was a "character." We worked together for years in the jewelry business, and I learned more about people than I did about diamonds and jewelry from him. He had a unique way of getting his point...

In a previous episode, I explored lab-grown and natural diamonds, and explained that lab-grown diamonds are indeed diamonds, but with a few differences from their natural counterparts. Ultimately, I believe the choice should be left to the buyer....

In this episode we're going to dip our toes into the realm of lab-grown diamonds.  I'll shed  a little light on the ever-evolving diamond industry, exploring the distinctions between lab-grown and natural diamonds, their formation processes,...

Today, we're going to talk about the different diamond shapes and a few advantages of each. Diamonds come in various shapes and sizes, but I’m going to talk about the Top 8 based on their popularity.  So, whether you're shopping for an...

This the second half of a discussion I had with my friend and hero, Maarten de Witte, aka "The Diamond Wizard."  He's a living legend in the diamond cutting world, and he decided to tackle the oft repeated (and crazy cynical) idea that "diamonds...

So I ran across a video where the guy in the video said that engagement rings were a scam and a rip-off and I just had to address it. But rather then answer it myself I brought in an expert jeweler and former director of the American Institute of...

In this episode, we delve into the last two of the Four C's of diamond quality, Clarity and Carat weight. While the 4C's may seem boring, they play a significant role in determining the price you'll pay for a diamond, making it crucial to understand...

Did you know when we're talking about the 'color grade' of a diamond, we're actually referring to the lack of color? Did you also know that the top grade a diamond can achieve is a 'D'? Did you further know it is really hard to distinguish colorless...

In this episode I'm going to explain why not all diamonds are cut for maximum fire, brilliance, and scintillation.  I'll be talking a little about my quest to be a tennis pro, and how it relates to diamond cutting.   Spoiler alert: I am not...

In the last episode I discussed how “Cut is King” when it comes to diamonds, and how a better cut can make a diamond look brighter, bolder, bigger, and more beautiful. But what exactly are the visual properties that contribute to a diamond's appearance? There are...

The way diamonds come out of the ground, (or growing chambers in the case of lab grown diamonds) is far different than what we see in jewelry stores, engagement rings or other fine diamond jewelry.  Before they're cut, natural diamonds look like...

This is the 2nd part of an interview I did with my friend Adam Fried, a third generation diamond professional who teaches me something every time we talk.   We'll go a little more in depth about how the Cut of a diamond affects its performance,...

When you’re in the market for an engagement ring or other diamond jewelry it’s natural to do some research.  The trouble is, there’s so much information, a guy can get stuck.  So the big question is: how much do you really need to know...