Custom Designs Made Easy

245 Main St. El Segundo, CA 90245 310-322-8060
bluediamondjeweler.com

Sometimes there are pieces of jewelry that have never been seen before because they only exist in someone's mind. Other times you've seen a piece of jewelry and have never been able to find it again. So what do you do when you have an idea or have seen a piece of jewelry, but can't find anyone that carries it? That's where we at Blue Diamond Jewelers can help with our simple three step custom design process.

Here at Blue Diamond we've created beautiful custom pieces for our guests that are truly one of a kind, either from a picture or a sketch of an idea we can make it. Have some jewelry that you just don't wear anymore but the stones in it are beautiful? No problem, we can take those stones and put them into a new set of earrings, fashion rings, or pendants that will be unique and something that you'd love to wear.

So how does our simple three step process work?

STEP 1: The Idea

 

An article in a magazine from a guest for an all platinum ring.

The idea is the first step towards creating an amazing piece of custom jewelry. If you have an idea in your head we can sketch it out for you. Did you see something in a magazine but want to change a few details? We can gladly help with that as well.

Whatever the idea is we find a way to explain all the intricacies and details so that everything is perfect in the next step. Main question that we may ask include:

• What type of metal do you want the piece in? (14kt, 18kt white or yellow gold, platinum)
• Do you have any previous stones from other pieces that you want to integrate into the design?
• What size does the piece need to be in and what time are you planning to present it as a gift?

Once we get all the appropriate information, have all the pictures or sketches, and have worked out an idea of what the finished product should look like we move on to the next step.

A sketch of a ring with a skull design that we did for a guest.

Step 2: The Design

After we've gone over the idea of the piece that you want to design and have all the details we go into the design phase. The design phase is where we send all the sketches and pictures to our 3D CAD designers, then they create a full three dimensional image of the piece that is being designed.

A 3D CAD design and rendered image of the all platinum solitaire we did for a guest.

After the 3D CAD has been made we can do a wax mold of the design so that you can actually see how the piece will look and allows you to make any other little tweaks or add any features. Once the design is approved and all the finer details are smoothed out, we move to the final step.

Step 3: The Creation

The moment that everyone is excited for, the creation! Where your piece comes together to create a truly unique piece of jewelry that is one of a kind. Our jeweler takes the 3D CAD and/or wax mold of the piece and makes it in whatever metal you have chosen and use whatever stones you've selected to create your piece.

The finished product, an amazing all platinum solitaire ring!

And that is how we create custom pieces with our simple three step process at Blue Diamond Jewelers. It's a great way to create something brand new and unique, either from a simple concept or from previous pieces that just need a new incarnation.

If you have any questions or would like us to help you out with a custom design, please come in, give us a call, or shoot us an email and we will be happy to create something one of a kind just for you.

Two locations to serve you:
245 Main St.
El Segundo, CA 90245
310-322-8060
or
8622 S Sepulveda Blvd
Westchester, CA 90045
310-417-3090
bluediamondjeweler.com

The 4 C's of Diamonds

245 Main St. El Segundo, CA 90245 310-322-8060
bluediamondjeweler.com

Are you in the market for a diamond? Whether it's an engagement ring or a pair of stud earrings, there are plenty of factors that go into purchasing a diamond. The main one's to consider are called the 4 C's of a diamond and are actually very easy to understand. So let us here at Blue Diamond Jewelers explain to you as simply as possible.

The 4 C's of diamonds are:
Carat Weight
Cut
Color
Clarity


First is Carat Weight:

Weighing a diamond to figure out the carat weight.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that carat weight refers to the size of a diamond. The bigger the carat weight, the bigger the diamond, right? Technically yes, but in all actuality it's how heavy the diamond is weighed in carats as opposed to grams or ounces.

The easiest way to explain carat weigh is pennies on the dollar. One carat is equal to 1.00 carats (give or take a few points) so by comparison a half carat diamond would weigh around .50 carats.

Keep this in mind when purchasing a diamond that carat weigh is actual weight, not size. The size is factored in the second C of the four C's.


Second off is Cut:

An rough diamond ready to be cut to perfect proportions.

Cut is how a diamond changes from rough to all the different shapes of a polished diamond. When a rough diamond is cut, the diamond cutters try to balance the proportions of the diamond to optimize the size and distribution. In turn this makes sure that your diamond has the most fire, scintillation, and brilliance.

Light entering the three different cuts of diamonds.

The main factor when cutting a diamond is making sure that the proportions are as close to ideal as possible. If a diamond is cut too shallow, then it will look big from the top but light will go in and then leak out the bottom. If a diamond is cut too deep then all of the weight of the diamond is at the bottom, and when the light enters through the top it then bounces and leaks out the sides. The best way to cut a diamond is to balance enough of the weight between the top and bottom, which in turn allows light to enter through the top bounce of the sides and then exit through the top giving you all the sparkle, flash, and shine that you want from a diamond.

Third is Color:

When a diamond is formed, carbon is compressed under a tremendous amount of pressure over a long period of time, deep in the earth. After time the carbon is turned into a beautiful clean clear diamond, however if traces of nitrogen are with the carbon during formation the diamond can have tints of yellow or brown. As such a grading scale was created to show the range of diamonds that are clear and those that have that yellow tint.

Diamonds that are clear without any heavily noticeable yellow tint are graded as D,E, or F are considered colorless. G,H,I, or J are in the near colorless range for diamonds and usually have just a slight yellow tint that isn't hugely noticeable. K-Z is where the yellow tint is easily noticed and becomes more intense the further down the alphabet the letter is.

Forth is Clarity:

As we discussed in color, a diamond is made from carbon being compressed over a long period of time. As such when it's compressed sometimes small marks can form on the inside of a diamond giving them specific birthmarks within the stone. Characterized as "inclusions", the marks on the inside don't make a diamond any less durable but do affect the price point. Diamonds with less inclusions are more rare and in turn more valuable, whereas diamonds with more inclusions are plentiful and usually less expensive.


Grading for clarity goes as follows:

• I1, I2, and I3 - The lower grades for clarity, these grades are given to diamonds with inclusions that are clearly visible to the naked eye.
• SI1-SI2 - This grade is given to diamonds that have very slight inclusions, some may be noticeable and some may need 10 times magnification to see.
• VS1-VS2 - Diamonds with the VS grade are considered as very slightly included. The inclusions are very difficult to see without 10 times magnification.
• VVS1-VVS2 - Very very slightly included diamonds, extremely difficult to notice any inclusions internally without intense magnification (usually over 30 times magnification).
• FL-IF - Flawless or Internally Flawless diamonds are the best of the best. These diamonds have nothing that can be noticed under intense magnification and are the most rare to find.

The four C's of a diamond may seem complicated, but with this basic knowledge in mind buying a diamond becomes a little less complicated. Of course, we at Blue Diamond Jewelers are more than happy to help explain them even further. So come on in and we'll be glad to help you find the perfect diamond for whatever your needs.

Blue Diamond Jewelers

245 Main St.

El Segundo, CA 90245

310-322-8060

BlueDiamondJeweler.com

The Top Three Things You Need To Know When Buying An Engagement Ring For That Special Someone.

245 Main St. El Segundo, CA 90245 310-322-8060
http://bluediamondjeweler.com/

So you've decided to start looking for an engagement ring for that special someone. Either you've fallen madly in love or they've been dropping hints that it's that time, here are some things to factor in your search for that perfect engagement ring.

The Top Three Things You Need To Know When Buying An Engagement Ring For That Special Someone:

Number 1: What kind of style do you think they would love?

This is always a very important factor in deciding what engagement ring to get for your loved one. There are three main styles, classic, modern, or vintage.

Classic: Styles from the classic group are designs that have stood the test of time. Usually classic styles are the simple solitaire, channel set rings, or prong set.

Solitaire

Channel Set

Prong Set

Modern styles are designs that are in style currently and have very clean looks. One of the most popular modern designs currently is the halo design. Halo design rings are very popular because they accent the center stone with a beautiful frame of smaller diamonds making the center stone appear larger.

Vintage designs have intricate designs usually involving filligree along the sides of the ring and a lot of detail. These style of rings have an older feel and style to them, but don't take that as outdated. Many people love the craftsmanship of vintage style rings.

Number 2: What kind of center stone would they love in their ring?

The center stone is one of the most important things to consider when planning on buying an engagement ring. It is the focal point of the ring and knowing what shape your loved one would want is crucial to finding the perfect engagement ring. Here are some of the main diamond cuts:

Number 3: Their finger size!

In the quest for the perfect engagement ring this is one of the most overlooked details. When you present the ring there is nothing worse than it not fitting properly. So figuring out their ring size is very important, but how do you figure it out without them knowing? Some tips on finding out their ring size include using a ring that they already wear on their ring finger, having one of their friends descretely find out their ring size and relaying it to you, or just simply asking them. That last option may tip your significant other off, but at least you know that the engagement ring will fit them perfectly.

Hopefully these tips assist you in finding the perfect engagement ring for your loved one, and as always we at Blue Diamond Jewelers are always happy to assist you in your search. So feel free to come in or give us a call and we'll do our best to help in your search.

Have a great day!

Blue Diamond Jewelers

245 Main St.

El Segundo, CA 90245

310-322-8060

BlueDiamondJeweler.com