Let's talk a little about diamonds: Color

If you've ever shopped for diamonds before, you probably know a little bit about the 4 Cs: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. But what if this is your first time looking for a diamond? How do you decide which features are most important when you're on a budget?

Today we'd like to focus on diamond color.

Contrary to what you might believe, diamonds come in a ton of different colors: from bright white, to canary yellow, to deep blue and more.  If you're shopping for a solitaire or an eternity band it's likely that you're looking at white diamonds, so that's what we'll focus on today.

The color scale used to grade diamonds is straightforward and easy to understand.  The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses the letters of the alphabet to show where diamond colors fall. The scale starts at the letter D (the brightest white diamonds) and goes all the way to the letter Z (light yellow and canary diamonds).

                     

                                                   

Generally speaking, the most prized and high-quality diamonds are D, E and F diamonds because they are colorless.  These diamonds are bright white and show up beautifully when set against white metal.  Diamonds that are G, H or I in color fall into the near-colorless range and, depending on the gem, these can also be beautiful, bright white diamonds. 

Most mall jewelers have a wide selection of diamonds on display in their cases, but many of them will not be higher than an H in color.  Studio Vincent's display diamonds are almost never lower than an H in color. We choose to use these higher quality diamonds for the following reason: when slightly yellow diamonds are set in white metal, the yellow reflects off the metal and comes back out through the top of the diamond.  This can make the gem look dull or flat.  Because whiter diamonds are rare, the price will reflect the color quality of the diamond you choose to purchase.  When shopping for a center diamond for a solitaire we suggest going with a diamond that is F or G in color so that the design will be as stunning as possible.  

When it comes to the small accent diamonds you see in engagement rings and eternity bands it's good to know that diamond color is still important.  At Studio Vincent we use F or G colored tiny diamonds so that you get the most sparkle for your money.  Just because the diamonds are small doesn't mean they shouldn't be brilliant!

While diamond color is an important factor, remember that the diamond you like best might not always be the whitest of the bunch.  Pick the diamond that talks to you and you'll enjoy your purchase for years to come.

It's spring! It's spring!

Spring is here and color is back!

Spring is a time for rebirth and renewal, filled with color and light. At Studio Vincent we have both to to accentuate your happy, springtime mood. These stainless steel rings by Humphrey of Austria are a fun, flirty way to show off a big splash of color and personality of your own. Each design is available in an array of colors to match your sense and style. These tension-style rings range from $267-$575.If you can't decide on one color get them all in this stunning necklace by Barbara Heinrich. Barbara arranges shimmering multi-colored briolette-cut sapphires in an arrangement that will go with every outfit and always add a little light of the day. These juicy colors invoke the freshness of spring during any season.


If you're looking for versatility as you start to shrug off the cold weather, nothing is better than Claudia Gieger's MOL necklace/bracelets. These gemstone pieces are made of crocheted stainless steel and can be worn around the neck or wrapped around the wrist! These pieces come in a variety of colors ranging from warm and dramatic garnet to the poppy freshness of peridot. Come try them on for yourself!

Celebrate your Mom!

Spring has FINALLY arrived and at Studio Vincent we have been busy selling and making gorgeous wedding and engagement rings, just in time for summer proposals and weddings. We've been so busy, in fact, that we only just realized that Mother's Day is right around the corner! This post is dedicated to all of you mothers, wives, aunts, grandmas and even super special girlfriends. We've taken some time to scour our extensive jewelry collection to find some recommendations for last-minute gifts for mom.

Under $1,000

*German artist Claudia Geiger makes the sweetest crocheted steel necklaces you've ever seen. Choose from quartz or beryl, or spend a little more to get gorgeous pearls or sparkling diamonds. These pieces can be worn as necklaces or bracelets and are sure to start conversations.

*For the outdoorsy mom we recommend taking a peek at our collection of jewelry by Sarah Graham. This San Fransisco artist's work invokes thoughts of spring with textured stacking rings and perfect tiny diamonds.

*If you've shopped at Studio Vincent in the past you may have purchased a piece of jewelry by Austrian designer Humphrey. If the lady in your life liked the last piece, why not come in and get her another piece for her collection? With designs in pearls, citrines, peridot, topaz and more, you can't possibly go wrong.

*Local artist Emily Johnson uses silver and precious metals to make a collection that is both subtle and edgy. Her bud rings, featuring rose-cut gems, are so popular she can't make them fast enough and each piece is one-of-a-kind.

*Studio Vincent's Muse collection is a perfect choice for women of any age. We recommend the Luxor pendant and the Soho earrings, but we also have a wide selection of steel rings with various precious metal inlays. For the Mom that already owns a Muse piece, you might consider purchasing a sweet little Milan ring, custom designed with a diamond for each of your children.

$1000 and over

*If you want to shop for serious luxury this Mother's Day, come visit our selection of Barbara Heinrich jewelry. We recommend a gorgeous necklace with faceted or polished beads: peridot and aquamarine or labradorite. If your lady isn't a necklace kind of girl, then maybe a selection of stacking rings in burnished 18k gold would be a perfect fit.

*Studio Vincent's precious metal collection offers stunning bands in various colors, shapes and textures. For the woman who loves delicate things you could consider a diamond eternity band. For a bolder selection, look no further than our wide scatterbands and funky raw diamond rings.

*We've gushed about him before, but you really, REALLY should come in and pick up a piece by Michael Zobel. His techniques blend metals together in unusual combinations and the gems he selects for his designs are one-of-a-kind.

No matter what your budget looks like, we'd love to have you stop into the gallery to find the perfect Mother's Day gift. Nothing says "I love you" quite like a little black and red box from Studio Vincent.