With so much information at our fingertips, it is difficult to know what is true and what is false when searching the web. Interestingly, some of these myths, I heard from sales professionals at high-end jewellery stores, while I was doing some research as a
"secret shopper".
As a GIA certified gemologist and an accredited jewellery professional, I am happy to share my knowledge on my mission to spread the truth.
Some of these may surprise you, let's dive in!
Diamond is the rarest gemstone in the world - FALSE
Although diamonds are the most popular and well-known gems in the world, colourless diamonds are not actually that rare.
When it come to fancy colours like blue, pink and vivid yellow, yes, those types of diamonds are incredibly rare, especially in large sizes and can go for millions of dollars at an auction.
But when we think of the diamonds we see in stores or online (especially under 1 carat), there is plenty to choose from.
Diamonds are beautiful, sparkly and loved by many, personally I am a fan. But it is the mining and manufacturing process associated with diamonds that is the costly venture which adds those zeros to the price tag. No the fact that they are rare.
In fact, there are plenty of diamonds to go around, but they are either:
deep underground which makes them too costly to mine or…
locked up in safes and their release is controlled to keep their “luxury good” status
Pearls are organic gems - TRUE
Whether a pearl is natural or cultured, it is produced by a living organism, (an oyster or a mussel, depending on the type of the pearl) which makes it an organic gem.
A natural pearl is formed in a pearl bearing mollusk (a soft bodied marine animal). When a foreign object gets inside it, the mollusk gets irritated and starts to coat the object with layers of smooth nacre, creating a pearl.
To culture a pearl, a human copies the natural process but is responsible for the introduction of the "foreign object”.
To learn more about this wonderful gem, check out this previous post:
The list of birthstones was created by a jewellers association - TRUE
Many cultures associate gemstones with birthdays and zodiac signs and have done so for centuries. Some believe that birthstone were even mentioned in the Bible.
In more recent history (1912), Jewelers of America came up with a list of 12 gemstones (one for every month) that would be associated with a person’s birth month and known as their “birthstone”.
Since then, some extra gems have been added to the list meaning that some months have more than one birthstone.
Fun Fact: if you are born in June your birthstones are alexandrite and pearl
Check out this previous blog post to find out more about your birthstone:
You can buy a custom engagement ring online - FALSE
There are many companies that now offer the “build your engagement ring online” option. The truth is, you will be choosing from existing designs and a list of diamonds that particular company has in stock and essentially receive an assembled product.
This is a great option if you are short on time and feel comfortable purchasing a ring and a diamond before seeing it.
If, however, you would love to be a part of the entire process of creating your dream ring including creating the design and selecting ethically sourced diamonds or gemstones from a selection tailored to you, custom is the way to go!
A true custom ring that is made completely from scratch can only be achieved by working with a jeweller or a jewellery concierge (like me).
When working together on a custom piece, we can design and make modifications before we create it. Only once you love and approve the design do we start making the ring here in Toronto, not oversees in a factory.
Feeling curious?
Check out my previous blog posts:
Schedule a complementary, 30 minute connection call with me here to discuss the custom jewellery piece of your dreams
Looking for jewellery and gemstone inspiration?
Visit Tsarina Gems Instagram page for more stunning jewellery ideas