Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/438368
122 | JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2015 nshoremag.com BY JEFF HARDER THREE EXPERTS OFFER SOLID ADVICE FOR DECIPHERING THE IDEAL DIAMOND. They say that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Never mind that the saying is gender-biased: It's still true. You see it in the joyful tears shed during an engagement proposal, and in the glow that blos - soms after opening the tiniest box under the Christmas tree. But the perfect diamond re- quires no small investment, and if you think a halo setting has some- thing to do with video games, you probably need to invest some time learning the basics before opening your wallet. Northshore spoke with Richard B. Berberian of Elyse Fine Jewelers in Reading, Steven Leed and Giao Nguyen of Royal Jewelers in Andover, and Michael Molloy of DeScenza Diamonds in Peabody to grasp the ins and outs of the Four C's, how to balance budget against The Right Rock Loose diamonds from DeScenza Diamonds; Below, selections from Elyse Fine Jewelers, Royal Jewelers and DeScenza Diamonds photographs by Anthony Pira quality, the pitfalls of buying diamonds online, and much more. And whether you're looking for something like your grandmother's unassuming heirlooms or a blind - ing rock worthy of the red carpet, when it comes to diamonds, a little wisdom goes a long way. CUT Cutting a diamond transforms a rough chunk of concentrated carbon into a ring-ready gem, and the cut—the first of the Four C's—determines a diamond's sparkle and brilliance. "In gemo - logical terms, cut grade refers to the proportions and geometry of the diamond," says Berberian. A diamond is graded on a five-cat - egory scale ranging from "excel- lent" to "poor;" a poor diamond looks dull and milky, while an excellent diamond sparkles and shimmers whenever it moves under light. in-depth SHOP