Perhaps you have heard that here at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge we provide appraisal services for insurance needs. But what is an appraisal, and why do you need one?
We've all lost things we'd rather not lose. Who hasn't searched for their glasses, or their keys or important paperwork only to throw their hands up in frustration? We all know that these things can be replaced or reproduced with very little cost so we chalk it up as just a part of life. But what happens if you lose a valuable piece of jewelry? What happens if your home is robbed and they take all your jewelry? Replacing a large diamond or your entire collection of jewelry can be immensely expensive. And being robbed isn't just a part of life. It's a traumatic event that can make even the most optimistic of us despair. But there is something you can do right now that will help you tremendously in the event that you lose your diamond or your jewelry box is stolen from your home. You may think I am referring to homeowner's insurance. If so, you are only partially correct. And being partially correct can and will cost you a lot of money should you have a loss. If you have a loss, and those of you who have experienced a loss will no doubt agree, homeowner's insurance is not enough, in fact it can mean very little - unless you have riders on your jewelry.
What is a rider? A rider is a separate insurance policy on your "appraised" valuables that is part of your homeowner's insurance policy, but gives you added benefits for an added cost. So it costs a little extra to have a rider on your jewelry? Yes, but the benefits are well worth it. What does "appraised" valuables mean? In order to have a rider on a piece of jewelry, a qualified jewelry appraiser needs to provide you with a written appraisal on each piece you want to insure under a rider. This "appraisal" will provide a detailed description of the item(s) with number and types of gems, weights of gems, color, clarity and cutting of all gems, metal weights, design details and condition of the item(s) and an individualized replacement cost of the item(s). Pictures are also taken. Taking this appraisal to your insurance agent and requesting a rider gives you several important benefits.
The first benefit: If you choose, items insured with a rider are not subject to your homeowner's deductible. A homeowner's deductible is the amount you are expected to pay if there is a loss, and it can be $500, $1000 or more. That means if your $2000 diamond ring is lost or stolen and you do not have a rider on it, you could be paying $1000 or more out of pocket before your insurance company will replace it. But with a rider, there is no deductible. You are covered in full.
The second benefit: There are usually no restrictions as to where or how the item was lost or stolen. For example, if you gave your diamond ring to your sister to bring to the jeweler for repair and she lost it, you may not be covered for the loss under a standard homeowner's policy unless you had a rider for that ring. Most times the loss has to occur in your home for regular homeowner's insurance to apply.
Lastly, Most homeowner's policies have limits of insurance when it comes to items such as jewelry. If your policy's limit on jewelry is $5000 and you have $10000 in jewelry, you are not fully covered. A rider has no limit because you are paying extra for the rider.
So how much does it cost for a rider, and is it worth having a rider on all your jewelry? And what does a typical jewelry appraisal cost? A typical jewelry rider costs $12-$14 per $1000 of coverage. That means a $5000 diamond ring can be insured with a rider for $60-70 per year. Well worth the small expense in case of a loss. But not all jewelry should be covered this way. The rule of thumb is if the item costs less than $300 then perhaps the extra cost of the rider and the appraisal is not worth it. How much does an appraisal cost? The charge for an appraisals depends on the item(s) being appraised and the difficulty of the appraisal. A large gold chain or a single diamond solitaire is rather easy to appraise, requiring little time. This type of appraisal may run $28-$38. A high quality emerald and diamond ring with multiple gems takes much more time to appraise. These types of appraisals can cost upwards of $80. If you have any past appraisals or paperwork from the seller, these appraisal costs can be reduced considerably.
So if you have jewelry that you want to make sure is covered by your insurance company, bring it down to Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge. We will inspect and clean it, and discuss with you benefits of having your jewelry appraised so you can cover it with a rider. We will also tell you how much the appraisal will cost. You will thank yourself later if you suffer a loss.
A final note: Even if you have riders on all your jewelry, you may still not be covered in full if your appraisals are old and the values on those appraisals are too low. Make sure you appraisals are no more than 3-5 years old. If they are older than that then they need to be updated. At Cormier's we can update your old appraisals for you as well.
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, Ma 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.ecormiers.com
CormierJewelers@aol.com
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Thursday, April 16, 2015
When buying a diamond, the 4 C's are not enough!
Nearly everyone who has ever shopped for a diamond, whether it was a pair of diamond earrings, a diamond pendant or a diamond engagement ring, has heard of the 4 C's. Color, clarity, cutting and carat weight. These four qualities of a diamond are very important to know when making a purchase. But they are not enough to determine whether you are truly getting your money's worth. Beware! There are a few very important "other" qualities you should know about before you plunk down several thousand dollars or more on a diamond!
When we meet with diamond customers here at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge, we of course discuss the 4 C's. We go into detail about how Cutting is the most important factor when buying a diamond, closely followed by Color. Cutting is what gives a diamond brilliance, sparkle and beauty. A poorly cut diamond has little brilliance, dull sparkle and lacks beauty. The human eye can detect color far better than it can detect microscopic inclusions or flaws within a diamond, so color is more important than the diamond's Clarity. Carat weight, well . . . there's a hot debate as to whether a diamond's size is more or less important than some of the other C's. The truth is that a diamond's size is usually most important to a woman, and if that's true then it surely adds to the importance of Carat weight. That aside, there are a few other criteria we educate our customers about when they come to us shopping for a diamond.
The first thing we like to point out is Fluorescence.
What is fluorescence? Some diamonds, about a third of all diamonds in fact, will glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. To test for this, a diamond is put under a black light and the intensity and color of the glow is noted. A diamond that has no fluorescence or weak fluorescence is ALWAYS more valuable than a comparable diamond that has medium or strong fluorescence. Why? Because a diamond that fluoresces strongly will start to glow when it is worn in the sunshine, and though you may no notice the diamond glowing, it will look hazy and dull. The fluorescence dulls it's sparkle, and there is nothing that can be done to correct that. So we always recommend buying a diamond that has no or weak fluorescence. Yes, you will spend a little more money, but it is well worth it.
Next, we discuss the Girdle of the diamond.
The Girdle is the edge of the diamond that separates the diamond's top or crown from the diamond's bottom or pavilion. This edge is very important for two reasons. First, if the Girdle edge is too thin it can lead to damage. A Girdle rated as very thin or extremely thin will not hold up under everyday wear without eventually chipping. No one wants their diamond to chip. Second, a Girdle rated as Extremely Thick is a hazard for a different reason. The Girdle edge is what is cradled by the prongs holding your diamond into the setting. If the Girdle is too thick, the diamond will loosen in the prongs and will be difficult to tighten.
Finally, I stress the importance of "strictness of grading". Just because someone judges a diamond to be G color and VS1 clarity doesn't mean it is a G, VS1. How strict the grader is when judging the quality of the diamond is extremely important. We liken it to a teacher grading a term paper. One teacher may give an A on a term paper, and another may give a C+ for the very same paper. The difference in the grade is all about how strict the teacher is when judging the term paper, after all it is the very same paper. It is true with diamonds as well. Most diamonds nowadays come with Certification papers. These papers can be issued from any number of Laboratories. Some of the well known Labs are the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the AGS (American Gem Society) and the EGL USA Gemological Lab. But there are many more. In our opinion, only the GIA and AGS Labs are strict graders. A diamond judged to be a G, VS1 by either of those Labs is going to be a G, VS1, while the other labs will grade the same diamond to be a higher grade. How does that affect you and your wallet? If you are buying a diamond that is graded to be a D color, VVS1 clarity by one of these looser Labs and the diamond is actually a G color, VS1 clarity (several grades lower) then you are paying too much for that diamond. Only buy a diamond certified by the GIA or AGS. Sometimes an EGL USA certification can be okay. But why risk it? And insist that the jeweler you buy from also be certified by the GIA in diamond grading. That way the jeweler can confirm the grades as accurate. Here at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge, we are indeed certified by the GIA in diamond grading.
So if you are looking for a diamond, visit our Diamond Search Engine and keep in mind this article. You can thanks us later!
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, Ma 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.ecormiers.com
CormierJewelers@aol.com
When we meet with diamond customers here at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge, we of course discuss the 4 C's. We go into detail about how Cutting is the most important factor when buying a diamond, closely followed by Color. Cutting is what gives a diamond brilliance, sparkle and beauty. A poorly cut diamond has little brilliance, dull sparkle and lacks beauty. The human eye can detect color far better than it can detect microscopic inclusions or flaws within a diamond, so color is more important than the diamond's Clarity. Carat weight, well . . . there's a hot debate as to whether a diamond's size is more or less important than some of the other C's. The truth is that a diamond's size is usually most important to a woman, and if that's true then it surely adds to the importance of Carat weight. That aside, there are a few other criteria we educate our customers about when they come to us shopping for a diamond.
The first thing we like to point out is Fluorescence. What is fluorescence? Some diamonds, about a third of all diamonds in fact, will glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. To test for this, a diamond is put under a black light and the intensity and color of the glow is noted. A diamond that has no fluorescence or weak fluorescence is ALWAYS more valuable than a comparable diamond that has medium or strong fluorescence. Why? Because a diamond that fluoresces strongly will start to glow when it is worn in the sunshine, and though you may no notice the diamond glowing, it will look hazy and dull. The fluorescence dulls it's sparkle, and there is nothing that can be done to correct that. So we always recommend buying a diamond that has no or weak fluorescence. Yes, you will spend a little more money, but it is well worth it.
Next, we discuss the Girdle of the diamond.
The Girdle is the edge of the diamond that separates the diamond's top or crown from the diamond's bottom or pavilion. This edge is very important for two reasons. First, if the Girdle edge is too thin it can lead to damage. A Girdle rated as very thin or extremely thin will not hold up under everyday wear without eventually chipping. No one wants their diamond to chip. Second, a Girdle rated as Extremely Thick is a hazard for a different reason. The Girdle edge is what is cradled by the prongs holding your diamond into the setting. If the Girdle is too thick, the diamond will loosen in the prongs and will be difficult to tighten.
Finally, I stress the importance of "strictness of grading". Just because someone judges a diamond to be G color and VS1 clarity doesn't mean it is a G, VS1. How strict the grader is when judging the quality of the diamond is extremely important. We liken it to a teacher grading a term paper. One teacher may give an A on a term paper, and another may give a C+ for the very same paper. The difference in the grade is all about how strict the teacher is when judging the term paper, after all it is the very same paper. It is true with diamonds as well. Most diamonds nowadays come with Certification papers. These papers can be issued from any number of Laboratories. Some of the well known Labs are the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), the AGS (American Gem Society) and the EGL USA Gemological Lab. But there are many more. In our opinion, only the GIA and AGS Labs are strict graders. A diamond judged to be a G, VS1 by either of those Labs is going to be a G, VS1, while the other labs will grade the same diamond to be a higher grade. How does that affect you and your wallet? If you are buying a diamond that is graded to be a D color, VVS1 clarity by one of these looser Labs and the diamond is actually a G color, VS1 clarity (several grades lower) then you are paying too much for that diamond. Only buy a diamond certified by the GIA or AGS. Sometimes an EGL USA certification can be okay. But why risk it? And insist that the jeweler you buy from also be certified by the GIA in diamond grading. That way the jeweler can confirm the grades as accurate. Here at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge, we are indeed certified by the GIA in diamond grading.
So if you are looking for a diamond, visit our Diamond Search Engine and keep in mind this article. You can thanks us later!
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, Ma 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.ecormiers.com
CormierJewelers@aol.com
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Five years of marriage could spell trouble!
How long have you been married? Five years? Ten years? Twenty years or more? If you've been married five years or more, you could be headed for trouble . . . if you haven't had your diamond ring checked lately.
Have you ever wondered how safe your diamond really is? Are the prongs holding your diamond in good shape? Or are they worn thin from years of wear? Five years of continuous wear could spell trouble if you haven't had your prongs checked lately. If you're just not sure how safe your diamond really is, come into Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge and have us inspect it for you. If your diamond is simply loose we will tighten it at no charge and give it a thorough cleaning. And if your ring needs repair of any kind, we do it all right here in our store. All work is guaranteed and your jewelry is fully insured while we have it. Want to know what it will cost? We will tell you up front what needs to be done and how much it will cost you.
We have three goldsmiths and two diamond setters on premises, as well as the area's only Laser Welder capable of repairing even the most delicate of pieces without applying damaging heat. Our Laser Welder is specifically designed for the jewelry industry and uses very centralized laser light to weld metals, add metals and shape metals in spaces a welding torch cannot access. We can repair gold, platinum, silver, stainless steel, aluminum, palladium, even base metals found in costume jewelry!
So if you have been told that your family heirloom or favorite piece of jewelry is beyond repair, Contact Us, send us a picture of what you have and a brief description of what needs to be done and we will email you an estimate. Or better yet, bring your item in to our store in Southbridge anytime Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 5:30pm, Thursday nights till 7:00 pm. We specialize in repairing the unrepairable!
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, Ma 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.ecormiers.com
CormierJewelers@aol.com
Have you ever wondered how safe your diamond really is? Are the prongs holding your diamond in good shape? Or are they worn thin from years of wear? Five years of continuous wear could spell trouble if you haven't had your prongs checked lately. If you're just not sure how safe your diamond really is, come into Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge and have us inspect it for you. If your diamond is simply loose we will tighten it at no charge and give it a thorough cleaning. And if your ring needs repair of any kind, we do it all right here in our store. All work is guaranteed and your jewelry is fully insured while we have it. Want to know what it will cost? We will tell you up front what needs to be done and how much it will cost you.
We have three goldsmiths and two diamond setters on premises, as well as the area's only Laser Welder capable of repairing even the most delicate of pieces without applying damaging heat. Our Laser Welder is specifically designed for the jewelry industry and uses very centralized laser light to weld metals, add metals and shape metals in spaces a welding torch cannot access. We can repair gold, platinum, silver, stainless steel, aluminum, palladium, even base metals found in costume jewelry!
So if you have been told that your family heirloom or favorite piece of jewelry is beyond repair, Contact Us, send us a picture of what you have and a brief description of what needs to be done and we will email you an estimate. Or better yet, bring your item in to our store in Southbridge anytime Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am to 5:30pm, Thursday nights till 7:00 pm. We specialize in repairing the unrepairable!
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, Ma 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.ecormiers.com
CormierJewelers@aol.com
Leaky Diamonds
You know, there's a lot to know about diamonds. For example, did you know that diamonds can leak? It's hard to believe. A tire leaks, a faucet leaks, but a diamond? Yes. A diamond can leak! A diamond that is not cut in just the right proportions can leak light out of its sides and bottom instead of reflecting it back at your eye. So the diamond lacks sparkle and fire, all because the diamond cutter tried to make a bigger gem out of the raw stone than they should have. Wait! You may be wondering why diamond cutters shouldn't cut the largest faceted stone they can from the raw crystal. Wouldn't that make the finished diamond much more valuable? After all, aren't bigger diamonds better and more valuable?
The answer is no, a bigger diamond is not always more valuable. In fact, often they are less valuable. Diamonds are valued for how rare they are, and there are four qualities that are graded in every diamond to determine its rarity and thus its value. These are the four C's. Color, clarity, carat weight and cutting.
Color refers to the diamond's LACK of color. The color scale runs from D (colorless) to Z (highly colored). A diamond that is colorless is more rare (harder to find in nature) than a diamond that has color. Often the color that a diamond displays is in the yellow tones, but diamonds can be almost any color (more on that at a later time).
Clarity refers to the diamond's LACK of flaws or "inclusions". The clarity scale runs from Flawless to Imperfect, with seven grades in between. A flawless diamond, one without any visible flaws under 10X magnification, is very rare. A highly flawed or imperfect diamond, one with flaws visible to the naked eye, is very common.
Carat weight refers to the size or weight of the diamond. One carat equals .2 grams. Size, or weight, is another rarity factor. There are many more small diamonds found in nature than large diamonds.
The final "C" is Cutting. This is the only "C" that man has any control over. We may not be able to tell Mother Nature to make us a D color, Flawless, One carat diamond, but we can take what Mother Nature gives us and make it more beautiful. This is where cutting comes in. A rough diamond crystal looks very much like a piece of glass. It has very little sparkle or fire. What gives a diamond sparkle and fire is light. Proper cutting allows light to "do its thing" and shine! So when diamond cutters are about to start their work, they have two choices before them. A cutter can cut the largest faceted diamond they can from the rough, or they can cut the diamond to the proper proportions that maximize the light that shines through the top of the diamond. A leaky diamond or a brilliant, fiery diamond! Since cutting a diamond to better proportions means sacrificing size, many cutters make the wrong choice and cut leaky diamonds.
Sad to say, there are a lot of leaky diamonds in the marketplace. But one place you will never find a leaky diamond is at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge. We hand select every diamond for our customers. We stock diamonds in may grades, shapes and sizes, but we never stock a leaky diamond! And how can we be sure that our diamonds aren't leaky? We have the area's only Sarin Laser Micrometer device that measure for proper proportions and assures a brilliant and fiery diamond every time!
So if you're looking for a diamond, look for us!
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, Ma 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.ecormiers.com
cormierjewelers@aol.com
The answer is no, a bigger diamond is not always more valuable. In fact, often they are less valuable. Diamonds are valued for how rare they are, and there are four qualities that are graded in every diamond to determine its rarity and thus its value. These are the four C's. Color, clarity, carat weight and cutting.
Color refers to the diamond's LACK of color. The color scale runs from D (colorless) to Z (highly colored). A diamond that is colorless is more rare (harder to find in nature) than a diamond that has color. Often the color that a diamond displays is in the yellow tones, but diamonds can be almost any color (more on that at a later time).
Clarity refers to the diamond's LACK of flaws or "inclusions". The clarity scale runs from Flawless to Imperfect, with seven grades in between. A flawless diamond, one without any visible flaws under 10X magnification, is very rare. A highly flawed or imperfect diamond, one with flaws visible to the naked eye, is very common.
Carat weight refers to the size or weight of the diamond. One carat equals .2 grams. Size, or weight, is another rarity factor. There are many more small diamonds found in nature than large diamonds.
The final "C" is Cutting. This is the only "C" that man has any control over. We may not be able to tell Mother Nature to make us a D color, Flawless, One carat diamond, but we can take what Mother Nature gives us and make it more beautiful. This is where cutting comes in. A rough diamond crystal looks very much like a piece of glass. It has very little sparkle or fire. What gives a diamond sparkle and fire is light. Proper cutting allows light to "do its thing" and shine! So when diamond cutters are about to start their work, they have two choices before them. A cutter can cut the largest faceted diamond they can from the rough, or they can cut the diamond to the proper proportions that maximize the light that shines through the top of the diamond. A leaky diamond or a brilliant, fiery diamond! Since cutting a diamond to better proportions means sacrificing size, many cutters make the wrong choice and cut leaky diamonds.
Sad to say, there are a lot of leaky diamonds in the marketplace. But one place you will never find a leaky diamond is at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge. We hand select every diamond for our customers. We stock diamonds in may grades, shapes and sizes, but we never stock a leaky diamond! And how can we be sure that our diamonds aren't leaky? We have the area's only Sarin Laser Micrometer device that measure for proper proportions and assures a brilliant and fiery diamond every time!
So if you're looking for a diamond, look for us!
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, Ma 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.ecormiers.com
cormierjewelers@aol.com
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Chlorinated Pools and Your Jewelry!
Summer is fast approaching, and many of you love to swim to beat the heat. But while you are soaking in the pool, your jewelry is taking a beating! In fact, wearing your jewelry in a chlorinated pool or hot tub can do more damage in one hour than several years worth of wear and tear.
If your jewelry is 10 karat, 14 karat or 18 karat gold, it contains other metals such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc. The lower the karat of your jewelry, the less gold it contains, and the more copper, silver, nickel and zinc are present. While gold itself is a noble metal and is very resistant to chemical attack, the other elements mixed with your gold are not, and are highly susceptible to damage from chemicals. One of the most damaging chemicals is chlorine. Chlorine in swimming pools, hot tubs, and even cleaning supplies, will attack the other metals that are alloyed with your gold. It literally leaches out the nickel and zinc and silver, leaving microscopic bubbles inside your jewelry. And when this happens, your karat gold jewelry will become brittle and weak. Prongs can spontaneously fall off, settings can disintegrate and precious gems can be lost. It only takes one exposure to begin the damaging process! So beware of wearing any jewelry that is made from karat gold or sterling silver. Take it off before you swim or use cleaning chemicals that contain chlorine. What if your pool is a natural salt or baquacil pool? Then rest easy and enjoy the water. Those chemicals will not harm your karat gold jewelry, though they may discolor your silver.
What if your jewelry is made from platinum or palladium? Can chlorine still damage these precious metals? No. If your jewelry is made completely from platinum or palladium, you have nothing to fear from chlorine. But a word of caution! Make sure your jewelry is completely made from platinum or palladium. If it contains any silver or karat gold, you must take it off or risk damage.
What can you do if you have been wearing your jewelry in a chlorinated pool? The best thing you can do is bring your jewelry to Cormier's in Southbridge and have us professionally clean and inspected it. It is a free service that will stop any further damage from happening.
Finally, I've heard that some people like to clean their jewelry with toothpaste. Do not do this! Toothpaste contains fluoride, and fluoride can also be damaging to the alloys mixed into karat gold.
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, MA 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.cormiers.com
CormierJewelers@aol.com
If your jewelry is 10 karat, 14 karat or 18 karat gold, it contains other metals such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc. The lower the karat of your jewelry, the less gold it contains, and the more copper, silver, nickel and zinc are present. While gold itself is a noble metal and is very resistant to chemical attack, the other elements mixed with your gold are not, and are highly susceptible to damage from chemicals. One of the most damaging chemicals is chlorine. Chlorine in swimming pools, hot tubs, and even cleaning supplies, will attack the other metals that are alloyed with your gold. It literally leaches out the nickel and zinc and silver, leaving microscopic bubbles inside your jewelry. And when this happens, your karat gold jewelry will become brittle and weak. Prongs can spontaneously fall off, settings can disintegrate and precious gems can be lost. It only takes one exposure to begin the damaging process! So beware of wearing any jewelry that is made from karat gold or sterling silver. Take it off before you swim or use cleaning chemicals that contain chlorine. What if your pool is a natural salt or baquacil pool? Then rest easy and enjoy the water. Those chemicals will not harm your karat gold jewelry, though they may discolor your silver.
What if your jewelry is made from platinum or palladium? Can chlorine still damage these precious metals? No. If your jewelry is made completely from platinum or palladium, you have nothing to fear from chlorine. But a word of caution! Make sure your jewelry is completely made from platinum or palladium. If it contains any silver or karat gold, you must take it off or risk damage.
What can you do if you have been wearing your jewelry in a chlorinated pool? The best thing you can do is bring your jewelry to Cormier's in Southbridge and have us professionally clean and inspected it. It is a free service that will stop any further damage from happening.
Finally, I've heard that some people like to clean their jewelry with toothpaste. Do not do this! Toothpaste contains fluoride, and fluoride can also be damaging to the alloys mixed into karat gold.
Shawn Cormier
Cormier Jewelers
42 Central Street
Southbridge, MA 01550
1-508-764-7415
www.cormiers.com
CormierJewelers@aol.com
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