Ce que vous devez savoir sur l'achat d'un solitaire en or jaune et diamants

The solitaire ring has an undeniable fantasy power, capable of turning many heads and arousing irrepressible envy. Even more so when it is an engagement solitaire, yellow gold diamond!

By the way, why is it called "solitaire"? Attested since at least the 15th century, this jewel has indeed a stone of a certain size, held by at least three claws, overhanging a ring. But even before this period, it was already customary for medieval man to ask for his bride by means of a ring, the material of which has also greatly evolved over time. The oldest ones were made of bronze, then of iron...

Today the setting can be made of colored stones, each one having its own meaning:

- emerald, or the green of hope

- ruby is the burning red of passion!

- sapphire, the blue of harmony

- topaz (yellow)

On the presentation side, the solitaire can also be mounted as a pendant.

The favorite precious metal of beautiful jewelry shops

Why, concerning yellow gold, to specifically resort to a titration of 18 carats (750/000), also noted 18ct, 18kt or 18k in the Anglo-Saxons, and not another weight?

It is necessary here to specify a point. The carat relative to gold, different from that used in jewelry for precious stones (of the order of 0.01 to 1 and more), is an international unit of measurement used to express, within an alloy, the quantity of fine metal contained in 1/24th of its total mass. To put it clearly and give an example: 24-karat gold is said to be "pure", meaning that it contains no other body.

By extrapolation, an 18ct yellow gold sample thus contains 18 g pure precious metal for 6 of various elements, i.e. a ratio of 75%. Given the small quantities involved, this fraction of ¾ is expressed in jewelry, in terms of thousandths. Hence the other name 750/000 recognized worldwide, defining it.

So what is the rest of the alloy made of, and what are the reasons for this?

The ratio is directly due to the color of the main body. With the help of technical progress, jewelers are able to offer their customers more and more shades. In addition to yellow gold as it is classically represented, there is also white, pink or red!

The 18ct yellow gold consists of equal parts of 12.5% silver and copper. These contributions have several purposes:

- aesthetic by its brilliant and stable rendering, which remains the fundamental criterion in the choice of a jewel!

- practical, in order to increase the overall rigidity in everyday life, while facilitating the shaping in the workshop. It is a question of resisting scratches and shocks, even crushing to a certain extent, while avoiding oxidation in the long run.

- medical at last. An object that you love being intended to be worn frequently or for long periods of time without interruption, no question of suffering from undesirable skin reactions! Metal must be hypoallergenic.

The craftsman or workshop, in France, used to sign his work by affixing a hallmark on the back of the jewel, in order to guarantee its authenticity. They were often representations of animal heads, horse or rooster, more recently royal eagle. Is it necessary to see the allusion, that the society of then remained largely rural?

Abroad, it is generally a diamond with the mention "750". In France, the hallmark of the eagle's head symbolizes 18-carat gold (750/000).

What is the budget for a solitary engagement ring?

The price of an engagement ring depends on easily identifiable parameters, and others that are much more subjective. So much so that it seems difficult to state a concrete range, as for the estimated budget to offer the precious sesame ... However, we can identify several criteria that are essential to guide your choice. First of all, the nature of the dominant material for the ring. Gold, silver or platinum each have many advantages, which can be paid for... Then, the weight and dimensions of the ring. Finally, the weight, quality and size of the diamond, which are the decisive factors in terms of their weight on the price within the set.

Other relevant criteria, too often neglected: the design of the coveted object. A simple shape will not require the same time of shaping, nor know-how, as a more elaborate creation. Then, the method of manufacture. A jewel produced in large series, almost on a production line, will obviously be much less expensive than a unique, custom-made piece of jewelry! Finally, the place of assembly and/or purchase. Anonymous factory sometimes located abroad in front of the small craftsman, working alone at the bottom of a workshop with a reputation of more than one hundred years... luxury jeweler in the city center or chain store, lost in the middle of a shopping mall in a suburban shopping center... with now, the possibility also to buy online and benefit from advantageous rates. Regardless of the service provided, the final bill presents a gigantic chasm. Think carefully before you invest!

Studies carried out by professionals in the sector in France have shown that the average purchase price for an engagement ring is around €800. It is of course possible to acquire them for a much lower amount, just as some jewelers offer exclusive creations at more than 50 K€ each...

An engagement ring, a fortiori a solitary one, is one of the most intimate and personal gifts that a couple can give each other. It is not an insignificant, disposable object, which we get rid of at the first opportunity like so many others. On the contrary, it is brought to last within the family, transmitted from generation to generation. You alone remain the judge in this matter.

However, you should know that when opting for a diamond setting from 0.30 ct, the laboratory having analyzed the stone is required to provide a certificate of authenticity, the famous GIA, HRD and IGI certificates!

Natural diamonds are the result of a geological process within the earth's crust, and have been formed over several hundred million years, at a depth of more than 150 km, under the action of temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. When its artificial, synthetic counterpart comes from a laboratory culture!

The synthetic diamond appeared in the mid-1950s. Its use is growing rapidly because it offers, as we will see below, many advantages, mainly for industrial applications.

Natural diamond prices are holding up due to its scarcity, as global demand remains high and most known deposits are being depleted.

How to distinguish an 18 karat yellow gold solitaire ring with natural diamond from a synthetic diamond solitaire ring?

Artificial and natural diamonds are extremely similar in their chemical composition, crystalline and optical properties such as brilliance and hardness. So much so that the differences are undetectable to the naked eye, and that it is necessary to go through a gemmology laboratory with specialized equipment to do so. But in practice the difference is of size, since with identical quality, the synthetic compound is up to 30% cheaper... Two methods are mainly used for the production of artificial diamonds. First, the HPHT process, which is a high-pressure high-temperature process, where the raw material, carbon (graphite) is placed under a press, in which an electric current is passed. The other principle, much more widespread, is called CVD, or chemical vapor deposition. It is a culture of crystals, stacked in layers, and bombarded by a cloud of surrounding carbon plasma. It generally takes 3 to 6 weeks to obtain the desired stone. In fact, the 4C reference frame, validated on an international scale to determine the quality of the analyzed stones, i.e.: color, clarity (transparency), carat (weight), cut (size) applies in both cases, following an identical evaluation grid! Only very specific and high-performance technological equipment can distinguish between natural and synthetic stones.

What if you chose a natural diamond solitaire to celebrate genuine love during your engagement, but ethically respecting the environment and socio-economic conditions?

The few known natural deposits scattered across the planet, mostly located in Africa, will one day be exhausted. This makes natural diamonds potentially more and more rare and their value continues to increase.

Added to this are ethical and environmental considerations. The mines use extraction techniques that are certainly polluting. International companies are aware of this and have been reviewing their production methods for several years. The profits generated by this activity tend to be better invested. In order to promote the development of local communities, they are also now much better distributed among the different actors.

The data is more confused, even contradictory, concerning synthetic diamonds. These come mainly from China and India, the two most populated countries on the planet. The necessary power plants consume a lot of electricity and still burn fossil fuels. This cancels out some of the gains...

Where to buy a natural diamond ring for man or woman. In a jewelry store or online?

With the evolution of lifestyles helping, the Internet has appeared in more and more homes, with its many advantages.

Ordering by internet, will only allow you to see the merchandise in pictures at first, which is a definite risk. However, you will have access to a catalog of a wide variety of materials, colors, sizes and assortments, up to date, allowing an unparalleled personalization for all budgets.

This will be less the case with a traditional jeweler. Some will be more concerned with selling unsold items from outdated and sometimes very expensive ranges, to the detriment of flexibility and creativity...