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School is back in session, fall is in air (in certain parts of the country), and the days are becoming a little shorter. If your birthday is on its way, your birthstone is the sapphire.

Like its sister, the ruby, the sapphire is composed of the mineral corundum. While red corundum is designated as a ruby, all other colors are considered sapphires. However, we typically think of sapphires as blue, ranging from light to deep. Generally, the most sought after by consumers are cornflower blue. Ironically, on the other end of the color spectrum is the rarest, most valuable sapphire, the padparadscha. It is a pink-orange stone whose name means lotus blossom. Other than the ruby, the padaradscha is the only sapphire with a given name.

Since sapphires are second only to diamonds in hardness, they are a durable gemstone to set in jewelry. Since ancient times, the sapphire has been a favorite gem of royalty and been attributed mythic qualities. The Ten Commandments were said to have been inscribed on tablets of sapphire. Considered symbolic of wisdom and purity, they are abundant in the British Crown Jewels. In recent history, Prince Charles chose this jewel as the centerpiece of the engagement ring he gave Diana.

Another famous sapphire is the Logan sapphire. At 423 carats, it is one of the largest faceted gem-quality blue sapphires. The Black Star of Queensland, the Star of India and the Star of Bombay are, as their names suggest, star sapphires. They are cut into cabochons, smooth domes, to produce a six-rayed star pattern known as asterism. Other than weight, the value of the star sapphire is largely determined by the visibility and intensity of the asterism.

On the other hand, faceted sapphires are valued based on color, clarity, size, cut, as well as geographic origin. Large deposits have been found in Australia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, East Africa and North America. The most valuable stones originate in Sri Lanka, Burma and Kashmir. Cut sapphires are often treated with heat to improve their color and clarity. While this process removes the inclusions which cause asterisms, it does not affect the authenticity of the stone. Sapphires have been closely and successfully reproduced in labs, so always double check with your jeweler to make sure your stones are real.

Holiday season is coming up. And what goes hand-in-hand with the holidays? Gift giving! Which is why this year, Deutsch & Deutsch McAllen will be offering GE financing through December 31st on that special purchase for that special person in your life. Watches, tennis bracelets, pearls and diamonds or engagement rings--all are interest free for six months if paid in full by that time.

The details:

• No interest if paid in full within six months on purchases of $1,000 or more with your GE Money card. 
  
• Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional balance, including optional charges, is not paid in full within 6 Months or if you make a late payment. Minimum Monthly Payments Required.
  
• Account fees apply.*

*If promo and debt cancellation are not paid in full within 6 Months, interest at 26.99% will be assessed from purchase date.  If account goes 60 days past due, promo may be terminated early and accrued interest will be billed.  As of 7/15/2010, Purchase APR 26.99%; Penalty APR 29.99%. %. Activation Fee $29.00.  Minimum Interest $2.  Subject to credit approval.

You know her, you love her, you want to marry her. You’ve thought of a unique way to pop the question. However, it involves a ring. Panic ensues as you realize, you have no idea what she wants. Relax. Breathe. You know more than you realize. Just think about the woman you love, and you’ll soon find her a ring she’ll adore.

•   Think about her living space: If she lives in a modern home with clean lines, she’ll probably like a contemporary ring. Does she surround herself with antiques? You’ll want to consider estate jewelry. If her home is eclectic, she’ll likely appreciate a custom designed ring.

•   Think of her profession: A ring appropriate in an office will not necessarily be suitable for someone who works in a kitchen. Similarly, you should consider her position in the company. If she is just starting her career, she might not want to upstage her superiors with an expensive, showy ring.

•   Think about activities you enjoy together: Do you spend your weekends biking or camping? An ornate ring with a higher profile is more likely to get snagged on something and is harder to keep clean.

•   Think of what she already wears: Does she wear gold or silver? Would she prefer platinum for her engagement ring? Is her jewelry delicate or chunky? Does she already own diamonds that would indicate her preference in cut?

•   Think about her friends and family: They are a terrific resource. Ask them what they think she’d like. She’s probably told them on more than one occasion. While you’re pumping them for information, try to find out her ring size.

Before you start shopping, do all of your homework. Now that you can discuss style with your jeweler, make sure you know the Four Cs of diamond buying. If you really can’t decide on a setting, consider presenting the perfect loose diamond. Of course, you need to think about the unspoken fifth C, cost. Remember to budget for the setting as well as the diamond. You may also want to think about the cost of the band at this point. No matter your budget, your jeweler should be able to help you find the perfect ring for your perfect woman.

Fluorescence is the visible light emitted by electrons when certain materials are excited by a higher energy source such as ultra-violet light or X-rays. Basically, it’s what makes your shirt or teeth look whiter under a UV light or minerals glow strange colors in a museum. Some diamonds have the same reaction to UV radiation, they will glow.

Typically, non-colored diamonds will fluoresce blue, if at all. The three tiered classification system is based on blue fluorescence, labeling it strong, medium or slight. Yellow fluorescence is less common and less desirable. In laboratory tests, diamonds have even exhibited red and green fluorescence.

Most studies concur that diamond fluorescence is not noticeable in white light. A recent survey by the GIA concluded that fluorescence is, in fact, a desirable characteristic for many consumers. According to the study, “In general, the results revealed that strongly blue fluorescent diamonds were perceived to have a better color appearance when viewed table-up, with no discernible trend table-down. Most observers saw no relationship between fluorescence and transparency.”

Most jewelers and gemologists agree that diamonds with an I color grade or above can appear less yellow in stones with blue fluorescence. However, diamonds with higher blue fluorescence are less expensive than ones with none. For consumers, that means a stone which looks better than its grade at a much lower price. This is also the reason that diamonds with yellow fluorescence are the least desirable. They make even completely clear diamonds appear yellow in fluorescent light.

A sign that a diamond’s fluorescence is too high is it will appear milky in certain lights. Any noticeable defects in the diamond’s appearance will lower the value of the stone. As with every other aspect of diamond grading, it really comes down to personal preference. You should choose the diamond you like and can live with for a lifetime.

Most of you have probably heard of the 4 Cs of diamond grading. Some of you can recite them like a mantra: Carat, Cut, Color, Clarity. However, do you really understand them and what they mean to the price of your diamond? Let’s find out!

Carat: Carat refers to the weight of the stone. The metric carat, 0.20 gram, is the standard unit of weight for the diamond and most other gems. All other factors being equal, carat has the most impact on the value of the stone. The price of a diamond is called the price per carat. The price per carat increases at certain weight points. For instance, 0.38-0.49, 0.50-0.69, 0.70-0.89, 0.90-0.99, 1.00-1.49, 1.50-1.99 will increase in the price per carat depending on the market. So, you could get a higher quality 0.99 carat diamond for the same price as a mid to low quality one carat stone. The increase in price is not linear, nor is it the same across the board. Price per carat can even vary based on the location of the mine.

Cut: Some people confuse the shape of the diamond with the cut. However, these terms are not interchangeable. The cut actually denotes the proportions and finish that determine the diamond’s brilliance, or sparkle. If a stone is cut too shallow or too deep, light will escape from the stone’s base. An ideal cut allows the light entering the stone to exit through the top, or table of the diamond. The more brilliant a diamond, the larger it will appear.

Color: White diamonds are graded from D to Z, colorless to visibly tinted yellow. When they surpass the Z grade, they become Fancy Colored Diamonds, which have their own grading scale. The following scale depicts the typical variations in color from one level to the next:

• D-E-F
• •Colorless
• G-H-I-J
• •Nearly colorless
• K-L-M
• •Faintly tinted, usually yellow
• N-O-P-Q-R
• •Lightly tinted, usually yellow, tint can be seen with the naked eye
• S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
• •Tinted, usually yellow, may progress to brownish, tint visible to the naked eye, even when mounted

The closer to D, the more expensive the diamond. As with price per carat, the increase is not linear.

Clarity: Almost all diamonds have imperfections in the stone: cuts, breaks, deformations. These imperfections are known as inclusions. Though the inclusions may not be visible to the naked eye, they do affect the clarity of the stone. The Gemological Institute of America rates the clarity of diamonds with the following scale:

• FL-Flawless

These stones have no imperfections inside or on the outside of the stone under the magnification of a loupe of 10 power.

• IF-Internally Flawless

These stones have no inclusions under a loupe with a 10 power magnification.

• VVS1,VVS2-Very Very Slightly Imperfect

These stones have very small inclusions which are very  difficult to see under a loupe with a 10 power magnification.

• VS1,VS2-Very Slightly Imperfect

These stones have small inclusions which are slightly difficult to difficult to see under a loupe with a 10 power magnification.

• SI1,SI2-Slightly Imperfect

These stones have inclusions which are fairly easy to see under a loupe with a 10 power magnification, or visible to the naked eye.

• I1,I2,I3-Imperfect

These stones have inclusions which range from eye visible to very easily seen to the naked eye.

As you might expect, the more flawless the diamond, the more expensive. As you also might expect by now, the price going up the scale is not linear.

Now that you know the 4 Cs, the last one you’ll need to consider is cost. If you have a budget in mind, decide which of the 4 Cs you’re willing to sacrifice. Do you want a larger stone with more imperfections? Or are you satisfied with a small diamond as long as it’s flawless? As with shape, style, and setting, those decisions should be discussed with your jeweler.