So you got home and went to take off your diamond stud earrings and found out you lost one. What do you do with your single diamond earring? Where do you go in Miami to buy a diamond that matches the one you have? Can you do something else with that single diamond? Regent Jewelers is here to help.

When you find yourself with a half pair of earrings, your options are to either make something new with that diamond, match that diamond and make a new pair of earrings or store it in your jewelry box and forget about that “one perfect for all occasions” set of earrings. Matching a diamond can be a difficult thing if you do not have the proper resources. The right answer is actually simple, go to an established local jewelry store with a long history of helping people like you get the most value for your money, and the very best prices possible. Choosing any other route opens you to all the perils of the current market including paying too much for an inferior diamond, getting a synthetic diamond and not knowing about it, being sold a diamond simulant and not knowing, and buying a diamond, which you realize after the fact, does not match at all.

These are the four most important things to remember when trying to match a diamond stud earring:

• Your diamond looks the way it does because it has certain properties. Among these are Color, Clarity, Cut and Diameter. Notice I did not say weight but diameter. This is because when matching a diamond, the weight is not as important as the diameter and table size. This is why cut was included. Table size is the size of the table, the largest facet on a diamond, compared to its diameter. This is expressed in percentage.
  1. Color is important as you do not want one to look darker than the other. Color as expressed in the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) color table starts at “D” being the color grade with less color or whiter and ends at “Z” being the most saturated color grade before reaching the “Fancy” range. The best way to determine color is to unmount your remaining diamond earrings and putting it face down on a white diamond color grading paper and comparing it to other diamonds under a proper light source.

2. Clarity is important only to the point in which it impacts the eye visible condition of your existing diamond. Clarity as graded by the GIA starts at “Flawless” (where the inclusions in a diamond are not perceivable while under 10x magnification) to “I3” or Included 3 (where the inclusions in the diamond are so pervasive that the structural stability of the diamond is in question). The clarity of the diamond you are purchasing should be within one clarity grade of the diamond you are trying to match and have the same visual impact. If your diamond is an SI2 (slightly Included 2) and is devoid of any black inclusions it can be very pleasant looking and not present inclusions which are easily seen. Getting a diamond with same clarity grading of SI2 but with black inclusions would not be the right thing to do as they would be easily seen and therefore a bad match. This is one reason to choose your jeweler carefully so you are not sold an inferior diamond. Though they may have the same clarity grade, they can be very different in appearance and value. There is a very real difference between a good SI2 and a bad SI2.

1. Cut is the grade which impacts the life of your diamond the most. You can have a diamond with a near colorless color grade, a clean SI1 clarity grade and if the cut is not right it will not have any life. Scintillation is the technical term for those wonderful sparks of color which shine off your diamond when exposed to sun light or strong indoor lighting. Cut also refers to the angle of the top part of your diamond, the crown. Crown angles are a determining factor as to light dispersion and scintillation. Also, crown angles are determining factors in the size of the table in your diamond. Matching a diamond with one of similar cut is therefore very important in achieving a good match.

1. Diameter of a diamond is important as this is what determines how big your diamond looks. It is important that rather than matching the exact weight, you aim at matching the diameter and table size. Thus giving the same look from above for both your diamond and the one you are purchasing. It is easy to establish diameter by using a gauge. The GIA states that the human eye can determine the difference between .2 mm in size. Using that as a rule of thumb you can then establish whether the diamonds are a good match.

• Purchasing a natural diamond to match your natural diamond is very important. Synthetic diamonds are being marketed by many as the next best thing. In reality, like other synthetic gems, their value is far lower than natural diamonds and with no investment value whatsoever. Purchase a synthetic diamond today and in five years it will be worth close to nothing as more and more synthetic diamonds are produced. Regent Jewelers does not sell synthetic diamonds as we feel synthetic diamonds are without any intrinsic value.

• When matching a stud diamond earring it is important to make sure that the mounting of your diamond is matched exactly. Many times with older mountings that are not exactly like the ones being produced today a slight difference in size, thickness of the materials, or color of the metal that can make a noticeable difference. In this case it is imperative that you choose a jeweler who is meticulous and can match your earrings exactly. Regent Jewelers employs a very experienced and meticulous jeweler who is an expert in fabricating jewelry from any metal.

• Once you have located the proper match the one thing you need to ascertain is its value. Some jewelers will charge a premium for a matching diamond. They are aware of how difficult it is to find a perfect match to your diamond and if they have it, they will place a premium on it and charge you more. Regent Jewelers will never place an added expense on a diamond just because it matches yours. We pride ourselves on being fair and providing you, our client, with the best possible price and most perfect match available.

Asides from matching your diamond, there is always the option of creating a pendant or other piece of jewelry using your diamond and maximizing its beauty. Often less expensive than finding a perfect match and making a new earring, creating a pendant or incorporating your diamond into a bracelet is a wonderful option. Regent Jewelers will help you design a new pendant or incorporate your diamond into an existing bracelet or other piece of jewelry.

We understand the sentimental value of your jewelry and we are here to maintain this value by either helping you match an earring or incorporate your diamond into another piece of jewelry. There are many occasions in which when a high end brand name earring is lost and the original manufacturer estimates its replacement cost at a very high level and we can create the very same exact piece at less than half their quoted price. Don’t be discouraged by the high prices quoted by other jewelers or high end brand name stores. Regent Jewelers is here to help with replacing your earring and making it all ok again. Give us a call today at 305-443-7373 to set an appointment and get your “go to” pair of earrings whole again.