You can profit by carefully reading these pages. I am going to arm you with the most important commodity you can have while searching for a diamond or any other gem for that matter, KNOWLEDGE!

For thirty years now I have been making heirloom quality jewelry for my clients, and I am about to share with you what I share with them, the knowledge that it takes to make an informed purchase and to protect yourself from being taken advantage of.

Whether you buying from another internet vendor, your local jeweler or you buy from me, there are things you need to know. This knowledge will make you the person with the power, as you will no longer be the neophyte hoping that you are dealing with an honest jeweler.

With the knowledge I am going to share with you here, you will be able to separate the truth tellers from those, who themselves may not know the truth, or as sad as it is to say, those who might actually lie to you to take your money. More importantly, you will have the knowledge you need to negotiate with them from a position of strength.

Some of the things to look for in this site are:

• What are the FIVE C's and how do they affect the look of your diamond

1. Cut - The most important of all of the C's and the least understood. I will give you a complete breakdown on cut from the average "run of the mall" cuts to the so-called "super ideals" and how to understand what you are being told. I am going to share with you the newest technology including a daring look at something you will see much more of in the next few years, performance based cutting analysis.
2. Color - Why it is the second most important of the C's and the one that is often sold for the wrong reasons. Why the D-E-F colors may or may not be the right color for you. (I know this is considered heresy, but wait until you read this for an understanding of color that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
3. Clarity - Actually one of the least important C's, yet quite often the one that you hear the most about.
4. Carat weight - More than just a unit of measure, it is actually a statement of rarity
5. Cost - The least discussed of the famous C's. We will look at tailoring your budget to the four C's listed above to decide where to compromise in acquiring the perfect symbol of your love for the person you love. Of course, if you have unlimited funds, feel free to skip this discussion.

• How to choose a jeweler there are certain things to look for, whether you are buying on the Internet or from your local bricks and mortar store.
  1. Experience - How long has he/she been doing this?
  2. Qualifications - Does your jeweler have a degree from an accredited Gemological educational facility such as the Gemological Institute of America, or was he or she a shoe clerk last week and a "jeweler" this week? Why is this important?
  3. Ethics - Does this jeweler have a clean record with the BBB and how do you check on it?

• What to look for when buying colored stones. They are even more difficult to assess than diamonds.
  • Clarity - What are the factors that must be considered about clarity grading colored stones, and how is this different from clarity grading a diamond. Why are some stones graded differently for clarity than others?
  • Color - Color is everything in a colored stone. We will discuss how color is graded differently in colored stones than in diamonds and we will discuss the three parts of color that must be considered in a colored stone:
    • Hue
    • Tone
    • Saturation
  • Cut - Our old friend cut is just as important in colored stones as it is in diamonds, but much less understood. I will show you examples of both well and poorly cut stones, including masterpieces from Richard Homer, one of the most famous of all of the American lapidary artists.

• Why you should consider buying your jewelry from Winfield's. I bring thirty years of experience to the table, and I will share the fruits of my learning with you whether or not you buy from me, but I hope to earn at least a chance at your business. To do so I will discuss openly with you:
  1. My credentials and experience.
  2. Winfield's "no questions asked: return policy.
  3. My worldwide travels to buy diamonds and gems for you.
  4. Winfield's offer to take you with us to exotic locations to buy gems at the source.