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The Huron Expositor, 1997-02-19, Page 24Paige. 12 - Wednesday. February 19, i9 iiWant to odd a elastic touch to your wadding? utas- t � '1)0La er - • %/t• • t lwirwi` tomes �' • Free l easuttatiou Urea g (.540524-5044 dTa. WEDDING GOWNS ri ply Will your daughter be married in your wedding gown? PREVENT YOUR GOVNI FROM TURNING -YELLOW We can give your wedding gown added years of beauty with a •naw cleaning and packaging service. Cherished heirlooms are seated sale from light.dust. air and bacte- ria in our 'See Through" storage box. WE RESTORE MOTHW S WEDDING GOWN POR • DAUGHTER TO WEAR! GIFT CERTIFICATES POR THE BRIDE are evadable - greet group shower gift or wedding gift. • 4404.914100 • C;Li9TOt4 GLEANERS SERVICE DRY-CLEANING • LAUNDRY ,STORAGE • SUEDE AND LEATNER•CLEANING I �6 bi±±CH ST.. CLINTON 482-7064 SEAFOR1 N AGI=NCV: HENSALL AGENCY: Cardna tieatti, CenU SLVTH AGENCY: LONUESBORO AGENCY Diamond rings! Few understand value and quality As :the country:awbtt one of the highest .diamond _engagement riag acquisition ratesin the world, Canadian mantas :have ombraced this important relationship "rite.af passage" moire tfaan.aayather. culture . ii000niiagia-mow that began in 1-477, 85 -percent of .all Canadian brides receive a, .diamond,ongagcmcnt deg. That rivals -both the _ liS.a+od Japan -- two ,of the largest :diamond markets;in the wadd. -And . although 43 percent of all couples spend between .S 1.000 and ,$3;000 :on a diamond engagement ring, research shows that less than hall of all .mon and women ,understand the-4Cs -- the characteristics that determine the value and .quality of,a diamond. To hcip couples -buy ii ,diamond engagement ring wisely ave offerthose tips .on -how to choose the most enduring sign of love and crmtmitmcnt: _ STEP 1: ieteraaiae -your basket. While this is a personal exorcise that often depends on income. 45 -percent of the -men -who are.aware of it say that the two -months' salary guideline is a .useful .tool ,when ,deciding -how -much to anent!. Diamonds are available in a wide Lange ,of -prices, depending on their own individual combination of the AICs -- .to you're sure to •find one that suits your personal hate -and budget. The -most .important rule of thumb is to choose the finest quality diamond you can afford. 8'110P.2: Educate yourself and ,ttsake may you ;eoder'staud the .4Cs: Cut. Colour; Clarity, ;sad Carat Weight. These are the four characteristics that determine a diamond's quality and value -- and.as a result. its price. No -two ;diamonds are.alike, attbough they may look identical .to .the naked eye. The folloviing information on .the 4Cs will •help you -become .an informed .and .knowledgeable consumer. PUT: This is perhaps the most important of the-4Cs as a quality cut gives a diamond its -brilliant sparkle. A good_cut tcicaacs the "fire" and "epatkie".ofadiamond through the arrangement::and proportion of its 57 or 58 facets (tiny, planes that create angles .to reflect light). It is important to .distinguiah.between the crit of a diamund,which is. purely ;a technical issue, and its ahape. .Shape is .a matter of taste, -with the round (brilliant) cut the most -popular of.all shapes, COLOUR,: Diamonds come in many colours, while the majority have. a barely perceptible yellow or brownish tint.-Delertninin.g a d.iamond's colour is done -by -measuring the degree to which .a diamond .upproacbes colourlessness.. The highest SEE Consultation Delivery ,fond et. Up SOU 7- 1/`,(%A/* g?ecti rt" ABIlic4eAreih Flowers aCiuttVii4 iPeoprotion Santa&s athvnatls ttwtt+lwr lack > ) 'fIttitatiurtls -- 20% Ditiop.unt 1111111111111111 4111111111111618 111114 11.110 S quality and most expensive stones are described as colourless and .are tare. ,loIVelh:rs evaluate the colour of diamonds on,a letter scale beginning with.. D (colourless) and moving down through the :alphabet. Diamonds with a strung, pure colour are called "fancies" endear' be found in .pink., .blue, yellow and many other oolnurs. CLARITY: A diamond's clarity . is determined by the. -degree to which it is free from naturally uocturing inclusions, often called. "nature's fiitgcrprints". Almost all .diamonds contain small traces of :oun crystallized carbon -- the clement from which they are - formed- These inclusions usually require magnification under a standard 10 power jeweller's loupe before they become apparent. The fewer the incursions, the rarer the stone. CARAT: Carat refers to the -weight, and therefore the -size, -of the diamond. One carat is divided into "points". As a result. a diamond weighing 50 points is half a carat. -STEP-3: Jae... Suites. 11 you're -planning on surprising your girlfriend •with a diamond engagement ring. research her personal style and preferences. Take her fantasy shopping. alk to her friends. Watch what makes her gasp in.awe. Ask her bow she feels about rings she's seers. Read the signals and make a choice that .will delight her forever. . s.i A: ;l ' ad ;a :4•4epNtable jeweller: Visit a reliable jeweller yo,u ,know -and trust and ask questions until ,you've established a good rapport. The fifth unofficial C is Confidence in the pro,wlw will lielp you choose a diamond of enduring quality to represent your enduring love.