Category Archives: Diamond Education

Feb
24
2009

The History behind the Hearts and Arrows Images of Brian Gavin's Diamonds.

Tweet These familiar purple-pink hearts and arrows (H&A) signature images date back to 1999, just after I introduced A CUT ABOVE hearts and arrows diamonds in my company, Alpha Creations. My father, Ben Gavin, cut this diamond, which was one of the first perfectly cut H&A diamonds, and these are its H&A images. This set [...]
By Brian Gavin | Also posted in Photos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
Feb
13
2009

Brian Gavin’s Colleague, Sandra Amadio, Visits Namibia………..

Tweet I heard from one of my colleagues in South Africa, Sandra Amadio, this week. Sandra recently visited Kolmanskop in Namibia. Kolmanskop is a ghost town in Southern Namibia which developed after the discovery of diamonds in the area in 1908. The following video journal portrays this fascinating journey….I thought that you would all enjoy [...]
By Brian Gavin | Also posted in Conflict Diamonds, Rough Diamonds, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
Feb
06
2009

“EXTREME DIAMOND MAKEOVER” – The DIAMOND RECUT PROCESS…

Tweet Just after I launched this website, I was contacted directly by a customer who had previously been looking forward to working with me on her diamond recut. She was thrilled to have found me by typing 'Brian the Cutter' into the Google Search feature. After a couple of phone discussions and e-mails, she decided [...]
By Brian Gavin | Also posted in Custom Jewelry, Diamond Recut, Photos, Rings, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
Jan
19
2009

Brian Gavin and Gabi Tolkowsky meet in Russia……..

Tweet When I traveled to Russia for the International Diamond Cut Conference (IDCC) in 2004, I was fortunate enough to meet up with Gabi Tolkowsky, one of the world's most renowned diamond cutters and the sixth generation of the Tolkowsky family to make his name in the trade. We met in the customs area of [...]
By Brian Gavin | Also posted in Photos, Rough Diamonds | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)
Jan
16
2009

Buying Rough Diamonds in Russia

Tweet I've had many requests over the years to describe what it is like to purchase rough diamonds I went on a trip to investigate the purchase of rough diamond material in Moscow, Russia for the creation of A CUT ABOVE's The invitation came from Alrosa, which is the diamond sorting and marketing division of [...]
By Brian Gavin | Also posted in Photos, Rough Diamonds | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)
Jan
11
2009

How do inclusions in diamonds look close up?

Tweet Many times people ask about the nature of inclusions in diamonds, if they are dangerous, if they affect the durability and performance of the stone and if they are visible. Many question and want to know what they look like close up.  Here are some close up shots of  examples of typical inclusions in [...]
By Brian Gavin | Also posted in Photos | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)