Few things capture the depth of love like a diamond. Through the ages, it has stood as a promise of love and a symbol of ever-after. The solitaire, with its elegant brilliance, forms the perfect engagement ring. And diamonds of fine cuts and unparalleled brilliance are embedded into creations that add glitter to life’s celebrations through necklaces, head-pieces and wrist-charmers.
Prathibha’s partners and artisans are skilled in a tradition of excellence. Every piece carries with it a legacy of trust and expertise. The diamonds hand-picked for each piece are chosen through a precious checklist that is used around the world to grade diamonds, and one that is popularly known as the 4 Cs.
These global benchmarks that add to the allure of a diamond, are stringently adhered to here at Prathibha.
Cut is key. Two diamonds, both equally polished, of the same carat, colour and clarity, may not look the same. One may appear dull, and the other may shine brilliant. The reason is the Ideal Cut. Light that enters an Ideal Cut diamond is reflected from one wall to another within the stone and emerges from the crown (top) of the diamond with no light escaping through the bottom.
Heart, emerald, round, oval, pear, princess and marquise. Most laboratories need to go into the detailed measurements of every diamond to sort the Ideal Cut. This is a tedious process that is often overlooked. Prathibha’s in-house testing lab has a special facility to sort out and identify these Ideal Cuts, which are then presented in exquisitely created designs. This is a unique offering that Prathibha is proud to offer its customers.
The clarity of a diamond is said to be its fingerprint. These are the inclusions (marks) of the diamond and usually appear as crystals or fractures within it. The clarity of a diamond is graded on the number, size, colour and the position of these inclusions and its grade is determined using a 10x magnifying lens. Inclusions are visible to the naked eye only from the S11 category and downwards.
The 23 grades of colour are ranked alphabetically starting from D (this is completely colourless and the most valuable) and goes on to Z (which is black). The colour ranges from white, off white, light brown (or yellow) onwards, to black. Variation from one colour to another is subtle and is most distinguishable under prescribed light conditions.
A carat is 0.2 grams and a unit of weight. A carat is further divided into 100 parts called cents (1 gram = 5 carats, and 1 carat = 100 cents). The larger the diamond, the more the carat. Diamonds appreciate in value over time. The larger ones, however, appreciate quicker.
At Prathibha, the 4C's are as valuable to us as our customers. This is why we have a dedicated team comprising graduate gemologists from GIA, and senior board members who go that extra mile to ensure the Prathibha brilliance is perfect.
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The extraordinary fire and brilliance of a diamond is valued highly by collectors and connoisseurs. It is treasured more when purchased from a trusted source. At Prathibha, we aim to make sure that every customer leaves with not only the perfect piece, but also a smile of satisfaction.
We're here to guide you at Prathibha, regardless of whether you intend to make a purchase or not. Feel free to drop by, and we would love to share our knowledge with you.
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Prathibha prides itself on presenting a wide range of diamond jewellery to choose from. At any given time, there are multiple pieces to choose from, each one of them a tribute to the style and craftsmanship it echoes. The diamond section at Prathibha has styles that are contemporary and traditional with two distinct forms of setting.
The open setting design is a North Indian art and one where the diamonds are crafted in 18-karat gold and held firmly in place by prongs, while the bottom is exposed. 18-karat gold is strong enough to offer firm prongs that safely hold the diamonds. However, the piece may gather dust from the bottom and look dull with time. It should be cleaned regularly to maintain its original lustre.
The second style, prevalent in South India, is the closed setting where the diamonds are set using 22-karat gold. The malleability of the gold offers a safe setting that encloses the diamond, both from the top and bottom. This ensures that the brilliance of the diamond lasts longer.
Customers choose setting styles based on their preferences, and we’re here to guide you on which style or piece would suit your needs the best.
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For centuries, gold has been the currency for nations. It is seen as a low-risk, solid investment and indicator of the health of an economy. When an economy is in jeopardy, it is the gold rates that will most often shoot up.
Because of gold’s standing as an alternate currency, it is most sensitive to the political and economic situations that take place around the globe. This leads to fluctuations every second.
Inflation is part and parcel of a developing economy using paper currency. In such situations where it is proven that gold has appreciated in value sufficiently and is not affected by the inflation, it serves as a safe investment.
For thousands of years, gold has preserved its value across nations, and more so in the eastern regions of the world. We treasure it and depend upon it to offer stability during unstable times.
At Prathibha, we ensure the rates you see are the same, by-the-second, as what you will see around the world.
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Apart from the pleasure of owning, adorning and investing in gold jewellery, is the option of investing in gold bonds.
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Platinum is a rare metal that has been used since the Egyptian Age. It’s ethereal silver-grey tones and durability have made it a much sought-after metal for adornment. This precious metal is also found on the moon and in meteorites, making it a fairly futuristic (and a very contemporary metal) to use in jewellery.
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In India, the gold of preference is primarily yellow, though the last few years have seen more white and rose gold being used in contemporary jewellery pieces. Platinum, on the other hand, is a more contemporary metal that is stylish and equally precious. The choice of metal used to set a piece of jewellery should be based on personal preferences and how well it enhances its design.
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Since before the Ancient Greeks, mineral crystals have been cut and polished to be used as adornments. The tradition continues to this day, as gemstones are coveted across cultures and used in jewellery for their stunning, natural beauty.
Natural mineral crystals when cut and polished to reveal their hidden beauty are called gemstones. In the 1800s, they were classified into two categories based on rarity - precious and semi-precious stones. Every stone however, is precious and beautiful in its own riveting way.
Gemstones that are rare and of higher clarity are classified as precious stones. A few organic ones like pearl, coral and amber also fall in this category as they are used for jewellery.
The list of semi-precious stones is extensive, but we’ve featured here those most commonly used in jewellery:
Synthetic gems are identical to their natural stone counterparts, but have been simulated in laboratories. They are usually made from glass, plastic or certain types of resin.
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As early as the 8th century, the value of precious stones was seen and revered. In Indian Vedic astrology, these gemstones are connected to the planet under which one was born. Worn the right way, these stones bring luck, health and prosperity by offering the right planetary vibrations. In India, we call them rashi stones.
We’ve listed here what the Jewellers of America association had standardised in 1912, along with a list of stones according to Vedic customs. The second one in the following list is the Indian traditional stone according to the month of birth.
Garnet
Coming soon
Serpent Stone
Amethyst
Chandrakanta
(Moonstone)
Aquamarine, Bloodstone
Coming soon
Gold Shiva Linga
Diamond
Diamond
Emerald
Emerald
Pearl, Moonstone,
Alexandrite
Pearl
Ruby
Sapphire
Peridot, Spinel
Ruby
Sapphire
Zircon
Opal, Tourmaline
Coral
Topaz, Citrine
Cat’s Eye
Turquoise, Zircon,
Tanzanite
Topaz
According to Vedic astrology, the star you were born under provides you with energy and good fortune when harnessed through precious stones that can be worn. A jyotish (astrologer) will be able to guide you with more details. The rashi ratnas for the various signs are as follows:
Aries(Mesha)
Mars (Mangal)
Coral (Moonga)
Taurus (Vrish)
Venus (Shukra)
Diamond (Heera)
Gemini (Mithun)
Mercury (Buddha)
Emerald (Panna)
Cancer (Kark)
Moon (Chandrama)
Pearl (Moti)
Leo (Singha)
Sun (Surya)
Ruby (Manik)
Virgo (Kanya)
Mercury (Buddha)
Emerald (Panna)
Libra (Tula)
Venus (Shukra)
Diamond (Heera)
Scorpio (Vrishchik)
Mars (Mangal)
Coral (Moonga)
Sagittarius (Dhanu)
Jupiter (Brihaspati / Guru)
Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj)
Capricorn (Kumbha)
Saturn (Shani)
Blue Sapphire (Neelam)
Aquarius (Makar)
Saturn (Shani)
Blue Sapphire (Neelam)
Pisces (Meen)
Jupiter (Brihaspati / Guru)
Yellow Sapphire (Pukhraj)
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In India, festivals, marriages and other celebratory occasions very often involve travel. Attire here, apart from resplendent silks and embroideries, also includes traditional jewellery. It is deemed polite and auspicious to be present at such events wearing one’s finest. Ensure your precious jewels are cared for with a few thoughtful measures.
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Lockers are the safest place to store one’s jewellery. While lockers offer convenience and peace of mind, there are certain disadvantages for your jewellery.
When kept over longer periods of time, jewellery in a locker is prone to tarnishing. A few simple precautions can help retain the lustre of your precious pieces while still keeping them safe.
Lockeritis is a condition that affects jewellery that stays in lockers for too long, and is caused by the temperature and continuous retention of heat. One can prevent this by storing jewellery in a breathable box that has pores. This prevents jewellery from getting oxidised as the air is allowed to travel and does not become stagnant.
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Jewellery that is worn daily tends to collect dust and this dulls its sheen. These pieces can be made to shine bright again.
Note - Do not soak jewellery with corals in soap water as this discolours the corals. The same is applicable to pieces that are made in close-setting. In these pieces, water tends to get behind the stones.
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Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to part with your jewellery.
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