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Thursday, December 22, 2011
A Winter Proposal Gift
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Congratulations to Richard and his now fiance on their engagement!
This lovely couple came all the way from London! They bought a gorgeous oval shaped diamond solitaire ring. Prior to returning to their homeland, the couple decided to make a pit stop at INTA Gems. We wish this sweet couple the best of luck and a happy holiday! Hope you both enjoyed your stay in California! 
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Survivor Star Jerri and Fiance Rob @ INTA Gems
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Jerri was also featured in the Survivor: All Stars and Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains.
We wish this lovely couple the best and a happy holidays!
Some photos of Jerri during her Survivor seasons  
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Monday, November 07, 2011
Best Wishes to Adelina & Stephen
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  A big congratulations to Stephen and Adelina who came in today and found a stunning natural fine-quality unheated Pigeon's Blood Ruby! It was set into an 18K white gold ring with diamonds and I'm sure it will make Adelina extremely happy every day. Thank you Mark and Elba for sending Stephen and Adelina our way! |
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Monday, November 07, 2011
What is the Most Important Four C's to Consider?
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 When shopping for a diamond, most people know about the important characteristics to look for—the infamous four C's (Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat Weight). But do you know what is the most important of the four to consider? Many debate over which of the four is the most However, based on years of experience in the jewelry industry, I have seen that a majority of consumers prefer size as their first choice when shopping for a loose diamond. If size is the most vital to you, then the most important of the four C’s would be carat weight. The carat is the unit of measurement for the size and weight of a diamond. Since the rarity of a diamond increases substantially with increasing carat weight, the value and therefore price of the diamond also tend to increase exponentially with increasing weight. For instance, a 0.90 carat round GIA certified diamond with moderately high quality (G color, SI2 clarity) would cost around $5,900 retail. And to get a stone with the same specifications, but in a larger carat weight at just a little over 1.00 carat would cost around $7,500 retail (Please Note: Prices are subject to change with the market). That's quite the big monetary difference for about 0.10 carat of an increase isn't it? Diamond prices increase drastically through carat weight increments. For example, prices can fluctuate from a 0.50 carat to a 1.00 carat. Or from a 1.00 carat to a 1.25 carat. But by just choosing a diamond that is a 1.06 carat would not have as much of a significant price difference from a 1.00 carat.  At INTA Gems, we contain an extensive selection of diamonds ranging in different carat weights as well as color, clarity, and cut. For more information or to make an appointment to look at diamonds, please contact us at 213-689-9650. essential attribute to consider, but it mainly comes down to one’s own personal preference. Some prefer a larger size versus the diamond color/clarity. And all four factors are taken into account for the overall pricing of a diamond. With each increase in size and quality, there is an increase in pricing. It is best to stay balanced with each of the four traits and tailor them in accordance to your budget.
Furthermore, you must keep in mind, that the larger the surface area/size, the more apparent the internal characteristics are to the naked eye (i.e. clarity, color, or cut). This is why I highly recommend finding the right balance among the four. INTA Gems & Diamonds carries a wide selection of GIA Diamonds and EGL Diamonds for you to choose from.
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Monday, October 03, 2011
All the way from Finland!
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 We are so happy for Jussi and his fiancee! On their visit to the US, they made a stop at Inta Gems! They picked a beautiful hand-engraved three-stone ring in platinum that she got to wear on her return flight to Finland later that day. Congratulations to both of you!!  |
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Saturday, September 24, 2011
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Congratulations Christie and Ryan! Ryan's grandfather's ring supplied the beautiful and meaningful family diamond for Christie's gorgeous new engagement ring from INTA. We are so happy for both of them!
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Monday, August 22, 2011
Dennis & Cynthia @ INTA Gems
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Couple Dennis and Cynthia came in today to pick up their yellow gold diamond ring. We wish you both the best and look forward to seeing you again soon! :D  
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Monday, July 25, 2011
Josh and Madoka @ INTA Gems
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 A sweet and lovely couple came in today to pick out matching wedding bands for their upcoming wedding. They had purchased their engagement ring from us as well. We loved helping Josh and Madoka find the perfect band to match their engagement ring. Congrats on the engagement and we wish you all the best!!!  |
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
CONGRATULATIONS ALYSSA CAMPANELLA!
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Last night Miss California USA, Alyssa Campanella, won the title of Miss USA. The pageant was held at the Planet Hollywood resort in Las Vegas. It has been a pleasure for us to have worked as the Official Crown Jeweler of Miss California USA. We wish her all the best in New York as she pursues her next title as Miss Universe.
We would also congratulate Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler, Co-Executive Directors of the Miss California USA Organization for all their hard work with Alyssa's win. They are the absolute best directors in the Miss Universe/Miss USA/ Miss Teen USA system.
Alyssa crowned Miss California USA earlier this year; Alyssa with Inta Gems owner, Jerry Young.
Alyssa crowned Miss USA June 19, 2011.
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Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Ferry & Miki @ INTA
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Today a lovely couple came to see us all the way from Holland, Netherlands! This great couple have been going on a road trip here in the states. We are so happy they chose INTA Gems for their diamond engagement ring. They chose a beautiful diamond solitaire engagement ring crafted from 14K white gold. We are so happy for them and wish them the best of luck!
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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
JCK Las Vegas
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Come check out the upcoming JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show that will take place June 3-6 2011 at Mandalay Bay! Our company, INTA Gems & Diamonds will be attending and checking out all the latest new jewelry styles! JCK Las Vegas is the biggest jewelry show for those in the jewelry industry. Where all jewelry vendors in the US come together to showcase and check out jewelry and gemstones.
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Friday, May 27, 2011
Francia Raisa Shines in INTA Gems
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Francia Raisa, actress in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, glows in a stunning custom designed INTA Gems ruby and diamond chandelier earrings along with a diamond fashion cocktail ring and matching bracelet. The gorgeous jewelry designs were made by our very own Peter Young of INTA Gems & Diamonds. Complimenting her ruby and diamond jewelry was a red gown designed by Tadashi Shoji.
Francia Raisa wore these gorgeous one of a kind pieces to the 2011 Gracie Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Beverly Hills, CA. The 22-year-old actress didn't leave empty-handed, nabbing an award for Outstanding Female Rising Star in a Drama Series or Special for her dramatic role in the upcoming episode. Congrats Francia! You looked stunning and we wish you all the best!!!
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Friday, May 20, 2011
The Rarest Diamonds- Golconda
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 Golconda is a ruined city located south-central India and the capital of ancient Kingdom of Golconda. Today this area is known as Hyderabad. The area was once known for their diamonds found in the Southeast area in a mine called the Kollur Mine.
In the past, these mines were the only known rough diamond mines in the world during 4th Century B.C. up until 1730. Only the finest diamonds were found and traded there. In fact, gemologists classified these diamonds in the "2A" range meaning they have practically no trace of nitrogen (diamonds are comprised mostly of carbon). And the defining characteristics of Golconda  diamonds are their incredible transparency, "whiteness", and overall purity. Golconda diamonds are so special and unique, it is highly prized, valuable, and extremely rare today. In fact, these diamonds are probably just archived at museums, Christie's Auction House, or Sotheby's Auction. Moreover, Golconda is believed to be the mine that has produced many famous diamonds such as:
 These gorgeous diamonds were created due to the enormous forces of plate tectonics as the Tethys Oceanic Crust converged with the Asian Continental plate, forcing this place to be subducted underneath the other. The convergent fault contributed to creating volcanic activity of magma, where diamonds are originated from.
Today, Golconda diamonds are incorrectly used as high quality diamonds. However, only diamonds that have a high level of transparency and quality found only in rare, chemically and optically pure type-IIa natural diamonds can be labelled a Golconda diamond. Additionally, "Golconda" is also used as a broad term to describe higher quality diamonds with an antique cut. 
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Thursday, May 05, 2011
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 Today we had the pleasure of seeing long-time valued customer, Roger, and meeting for the first time his beautiful wife Arleen for whom he has bought many stunning pieces of jewelry from INTA.
They had just returned from a trip to Egypt and Israel and wanted our help turning a very rare and special souvenir- a 2,000 year-old coin- into a wearable piece of jewelry. We are so happy that they thought of us! Thank you Roger and Arleen!
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Thursday, May 05, 2011
A Royal Wedding of a Prince
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Congratulations to Prince William and Kate Middleton on their gorgeous wedding from the INTA Gems family!
During the royal wedding, Keylee Sanders of Style Studio was able to rock out in INTA Gems & Diamonds jewelry. She wore a blue sapphire and diamond fashion cocktail ring along with a gorgeous diamond line bracelet. 
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Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Diamond- The Hardest Substance Around
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 The diamond is the hardest substance known to man. In fact, its name derives from the Greek word adamas, which means invincible. And hardness measures the resistance to scratching. It is graded from a scale of 1 ( being the softest) to 10 (the hardest) on the Moh's Hardness Scale. And diamond, being the hardest substance, has a rating of 10. Therefore, the only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond. In fact, diamond cutters use specially diamond tipped drills to polish a diamond rough. The hardness of diamonds contributes to its suitability as a gemstone.
However, a diamond's hardness depends on its purity, therefore a flawless diamond would have a higher hardness. A diamond that was more pure could scratch one of a lower purity content.
And the benefit of owning diamond jewelry is the fact that it maintains its polish extremely well; keeping it's lovely luster over long periods of time because nothing else can scratch it other than another diamond. This makes diamond jewelry the perfect accessory to be worn daily due to its strong resistance to scratching—especially for engagement/wedding rings (since engagement rings and wedding bands are jewelry that is commonly worn everyday). At INTA Gems & Diamonds, we specialize in creating customized diamond jewelry to satisfy every customer's needs. And have a huge selection of loose diamonds, engagement rings, and wedding bands so that every individual finds the perfect diamond ring of their dreams!  Another factor that is related to hardness (but not to be mistaken for the same thing) is toughness. Toughness is a material's ability to resist breakage from forceful impact. The toughness of a natural diamond measures out to 7.5–10 MPa·m1/2. And in comparison to other gemstones, this is a high value. However, when measuring with more tough materials such as some engineering instruments, this is considered low.
And many people often believe that because a diamond is the hardest substance known to man, it cannot be chipped or broken. However, this belief is false. A diamond can actually chip because they naturally grow and crystallize with cleavage lines. And if these lines were struck at the right angle and with the right amount of impact, the diamond can actually be broken into two. The same goes for a  tree. If you struck a tree at a certain angle and with enough force, the tree can split all the way down the line. And to diamonds, cleavage lines are the diamond's "kryptonite" or weak spots. Furthermore, when a diamond cutter cuts a diamond rough into a polished diamond the diamonds are cut and shaped following these various cleavage lines. But other than that, diamonds are still considered very durable and make the perfect jewelry! If you would like to see and learn more about diamonds, please feel free to contact us at 213-689-9659. We are located in the heart of the Downtown Los Angeles Diamond and Jewelry District.
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Wednesday, April 06, 2011
April Birthstone: The "Unbreakable" Diamond
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 April has finally arrived and we couldn't be happier! Warmer days are finally approaching to help us kick start our mornings!
The new month of April also brings in the lovely spring season with a welcoming of birds chirping, flowers blooming, and romance in the air. And what better way to celebrate that budding or everlasting romance than with the birthstone of April-the diamond! Diamonds are a gorgeous gemstone that have been prized for their durability, long-lasting presence, brilliance, and overall natural beauty. In fact, it takes millions of years to create a diamond in the earth's mantle under extremely high pressures. And the diamond is largely composed of carbon atoms that create an overall crystal lattice structure.
Throughout history, diamonds were prized for their strength and hardness. In fact, on the Moh's Hardness Scale that is used to measure the hardness of minerals, a diamond has a rating of 10 out of 10 (being the hardest substance known to man). Additionally, the name diamond is derived from the Ancient Greek word adamas, which means "unbreakable." So what better way to represent an unbreakable bond than with a diamond! Diamonds make the perfect statement for any outfit by adding a little sparkle to it. So show her you care with gorgeous diamond jewelry. They're not only perfect for those born on the month of April, but also great gift options for anniversaries, engagements, and just to say "I Love You."
 Please click here for more information on diamond education, loose diamonds, diamond jewelry, and how to properly choose the right diamond for you. And if you're interested in seeing diamonds, please feel free to contact us at 213-689-9650.
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Friday, March 25, 2011
Tribute to a Legend
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Few have had the courage to pull off magnificent jewels like Elizabeth Taylor. She died today, Wednesday March 23 at age 79 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center here in Los Angeles.
In her wake she leaves a legacy of films she helped to make extraordinary including Cleopatra, A Place in the Sun, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf, and National Velvet.
In addition to her films, she leaves a legacy of jewels, thanks in large part to Richard Burton who was twice her husband and showered her with important gems. These include most notably, the Taylor-Burton diamond, a 69.42 carat D flawless (!) pear-shape diamond. When she wore it to Princess Grace’s birthday party, she and Mr. Burton had to be accompanied by armed guards. In 1978, she sold the diamond for 5 million and used proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana.
Richard Burton also bought for her a 33.19 carat Asscher cut diamond, known as the Krupp Diamond. It was set into a ring with tapered baguettes and can be seen on her finger in many of her later films.
Elizabeth also received from Richard a heart shaped diamond known as the Taj Mahal (so named because he could not buy her the actual Taj Mahal).
According to Richard, “Diamonds are an investment.” Elizabeth, who named her fragrance line White Diamonds famously said in her ads “These have always brought me luck.”
INTA Gems and Diamonds is located in the LA Diamond District in Downtown Los Angeles. We carry a large selection of Loose Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands and Gemstones.
www.intagems.com
Ph: (213) 689-9650
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Friday, March 25, 2011
A Shamrock for Faith and a Clover for Good Luck
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 Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone from the INTA Gems family!! Hope you're all sporting different shades of green. :)
A little fact about the green shamrock is it is the symbol of Ireland and a three-leafed old white clover. It is symbolic for the Irish Christian's because it represents the Holy Trinity. Not to be confused with the four-leaf clover, which is very uncommon and is symbolic of good luck.
 Legend has it, the four-leaf clover brings those who find it good luck. According to legend, each leaf represents something different: the first stands for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck. Although it is extremely rare to find a four-leaf clover, a better alternative for St. Patrick's Day is to wear various gorgeous shades of green (After all, you wouldn't want to get pinched ;P). A perfect option without going green overboard is wearing a magnificent green colored gemstone piece of jewelry. Whether it be earrings, a necklace, a pendant, a bracelet, or even a ring. You can truly express hope, faith, love, and luck with green gemstone jewelry. And at INTA Gems, we offer some of the best green colored gemstone options for every shade of green. Some great options are:
 1. Green Sapphires- which offer great durability because of it's high hardness scale rating.
2. Alexandrites- which change color under different lighting to various shades of greens, browns, reddish violets, and other wine colors.
3. Peridots- which is a gorgeous green yellow colored gemstone that reminds us of the springtime.
4. Emeralds- which is a largely popular shade of green that many people seek. And in the true St. Patty's Day theme Ireland is often referred to as the "Emerald Isle" by mainly Americans.
Hope this gives you some ideas in wearing green. And again, have a great St. Patrick's Holiday! Have fun and stay safe everyone! :)
INTA Gems and Diamonds is located in the LA Diamond District in Downtown Los Angeles. We carry a large selection of Loose Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands and Gemstones.
www.intagems.com
Ph: (213) 689-9650
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Friday, March 25, 2011
A Stone of Destiny
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For centuries, sapphires have been worn by royalty. In fact, today Kate Middleton is wearing the legendary Princess Diana Sapphire Ring as Prince Harry proposed to her. But before Kate, another celebrity rocked the blue sapphire engagement ring - the Academy Award winning actress, Penelope Cruz.
 The famous actress married her longtime boyfriend Javier Bardem after he proposed a 3-carat sapphire engagement ring worth about $30,000. The two had originally met on set during the filming of the movie Jamon, Jamon back in 1992.
 Sapphires, a part of the corundum family, make a great alternative to diamond engagement rings because of their strong hardness rating of a 9 out of 10 (diamond being the hardest with a 10 rating). And they come in a wide range of colors (blue being the most common). Sapphires are also symbolic as being a stone of destiny. And what better way to show your special someone you two are destined to be together than with a "stone of destiny." At INTA Gems & Diamonds, we offer the widest range of Ceylon Blue Sapphires in various color shades. For additional information on blue sapphires, please feel free to contact us at 213-689-9650.
INTA Gems and Diamonds is located in the LA Diamond District in Downtown Los Angeles. We carry a large selection of Loose Diamonds, Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands and Gemstones.
www.intagems.com
Ph: (213) 689-9650
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Monday, March 07, 2011
Pretty in Pink
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Love is in the air this upcoming February as Valentine's Day approaches. And what better way to express your love and affection than with a gorgeous pink sapphire and diamond jewelry!
While many people associate sapphires with the color blue, pink sapphires have been gaining popularity in recent years. Due to their lovely color and generally excellent clarity, pink sapphires are now on par with blue sapphires in terms of their popular demand. They range in a wide variety of tones from baby pink to hot pink, all of which are equally attractive and hugely popular. Nonetheless, the ones with a more intense tone of color (i.e. hot pink) are rarer and thus command a higher price. What gives pink sapphires their lovely color are trace amounts of chromium. And if their is an extremely high content of chromium, then the stone would be red in color and considered a ruby.
Besides the qualities of hue, tone, saturation, and clarity, the size of a pink sapphire also bears a major impact on its price. Pink sapphires below and around one carat weight are quite common whereas larger pieces over 4 carats are very rare. Like their blue counterparts, pink sapphires also make great alternatives to diamond because of their hardness rating of a 9 out of 10 on the Moh's Hardness Scale (10 being the hardest substance-a diamond). And pink sapphires are natural stones a part of the corundum mineral family. And although it is a natural colored gemstone, like almost all gemstones, it is heat-treated (a commonly safe practice done to 90% of gemstones to enhance the color). So for this Valentine's Day, make pink sapphires the number one choice for the perfect romantic and sweet gift to give your loved one. It will definitely be a Valentine's Day that she'll always remember. For more information on pink sapphires or to see a selection, please contact INTA Gems & Diamonds at 213-689-9650.
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Monday, March 07, 2011
Trip to Sri Lanka
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Recently Jerry Pheng Young went to Ratnapura, Sri Lanka to get a handful of new colored gemstones. This wonderful journey inspired Jerry share this amazing trip experience with you.
Throughout history Sri Lanka has been known as the "Gem Island" because of their vast array of colored gemstones. In fact, Marco Polo once wrote that the area contains the best selection of natural sapphires, topazes, amethysts, and other colored gemstones. Additionally, the unique color, clarity, and luster of blue sapphires from Sri Lanka have made this region widely popular. These gorgeous stones have a hardness of 9 (on the Moh's hardness scale), making them a perfect alternative to a diamond (10 on the Moh's hardness scale). The sapphires from Sri Lanka are so distinct in color and brilliance that they even have their own name-Ceylon Blue Sapphires.
Today, Ceylon blue sapphires have been in high demand on the colored gemstone market. They make the perfect alternative to a diamond for engagement rings. However, during Jerry's trip to Sri Lanka, he realized that the supply of Ceylon blue sapphires are at a scarcity this year due to heavy rains that have flooded the gemstone mines. As a result, Ceylon blue sapphires are becoming more rare. At INTA Gems, we carry a selection of Ceylon blue sapphires that have been hand-picked by Jerry.
 
To learn more about blue sapphires, click here.
If you have any additional questions or would like to purchase Ceylon blue sapphires, please feel free to contact at: (213) 689-9650
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Friday, January 07, 2011
Robert & Joi @ INTA
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Robert and Joi, a funny and easy-going couple from the OC just purchased a gorgeous princess solitaire diamond ring today at our store. Congrats again guys! 
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