What is the difference between a cameo and an intaglio?
Cameo refers to a design which is carved out of a material, and is raised up from the surface. An intaglio is a design which is cut into a material below the surface. Cameos and intaglios can be made up of coral, shell, stones, plastic, and glass. • When I went to sell my grandmother’s diamond ring, I was told that it wasn’t worth very much because it was an old cut. Is this true? No! The evaluation of diamonds is based around a system called “The Four C’s”: carat, color, clarity and cut. All of these factors play a role in determining the value of any diamond. Unfortunately, it is quite common for diamond buyers to use an old-fashioned cut as an excuse to push down the price of an otherwise desirable diamond. You may have been told that the stone needs to be “re-cut”, and the reduced size will diminish the value. Basically, if the diamond is over 1 carat, with good clarity and color, the cut itself should be the least important factor in determining a price. There is a strong market f