Friday 23 December 2016

A Diamond Buying Guide on How to Prioritize the 4Cs

The 4Cs of the diamond are the very basic specifications you have to learn before making your actual purchase. It will affect not just the pricing, but its overall appearance and durability.

Which of these 4C is the most important, which one can you compromise?
Watch this video to learn more!

Enjoy!



- Joy Barcelona


Thursday 22 December 2016

A Classic Solitaire Diamond Ring

Classic solitaire ring designs are always one of the most popular ring design as they are timeless and easy to match with wedding bands. If you're wondering if you should go for 4 or 6 prongs ring designs, you can check out here.

For now, we'll be showcasing a classic solitaire 4 prongs proposal ring. We added a special touch to this by creating a cathedral setting (the 2 triangle holes on the side). This gives the appearance that the main diamond is elevated, where you want the main focus to be! Also, we kept the side profile view of the prong head clean, where you're able to see the complete side view of the main diamond.

Here's a video of it! The main diamond is a Super Ideal Cut 0.71 G VS2. Enjoy!



- Written by Casey Lai

Thursday 15 December 2016

Top 5 proposal ring designs for November 2016


One of the most common questions we often receive is, “What’s the most popular one?” or “What do people normally go for?”. If it’s for food, it'll be a stress-free question. Staffs will  probably recommend you their best-sellers or maybe dish of the day they want to promote. But when it comes to a proposal ring, it’s a very tough question to answer. With thousands of design choices out there, how would you even know where to begin?

To help you with your dilemma, I’ve gathered all the information of orders that we have for the past month and here are the top 5 picks for designs for November 2016.

But before that…. 😀 as mentioned, there are thousands of ring designs out there, but then again, I will be very honest. For the month of November, about 30% of our clients have opted for ring customisation services and created something personal and meaningful to them. 

This is when guys want to put more thought on the proposal ring that their future wife is going to wear in her lifetime. So ladies, give your man a little credit, flaunt your diamond rings! 

Moving on, here are the top 5 customised diamond ring designs we have picked  for the month of November 2016.

  • 6 claw twisted band in rose and white gold

This is an elegant solitaire ring design that gives the ring an overall delicate look. One of the bands is made in rose gold to give it a more feminine charm and at the same time to create a beautiful contrast. This white and rose gold twist band gives a very whimsical charm to your proposal ring.

If your girlfriend is a fan of bling, you can even take it a step further by adding some side diamonds.




  • 6 claw tapered band 



Tied on the second rank are two 6 claw designs. They’re very similar; both of them are classic and sophisticated. If I didn't mention this, you probably haven't noticed, there is a slight difference in the side profile design of these two rings. One of them has a heart shape cut out at the bottom of the prong head, while the other is a triangle hole.

They look alike from top view. They’re tapered towards the main diamond with 6 claws that make the centre piece look more rounded. It’s either you go for a girlish heart or a classic triangle design.


  • 4 claw tapered band 


The next design is another classic 4 claw (4 corner orientation) ring design. This engagement ring design is tapered towards the main diamond as well. On the side profile, the curvature of the prongs stretches to the tip of the diamond, giving it a very organic elegrant feel. This is further complimented by the triangle cathedrals on the side. 

This proposal ring design is one of my all time favourite :)

  • 6  claw knife edge band


Another 6 claw design that has made it to the top 5, is a uniform knife edge band design. Knife edge bands essentially makes the band appear thinner than it actually is. So you can retain the thickness of the gold while keeping the ring pleasing to the eye. My only concern is that some ladies may not find this ring design very comfortable to wear as the edge of the band might protrude more between the fingers. However, I know of some ladies who doesn't mind at all.

  • 4 claw spiral twist ring


The next design is very unique and gorgeous but slightly risky to choose when you’re not buying with your girlfriend. As compared to the rest, this is a wavier design which is really exquisite and stunning. However, it’s very dependent on a girls liking. Some ladies love it, while some may not be a fan of it. If your girl likes the wavy and flowy feel, this is definitely a good option for you. Overall this design gives soft and luminous appearance.

However, these type of wavy designs tends to be harder to match with your wedding band if you plan to stack your proposal ring and wedding band together on the same finger. Wavy designs may cause a gap between both rings, which makes them harder to match than the classic band designs.


So here it is guys! The top 5 designs of November 2016.
If you notice, all 5 of these designs are solitaire rings without side diamonds. Not that we don’t offer side diamonds, it just really so happened that these are the top 5 :)

Let me know if this has been helpful and if you want me to continue with these top monthly designs.
I’ll be more than happy to help you with your diamonds ring search.


Here’s the link to our facebook page for more ring designs.


For classic solitaire diamond ring design:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/JannPaulDiamonds/photos/?tab=album&album_id=206482112717611

For side diamonds setting:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/JannPaulDiamonds/photos/?tab=album&album_id=142693949096428


written by: Joy Barcelona

Add me on facebook: www.facebook.com/jp.joybarcelona

Friday 9 December 2016

What JannPaul Signature Cut Diamonds say about you?

Are you one of the lucky ladies who have a JP Signature Cut Diamond? Or are you one of the confused guys who don’t know which among the Signature series to go for?

Either way, do you believe that the type of diamond you chose could actually tell something about your girlfriend’s personality?

In my experience in the diamond industry, I’ve already encountered a lot of clients who came in alone, with friends, family or as a couple. And because of those circumstances, I became more conscious to some indication on what cut suits what character. If you’re still on your diamond ring search, you can use this as a guide in choosing the best diamond that complements your girlfriend’s personality. Continue reading and let me know if you agree. 😉



Super Ideal Cut: Simple but Elegant Woman




Classic round shape diamond has been very popular due to its simplicity, brilliance & timeless beauty.


Lady who prefers this diamond is said to be versatile. She’s a bit conservative and is a believer of traditional romance yet modern in her own ways. A woman who likes this cut is said to be very sophisticated and graceful.



Solasfera: Glamorous Bride


Solasfera, despite being round shape diamond, hold its own 
individuality to it.

A lady attracted to this shape is glamorous, confident, and adventerous. She has a very good sense of what she wants and what her goals in life are; but still knows how to have fun and is not afraid to show it.

Wearers of this like it due to the quiet elegance and regal feel it holds.


Brellia:  Fashionable and romantic Lady



Cushion Brellia is the choice of brides who are looking for a cushion cut diamond with a vintage appeal, but with a modern twist to it. So if you consider yourself to be stylish and lively, this shape is for you! 
This suits ladies who are contemporary and at the same time equally romantic and passionate to everything she does.  She will act as a leader and is very detail oriented.


 Octagon: Modern Chic


If you’re fashionable, modern and self-assured woman, Octagon would suit you best. This cut compliments woman who always stands out in a crowd and who will never back away from the spotlight.

It’s for women who love to be trendsetter, who’s creative, bold and innovative. They like how this shape makes them unique.

They’re said to be strong willed yet the sweetest lady you can come across. 




So which are you among these shapes???? 
Only you can tell!

Whether you're a simple but elegant, glamorous, strong willed or fashionable and romantic girl, one thing is for sure, you deserve no less than the JannPaul Signature Cut!

Do let me know guys, if the one you bought or you have matches your girls character.

Set an appointment with us today to learn more.
Our appointment timings are from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.



written by: Joy Barcelona

Add us on facebook: www.facebook.com/jp.joybarcelona

Sunday 4 December 2016

Ivy and Aaron's Engagement Ring Story

“Hi Joy! Just wanted to share this with you. It's been a while but I still love the ring so so much. If only this is something that I can purchase once every few months. Haha! We really appreciate your help in the whole ring-searching journey and hopefully I get to go back to JP and pick yet another ring soon 😊” - Ivy 

These are the lines that made me smile after a hectic day at work.

It’s been a year since I met Ivy and Aaron while they’re on their diamond search. 
The problem, same as most of the ladies, is when we see diamonds and designs: we just love them all, don’t we? This made the whole process a tad bit harder to finalize as we want the best of everything for the ring that we’ll be wearing lifetime. 

Ivy and Aaron’s journey was no different, they were torn between which JannPaul Signature Cut to go for and what design suited Ivy best. 

One year down the road, Ivy decided to write her experience in the Dayre app. In her own words.. 
“Here’s a post dedicated to my engagement ring + wedding bands before I forget about our journey to choosing the one!”

Let’s start with the diamond, after visiting different shops, Ivy have shortlisted 2 cuts - both of which are from JannPaul, one was a Super Ideal Cut, the other an Octagon Hearts & Arrows. If it’s only Ivy, I know for sure, Octagon is the one she really likes. But aside from the cut, she was also considering their budget versus the carat that she can get. After much discussion, they decided on the Super Ideal Cut diamond.

Diamond Settled! 😉

If you think that’s all, you got it wrong! The next part is even trickier! What design to go for? Should they get 4 or 6 prongs? Classic or side diamonds? Would a twisted band, crisscross or normal band suite her hand better? Should they go for white, rose, yellow gold or platinum? 

After 4 appointments, Ivy and Aaron shortlisted a few designs. By a few, I meant 3-5 designs. What? We’re ladies! And this is our diamond ring! It’s just so tough to choose one.  

What convinced Ivy was actually my revelation. On all those 4 appointments, I have always kept track of what designs Ivy liked, from the very elaborate split shank halo setting to the very classy tapered band.


On all 4 occasion, there’s this one ring design which always caught Ivy’s attention every single time without a miss. 

  I guess, if you really like something, you may not know it, but somewhere along the way,   you’ll still find yourself going back to the same thing.


A year after the successful proposal, it’s good to reminisce the experience and hear that they are still pleased with their final selection..

Congratulations again Mr. & Mrs. Loke! 

For the full blog of Ivy and Aaron’s journey, you can visit Ivy’s post in the link below..
https://dayre.me/ivyyt/mDGRGfyFwp


Written by: Joy Barcelona

Friday 2 December 2016

A Customised Solitaire Proposal Ring for Aivin

Aivin approached us to customise his proposal ring, with the inspiration of creating his very own engagement ring design. Although he didn't manage to visit our jewelry store in Singapore as he was located in Malaysia, all communications was done over email. This was a smooth and easy process where we managed to shortlist a diamond in his specifications and provide its scope images online.


Aivin created his own unique design from sketches, and forwarded them to us. This was a straight forward approach, where we simply followed his drawings and created a 3D render. From the side view, the prong head has a heart shape filigree. From his original design, we further customized additional filigrees in the cathedral gaps of the band. Overall, it gave the ring an intricate and whimsical look. From the top view, its shows a simple classic 6 prongs solitaire proposal ring, while on the sides, it reveals an intricate story.


Once the 3D render was approved, we proceeded to handcraft his ring with end product below. Each of our rings are individually handcrafted by our Mastercrafter. The beauty to this is that it gives the ring an organic look where the diamond and ring design complements each other.




We expedited his ring be be handcrafted before his proposal trip at Mount Fuji. Aivin shared with us some of his proposal and engagement ring photos below.

Proposal at Mount Fuji

Proposal at Mount Fuji

and some amazing diamond ring handshots.


Aivin's advice for the lads would be: "The satisfactions of designing your own ring is exquisite, you will notice small details  about your partner and what suits her most, and knowing she deserve the one and only design in this world because she is the special one. So, Just Do It! "


- Casey Lai



Wednesday 30 November 2016

JannPaul Signature Cuts


Happy Holidays! It's already December and we're moving to the New year!

Still not decided on what diamond cut to go for?
Watch this video to know the basic differences of the 4 JannPaul Signature Cuts 
(Super Ideal, Solasfera, Brellia and Octagon)


It might help you decide or shortlist a few cuts you can consider for your proposal.



So there you go guys...
It's an Octagon for me! :)
I'd love to hear from you guys.. What's your current favorite?
This might help other guys out there in their decision.

Here's some other useful links you can check out, to know more about the JannPaul Signature Cuts

Difference of Super Ideal and Solasfera:

Friday 25 November 2016

Octagon Hearts & Arrows Diamond on a Tapered Channel Pave Ring

The Octagon Hearts & Arrows diamond outshines traditional cuts thanks to its 88 facets and 8 Hearts & Arrows. It's a very bright, very firey and very very brilliant diamond. Under the light performance tools such as the Ideal and ASET scope, it shows great amount of light return and a perfect balance between brightness and contrast. 

It this video, the Octagon is set on a customized tapered channel pave ring, comlementing the main diammond. From the side profile view, the cathedral setting (triangle gaps) accentuates the centre diamond, by creating the appearance that the diamond sits higher on the crown.


- Written by Casey Lai

Monday 21 November 2016

JP Signature Cuts on a Hand


Showcasing our JP Signature cut diamonds on a hand. Each of our Signature cuts are meticulously handpicked to be the most brilliant diamond in its own class. Using the latest technology and tools, they are cut to maximize its light performance, surpassing the brightness, fire and scintillation of other traditional cuts.



JP Super Ideal Rounds are the traditional 57 faceted, 8 Hearts & Arrows diamond that is cut to the most exacting standard. Each Super Ideal Cut diamond goes through our stringent quality selection, involving several demanding criteria. All of our diamonds are handpicked to ensure that each is cut to the maximum light performance and is guaranteed to outperform any other 57 facets round.

JANNPAUL utilizes the latest technology such as the HCA tool, Ideal scope, ASET scope and Hearts & Arrows scope to analyze each diamond. No other jewellers in the world follow the same ambitious standards as JANNPAUL. Only a handful of diamonds are able to meet our uncompromising requirements. When you receive a JP Super Ideal Round diamond, you are guaranteed the most brilliant diamond. 

For more information about the Super Ideal Cut, click here.



The Solasfera Round is one of the very few modified round diamonds that manages to retain its Hearts & Arrows patterning. It is cut with an astounding 91 facets and 10 Hearts & Arrows. 

The exacting symmetry of Solasfera's cuts, which are crafted with unparalleled precision, creates a perfect optical patterning that makes a diamond's sparkle visible from afar. It is cut to obtain the maximum light return, showing a full red on the Ideal Scope, intensifying the brightness of the diamond. The additional Hearts & Arrows patterning in the diamond creates a breathtaking scintillation. Unlike others in the industry, Solasfera diamonds are always cut to maximize beauty, not size.


The most breathtaking diamonds exude the greatest brilliance (white light), fire (color light) and sparkle (scintillation). Every Solasfera diamond must measure off the charts in all three categories to earn its name. Each Solasfera comes with an independent light performance lab report (Gemex), to certify that it attains the highest possible grading in all 3 categories. 

For more information about the Solafera, click here.



The Cushion Brellia is the world's first Cushion Hearts & Arrows diamond. The sheer brightness of the Brellia even surpasses most rounds. It was made to have such brightness to enhance the whiteness, emphasizing on the arrows. It proved to be the most brilliant Cushion diamond to have ever been cut.

The Brellia has 57 facets in virtually the same pattern as the finest Super Ideal cut round, retaining the same scintillation. The pavilions (Arrows) of the Brellia are designed wider to create large bold flashes of fire that can be seen at further distance. 

Each Brellia diamond is cut and polished to the most exacting standards on earth. A standard known as "Super Ideal Cuts". It achieves the perfection of hearts and arrows with an AGS 000 cut grade, resulting in the highest brilliancy.

For more information about the Cushion Brellia, click here.



We are proud to introduce the world's first Octagon Hearts & Arrows diamond, also known as the D'amor. The Octagon Hearts & Arrows is intricately cut with 88 facets, 8 sides, 8 Hearts and 8 Arrows. The 88 facets increases the scintillation, creating a mesmerizing dance in the sparkle when you move your diamond ring finger. Despite the higher facets, it manages to retain the traditional 8 Hearts & Arrows patterning, maximizing the fire and colorful burst of light. It achieves the best of both worlds, optimizing the fire and scintillation, resulting in the most brilliant diamond in the world.

The unique shape of the Octagon adds playfulness to the diamond. It allows the wearer to create his/her own look. It can be set into a more squarish or roundish feature by simply rotating the diamond. The extraordinary octagon shape with the 8 perfectly symmetrical sides highlights the strong identity of the diamond. 

For more information about the Octagon, click here.



The Octavia diamond brings step cut diamonds to a whole new level. Unlike traditional step cut diamonds like the Asscher or Emerald cut, the Octavia achieves a superior brightness and contrast.
Its improved faceting structure gives it a stronger light return while maintaining a balanced contrast to optimize the fire and sparkle. The unique step cut faceting gives the diamond a more dimensional appearance. Any slight movement will create strong bursts of fire rippling throughout the diamond. The Octavia is the most brilliant and unparalleled step cut diamond in the world.

For more information about the Octavia, click here.

- Written by Casey Lai

Wednesday 16 November 2016

Mr Chong's Ring Customization Journey

When Mr Chong approached us, he was looking to customize a unique and meaningful ring for his partner. Before visiting us, he knew he wanted the Solasfera  (91 facets, 10 Hearts & Arrows) diamond cut for its light performance. The Solasfera easily outshines other round cuts with its extreme scintilliation effect (for more information, click here).

He wanted to customize a plain setting with engravings on the side, while having their initials "W" on the filigrees. A story he shared with us was about how his girlfriend was his sun, ever-lasting and ever-bright, always bringing happiness to his life. Hence, he wanted to add this story into the ring to make it meaningful. 

This is where we brainstormed to include an orange sapphire on the tubeto of the ring! The orange color of the sapphire would represent the sun. We handpicked the sapphires, that had the best color and proportions, ensuring they're suitable to fit into the tubeto. 


Finally, after several rounds of discussions and tweaks, we finalized on the ring design. Below is the 3D render that we provided, next to the finished ring. All our of ring customization comes with a 3D render which allows you to visualize the end product of your design.



If you look carefully at the orange sapphire at the tubeto, you'll notice that the sapphire is sorrounded by rose gold milgrains. The rose gold helps to bring out the color of the orange sapphire, while the milgrain patterns represents the sun rays! 

Alot of thoughts are put into every ring customization, where every small details is taken into account.
At the bottom 1/4 part of the ring, we kept it plain, to allow future ring re-sizing, if needed. 

After receiving his ring, Mr Chong planned out a road trip where he successfully proposed!
Below are some photos that he shared with us.

Photo credit to Jens Kv Photography

Photo credit to Jens Kv Photography

- Written by Casey Lai

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Why the Cushion Brellia Appears Whiter Compared to other Conventional Cushion Cuts

The Cushion Brellia is the World's first Cushion Hearts & Arrows diamond. 
Generally, fancy shape diamonds such as the cushion, square, pear, etc. do not have Hearts & Arrows patterning. As a result, it tends to have a lack of contrast (fire) and light return (brightness), giving it a 'crushed ice' look. This is why, if you've ever compared a fancy shape to a round diamond, the round diamond, you'll notice that the round diamond would always appear much more brilliant and firey. Hence, for fancy shape diamonds, most people would have to sacrifice on its brilliance for its shape.

Now this is where the Cushion Brellia comes in! The Cushion Brellia is cut with Hearts & Arrows and to the maximum light performance. What this means, is that not only can do you get a fancy shape (cushion) diamond, it would be as brilliant or firey as a Super Ideal Cut round!

For a more detailed illustration, below is the ASET scope image of the Cushion Brellia. It shows a good balance of blue (contrast / fire) and red (light return / brightness) areas. It also has minimum white (light leakages) and green (weak light return) areas. Overall, this would give the diamond a much brighter and firey appearance.


Below is the ASET of a typical Cushion cut diamond. First thing you'll notice is how much white (light leakages) and green (weak light return) areas, the diamond has. This would result in the diamond looking duller and darker, where there will be a lack of brightness as light is literally passing through the diamond. In addition, notice there hardly any blue (contrast)? This means that it will have very little or no fire.


Here is a video, where I compared a Cushion Brellia and normal Cushion cut diamond of the same Color grade (G). Watch how they perform against each other and how much brighter (or whiter) the Brellia appears even though they are the same color grade!


- Written by Casey Lai

Tuesday 8 November 2016

A Cushion Brellia on Pave Setting

The Cushion Brellia is the world's first Cushion Hearts & Arrows diamond.
The sheer brightness of the Brellia even surpasses most rounds. It was made to have such brightness to enhance the whiteness, emphasizing on the arrows. It proved to be the most brilliant Cushion diamond to have ever been cut.

The Brellia has 57 facets in virtually the same pattern as the finest Super Ideal cut round, retaining the same scintillation. The pavilions (Arrows) of the Brellia are designed wider to create large bold flashes of fire that can be seen at further distance.

Each Brellia diamond is cut and polished to the most exacting standards on earth. A standard known as "Super Ideal Cuts". It achieves the perfection of hearts and arrows with an AGS 000 cut grade, resulting in the highest brilliancy.

Below is a video of a 0.6ct Cushion Brellia on an 18kt white gold pave setting. Each of our settings are individually handcrafted by our Master craftsmen, highlighting the intricate details and great workmanship.


- Written by Casey Lai

Saturday 5 November 2016

How to Read a GIA Certificate

Wondering where to start when buying a diamond? The first thought that comes into mind is deciding on your Cut, Carat, Color and Clarity preference of your diamond. Usually, this is where you need to refer to it's GIA certificate. This is where you will get all the basic information you need.

In a way, you can use it to judge the grading and proportions of a diamond. Below is a video that will teach you how to read a GIA certificate and parts you should pay attention to,


Once you're shortlisted a diamond and checked it's GIA certificate, you will need the Ideal and ASET scope to analyze its light performance (GIA does not grade the light perfomormance of a diamond). What this means is that even if you get a GIA Triple Excellent diamond, it can still have a poor light performance!

Ideal Scope

The Ideal Scope is used to analyze a diamond's light return (brightness and contrast)


ASET Scope


The ASET scope is used to analayze a diamond's fire and scintillation.


Hearts & Arrows Scope


Finally, the Hearts & Arrows scope is used to analyze a diamond's optical symmetry.

- Written by Case Lai

Thursday 27 October 2016

The Solasfera Diamond

The secret to the Solasfera's brillaince lies in its facet structure and light performance. Unlike traditional designs, the Solasfera is cut with 91 facets and 10 Hearts & Arrows, maximizing its light return, fire and scintillation. 

The superior life and luster of a Solasfera diamond is immediately visible to the naked eye under all types of lighting. There are several scientific methods and tests that can help you understand why the Solasfera's light performance is above all. There is no other diamond like a Solasfera. 

During a side-by-side test, Solasfera has proven to outperform all other modifed rounds across every light performance tests available. 


Most diamond cutters, driven by profit objectives, cut a diamond to maximize its weight at the expense of ideal proportions, damaging the diamond’s light performance and beauty. Unlike others in the industry, Solasfera diamonds are always cut to maximize beauty, not size.


Generically cut diamonds tend to have light leakages. Solasferas are capable of grabbing hold of the light surrounding them and returning it to the eyes of the beholder. It manages to disperse light thoughout, allowing a wide dispersion of rainbow flashes.




Under the Ideal Scope, it shows that the Solasfera acheives a full light return (full red). This gives the diamond a magnificent brightness, where light paths that are going into the diamond are being reflected back out towards your eyes. Hence, the Solasfera can appear ''whiter'' compared to another diamond with the same color grade due to its extrodinary brightness.



The Solasfera has exacting symmetry where each diamond is crafted with unparalleled precision. This can be seen under the Hearts & Arrows scope to analyze its 10 symmetrical Hearts & Arrows.


Being over the top in it's light performance, each and every Solasfera comes with a Gemex Light Performance Report. The Gemex is an independent lab that measures the Brilliance, Fire and Sparkle of a diamond. The Solasfera manages to acheive the highest possible grade possible. No other cut has been able to do so.


Scientifically proven, Solasferas has the ability to outshine all other round cuts in the market. It is available from 0.3ct onwards and we have assorted sizes for Solasfera melees that can be set on wedding bands. Each Solasfera diamond comes with a GIA or AGS report, Gemex report and scope images analysis (Actual, Ideal, ASET and Hearts & Arrows Scopes).

Visit us to experience the Solasfera brilliance yourself and set light free!


Credit: www.solasfera.com

- Written by Casey Lai