[Jewelry making - Article 01265] - Re: [Orchid] Using diamonds from purchased bracelets

[The Doctor]

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>         Would they be diamonds? I don't know what CT.T.W means. 

    You're going to have to go to the store and see whether they are
    diamonds. CT. T.W. means "carats total weight" or how much all of
    the diamonds in the bracelet weigh together. 

>          If so, have any of you bought such a bracelet just to use the
>     stones out of it? 

    Never. Usually, most department store tennis bracelets contain low
    quality, highly included yellow diamonds that are lucky they
    survived the setting process. Most are I1 - I3 clarity stones that
    may break when you remove them from their mountings. Unless you know
    how to grade diamonds, I'd recommend that you pass on them. 

    You may occasionally find a piece of retail jewelry containing
    gemstones that are worth breaking out for your own use, but don't
    count on it. Very few department store retail pieces ever do. 

James in SoFl

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