Even if you don’t have any time for stamina training, I know for a fact that this one exercise can be done no matter how limited your time is.

Running in place is guaranteed to get you in shape quickly, and make you shed off those extra pounds. If you do it for 30 minutes each day, you’ll begin to notice the difference in your stamina in a very short period of time. You can do it while watching TV. Just pick out one of your favorite TV shows that is about to come on soon, and run in place while watching it.

To get the most out of running in place, you must do it for at least 30 minutes each day (the length of your show), and run with high-knees when you do it. Lift your knees up to about abdomen level with each step and swing your arms. You can do it at any speed that you wish, just make sure it’s not too slow.

Running in place is used by many people as an alternative to running. When the whether is bad and fitness trainers can’t go outside to do their daily training, they don’t use the bad whether as an excuse to not train (well the success fitness trainers don’t), they turn to running in place. It works equally as well and is actually a lot easier to do. Plus with the high knees, you’ll also be getting a good calve workout as well.

So give it a try and see the results for yourself!

Ryan Dodson - Personal Fitness Trainer - There are a lot more easy, time-efficient exercises that you can be doing right now to greatly increase your stamina. Visit http://www.ebookchi.com/inhumanstamina.html to find out what I’m talking about.

Kidney cancers are diagnosed in a million patients each year, though millions of people are affected by kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is twice as common in men and accounts for 40-60 % of new diagnoses.

The most common form of kidney cancer is renal cell carcinoma, also known as RCC. It accounts for 66-75% of all cases. In most cases the cancer is found in only one kidney; though in some rare forms it can be in both. Kidney cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, bone, lungs and pelvic region. If cancer has spread to the brain some neurological symptoms will be present. RCC is responsible for 25-30,000 new cases each year.

Symptoms of kidney cancers are sometimes ignored because they are generalized. Though kidney cancer is on the rise, many people are not diagnosed until the cancer is advanced due to low or no symptoms. Many of the symptoms are those of other less serious diseases and the cancer is not caught at an early stage. Current symptoms are: blood in urine (light to dark in appearance), persistent pain in side or back, noticeable lump in side, tired or fatigue feeling and weight loss.

Many tests can be performed to diagnose kidney cancer. Urine and blood tests are usually performed first, if symptoms or suspicion of kidney cancer are present. Once these tests are performed, physicians may request a CT scan or ultrasound to look further.

There are many rare forms of kidney cancer such as renal sarcoma chromophobe RCC, which is responsible for 5% of RCC cases. This is very rare and has no standard therapy as of yet. Renal oncocytoma which is a large benign tumor which causes damage to other organs and requires surgery with partial or complete kidney removal, though it is not truly cancerous it does cause significant damage and require immediate treatment.

Papillary RCC is in 15% of kidney cancer cases and though rare, it is increasing in African American patients and can affect both kidneys. Collecting duct carcinoma is in less the 1% of cases. However, it is very aggressive and has metastisized by the time it’s diagnosed; usually requiring chemotherapy. Medullar RCC is also found in less than 1% of cases and most common in African American patients. Some professionals believe that it is connected to the sickle cell trait.

If kidney cancer runs in your family, or you are experiencing the above symptoms, you should talk to your doctor. As with all forms of cancer early detection and education are the best tools to aid in your protection and overall health. For questions you can speak to your physician, or contact the American Cancer Society. The best protection is early detection.

Whether or not you get cancer can vary depending on several things. Your age, family history, environment, lifestyle, eating habits and activity level can all play a part in whether or not you get cancer. Talk to your doctor if you have a family history of kidney cancer or you are a smoker. Smoking increases the chance of getting kidney cancer. Though there are no good screenings for this form of cancer, talking to your doctor about symptoms as soon as they appear will improve your chances of survival. Most patients are diagnosed over the age of 50; however, if you have a family history, testing should be done early.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Kidney Cancer

Do penis enlargement devices really work? Well, that really depends on the type of device you are planning to use. Though most of these devices do more harm than good, there is one penis enlargement device that really works, and is safe to use;

The penis extender, also known as the penis enlargement traction device, has become the most popular method of enlarging your penis without surgery. The reason for its popularity is because this device is very effective in helping you achieve permanent gains in penis length and girth size. More importantly, it is a very safe method to use.

In order to really appreciate the effectiveness of the penis extender device, you need to grasp the basics of what your penis is made up of and how it is able to get an erection;

Firstly, the penis is not a muscle like most people believe it is. Your penis contains three chambers that are made up of erectile tissue. All three of these chambers make up the shaft of your penis.

The smallest chamber is used when you urinate and ejaculate. This chamber lies underneath the two larger chambers. The two larger chambers are responsible for holding 90% of the blood that flows into your penis when you become aroused.

Every time you get an erection, it is only ever because of the blood that fills these chambers.

Let us now throw the penis extender into this explanation;

The penis extender device is designed to fit comfortably on your penis. This means you are able to wear it for numerous hours in the day. During the time the penis extender is placed on your penis, the force of traction is applied to its shaft.

The cells in the erectile tissue of your penis react to the force of traction by multiplying themselves in order to keep up with the device. The multiplication of these cells results in a larger penis in terms of length and girth. Because of this, more blood is able to fill the chambers in the shaft of your penis, therefore leaving you with larger erections.

Penis extenders are specially designed to always apply a controlled amount of traction to your penis. It is because of this that the device is very safe to use.

However, understand that there is a big difference between a good and bad quality penis extender device. Poor quality penis extenders have a high risk of injuring your penis. So please choose wisely.

If you would like to know which penis extender device we highly recommend, click here

http://sizegenetics.sexpertzone.com is dedicated in providing you with the best information on the penis extender as well as how to use it safely

Bass fishing might not look very difficult, but if you are an inexperienced bass fishermen, bass fishing can be very difficult. knowing what you are doing when you are out on the water bass fishing, can make the difference between going home with a boat load of fish and catching nothing. It doesn’t matter what type of bass you are fishing for you need to take into consider the following bass fishing tips they will help you out on your next fishing trip. Even though cover and structure sound like they mean the same thing they don’t. They actually mean two very different things. Cover is something that fish use to hide in while structure is something that can change the bottom of the lake.

Bass fishermen will commonly tell you that it is better to fish a combination of both cover and structure. Use your electronic equipment when your fishing structures that you can’t be seen with the naked eye. Match these structures with some good cover like downed trees or foliage, and your going to find places with large groups of bass. Ever fisherman knows that with large group of fish you have a better chance of catching the biggest one.

Casting might look simple, but its a very important skill that needs to be mastered if your going to be a successful bass fisher. Take some time to practice your casting method in your backyard, improving your casting method will increase your chances of landing that big bass. When it comes to casting it is important to use your wrist when your casting and not your arm.

When ever possible try to cast your line beyond the target that you aiming for, this will allow you to quietly approach the bass. This is a very important of bass fishing because the fish typically prefer areas that are quiet. You also need to make sure that you are as far away from the location you are targeting as possible, but make sure that you are close enough that you can cast your lure accurately. The tip of your rod should be loaded so that it bends backwards when you caste. This will allow for a smooth release, and it helps for a quieter approach as well.

If you take bass fishing serious, and want to learn more bass fishing tips then you need to visit: http://www.AllAboutBassFishing.com

We talk about happiness every day of our lives in our elusive search for it. We see happiness as something external we can just pluck out of nowhere when we want it, just call it up when we want to have a better day. Moreover, happiness seems to affect everyone else except us. If you are looking to the outside world or to material things for happiness you are looking in the wrong place. Real happiness cannot be found in outside of us. Often we are denied happiness because we don’t know how to begin the search.

Happiness has given us humans a lot of trouble for three main reasons. First, we don’t know how to define happiness to suit ourselves. Everyone defines happiness in a different way. Quite simply, many people don’t know what they want to make them happy so their choices change literally according to their moods. They believe happiness is something they work towards not realising, or accepting, that happiness starts inside of us first. It is not an ideal destination we spend our life heading for. It actually is with us every day, from this minute, and demonstrates itself in how we love and appreciate ourself. How can we ever find happiness if we don’t know what it means for us?

How can we be truly happy if we are not clear about what makes us happy or we expect others to fulfil that need? Defining what would make you happy, whether your purpose in life, your desires or visions, is the very first step to being truly happy. It means when those things appear you will recognise them instead of living in ignorance of who you are and what makes you tick.

Second, we are always looking for happiness with someone else or with material things. We often believe that getting a new dress, a new car, new flat, new yacht will do the trick: to bring us that elusive happiness we have sought. But any material things give us moments of temporary JOY. They do not give long term happiness. Material things help us to enjoy various aspects of life that money can buy but they bring no happiness where we live without self love, without esteem, without love for others and without care and compassion. We can have everything in the world at our fingertips, but if we lack self-love and contentment, especially when we feel like crap, we will remain unhappy.

Address the Real Issues

Cue stars like Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, both in rehab, and Whitney Houston with the perennial problems with Bobby Brown. They might be very rich people but has their money helped in their search for self-appreciation and love? If we are unhappy with our nose, no amount of fiddling with our hands will sort the problem with that nose until we address the real issue. Many celebrities believe that fame and fortune will make them happy, but then reach their desired rainbow only to find that they left their pot of gold way behind them. Happiness starts from within, when we are truly happy with who we are and seek no approval. When we can accept our warts and failings and realise that nothing detracts from the magnificent and amazing beings we are.

Finally, happiness eludes us because we think we do not deserve it.

I met a guy once whom I really liked but we never got off the ground because he kept saying how he didn’t deserve me or such a wonderful relationship. He was dwelling on the fears in his head instead of giving thanks for us finding each other. Naturally, his fears became a self-fulfilling prophecy because his negative thoughts began to sabotage possible meetings. As he felt he didn’t deserve me, he immediately put mental barriers to enjoying my company. Somehow, there was always a crisis whenever we set dates. He then felt terrible about it, which increased his feelings of inadequacy and reinforced his thoughts of being undeserving even more, in an unending vicious circle. We cannot have the opposite of what we are thinking. We have to think as we mean it to happen to get the results we are after.

So begin the process of defining happiness as it means to YOU. What would really make you happy for the next few years? NOT forever, because we evolve as people and our needs inevitably change with time, and not just for a moment either. Then look inside of you to see how you feel about yourself and how that happiness will sit with your general contentment and esteem. Then believe you deserve it because we all deserve happiness. Some people are not just sent here to suffer and some to be happy. We all face the same possibilities. Our outcomes depend on the choices we personally make which then decide the direction we ultimately travel: whether towards finding that elusive happiness or moving even further away from it.

ELAINE SIHERA (Ms Cyprah -http://www.ecademy.com/user/elainesihera and http://www.myspace.com/elaineone) is an expert author, public speaker, media contributor and lifestyle columnist. The first Black graduate of the OU and a post-graduate of Cambridge University. Elaine is a CONFIDENCE guru and a Personal Empowerment, Relationships and Diversity Consultant. Author of: 10 Easy Steps to Growing Older Disgracefully; 10 Easy Steps to Finding Your Ideal Soulmate!; Money, Sex & Compromise and Managing the Diversity Maze, among others (available on http://www.amazon.co.uk as well as her personal website). Also the founder of the British Diversity Awards and the Windrush Men and Women of the Year Achievement Awards. She describes herself as, “Fit, Fabulous, Over-fifty and Ready to Fly!”

I run my own business as a commercial artist and illustrator. In addition to event work and my web site, www.slushgem.com I also set up at art shows. I put up a large display of framed pieces behind a table and sell prints to the public. People often ask me if I’m the artist who did the work. This question always struck me as very odd. But I thought to myself perhaps it’s understandable. Just because I happen to know that artists do this all the time, doesn’t mean most people do. And maybe they didn’t see that the name on the tag I wear matches the big sign behind me that says “The Art of Paula Tabor.”

So, I made a little sign to clip on tag that says, “Yes, I am the artist.” I thought this would be a slightly more positive sales technique than a blank look and a “Well, duh!” But they still ask all the time. One day, I was wearing the tag, the sign, a canvas in front of me, brushes in my hand and a guys asks me if I was the one who made all that art! That time I did say “Duh!”

I began to wonder why it would seem so very unlikely that I’m an artist. When I asked around, some of my fellow artists thought its because I’m female. The public must assume that I’m the artist’s wife or girlfriend. I suppose it’s possible that that might be part of it, but I don’t think that’s the whole reason.

So, if it’s not some vast sexist conspiracy, perhaps it’s because I seem so…well, normal. I’m not some surly French guy with a beret, two days stubble and an existential crisis. I wonder if they can’t believe that this tax paying, professionally dressed person with an honors degree and a middle seven hundreds credit rating could possibly be an artist.

Why do so many people have such weird ideas about artists? Partly, I blame artists. Some in the creative community feel they have to shock the public, not only out of their complacency, but just to get their own existence acknowledged. America seems to have such a love/ignore relationship with its artists that, quite frankly, I can’t blame them. I’m sure Dali had a grand old time ‘putting the woof in barking mad,” but he was right when he said he wasn’t crazy. You simply don’t achieve that kind of superb master craftsmanship by blithering in a corner.

Some artists are very unconventional. Some are tortured and some are creatively frustrated–not just financially, like me. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, it’s just the stereotype that annoys me. It reinforces the concept that creativity is not attainable by the everyday person. Is suffering necessary for greatness? I have no idea. I just decided long ago that if anonymous anguish was necessary to achieve greatness, I would unabashedly rather be mediocre and happy.

Yes, history is filled with juicy, dramatic stories of suffering, unappreciated masters. But dull historical truth contains LOTS of artists who were productive, successful, admired and lived to a ripe old age. Obscure artists? Try Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Too archaic? Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish are a bit more recent. There are many, many more.

So why don’t I play the part? I could, I’ve actually done quite a bit of performing. I could simply “act” like what people might expect an artist to be. But if I could be happy being something I’m not, I’d be an accountant. I’d have money, a large home and lavish things like…health insurance. Yet, I work my ass off in this crazy, risky, frustrating profession because I am an artist and because I love it. The fact that I’m also very organized, fairly punctual and rather good at my own bookkeeping helps my business a whole lot more than quirky flakiness.

I don’t think it’s just my conventional appearance that people find so unlikely. I suspect that some simply cannot believe that a creator of art could possibly be the flesh and blood creature before them. No, the Great Master must be off in his studio, while this lowly lackey takes in the cash. Newsflash people: most artists do their own marketing. Not because they like it or because they’re necessarily even good at it. It just has to be done. If you can’t afford to have someone do it for you, you do it yourself. It may not always come naturally, but we can be taught.

There’s a reason they call it “art work.” It takes work. I mean a LOT of work! People tell me all the time that I’m talented. I suppose I might be, but I’m much prouder of my skills than my talent. All the talent in the world won’t help you a bit if you don’t practice. Maybe I was “given” talent, but the skills I worked hard for. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate compliments, but they just don’t pay the rent.

On the other side of my “Yes, I am the artist” sign, it says “That’s very nice, now BUY SOMETHING!” It’s not that I’m greedy. There are many reasons to choose a career in the arts, but a deep abiding attachment to material gain is not usually among them. Having someone fork out hard earned cash for your work is the ultimate professional validation. I absolutely LOVE it! It also makes my business accounting a lot easier when there’s actual cash flow.

I suppose that must be another misconception about artists; that we all have rich patrons with nothing better to do than support us. Not in this century! What is the saying? Oh yes; “The real National Endowment for the Arts in America is unemployment compensation.” I don’t know who said it, but they were right on the (lack of) money. Oh, well. I guess I’ll just have to do more art work.

Paula Tabor is a freelance commercial artist and illustrator in the Tampa Bay area. Samples of her commercial work and event art on http://www.slushgem.com Her award winning illustrations and portraits can be viewed at http://www.slushgem.com/fine.htm

Looking good should not always be the only reason for choosing the right clothes. You should always consider comfort and protection as equally important reasons. Having comfortable clothes would help you enjoy whatever activity you are engaged in by allowing you to move well. On the other hand, clothes should protect you from the harsh elements such as extreme heat cold and wind.

For outdoor activities, there are particular clothes that are appropriate to wear. To help you choose the right clothes here are some tips based on a particular outdoor event.

Polo Events

Since this activity would usually be held on open grounds, you would be exposed to warm and sunny conditions. The best way to protect yourself from the sun and wind is to wear a lightweight jacket that would have big collars you can use to protect your nape and neck from burning under the sun. The perfect complement for a lightweight jacket is a polo shirt. These shirts are designed to allow movement and proper air ventilation. If it is too hot for a jacket, these polo shirts would be more than enough for protection. You could always find polo shirts and jackets that have sporty design and vibrant colors. For polo fans, you can always choose a polo shirt that features the colors of your favorite team.

Shooting Events

Choosing the right clothes for a shooting event would be a little bit tricky especially if you are looking for something that is comfortable as well as stylish. Because of the nature of the activity, it would be smart to wear a Ptarmigan or a medium-weight jacket. These jackets would protect you from injuries like scratches and bruises. Aside from this, these jackets would contain functional pockets where you can place personal items without affecting comfort. For pants, you should choose a durable yet comfortable material like tweed or corduroy.

Fishing

The most important factor to consider when looking for appropriate clothes for fishing is the protection it can provide you. To protect you from the water, you should wear a bank vest, neck wrap and bug cap. You can protect your hands and head by wearing brimmed hats, wrist warmers and fingerless gloves. Make sure that you choose a bank vest with material that is quick drying, lightweight and waterproof. Your gloves should be made primarily of wool to provide you sufficient warmth. On the other hand, your hat should be able to protect you from the heat of the sun and should be durable enough to withstand regular wear and tear.

You can find all these clothes in different styles and colors. Creating a perfect blend of fashion and function can only be achieved with clothes made by manufacturers who have been in the industry for a long time. When buying outdoor clothing, money should be the least consideration since you would actually save more in the long term if you buy clothes that may be of higher quality.

Roxtons outdoor clothing provides you protection against the elements at your favourite outdoor sporting events. Clothing of style and quality emphasises your attraction to the great outdoors.

Coffee warmers come in two varieties - commercial, and for home use, and these are usually quite distinguishable by the price tag. However, this line is increasingly being blurred by coffee enthusiasts who have the money and want to replicate the cafe experience in the comfort of their own home. There are warmers that will warm your pot of coffee, and those that will just warm the cup. Some of the cup warmers are designed to be used before the coffee is poured into the cup, others to keep the cup warm whilst you drink it. This article will describe some of the different options available, who they are designed for, and why.

Coffee warmers that warm the whole pot are like the plates that the glass coffee decanter sits on in the brewers. Generally, most homes will not need this if they have a brewer, unless they have a lot of parties where they want the coffee sitting on the table and kept warm for guests. But it could be good for offices, and of course, cafes and restaurants. However, some people who drink a lot of coffee may find this useful to keep a second pot warm. They come in single or double warmers, so it’s perfect for those households that have different preferences - perhaps decaf and regular, or flavored varieties and regular. Overall, these are inexpensive items, so worthwhile if you do entertain a lot.

Cup warmers are generally geared to the home market, though there are some important exceptions. There are larger scale warmers that will heat 24 or so cups at a time, and the price tag for these is quite a bit higher. At first glance, these seem like a ridiculous proposition, especially with the price tag. However, they do have an important commercial function. To understand this, knowing a little bit of insider barista information helps.

The nature of the aroma and taste of coffee is such that the temperature of the cups it is served in is important, just as is the temperature at which it is brewed. If you’re fortunate enough to find truly good cafes, serving espresso, lattes, flat whites, and cappuccinos, you’ll know the difference. I’m afraid Starbucks, Gloria Jean’s and those chains don’t count! And for American style coffee, these differences don’t amount to much.

Cafes keep their cups on the hot coffee maker for good reason. Preparing coffee in a cold cup causes it to lose its’ flavor. The crema on the top - crema that is part of the coffee, not relating to the milk foam that is placed on cappuccinos - traps the aromatic molecules in the freshly prepared coffee, and it is these molecules that form part of its’ flavor. A cold cup causes the crema to disintegrate, and the result is a slightly bitter coffee. Even a temperature drop of half a degree or less can do this.

These differences are most pronounced for those drinking espresso style coffee - that is, without any milk. But as a milk drinker (soy actually), I can vouch for a noticeable difference in taste in flat whites I’ve had.

However, these issues usually don’t concern home customers. Aficionados will warm their cups with hot water before serving coffee in them. Commercial coffee cup warmers are too expensive, unless perhaps you want to impress your friends!

The most popular type of coffee warmer most consumers are concerned with are those that keep a cup warm whilst you drink it. These are like smaller versions of the warmers used in catering that keep the glass carafes warm. They serve to keep coffee at a regular temperature, without burning it. And they are quite versatile. They can be used for soups, tea, and hot chocolate as well. Actually, as a tea lover, I think it’s not a bad idea…

As tempting as the commercial coffee products are, unless you’re committed to the whole set-up - including a professional coffee maker and grinder - they usually aren’t worth it for home use. However, one cup coffee warmers are quite inexpensive, and can be a great solution for those that drink a lot of coffee - or those who drink it at a more leisurely pace. They are also great for work, when interruptions can mean you don’t get back to your coffee until it is usually cold.

If you’d like to read more about coffee, such as this article on flavored coffee syrups, click here.

With growing age, and especially when one crosses the age bracket of 40, one can see many changes in the body. Comparing both the sexes, a female body undergoes more drastic changes than a male body. An age above 40 lands her in a stage called menopause. And menopause doest not come alone. It comes with various things in hand. Its impact on the woman’s blood pressure cannot be ignored.

With the onset of menopause the blood pressure of a woman goes on a little higher than the normal. Generally, a woman has a diastolic and systolic pressure that is a slightly lower than that of what is present in men. But after menopause, the systolic pressure increases by around 5 mm Hg, on an average. A higher and uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to several other diseases and disorders in life. Therefore it becomes important to control the rising blood pressure levels and lead a healthy life.

But to maintain normal blood pressure, it is important to first understand the reasons because of which this rise is seen. There are many reasons that contribute to the rising blood pressure during menopause. The main cause is the hormonal changes that occur in the body of the woman after she encounters menopause. The other factors include weight gain with age and an increased salt sensitivity of the body. Various lifestyle changes also contribute actively in this cause.

But, there is nothing much to worry about. There are certain guidelines which when followed can considerably help you lower down your blood pressure. These guidelines will on the whole direct you to single path, which is involvement of various lifestyle changes.

Blood pressure has a direct relationship between the sodium intakes in your food. The richest source of sodium in whatever we eat is salt, besides minuscule of it is present in the rest of the foodstuffs we consume. Therefore considerably reducing amount of sodium intake in your meals will help you achieve and maintain a normal blood pressure.

With this, follow a good exercising pattern on a regular basis. It will greatly help you in maintaining normal blood pressure during menopause.

Also try to include more of fresh fruits in your diet. Besides, at the time of menopause, women should avoid binging on alcohol and smoking. But there are some types of menopause blood pressure-related problems that will require more than just lifestyle changes.

At times, to bring blood pressure on normal terms, several medications are required. Generally a medical professional will advice you to consume several forms of diuretics in order to correct the rising blood pressure. The reason being, that, with the onset of menopause, some women show tendency of fluid retention in the body. As a result of which they gain weight and have swelling in the body. Diuretics on the other hand reduce the water retention in the body and thus maintain a normal blood pressure.

There is no problem in the world that is solution-less. All you need to do is to be a little alert and a healthy body and healthy life awaits you.

To know more about high levels of blood pressure and low levels of blood pressure visit http://www.blood-pressure-updates.com/bp/magazine/edition/Living-With-Blood-Pressure.htm

Perhaps you have heard about the 4 Cs of a diamond. For those who are not very well familiar with it, the 4 Cs refers to the diamond’s cut, clarity, color and carat weight.

To what does a diamond’s cut refer? Is it the same as the gem’s shape?

Perhaps one of the most confusing attributes of a diamond is its cut. Some mistakenly use it interchangeably with the diamond’s shape but it is significantly much more than that. Shape simply refers to the general exterior appearance of the diamond. As such, a diamond may be round, oval or pear, to name a few.

The diamond’s cut, on the other hand, refers to the stone’s reflective qualities or how the stone reflects the light that shines through it. Generally speaking, the better the quality of the cut, the more brilliance the stone will reflect.

So, how does a diamond create that mesmerizing brilliance for which it has been famous? To understand how a diamond gives off its unique sparkle, let us take a little peep in the anatomy of this precious stone.

In a well-cut diamond, light enters through the large, flat top of the stone, which is commonly referred to as the table. The light then travels all the way through the lower portion of the stone (called the pavilion or the base) and is reflected from one side to the other before being sent back to the base and the observer’s eyes. This is the brilliance or the “fire” that we see!

In poorly cut diamonds, however, the amount of light reflected back to the base is significantly less. This is because a fraction of the light that enters through the stone leaks out from the sides or the bottom of the diamond. Less reflected light amounts to less brilliance.

The diamond’s cut definitely has a great role to play in determining the stone’s value. The stone’s proportions especially its depth and diameter can determine how much brilliance the stone can produce.

As stated in the beginning of this article, the cut of the diamond is very important. As such, several grading methods have been established to work as a guide for the consumers. Hence, a diamond can fall below these categories:

- Ideal Cut: Ideally cut diamonds have smaller tables and maximum brilliance. These types of diamonds are for those who genuinely appreciate the finer things in life. However, ideal cuts can only be applied to round diamonds.

- Premium Cut: Most premium cut diamonds (especially the round ones) have ideally the same quality as those of ideal cut diamonds but are priced slightly lower.

- Very Good Cut: In this case, brilliance is sacrificed for size. The reflective quality is still very satisfactory but in an effort to create bigger diamonds, the proportions are slightly altered by the cutters.

- Good Cut: Like in the previous grade, cutters have sacrificed some brilliance in order to create the biggest possible diamond from the original stone. These stones are for budget-conscious consumers who still want good quality diamonds.

- Fair and Poor Cuts: Diamonds under this category reflects only a small portion of the light that passes through it. These stones are those, which are cut to maximize carat weight.

You can now clearly see how the cut correlates with the brilliance and hence, the value of the diamond. However, selecting the grade of the cut really depends on the buyer’s personal preferences. It is entirely up to you whether to choose brilliance over size or if it is the other way around!

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Diamonds