Monthly Archives: November 2006

A Diamond Eternity Ring for Keeps

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Synonymous with diamonds is the word “forever.” This is basically why most people—especially couples—choose this as a symbol of their affection and eternal love for their partner by putting it in a ring or any other jewelry. Unless stolen or lost, real diamonds are meant to stand the test of time and generations. No wonder these are considered as the most expensive mineral used as a gem.

For men, a pair or two of jewelry is enough. But when it comes to women, it is altogether a different story. Most of the time, men have to contend in buying the engagement or wedding ring alone to keep some element of surprise while women would want to have a companion while choosing a ring to get better perspectives.

A ring to stand the test of time

If there were one kind of ring that exemplifies eternal sparkle and beauty, that would be the diamond eternity ring. Long before, diamond eternity rings were already described as the as the best “dress” or the “best wedding ring” because its endless or eternal loop is great symbol of love that would last for eternity.

Generally, all diamond eternity rings are set with a stone or diamond set. These are categorized as a “full eternity” ring—that has stones set completely around the shank—and a “half eternity” ring—which has stones set partially around the shank. Today, many eternity rings come multi-stranded or plaited, among other themes or designs.

If you are looking forward to getting a diamond eternity ring—whether as a wedding or engagement, for purely personal satisfaction, or a major investment—take note of its special characteristics aside from carefully examining the 4Cs—the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight.

In a jewelry store, two diamonds may look alike but they can be very different and just like two diamonds of equal size that have very different values. The four qualities of a diamond namely color, clarity, cut and carat weight determine the real value of the gem you are looking for. These standards are also applicable to most gemstones.

Usually, a full diamond eternity ring costs twice or thrice as much than the half eternity because it has more diamonds. More and more people—especially women—focus in buying half diamond eternity rings that have stones concentrated in the “head” or front of the ring because they can easily be sized compared to full eternity rings, more comfortable to wear, and less expensive.

Bear in mind that square, oblong and round stones are excellent choices for diamond eternity rings because of its continuity.

Don’t forget to compare prices. Diamond eternity rings need not always be expensive. If you have found a design that you really admire in a specific jewelry store or an online jeweler, try looking in other stores because they might be selling the same product with the same specifications for a lesser price. Make sure that you at least have a minor comparison of prices from several different jewelers before you finally buy that princess cut diamond engagement ring.

Check and double-check the bill of sale carefully. After buying your dream diamond eternity ring, make sure that everything about the ring is fully described in written from and explained to you by the jeweler.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Diamond Ring, please visit http://diamond-ring.articlekeep.com

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Top 10 Diamond Shapes – Which Will You Choose?

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Although the round diamond shape is the most popular shape of all there are many fascinating and beautiful alternatives.

Use this list to familiarize yourself with the top 10 diamond shapes before deciding to buy a diamond ring. For illustrated examples of all these shapes see the Diamond Ring Tutorial in the resource box.

Asscher

Named after the Asscher brothers of Holland at the turn of the 20th century, this square diamond shape has an almost octagonal appeal.

Cushion

If you want to be a little different, this is the shape for you. Cushion shaped diamonds can be almost square or slightly elongated giving a soft pillow shape.

Emerald

Emerald shapes are normally cut to a rectangular outline but some can be cut more square. Get advice from the supplier regarding length to width ratios.

Heart

Regarded by many as the most romantic of all the shapes, skilled cutting is necessary to maintain the diamond’s brilliance due to the complexity of the shape.

Marquise

If you want to flatter the finger and make it appear longer choose the Marquise. It’s shape is elongated with tapering points at the ends.

Oval

Another shape to flatter and accentuate a slender finger. Being similar to the Round shape, it has brilliance and fire.

Pear

This teardrop shape is regarded by many as very feminine. The cut is very important with a Pear shape so the light is reflected evenly, especially at the point.

Princess

This shape has the distinction of being the most popular next to the Round shape. It boasts clean, dazzling, square lines.

Radiant

The radiant shape is similar to the Princess but can be more rectangular. It combines the classic Emerald cut with Round.

Round

By far this is the most popular shape of all. The 306 degree symmetrical shape contributes to the dazzling brilliance of this shape. It suits almost every kind of mounting.

For more information on all these shapes plus the four c’s – cut, clarity, color, carat, consult the tutorial listed below:

Mike Tony Jones is a writer and webmaster with over 10 years experience. Check his free Diamond Ring Tutorial here:

http://www.vitalstop.com/Diamond-Ring-Tutorial

Mike’s body care web site shows how to have beautiful nails and cuticles so you can wear your ring with pride. Click here:

http://www.1bodycare.com/milagro.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Tony_Jones

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Romancing the Stone…the myth, legend and background of diamonds

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From the earliest days, stories and myths about diamonds have been filled with tales of mystical power, beauty and love. Some of the legends associated with diamonds include a city of diamonds protected by snakes, and diamonds that were impervious to the hottest fires.

Throughout history, the need to possess the glittering stones caused people to lie, cheat, steal and even kill.

The word diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas” meaning invincible. Diamonds were first used about 3,000 years ago in India and probably valued for their ability to refract light, although they were also said to be a strong talisman that protected the wearer in battle and warded off evil.

During the Dark Ages, St. Hildegard wrote that a diamond, held while making the sign of the cross, healed wounds and cured the sick. Hoping to cure sickness, people even tried eating them, although this practice was largely unsuccessful and had stopped by the Middle Ages, when diamonds became valued for their worth, rather than their healing properties.

It was during this time that diamonds acquired the reputation for being poisonous. The owners of diamond mines perpetrated this myth, in an attempt to stop workers from swallowing diamonds and thus smuggling them out of the mines.

Two of the world’s largest and most beautiful diamonds were discovered in India during the Middle Ages – the Blue Hope and the Koor-I-Noor. In fact, India still provides the foremost diamond polishing industry in the world today.

Smaller diamond finds continued, in Borneo, Brazil and a few isolated locations in North America, but even those finds weren’t enough to keep up with the demand, as India’s diamond supply dwindled. It was in the mid-19th century that the biggest diamond rush occurred, with the discovery of diamonds near the Orange River in South Africa. Diamonds were also discovered in Australia, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that Australia’s potential as a diamond producer became proven. In 1979, the Argyle pipe was discovered near Lake Argyle. It is the richest diamond deposit in the world, and now produces over a third of the world’s diamonds every year.

The most sought-after diamonds used to be white diamonds, until pink diamonds were discovered in the Argyle. Diamonds come in white, pink, yellow, blue and green. Green is probably the rarest because it has the least penetration of color and often the color is disappears when the stone is cut.

How to Pick a Winner

1. CUT. Not the shape of the stone, but the quality of its facets.
2. CLARITY. Clarity levels start at Flawless and descend from Very Very Slight (VVS) to Very Slight (VS) and Slightly Included (SI). Clarity measures the number of flaws or inclusions in a diamond.
3. CARAT. The weight of a diamond. One carat equals about 200 milligrams.
4. COLOR. Transparent diamonds (those created from 100 percent carbon) are rated on a scale from D (clear) through Z (light yellow). Grade D is the most prestigious, but, because they are so rare, natural diamonds with tints of pink, blue or purple have a cachet all their own.

How Hard is It?

No matter how it’s made, a diamond scores a 10 on the Mohs scale.

1. Easily scratched by a fingernail.
2. Just scratched by a fingernail.
3. Scratches and is scratched by a copper coin.
4. Not scratched by a copper coin and doesn’t scratch.
5. Just scratches glass and is easily scratched by a knife.
6. Easily scratches glass and is just scratched by a file.
7. Not scratched by a file.
8. Scratched only by corundum and diamond.
9. Will scratch anything but a diamond.
10.Scratched only by another diamond.

Ten of the Most Famous Diamonds and who owns Them:

There are more than 350 named diamonds that are famous for their histories.

The Cullinan is the largest cut diamond in the world. It was found in South Africa and was named for the owner of the mining company. The Cullinan diamond was 3106 carats, and was cut into 105 stunning diamonds. The largest was named the “Star of Africa” and is 530 carats. In 1907 this diamond was given to King Edward VII of England, and set into the Royal Scepter. It is kept, along with the other Crown Jewels, in the Tower of London.

The Cullinan II is 317.40 carats. The color is white and is the cushion-shaped diamond that is in the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. It is also in the Tower of London with the British Crown Jewels.

The Dary-i-Nur is 186 carats, is pink and is in the Iranian Treasury. It is the largest uncut diamond in the world. Its name means “Sea of Light”.

The Dresden Green is 41 carats; it is green, and a very rare type ila diamond of extraordinary quality. It gets its name from the city of Saxony where it had been on display for 200 years. The Dresden Green is now on display at the Albertinium Museum in Dresden.

The Hope Diamond is 45.52 carats, is blue, and is in the Smithsonian Institute. According to legend, a curse was placed on the large, blue diamond after it was stolen from an idol in India. Whether you believe in curses or not, the diamond has had a fascinating past – it was owned by King Louis XIV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to pay gambling debts, owned and worn almost daily by an American heiress, sold and worn to raise money for charity, and finally donated to the Smithsonian Museum.

The Hortensia is 20 carats, is peach colored and is in the Louvre. It is one of the crown Jewels of France, and was owned by Louis XIV. It was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland, who was the daughter of the Empress Josephine, the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte and the mother of Napoleon III.

The Kohinoor is 108.93 carats, white and is located in the Tower of London. As with many of the most famous diamonds, there is a curse of death and destruction attached to it. Its name means “Mountain of Light” and legend has it that it actually comes from another diamond also rife with legend, called the “Great Mogul” which was said to have weighed 244 carats and mysteriously disappeared in 1665. The Kohinoor was owned by the first sultan of Mogul, and passed down through generations, until it was given to Queen Victoria. It was recut and now rests in the crown of Queen Elizabeth.

The Orloff is 189.62 carats. It is thought to have weighed about 300 carats when it was discovered. For a while, it was confused with the Great Mogul diamond. One legend of the Orloff is that it was set in the eye of a god statue in the temple of Sri Rangen, and stolen by a French soldier dressed up like a Hindu. He is said to have escaped by swimming down a raging river during a storm. It was eventually sold to Prince Gregory Orloff. In an attempt to win back her heart, he gave it to Catherine the Great, who collected lovers and precious gems with equal passion. She had the diamond mounted on top of the double eagle in the Imperial scepter. It is in the Russian Diamond Fund, Moscow.

The Spoonmaker Diamond has many legends associated with it. (It supposedly got its name when the owner–who is said to have found it sitting on top of a pile of garbage –bartered it to a spoonmaker for three wooden spoons.) More likely is that it was purchased by a Frenchman named Pikot, who bought it from the Maharajah of Madras in India. He took it to France, but was robbed. The diamond ended up at an auction, and was bid on by the notorious Casanova. It was finally bought by Napoleon’s mother, Letizia Ramolino, who later sold her jewelry to help her son escape from Elba. It was bought again by an officer of Tepedelenli, and put into the treasury. When Tepedelenli was killed during a revolt, the entire treasury went to the Palace of Turkey, and the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, now called the “Kasicki” is there.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a 69 carat pear-shaped white diamond that was originally called the “Cartier Diamond” after the jeweler paid $1,050,000 for it at an auction. Richard Burton purchased it the day after the auction for Elizabeth Taylor. She later renamed it the Taylor-Burton diamond. Ms. Taylor wore the diamond publicly at a party for Princess Grace’s 40th birthday party in Monaco. She sold the diamond in 1978 and used the funds to build a hospital in Botswana. The diamond was later purchased by Robert Mouawad.
 

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Why Diamonds Really Are The Ultimate Gemstone

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Diamonds are a woman’s best gift and are the perfect gift for a wedding or an engagement, one of the most precious and valuable stones of today. Diamonds are a symbol of love, romance and power. However the groom-to-be finds it very difficult to choose the perfect diamond ring for his bride. Knowing the four famous Cs, which are cut, color, clarity and carats of a diamond is not enough to choose the ideal ring. So, one should know exactly how to choose the precious stone.

The style most popular today is the polished round one. It was one of the first cuts and carves that was developed and it depends totally on mathematical equations to create a stone with fire. It is one of the most brilliant creations of the early lapidates. Brides always want the best and most unique ring for their special day. These days diamonds are available in many shapes and sizes. For instance, they are pear shaped; heart shaped, diamonds shaped like a tear drop, oval shaped, emerald and so on. We have so many choices today, that it has become very difficult for us to choose our diamonds. We even have the choice of getting our diamonds cut according to the shape we choose. There is unique faceting of the stone also available, like the square princess – cut diamond.

There are a few patented authentic cuts that are available too, such as the long Ashoka diamond, Arprey and Garrad Eternal cut diamond, Elara which is a square cut diamond, whose corners are rounded, Asscher diamonds which are square with rounded facets, Couples diamond which are diamonds that form the shape of the circle of hearts, or arrows, a symbol of love and romance.

Though diamonds are not a very rare precious stone, its distribution has been controlled by the market, thus making it a very valuable and high priced gem. Diamonds are ranked according to their clarity. It should have a mirror like effect. The clearer the diamond, the more expensive it is. Diamonds are priced according to their carat weight. The prices keep fluctuating in the market; however the purest form of the diamond is very high priced. A one carat diamond costs more than 10point diamonds and two carat diamonds cost double the price of one carat diamonds.

A diamond is the ultimate gem stone. It is a polymorph of the element carbon. It is one of the most powerful gems and is a pure symbol of love, romance and power. It absorbs the negative energy that comes to the body. It calms the brain, making us very relaxed. It is known to take away nightmares. It is a sign of prosperity. A diamond can be enhanced with accompaniments such as baguettes and trillions.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as the jewelry and diamonds at http://www.jewelryanddiamondsplus.com.  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

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Diamonds: From Chaos to Girls’ Best Friends

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They begin in chaos, 75 miles or more beneath Earth’s surface, as carbon transformed into crystals by extreme heat and pressure. As volcanic eruptions drive the crystals upward, they can revert to free carbon atoms, or vaporize into carbon dioxide, or become the graphite that’s used in lead pencils. The survivors retain their original form only if they make it to a point near Earth’s surface where they can cool down rapidly. Here, under large plates of Earth called “cratons,” they form into diamonds.

The movements of land masses, glaciers and water have transported diamonds thousands of miles from their origins. It is believed that the first diamonds were discovered in riverbeds of India in around 800 B.C., yet their volcanic birthplace was never found. These abundant alluvial deposits supplied the world until the 1700s, when further exploration revealed diamonds in Brazil.

For centuries, people mined diamonds only from riverbed sands and gravel. Then in 1870, they found diamonds in the South African earth far from any river, and the era of dry-digging for diamonds began.

Ever-better techniques led to mining at greater depths. In South Africa, diamonds were found more than 150 miles deep in conical rocks called “kimberlite pipes.” And when one of the world’s richest diamond deposits was found on the beaches near Namibia, marine mining came into play, yielding diamonds that had been carried to Atlantic Ocean resting places by South African rivers eons ago.

For centuries, rough diamonds were used only as talismans, and they were rarely worn. They were thought to magically produce an immense variety of powerful benefits ranging from medicinal cures and protection in storms to punishment for lying. Possibly the earliest use of diamonds for jewelry was when a Hungarian queen’s crown was set with uncut diamonds in approximately 1074.

It’s believed that diamond polishing began in India during the 1300s, followed by the first diamond cutting in Antwerp, Belgium during the mid-1500s. While India remained the world’s central diamond source until more deposits were found elsewhere, Antwerp became the leading diamond center.

The 58-facet round-brilliant cut was invented by Vincent Peruzzi in the 1700s, but the man whose name would become synonymous with the modern round-brilliant cut diamond was born in 1898 to a renowned family of diamond cutters and dealers in Antwerp. His name was Marcel Tolkowsky.

By age 21 he had long mastered the many skills of diamond cutting. Now he developed a mathematical formula for the round brilliant cut as his doctoral thesis for the University of London.

The formula was calculated to maximize the refraction and dispersion of light through a diamond for optimum fire and brilliance with the least loss of material. It involved a precise combination of cutting angles and relative measurements. The result was a more beautiful stone than the European cuts of that time. Soon it replaced the old cuts, and became known as the “Tolkowsky cut” or the “ideal cut.”

Tolkowsky moved to the United States in 1940, retired in 1975 and lived until 1991. But meanwhile, starting in the late 1940s, diamond cutters had evolved variations of his formula and the industry became engaged in debate that remains unresolved.

Regardless of the controversy, Tolkowsky’s disciplined approach to a standard formula inspired the diamond cutting industry to reach new heights of competence and skill, shining forever through the countless diamonds that rise from chaos to be treasured as precious jewels.

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