Many stories abound about one of the most famous diamonds in the world – the Hope Diamond – and the most prevalent speaks of a curse to those who own it. This famous diamond is quite large at 45.52 carats and the color is a deep blue and is likely the largest of its kind in the world.
One of the most interesting physical aspects of the Hope Diamond is its classification as phosphoresce and semi-conductive nature. In fact, this diamond, when exposed to small bursts of ultraviolet light, will seem to glow in a vibrant color red. To the naked eye, the diamond is a rich blue which can be attributed to the minute traces of the element boron.
To determine how valuable a diamond is a diamond scale is typically used, based on the four characteristics of this precious gem. Clarity, color, cut and carat weight make up what jewelers refer to as the four ‘C’s’ with the clarity, color and cut having their own diamond scale. The scales are laid out from left to right and the more a diamond is graded to the left hand side of the scale, the more valuable it is.
Carat
While there is no diamond scale for this characteristic, the carat referred to as the ‘weight’ of the gem and is also used with other stones as well. Each diamond carat is divided into 100 points so a diamond deemed ½ carat in weight would also be listed as 50 points or 0.50ct. Obviously, the larger the carat of the diamond, the larger the size will be although this does not drive the price alone.
Natural colored diamonds are rare and highly sought after because of their exclusivity and the blue diamond is among the rarest of all. In fact, one of the most celebrated diamonds blue in color is the Hope Diamond which can be viewed at the Smithsonian Institute. The blue diamond should not be confused with a sapphire, although some may be similar in color, simply because the diamond is not only the hardest material known to man but it also sparkles and provides a fiery brilliance that sapphires cannot capture.
Natural and Rare
The blue diamond found in nature is quite rare but it can easily be recreated in a laboratory setting although it would not fetch the price a natural one would. When colored diamonds are found in nature, it is the presence of trace elements that give the diamond their color. For instance, nitrogen present during the formation of a diamond could produce the color yellow while boron can produce the color grey.
A diamond is the most precious and revered gemstone in the world and many people enjoy them in jewelry because of their icy brilliance and sparkle. When it comes to gift-giving, diamond pendants are among the most popular because not only are they attractive but they can go with almost any wardrobe or event. They can be dressed up with a jaw-dropping gown or present a classically casual look with a simple blouse and jeans.
The Solitaire
Perhaps the most simple, yet elegant of all diamond pendants is the solitaire that comes in a variety of sizes, colors and clarity which of course dictates price. Less is more is definitely the trend when it comes to these solitaires because these single diamonds set in a simple pendant doesn’t need anything else because their brilliance speaks for themselves. These solitaires can be found in a variety of cuts such as the round cut that most people are familiar with and the princess cut which is shaped more like a square.
Diamond mines for a long time have been a place where some of the world’s worst atrocities have been committed. These have largely gone unnoticed by the general population because of the extreme profitability of their contents. Diamond mines today have come a long way, but you the consumer should be informed as to what goes on there.
Diamond Mines: Why You Should Give That Ring Back
Diamond mines and mining are one of the most profitable businesses in the known world. The reason for this is simple, diamonds themselves cost nothing to produce, and by using slave labor are freely taken from the ground and sold for an immeasurable markup. In addition, because of this diamond mines around the world have become the center for civil conflict and wars leading to the deaths of millions of innocent people.
The Old World style of European diamond wedding bands are becoming more and more popular lately. There are two basic types of European diamond wedding bands, antiques and antique replications. This article will take a look at both kinds to help you decide which European diamond wedding bands are better for you.
True Antique European Diamond Wedding Bands
There is something about true antique European diamond wedding bands that brings a certain level of class and dignity to your wedding that can not be replicated. The advantage of purchasing authentic bands is that they have a history and charm that just can not be replicated in newer replicas.
Flowers are a classic symbol of more than one positive quality: beauty, delicacy, and love. For both delicacy and beauty, women are particularly fond of jewelry with floral patterns and designs. Diamond flower earrings meet the aesthetic needs of women’s jewelry and are very popular among women jewelry users of all age categories.
These earrings consist of a precious metal setting, usually gold, in the shape of a flower whose petals are fittings of a number of small diamonds. In some designs, only the nucleus of the flower carries a diamond while the petals are made of the constituent metal.
Finding that perfect ring for that special someone can be a difficult task. You want the ring to symbolize the love you feel for her, so it needs to be perfect. You have picked out the best diamond, but now what? You also need to choose the right kind of diamond ring settings. The diamond ring settings can make or break the look of your diamond, so choose wisely.
So Many Options!
Diamond ring settings are a few in number. There are channel settings, prong settings, invisible settings, and bezel settings. These all have their pros and cons, and picking one out really depends in the look you are going for.
One of the most versatile of all earrings is the hoop earring because it can be worn for dressy occasions as well as down-to-earth casual situations. What makes hoop earrings so much fun is that you can find them in a variety of precious metals, sizes, lengths and even shapes! Perhaps one of the most coveted of hoops is diamond hoop earrings because they are the epitome of dressy casual.
The hoop earring is one which looks like a circle on your ear lobe, as if it ‘looped’ through it, whether it is pierced or clipped on. While the hoop is traditionally viewed as a circle as mentioned above, it could be other shapes as well, as long as they appear looped through your ear. Diamond hoop earrings could conceivably be found in the traditional circle shape or even others as well.
Most people use yellow gold for their engagement and wedding rings. Some however like to be a little different and go for white gold diamond rings instead. The quiet elegance of the white gold often enhances the intrinsic beauty of the diamond much beyond its actual value.
What Is White Gold?
White gold is an alloy of gold and palladium or nickel. In most cases white gold is given a platinum look with the help of rhodium plating. The plating would need to be repeated once every few years so the ring maintain its beauty and dazzle.