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The word diamond comes from Greek term adamas which means invincible or unconquerable and thus symbolizes the type of love proposed when offered as an engagement or eternity ring. Diamonds are weighed in carats and they are almost solid carbon. Surprisingly they have the same, albeit arranged differently, chemical fingerprint as graphite and buckyballs. Diamonds are one of the hardest most durable substances known to man being a perfect 10 on the hardness scale. Graphite is one of the softest carbons and somewhere in that carbon cycle are you and me, carbon based, lover of diamonds. The brilliance of the most beautiful diamonds owe their beauty to yet another diamond, an industrial diamond, the only known natural substance which can cleave and cut them. For centuries the only known source of diamonds was India but in modern times South Africa is the largest supplier of quality diamonds and stones of varying quality can be found in, what is known by miners as the Blue Rock and Blue Earth, in other areas of Africa, North and South America, Australia, Russia and Borneo. Diamonds come in an array of colors from colorless to almost black. The brown and gray varieties tend to be used as industrial diamonds and the pink and blue ones are the most valuable. Red diamonds are very rare and only 25% of all diamonds can be considered as gem quality. Diamonds have been used as currency, talismans, adornments and tools. From warding off evil spirits to decorating the crowns of kings and queens they have been valued by many races and generations as being the most precious of possessions. The universally recognized grading system for diamonds was established in Belgium in 1939 and is usually referred to as the 4’c.s Color, Clarity, Carat and Cut. Although diamonds have been used in society for centuries it was not until the 14th century in Europe that they were cut professionally and used in jewelry. The lapidary or gem cutter cleaves the diamonds into a variety of designs of which the most popular modern cut is the brilliant. The gem cutter’s job is to ensure that the stone is cut into facets underneath the girdle (the widest point) in such a precise way as to allow the most light to enter and maximize its refraction, reflection and therefore its brilliance, fire and scintillation. It is a common misconception that cut means the shape of the finished gem this is not the case. The cut is the manner in which the gem is cleaved regarding symmetry and uniformity. The shapes into which the gems are mainly cut are princess, marquis, oval, pear, radiant, trilliant, cushion, heart, emerald, Asscher and the most popular as the classic and timeless engagement ring, round. Diamonds are graded in the following classifications: FL - flawless diamond IF - internally flawless diamonds VVS1 - VVS2 – diamonds with very, very slight inclusions VS1 - VS2 – diamonds with very slight inclusions SI1 - SI3 – diamonds with slight inclusions I1 - I3 – diamonds with inclusions Care of your diamonds:
Try not to touch the surface of your diamond as even natural oil in your fingertip will leave a smudge and dull its brilliance. Wash with the mildest of detergents or a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water. Gently clean with a natural bristle brush (avoid vigorous brushing) Rinse with fresh clean water Dry with a soft cleaning cloth. Store them safely and carefully and away from other jewelry items which they could touch and scratch. If you clean your jewelry by a sink make sure that the plug is in situ. Vigorous brushing may loosen the stones settings. So gentle cleaning is a must. Make sure that you remove your rings before using hand and body lotion and creams and wait at least 15 minutes for the lotion and cream to be absorbed before replacing them. When you spray hairspray, perfume, insect repellent etc remove your jewelry and place, preferably in your jewelry pouch, away from the spray. To maintain your stones in pristine condition remember to remove them before sunbathing, gardening or performing any household chores. It is also a good idea to remove them before any gym or sports activity as perspiration can cause a build up and dull the brilliance of your gems. Before wearing your jewelry double check that the settings and safety clasps are secure as a moments thought can prevent an avoidable loss and at least once a year take them to a jeweler for professional cleaning and a setting check. Several of the largest known diamonds: The Cullinan: 3,106 carats. Cut into 9 major diamonds. Largest uncut Diamond The Star of Sierra Leone: 968.8 carats was cut into 17 gems. The Excelsior: 995.2 carats but was cut into 10 pieces and later into 21 The Incomparable: 890 carats was cut into 15 gems The Great Mogul: 793 carats. Its whereabouts is a mystery. The Woyie River: 770-carat diamond The De Beers Millennium Star: 777 carats. De Beers cut this almost flawless gem into a 203 carat pear shape stone The Sefadu: 620 carats The Lesotho Promise: 603 carats The Centenary: 599.1 carats The Star of Africa: 530.20 carats is in the Royal Scepter and is part of the English Crown Jewels and is securely kept in the Tower of London The Golden Jubilee: 545.67 carats. Largest cut diamond. The Kimberley: 490 carats The Regent: 410 carats The Premier Rose: 353.9 carats The Tiffany: 247.82 carats The Jubilee: 245 carats. The Taylor/Burton/Cartier: 240.8 carats The Oppenheimer: 253 carats The Orloff: 194 carats was purchased by Count Orloff and presented to Catherine the Great. There are several theories but no conclusive evidence as to its present day whereabouts. The Darya-e-Noor: 186 carats The Taj-e-Mah: 146 carats. The "Florentine: 139 carats The Great Chrysanthemum: 104 carats The Idols Eye: 70.2 carats The Sancy: 55 carats The Blue Hope: 45.52 carats The Uncle Sam: 40.23 carats The Dresden Green: 41 carats The Hortensia: 20 carats The Kahn Canary: 4.25 carats – flawless diamond Diamonds have been here forever and black diamonds may even have been one of the universe’s earliest hitchhikers arriving here on a wing, a prayer and a meteorite. When we choose a diamond as a symbol of our endless love and devotion it represents so much more than a pretty bauble. A diamond is part of the fabric of the universe, a unique mirror of timeless quality reflecting the beauty and sparkle of the stars above. |
| Diamonds |
| Emeralds: Treasure in your backyard: In 1998 Jamie Hill found in his back yard in Hiddenite, N.C., an incredible collection of emeralds of which the largest weighs in at 858 carats is valued at over one million dollars and is named the Empress Caroline. Rubies: The largest Ruby weighs 8184 g and is owned by the Beijing Fugui Tianshi Jewelry Co. Ltd. The largest cut ruby is the Rajaratna which weights 2,475 carats Sapphires: The largest carved sapphire weighs 80,500 carats displayed during the annual Unifour Gem & Mineral & Jewellery Show at the Hickory Metro Convention, North Carolina, USA on March 19, 2005 Millennium Sapphire is a blue gem quality uncut 61,500 carat stone Pearls: The Baroda Pearls, a two strand necklace of natural pearls were purchased by an unknown buyer at an April 2007 auction at Christie's for nearly $7.1 million. |
| Worlds Most Expensive Watch: Patek Philippe pocket watch sold at Sotheby's in 1999 for $11,003,500 to an anonymous collector. |
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