Monday, November 30, 2009

All About Synthetic Diamonds

Synthetic diamonds are diamonds produced in a technological process, as opposed to natural diamond which is created in geological processes. Synthetic diamonds are also widely known as HPHT diamond or CVD diamond where HPHT and CVD refer to the production method, namely high-pressure high-temperature synthesis and chemical vapor deposition, respectively.

Numerous claims of diamond synthesis were documented between 1879 and 1928; each of those attempts were carefully analyzed and none were confirmed. In the 1940s, systematic research began in the United States, Sweden and the Soviet Union to grow diamond using CVD and HPHT processes. The first reproducible synthesis was reported around 1953. Those two processes still dominate the production of synthetic diamond. A third method, known as detonation synthesis, has entered the diamond market in the late 1990s. In this process, nanometer-sized diamond grains are created in a detonation of carbon-containing explosives. A fourth method, treating graphite with high-power ultrasound, has been demonstrated in the laboratory, but as yet there is no commercial application.

SOURCE

DNA2DIAMONDS are truly personal. They begin with the signature carbon from hair or the cremated remains of loved ones (including treasured animal companions). This signature carbon is added to a diamond seed in our laboratory and exposed to the same process of extreme heat and pressure that happens deep below the earth’s crust.

In nature, it takes millennia to create a diamond; in our laboratory, it takes just a few weeks to create a DNA2DIAMOND that is GIA-certified to be physically, chemically and optically identical to earth-mined diamonds. And our process is environmentally-friendly and conflict-free.

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Watch a diamond being created!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Zimbabwe facing global diamond ban

Zimbabwe's diamonds have been placed on the blacklist by the global diamond trading network, despite the country's efforts to clear the Marange mining area of the security forces.

The global network of companies, under the Rapaport Network, has reportedly called for the ban of Zimbabwe's gem stones because of the alleged and continued human rights abuses at the Marange mining areas.

The group has also called on other buyers to support the ban on the Marange gem stones.

Zimbabwe had been given until June next year to clear its human rights record with the international trading and rights based organisation, the Kimberly Process.

The Southern African nation came under fire from the global traders following last year's alleged killings of civilians by security forces at the Marange mining area.

However, the Harare administration has been adamant in denying the reorted human rights abuse, further saying the country has complied with almost 90 percent of the Kimberly Process clearing demands.

Zimbabwe, which is still working towards a stable economic, social and political recovery had hoped that diamonds would help to boost a smooth route to its recovery.

SOURCE

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Diamond Found in 1928 - One of the Largest

A 34.46 carat diamond found in 1928 was sold at Sotheby's in 1984. It still ranks among the largest diamonds ever found in the United States.

One of the largest diamonds ever found in North America was unearthed in Peterstown during a game of horseshoes in 1928.

The gemstone, which weighed a hefty 34.46 carats and measured more than one-half inch in diameter, was sold 56 years later in a New York auction for more than $74,000.

But West Virginia’s state geologist wouldn’t advise anyone to purchase mining gear for their next trip to Monroe County. Michael Hohn of the W.Va. Geological and Economic Survey in Morgantown said the odds are extremely remote of another diamond finding.

“There are likely no other diamonds or other precious gems to be found in the state,” said Hohn. “West Virginia consists of 99.9 percent sedimentary rock. Due to the pressure requirements, diamonds are normally found deep in igneous rocks.”

The gem discovered by William “Punch” Jones and his father, Grover Jones, is a rare alluvial diamond — one that is revealed through riverbed erosion. The Joneses property is situated along Rich Creek, a tributary of the nearby New River. One theory is that the stone originated in Virginia or North Carolina before being carried by floodwater into the southeast corner of the Mountain State.

Documentation of the diamond can be found on a state historical marker situated along Route 219 in Peterstown. The sign indicates the father and son found the shiny stone while engaged in a game of horseshoes. Believing he was in possession of a relatively worthless piece of greenish-gray quartz, 10-year-old Punch placed the stone in a wooden box situated in his father’s tool shed. It remained there for the next 14 years.

Punch, who was the eldest of 17 children, later explained his curiosity about the stone was rekindled in 1943 when he became more familiar with carbon while working in an ammunition plant in Radford, Va. He learned its true identity only after requesting an analysis by a geology professor at Virginia Tech. At the urging of the professor, Jones placed the gemstone with the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History before entering World War II.

Jones, who was a newlywed with an infant son, was killed in action on Easter Sunday 1945 while on patrol in Belgium. Punch’s will left joint ownership of the diamond to his young family and his parents.

These were trying times at home, according to Charlotte Jones Faulkner, who was born during the year following her brother’s death. The youngest sibling and the only girl, she recalled her father did what he could with the meager income of a one-room school teacher. Still, he remained adamant about not cashing in the diamond.

“Dad wouldn’t sell it because of the sentimental value,” said Faulkner, who resides at the family homestead. “We could have used it very much, though, with all of those children. It would have been great to find another one.”

The stone was retrieved from the Smithsonian in 1964. With the exception of being displayed at the 1968 State Fair of West Virginia, it was kept in a safe deposit box at the First Valley Bank of Rich Creek, Va., for the next two decades. Sotheby’s Auction House of New York sold it in 1984, 12 years after Grover’s death. It garnered a sale price of $74,000 before deductions for commission and other expenses, according to Sotheby’s. The buyer was said to be an agent representing a lawyer from Asia.

After stopping to read the highway marker, Faulkner said tourists will occasionally ask permission to walk the grounds in hopes of finding another gem.

“It’s always been a popular story,” she added.

SOURCE

DNA2Diamonds -Unlike earth-mined gems and other lab-grown diamonds, however, DNA2DIAMONDS are truly personal. They begin with the signature carbon from hair or the cremated remains of loved ones (including treasured animal companions). This signature carbon is added to a diamond seed in our laboratory and exposed to the same process of extreme heat and pressure that happens deep below the earth’s crust.

In nature, it takes millennia to create a diamond; in our laboratory, it takes just a few weeks to create a DNA2DIAMOND that is GIA-certified to be physically, chemically and optically identical to earth-mined diamonds. And our process is environmentally-friendly and conflict-free.

While gemologically equivalent to earth-mined diamonds, DNA2DIAMONDS are more beautiful, more meaningful and more precious – because they contain forever the essence of those you love. They are truly the most personal diamonds in the world.

Discover a DNA2Diamond today!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Old Diamond Cut Enjoying New Demand

At Greenwich Jewelers in New York City, the current diamond cut of choice among the many well-heeled professionals who choose the 33-year-old lower Manhattan haunt for their engagement ring shopping might surprise: It's the cushion.

Cushion Cut:
But don't just take the word of the owners, Jennifer Gandia and her sister, Christina Gandia Gambale. Just take a glance at Gambale's ring finger and see which diamond cut the young retailer herself chose when it came time for her to say "I do."

"Out of the fancy shapes, cushions are definitely our top fancy shape," Gandia says, noting that at Greenwich, cushion cuts have pulled ahead of princesses in popularity.

In terms of engagement rings, the only cut of diamond the jeweler sells more of is the ever-popular round.

"I think it's New York," Gandia says, when asked why the cushion is such a hot item in her store. She points out that the city's women are exposed to a lot of advertising and, thanks to New York City's position as one of the world's fashion hubs, they also get a first-hand look at the emerging trends that all the big brands are embracing.

To wit: Just last week, at its New York City flagship on Madison Avenue, David Yurman unveiled its bridal collection, and "The David Yurman Signature Cut Diamond," which is trademarked, was none other than a modified cushion.

So should retailers all over the country expect consumers to start pouring into their stores in droves, demanding cushion cuts? Not so fast: Statistics provided by gemological laboratories show that rounds still rule the diamond market, and that the most popular fancy shape remains the princess.

But that doesn't mean the cushion--a cut that dates to the 1800s and derived its shape from the fact that back then, cutters were not capable of making a perfectly round stone--isn't growing as a category.

Still going round

Ask any of the grading labs for their statistics on cut, and the data will show the same thing across the board: Round diamonds still rule the day, followed by the ubiquitous princess cut.

At the International Gemological Institute (IGI) in New York, IGI USA President Jerry Ehrenwald compares percentage of rounds, princesses and cushions submitted to both the IGI's appraisal division, where stones are evaluated for insurance purposes, and the institute division, which grades stones.

In the appraisal division, the breakdown is about 52 percent round, 47 percent princess and 1 percent cushion, while in the institute division, it's 55 percent round, 35 percent princess and 10 percent cushion.

"Rounds are first and foremost," Ehrenwald says, adding that princess cuts trail at No. 2.

But ask lab directors and New York diamond dealers alike what fancy shape is making a move in the diamond world, and they will confess it's the cushion.

At the American Gem Society Laboratory, Director Peter Yantzer noticed a very slight uptick in cushion activity, increasing 0.8 percent in 2009 over 2008.

"It's not a big increase," he says. "We see far, far more princesses than cushions in our lab."

At IGI, Ehrenwald has seen the amount of cushion-cut stones that trickle through his appraisal division double between 2008 and 2009, and triple in the institute division.

And at another New York lab, EGL USA, Director Mitchell Jakubovic says his larger customers, meaning larger chains that do more mass merchandising, are sticking with rounds and princess-cut stones.

But there is a groundswell of grassroots-desire for the cushion among those willing to depart from the norm.

"For the specialty cuts, we're seeing the cushion has grown in popularity, and we have seen that over the past year and a half. We've really seen a lot more cushions that have come in," Jakubovic says.

Diamond dealers who earn their keep trading stones in New York City's Diamond District also note the cushion craze.

Nicky Mehta of Diamond Days and Ronnie VanderLinden, president of Diamex Inc., both chalk up the trend to today's consumers craving something new.

"I believe they [consumers] want to go with something different besides princess cuts," Mehta says. "They want to have some uniqueness in their center stones."

Jonathan Birnbach, president of New York manufacturer J. Birnbach, pins the increased interest in the cushion on celebrity style.

"A lot of it has to do with Hollywood," Birnbach says. "Celebrities have been embracing the cushions and the Asschers for the last couple years."

Though the cushion cut dates back more than 100 years, these stones are finding their way onto the fingers of young and hot Hollywood starlets who just hit the quarter-century mark.

Canadian crooner Avril Lavigne, 25, received a cushion-cut engagement ring from her husband, Sum 41 lead singer Deryck Whibley, and singer-actress Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, 25, sports one courtesy of her husband, musician Pete Wentz.

Then there is 21-year-old teen heartthrob Kevin Jonas: When the Jonas Brothers member popped the question to bride-to-be Danielle Delesea, he did so with a cushion-cut engagement ring.

But it's not just young Hollywood that's reviving this old cut.

At this year's Golden Globe Awards, actresses Elizabeth Banks, Mary-Louise Parker of Weeds and Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon all donned cushion-cut diamonds.

Recession special?

While Hollywood is known for starting trends that sweep the nation, there could be another explanation behind the rising popularity of this classic cut: cost.

Ehrenwald points out that one factor working in the cushion cut's favor, besides celebrity status, is that cushion-cut diamonds yield more from rough than a round brilliant, allowing manufacturers to price them slightly lower and pass those savings along to the consumer.

A simple search using Blue Nile's "Search for Diamonds" feature shows this to be true.

A 1.04-carat, VS2, E-color cushion-cut diamond sells for $4,474 on the site, while a round stone with the same characteristics is priced at $6,483, almost exactly $2,000 more.

But Jack Reiss, president and owner of Jack Reiss LLC, refuses to believe that the popularity of the cushion cut has to do with anything but the simple beauty of this classic stone, pointing out that all fancy shapes are less expensive than their round counterpart.

"I wouldn't say that [price] is the popularity of the cushion cut because then why not the pear shape? Why not the oval? It is the beauty of the diamond," Reiss says.

Seeing the need to differentiate itself, Jack Reiss, a New York-based diamond manufacturer, has made cushion cuts its business over the last four years and has seen that business take off, he says.

Cushions now account for 70 percent of the company's business, up from 10 percent to 20 percent five years ago.

Just recently, the company launched a retailer-focused Web site, ReissCushionCut.com, aimed at educating store owners about the cut and branding themselves as the cushion-cut authority.

"People really, really like these cuts," Reiss says. "And I've been able to keep my factory busy in these difficult times so there's got to be something to it."

SOURCE

Monday, November 23, 2009

The History of Sentimental Jewelry

"Sentimental" jewelry has long been worn to express a particular emotion or relationship: affection for a friend or family member, passion for a lover or spouse, loyalty to a monarch, devotion to a religion, grief for the death of a loved one. It can be a ring, brooch, pendant, or any other type of jewelry, and is often composed of or decorated with symbols and devices whose meaning was very clear to our ancestors, even if not always clear to us.

Charms and amulets have been used for centuries to protect the wearer against various ills and evils. In the middle ages there was the belief that certain stones had magical powers. Holy relics were set in jewels to protect the wearer. In the 16th century, memento mori (“remember that you must die”) jewelry became popular, decorated with skeletons, crossbones, coffins, and skulls. By the 17th century, these same symbols were beginning to be used for jewelry no longer meant to warn of mortality but to commemorate the death of specific persons.

The rapid growth of mourning jewelry at this time is attributed to the execution of Charles I in 1649. His followers wore his miniature portrait set in rings and lockets, sometimes worn secretly, and locks of his hair were much treasured. The use of hair in sentimental jewelry is ubiquitous. Because hair survives time and decay, it has long been incorporated into tokens of affection as a sign that love outlasts death. In memorial pieces, bits of hair serve as a sort of shrine to the deceased. In the 16th and 17th centuries, locks of hair were enclosed in all sorts of precious and elaborate lockets, often hidden from view.

In the 18th century, the lock of hair became a primary, and very visible, element of sentimental jewelry and was curled, plaited, and woven in decorative motifs, and sometimes was woven and knotted into bracelets, fob chains, and earrings. (The latter type became even more popular during the Victorian era.) Hair was also chopped up, macerated, or dissolved and used to paint miniature scenes of love and loss.

A popular Stuart jewel made to honor Charles I was the simple crystal heart-shaped locket. The style continued into the next two centuries as a more general token of affection. The locket almost always contained a lock of hair of a loved one. If worn empty, the clear, transparent heart signified truth or purity. The 18th century locket is a typical example of the rock crystal heart. This heart is shown crowned, which signifies loyalty.

SOURCE

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Rare 2.52 Carat Green Diamond Sells for World-Record $3.08 Million











Natural colored diamonds and other colored stones did very well at the Sotheby's "Magnificent Jewels" sale in Geneva this week.

The Roxburghe Rubies, a parure of a ruby and diamond necklace and earrings brought $5.77 million, five times the set's estimated price. A rare 2.52 carat vivid green diamond sold for $3.08 million. It was the largest vivid-green diamond ever to appear at auction and the sale set a new world-record price per carat for a green diamond at auction.

Swiss jeweler Chatila paid $2.52 million for a 3.17-carat fancy intense blue diamond which set a new world-record price per carat for an intense blue diamond sold at auction. Chatila also paid $3.13 million for a 74.8-carat fancy vivid-yellow diamond ring. The sale brought in $36.68 million putting it safely above the pre-sale low estimate of $29.5 million. A total of 79 percent of the lots up for sale sold.

SOURCE

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The History of Diamond Creation

After the 1797 discovery that diamond was pure carbon, many attempts were made to convert various cheap forms of carbon into diamond. The earliest successes were reported by James Ballantyne Hannay in 1879 and by Ferdinand Frédéric Henri Moissan in 1893. Their method involved heating charcoal at up to 3500 °C with iron inside a carbon crucible in a furnace. Whereas Hannay used a flame-heated tube, Moissan applied his newly developed electric arc furnace, in which an electric arc was struck between carbon rods inside blocks of lime. The molten iron was then rapidly cooled by immersion in water. The contraction generated by the cooling supposedly produced the high pressure required to transform graphite into diamond. Moissan published his work in a series of articles in the 1890s.

Many other scientists tried to replicate his experiments. Sir William Crookes claimed success in 1909. Otto Ruff claimed in 1917 to have produced diamonds up to 7 mm in diameter, but later retracted his statement. In 1926, Dr. Willard Hershey of McPherson College replicated Moissan's and Ruff's experiments, producing a synthetic diamond; that specimen is on display at the McPherson Museum in Kansas. Despite the claims of Moissan, Ruff, and Hershey, other experimenters were unable to reproduce their synthesis.

The most definitive replication attempts were performed by Sir Charles Algernon Parsons. A prominent scientist and engineer known for his invention of the steam turbine, he spent 30 years (1882–1922) and a considerable part of his fortune trying to reproduce the experiments of Moissan and Hannay, but also adapted processes of his own. Parsons was known for his painstakingly accurate approach and methodical record keeping; all his resulting samples were preserved for further analysis by an independent party. He wrote a number of articles --some of the earliest on HPHT diamond—in which he claimed to have produced small diamonds. However in 1928 he authorized Dr. C.H. Desch to publish an article in which he stated his belief that no synthetic diamonds (including those of Moissan and others) had been produced up to that date. He suggested that most diamonds that had been produced up to that point were likely synthetic spinel.

SOURCE

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Unique Perspectives - DNA2Diamonds.com


As seen on: Unique Homes.com

Diamonds are forever. When you purchase a DNA2Diamond, your loved ones, including cherished pets, can be with you forever too. DNA2Diamonds, a new, environmentally friendly company, creates one-of-a-kind, laboratory grown, GIA-certified diamonds in 70 days or less using the personal DNA carbon from a lock of hair or cremated ashes. Chemically, physically and optically identical to earth-mined diamonds, DNA2Diamonds currently are available in radiant, princess or brilliant cuts in red, yellow-green or cognac.

Customers are involved in the process from beginning to end — from receiving a DNA Signature Hair Collection Kit with step-by-step instructions to tracking each step of their order using their personal identification number. Updates are e-mailed to customers at the completion of each step in the diamond growth process.

“We want to appeal to a market segment that is looking for a way to create a commemorative keepsake that will be with them for eternity,” says Tom Bischoff, president and co-founder. The company’s first customer is a woman who lost a very special pet, a championship show dog who helped her get into the business and into breeding, says Bischoff. “She established so many new relationships she attributed to this pet and she felt very, very attached. She chose two smaller diamonds to put into earring settings.”

DNA2Diamond’s prices range from $1,980 for a mini set of two cognac diamonds at a total weight of 0.06 carats, to $18,575 for a red diamond at a weight from 1.90 to 2.09 carats.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Beautiful New Diamond Settings!

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Black Diamonds?!?

When Sarah Taylor, a 27-year-old law graduate from London, received an engagement ring, she was more than a little shocked, and not only because her boyfriend proposed on a railway platform in northern Scotland on a rainy Monday morning in March.

"It was black -- a band of tiny black diamonds, set in black gold," Ms. Taylor said. "When I finally managed to compose myself and look at the ring, it was exquisite."

Her 30-year-old fiancé, Paul Williams, a teacher, wanted to buy something different, so he opted for a black diamond. "Why go for bog-standard solitaire?" he said. "I wanted something out of the ordinary."

Mr. Williams turned out to be remarkably in touch. Tired of the garish bling that has come to epitomize Champagne-popping yacht hoppers, many shoppers are seeking out more original types of diamonds, with rough cuts or alternative hues -- and black diamonds have become a particularly popular choice. Apart from their own distinctive qualities, alternative diamonds are also a better credit-crunch choice: Both rough diamonds and treated, colored diamonds are cheaper than their polished counterparts.

Ms. Lampson said she likes using black diamonds because they reflect the light in a special way, flashing in a bright white. "If you see someone wearing a black diamond necklace, it catches your eye from the other side of the room," she said. "Unlike a white diamond, there are no rainbows, no internal reflection. They possess this very special opaqueness."

Hollywood also has given black diamonds a boost. Sarah Jessica Parker donned a black diamond strand necklace by American jeweler Itay Malkin in the "Sex and the City" movie, and Adrian Grenier sported a similar one in this season's finale of the TV show "Entourage." At the Baselworld jewelery fair in March -- a barometer of what's going to be hot in the coming year -- the pairing of black and white diamonds was one of the strongest trends. According to its organizers, the show featured a lot of "unpretentious jewelery" -- pieces that didn't draw attention to the wearer and could be worn every day, such as those with dark or rough stones.

Cult Mayfair-based jeweler Stephen Webster, whose neo-gothic crab rings, poison-ivy necklaces and knuckle dusters are worn by gothic-inclined celebrities, fashionistas and socialites, sees the shift in trend as part of a cultural zeitgeist. "Black diamonds are about dark glamour, which is perfect for today," Mr. Webster says. "There is a huge craze for the romantic, grown-up goth, symbolized by interest in [vampire TV] programs like 'True Blood.' I think this look has become quite seductive." Mr. Websters says that one of his clients -- a Russian art collector -- has commissioned him to make a £20,000 vampire ring that will include black diamonds. Mr. Webster added that black diamonds have captured another, previously untapped audience: "Earlier this year I made a bespoke black diamond tie-bar for Mickey Rourke, and Russell Brand is a real fan of our black-diamond pieces. Men are going mad for them -- it's the acceptable non-bling way to wear jewelery."

Black diamonds have a storied history. In medieval Italy, they were known as the "stones of reconciliation." A wave of a black diamond in the face of an unhappy spouse would, according to legend, clear things up. The Duke of Wellington admired them for their opaque beauty and reportedly owned a black diamond weighing 12.25 carats. One of the largest black diamonds in the world today -- the Spirit of de Grisogono -- comes in at a whopping 312 carats.

These show-stoppers are genuine black diamonds, which acquire their gloomy hue naturally because they have high concentrations of dark crystals, such as sulphides. Manufacturers also can treat diamonds to make them black. Modern processes have allowed them to enhance and change the color of poor-quality, muddy diamonds -- which would never be sold in their natural state -- in a laboratory, using radiation or heating. Both natural and treated black diamonds are much cheaper than your run-of-the-mill diamond. Whereas a one-carat white diamond can range from £3,000 to £8,000, a natural black diamond costs £250-£450 a carat, and treated black diamonds start at only £80-£120 a carat. Diamonds treated to become colors other than black cost from £500 to £2,000 a carat. (The real thing will cost you a small fortune -- "fancy color" natural diamonds, such as red, blue and yellow, are the most expensive in the world).

Rough diamonds are also becoming stylish. In keeping with more austere times, these natural stones are admired for their raw, organic quality. Worn by royals hundreds of year ago, before polishing techniques were mastered, they are enjoying a revival as people look to adorn themselves with less ostentatious, subtler rocks.

London jeweler Leonardo Pieroni has been using rough diamonds for more than 20 years. His beautiful, simple designs -- a gold band with a single stone is one of his signature styles -- are a way to own diamonds without breaking the bank. A four-carat rough diamond gold ring, for example, fetches £3,200 -- much cheaper than a polished rock of the same size, which would go for £10,500 to £250,000, depending on its quality.

Recently, however, rough diamonds have started to go luxe too. De Beers's Talisman collection, which is based on rough diamonds and features beautiful, rustic-style medallions, pendants and rings, is definitely not a budget option: A pair of yellow gold earrings containing 7.41 carats of rough and polished stones costs £16,500.

Another leader in rough-luxe diamond jewelery is American company Diamond in the Rough. Started four years ago by New York-based Anjanette Clisura and Daniel Eskapa, who felt there was something missing in the market, the company now sells its jewelry around the world. "I think that rough is so appealing because you get to see the stone exactly how nature has formed it," said Ms. Clisura, who became interested in rough gems over 10 years ago, when she was working for diamond miner Leviev. "So many years of heat, pressure and natural gasses have turned carbon into this amazing stone with all its natural crystal shapes. It has a perfect raw beauty."

Diamond in the Rough sells its jewelry at the Moussaieff stores in London and Geneva, with prices starting at £6,000 for a ring with a sizable rough diamond. Many pieces include smaller, polished diamonds as well. "There is a craze for everything that is natural these days, and these are something different, a conversation piece," said Alisa Moussaieff, Moussaieff's managing director and owner.

What's next for jewelery? Baselworld featured an array of purple-hued jewelery made from stones like agate and amethyst. In the U.K., Mayfair jeweler Mr. Webster says people are already searching for something edgier. "I've had huge demand for gray diamonds recently," he said. "They're definitely going to be the new black."

—Jemima Sissons is a writer based in London.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Are you an Eco-Friendly Bride?


For years, it has been challenging for an environmentally sensitive, eco-friendly bride to find an engagement ring she can wear with a clear conscience. From destructive mining operations for diamonds, gemstones and precious metals, to sub-standard working conditions in these mines, what is a responsible bride to do?

While white or colorless diamonds are the most common choice for an engagement ring, however, recently colored diamonds are becoming highly popular with celebrities and especially brides.

Combining the best of all worlds - colored diamonds can be lab-grown making them eco-friendly. These diamonds share the same properties as mined diamonds, except for their origin.

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Unlike any other diamond in the world, a DNA2Diamond truly embodies you and your future spouses unique passions, memories, hopes and dreams because they are born from the signature carbon (locks of hair) of the bride and groom. Personally crafted based on your wishes and unique style, your personal diamond will always be a beautiful reminder of the greatest jewels in your life and become a family heirloom that will be treasured by many generations to come.

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Diamond Engagement Ring Maintenance

A Diamond Engagement ring is one of the most cherished possessions that you can own. Knowing how to properly care for your diamond engagement ring can ensure that it will last for an eternity. A Diamond Engagement Ring is not only a precious symbol of your never ending love but also a investment which should be well maintained and cared for.

Diamond Engagement Rings and other precious jewelry worn daily require additional care from time to time. A diamond engagement ring worn daily may be affected or damaged by some harsh chemicals and activities. It is wise to remove any Diamond jewelry before attending to household chores to avoid daily wear and tear.

Wear And Tear on Diamond Engagement Rings

Through daily activities, diamond engagement rings can get dirty. They are prone to dust and dirt, even though you may take them off when doing household chores. Soaps, lotions, and our natural skin oils can cause stains which can dull the sparkle of your diamond engagement ring.So, for keeping your diamond engagement ring shiny , do not forget to wash your ring frequently. Frequent cleaning will not allow layers of dust and oils to collect on the ring and will help to keep your ring in its original condition. For cleaning, all you need is a small soft bristled brush and warm soapy water. Put your ring in the water and gently scrub it with the brush to revive the diamonds studded in the ring. Rinse it with fresh water and dry it with a soft towel.

In some situations, your ring may require something a bit stronger than soap and water. Use a combination of half water and half ammonia, soak your diamond engagement ring in it for 30 minutes. Then gently brush it with a soft brush. Rinse and dry.

Jewelry cleaning kits have also emerged as a good alternative recently. Not only do they ensure the proper mixture of cleaning chemicals to clean your ring but they are also able to restore your diamonds to their original brilliance.

Besides cleaning your ring on a regular basis, do not forget to take your diamond ring to a jeweler once a year. A jeweler can check the setting and make any necessary repairs to avoid damage or loss of the stones.

It is recommended that your store your diamond engagement ring in a fabric lined jewel case when you are not wearing it. This will help minimize unnecessary damage to your ring.

A Diamond engagement ring is a beautiful gift and its meaning makes it all the more precious. Taking proper care and precautions will ensure that you are able to enjoy it for a lifetime.

SOURCE

Monday, November 9, 2009

Choosing a Diamond Wedding Ring...

With the choices available today, choosing a wedding ring can be exhausting. It is even more so when you are trying to buy a diamond wedding ring. Who do you buy it from? Where do you start? What should the base metal be? Where can I find the best selection of styles? These are probably just a few of the questions that will be swarming around in your head. This article will try and make your life a little simpler.

The cost vs. your budget

Yes, everyone agrees on the fact that a wedding ring is much more than just a band around your finger. It symbolism commitment and love for a lifetime between two people. Therefore choosing a wedding band had to be carefully done. It should be perfect. However, this definitely does not mean that you spend the rest of your life trying to pay off the ring. Set aside a sensible budget for your diamond wedding ring and stick to it. It is really not a wise idea to buy one that you cannot afford.

The base metal

Once you have decided on the amount you would like to spend on your ring, decide on the base metal. Would you like to have it in gold, white gold or platinum? While gold and white gold are close in their pricing, platinum will cost a lot more. At this point you will need to decide on whether you want to spend on the diamond or on the base metal of your ring.

The other elements
When choosing your diamond wedding ring you will also need to pay attention to the cut, color and clarity of the stone / stones. The kind of setting of the stones is also something that you would need to consider carefully. Most importantly you need to remember that the ring that you are about to pick out is your wedding band and it will be on your finger most of the time if not all of it and therefore it needs to be hardy and durable.

SOURCE



Selecting a more personal diamond...

a DNA2Diamond

A DNA2DIAMOND containing the personal carbon of a bride and groom is a tangible expression of the lasting bond of love. Set in an engagement ring, wedding band or anniversary gift, this truly unique diamond speaks of love now – and forever.

Discover a DNA2Diamond now!


Sunday, November 8, 2009

Natural and Man Made Diamonds

There are many reasons that the world has been looking for and creating alternatives to natural diamonds. Many people find the purchase of the so-called conflict or “blood diamonds” from Africa to be morally wrong. In addition, diamonds are used in a variety of industrial processes, and rather than deplete supplies and spend more money on natural industrial grade gems, these industries are more often turning to lab created versions. There are benefits with these in costs savings as well as consistency in samples supplied.

A lab created stone is the real thing – a gem developed in a laboratory by man rather than by nature. They are chemically the same as natural stones and require cutting and polishing as you would a natural diamond. These synthetic diamonds are created using small carbon seeds of natural diamonds, which are then put through a process of extreme heat and pressure. This process can even create the many different colored diamonds that are found in nature by adding traces of the same elements that add the color to natural diamonds.

Lab created diamonds are virtually impossible to tell from natural diamonds. Their visual, physical, and chemical characteristics are almost identical. Synthetic diamonds sold in jewelry stores should be identified as being laboratory grown. However, man-made diamonds are not that common and make up a tiny part of the diamond market. Lab created gems are most commonly made for use in industry.

It should be noted that genuine synthetic stones created in a lab are real diamonds. But simulated stones like cubic zirconia and moissanite are not diamonds and contain no carbon crystals at all. The best way to quickly tell the difference between natural or lab created diamonds and simulated stones is to weigh them. The weight of the simulated version can be almost twice as much as that of real diamonds.

SOURCE

Monday, November 2, 2009

Diamonds: Did you know...

In order of rarity, colorless diamond are by far the most common, they are followed by yellow and brown, then by blue, green, black, translucent white, pink, violet, orange, purple, and the rarest, red.

"Black", or Carbonado, diamonds are not truly black, but rather contain numerous dark inclusions that give the gems their dark appearance. Colored diamonds contain impurities or structural defects that cause the coloration, while pure or nearly pure diamonds are transparent and colorless. Most diamond impurities replace a carbon atom in the crystal lattice, known as a carbon flaw. The most common impurity, nitrogen, causes a slight to intense yellow coloration depending upon the type and concentration of nitrogen present.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) classifies low saturation yellow and brown diamonds as diamonds in the normal color range, and applies a grading scale from "D" (colorless) to "Z" (light yellow). Diamonds of a different color, such as blue, are called fancy colored diamonds, and fall under a different grading scale.

DNA2Diamonds fancy colored diamonds:
DNA2Diamonds are available in the colors and passions of your life: Red, Yellow-Green, or Cognac. They are available in three of the most elegant and popular diamond cuts available today: Radiant, Princess and Brilliant. DNA2Diamonds range in sizes from 0.25 carats to 2.0 carats.

The creation of your diamond begins with a lock of hair - yours, a loved one's, a pet's, or even a combination - perhaps a husband and wife, a family, or multiple generations. We can also create DNA2Diamonds from cremated remains. Within a matter of weeks, the most beautiful, personal and unique diamond in the world is yours to own, cherish, share or give to someone for all eternity.

Discover a diamond as unique as you.
Discover a DNA2Diamond today...

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Diamonds: Did you know...

Approximately 130 million carats (26,000 kg (57,000 lb)) of diamonds are mined annually, with a total value of nearly US$9 billion, and about 100,000 kg (220,000 lb) are synthesized annually.

DNA2Diamonds possess the identical chemical, physical and optical properties of earth-mined diamonds, yet are created using the signature carbon from you, your loved one or family pet. What's more, DNA2Diamonds are environmentally-friendly and conflict-free.

The creation of a DNA2Diamond involves no mining or other invasive activity that ravishes the environment. No water or air pollution is created. No greenhouse emissions, damaged ecosystems or hazardous chemicals. The only resource consumed is a modest amount of electricity.

DNA2Diamonds are free from human conflict. No warlords, insurgencies or invasions. No unethical labor or illegal trade practices. The creation of your diamond is as pure and peaceful as the diamond itself.