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Posts Tagged ‘diamonds’

Diamond is the traditional birthstone of April.

Diamonds have been around for some time and have been prized for centuries, but the first thing most people think about when talking about diamonds is the price – a good diamond has a price tag which can be prohibitive for many. Cost aside, there are not many people who would not wear a diamond and be very pleased with their ownership.

In the past, only white diamonds were used for jewellery; now, because of the scarcity and cost of mining these gems, the coloured stones are also being used and becoming sought after, with many diamond companies creating fantastic marketing campaigns around the colours. Coloured diamonds in the past had been considered inferior to the white – though from my perspective, I cannot understand why as the coloured stones offer character and refinement!

The most famous of the diamonds is probably the Hope Diamond. Found in the 1890s in South Africa and the largest of the found diamonds. It is currently owned by the Smithsonian Institute in the US, having been gifted to them by the famous jeweller Harry Winston. The diamond is said to have a long history of misfortune, but I suspect that this is simply due to its fabulous nature and the envy it engages!

Another famous South African diamond is the Jongers Diamond. Although not as large as the Hope, the Jongers has an unusual story associated with it. Harry Winston managed to purchase this fabulous stone and was concerned about transporting it back to the US. Rather than send it via courier or carry it himself, he placed it in an envelope and posted it (yes, though the normal mail serevice!) at a cost of 62 cents. It arrived intact.

When looking for a diamond, there are a number of factors to consider. The first of course, must be the amount of money you are prepared to spend on the jewellery – this will limit yur choice of gems. Next, decide on a colour, the most popular colours are white (traditional), pink (from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia), champagne or even blue diamonds.

There are any number of different cuts that the diamond can have, this is the way the diamond cutters slice through the diamond and create the pattern within the stone.

The other issue to consider is the clarity of the diamond – its sparkle! How cleanly the diamond reflects the light and how bright it shines is one big factor in its price and in its desireability.

Diamonds are traditionally considered to be gifts for special occasions, not the least of which are engagement rings once thought to be the female domain, but now used for enagement and wedding rings for both men and ladies. Diamonds are sometimes said to enhance love, spirituality and prosperity.

For those without the budget for diamonds, good cubic zirconia are often used as a replacement and can look great!