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Diamond Earrings

Not to begrudge any woman who's toiled through nine months of pregnancy and multiple hours of labor, but there's something quite sickening about this NYT story about how new mothers are expecting their husbands and partners to pony up with some really sweet bling.

This bonus goes by various names. Some call it the "baby mama gift." Others refer to it as the "baby bauble." But it's most popularly known as the "push present." That's "push" as in, "I the mother, having been through the wringer and pushed out this blessed event, hereby claim my reward." Or "push" as in, "I've delivered something special and now I'm pushing you, my husband/boyfriend, to follow suit."

"It's more and more an expectation of moms these days that they deserve something for bearing the burden for nine months, getting sick, ruining their body," said Linda Murray, executive editor of BabyCenter.com. "The guilt really gets piled on."

A recent survey of more than 30,000 respondents by BabyCenter.com found that 38 percent of new mothers received a gift from their mate in connection with their child. Among pregnant mothers, 55 percent wanted one. About 40 percent of both groups said the baby was ample reward.

You heard that right, only 2 in 5 kids can rest assure that Mom wasn't disappointed that their arrival wasn't accompanied by a tennis bracelet.

It is not the fact that Moms are getting a token of their hard work that bugs me, it is that you know that the diamond industry has their hands in this. Just as they invented a "tradition" of diamond wedding rings, the "three months salary" rule, and the "three-stone anniversary ring." Hey, you can hear DeBeers' pitchmen saying: Why not a carat for each pound of baby? Don't you care, Dad?

I'm just saying. Because no man would ever dare.

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Gems

This diamond ring created by artisans at diamond giant De Beers exemplifies the use of gemstones in fine jewelry. Diamonds, the hardest-known natural substance, represent exquisite beauty to many but to some they also represent an exploitive industry that has fueled African bloodshed.

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Rough Diamond &

10 mm Genuine Malachite Beads stretch bracelet, rough diamond in diamond shaped charm

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Floating 18K White Gold Diamond Heart Necklace for Valentine’s Day

Nothing says I love you on Valentine’s Day more than a scrumptious meal & a bucket of roses. But nothing says I really, really, really love you more than a stunning piece of new jewelry.
Take this Floating 18K White Gold Diamond Heart Necklace. Pretty sweet, right? And even sweeter on your valentine I am sure. This lovely pendant necklace is made with flawless 18K white gold & set with a floating diamond that I am sure symbolizes your everlasting love.
Cost, $998. And don’t worry, you can get overnight delivery in case you were a bad boy on Valentine’s Day!

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Hope Diamond - The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem by Richard Kurin

The true story behind the most famous-and infamous-stone in the world.
The Hope Diamond is not only exceptionally beautiful it has a long and incredibly colorful history. That history - spread over three continents - features diamond mining in India, the French Revolution, the machinations of British King George IV, the Gilded Age in America and a number of very clever jewelers including Pierre Cartier and Harry Winston. In the 20th century, the myth of the Hope Diamond curse made the diamond more notorious and famous than ever before, but it is only one small piece of a long and lustrous history.

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DIAMOND RINGS

Our Professional staff meets with you to discuss the carat, colour, cut, and clarity, of the diamond that’s right for you. They suggest a multitude of settings available or work from a picture to create your design.

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Diamond Jewellery

Zed N Zed carries thousands of exclusive jewellery pieces to cater for all. We have our own qualified jeweller on the premises, providing professional opinions for your very own, one of a kind piece. We have the skills and ability to custom make any personalised jewellery items you require, consisting of any grading of diamonds of your choice. Come in to our shop at Westfield Shopping centre in Hurstville, and let our specialists exceed your expectations

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Red Diamond Ring

Whilst two-days back, I introduced you to the red diamond ring reaching the Christie’s auction and today the ring has set a new record by selling off this dazzling ring festooned with a unique red purple diamond for a shocking $2.6 million. The octagonal shape of the ring is equipped with 2.26 carats and stand with the honopur of being the largest red diamond, ever to be auctioned. The proud owner of the gem is the English jeweler, Laurence Graff

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Discount Diamonds

Discount diamonds, diamonds direct to you at incredible wholesale diamond prices. Diamond brokers are available on the Internet selling high quality wholesale discount diamonds directly to you. Save thousands on a premium quality discount diamonds by buying from a diamond broker.
Discount diamonds - your first step to discount diamonds is to find a reputable diamond broker. A diamond broker will purchase a wholesale discount diamond directly from diamond cutters. By buying discount diamonds direct from diamond cutters the diamond broker will save your thousands. And the quality of your discount diamond will be the best.
Discount diamonds - your next step toward a discount diamond is to separate your wants from your needs. While a wholesale discount diamond is much less that you will find at retail jewelers a quality discount diamond is still expensive. Determine your discount diamonds carat, color, clarity and most importantly your budget for your discount diamond. A diamond broker can help you with your discount diamond and explain the diamond grade difference.
Discount diamonds - finally make sure you find a true diamond broker. Many people are calling themselved diamond brokers and claim to have discount diamonds. True diamond brokers will buy your wholesale discount diamond directly from the cutters. Others may go to diamond wholesalers who will mark you your so called wholesale discount diamond by 15-20%.
Discount diamonds - One final word of advice. Make sure your diamond broker has a clear return policy for wholesale discount diamonds. Canada Diamonds Inc offers a industry leading 15 day 100% money back guarantee on all discount diamonds brokered.
Good luck with your search for wholesale discount diamonds

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. Artificial Diamonds

The idea of making artificial diamond isn't new. H.G. Wells proposed exactly such a thing in his story "The Diamond Maker" in 1911. Since then, scientists have come up with ways to create synthetic diamonds and diamond simulants like cubic zirconia - but experts could always tell them apart. Until now.
In the past decade, scientists have perfected a technique called Chemical Vapor Deposition, where carbon gas cloud is passed over diamond seeds in a vacuum chamber heated to more than 1,800 degrees. In a matter of days, they are now able to "grow" diamonds that are virtually indistinguishable from natural ones, even to the experts:
Seeking an unbiased assessment of the quality of these laboratory diamonds, I asked Bryant Linares to let me borrow an Apollo stone. The next day, I place the .38 carat, princess-cut stone in front of Virgil Ghita in Ghita's narrow jewelry store in downtown Boston. With a pair of tweezers, he brings the diamond up to his right eye and studies it with a jeweler's loupe, slowly turning the gem in the mote-filled afternoon sun. "Nice stone, excellent color. I don't see any imperfections," he says. "Where did you get it?"
"It was grown in a lab about 20 miles from here," I reply.
He lowers the loupe and looks at me for a moment. Then he studies the stone again, pursing his brow. He sighs. "There's no way to tell that it's lab-created." (Source)
But if you think that the price of diamond will fall precipitously, think again. Companies that make cultured diamonds like Apollo and Gemesis aren't stupid: they're not going to kill the goose that laid the diamond egg by flooding the market with cheap stones

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Famous Diamonds

Just because they're not rare, it doesn't mean that there aren't exceptional diamonds. There's the 45-carat Hope Diamond (and its famous Curse), the mystical Koh-I-Noor Diamond, and the largest diamond ever found, the 546 carat Golden Jubilee

But this is Neatorama, so here's a truly fascinating story about the Bokassa Diamond. In 1977, a crazy Central African dictator named Jean-Bédel Bokassa declared himself an emperor and asked Albert Jolis, the president of a diamond mining operation, for a diamond ring (he made sure Jolis knew that nothing smaller than a golf ball-sized rock would do!)
Jolis didn't have the money to buy such a large stone but if he didn't deliver one, his company would lose the mining concession in Central Africa. So he devised a clever ruse: Jolis found a large piece of black diamond bort (a poorly crystallized diamond usually fit only to be crushed into abrasive powder) that curiously resembled Africa in shape. He ordered the diamond polished and mounted on a large ring. A one-quarter carat white diamond was then set roughly where the country is located on the continent.
Jolis presented the "unique" diamond to Bokassa, and the clueless emperor loved it! He thought that the $500 ring was worth over $500,000! Just two years later, when Bokassa was overthrown in a coup, Jolis heard that he went into exile with his prize diamond ring, and noted wryly: "It's a priceless diamond as long as he doesn't try to sell it." (Source)

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Moon-Sized Diamond

So - diamonds aren't rare on Earth, and it may not be rare in space either. In 2004, astronomer Travis Metcalfe of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and colleagues discovered a diamond star that is 10 billion trillion trillion carats!
The cosmic diamond is a chunk of crystallised carbon, 4,000 km across, some 50 light-years from the Earth in the constellation Centaurus.
It's the compressed heart of an old star that was once bright like our Sun but has since faded and shrunk.
Astronomers have decided to call the star "Lucy" after the Beatles song, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. (Source)
According to scientists, if you wait long enough, our own sun will eventually turn into one such large diamond star!

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Are Diamonds Rare?

Diamonds are actually quite rare in the past but not any more. While it's true that the process of extracting diamond is quite laborious (mines move many tons of dirt per carat of diamond found) and that gem-quality diamonds are relatively few (only about 1 in 1 million diamonds are quality one carat stones, only 1 in 5 million are 2-carat; and 1 in 15 million are 3-carat), diamonds are not rare in an economic sense because supply exceeds demand. (Photo: mafic [Flickr])
To maintain the high prices of diamonds, De Beers creates an artificial scarcity: they stockpile mined diamonds and sell them in small amounts.
Perhaps De Beers chairman Nicky Oppenheimer said it best: "diamonds are intrinsically worthless, except for the deep psychological need they fill." (mental_floss, vol 7 issue 6, p. 21 "Diamond Engagement Rings" by Rebecca Zerzan)

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De Beers: The Diamond Cartel

We can't talk about diamonds without talking about De Beers, the company that single-handedly made the diamond industry what it is today. De Beers was founded by Cecil Rhodes, who also founded the state of Rhodesia which later became Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Rhodes Scholarship is also named after him, and funded by his estate.
Rhodes started by renting water pumps to miners during a diamond rush in 1867 at Kimberley, South Africa. He expanded into mines and about twenty years later became the sole owner of all diamond mining operations in the country.
Rhodes built De Beers into a diamond cartel (well, they prefer "single-channel marketing" and since they're one company, they're technically a monopoly). De Beers mines diamonds, then handle their sales and distribution through various entities (in London, it's known as the innocuously named Diamond Trading Company; in Israel, it's simply called "the syndicate"; in Belgium, it's called the CSO or Central Selling Organization.)
If you want to buy diamonds from De Beers, you've got to play by their rules: diamond are sold in events known as "sights." There are 10 sights held each year, and to buy, you have to be a sightholder (these are usually diamond dealers whose business is to have the stones cut and polished and then resold at diamond clearing centers of Antwerp, New York, and Tel Aviv).
The diamonds are sold on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. A sightholder is given a small box of uncut diamonds priced between $1 and $25 million. De Beers set the price - there is no haggling and no re-selling of diamonds in uncut form. It is rare for sightholders to refuse a diamond package offered to them, for fear of not being invited back. And those who dare to purchase diamonds from other sources than De Beers will have their sightholder privilege revoked.
In the early days, De Beers controlled about 90% of the world's diamond supply. Today, its monopoly on diamonds has been significantly reduced. It is estimated that the cartel now controls about 60 to 75% of the world's diamond trade (source)

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Diamonds Are Not The Hardest Substance on Earth

Diamonds are the hardest substance on Earth" is practically a mantra for jewelers trying to impress you with its physical properties if you're not swayed by its beauty. Too bad it's not true: while diamonds are the hardest natural mineral substance, it is not the hardest substance known to man.
In 2005, physicists Natalia Dubrovinskaia and colleagues compressed carbon fullerene molecules and heating them at the same time to create a series of interconnected rods called Aggregated Diamond Nanorods (ADNRs or "hyperdiamond"). It's about 11% harder than a diamond. (Photo: ESRF)

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. The Earliest Use of Diamonds: Polishing Axes

If you ask a hundred people what they think of first when they hear the word "diamond," I bet you get 99 who say a diamond engagement ring.
Truth is, the majority of diamonds mined today are used for industrial purposes - and that may also be the very first use of diamonds by humans.
Harvard physicist Peter Lu and colleagues found that ancient Chinese used diamonds to polish ceremonial burial axes in the late stone age or over 4,500 years ago.
The axes, which are made from corundum (or ruby in its red form and sapphire in other colors), were polished to a mirror finish. Corundum is the second hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth and close examination of these axes revealed that they could've been made only with diamond abrasives. (Source)
It's quite fitting since today, 80% of mined diamonds (about 100 million carats) are used for the industrial purposes of cutting, drilling, grinding, and polishing

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10 Facts About Diamond You Should Know

Better a diamond with a flaw tThere's no denying that diamonds are a traditional symbol of romance and love. Why, a man needs a diamond ring to ask the woman of his dream to marry him, right? But was it always that way? Did you know that someone worked very, very hard to make diamond rings de rigueur in marriage proposals? Or that diamonds aren't actually very rare at all? Or that they make lousy investments?
Here 10 Facts About Diamonds You Should Know:han a pebble without one.- Confucius

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welcome to DiamondsJewel.com

Diamond is the hardest natural material known to man and the third-hardest known material after aggregated diamond nanorods and ultrahard fullerite. Its hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry.
Diamonds are specifically renowned as a material with superlative physical qualities — they make excellent abrasives because they can be scratched only by other diamonds, Borazon, ultrahard fullerite, or aggregated diamond nanorods, which also means they hold a polish extremely well and retain their lustre. About 130 million carats (26,000 kg) are mined annually, with a total value of nearly USD $9 billion.About 100,000 kg are synthesized annually.
The name diamond derives from the ancient Greek adamas (αδ?μας; “invincible”). They have been treasured as gemstones since their use as religious icons in ancient India and usage in engraving tools also dates to early human history.[3][4] Popularity of diamonds has risen since the 19th century because of increased supply, improved cutting and polishing techniques, growth in the world economy, and innovative and successful advertising campaigns. They are commonly judged by the “four Cs”: carat, clarity, color, and cut.
Roughly 49% of diamonds originate from central and southern Africa, although significant sources of the mineral have been discovered in Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia. They are mined from kimberlite and lamproite volcanic pipes, which brought to the surface the diamond crystals from deep in the Earth where the high pressure and temperature enables the formation of the crystals. The mining and distribution of natural diamonds are subjects of frequent controversy such as with concerns over the sale of conflict diamonds by African paramilitary groups. There are also allegations that the De Beers Group misuses its dominance in the industry to control supply and manipulate price via monopolistic practices, although in recent years the company's market share has dropped to below 50%.
Material propertiesMain article: Material properties of diamondSee also: Crystallographic defects in diamond A diamond is a transparent crystal of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms. Diamonds have been adapted for many uses because of the material's exceptional physical characteristics. Most notable are its extreme hardness, its high dispersion index, and high thermal conductivity, with a melting point of 3820 K (6420 °F) and a boiling point of 5100K (8720 °F).

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Simulated Diamonds

That shiny sparkling stone you got from your lover… is that a diamond? Lab manufactured diamonds are getting exceedingly good. They have the same color, clarity, cut and carat as minded diamonds and —since they are created in a laboratory— you can be sure they are ‘conflict free‘. The one in the picture is from Israel (speaking of conflict free zones) and can be bought here.
Of course, if you really want something exclusive for your lover, you should forget about diamonds altogether and get some biojewellery

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Crystal Diamonds

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Detailed Crystal Diamonds DescriptionFeatures:
a) Material: best K9 artificial crystal
b) Custom designs available upon request
c) All facets are handmade
Packing:
Safe and exportable
Our Crystal Diamonds comply with International Quality Standards and their quality and durability are fully guranteed.
Contact information:Inquire
Address:
585 Yatai Avenue, Pujiang County, Pujiang Economic Development Zone, Zhejiang Province. China
Company Name:
Zhejiang Pujiang Sigma Crystal Arts & Crafts Co., Ltd.
Contact Person:
Mr. Shenglin Huang
Fax:
86-579-4200661
Telephone:
86-579-4201368
Zip:
322200

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Blessed & Sacred Diamonds, Gemstones and Jewelry.....At an Affordable Price

Most diamond dealers are located in malls. Their diamonds and gems have no spirit, no energy and no special sacred feeling.
All Geo Group diamonds and gems are blessed and spiritually energized.
Diamonds are the most special gem. Made of pure carbon, diamonds are literally the material of life itself. As the hardest substance known, it is appropriate that diamonds symbolize beauty, permanence, commitment, love, power and inspiration.
When making a diamond investment, don't settle for just any diamond, get a Geo Group spiritually blessed and energized diamond. You will feel the difference.
Blessings in Geo Group Diamonds
Chuck Pettis, founder of The Geo Group is also founder of Earth Sanctuary , a nature reserve, meditation parkland and sculpture garden on Whidbey Island near Seattle, Washington. Author of the book, Secrets of Sacred Space, Chuck Pettis has created five sacred spaces at Earth Sanctuary: labyrinth, two stone circles, dolmen and Medicine Wheel.
Each of the Earth Sanctuary sacred spaces has been blessed by spiritual masters. They are sacred power centers. Each diamond and gem sold by The Geo Group is blessed and energized at each of the five sacred power centers at Earth Sanctuary.
In addition, Geo Group diamonds and gems are all blessed by His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, H.H. Jigdal Dagchen Sakya is a Head Lama of the Sakya sect and Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Seattle. Dagchen Rinpoche was raised and trained as a religious leader in old Tibet. The Sakya leaders hold a position third only to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in rank. The blessing fee will be donated on your behalf to Sakya Monastery to enable you to gain merit in this lifetime and future lifetimes.
Diamonds and gems can be sold individually or custom-designed into beautiful jewelry by Chuck Pettis' long-time friend, Richard Allen, founder of Gemland in Phoenix, Arizona. If you contact Richard, please tell him that you were referred by Chuck.
For more information on purchasing Geo Group blessed and energized diamonds or gems, call Chuck Pettis at 360-331-6667 or email him at chuckp@geo.org for more information

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What is the best place to invest your money in?

Or even chatter of a diamond ETF.In this article from the NY Times about Chinese citizens trying to get their money out of the local currency there are people buying jewelry (three carats per ear) among other things.With what has happened to the global financial system and the paranoia that has ensued you'd think some ETF provider would try to capitalize on that with a diamond ETF.No doubt there would be plenty of things to figure out like valuation, consistency of quality, storage and so on but it is an interesting thought.

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Investing In Diamond Is A Safe Investment

Jewels and gems last a long time, so most people will say this is an "investments" and "will keep their value for life". But investing in diamonds is a business you need to be qualified for. CDT or Candiamondtraders is a reputable company that offers all kind of diamonds and most of all, a unique business opportunity starting at only $120.

Historically, diamonds appreciate at about the rate money inflates and even more some years. Diamonds are luxury items not everyone can afford. It can last forever though. It has a fashion value as well as a intrinsic value.

What is the best place to invest your money in?
Consider buying something that can be worn most of the time or simply left a safe place. All you need to do is to insure it.
A single diamond does not go up in value really fast.
Medium quality diamonds are easier to sell(with no visible imperfections or obvious discoloration).
Fancy colored diamonds may become rare. CDT offers colored diamonds at the same price. These are no natural colored diamonds but there unique formula makes them yellow, blue or brown just like the real ones. The scientific process is called HTHP (High Temperature High Pressure) and it is not exclusive to CDT. CDT chose to use this method as its the best and most permanent one.Those diamonds are neither depreciated or more valuable.

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Cheap and Best Valentine's Day Gift Shopping Sites

Unique, Creative, Affordable A gift for which your girl is waiting is here!At best possible price.Beautiful Valentine's Day jewelry from DivaDiamonds.net.Jewelry is the most popular gift received on Valentine's Day. DivaDiamonds.net has hundreds of rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants and even bracelets with heart designs. Diamond stud earrings, diamond rings, diamond pendants, 'I Love You' pendants, and much, much more. There's a piece of jewelry here for everyone.The hottest trends and the best Valentine's Day gifts are at DivaDiamonds.net. Great Valentine's Day gifts, at great prices. $80-$10,500. Upto 65% Discountand Romantic Valentine Day Gift Ideas Part-2

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Diamond Myths

Before you start thinking about buying diamonds, you should take the time to learn about diamonds and how to buy diamonds that are the best quality, value and beauty.
To help you avoid common mistakes we have compiled a list of 5 diamond buying myths:
Size
Facets
Grading
Ideal Cuts
Discounted Diamonds
Size Myth: The Bigger the Better Although there is definitely a wow factor to a large diamond if, and only if, the quality of the diamond is good. Large stones can come from a lesser quality piece of rough which will result in a lifeless diamond. If size is important, and budget is also an issue, try to find the diamond size you can afford that also meets an acceptable level of grading.

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Diamond Quality

The quality of Canadian diamonds is considered world-class by experts and by outfits such as Brilliant Earth, a pioneering, "conflict-free" San Francisco-based retailer that sells stones from Diavik. The vast majority of Diavik's diamonds are of gem or near-gem quality, on a par with African diamonds

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Harry Winston diamonds wreath necklace

Priced at 1273090 €, Harry Winston's diamond wreath necklace features 128 round, pear-shaped, marquise diamonds totalling117,03 carats in a Platinum setting. HARRY WINSTON29, Avenue MontaigneF-75008 - ParisPhone: 33 1 47 20 03 09HARRY WINSTON718 Fifth AvenueNY 10019 - New YorkPhone: 1 212 245 2000

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A Perception of Rarity

Diamonds are made in the molten magma deep inside the Earth. Only nature can create diamonds, but it is people who have created the artificial rarity that has spurred demand for these gems. Carbon is one of the most common elements in the world, and diamonds are a form of carbon. Naturally occurring diamonds are no more rare than many other precious gems. The truly rare transparent diamonds are those rated as flawless, meaning that they don't have the slightest imperfection.

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Simple Tips For Finding The Perfect Engagement Ring

A Simple Guide To Purchasing The Perfect Diamond Engagement Ring
Diamond rings and wedding set by Vatche.
One of your very first tasks is to establish exactly how much money you have for this diamond engagement ring. There is a misconception promoted by many jewelers that you need to pay two months of your salary towards the diamond ring.......

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Diamond Mining Is Losing Its Shine

Diamonds may be forever. Diamond mining, maybe not.With growth in diamond prices trailing far behind that of most commodities, some miners are turning their sights toward gold, iron ore, and phosphate instead of sparkle.Flinders Diamonds, an Australian miner, recently reassessed its exploration areas and identified a target in western Australia for iron ore, prices of which have been soaring along with demand for steel. It changed its name to Flinders Mines Ltd. to reflect its exr panded focus. Its stocks soared upon the April announcement.Last June, diamond miner Sierra Leone Diamond decided to change its name to African Minerals Ltd. to reflect its exploration of precious and base metals across the African continent. Bonaparte Diamond Mines of Australia just concluded a diamond joint venture in Namibia to focus instead on exploring a phosphate project there because "the economic return" from diamonds "doesn't warrant moving into the next phase," Michael Woodborne, the firm's managing director, said in a statement. Prices of phosphate, a key component in fertilizer, are up dramatically lately.For miners, the opportunity, cost of investing time and shareholder money in diamonds is just part of the problem. On the demand side, diamond sales, at least in the U.S., have been struggling. Citing a sluggish U.S. market, which accounts for about 50% of the total, De Beers Group reported a 3.7% fall in revenue to $5.9 billion last year.Compared to most commodities, diamond prices have been "extremely unexciting" over the past few years, says Charles Wyndham, founder of PolishedPrices.com, which keeps a wholesale diamond price index. This year, it is flat, and up 3.6% from a year earlier. Over the same time, S&P GSCI, a commodities benchmark, is up 37.6% and 73.5%, respectively.The departure from diamond mining marks a reversal from several years ago. At least 60 new diamond-mining companies sprung up after diamond giant De Beers went private in 2001, estimates David Hargreaves, a mining and gemstone consultant to United Kingdombased broker Hoodless Brennan Ltd. Yet, some newcomers may be finding that diamond mining is a trying and costly endeavor. Even if you find a diamond mine, it may take seven to 10 years before it produces, Mr. Hargreaves says.Diamond mining is viewed as the "worst kind of gambling," says Theo Botoulas, chief executive of BRC DiamondCore Ltd., a diamond miner in South Africa.In January, Tahera Diamond Corp., a Canadian miner, ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy-courtprotection. "Not every diamond mine will be successful.lt's a very high-risk business," said Gareth Penny, De Beers's managing director.Still, several players, like BRC, are keeping at it. They argue that long-term demand for diamonds world-wide is good, and prices of big, better-quality stones have risen rapidly. Instead of shunning the gem business, Canadian miner Aber Diamond Corp. took full ownership of Harry Winston Diamond Corp. and focused on high-end retail sales before it started trading under its new name on the New York Stock Exchange in November. The company reported a 10% increase in overall revenue for the first quarter because of strong sales growth in Asia and Europe, though its mining production fell 31%.De Beers has said it expects demand from markets like China, India, the Middle East and Russia to grow. It has raised prices of rough diamonds by an average of 8.5% so far this year. De Beers has been aggressively investing in new mining projects, and it will bring four major projects into full production this year.Rio Tinto PLC, which produced 16% of the world's rough diamonds by volume in 2007, estimates diamond prices to rise in response to "a sizable supply gap" this year and expects demand will outpace supply for the next decade. Meanwhile, Diapason Commodities Management, a U.K.-based company, is planning to launch a "diamond fund" soon, in the form of a listed investment firm whose portfolio will be polished diamonds."Mining is a long-term game," said Mr. Wyndham of PolishedPrices.com. "Those who are switching back and forth from one commodity to another usually won't succeed."

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Comparing Prices of Loose Diamonds

If you have started the daunting task of shopping for loose diamonds online, you have probably discovered how difficult it is to figure out who has the best price for similar stones. Going from site to site, running individual searches on each one, then trying to compare results in several different browser windows - sound familiar? Sounds like a pain!
There are consolidated shopping search engines out there and you may have used those when looking for the best price on some other products, but those search engines have a major weakness when it comes to diamonds. Shopping for a diamond requires additional details that generic shopping search engines are not able to display. If you can’t at least see the cut, color and clarity of loose diamonds side by side, then the search results are useless. You can’t compare apples to oranges and expectWouldn’t it be convenient if there were a comparison search engine designed specifically for loose diamonds where you could search by shape, weight, cut, color, clarity and price? Then you would see a list of matching diamonds from several online vendors and you could quickly see who has the best price for a 1.50 carat, H-VS2 round diamond with Ideal proportions. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
Well, now there is such a search engine - and you may be shocked by the results. But first, I would like to share a dirty little secret of the online diamond world with you. Did you know that the diamond inventory you see at one online loose diamond vendor is the same as many other online vendors? How is this possible - these are competing companies, so how can they be selling the same exact diamonds? Simple - they don’t have any inventory!!!
This is how the online diamond world works - Retailers get lists of available diamonds from wholesalers around the country. Those wholesalers give the retailers a cost price and the retailers decide how high to mark up each diamond. The difference in price between retailers can be as much as $10,000 for a large diamond! to figure out which is the better deal.

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diamonds

“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of: high intent, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the choice of many alternatives.” --William A.Foster

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A Fiancé’s Best Friend?

Attention June brides: Is that rock you've been flaunting really a diamond?

Ever since the DeBeers Group managed to convince a significant part of the English-speaking world that "A Diamond is Forever" -- and that a diamond solitaire ring all but guarantees a successful proposal of marriage -- would-be grooms have been searching for ways to get more bling for their buck. With the arrival of gem-quality synthetic diamonds, they may have found it.

Tiny diamond crystals have been produced for industrial purposes for decades, but the past few years have seen companies like Gemesis and Apollo Diamond develop multiple methods for growing large, near-flawless diamonds. These "cultured" diamonds are physically and chemically "real" diamonds, not cubic zirconia or some other substance, and are for most jewelers indistinguishable from mined diamonds. Except, of course, for the price.

At present, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires that synthetic diamonds be identified as such, and both Gemesis and Apollo inscribe diamonds over .25 carats with unique serial numbers. In addition, DeBeers has spearheaded the development and distribution of sophisticated technologies that can distinguish some sythetic diamonds from their natural counterparts, albeit without 100% accuracy. But the myriad small diamonds used in making jewelry are unlabeled and too numerous to be profitably analyzed or documented -- and at least some small synthetic diamonds have been sold without disclosu

DeBeers' greatest fear, however, is not that the public will be tricked into buying "fake" gems. Instead, its concern is that consumers will embrace synthetic diamonds as equal or even superior to natural ones, and the prices that the cartel has managed to keep high through artificial scarcity will plummet. Will socially conscious consumers choose synthetic diamonds as an alternative to the "conflict diamonds" that support bloody civil wars in Africa? Will the world's newest luxury goods customers (e.g. in China) care about a stone's origins? Will brides-to-be prefer natural diamonds or more carats as a symbol of true love?

DeBeers is well aware of the history of natural v. cultured pearls, and it has no intention of allowing the lucrative mined diamond market to fizzle without a fight. Still, at some point the high price of ice may melt away, and we'll all be able to dress like Liberace.

re of their laboratory origins.

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Diamond Diamond Prices

This data set is a sampling of 617 round shape diamonds collected from retail website in December 2007. The data includes the following variables for each diamond: Price, Carats, Clarity, Color, Cut, ClarityCode, ColorCode, CutCode.

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It’s raining diamonds! Hallelujah!!!

osted by Richa under Astronomy, Diamonds, Humor, Life, Research, Science, Thoughts

Oh wow! It could actually be a hail of diamonds right now on two planets of our solar system. A research done almost 8 years back had indicated that the chemical composition of the atmosphere of Neptune and Uranus is such, that diamonds would form under the high pressure and temperature conditions of the planet. Once these diamonds are formed, they would fall on the surface of the planet like raindrops!!!

Ooh! Wouldn’t that be a lovely sight to watch…. Diamonds raining from the heavens…

I know this is really really old news! But raining diamonds!!! That is any girls favorite dream…. Even better than raining men huh!

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The true cost of diamonds

Want your diamonds conflict-free? Ask to see their guarantee

To help consumers avoid giving 'blood diamonds' as gifts for Valentine's Day (14 February), Amnesty International and Global Witness have prepared a guide to buying diamonds.

'Blood diamonds', also known as conflict diamonds, are rough diamonds used to purchase guns and so fuel conflicts.

Diamonds are particularly popular as a resource to trade on the black market because they are small, easy to hide and transport, hard to trace, and very profitable.

Blood diamonds have fuelled conflicts which have killed and injured thousands of civilians in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone.

Since 2003, the Kimberley Process has been operating to certify that a diamond has not been purchased from armed groups.

While the Kimberley Process should help prevent the trade in blood diamonds, it needs to be implemented effectively.

Amnesty International – France have developed a postcard campaign to focus attention on this issue.

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Diamonds

Brilliant-cut Diamonds in Customized Dimensions

No two diamonds are alike. luxury works only with exceptionally high-quality diamonds. the best Diamonds stores own laboratory closely monitors these standards. In many of jewelry rings, you can choose diamonds of various dimensions. Or you can supply a diamond of your own. But your stone must satisfy certain preconditions.

The diamond is the queen of gems. In a well-designed piece of jewelry, the diamond fits itself into the overall aesthetic. But a diamond need not always be large to accomplish this. A small brilliant-cut diamond enhances and clarifies the statement made by the jewelry. Or it can add a surprising twist or an unexpected accent to that statement.

Most of the diamonds that classy diamond stores use are polished in the so-called �brilliant cut.� This means that the gemstone has 56 facets and a flat �table� on its uppermost surface. The brilliant cut enables a diamond to fully manifest its fascinating radiance.

Most of the diamonds that classy diamond stores set into wedding-rings or jewelry rings are deliberately chosen to be unostentatious (up to 0.25 carats).Rings (Tension rings) and other solitaire rings can be set with larger stones up to 10 carats.

Diamond stores operates its own laboratory.. Before a new diamond is processed, experts at this laboratory subject it to close scrutiny and comprehensive testing. The gems are purchased at diamond markets or from well-known diamond merchants.
In Europe, the quality norms for diamonds are defined by CIBJO (Conf�d�ration International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orf�vrerie des Diamantes, Perles et Pierres, www.cibjo.org).

Larger diamonds can sent to CIBJO for testing. Stones that pass the test are issued corresponding certificates. This process is prohibitively expensive for diamonds weighing less than 0.25 carats, so the tests are usually performed at diamond laboratories according to CIBJO norms.

The first class diamond stores use only diamonds certified under the Kimberley Process. The Kimberley Process is a global certification system for rough diamonds that tracks and guarantees the legal origins of the stones. and they must complies with this guarantee system for producers and traders. Legally imported diamonds can be handled, cut, polished and used in jewelry , a process which may involve several companies. Each time a diamond changes hands, it must be accompanied by a guarantee note on the invoice confirming the stone�s non-conflict origin. Manufacturers and traders are committed to supporting this guarantee system and retaining data for a five-year period for inclusion in their annual audits.

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Sparkle Plenty Designs Celebrates Sparkle Week with New York City

At the top of the week, New York City kicked off the first-ever “SPARKLE WEEK” promotion. Of course, we at Sparkle Plenty Designs love the idea, but we thought we would extend the promotion and host our own “Sparkle Month”! So, beginning today, our gift to all Sparkle Plenty Designs shoppers is: $10.00 OFF any stunning Swarovski crystal or rhinestone shirt through May 26th 2009 - just use the coupon code SPARKLEMONTH at checkout for this limited time, special savings offer. Sparkle Week is simply a creative way to try to boost the economy in New York’s diamond district, and we at Sparkle Plenty Designs think all of us should give celebration to all things “bling” - from our dazzling array of Swarovski bracelets to our high quality crystal and rhinestone shirts, caps, apparel and gifts. Plus, with Mother’s Day rapidly approaching, you can celebrate mom with a crystal or rhinestone shirt, a sparkly cap or accessory, and/or one of our very afforable Swarovski stretch bracelets, starting at only 14.00

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Flawless Man-Made Diamonds

After decades of experimentation, scientists can finally grow diamonds that outshine even the rarest De Beers rocks

What: Perfect single-crystal diamonds of more than two carats
(the average engagement ring is less than a carat) churned out in a day. Scientists create the gemstones using a process called chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which grows diamond crystals one carbon atom at a time.

Why: The jewelry industry has shown great interest in ersatz versions of the 45-carat Hope diamond, but other uses could prove more lucrative. Using CVD, scientists will be able to cheaply mass-produce diamond semiconductors that are hundreds of times as powerful as their silicon counterparts.

Who: Russell Hemley of the Geophysical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington and researchers at Apollo Diamond, Inc., in Boston, have produced the largest and some of the most flawless diamonds so far. And Europe´s Carbon Power Electronics consortium, led by Dutch diamond maker Element Six, has created a synthetic diamond diode, the first step toward working diamond semiconductors.

When: During the past year, scientists have mastered the ability to grow 10-carat single crystals with a color and clarity that surpass mined diamonds. Within a decade, they´ll also be cheaper. Expect to see the first diamond semiconductors hit the market in 2011.

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Cubic Zirconia Diamond Simulant (Zirconium Dioxide)

The ever popular and economical choice known as a cubic zirconiam is a synthetic gemstone with varying qualities. You can find these in costume jewelry stores, your local mall, clothing stores, really just about anywhere. There are varying grades of cubic zirconia, some resemble diamonds so much that it may be undetectable without using specialized equipment.Physical and optical properties of cubic zirconia vary due to the recipe of stabilizer used by the individual manufacturers and can take on properties all ranges of clairty & color. High quality CZs actually are somewhat superior to diamonds in their color (they can reach a perfect ‘D’ colorless), dispersion (reflection off the surface of the gem), clarity (they can be internally flawless, and have a lower refractive index (more ‘fire’). The downside is the hardness of CZs is about an 8, which makes it more vulnerable to scratching and dulling from everyday wear and tear. Available in just about every color, this is a low cost alternative to diamonds and other mined gems. The creation process is similar to that of moissanite as it is grown in a labratory.

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Moissanite (Silicon Carbide)

While classified as a diamond simulant, the moissanite jewel also occurs naturally, and is in fact much more rare than a diamond. First discovered within a meteor crater in 1893, it was mistaken for a diamond. Today they are created much like a cultured synthetic diamond. Having a higher refractive index than diamond, moissanite is the most brilliant of colorless jewels. Optically, moissanite has more light return (brilliance and luster) and 150% more white light refraction (known as fire) than diamonds. The carat size for a moissanite is a bit larger due to its density and optical properties. Clarity and color is comparable to a high quality diamond with VS clairty and I, J, or K in color. It is also much harder than all gems (natural and synthetic) second only to a diamond (9.25 on the Mohs scale of hardness). The only manufacturer of moissanite is Charles and Colvard, but you can find them at many jewelers.

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Synthetic Manufactured Diamonds or Cultured Diamonds

his may sound a little strange, but we actually have the technology and processes to create a real diamond. These are created using intense pressure and heat and a small real diamond ’seed’. The seed is to provide the molecular structure building block for the sheets of carbon placed over the seed to duplicate. This takes care of the mining and social responsibility issues of a natural mined diamond, but is it eco-friendly? It is an energy intensive process duplicating the natural heat and pressure that forms natural diamonds, only its in a laboratory using 58,000 atmospheres of pressure at 2,300-degrees Fahrenheit until the material crystallizes.

I would imagine that uses more energy than a 100watt light bulb, but probably nothing near the scale of the energy used for a mined diamond. Three major companies involved in manufacturing these gem quality true diamonds are Apollo, Gemesis and Chatham Created Gems. Due to current manufacturing restrictions, only colored diamonds are available in sizes larger than one carat. Because the diamond is created in a controlled environment, they are able to create a near perfect diamond every time. The cost for these cultured diamonds is approximately 15% less than a natural mined diamond, but the quality is usually superior.

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Mined Natural Diamonds

First lets start with real diamonds. The process of mining isn’t pretty, not only are you creating huge holes in the earth, but there is a lot destruction of rivers, ecosystems around mines, pretty much leaving the area around them one big fat dead zone. The diamond industry has attempted to address the blood diamond issue (slave labor used by militant factions to fund wars, destroy countries, etc.) by introducing the The Kimberley Process which brags conflict-free diamonds. Its a start, but hasn’t stemmed the flow (or tracking) of the diamonds past or originating country. But all hope is not lost!

Your best option, if you must have a mined diamond, is to choose an ethical jeweler with an independent trusted source for fair trade diamonds such as Brilliant Earth, or go through ethical diamond mining sites such as Pride Diamonds which promote sustainable communities and mine with care. Additionally, one of the most important things to do when purchasing a conflict-free diamond is to require a written warranty verifying the diamonds source and chain of custody. This will hold the jeweler responsible for their claim of labeling and selling a conflict-free diamond.

Alternatively, there are plenty of diamonds out in circulation already, case in point, i plan on remounting the vintage diamonds my grandmothers wedding ring in a more modern setting for my own wedding. If you don’t have your own heirloom diamonds, GreenKarat features recycled and reclaimed jewelry including engagement rings and diamonds. If you are feeling adventurous, check your local pawn shops- be sure to get an appraisal so you know what you are getting though.

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Eco Conscious Diamonds, Synthetics and Simulants

he holidays are upon us and many of us want to celebrate the special women in our lives with jewelry. Based on the commercials and marketing, a diamond is a girls best friend and diamonds are forever. Thats nice and all, but how do you (or she) feel about them? The subject of Blood Diamonds (or conflict diamonds as they are also known) has been raised to a much higher mainstream level of consciousness, so there are social responsibilities to consider, but what about ecological? Mining isn’t exactly eco-friendly, and its not something that many think about when purchasing jewelry. So what are we left to do to ice out or make our girls feel special?

Ok, I’m done asking questions and it’s time to start providing answers. I’m going to cover mined diamonds, reclaimed diamonds, synthetic diamonds, and diamond simulants. Each has its own benefits and varying impacts on the environment to produce, just think of how educated you will become!

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