Diamonds & Engagement Rings News

When choosing that extra special ring, it’s hard to pick the right one. So how do you know you’re getting exactly what you want? Here are some tips to help you on your journey of picking out the perfect ring.

There are four colors to choose from yellow gold, white gold, palladium (silver) or platinum. If you or you partner like the yellow color of metal surrounding your diamonds than this is the best way to go.

If you like a white color you may prefer to go with white gold; however; with white gold you need to keep in mind that as time goes on it will lose its whiteness due to wear.

If you like a silvery white color than palladium is the way to go for you. This is white color that last however it can be a bit less treasured than platinum.

For an eternally white, whose beauty and rareness will be treasured for generations and generations to come. Than platinum is going to be your number one way to go.

You also need to be sure to keep a few other things in mind when choosing the perfect engagement ring; ready because here they are.

1. Intrinsic value

2. Life span

3. Purity

4. Surface strength

5. Restorability

6. Rarity

and last but not least

7. Hypoallergenic qualities

Choosing the right metal for your engagement ring  and those extra special diamonds can be hard to do, but, hopefully with these little tips you will be on your way to landing the perfect engagement ring  and that perfect girl.

The today show today featured Brilliant Earth on a segment titled, ” Go Green for Valentine’s Day.” Green expert and contributing editor Simran Sethi appeared on the show introducing sustainable and Eco friendly gifts for the conscious valentine.

The Today show featured Brilliant Earth’s ‘Digger’s Pendant,’ and 18k white gold Diamond hoop earrings. The diggers pendant is a provocative piece that features the imprint of the palm of a diamond digger fashioned from black oxidized silver with a tear drop imprint with a small conflict free diamond. The pendant retails for $130 and the 18k white gold diamond hoop earrings set retails for $775 a pair with a wight of .30 carat.

Brilliant Earth helps diamond shoppers this Valentine’s Day by making the diamond buying process simple with tips that guarantee shoppers will end up with a genuine conflict free diamond that reflects their values.

Conflict free diamonds are high quality natural diamonds that come from ethical sources with minimal environment impact. Conflict free diamonds are free from violence and human rights abuses, and are produced with fair labour practices. By choosing conflict free, you are voicing your support for ethical and environmentally responsible practices in the global diamond trade.

You see an ad in the paper of a diamond ring, you are getting married and you figure you can save a couple bucks by buying it secondhand. how do you know you are getting a good deal or even a deal at all?

Diamonds, as well as other things, often rely on the edge “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” However, the four C’s, color, cut, clarity and carat weigh, are instrumental in determining the value of a diamond. The best rule of thumb in selecting a diamond is do your homework.

A diamond may have flaws or inclusions that are not detectable by the naked eye. An appraisal by a jeweler may not be sufficient to find out the true value of a diamond. Appraisals may very from jeweler to jeweler sometimes even by several thousands of dollars.

A microscopic inspection may be necessary to determine if inclusions exist, carbon deposits have been bleached or filled to elude detection or if the stone is a look a like. Consider obtaining an independent Gemological Institute of America or American Gem Society report from a certified appraiser on your prospective purchase.

Aside from determining the true value of the diamond, you may need this report if you plan on obtaining insurance for your diamond through your homeowner’s policy.

De Beers, the worlds largest producer of rough diamonds, produced 51 million to 52 million carats last year, not very much has changed since last year, Gareth Penny Managing Director said on Wednesday.

He said that the company’s sales over Christmas were mixed, but there was a strong demand for big colored gems. He also said that sales were weaker in the U.S.

De Beers partnership with LVMH Mort Hennessy Louis Vuitton, meanwhile, sold more than $100 million in diamonds last year through 23 stores worldwide.

Johannesburg- based De Beers, produces about 40% of the world’s rough diamond and markets about 45%. Penny said that the company will supply more than $1 billion rough diamond to factories in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa by 2009.

De Beers exploration efforts discovered 45 new kimberlites last year while in South Africa the De Beers Consolidated Mines will receive what are know as new order mining rights for Venetia mine in South Africa’s Limpopo province, which penny has said is by far there largest company mine in the country.

South Africa’s mining charter requires company’s to reapply or assert mining and exploration right after the government assumed control of the industry following the end of apartheid.

De Beers, which is to release its 2007 annual results Friday, had record production of 51 million carats in 2006 vs. 49 million carats the year before.

Seeking the biggest diamond your money can buy?

Or perhaps, for some the same money, you would prefer a smaller diamond but a better quality stone.

Since no two diamonds are the same, buying one you will be happy with will take a little education. For those who plan to purchase a diamond for Valenitine’s Day of for another special occasion. We have put together a little something to help you get started.

Though some guys plan to shop for an engagement rings, Valentines Day inspires more of a spontaneous purchase. More typically, Valentine’s gift givers seek stud or hoop earrings, tennis bracelets, necklaces and right hang rings. Heart shaped diamonds are always popular around this time to; but a journey diamond piece feature several loose diamonds in a “S” shape representing a path.

Three “past, present and future” diamonds in a row on earrings or a necklace is another nice option.

Many rings today including engagement rings are designed with smaller diamond surrounding a primary diamond in a look that appears to be more vintage; however solitaire mountings appear to be making a come in style.

Although earring studs have always been welcome, women also like one or more diamond “huggies,” which are small hoop earrings that hug the pierced ear in front and back.

The selection of diamond jewelry is unlimited, so it seems, it is the variety of diamond grade of quality, Known as the ” four C’s” cut, clarity, color and carat.

When diamonds have the same carat size or weigh, it is the quality of the color, cut and clarity that will determine its price.

In the end choosing the right diamond comes down to compromise depending on which quality is most important to you within your budget.

The grope behind the Diamond Class Action Settlement website urged diamond people to participate in claiming refunds amounting to $295 million in a class action settlement from De Beers, the world’s largest diamond seller.

Anyone who may have purchased diamonds from January 1, 1994 to March 31, 2006 are entitled to reimbursement. Direct buyers are urged to visit there web site to file an online claim before May 19, 2008.

In 2001, De Beers had a lawsuits for monopolizing the diamond market through price fixing, controlling and increasing diamond prices.

“While we don’t accept the allegations, we do believe that settling this suit is in the best interest of our shareholders and consumers,” De Beers said last December.

The world’s diamond supplies are mostly extracted from mines in Africa. Countries involved in diamond extraction have contracts with mining companies including De Beers. Diamonds pass through a centralized trading entity though a unit of Be Beers and other companies. De Beers fixed the price of diamonds before they were sold in rough forms to manufacturers.

De Beers was established in 1888 and controls more than 90 percent of the global diamond market and about 40 percent of the world’s diamond production.

    Diamonds are first recognized and mined in India.Diamonds have been known in India for at least 3000 years but most likely 6000 years. The most familiar usage of diamonds today is as gemstones used for adornment a usage, which dates back into antiquity. In the twentieth century, experts in the of field of gemology have developed methods of grading diamonds and other gemstones based on the characteristics most important to their value as a gem. Four characteristics, know informally as the four C’s are now commonly used as the basic descriptors of diamonds, which are carat, cut, color and clarity.

      The diamond industry can be separately into two basic distinct categories, one dealing with gem-grade diamonds and another for industrial-grade diamonds, while a large trade in both types of diamonds exist, the two markets act in dramatically different ways.          

      Precious metals such as gold or platinum, gem diamonds do not trade as a commodity. Ninety-two percent of diamond pieces cut in 2003 were in Surat Gujarat, India. 

          The production and disruption of diamonds is largely consolidated in the hands of a few key players, and concentrated traditional diamond trading centers. The most important being Antwerp, where 80% of all rough diamonds, 50% of all cut diamonds and more than 50% of all rough, cut and industrial diamonds combined are handled.

            The De Beers diamond advertising campaign Is acknowledged as one of the most successful and innovative campaigns in history. N.W. Ayer & son, the advertising firm retained by De Beers in the mid-20^th century, succeeded in reviving in the American diamond market and opened up new markets, even in countries where no diamond tradition had existed before. This coordinated campaign has lasted decades and continues today; it is perhaps best captures by the slogan “a diamond is forever”

Diamond and meteorite impact craters

     Microdiamonds are very small diamonds, they have been found in meteorite impact craters. Such impact events create shock zones of high pressure and temperature suitable for diamond formation. Microdiamonds can be used as one indicator of ancient impact craters. 

Extraterrestrial diamonds          

     Not exactly all diamonds found on earth originated here. About 3 billion years ago a type of carbonado diamonds that is found in South America and Africa was deposited their via an asteroid impact.(not formed from the impact) 

Surfacing 

Diamond-bearing rock is brought close to the surface through deep-origin volcanic eruptions. The magma for such a volcano must originate at a depth where diamonds can be formed. The pipes are open during surface eruption. Not all pipes contain diamonds, and even fewer contain enough diamonds to make mining economically viable.                

     Certain indicator minerals typically occur within diamondiferous kimberlites and are used as mineralogic tracers by prospectors, who follow the indicator trail back to the volcanic pipe, which may contain diamonds.               

      Once diamonds have been transported to the surface by magma in a volcanic pipe, they may erode out and be distributed over a larger area. A volcanic pipe containing diamonds is known as a primary source of diamonds. Secondary sources of diamonds include all areas where a significant number of diamonds, eroded out of their kimberlite or lamproite matrix, accumulate because of water or wind action. These include alluvial deposits and deposits along existing and ancient shorelines, where loose diamonds tend to accumulate because of their approximate size and density. Diamonds have rarely been found in deposits left behind by glaciers. 

Natural History/Formation

           The formation of natural diamond requires very specific conditioning. Diamond formation requires exposure of carbon-bearing materials to high pressure, ranging approximately between 45 and 60-kilo bars.  These conditions are known to be met in two places on Earth; in the lithosphere mantle below relatively stable continental plates, and at the site of a meteorite strike. 

Diamonds formed in cratons

                 The conditions for diamond formatting to happen in the lithospheric mantle occur at considerable depth corresponding to the aforementioned requirements of temperature and pressure. These depths are estimated to be in between 140-190 kilometers (90-120 miles). 

          The correct combination of temperature and pressure is only found in the think, ancient, and stable parts of continental plates where regions of lithosphere known as cratons exist. Long residence in the cratonic lithosphere allows diamond crystals to grow larger.

Electrical conductivity     

   Other specialized applications also exist or are being developed, including use as semiconductors. Some blue diamonds are natural semiconductors, in contrast to most other diamonds, which are excellent electrical insulators. 

Toughness      

   Toughness relates to a material ability to resist breakage from forceful impact. 3.4MN, has been measures the toughness of natural diamonds. This is actually good compared to other gemstones, but poor compared to most engineering materials. 

Color 

     Diamonds can occur in nearly any color. Yellow and brown are by far the most common chosen colors. “Black diamonds are not truly black, they just 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. The most common impurity, nitrogen, causes a slight to intense yellow coloration depending upon the type and concentration of nitrogen present.

A blue diamond goes for nearly $8 million dollars.   

Identification          

    Diamonds can be identified through their high thermal conductivity.  Their high refractive index is also indicative, but other material has similar refractivity. Diamonds do cut glass, but they as well easily scratches other diamonds, but this damages both diamonds.