My Pink Diamonds

De Beers was founded in South Africa in 1888 and today is the largest producer and seller of diamonds.  Almost from the beginning the De Beers company has had a strangle hold on the diamond industry and a huge advertising budget.  Diamonds are not as rare as the advertiser would have you to believe.  De Beers keeps a huge stockpile of diamonds and tightly controls supply.

De Beers started the very successful advertising campaign A Diamond Is Forever in 1947.  The Advertising Age magazine has voted this to be the most recognizable advertising line of the twentieth century.  This advertising campaign was designed to discourage diamonds owners from putting their old diamonds back into the market.  The success of this campaign turned diamond into the symbol of eternal love and dramatically increased demand for the gems.

The ability to create cubic zirconium happened in the 1950 but it was not until 1979 that it became economically feasible to mass-produce and use them as a diamond substitute.  Only a gemologist can tell the difference between a diamond created by nature and a diamond created in a laboratory.

There are several companies that are investing a lot of time and money in developing a laboratory-grown diamond process and are doing quite well.  Because of the diamonds optical, thermal, chemical, and electronic properties, laboratory-grown diamonds have a lot of potential to affect many industries and not just the Jewelry industry.

Gemesis is a company founded in 1996 and based in Sarasota, Fla., that is growing diamonds in high-pressure, high-temperature crystal growing chambers.  Each chamber starts with a tiny diamond crystal or diamond seed that is bathed in a molten solution of graphite and a metal-based catalyst at about 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit and 58,000 atmospheres of pressure.  The diamond begins to grow, molecule by molecule and in about three and a half days a gem-quality 2.8 carat rough diamond has been created.

A rough diamond of this size can create a diamond of about 1.5 carats that has been cut, polished, and is ready for mounting in a setting.  Naturally occurring colored diamonds will show color because of the trace amounts of impurities in them.  Replacing fewer than five atoms per 100,000 of carbon atoms in a diamond crystal lattice with nitrogen atoms gives a diamond with a yellow coloration or tint.  These diamonds sell for about $4,000 per carat, which is about one third of the cost of a mined diamond.

The company adopted the term Gemesis Cultured Diamond to distinguish its laboratory-grown diamonds from the mined diamond to assure that consumers were not being misled as to the nature of the product.  The first commercial production of gem quality diamonds, were made in 2002.

The company business strategy changed in 2005 from producing from offering individual loose, cut and polished diamonds to retailers to producing and selling only rough stones in lots to jewelry manufactures and designers similarly to the way in which diamond mines sell natural diamonds. 

The man-made diamonds made today are of a better quality than the natural ones.  A trained jeweler will be unable to determine a real one from a made-one unless he had some very expensive equipment.  Insist on a certification before purchasing a diamond for investment purposes.  It will tell you the stone’s carat weight, its color and clarity, and its flaws.  If the seller is unwilling to supply a certification with the diamond then he may not be telling the truth and you should find someone who will.  After all when you want to sell the diamond the new owner will want a certification from you.

The first wave of gem-quality manufactured diamonds hit the market late in 2003.  Man-made diamonds is nothing new and the technology has been available since the mid 19th century.  Small diamond crystals were created for industrial purposes such as grinding wheels, drill bits and saw blades.  What is new is that a Florida based company can now produce rough 3-carat gem-quality diamonds 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at a cost of less than $100 dollars.

Companies like the Gemesis, Apollo Diamond and others are producing quality diamonds and yet the price of the man-made or cultured diamonds are only about 15 percent less than mined diamonds.  Gemesis and Apollo Diamond companies are using diamond jewelry business to finance their entry into the semiconductor industry, which is where the real money is.

As computer chips get faster and smaller they run hotter and hotter.  Microprocessor chips can generate up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.  If they get much hotter the silicon will simply turn into a puddle.  Diamonds can solve this problem because they can stand much higher temperatures than silicon.

Several things must happen before diamonds are going to be used as semiconductors.  The first is the cost must come down.  With Gemesis reporting in 2003 that the cost of producing a 3-carat diamond was about $100 and Apollo Diamond Company reporting cost of about $5 per carat the first obstacle appears to have been overcome.

A large volume of cheap diamonds is needed.  You cannot rely on a steady supply mined diamonds.  Since De Beers Diamond Trading Company has monopolized the diamond business for over 115 years by forcing out rivals and by controlling the supply of available diamonds the ability to manufacture diamonds is the answer.

Each diamond must have the same electrical properties and the next.  Diamonds are naturally insulators (they do not conduct electricity) and to become semiconductors for the computer industry they must be able to conduct both a negative and positive charge.  Scientists have found that if boron in included during the lattice formation of a diamond it will be able to conduct a positive charge.  Recently both Israel and France has announced a major breakthrough in manufacturing a negatively charged diamond.  Boron is a substance that will also give a diamond a bluish coloration.

Intel uses large silicone wafers that are 1 foot in diameter (slightly over 300 millimeters) for their semiconductor manufacturing process.  As of 2003 the Apollo Diamond company has been successful in creating 10 mm square diamond wafers and predicts it will be able to produce 4 inch wafers within five years.  Europe and Japan have been investing heavily in diamond semiconductor research.  The Japanese government has allocated over $6 million dollars a year to build the first-generation diamond computer chip.  If we are not careful the Japanese will become the leaders in the new diamond computer chip industry.

Converting from a silicon based semiconductor to a diamond based semiconductor will not happen over night.  Krishnamurthy Soumyanath, Intel’s director of communications circuit research said that it takes us about 10 years of to evaluate a new material.  But when it does happen it will be huge and I am ready for mine now.  Now if we can only get Microsoft to quit introducing a new operating system every other year or so then perhaps Diamonds Are Forever would be true for the business world also.

As the name implies synthetic diamonds look like real diamonds but do not have the same properties as real diamonds.  The ability to determine the differences between chemical compusosition, hardness, weight, and some of the light handling characteristics of real diamonds and synthetic diamonds with the naked eye is extremely difficult.  Man-made diamonds are not considered synthetic diamonds because they do have the same properties as real or mined diamonds.

Cut Glass was probably the first material used to simulate a diamond.  It is readily available, easy to cut and polish and when seen from a distance, looks good.  With all of the information available to today’s consumer trying to pass cut glass off as a diamond rarely works.  Cut glass is still seen in costume jewelry and in the movies today because of its extremely low cost.  The use of cut glass has widely been replaced by the most popular diamond alternative, cubic zirconium.

Since 1976 cubic zirconium has been the most widely used material for synthetic diamonds.  Its low cost, durability and light handling characteristics have made it extremely attractive in producing low cost jewelry.  Cubic zirconium light handling characteristics is so close to that of a diamond that only a trained eye can tell the difference between the two.  The annual global production had reached 50 million carats by 1980.  Cubic zirconium will weigh about 1.7 times more that a diamond.  The hardness rating of cubic zirconium is between 8.5 and 9 whereas diamonds have a hardness rating of 10.

Moissanite or silicon carbide was named after Henri Moissan after he discovered the new mineral in fragments of a meteor found near Diablo Canyon in Arizona 1893.  Henri Moissan is also credited as the first person to have created a man-made diamond in a libratory in 1892.  Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral that is slightly softer than diamonds with a hardness rating of 9.25 but has almost all of the other properties of a mined diamond.  Charles and Colvard introduced gem-quality moissanite jewelry in 1998.  The thermal conductivity test use to distinguish diamond from other artificial stones was rendered useless because moissanite has almost the same thermal conductivity as a diamond.  It requires highly specialized equipment to determine if a gemstone is moissanite or a diamond.

With the high quality of synthetic diamond on the market the only way you can be sure that you have a genuine diamond is to have it certified and if you are purchasing a new diamond insist on a certification before purchasing.  It will tell you the stone’s carat weight, its color and clarity, and its flaws.  If the seller is unwilling to supply a certification with the diamond then he may not be telling the truth and you should find someone who will.  After all when you want to sell the diamond the new owner will want a certification from you.  Here are a few suggestions for testing to see if you are looking at a genuine diamond or a synthetic before you invest in a more conclusive test. 

Using your diamond to cut glass to prove that it is hard enough to do so may prove to yourself that it is a diamond but that type of abuse can damage any stone.  You could ruin a perfectly pretty piece of jewelry.  Another frequently used to test diamonds is called the light test.  Shine a black light through the gemstone in question.  If a blue light shines though it the diamond could be real.

Careful clean any oil and dirt from the surface of the diamond and then gently blow upon the surface of the stone and if your breath shows for a few seconds after, you have a fake. Genuine diamonds clear up breath almost immediately.

Whether you’re looking to purchase wholesale diamonds for investment purposes, for business purposes, or just because you love the idea of owning diamonds on your own, there are some things to look for when it comes to a diamond wholesaler.  Before you run out and start plunking down your investment dollars or jewelry business start-up finances for any loose diamonds, keep in mind that you don’t want to send money to just any diamond wholesaler.  Like any other investment option or business vendor, you need to be choosy and use some discretion.

First, keep in mind that a diamond wholesaler will be offering a large inventory with different cuts, carats, and so on.  It’s up to you to educate yourself about what makes a diamond valuable and why there will no doubt be a wide variety of prices between diamonds of the same carat, and so on.  Your diamond wholesaler may offer some tips and education in this regard but it will be up to you to learn as much as possible about diamonds themselves.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society (AGS), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) are the three most widely known and respected diamond grading laboratories in the world.  Each of the grading laboratories have developed a very similar nomenclature for identifying the 4 C’s of diamonds.  The 4 C’s stand for Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut.

You could insist on a certificate from GIA or AGS for each and every diamond you purchase for a wholesaler but bear in mind that this certification process will increase the final price of the diamonds.  A certificate describes the quality of a diamond, but it does not place a monetary value on the gem.  An appraisal places a monetary value on your diamond, but does not certify the quality of the diamond.  After you have been purchasing diamonds for a while you should be able to learn how to certify and appraise the diamond on your own and not rely on any outside sources.

A diamond wholesaler should be a direct importer of diamonds rather than a reseller.  They may cut their own as well; this usually means that you get a better selection when it comes to quality and value, something that will be very good for a startup jewelry business.  When you start to deal with a reseller, the costs go up, so it’s best to look for a wholesaler of diamonds that imports their merchandise directly.

You need to be sure where the wholesaler gets his diamonds from.  There are many gems that have a poor history for how they have been cultivated; many civil wars in Africa and other areas are started and waged over diamond mines.  Diamonds known as conflict diamonds originate from the war zones of Africa. 

In May of 2000 The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was adopted.  It is a plan that could halt the trade of conflict diamonds by establishing a way that diamond origin could be certified.

On December 1, 2000 the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution defining the role of conflict diamonds with the intent of cutting off the sources of funding for rebel forces and to help shorten the wars and prevent their recurrence.

Among the countries most affected by the terror inflicted by traders in conflict diamonds are Liberia, Sierra Leone and also Angola.  Unscrupulous groups still manage to elude the legal barriers and still find ways of infiltrating the diamond centers of the world.  Insist on a certification before purchasing any diamonds.  It will tell you the stone’s carat weight, its color and clarity, flaws, and its origins.

If you do some research about any potential diamond wholesaler and check their paperwork carefully, you’re sure to make the right decision for your investment or business.

A certificate is not the same thing as an appraisal.  A certificate describes the quality of a diamond, but it does not place a monetary value on the gem.  An appraisal places a monetary value on your diamond, but does not certify the quality of the diamond.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the American Gem Society (AGS), and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) are the three most widely known and respected diamond grading laboratories in the world.  Each of the grading laboratories have developed a very similar nomenclature for identifying the 4 C’s of diamonds.  The 4 C’s stand for Carat, Color, Clarity, and Cut.  We will also discuss the Shape of diamonds in this article.

Carat Grading

The weight or size of a diamond is measured in carats.  A carat is 0.2 grams or 200 milligrams and is always referenced within 2 decimal points.  This is a highly accurate grading scale used to determine the weight or size of a diamond.

Color Grading

 D to Z 

All diamonds are compared against to an internationally accepted set of master stones and ranges from totally colorless (D) to pale yellow or brown color (Z).  Brown diamonds darker than K color are usually described using their letter grade, and a descriptive phrase, for example M Faint Brown.  Diamonds with more depth of color than Z color fall into the fancy color diamond range.

Color grades D through F are naturally the most valuable and expensive because of their rarity.  Color G through I will show virtually no visible color to the untrained eye.  Selecting the right jewelry to mount the diamond in can minimize color grade J through M.

The coloration of diamonds can be caused by several factors.  Impurities trapped in the diamond during its formation, the crystal lattice structure of the diamond, and the exposure to radiation can all lead to the wide verity of colors available in diamonds.

Clarity Grading

Clarity is determined by the number of blemishes on the surfaces of the diamond and the number of inclusions such as air bubbles, cracks, and foreign material inside of the diamond.  When both terms are being referenced the term defects is usually referenced.  Nature rarely produces anything that is with out defects and this hold true for diamonds.  Most diamonds will have some type of defect or flaw.

When grading the Clarity of a diamond it is necessary to observe the number and the nature of any internal defects in the stone.  The size and position of the defects are also taken into account.  A diamond is said to be Internally Flawless (I.F) when it presents no internal defects under 10x magnification by an experienced eye of laboratory gemologists.

A diamond is said to be Very Very Slightly included (V.V.S.1 to V.V.S.2) when it presents defects that are very difficult to locate under 10x magnification. A diamond is said to be Very Slightly Included (V.S.1 to V.S.2) when it presents defects that are difficult to locate under 10x magnification.

A diamond is said to be Slightly Included (S.I.1 to S.I.2) when it presents defects that are easy to locate under 10x magnification.

A diamond is said to be Imperfect (P.1 to I.1) when it presents defects that are hard to locate with the naked eye.

A diamond is said to be Imperfect (P.2 to I.2) when it presents defects that are easy to locate with the naked eye.

A diamond is said to be Imperfect (P.3 to I.3) when it presents defects that are very easy to locate with the naked eye.

Cut Grading

The symmetry and proportions of a diamond cut determine the life, brilliance and light dispersion.  If any of these cutting factors are below standard then the appearance of the diamond will be adversely affected.

The cut of a diamond has nothing to do with the shape of the diamond.  The cut refers to the diamond’s reflective qualities.  A good cut give the diamond it brilliance or the ability to handle light in a pleasing fashion.  The brightness will seem to come from the very heart of a diamond.

When a ray of light touches the surface of a diamond, part of the light is reflected back, this is external reflection.  The rest of the ray penetrates the stone and is then reflected toward the center of the diamond. This is known as refraction.  The ray of light is reflected to the surface, where it is seen as the colors of the spectrum. This is known as dispersion.

If light enters the diamond through to top or table and then leaks out from the sides or bottom instead of reflecting back to the eye, then the diamond will seen to have less brilliance and fire.  A diamonds cut is the most important of the four Cs.  If all of the rest of the grading scale is at the higher end of the spectrum and the cut has been utilized to maximize the size of the diamond then a very poor quality stone rill be the result.  Happily this trend in size instead of quality is no longer prevalent in the diamond market.  Today standard mathematical algorithms are used to determine the best cut for any shape diamond. Shape

The shape of diamond will fall into one of several standard categories but there are many variations on each standard categories.  Basic categories include Round, Emerald, Pear, Heart, Marquise, Oval, and Princess cuts.

 Round 

The standard for the diamond shape and is used in most engagement rings.

 Emerald 

Rectangular or square step cut with diagonally cut corners.  Usually has 2 to 4 rows of parallel facets to the center of the stone.  A very popular style of cut used for Emeralds hence the name.

 Pear 

Pear or teardrop in shape and may or may not have a large flat surface in the center of the stone.  This stone is usually cut to have about 56 to 58 facets.

 Heart 

Heart in shape and if a shield shaped cutlet is present (flat center) then it will usually have 32 crown facets.  If no culet is present then 24 pavilion facets is the norm.

 Marquise 

Oval in shape with curving sides and pointed ends and was developed in France in the mid 1700s.  May have been named after the Marquise de Pompador, who was a mistress of King Louis XV.

 Oval 

Oval in shape and covered with triangular facets.

 Princess 

Very popular square or modified rectangular shape.  There are many variations of crown and pavilion facets cuts on the market.

Any woman would no doubt swoon at the idea of getting a diamond wedding ring – or a diamond anything for that matter!  If you’re a man trying to choose just the right ring for your fiance or for your wife, then you’ve come to the right spot.  We can give you some tips and pointers from the insiders – meaning real women – on how to select the perfect diamond wedding ring for your significant other.

First off, keep in mind that there are really three different types of diamond wedding rings.  There is a diamond wedding band, which is meant to be worn with an engagement ring and is presented during the wedding ceremony.  Then there are anniversary bands, which usually have a number of diamonds to represent the year of the anniversary, or one diamond in the center and then gemstones for each of the children, or some other such design.  And lastly there are eternity bands, which are really diamond wedding rings that are either worn as a wedding band with or without an engagement ring, or are meant as an anniversary present.  Eternity bands have diamonds going all the way around them – in a never ending circle, just like eternity.  Get it?

Which Diamond Wedding Ring is Right For Your Special Lady?

Of course there’s no easy answer to that question, and chances are that your wife or fiancé will be happy with whatever ring you choose.  But here are some things you can keep in mind.  For one, many professional career women like a diamond wedding ring that they can wear without their engagement ring during work hours, especially if the diamond in the engagement ring is quite large.  An eternity band can look very lovely in this case, as it is beautiful enough to wear on its own.  Also, if you are selecting a diamond wedding ring that will be worn with the engagement ring, you want to be sure that the two will look good together.  In this case, it may be a good idea to choose a wedding set rather than selecting two separate rings, or to ask a jeweler for help in deciding on bands that complement one another.

If you’re looking for a diamond wedding ring as an anniversary gift, put some thought into the design and the stones, and especially for the anniversary year.  Obviously a ring for your 25 year anniversary may be a bit more significant than the gift you got her for your third anniversary.  Many diamond wedding rings that are presented as anniversary gifts have not just diamonds but gemstones to represent the number of children you have.  So, if you have three children, you may find a band with three rubies and two diamonds in between them.  Or if it’s your five year anniversary, get a diamond wedding ring with five small diamonds across.

The real key to selecting the right diamond wedding ring is to put some thought into it, and try to select something that you know she’ll love and will be proud to wear forever.

A diamond ring is not exactly cheap.
In fact, one diamond ring may be equivalent to a couple of months of your apartment rental. Still, you don’t have to pay more if you can pay for it less? This is possible if you know the techniques that will help you find a quality diamond ring at discounted prices.
Read on and you might learn a trick or two.
1. Set a budget.
Without knowing how much you are willing to shell out, you will not be able to find the diamond ring that will fit your needs. In order to set out for a cheaper diamond ring, you have to first determine what is cheap and what is expensive for you.
2. Be familiar with the prices
Unlike some commodities, diamond rings or any jewelry with diamonds on it do not have fixed prices. Prices of the pieces will depend upon the following properties of the diamond: clarity, cut, color and carat. Clarity refers to the clearness of the gemstone, its brilliance as well as its imperfections.
The color on the other hand refers to the “color” of the stone. Although diamonds are clear, there are varieties that have yellow shades. The carat refers to the weight and size of the stone while cut is the shape the stone is cut. Each property will determine the price of the diamond. For instance, the better the clarity, the higher the price. The same goes with the color. Yellowish-colored stones are less expensive. Reputable stores keep records of these things so don’t be afraid to ask the store
3. Watch out for sales
Stores frequently offer promos and sales, often during special occasions like anniversaries. Some conduct sales before Christmas to get rid of old stocks. Take note of these sales and follow the prices of the jewelry. Buy when there is a sale so that you can take advantage of the discounts. Although jewelry stores do not really give much in terms of discounts, a couple of percent is already pretty good especially if the price is high.
4. Look in thrift shops, garage sales and second hand stores
Although diamond rings are not exactly a dime a dozen in these kinds of shops, sometimes, they do appear. Be on the lookout but of course before you buy make sure that you have taken note of the specifications. You may be paying more for what it is really worth.

 The Centenary 

The Centenary was found on July 17th, 1986 at the Premier Mine.  Only a handful of people knew about it and all were sworn to silence.  On March 11th, 1988, the centenary celebrations of De Beers took place in Kimberly and a banquet was held to close the Kimberly Mine also known as the Big Hole.  Over 400 people were in attendance.  Representatives of several national governments of diamond-producing countries and dignitaries from various sections of the industry listened as the chairman, Julian Oglivie Thompson, declared; we have recovered at the Premier Mine a diamond of 599 carats, which is perfect in color.  Indeed it is one of the largest top-color diamonds ever found.  Naturally it will be called the Centenary Diamond.

This extraordinary mine has produced several outstanding diamonds of the most superb color, which have been cut into famous gems: The Cullinan in 1905; the Niarchos in 1954; the Taylor-Burton in 1966 and the Premier Rose in 1978.  The Premier Diamond Mine has produced close to 300 stones weighing more than 100 carats each, and 25 percent of the world’s diamonds weighing more than 400 carats each.

 Conde Pink Diamond 

Louis XIII are said to have bought the stone in 1643 after which the King presented it to Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conde, and Commander of the French Army during the Thirty Years War.  It is a light pink pear-shaped diamond that weights 9.01 carats.  The stone is currently on display in the Musee de Conde in Chantilly, France.

 Cullinan Diamond 

The Cullinan 1 also called the Star of Africa, is a pear shaped diamond weighing 530.20 carats.  It is called the Cullian 1 because it was it was the largest of 9 stones cut from the Cullian Diamond.  The Cullian 1 is the 2nd largest cut diamond in the world and is part of the Crown Jewels of England.  It is currently on display in the Tower of London.

The famous blue diamonds come in different shapes including pear shaped and octagon shaped.  The cut of these valuable gems is especially important for large, colored stones and the cut must enhance the natural beauty of these wonderful gems.  Sometimes the largest stones that are found with a blue color are studied extensively before any cutting is begun.

 Cullinan II Diamond 

The Cullian II is 317.40 carat stone cut into a cushion shaped.  It is the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britian.  Note the 2 platinum loops on the top and bottom edges.  This feature has been added to allow the stone to be worn as a brooch or alone with the Cullinan 1 attached.

An Emerald Cut diamond is a diamond that has been cut to a rectangular or square step cut with diagonally cut corners.  It usually has 2 to 4 rows of parallel facets to the center of the stone.  A very popular style of cut used for Emeralds hence the name.  What makes this cut unique is the large flat face (table) when viewed from the top.

This flat face highlights the clarity of the diamond so only high quality diamonds are cut to this shape.  The lack of impurities and inclusion in the stone will increase the price so emerald cut diamonds are usually more expensive than other cuts with the same caret weight. 

The classic emerald-cut shape has a length to width ratio of 1.30 to 1.40.  It is interesting to note that studies done back in the mid 1970s showed that the majority of successful business also had logos with the same length to width ratio.  Other length to width ratios is available and if they are pleasing to the eye is determined only by individual tastes.  1.25, 1.50, and 1.75 are very common and if you prefer a more square shape then take a look at the Asscher cut.  It also has a flat face to highlight the clarity of the diamond but has a length to width ratio of about 1.0 to 1.05.

When purchasing an emerald cut stone of SI clarity grade or lower, be sure to review the clarity plot on the diamond certificate.  A diamond is said to be Slightly Included (S.I.1 to S.I.2) when it presents defects that are easy to locate under 10x magnification.

 Darya-I-Nur Emerald Cut 

The Darya-I-Nur diamond is one of the most famous emerald-cut diamonds in the world.  It is also believed to be the largest pink diamond in the world.  The stone is estimated to weigh somewhere between 175 and 195 carats, and it is a light pink color.  Its exact weight isn’t known because its been mounted in its brooch setting for over 130 years.  This stone is one of the most celebrated diamonds in the Iranian Crown Jewels and it is also one of the oldest stones known to man.

 Darya-I-Nur 

Darya-I-Nur diamond is believed to be the largest pink diamond in the world.  The stone is estimated to weigh somewhere between 175 and 195 carats, and it is a light pink color.  Its exact weight isn’t known because its been mounted in its brooch setting for over 130 years.  This stone is one of the most celebrated diamonds in the Iranian Crown Jewels and it is also one of the oldest stones known to man.

 De Beers Diamond 

The De Beers weights 234.65 carats and is the seventh largest faceted diamond in the world.  It was found in the De Beers Consolidated Mine in March 1888.  Prior to being cut the diamond weighed 428.50 carats.  It was centerpiece of a ceremonial necklace known as the Patiala Necklace in 1928.  In 1973 the necklace disappeared and then the remnants was discovered in a jewelry shop in London in 1998 with most of the large stone missing.  The De Beers Diamond was sold in 1982 for $3,160,000.

 De Young Red Diamond 

The De Young Red is a 5.03 carat red diamond and is considered as the third largest in the world.  This diamond is not really pure red.  This stone has a slightly brown hue which makes it look like a fine garnet that ruby-like.  Since this diamond has very unique color, this was once sold at an estate sale as a red garnet.  Luckily, this fine piece of precious stone was later on recovered and identified to be a very rare red diamond.  At present, the De Young Red is under the custody of the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC and often figured in exhibits in that museum.

Unlike the Type I diamonds that derived their color from impurities imbedded in the diamond, Red diamonds are considered a Type II and get their color from a process known as Plastic Deformation.  They get their coloration due to structural anomalies caused by Plastic Deformation during the crystal growth.  The intense pressure changes the lattice structure of diamonds and has led to the formation of Pink, Red, and Brown colored diamonds.

 Dresden Diamond 

The largest natural green diamond in the world is The Dresden Green.  It is classified as an “apple-green” color and weighs in at 40.70 carats.  The Gemmological Institute of America examined the stone in 1988. The Dresden Green Diamond was proved to be not only of extraordinary quality, but also a rare type IIa diamond and is consider the largest and finest natural green diamond ever found.  The Dresden Green gets its name from the capitol of Saxony where it has been on display for more than 200 years. The earliest known reference to its existence occurs in The Post Boy, a London new-sheet of the 1700’s.  The diamond was sold in Switzerland in 1997 for $715,320.