My Pink Diamonds

Recession or no recession, you may want to wear designer wedding dresses on your wedding day. And who can blame you? It is your moment of glory, after all, and moments of glory deserve only the finest finery!
With that being said here are the three S of getting your manicured hands on cheap designer wedding dresses.Sample Sales
When you were a single lady, you probably heard of brides-to-be stampeding into stores in search of the Holy Grail of wedding dresses, designer or not. You probably thought, too, that there is no way on Earth you are going to be one of the masses, figuratively speaking of course.
However, now that you are about to add another ring to your finger, then you need to consider sample sales to save on wedding costs. Simply put, sample sales are events where stores sell their wedding wares at a discount, a hefty discount. This happens about once a year so you need to tap into your network of family and friends to be on the alert for these sales.
Here is how it works: You line up very early in the morning in front of the store. You then join the throngs of brides-to-be who dress and undress themselves in designer wedding dresses at the speed of light. You choose the dress and you pay for it.
Some tips: Go in your bathing suit to save on the hassles of getting into fitting rooms. Bring along a friend to help you with the process. Have an idea of your wedding dress to save time on looking at dresses that you will not like anyway. Most importantly, try to be a size 8 to 10 because that’s usually the largest size available.Second-Hand Shops
There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing second-hand designer wedding dresses especially when these are heirlooms. Think vintage and you can become one of the most fashionable brides on the block.
When you buy from second-hand stores, however, always opt for those in upscale neighborhoods for better finds. Or better yet, go to consignment shops. You can usually find better dresses in these stores since they only accept items in perfect and near-perfect conditions, which means more bargains for you.
Be sure to check if you can afford the cost of alterations and repairs since most second-hand shops don’t have return policies. Even if they profess to accept returns, put it in writing.Sites over the Internet
Yes, the Internet is one of the best ways to save money on designer wedding dresses. Usually, websites will offer lesser prices than brick-and-mortar stores mainly because the profits of the middlemen are eliminated.
And then there are the auction sites like eBay, of course. You must proceed with caution, however, as there are Internet scammers who will not hesitate to rob money from starry-eyed brides like you.
When looking for the perfect designer wedding dresses to make you the glowing bride, you should never settle for less but you must balance it with your finances. Besides, who will know that what you’re wearing is cheap for a designer dress?
Best for Bride – The Best Bridal Stores
5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)
Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1

Diamonds has been the source of inspiration and fascination for centuries, and is one of the hardest, most popular and most beautiful stones in the world. The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Greek word adamas, meaning ‘unconquerable’.

A diamond is made of carbon, one of the earth’s most common and natural elements. There are different types of diamonds, each boasting its own unique charm and beauty. Some types are extremely rare, while others are quite common.

Pink diamonds are the rarest and most valuable diamonds in the world. The Argyle mine in Australia is the world’s largest supplier of intense pink diamonds, producing over 95% of the world’s supply.

White diamonds, on the other hand, are produced by mines all over the world in a wide and impressive variety of shapes and sizes. It is probably the most common and popular of the diamonds, used all over the world to adorn jewelry and other pieces.

Champagne diamonds are naturally coloured diamonds that are produced in a variety of colours, from light straw to rich cognac.

Yellow diamonds are also stunning and come in a variety of shades, from light yellow, to brilliant canary yellow. Blue and green diamonds are also available in a wide range of shades, but are also quite rare.The History of Diamonds

Diamonds has a long and fascinating history, and one filled with mystery, power and beauty. In the past, diamonds have held special powers for Kings, Queens and their subjects. Diamonds stood for love, power, wealth, spirit and magical powers. Kings would wear diamonds into battle as a symbol of good luck and a blessing from the gods.

The diamonds were also believed to hold magical powers from the gods. Because of this, warriors would stay away from kings for fear of these magical powers. Kings also wore diamonds as a symbol of strength, courage and invincibility. More recently, diamonds has secured its status as the ultimate gift of love, romance and adoration.

The first diamonds were probably discovered in India thousands of years ago. When India started dwindling as a valuable diamond source, it led to the discovery of diamonds in Brazil, the next important diamond source.

At the beginning of 1866, massive diamond deposits were discovered in South Africa, which led to a world wide diamond rush. South Africa was the leading source for diamonds for some time, until deposits was found in the Siberian permaforest in 1954. Most recently, Western Canada has become the site for the world’s newest diamond rush.

Diamond, the hardest known material is pure carbon, crystallized under a very high pressure and temperature. In nature, such an environment exists only at depths of 150 to 200 km below the surface of the earth. Volcanic eruptions drive the diamond bearing rocks called ”Kimberlite” and ”Lamproite” to the surface of the earth where the diamonds can be extracted.

Among the various types of jewels in which the diamond has played a leding, none is of greater human interest than the smallest of all the diamond rings given to pledge ones love and to seal a marriage. Seen in historical perspective, the modern engagement ring is the most recent link a long chain reaching far back in to the past. Rings as forms of adornment date back several millennia, But the earliest surviving writings on rings as tokens of love are from the roman playwright Plautus in the second century B.C.E,10 and wedding rings are known because of inscriptions that occasionally recorded the marriage contracts sealed in the presence of the emperors image.

The latest trend in diamond jewelry is the Right Hand Diamond Ring. The marketing significance load is addressing mainly to the independent career woman of the 21-st century.

Wedding anniversary ring: Amongst the most important days of your life are the days that you decide to get engaged and the day that you remember your commitment to each other.

Wedding ring : A wedding ring or wedding band consists of a precious metal ring, worn on the base of the left ring finger – the fourth finger (counting from the thumb) of the left hand. In most other parts of the world, it is worn on the right ring finger

Engagement ring: In Western tradition, an engagement ring is a ring worn by a woman on her left-hand ring finger indicating her engagement to be married. It is customary for the ring to be worn on the right-hand ring finger in certain countries. By modern convention, the ring is usually presented as a betrothal gift by a man to his prospective bride while or directly after she accepts his marriage proposal. It represents a formal agreement to future marriage.

For more Information please view: http://www.rivazge.com

When they think of diamonds, colored diamonds aren’t usually what comes to people’s minds. The fact is however that fancy colored diamonds are not unusual; they come in almost every shade and hue imaginable, and in many cases, are more valuable than “colorless’ diamonds.

A Glorified Lump of Coal?

Diamond – known to the ancients as adamantine – is what is known as an allotrope of carbon, and in chemical terms, is identical to common forms of coal and graphite. The difference lies not in chemical composition, but rather in how the molecules are arranged.

Diamonds form far deeper beneath the earth’s surface than coal or graphite; the carbon is subjected to extraordinarily higher pressures (up to 440 tons per square inch) and temperatures (as much as 2300 degrees Fahrenheit). This causes the molecules to be bonded to each other in a tetrahedral arrangement, accounting both for the hardness of diamond and the eight-sided shape in which they occur.

Shades of Difference

Colored diamonds are ones in which this molecular arrangement has been contaminated by a chemical reaction with some other element. A diamond that is made from pure carbon and has no structural flaws would be as perfectly transparent as pure water ice. However, no such 100% flawless diamonds have ever been found in nature.

Colored diamonds range in color from pale blue and storm gray to dark amber and even black. Pink, purple, reds and oranges have also been found. The color depends on the nature of the chemical impurity; amber and brown diamonds result from nitrogen; when internal flaws are present, they may be pink or red. A grey coloration is caused by boron, whereas a deep blue diamond may be the result of hydrogen.

Are They More Valuable?

Colored diamonds are not necessarily more valuable than clear or colorless ones, although they may be. If a collection of loose diamonds includes gemstones with a yellowish tinge, they may have less value; jewelry retailers often discount the price of such gems. One the other hand, pink and red diamonds are exceedingly rare, and command high prices on the open market when they are available at all.Grading Of Colored Diamonds

Like their clear counterparts, colored diamonds have a unique grading system used by gemologists when analyzing and evaluating such stones. These range from “faint” on one end, to “fancy” in the mid range, and “fancy dark” for those with the most intense coloration.

Famous Examples

The Hope Diamond is a blue diamond that is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute. One of the most valuable diamonds on earth (and the inspiration for a series of comedy films featuring a bumbling French detective) is the Dar-I-Nur, an enormous pink diamond that is part of the Persian Crown Jewels. Colored diamonds of many different varieties – including a “chameleon” diamond that changes color – are part of the Aurora Collection, which has published photo images of their gems and can be seen at the London Museum of Natural History.

Diamond is one of the most precious stones available on earth. Diamond glitters as much as love shines. In fact, a diamond engagement ring represents true love and devotion and it’s also a promise of a marriage and happiness between two souls. Being given a valuable diamond engagement ring by your spouse is probably one of the most memorable moments in a soon-to-be-bride’s or groom’s life. If you are one of the couples deeply engaged in love or going to get married, relish the joy of love by gifting your spouse a dazzling diamond engagement ring. The importance of diamond engagement rings are so much that most people believe that an engagement ceremony has no meaning without a stunning engagement ring because it is the thing which bonds two person’s into a loving relationship. To make engagement more meaningful, memorable and everlasting, it’s better to gift a unique diamond engagement ring to your special someone. And if it’s unique, your special someone can flaunt it everywhere in styleThe Magic of Diamond Engagement RingsEngagement rings are traditionally given by a groom to a bride, symbolizing their love and commitment to each other. Diamonds, with their magical beauty, provide the perfect stone to set into engagement rings. Whether it is a single solitaire or multi-stone design, there is a huge range of engagement rings available at our jewelry store. But before purchasing diamond engagement rings, you should know the 4Cs of diamond as it will help you in buying quality diamonds. After all, you are investing your hard-earned money in it. Apart from your money, your love is also involved in it.Buy Quality Engagement Rings from Our Online Jewelry StoreOur certified online jewelry site is one of the most popular sites in the USA. You can find on our site huge collections of unique diamond rings including diamond solitaire rings, diamond eternity rings, diamond engagement rings in white gold, yellow gold and platinum to a large collection of rings in other metals. We also have stunning antique rings. The diamond rings collection includes rings with one, three and five diamonds as well as diamonds combined with other gem stones. So those who are looking for unique diamond rings for special occasion, they can choose from one of the finest collections of diamond rings available on our site.For those couples looking forward to their wedding, we have a wide collection of white gold and platinum wedding rings, diamond wedding rings and customized wedding rings, as well as wedding rings in titanium and other metals. Also for that special present, we have one of the widest collections of diamond eternity rings which other online jewelry stores don’t have. The eternity rings offered include many unique eternity rings and customized eternity rings in many different types of settings.If our fantastically priced wedding rings, diamond rings, diamond solitaire rings, diamond engagement rings and diamond eternity rings are of any interest to you, it’s better you pick it up at once, so that you can flaunt it in front of your friends. To end with it can be said that a diamond engagement ring is one of the better ways of conveying your love and emotions. Choose your favorite engagement rings from our online jewelry store and get benefited from our unique offers and discounts.

Diamonds are believed to be the symbol of love and passion. ’A diamond is forever’; from the past to the future diamond is a stone that will never lose its value and beauty. Diamond jewellery is exceptional and timeless. The use of diamond in the jewellery makes it so stunning that nobody can resist it. Diamonds refract light and it was first discovered in India 3000 years back. Diamond is the hardest of all the gemstones and so is more durable. In old times diamond was made by giving incredible heat and pressure to carbon under the surface of the earth. The Greeks believed that the diamonds are the particles of stars fallen on earth and some of them assumed them to be the tears of God.

The jewellery of diamond is an outstanding creation. Diamonds come in different qualities but they are given the finishing touches to enhance their clarity before using them in the jewellery. You can find an exclusive collection of diamond rings, earrings, bands, bracelets, belts and watches to choose from. Diamond rings are excellent choice for engagements and weddings as diamond signifies love, purity and commitment. Diamond rings can make perfect gifts for your special one. Various cuts of diamonds are used in the jewellery. Some of the famous cuts of diamond include; brilliant cut, princess cut, emerald cut and heart shaped diamonds.

Diamond is found in a variety of beautiful and alluring colors. Most people think that only white diamond is available. But unfortunately they are wrong because they have little knowledge about diamonds. Diamond also comes in different hues of pink, black, champagne, green blue and purple. The vivid pink diamond is very rare and so is the most expensive of all colored diamonds.

Pink diamonds are mainly found in Argyle mine. This rare stone includes the shades from soft rose pink to deep raspberry pink. All shades in pink look tremendous. The use of pink diamonds in jewellery gives a very sophisticated look which makes the pieces more feminine. Previously white or colorless diamond was the most widely used color but now all the colors of diamonds are used commonly in jewellery. The lustrous black diamond is usually used in men’s jewellery. Black diamond makes perfect combination with platinum.

Diamonds are very expensive because it requires a lot of labor to get these precious gemstones out of the earth. Buying diamond jewellery is a big investment. Before buying a diamond article you should research the market thoroughly to get the best jewellery as it is very costly and one can buy a single or a few diamond items. So for buying the right type and high quality of diamond, well reputed jewellery should be selected. Moreover the four parameters i.e. the famous 4 C’s; clarity, carat, color and cut should be considered. These points are all very crucial while purchasing diamond items.

Diamond jewellery has an eternal beauty which none other gemstone has. Diamonds are preferred by women all over the world as they look very elegant and can be worn with any type and style of outfit. Female watches with diamonds make them glamorous and stunning. The diamond articles have very high prices because they are worth it. Jewellery portrays your personality and when you wear diamond jewels they reflect the good taste and excellent choice of jewellery.

What is it about diamond rings that so compel us? Is it the shine and lustre – that which jewelers refer to as “fire”? Is it the mystery and allure that you’ll find in a white gold diamond ring? Or is it just good marketing?

When it comes to the precious stone that is the centerpiece of diamond engagement rings and men’s diamond rings, it is all of the above. Although diamonds have long been treasured for their hardness and rarity, they were not always beautiful to look at. It took centuries of trial and error before jewelers learned to create the exotic cuts such as the princess diamond ring.

A Diamond…or a Lump of Coal?

The story of diamond rings starts hundreds of millions of years ago and miles beneath the earth’s surface. You are probably aware of the fact that petroleum and coal is formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived and died over half a billion years ago. These remains went under the earth over time, where they were subjected to preternatural geologic forces, which transformed them from organic matter into oil and coal.

The precious stones that are set in diamond engagement rings are formed the same way. The difference between a lump of coal and a diamond is one of degree – the geologic forces of heat and pressure that transforms organic carbon into gems that wind up as part of mens diamond rings are thousands of times greater. In fact, it is possible to turn coal into diamond, which is essentially what happens when artificial, industrial-grade diamonds are manufactured in a laboratory. (Theoretically, it is also possible for diamonds to turn back into coal, were they subjected to hard vacuum under a complex set of highly unlikely circumstances.)

Early Diamond Rings

Diamond jewelry had been around for awhile, but diamond engagement rings and wedding rings were pretty well unheard of before 1477, when Archduke Maximilian I of Austria presented one to Marie of Burgundy on the occasion of their wedding.

Diamond rings became popular during the Victorian Period, although the custom of presenting diamond engagement rings and the concept of mens diamond rings came along much later.

Today, the tradition is found almost everywhere in the Western world as well as Japan and India (where the bride usually wears a diamond toe ring). Diamond rings can be purchased as is, or can be created especially for the customer.

Did you ever wonder about diamonds? Where diamonds come from? What makes a diamond so special? Or how diamonds are formed?

Diamonds are a mineral, a natural crystalline substance, the transparent form of pure carbon or nearly pure carbon. Diamonds have extraordinary qualities. Diamonds have a broad colour range, high refraction, high dispersion of fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability. Diamonds are known as the “king of gems” they glitter, dazzle, and symbolize purity and strength.

A diamond is the oldest thing you will ever own, probably 3 billion years in age, fully two thirds the age of the Earth. A diamond is a strategic and high-tech supermaterial for our technological society. Diamond is the birth stone for the month of April.

A diamond is composed of the single element carbon, and it is the arrangement of the C atoms in the lattice that give a diamond its amazing properties. Both diamond and graphite are composed of just carbon. However a diamond is the hardest known material and graphite is one of the softest, this was caused by a rearrangement of the way the atoms are bonded together. Diamond carbon atoms are linked in a regular three-dimensional lattice with a repeating or crystalline pattern.

Diamond belongs to the cubic, or ‘isometric’ crystal system. The most commonly seen crystal structures or arrangements are:

• Octahedron (8 faces)

• Cube (6 faces)

• Dodecahedron (12 faces)

A diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that diamonds are the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that diamonds are four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum – sapphires and rubies.

Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth’s mantle layer from the element carbon, about 180km below the surface, where high temperatures and pressures exist. Some diamonds form at depths of 300-400 kilometres, or even deeper, but these diamonds are particularly rare.

The earths mantel is made up of molten rock, metals and other materials. The temperature is very high at this depth – between 1100 degC and 1400 degC. The high pressures needed to form diamonds are produced by the weight of 180km of rocks pressing down. Besides carbon, there are very small amounts of other substances, such as nitrogen and sulfur that can become trapped in the crystal when it is formed in the mantel. These impurities can give color to the diamond. One of the most rare is pink diamonds.

Natural diamonds are classified by the type and level of impurities found within them.

• Type Ia diamond – Most natural diamonds are of this type, which contain up to 0.3% nitrogen.

• Type Ib diamond – Very rare (~0.1%) in nature, but almost all synthetic (industrial) diamonds are of this type. They contain nitrogen at concentrations of up to 500 ppm.

• Type IIa diamond – Very rare in nature, these diamonds contain so little nitrogen that it can’t be easily detected by the usual IR or UV absorption measurements.

• Type IIb diamond – Extremely rare in nature. These have such a low concentration of nitrogen (even lower than type IIa) that the crystal is a p-type semiconductor (due to uncompensated B acceptor impurities).

Due to its unique internal structure and powers of light reflection, when cut to proper proportions, diamonds gather light within itself and then sends it back in a shower of fire and brilliance. The life of a polished diamond is regarded as the amount of light that is reflected back to the viewer. The term life is also referred to as brilliance. If the diamond is cut with good proportions then the brilliance will be increased. Lustre refers to the surface gloss on a polished diamond. Fire the play of colours that can be seen from the crown of a polished diamond. As light enters the diamond it is refracted and broken up into the colours of the spectrum and reflected back. The resulting rainbow-like colour flashes are called fire.

The hardness of diamond is an important property. As an industrial tool it has many uses and modern industry is highly dependent upon it. As a gemstone, it is resistant to scratching and abrasion, which ensures that a finished gem will retain its brilliance and polish. Because of its hardness and the unique way in which it is manufactured, a diamond polishes very slowly. It forms an unusually flat, finely-polished adamantine surface, with very sharp, straight edges between facets. No other gemstone can quite match this standard of polish.

Diamond has the highest coefficient of thermal conductivity of any known substance because the closely-packed crystal structure conducts heat very quickly. The thermal conductivity of diamond is five times higher than that of copper. This explains why a diamond feels cold to the touch when first picked up but quickly becomes warm from the heat of your fingers.

Only about one-fifth of all mined diamonds could be considered of gem quality. From 40 to 250 tons of gravel and sand must be processed today to recover one rough diamond from the world’s thinning diamond deposits. Experts estimate that all known supplies of diamonds will be depleted within 30 to 40 years. 75 - 80% of all diamonds mined are used for industrial applications such as drilling, grinding, or sawing. The remainder are used for jewellery or investment. Less than 2% of the diamonds mined are of such high quality that they may be considered investment quality.

On average, 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed to produce a one carat diamond of gem quality. When the mining operation is completed, sorters look at rough diamonds, separating them into small piles by shape, size, and quality, a long and laborious process.

The earliest examples of diamonds in human hands were found 3,000 years ago, in India. There, diamonds were used primarily as talismans to ward off evil and protect the wearer in battle. Diamonds were also used by the early Chinese, Greeks, and Romans as an engraving tool. While there was some mystique surrounding diamonds because they were so rare and difficult to obtain-many early cultures believed they had magical properties

The word diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas” meaning unconquerable, in reference to the eternity of love. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, thus, starting the tradition of diamond engagement rings. The reason a woman wears an engagement ring on her third finger of her left hand dates back to the Egyptian belief that the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of that finger.

Many of the rarest diamonds occur by rare accidents of nature in shades of pink, blue, green, amber, or even red. These diamonds are referred to as Fancy diamonds and are evaluated by a different set of color standards. Fancy diamonds are the most expensive due to their extreme rarity.

Towards the middle of the 20th century, De Beers began using its slogan “a diamond is forever” in its advertising. Their campaign was so successful that today, diamonds are strongly associated with engagement rings and eternal love.

It is the only gem mineral composed of a single element making it the purest of earth’s gemstones. Therefore it is fitting that the purest and most brilliant of all the world’s gemstones make the diamond engagement ring the perfect symbol of eternal love.    

You may copy this article about diamonds and place it on your own website, as long as you do not change it and include this resource box and the live links

Australia’s Leading Wholesaler of Excellent Cut Diamonds and Certified Diamonds

Copyright © 2008 Diamond Imports Pty Ltd http://www.diamondimports.com.au