Make a statement of elegance in all its simplicity. This pendant shows off subtle radiance in Satin crystal. The rhodium-plated links create a soft contrast with the gemstone-cut Satin crystal. This timeless design has a trendy twist to it. This pendant comes on a chain.
Price: GBP 100.00
Make a statement of elegance in all its simplicity. This pendant shows off subtle radiance in Satin crystal. The rhodium-plated links create a soft contrast with the gemstone-cut Satin crystal. This timeless design has a trendy twist to it. This pendant comes on a chain.
Price: GBP 100.00
A butterfly is delicately perched on an exclusive clear Gemstone-cut crystal. The rhodium-plated pendant is feminine and dainty. The wings of the butterfly shine in shades of pink with Light Rose and Rose crystals. This pendant comes on a chain.
Price: GBP 87.00
Make a statement of elegance in all its simplicity. This pendant shows off subtle radiance in Satin crystal. The rhodium-plated links create a soft contrast with the gemstone-cut Satin crystal. This timeless design has a trendy twist to it. This pendant comes on a chain.
Price: GBP 200.00
Make a statement of elegance in all its simplicity. This pendant shows off subtle radiance in Satin crystal. The rhodium-plated links create a soft contrast with the gemstone-cut Satin crystal. This timeless design has a trendy twist to it. This pendant comes on a chain.
Price: GBP 200.00
Everyone knows that diamonds is the hardest gemstone and women all over the world go crazy to own a diamond jewelry. This beautiful gemstone is renowned for its lustrous beauty, but very few people know of its ability to be used in other fields like electronics, machinery etc.The two aspects of this gem stone are so diverse in association and nature that one does not really connect the two uses with each other.The diamond has certain very unique properties that enable it to be used in these various applications. It is the hardest substance on earth, has an extremely high thermal conductivity, is optically transparent and has high electrical resistance.The hardness property of the diamond makes it amenable to be used as a cutting tool, especially for hard substances like marble, granite and hard wood. It is embedded in mechanical tools to enable the shaping of engine blocks and automotive components.Once the process of developing synthetic diamonds was discovered, these synthetic diamonds were obviously the most preferred option for use in machinery. Apart from the cost, there are many other benefits of using synthetic diamond in tools. synthetic diamond growth can be controlled and monitored to produce desired shape and consistency. This is not the case with respect to natural diamonds where nature determines the shape, size and contours of the diamond based on various random natural events. Since the development of the synthetic diamond takes place in a laboratory, the level of impurities and mineral inclusions can be controlled. Due to these reasons and more the synthetic diamond today is sturdier as compared to the natural ones.Another property that lends itself to use in mechanical work is that of thermal conductivity. The type IIa diamond can conduct up to 5 times more heat than the metal copper. The fact that it can absorb high levels of heat means that it can be used to reduce the friction in many engineering parts. Including the diamond as a ‘heat sink’ helps in extending the life of the machinery since it avoids wear and tear due to friction and heat. ‘Slices’ of synthetic diamonds are also be used for other industrial and surgical tools.Much research is being done to use diamond chips instead of silicon chips in computers and it is being said that such computers would be 1000 times faster than the existing ones.Even though the diamonds were being produced synthetically in the early 1990’s, they had not made their appearance in the jewelry industry. Large synthetic diamonds could be used only by using a lot of energy and ultra-modern technology. Since the engineering and mechanical market needs were yet not being met completely by the synthetic diamond supply, the proliferation of the synthetic diamond in the jewelry industry was abated. Another reason why the synthetic diamonds did not make their way into the studded necklaces was the fact that most of the synthetic diamonds being produced were still yellow or brownish in color.The development and growth process of large diamonds required for the tools industry itself took too long. In 1990, De Beers claimed to have produced the largest synthetic diamond; a yellowish brown piece that was about 14.20 carats. This diamond alone took 500 hours to grow. Three years later they reported having produced a 34.80 carat crystal that took 600 hours to grow. Another few years and De Beers claimed that it was possible to produce 30 carat crystals in lesser time. But now one can find synthetic diamonds in many fancy colours and in white colorless shades too.Even though there were great obstacles in perfecting the art of making gem quality synthetic diamonds, some companies forged ahead and continued to research the process. The challenge that they faced was that they could not avoid the nitrogen from entering the diamond while during the process of production, the gas that gives the diamonds the yellow color. GE was the first company to produce an almost colorless synthetic diamond by eliminating nitrogen from the process. This was done by using a metal flux, a substance that melts and dissolves other material in it. Special compounds were added to the metal flux to keep the nitrogen from entering the process chambers. Even though De Beers had also discovered the art of making synthetic colorless diamonds, neither company released their experiments and the colorless gems that came from them into the market. However, a Thai-Russian joint venture in Thailand distributed lab made colorless diamonds in the market.Since the jewelry market does not require large pieces, these colorless synthetics are faster to grow, produce and sell in the market. Though the synthetic diamonds caters to a larger audience of the gem industry, they increase the possibility of being swindled, fraud and non-disclosure in the trade. As the production process is perfected and better quality colorless synthetics are produced and marketed each year, the challenge for the professionals in the jewelry industry becomes harder.Source: GIA
Believe it or not in the olden days diamonds were considered too precious to cut. It was believed that cutting and polishing a diamond rough would rob of its great supernatural powers. The diamond was considered as a prestigious gemstone and only kings and rulers were allowed to posses them, but even they were not allowed to tamper with its original form.It is interesting to know that India was the only source of diamonds, way back in fourth century BC and it was only after Alexander the Great’s conquests that the diamond was introduced to the West after limited trade began between the East and the West. The diamonds were not considered to be as precious and expensive as rubies or sapphires even at this time.Gem cutters started applying their skills on the diamond only in the 1300’s. By this time the trade had opened up between India and other trading centers like Venice and the Europe saw its first cut and polished diamond around 1380AD. With the trade various methods of polishing and cutting the diamond were also shared between the countries. However, travel between the East and West was still not easy and the journey was arduous and took a long time. It was only when Vasco da Gama traveled from the Cape of Good Hope to India by sea that trade routes opened up further as the pains of transportation reduced. Within months of the discovery of this route cities like Bruges, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Venice started seeing large number of diamonds from India in their markets. Roughs from India were transported to these cities that fed Europe’s unending hunger for the gem.The diamond cutting of these times was far less sophisticated as compared to the brilliance that we see today. This is obvious when one observes antique jewelry and antique settings. Many of these simple cuts were later adapted to the more modern cuts over time and records of the methods used can only be obtained from paintings, diaries and catalogs.The journey of the diamond cutting industry, as we know today, starts with the point cut and ends at fancy brilliant cuts. The point cut was the first cut that we are aware of today and it was the most popular cut in the fifteenth century. The cut mimicked the rough octahedral shape of the natural diamond and this was accomplished by the use of stationary polishing surfaces covered with diamond grit and olive oil. To minimize the heat generated due to the friction required in the process, olive oil was used.In the late 1400’s the table cutting style made its appearance. The top part of the natural octahedral shape was cut using the same tools present earlier ‘a stationary cutting surface with diamond grit and olive oil. The end result was that of a polished square facet that looked like a tabletop. Some cutters removed the lower part of the octahedral shape to give it a square shape called the culet. When viewed from the top angle the table cut looked like a square within a square. Since the table top cut improved the reflective index and resulted in higher brilliance and fire, this proportionate cut found a lot of appeal among consumers during the Renaissance period. This cut ruled the diamond industry for the next couple of centuries and there were numerous variations like rectangles, tapered shapes and lozenges.After a couple of centuries of the table cut rule, the rose cut made its appearance and continued to dominate the scene till the nineteenth century. This cut was not conceptualized for octahedral diamonds but a cut that aided in producing the largest cut diamonds from flattened roughs. The rose cut has flat bottoms and triangular facets that become a point towards the top. Though the cut gives a high level of brilliance, the fire that this cut allows is not too high. Creative cutters have created variations of this cut too and we have the double rose and the briolette.The seventieth century saw different kind of cuts coming onto the market. The seeds of the modern brilliant cut were sown when miners found some crystals in the river gravel in Minas Gerais in Brazil. Initially the miners did not realize that the crystals that they were using to keep score in card games were actually diamonds. It was only after someone familiar with diamonds pointed it out to them that they became aware of the value of their find.With resources drying up in India, this deposit was very welcome and Brazil became the key source of rough diamond for the diamond cutters in Europe. Diamonds from Brazil were used to create the first brilliant cuts and thus was born the old mine cut, a cushion shaped cut with a deep pavilion, high crown and large culet. Even though the number of facets in the old mine cut are similar to the modern brilliant cut, this first cut did not give as much brilliance since the pavilion was deeper.The modern brilliant cut came onto the scene after more than 500 years of experimentation. This cut was the first cut that brought out the true brilliance of the diamond that it is capable of. A round brilliance has a round girdle outline, symmetric triangular and kite-shaped facets. The table is more than 50% of the girdle diameter and a culet that is hardly noticeable.The earliest of the modern brilliant cut can be traced back to the 1800’s. The cutting establishment rejected the cutting style discovered by Henry Morse from Boston earlier, and stuck to the old mine cuts and European cuts. It was only in 1919 when Marcel Tolkowsky published these cuts did they become popular. Though many cutters who worked on large high quality roughs adopted Tolkowsky’s suggestions, there were others that used variations of this for the smaller diamonds intending to gain the maximum weight of the diamond from the rough. Other variations also made an appearance and thus were born shapes like marquise, cushion, pear and oval.The contemporary cuts allow for higher levels of artistic flair and the roughs can be cut and polished based on minimum loss due to cutting and polishing. With the popularization of the brilliant cut, many fancy brilliant cuts started coming into the picture. It was the success of the round brilliant encouraged cutters to try out other shapes along with the brilliant cut. The triangular brilliant, ‘Trillion’, developed by Leon Finker in the 1960’s became so popular that any people started referring to any triangular brilliant as the ‘Trillion’. Milton and Irving Meyer were marketing their own version at this time and they called it the ‘Trilliant’ and registered the name. The phrase ‘trillion’ had become so generic in nature that they changed the name later to Trielle in 1992.Other brilliant cut shapes like rectangle and square brilliants were also produced. The first rectangular brilliant cut was patented by Henry Grossbard and the same was called as ‘Radiant’. The use of this cut resulted in a loss of 40% of the rough as compared to the 50% lost in the case of a round brilliant. Other brilliant cuts like the square brilliant also came on the scene. Ambar Diamonds, Inc. developed and patented a brilliant square cut called the Quadrillion.Fancy brilliant cuts allow for minimum loss in a rough diamond. They are also very useful in manipulating and perfecting the color of the diamond when seen from the face up. These days the diamond cutting industry makes the use of modern computer software and technology to develop new cuts that can optimize the size of the diamond. The round brilliant has been perfected further with the use of technology that can standardize the production process to create symmetrical, proportionate and proprietary diamond cuts.Some marketers and manufacturers tried to promote what they called the ‘ideal cut’ in the 1990’s. This was marketed as the cut that was ideal for a specific diamond to provide minimum loss, maximum brilliance and fire. Though the concept was welcomed by researchers of the diamond cut industry, there was no proof that the ‘ideal cut’ was really ideal. The technology allows the customer to see the various cuts and how each one compares to the other. However, diamond critics claim that there is more to a diamond than the cut alone and that there may not be one ideal cut that fits all.Even though history has seen various cuts that have come and gone and technological and creative expertise in this field, there is no doubt about the fact that what really matter in the end is the perceived beauty of the diamond by the buyer, the wearer and the onlookers!
A Diamond is a precious stone. As its lattice is extremely rigid, so it can only be contaminated by a few impurities. Diamond Rings are great as engagement Rings and Wedding Bands. They have a definite beauty of their own, and despite being expensive, they are the most preferred gemstone for rings. Diamond rings are a symbol of love. Diamonds look best when they are set in yellow gold, white gold and platinum. Even though Rubies, Sapphire, Emeralds and other precious stones are available in the market yet Diamonds have a special place in everyone’s heart. This is attributable to their purity and optical dispersion factors. They are simply irresistible and every girl yearns for one. CARAT: A carat is the universal measure of a diamonds weight and not size for a diamond can have the same weight but different sizing. 1 carat is the equivalent of 100 points and weighs 200 milligrams. Because smaller diamonds are much more numerous, a 1 carat diamond will cost well over twice that of a half carat diamond when all the characteristics are the same. Since the value of a diamond is determined by its rarity, larger stones are generally more valuable than smaller ones as they are uncovered less frequently. When choosing your diamond consider all 4 C’s, carat, clarity, colour and cut. Rank their importance to you and consider your budget. CLARITY: Inclusions in the form of fractures or minerals occur naturally in the earth and are measured on a scale of perfection, known as clarity. The greater a diamonds clarity the rarer and more valuable it is. The clarity grades as defined by the GIA are generally accepted as the norm throughout the world. Diamond Specialist only stock diamonds with no inclusions visible to the naked eye so you can be assured that the diamond you get is of exceptional clarity. Absolutely clear diamonds with no inclusions whatsoever are extremely rare and the most sought after of all diamonds. The GIA use a detailed system of rules and standards to summarize the number, location, size and type of inclusions that occur in diamonds. Most leading diamond retailers will not stock diamonds with a clarity level of SI2 or less as this is the minimum that the naked eye cannot see. COLOUR: Though diamonds come in many different colours, white is still the most popular. Colour is very important as it is the first thing that one sees without having any knowledge on what constitutes a great diamond. Truly colourless diamonds are the rarest and are treasured for their brilliance and shine. The GIA has a system of grading colour just like clarity and cut. H – J graded diamonds are the most common colours one finds in the market and usually have a slight yellow tint. G – F graded diamonds are considered near colourless and are considered of high quality. D – E graded diamonds are classified colourless and are very rare. Being the rarest they are also accepted as the most beautiful of diamonds. CUT: The shape and proportion of a diamond is vital in determining stones brilliance. The better the cut the more valuable a diamond becomes for it gives off more light. Though there are many different types of shapes the round brilliant cut is still the most popular choice and in the finest ideally cut diamonds a visual phenomenon called Hearts and Arrows appears when viewed in a gemscope. Nobody can really resist such beautiful pieces of stone. However, they are quite expensive and you need not only buy solitaires. There is also a variety of options in smaller diamonds set in a variety of designs in beautiful rings. For beautiful diamond rings, simply log on to jewellery.homeshop18.com
The diamond is the hardest substance in nature known to man, yet it is a gemstone of the simplest composition.
It is a mineral made up of carbon atoms formed into a crystalline lattice arrangement. Its modern popularity is owed to the discovery of huge diamond deposits in southern and central Africa during the 1800s and since then has become a gemstone to be coveted even by ordinary people.
When obtaining or buying a diamond, the industry has standards to which a diamond’s worth and value can be measured.
Although there are other factors of a diamond piece that experts consider, like its symmetry, table percentage, and fluorescence, to determine its value, consumers usually learn about the four Cs beforehand as a starting point.
These are Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat.
1. Cut – the cut of a diamond actually pertains to both its shape and how well the diamond is formed in relation to its proportions and polish.
This factor of a diamond defers from all the others, as it is the only one that is determined by human hands. Nature is responsible for a diamond’s color, clarity and carat, but only an expert cutter can make a rough diamond achieve its most beautiful form.
As for the shape of a diamond, there are 8 major shapes, which include round, marquise, emerald, pear, princess, oval, radiant, and heart. The round shape is the most popular and readily available in any possible size and quality.
If a diamond is cut too shallow or deep, it losses its brilliance by the light leaking at the side of bottom. A well-proportioned diamond emphasizes its natural beauty and brilliance.
2. Color – the color of a diamond varies from shades of yellow to the higher quality and more uncommon colorless types.
A diamond’s color is graded, D being the highest for the perfectly colorless stones, to grade Z, which has tints of yellow in the piece.
There are some that are also called fancies, available in brighter hues of blue, pink, yellow, green, purple and even red. These types, although colored, are more rare and much more expensive.
3. Clarity – like our own fingerprints, no two diamonds are alike. This is because diamonds have inclusions, tiny internal flaws of non-crystallized carbon that are mostly invisible to a human eye.
These inclusions affect a diamond’s clarity, which is the degree in which light passes through the stone. Blemishes can also appear after the cutting process and can affect clarity.
Clarity grades range from internally flawless to imperfect.
4. Carat – pertains to a diamond’s weight and is measured in increments called points, 100 points being equal to one carat.
Since larger diamonds are rare, the value of a 2-carat diamond is priced higher than that of 2 1-carat diamonds of the same quality.
A diamond’s carat is the easiest to measure since it is determined on a diamond scale. Its weight also does not necessarily reflect its size, since a diamond can be cut in a way that makes its discernable top surface
Diamond is the perfect gemstone, if affordable; it is the ultimate gemstone for all occasions. Why do women crave for a diamond ring?
Besides being beautiful, it is well proven that diamonds area harder than any other mineral – they represent the strongest natural substance in the world.
The value and demand of a diamond has been known since ancient times. The Greeks called Diamond “adamas”, meaning invincible; they often honoured their women by putting a diamond ring on their finger.
Diamond is a chemical compound that has several crystalline forms, in other words it is a polymorph. The closest substance to diamond is Granite, but nothing can surpass the hardness of a diamond. The kimberlite rock which is a form of an ingenious rock found especially in South Africa is composed of many minerals, among which many are diamonds. Diamonds are released only when these rocks erupt. They would then be transported by waterfalls and flowing streams until they eventually reached the sea where deposit would remain at the coast, many diamonds were found in this manner in the shores of South Africa. Otherwise diamonds can be found only deep down the thick shroud of the Earth. They can only surface to earth by way of a volcano eruption, which rarely occurs.
According to reports the first diamonds were found in sediments or alluvial deposits. Many diamonds have also been found in the deep seas of Indian and Ohio areas which were carried by glaciers. Other popular regions where diamonds were found are India, Brazil, Russia and Australia.
This priceless gemstone is known as the most valuable substance because of its density. It is a ‘forever’ gemstone for keeps. Therefore diamond rings are suited for special ceremonies such as weddings and engagements. A diamond ring is more than just a ring. It is a symbol of lifetime commitment and endless love, therefore a diamond ring is the ideal piece of jewellery to best express one’s love and devotion.
Diamond rings are also great for those born in April, since it is the birthstone for that month. Diamond rings are usually given for someone who means a lot to you because of its high value.
When shopping for a diamond ring one should always look for the cut, clarity, colour and the carats of the diamond. There are many imitations of diamond rings in the market. Many vendors trick their customers by placing a substitute on the ring instead of the real diamond.
No one would like to pay a high price to give a loved one a fake diamond ring. Therefore make sure your purchase all your jewellery from a trusted dealer. To avoid the bustle of high street shopping you can always check online for a selection of exclusive diamond rings, diamond wedding rings and diamond engagement rings to select the best match for your budget and taste.