My Pink Diamonds

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!

Wearing a ring—especially for men—connotes not only power, but also strength, prominence and status in life. Ever since the beginning of time, rings have always signified power. Back then it was the kings who wear most of the jewels in the royal family.
In 1200s Europe, royalties—especially the king—wear diamonds set in signet rings. As a matter of fact, King Louis IX of France even enacted a law that no one can wear a ring with diamonds but only the king.
Today, important and prominent men around the world like the pope, rulers of different nations and business tycoons wear rings to denote power. Graduates of military academies and heads of different national and international organizations wear ring as a sign of being a ruler as well.
Despite the fact that some people—especially men—the idea of wearing a ring, not to mention a diamond ring, more and more of them recognize the fact that wearing a band encrusted with gem as costly as diamond can put them in a prestigious disposition and company like musicians and sports superstars who are popular for their diamond bling-bling.
Having a man diamond ring doesn’t have to be as flashy as those worn by celebrities. In fact, man diamond rings can be composed of a single stone set in a strong and masculine setting. Or it can be silver, platinum, or gold band that has inlaid diamonds.
If you’re thinking of getting a man diamond ring for your self, it’s not necessary to you push your budget to the limits. What you can do is to explore the variety of designs available in the market today.
Man diamond ring as a wedding ring
In these days of equality, men also wear wedding rings to signify his eternal love for his wife. One of the latest trends in a man’s wedding ring today is with inlaid gemstones like diamonds. It has become acceptable for the modern society that men wear diamonds for their wedding ring depending on their personal taste and preference.
Aside from emphasizing a man’s taste and preference, choosing a diamond ring for a wedding ring should also include the following considerations:
1. Type of work. If you are into sports and into works that require excessive manual labor and movement, you might think twice before getting a man diamond ring because it increases the possibility of losing or damaging your gemstone. But if you are not into sporting activities or hard manual labor, man diamond ring can be a perfect option for you.
2. Type of personality and lifestyle. Since every man is different, personalities and lifestyles should be greatly considered.
3. Consider comfort. Think of the shape of the ring and the ring width before buying it.
4. Type of metal. The metals that can be used to make men’s wedding rings include gold, titanium, platinum and silver.
5. Type of gem. Although diamond in the best option for a man, you can also use sapphires in all colors and rubies.

Jewelry has a very long and diverse history going back as far as history takes us. Every culture has embraced the use of jewelry for adornment in some form or other. The history of wearing rings goes back a long time also. We think of great rulers who used their signet rings to imprint a wax seal to put their authority on documents.

Today we love rings as much as they were ever loved. In western cultures they can be worn by male or female of any age, on any finger, thumb or toe. Rings are often made out of precious metals, like gold and sterling silver. Many popular styles of rings are made out of stainless steel or other base metals, wood, bone or shells. Rings speak of love and friendship or are worn just for beauty and fashion.

Rings are decorated by etching, using contrasting metals, plating, adding precious and semi-precious gems, pearls, enamel or oxidised finishes. The list of decoration is as endless as the many shapes and sizes of rings.

The Spinner Rings can be used to annoy everyone around you or be used as way of stress relief for the wearer.

The Class Ring or school graduation ring is often engraved with the year of graduation and a stone of one of the school colors.

Stack Rings are two or more rings designed to fit on the same finger at the same time.

Cocktail Rings are usually large and set with oversized gems, rather showy but elegant.

Rings, especially sterling silver rings, make wonderful gifts because they look wonderful and are not too expensive. The beautiful glow of the silver sets off the sparkle of any gems that may be used to create the ring. The majority of peoples skin tone is more suited to silver or a mixture of silver and gold than it is to plain gold.

Rings are widely used as a symbol of love and marriage. The continuous circular band is said to be symbolic of continuous love and commitment between the partners in the marriage. Some engagement rings and eternity rings feature three main stones symbolising the past, present and future of the continuing relationship. Most eternity rings have a continuous line of gem stones.

The claddagh ring was first crafted in 1689. Claddagh rings have two hands clasping a heart, symbolizing love, surmounted by a crown, symbolizing loyalty. The ring worn on the right hand with the heart turned outward indicates that your heart is yet unoccupied. Worn on the right hand with the heart turned inward indicates that love is being considered. Worn on the left hand the with the heart turned inward shows everyone that your heart is truly spoken for.

The rich and famous may measure their worth by the size and price of the gems in their rings but the rest of us are content to wear rings for their own beauty and style. We are fortunate these days to be able to take advantage of the man made gems that look stunning yet are very cost effective.

Rings are for wearing, giving, cherishing and enjoying, one can never have too many.

Jewelry has a very long and diverse history going back as far as history takes us. Every culture has embraced the use of jewelry for adornment in some form or other. The history of wearing rings goes back a long time also. We think of great rulers who used their signet rings to imprint a wax seal to put their authority on documents.
Today we love rings as much as they were ever loved. In western cultures they can be worn by male or female of any age, on any finger, thumb or toe. Rings are often made out of precious metals, like gold and sterling silver. Many popular styles of rings are made out of stainless steel or other base metals, wood, bone or shells. Rings speak of love and friendship or are worn just for beauty and fashion.
Rings are decorated by etching, using contrasting metals, plating, adding precious and semi-precious gems, pearls, enamel or oxidized finishes. The list of decoration is as endless as the many shapes and sizes of rings.
The Spinner Rings can be used to annoy everyone around you or be used as way of stress relief for the wearer.
The Class Ring or school graduation ring is often engraved with the year of graduation and a stone of one of the school colors.
Stack Rings are two or more rings designed to fit on the same finger at the same time.
Cocktail Rings are usually large and set with oversized gems, rather showy but elegant.
Rings, especially sterling silver rings, make wonderful gifts because they look wonderful and are not too expensive. The beautiful glow of the silver sets off the sparkle of any gems that may be used to create the ring. The majority of peoples skin tone is more suited to silver or a mixture of silver and gold than it is to plain gold.
Rings are widely used as a symbol of love and marriage. The continuous circular band is said to be symbolic of continuous love and commitment between the partners in the marriage. Some engagement rings and eternity rings feature three main stones symbolizing the past, present and future of the continuing relationship. Most eternity rings have a continuous line of gem stones.
The claddagh ring was first crafted in 1689. Claddagh rings have two hands clasping a heart, symbolizing love, surmounted by a crown, symbolizing loyalty. The ring worn on the right hand with the heart turned outward indicates that your heart is yet unoccupied. Worn on the right hand with the heart turned inward indicates that love is being considered. Worn on the left hand the with the heart turned inward shows everyone that your heart is truly spoken for.
The rich and famous may measure their worth by the size and price of the gems in their rings but the rest of us are content to wear rings for their own beauty and style. We are fortunate these days to be able to take advantage of the man made gems that look stunning yet are very cost effective.
Rings are for wearing, giving, cherishing and enjoying, one can never have too many.