My Pink Diamonds

Unless you intend to marry like Elizabeth Taylor, you only get to wear a wedding dress once in your life. Of course, if by chance or choice you do get married again and again, you would have many wedding dresses! (Don’t even think about recycling your old wedding dress. You might be saving on costs but you are not doing yourself any favors)
Due to the one-time nature of the wedding dress, you must carefully plan for it. And need we mention that cameras and video camcorders are unforgiving in recording for posterity and notoriety your wedding planning lapses including the worst wedding dress ideas anybody dared to apply?Outrageously Unique Head Ensembles
When you walk down the aisle, people will start assessing your appearance from your veil to your shoes and then back again, hopefully to focus on your radiant face. What if they stop in shocked silence at your outrageously unique headgear? You want awed silence at the heavenly vision you present, not shocked silence at the horrific apparition of whatever is on your head!
You have to avoid wedding dresses with headgears that 1) look like the nests of wild animals and your grandma’s whole flower garden; 2) allow your groom to bask in the shade like very wide hats; 3) hide your face completely like layers upon layers of veil; 4) bastardize Queen Amidala’s elaborate head ensembles; and 5) get in the way of the first matrimonial kiss.
Basically, you need a simple and elegant veil that will highlight your face while providing for the traditional head cover required in most church weddings. If you want embellishments on the veil, you can always have a small tiara tucked in there.Balloon Sleeves
You might not have arms to die-for but trying on all wedding dresses with big sleeves can be the death of your look. Why avoid big sleeves like the bubonic plague? Let us count a few reasons: 1) your groom cannot sit beside you because your sleeves take up all the room; 2) you will bump guests off the dance floor; and 3) you will bump the wedding cake unto the floor.
However, there are a few advantages to wedding dresses with big sleeves like: 1) your sleeves can serve as pincushions; 2) your groom can use them as handkerchief – just lean to the right and sneeze; and 3) you can use them as small bags. Indeed, for every cloud there is a silver lining.Plunging Necklines
Your groom will appreciate the view but it is doubtful if the officiating priest will approve your plunging-to-the-nether-regions neckline. Maybe he will deliver a sermon on how there is a time for everything – a time to bare and a time to care. Or something like that.
If you are unfazed with the possibility of a long and winding sermon on how the modern Eves lead Adams to sin with their wedding dresses, then think about these possibilities: 1) your wedding rings can get lost in there and what a spectacle that will be; 2) your guests will stare at you and not in a good way – think jeers and leers; and 3) your turn being Janet Jackson with a wardrobe malfunction will happen on your most special of days. Do you really want your nipples to play peek-a-boo?
You have to remember that when it comes to wedding dresses, you might wear them once but you will wear their memories forever. And that is not including the guests who will remember you either in your most beautiful best or in your most horrible outfit ever! You choose.

 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.