Diamond Stud Earrings

What is a Diamond?

twitwoot — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:31:18 +0000

Diamonds are a very special type of gem that is formed deep below the Earth over the course of many years. Their beauty has long been revered by humans for many hundreds of years and they are also used in industrial settings.They are made from a type of carbon and are considered top be an allotrope of carbon. Allotropy refers to an element that is within the same phase, but is in a different form. In other words an allotrope is a different form of the same element. The reason you say that diamonds are an allotrope of carbon is that they are still carbon, but in a different form.

Diamonds are well known for their strength and resilience. They were used in ancient times as religious icons and have long been used in hand tools and engraving. It requires a lot of pressure to form a diamond. Usually they are formed at depths of between 90 and 120 miles, but some have been found as deep as 250 miles. By the time a diamond has formed and has been shifted high enough to be excavated by man, it is likely that it is at least 1 billion years old. Often they are brought to the surface during a volcanic eruption.

A company called De Beers is in control of a large percentage of the diamonds available and they have their base out of Johannesburg, South Africa. Almost half of all diamonds are mined in Africa. Some rather large discoveries have been made in Canada, India, and Russia as well. Recently another find has been found in Australia that is very significant.

Diamonds are said to be a girl’s best friend, but they are much more than that. They are also the best friend of many tool makers and users. Industrial diamonds are used for grinding, drilling, cutting, and more. Due to their incredible strength, they are frequently used on the tip of a drill or in saw blades.

The Engagement Ring

twitwoot — Fri, 30 May 2008 18:09:16 +0000

Golden bands have traditionally been used as a symbol of commitment and fidelity in marriages. Countries throughout the globe use golden wedding bands of various shapes and designs. In some countries, such as the US, Canada, and parts of the UK, it is also popular to purchase an engagement ring, which is worn by a woman to indicate her intention to be married.

The roots of the engagement ring can be in part be attributed to a special meeting called by Pope Innocent III in the early 13th century. This meeting, titled the Fourth Lateran Council, was called to help continue interest in the Holy Crusades. 70 decrees were introduced by Innocent. One of the decrees introduced by Innocent stated that there should be a longer waiting period between the time that a couple decided to get married and their actual wedding.

Traditionally simple rings of gold, silver, or iron were used as engagement rings. This is in large part because gems were seen as a status symbol and many laws were passed that divided the people into classes. Only the privileged classes were allowed to wear gems and diamonds. Over time these laws were relaxed and engagement rings began to be made with mounted stones. Often a combination of the birthstones of the bride’s parents, the bride, the groom’s parents, and the groom were used on the engagement rings. This was meant to symbolize the joining of the two families. Some rings even had a special place to hold a lock of the groom’s hair.

During the Victorian era a type of engagement ring called a Regards ring became popular. In a regards ring the word regards is spelled out by the initial of the gems that are used: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, Diamond, and Sapphire. Dearest Rings were also popular, which spelled out the word dearest with the initial of each gem. A Dearest Ring incorporates a Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Topaz.

The use of the diamond engagement ring is very popular today and it owes its roots to the Middle Ages. Diamonds were incredibly valued by the Romans, who believed they had supernatural powers. They were thought to repel poisons, maintain sanity, and dispel fears. The Italians maintained these beliefs as well as insinuating that diamonds helped maintain marital harmony.

Today the diamond engagement is by far the most popular type of engagement ring. It used to be custom for the man to privately purchase the engagement ring and present it to his fiancée when he proposes. This is still continued, but sometimes both parties have a say in the type of ring. A movement was started in the 20th century to encourage male engagement rings, but this was not generally accepted. There are several countries, such as Brazil and Egypt, in which the male traditionally wears an engagement ring. In these countries the male’s engagement ring is frequently used as the wedding ring.

Engagement rings are often seen as a form of commitment and devotion to a potential bride. They have a long heritage and are common in several different societies, but are most popular in the United States and Canada.

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Conflict Diamonds

twitwoot — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:29:35 +0000

Diamonds are beautiful stones that are formed deep below the Earths surface. Their shine and brilliance are some factors that make them so popular and valuable. They are also the hardest material known to man, so they have many practical uses in business and manufacturing. Most people purchase their diamonds from a jeweler or online retailer. Diamonds have actually led a very full life by the time they ever end up in a store, and many are well over 3 billion years.

Diamonds are of immense value and like many things of value; they have been frequently used to fund violence and to organize government resistance. Diamonds that are used for this purpose are called conflict diamonds. A large percent of the world’s diamonds come from Africa. Rough diamonds, diamonds that have not been cut or polished, have been used extensively to fund wars and buy arms by rebels and revolutionists in Africa and throughout the world.

The world first took note of conflict diamonds during a very violent conflict in Sierra Leone. This was in the late 90’s, but diamonds have been used to fund violence in Africa and abroad since their discovery in Africa. The fighting in Sierra Leone propelled this practice to the front pages of papers around the world, and the UN passed a resolution banning the importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone.

This resolution spearheaded what was to become the Kimberly Process in 2003. The Kimberly Process is aimed at ensuring that only non-conflict diamonds are purchased. As more and more governments and leaders in the diamond industry embrace the Kimberly Process, the amount of blood diamonds has shrunk, and it is estimated that 99% of diamond available to the public are conflict free.

The Kimberly Process requires that shipments of rough diamonds are thoroughly checked at each border. They must be transported in tamper resistant shipping containers and have a valid Kimberly Process Certificate. The shipment may only be sent to other countries that participate in the Kimberly Process, and a shipment can not be imported or exported unless it has been certified.

Members of the diamond industry have also taken many actions to self govern their actions. Many in the diamond industry have continued to boycott the purchase of diamonds that are used to fund wars, and have created a zero-tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds. They have decided that all members of the diamond industry must ensure that they do not buy uncertified diamonds, or ones from an unknown or suspect supplier.

When purchasing a diamond it is important to ensure that the dealer actively complies with the Kimberly Process. The Kimberly Process requires that a warranty is provided with each purchase to guarantee that their diamonds are free from conflict. A company that does not follow the Kimberly Process is immediately expelled from all diamond industry institutions, and may risk governmental sanctions or punishment.

A diamond can be a beautiful thing, but if it is used to spill the blood of others then it is no longer a thing of beauty. When purchasing diamonds, ensure that the dealer participates actively in the Kimberly process, to make certain that you do not unintentionally fund violence or war.

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Cleaning and Carring for Your Diamond

twitwoot — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:38:03 +0000

Dirt, oils, and other buildups can greatly detract from a diamonds brilliance. No body wants that so here are some tips for ensuring that your diamond retains its shine.

Before you begin cleaning your diamond check to make sure that none of your stones are loose. You do not want to risk loosing a stone in your ring or earring.

Do not clean it over the sink or near any other type of drain. Use a bowl or small Tupperware container.

Toothpaste acts as an abrasive so do not use it on your jewelry because it can cause irreparable damage.

You can soak the diamond in a warm soapy mixture for about 30 minutes, then gently scrub and rinse with warm water. Use a soft brush and not anything that could scratch the diamond.

Ammonia and water can be used as well.

There are several home cleaners that can be bought as well. The ultrasonic cleaner is one popular home cleaner that is also popular among jewelers.

Where do Diamonds Come From?

twitwoot — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:20:31 +0000

Diamonds are formed completely from carbon. Extreme pressure and heat is applied to the diamond which transforms it into the wonderful gems that you see in the jewelry store. They are formed very deep below the surface of the earth and can not form naturally unless they are at least 100 miles below the surface of the earth.

There are several different ways to mine diamonds from the Earth. Pipe mining involves retrieving diamonds after they have traveled to the Surface of the earth through volcanic pipes. Volcanic eruptions occur which carry diamonds towards the surface. This only happens when the eruptions occur far below the Earth’s Surface, and if the diamond stays in the lava too long it will burn up.

Miners first search the lava that made it to the surface for diamonds, then they drill holes next to the lava pipes to recover the diamonds. Usually diamond miners find rock like kimberlite or lamproite that can carry diamonds and remove all of this type of rock from the mine shaft. This rock is then taken to a processing plant where it is checked for diamonds.

The other main type of diamond mining is alluvial mining. This is when diamonds are found in riverbeds and oceans. They have ended up there after many years of erosion. In order to find diamonds in the ocean miners must find a way to get to the ocean or river floor. Usually water retaining walls are built and then bulldozers or pumps collect the dirt which is checked at large processing plants. This is the same type of mining that was common during the US gold rush, except now instead of pans they use heavy machinery.

What Makes up a Diamonds Cut

twitwoot — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:06:52 +0000

Finding the perfect diamond for yourself or for someone you love can be an important task. There are so many different colors and sized diamonds available that it is a good idea to learn a little bit about them before you begin the shopping process. The 4 C’s of diamonds are clarity, color, cut, and carat. These are the factors that a certified diamontologist will take into account when they grade or evaluate a diamonds value. Cut is a very important and often misunderstood classification.

Many people confuse a diamonds cut with a diamonds shape. This is a very common and easy mistake, and in all fairness they are in some ways related since the type of cut used is often necessitated by the diamonds shape and size. A diamonds cut refers to a, for the most part, symmetrical arrangement of facets that changes the diamonds appearance. A facet refers to a flat surface on a geometrical design. The cut is actually the only part of the grading process that is controlled by man.

Diamond cutting first was implemented during the middle ages where diamond cutters, using primitive tools, began sanding the sides of the diamonds to create a smooth unblemished surface. The cuts of the early 12th and 13th century were very primitive, usually consisting of only 8 or 12 facets. The point cut and later the table cut were two fairly popular cuts that were fairly easy to make. It was not until the middle of the 17th century that the first brilliant cuts were introduced. The Mazzarin cut is one cut made popular in the 17th century with 17 facets. Later in the 17th century a Venitian Diamond Cutter named Vincent Peruzzi, modified the Mazzarin cut to contain 33 facets and called it the Peruzzi Cut. Today through the use of laser and computer aided cutting devices the standard round brilliant cut diamond has 58 facets and some have well over 100 facets. www.diamondstudearrings.wordpress.com

Choosing the proper cut for a diamond is incredibly important, because it is the cut that greatly affects a diamonds brilliance, sparkle, and fire. There are two other factors of cut polish and symmetry. Symmetry refers to the geometrical alignment of the facets which helps direct light through the diamond. Polish refers to the overall smoothness of the diamonds facets.

Grading a diamonds cut can be incredibly hard unless you are a certified diamontologist or you really know your diamonds. This is in part because of the intricate differences and subtleties involved, but also because there are many conflicting grading scales. The diamonds proportions, however, are what affects the diamonds grade. The two biggest factors that affect the diamonds cut are the depth percentage and the table percentage of the diamond. Depth percentage is the measurement of height vs. width ration of the diamond and the table percentage is the measurement of the diameter of the top of the stone and its relationship with the diamonds overall width. The GIA, Gemological Institute of America, grading scale involves rating a diamonds cut as: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor.

There are many different types of cuts like rose cuts, mixed cuts, and round brilliant cuts. While a more intricate cut generally indicates a more expensive product, it still has a lot to do with personal preferences. It is a good idea to take a look at the cuts available and pick one that you find aesthetically pleasing.

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What Makes Up a Diamonds Clarity

twitwoot — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:56:57 +0000

Clarity refers to an objects transparency or purity. This is a very important characteristic for diamonds. To determine a diamond’s clarity the placement, appearance, and number of inclusions, blemishes, or flaws are noted. The number of inclusions, blemishes, or flaws can affect the opacity of the diamond, its sparkle, and its overall brilliance.The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is a not for profit institution dedicated to research and education in the field of gemology. The GIA is responsible for creating a gem scale to rate diamonds clarity.The scale is as follows:Flawless(FL): This refers to a diamond that does not have any blemishes or inclusions at all when viewed under a 10x magnification by an experienced diamontologist.

Internally Flawless(IF): This refers to a diamond that does not have any inclusions, but may have some minor blemishes when observed by a certified diamontologist under a 10x magnification.

Very Very Slightly Included(VVS1 and VVS2): This refers to a diamond that has very tiny inclusions. These inclusions will be hard, even for an experienced diamontologist, to see when using a 10x magnification.

Very Slightly Included(VS1 and VS2): This refers to a diamond that has very minute inclusions such as small clouds, feathers, or crystals when observed under a 10x magnification.

Slightly Included(SL1 and SL2): This refers to a diamond that has noticeable inclusions such as clouds, feathers, or crystals, that are evident to an experienced diamontologist under a 10x magnification.

Included(I1, I2, and I3): This diamond is often referred to as imperfect. It may contain some inclusions that are fairly apparent to an experienced diamontologist that may be visible without any magnification.

From the above definitions it is easy to tell that you do not want your diamond to have too many inclusions, but what exactly is an inclusion? An inclusion is an internal characteristic that, due to the immense pressure it takes to create a diamond, is often formed during the formation process or caused by an irregularity in the crystal structure. A blemish on the other hand is an external characteristic that can be caused during the formation of the diamond, during the cutting process, or by everyday wear.

There are many different types of inclusions. One common type of inclusion are feathers. Feathers look quite literally like feathers and in some cases extend to the diamonds surface. The diamonds stability can be affected if the feathers extend to the surface of the diamond. Some other types of inclusions are bearding, cleavage, crystals, and pinpoints.

One common type of blemish is naturals. Naturals refer to a part of the diamond that was not polished during the original cutting/polishing phase. Hence they are still natural. Some other examples of blemishes are fracture, nicks, and scratches.

These inclusions and blemishes are not always a bad thing. They are used as a way to identify diamonds. A truly flawless diamond is very hard to find and very expensive as well. It is always a good idea to have your jeweler plot your diamonds characteristics so that you can easily identify it in the future.

Source:www.ezinearticles.com

What Makes Up a Diamonds Color

twitwoot — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:34:33 +0000

There are 4 general ways to classify a diamond: Clarity, Color, Cut, and Carat. These are referred to as the 4 C’s of diamonds and provide a standardized way of evaluating diamonds. Color, or the lack of, is an extremely important and often times incredibly diverse characteristic of diamonds. Diamonds come in a variety of colors. Among some of the natural colors found in diamonds are orange, grey, blue, red, and black.Most of the time interstitial impurities or structural defects in the diamond are responsible for changes in color. The exception to this are diamonds that, when exposed to radiation, turn green in color. Pure diamonds are diamonds that are structurally and chemically untainted and are completely transparent. These types of diamonds are very rare and incredibly expensive.

Nitrogen impurity is the most common cause of color in a diamond. Often this leads to a yellow or brown diamond. In much rarer cases warping of a diamonds crystal’s during the growth stage can cause the diamonds to exhibit pink, red, or brown colors.

In the early years of diamond grading there were many different and confusing methods of describing a diamonds color. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) changed all of this when they developed the D-Z Grading Scale. The GIA, founded by Robert Shipley in 1931, is considered to be the world’s chief authority in gemology. The D-Z scale put an end to many of the numerous terms that were developed to describe a diamonds color as well as many conflicting scales.

This scale assigns each diamond a character D-Z from the alphabet; hence it is called the D-Z Scale. Diamonds that are rated D-F are considered to be Colorless. These diamonds are extremely unusual and costly. Diamonds that are assigned a G-J are considered to be Near Colorless. Near Colorless diamonds are still considered to be above average, but are usually less expensive than Colorless diamonds. These types of diamonds are a great buy and an alternative to the pricier Colorless Diamonds.

Diamonds that are assigned a K-M, N-R, and S-Z are considered to be faint yellow, very light yellow, and light yellow. These types of diamonds are considered to be of lower quality and the imperfections are obvious to an untrained eye.

There is one final class of Diamonds. This is the Fancy Colored Diamonds. This is reserved for diamonds that are very brightly colored. Fancy diamonds, like the red diamond, are extremely rare and can be very pricey. This is not always the case though because it is possible to get some great deals on green, blue, or bright yellow diamonds.

The Aurora Diamond Collection is a well known collection of diamonds that is considered to be the most comprehensive collection of diamonds in the world. It contains the extremely rare red diamond. The Aurora Diamond Collection, currently on display in London, is probably the best way to get a feel for the different colors that diamonds can be. While most of us will not be able to make it London, there are many pictures available on the internet that can give you an idea of the different colors found in diamonds.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Makes-up-a-Diamonds-Color&id=1042074

Diamond Color

twitwoot — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:32:43 +0000

When considering the color of a “white” diamond, the more clear or white it is the more valuable it is. The higher presence of Nitrogen a diamond contains in its atomic structure when it is being formed can cause the diamond to emerge with a yellow tint.

“White” diamonds are graded by the GIA in the following manner.

Colorless
D – Completely Colorless - Extremely rare and valuable
E – Colorless - Insignificant amount of color, may be visible by a diamontologist - very rare and valuable
F – Colorless - Small amount of color visible by a diamontologist - rare and valuable

Near Colorless
G-H – Near Colorless - An untrained eye may be able to detect difference if compared to colorless Diamond - excellent money saving option without sacrificing quality
I-J – Near Colorless - A slight amount of color may be visible ~ Offers above average quality at a fine price

Light Color
K-M – Faint yellow - A slight color will be visible-It is at this grade level and below at which the amount of yellow in the diamond will affect its beauty
N-Z – Very Light Yellow-Light Yellow - Color will be very evident

Diamonds with a more intense amount of yellow are considered fancy and are graded on a different scale.

When taking a look at all of these color grades, which is the best for you. A color grade of D may not be the best choice because they are more rare, and one will not be able to tell the difference between the D, F or even a G color diamond. For your diamond ring or diamond stud earrings, a good grade that you get very high quality at an affordable price would be the G-H color range. The less color a “white” diamond has, the more expensive it will be. It is however always recommended to get a diamond that is at or above near-colorless. This rule would apply to any diamond whether the setting is in ring or is a pair of diamond stud earrings.

Diamond Clarity

twitwoot — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:25:16 +0000

Clarity is a measure of the number of the flaws in the diamond as well as how visible they are and their affect on the diamond’s overall quality. The characteristics that determine a diamond’s clarity can affect its sparkle and brilliance. The flaws that diamonds can often have are often referred to as inclusions. The inclusions of a diamond range from white and black dots on the surface of the stone to small cracks within in the stone and crystalline growth within the diamond. If you are searching for something like diamond stud earrings where the diamonds will most likely be even more visible than that of a ring, a higher clarity on the diamonds may be wanted to achieve a brighter sparkle.

diamond stud earrings

The GIA has a grading scale regarding diamond clarity, and it goes off specific criteria that are used to differentiate between grades.

FL: Completely flawless.

IF: Internally flawless; only external flaws are present, which can be removed by further polishing the stone.

VVS1-VVS2: Very Very Slight Inclusions. Only an expert can detect flaws with a 10x microscope. By definition, if an expert can see a flaw from the top of the diamond, it is a VVS2. If an expert can only detect flaws when viewing the bottom of the stone it is a VVS1.

VS1-VS2: Very Slight Inclusions. One can see flaws with a 10x microscope, but not easily.

SI1-SI2: Slight Inclusions. Inclusions are easily visible under 10x magnification. These stones are often “eye-clean”.

SI3: Slight Inclusions – This grade is only recognized by EGL and is not recognized by the GIA or other gemological institutions and may be graded by GIA as either SI2 or I1. SI3 diamonds never have any black inclusions or cracks visible to the unaided eye, but may have some very minor white inclusions which can be seen.

I1: Inclusions visible. An I1 clarity graded diamond will have a visible flaw which can bee seen with the unaided eye, but most of the time will only have one major flaw which will not be too obvious.

I2-I3: Inclusions high visible. These diamonds will have inclusions visible to the unaided eye and will have many black spots and appear cloudy.

Most of the flaws of a diamond are tiny imperfections that do not affect a diamond’s brilliance. If you are on a budget, it might not be worth it to get a higher graded clarity diamond, such as a VS1, rather than an SI2 grade because both are more than likely going to look the same to the unaided eye. You are only going to start seeing the imperfections under 10x magnification. If you are getting some new diamonds in addition to a diamond ring, such as diamond stud earrings, or vice versa, it is important to get the same or very similar clarity on the added diamonds to make sure they will match better and sparkle the same.