diamond for introduction

What is a diamond?

Diamond, the hardest known material is pure carbon, crystallised 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.



Where are the main diamond sources?

Throughout history people have always been fascinated by the beauty and mystery of diamonds. Until the 18th century, India was the only source of diamonds in the world. In the second half of the 19th century, the first diamonds were discovered in Africa and soon after a "diamond rush" started. The first diamond diggers worked individually by hand, but when the pits became deeper large mining companies were established, exploiting the diamond mines with mechanical equipment. Today, the most important diamond supplying countries are Australia and Congo for industrial diamonds and Southern Africa, Australia, Congo, Russia, Namibia and Botswana for gem quality stones.



How are diamonds mined?

The mining methods are very diverse, depending on how diamonds present themselves at the earth's surface. Mining of Kimberlite pipes involves "open-pit" or "underground mining". When freed by erosion from the Kimberlite matrix, diamond crystals are carried along by rivers. Riverbeds are dug away and the river silt is sieved. This technique is called "alluvial mining". "Marine mining" is the exploitation of sandy coastal strata by dredging. Finding diamonds can thus be the result of large industrial operations, but also of small-scale methods, or even manual labour. Diamonds are rare. It is usual that 250 tons of rock, sand and gravel must be processed to yield one carat of diamond. The annual world production amounts to approximately 100 million cts of which only 20% are of gem quality.



How are diamonds transformed from rough to polished?

A rough diamond obtains its final shape and brilliance by a succession of manufacturing processes : cleving, sawing, bruting and polishing.



How is the quality of a diamond defined?

The quality of a diamond is determined by the four C's. Carat , Colour, Clarity and Cut.



What is a carat?

Diamonds are weighed in carats. One carat equals a fifth of a gram. The name "carat" comes from a seed of the carob tree. The seed was called "carubis" and had an approximate weight of about 0.2 grams.



Why is craftsmanship in diamond processing so important?

A diamond can be loupe clean and have the best white colour, but if the facets of the stone have not been placed in perfect harmony, then there is no shine, no fire in the stone. The label "Cut in Antwerp" is a quality label refering to the best diamond cut in the world.



Which are the most famous diamonds in the world?

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The Cullinan I: a pear shaped diamond of 530.20 carats also called "The Star of Africa". Set in the English crown jewels. Can be admired in the Tower of London.
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The Koh-I-Noor: This "Mountain of Light" is the oldest of the famous diamonds, has an oval shape and weighs 108.93 carats. Discovered in India, the stone is now part of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
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The Hope: This is a blue diamond of 44.50 carats and with a remarkable brilliance. At the moment, the stone is on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington. Had the reputation to bring misfortune.



What is the economic importance of Antwerp as World Diamond Center?

Antwerp is situated in the heart of Europe, easy to reach by car, plane or train. The diamond center is concentrated on merely two square miles near the Central Railway Station. Over 50 pct of the world production, be it rough or polished, industrial or gem quality diamonds, passes through Antwerp.



What is so special about the Antwerp Diamond District?

The diamond trade in Antwerp is conducted on a small area; the bourses and offices are lined up on a small area. When in sunny weather, the dealers come out in the street for a break and a chat, the outsider is surprised at the variety of types, colour and dress. The Jews have been present in the Antwerp diamond trade ever since the 16th century. The Orthodox Jews can easily be recognized by their black attire of the same cut, hat, beard and hairstyle. There are also other Jews, which only a trained eye can recognize as such. The other community, which is largely presented, in the Antwerp Diamond World is the Indian community. The Indians, who originally specialized in cheap goods, are gaining more experience in larger sizes. The cheap, small brilliant and single cut still comprises the lion's share of their production. But beside these two main communities there are people from all European countries and all continents, who make their living in the diamond trade. In Antwerp all languages and dialects are spoken and this improbable symbiosis has only one thing in common: the diamond. This mosaic of ethnic cultures, life styles and religions can rely on Antwerp's world-renowned hospitality and tolerance.



What is the Diamond High Council?

The HRD was established as a central organisation for the promotion of the interests of the diamond trade, industry and consumer.



What is the difference between a brilliant and a diamond?

This is actually a wrong question. Both cannot be compared as such. A brilliant is only a 'cut', which means that any rough material, be it glass or diamond, can be cut into the shape of a brilliant ( 57 facets ).


2007 Jewelry Trend Guide

It's envitable but a New Year brings with it the "what's in and what's out" list! Last year it seemed Tanzanite was "in" and now because its price has gone through the roof - it's out! However, take a cruise to Caribbean and visit the jewelry stores in St. Thomas and the Tanzanite is overflowing (they can't give it away)!

Could this be because the site holders who control the world's Tanzanite supply are now operating more like a cartel? Like Tanzanite - but don't like the price? Opt for Amethyst - it's inexpensive and you can find some gorgeous Amethyst right on eBay.

In any event, Tanzanite is out in our book until prices come back down to reasonable levels...

Mystic Topaz is "in"...
Mystic Topaz is "in" because it's been touted so much on domestic and international shopping channels that's is just hard to get away from! There are so many variations of this gem available that it's hard to keep up with the new variations coming out on weekly basis. What's great about this gem is that it is a "gem". Mystic Topaz uses a natural Topaz with a coating that transforms the gem into something unlike ever seen before in the gem industry!

Watch for movie stars wearing Pearls this year!

Here's the short list!

Pearls - Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea Pearls (Speaker of the House - Pelosi has set the trend for South Sea and Tahitian Pearl Necklaces)

Briolettes (tear drop emeralds, sapphires and rubies) especially enhancers for South Sea, Akoya and Tahitian Pearl necklaces.

Journey Pendants - Three to five stone Journey Pendants are hot this year

Right Hand Diamond and Sapphire Rings

Lab Created Alexandrite (due to the rising cost of natural alexandrite)

Color Changing Sapphires

Chocolate and White Diamond Right Hand Rings

Invisble Settings (all gems)

Precious Gemstone Pendants - All Colored Sapphires

Pave Diamond Rings - Less expensive than solitaires and a Big Look for less money

White Topaz Pendants (affordable) plus, Topaz in various colors - Green and Artic Blue - Top the List!

These are the Hot Trends for 2007! However, it should go without saying that YOU can be the next trend setter!
BRANDED DIAMONDS & DIAMOND JEWELRY

A few of the brands that are associated with sightholders (in one way or another) include Nakshatra, Asmi, Sangini, Tria, Vera Wang Fine Jewelry, Cento by Roberto Coin, Satva by Mahendra Brothers, the Leo Diamond, PrincessPlus, Cupio, Divine Cut, Pristine Heart, Caressa, Lily Diamond, Criss Cut, Mystery Inside, Glitterati, Gili, Star129, Escada, Regent Cut, Queen of Hearts, Royal Asscher, Michael Beaudry, Natalie K, RItani, Princessa, Elexese, Spice Cut, Orro, Pro68. Forevermark, Crown of Light, Tattoo your Diamond, Amorosso, Cupid, Le Lumiere, Daniel K, Web Cut, Hearts on Fire, Movado, Dream, Renee Melangine, Exire, Tristar, Blond Diamonds, Elara, PureLustre, Isee-2.com, Lovemark, Damas Cut, Russian Princess, Canadia, Brilliant Rose, Fancy Color, Ashoka, Zales Diamond, Lovefire, Lazare Diamond, Scintilla, Ilanga, Lucida, Baby Phat, Kimora, Kristall Symphony, Maharajah, Arisia, and Kiah.

Brands
Branded diamonds and jewelry are the hottest topics in the diamond trade today; hearts and arrows, ideal cuts, round brilliants, squares, fancy shapes, fancy colors, modified rounds and fancies, the Regent, Queen of Hearts, Hearts on Fire, the Lazare Diamond, the Leo Diamond, Dream, Prince, Nakshatra, PrincessPlus, Royal Asscher, Lily Cut, Crisscut, cushion cuts, Rand, Cushette, Zales, Princessa, Flanders, Sirius, Tsarina, Lucida, Elara, Tycoon, Escada, Ashoka, Vera Wang, the Regent, the Queen of Hearts, the Eighternity, the Web Cut, and the Radiant Star to name but a few.

Branded diamonds (patented diamonds, ideal cuts, and hearts and arrows and non-patented cushions and asscher cuts, etc.) can be seen in advertisements and articles in Bride's magazines, Vogue, O Magazine, Town and Country. Patented diamond cuts and designs, trademarked and registered names, "Ideal" cuts, proprietary cuts, new shapes, modified facets, multi-faceted rounds (100, 105, 66 facets), modified squares and rectangular shapes, "composite" diamond shapes are branded.
Countries (Canada, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Namibia, Botswana), colors (layouts and single stones), mines (Rex, BHP), jewelry designers, and retail jewelry stores are promoting their own brands. Polar bears maple leaves, certificate id numbers, symbols, logos - practically anything can be laser inscripted on the girdle of the diamond. Some brands are ionized on the table facet.
A proliferation of names, descriptions, and designs: Adura, Aglaia, Amorillion, Amorosso, Antwerp Certified, Ashoka, Asscher, Aurius, the Buddha cut, Caprice, Champagne and Cognac (Argyle colors), Caressa, Context cut, CrissCut, Crossfor, Cupid, Cut by Guage, Cupid, DeBeersLV, Dillennium, Dream, Dubai, Eighternity, EightStar, Ekati, Elara, Emerella, Escada (with Pluczenik), Eternal Cut, Flanders-Brilliant, the Forevermark (DTC), Flower cuts, Fusion of Souls, Hearts-on-Fire, Hope, Ilanga, J.B. Millennium, J.C. Millenium, Keepsake, Landau Ideal, Lazare Diamond LKI, the Leo Diamond, Lily cut, Love Diamond, Lucere (American and European cuts), Tiffany's Lucida, Nakshatra, Pairfecto, Prince Cut, Princess Plus, Printillion, Pristine Heart, Quadrillion, Radiant, the Rand Diamond, Rex Mining, Royal Asscher, Royal Cuts (Duchess and Baroness), RoyalCrest, Sirius, Spirit of Flanders, StarBurst, Starfire, Tundra, Trillion, Tycoon, Vinci, Wonder, WDC, Yin Yang, Zale, Zoe.
Bringing the brand message to the consumer (male or female) who buys the diamond at the jewelers, or getting the jewlery designer or the diamond buyer at the retail jewelry store to choose your special shape, or color, or faceted brand is the name of the game in today's competitive market. Advertisements, press releases, exhibitions at museums (including the Smithsonian), Jaguar car racing events, fashion shows, launching a new brand, opening a new retail jewelry store, designing for the red carpet, and more.
• De BeersLV opened in London 2 years ago; and, with the tagline "forever now" opened on Fifth Avenue in New York in June 2005. The jewelry designer, Neil Lane, will create a signature collection of diamond jewelry for De Beers LV to launch in November with their opening in Beverly Hills California. Alyce Alston, former group publisher of W and W Jewelry, is the new CEO of De Beers LV USA. Guy Leymarie is CEO of De Beers LV and Raphaele Canot is the artistic director of DeBeersLV
• An 85 carat rough (South Africa origin) diamond is to be polished into a 35 carat D Flawless Ashoka diamond was displayed at Elton John's "White Tie & Tiara Ball". The William Goldberg Company recently formed a new strategic alliance with Chopard to create a collection of one-of-a-kind watches and jewelry featuring Ashoka Diamonds.
• K.R. Gems and Diamond International's branded diamond is the Eighternity. The model, Tiffany Fallon, has been named “Playmate of the Year”by Playboy magazine. The marketing company, Harmon Group, noted that retail jewelers selling the branded diamond would probably gain from the publicity.
• In 2004, a Dali Diamond press release announced that Irish singer and actress, Samantha Mumba, wearing a dress set withWebCut® Diamonds, "stole the show at the London premiere of the Spiderman II movie".
The diamond business has been changing, and we’re changing with it. In the next few months, we’ll be telling you where you can buy diamonds (both online and off) cut and polished by the diamantaires affiliated with diamond exchanges and bourses worldwide (including Shanghai, Russia, and Dubai); and cutting and polishing diamonds in diamond polishing factories around the world. We’ll let you know about the launch of the Nakshatra brand outside of India - starting with Dubai. And also all of the hearts and arrows options that are available under different brand names or private labels.
For now, for online information on branded diamonds and hearts and arrows, these are some of the more interesting sources that I have found.