July 16th, 2010 by Brad Handsome

When did diamonds initial become recognized as precious stones and utilised for jewelry? The earliest reference to them has been identified in a Sanskrit document dated around 300 BCE. They were definitely associated with the gods and were used to decorate religious icons and statues. In India, only kings, the highest caste, were allowed to personal them.

Although diamonds had been traded east and west of India, they were definitely still prized in their natural crystal state, or polished to increase the shine and luster of them. The 1st guild of diamond cutters was established in 1375, and it was then that the practice of cutting the stones and faceting them was developed.

From the earliest times, diamonds had been the province of kings and queens. Actually, in the 13th century, Louis IX of France decreed that only royalty could own diamonds, a dictate which faded away about 100 years later. By the late 15th century, they had been utilized as wedding rings.

The largest diamond ever uncovered was a 3106-carat diamond discovered in 1905 in a mine owned by Thomas Cullinan, for whom the stone was produced. It was cut into smaller stones, the largest being made into the 530-carat Wonderful Star of Africa diamond, cut by the Asscher Brothers, a famous diamond firm to this day. It’s also named the Cullinan I diamond, and is set inside Scepter with the Cross with the United Kingdom.

A smaller stone cut from the Cullinan diamond is known as the Lesser Star of Africa. It weighs 317 carats and is aspect of the Imperial State Crown. Both gems could be seen as part on the British Crown Jewels which are displayed within the Tower of London. The rest on the Cullinan diamond was cut into 11 smaller-weight stones and numerous fragments.

While the Cullinan diamond is the biggest diamond ever found, there can be a rumor that the man who discovered the diamond truly broke off part from the diamond before presenting it to the mine’s owner. This diamond, if the rumor is true, would have been 5,000 carats!

Brad Handsome manages Diamond Jewelry site and an author of Jewelry Review

July 16th, 2010 by Brad Handsome

Who doesn’t really enjoy rose quartz in all its varying hues of pink? Rose quartz takes its name from the flower due to the fact of its translucent and delicate pink color caused by traces of iron, manganese or titanium. Rose quartz is commonly quite big - meaning that it doesn’t form crystals.

Rose quartz is discovered in Madagascar, India, Germany and several areas in the USA. Much rose quartz was extracted from a famous website near Custer, South Dakota, but now, most from the world’s supply comes from Brazil. Rose quartz is one with the most valued varieties of quartz. The pink to rose red color is unique.

The colour of rose quartz is still not totally understood. It has been mentioned to be because of quite a few distinct minor impurities present in the rose quartz including titanium, manganese and even colloidal gold. Nevertheless, recent studies utilizing micro-analytical techniques have discovered that the color of massive rose quartz is actually as a result of microscopic mineral fibers inside the rose quartz.

X-ray diffraction tests on these microscopic fibers yielded patterns similar to the mineral dumortierite, suggesting the possibility of a totally new and as yet unknown fibrous mineral causing the colour in massive rose quartz. The rare transparent crystals of rose quartz owe their coloration to aluminum and phosphorous impurities. Their pink colour is photosensitive and can fade in sunlight.

Rose quartz is usually called the ‘love stone’. It’s associated with forgiveness and compassion and can produce a wonderful calming influence. It is soft and delicate inspiring feelings of adore and friendship. Rose quartz is aid to help remove repressed anger and hatred and is mentioned to remove negative influences such as jealousy and avarice.

It can be stated to aid the spleen, kidneys and circulation system. Rose quartz also eases sexual and emotional imbalance and can also improve fertility. It makes a lovely gift as it can be a symbol of really like.

Brad Handsome manages Diamond Jewelry site and an author of Jewelry Review

July 16th, 2010 by Brad Handsome

Gems come in each and every color of the spectrum. Whilst sapphires, rubies and emeralds are what come to mind very first when one thinks of a colored gem, you’ll find so many other wonderful colored gemstones to consider. Even among gems normally associated with a single shade, you’ll find gradations and variations to them. A sapphire, for instance, comes in numerous various hues of blue, depending on where it is from. But sapphires can also come in pink, yellow and green.

Essentially the most really prized colored gems are within the quite deepest, richest hues on the colouring. Although sapphires can variety from pale blue to near-black, by far the most beneficial are a rich, deep blue. The same holds true for rubies. Although they too can range in colour from pale to incredibly dark and murky, probably the most highly-valued coloring is what’s called pigeon’s blood, a deep blood-red ruby that is mined in what was once known as Burma.

Probably the most high-priced emeralds are a deep green, although emeralds themselves come in a broad spectrum of hues, from yellow-green to blue-green. All colored gems, and clear gems, depend on expert cutting and polishing to showcase the colors in all their subtleties and brilliance.

Typically the deeper and richer the colour, the much more important the stone. The greatest amethysts will be a dark, royal purple. A lighter-colored amethyst simply isn’t as valuable.

But quite a few people prefer these lighter or darker gradations in color. And, they tend to be a lot more affordable. A slightly lighter-colored amethyst is much easier to obtain than the “ideal” colouring, but is still a lovely gemstone.

Oddly enough, diamonds are rated by how colorless they are. The less shade, the higher the grade of diamond. Unless of course it’s a defined colouring for example a pink diamond or a canary diamond. These are almost as extremely prized like a near-colorless diamond.

Brad Handsome manages Diamond Jewelry site and an author of Jewelry Review

July 16th, 2010 by Brad Handsome

The smart groom-to-be does his research prior to getting his fiance a diamond ring! You’ll find far more styles and cuts to decide on from than ever just before. It’s not enough to be educated about the four Cs of diamonds - cut, color, clarity and carats. Now you can find all types of diamond cuts and settings to pick from.

The most popular style is still the round brilliant. It’s 1 of the earliest cuts ever developed and now relies on precise mathematical equations to produce a stone with fire and brilliance that the earliest gem cutters could only have dreamed of.

But many brides want something completely exclusive. You will find numerous traditional cuts to decide on from. A pear-shaped is just that - wider at 1 end than the other. Or she can pick an oval, emerald or heart-shaped diamond. There are other cuts with exclusive faceting, including the square princess-cut diamond.

Some cuts are patented, like the elongated Ashoka diamond or the Asprey & Garrard Eternal cut diamond. Other branded and patented cuts include:

Elara - a square-cut diamond with rounded corners Asscher - a square diamond with rounded facets that gives an unusual complexity to the diamond Couples diamond - this diamond is faceted to reveal either a circle of hearts or arrows inside. It’s a truly unusual diamond that requires precise cutting for the image to appear properly.

The price of a diamond increases exponentially with its carat weight. A one-carat diamond costs much additional than 10 10-point diamonds and a two-carat diamond costs additional than twice as much as a one-carat diamond (given equal quality in other areas).

1 way to enhance a ring is with embellishments including baguettes or trillions. A baguette is a small emerald-shaped diamond that can be placed on either side of the main stones and a trillion is a triangle-shaped diamond that also is a good enhancement to the center stone.

Brad Handsome manages Diamond Jewelry site and an author of Jewelry Review

July 15th, 2010 by Alisa Haeften

It is hard to imagine that a mineral using a name as mundane as corundum yields gems as exquisite as the ruby and sapphire, or even that these two stones, so diverse in color and mystique, are actually the same mineral family.

Lucky you if your birthstone is sapphire (September) or ruby (July). These are among the richest-colored of all gemstones with a romance and history as colorful as they are. Rubies are in fact rarer than sapphires, and only red corundums are termed rubies. Any other color can be a sapphire. When grading colored stones, the density and hue from the color are part with the evaluation, and it is the richest, deepest colors which are the most prized.

In rubies, one of the most prized variant of color is named pigeon’s blood. Large gem top quality rubies might be more valuable than comparably sized diamonds and are certainly rarer. There is often a relative abundance of smaller, (1-3 carat,) blue sapphires compared for the scarcity of even little gem good quality rubies, making even these smaller stones fairly high in value.

Stones of Burmese origin usually command the highest costs. The vast majority of rubies are “native cut” in the country of origin. Higher value ruby rough is tightly controlled and rarely makes its method to custom cutters. Occasionally, such native stones are recut to custom proportions, albeit at a loss of weight and diameter. Custom cut and recut stones are generally much more per carat.

Sapphires exist in all the shades of blue from the deep blue of evening skies for the bright and deep blue of a clear and beautiful summer sky. Sapphires also come in quite a few other colors, not only in the transparent grayish misty blue of far horizons, but also displaying the bright fireworks of sunset colors - yellow, pink, orange and purple.

So sapphires are actually and truly heavenly stones, although they’re being discovered from the hard soil of our so-called “blue planet”.

Alisa Haeften manages Diamond Jewelry site and an author of Jewelry Review

categories: diamond,jewelry,diamond jewelry

July 15th, 2010 by Alisa Haeften

There is a spectacular diamond within the Smithsonian Collection referred to as the Blue Heart Diamond. Fans of the movie Titanic may think the “Heart of the Ocean Diamond” was based on this stone, and it might have been!

However, this diamond hasn’t been cast inside the ocean, but is safe and sound at the Smithsonian!

It has also been called the Eugenie Blue Diamond, although it’s uncertain that the Empress Eugenie ever owned this particular stone. It was cut in Paris between 1909 and 1910, but the stone’s origin - Africa or India - is unclear.

It is an enormous heart-shaped, blue diamond weighing 30.82 carats. Its current setting is in a platinum ring, surrounded by white diamonds. It changed hands among famous jewelers - including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels - and owners until it was bought by Harry Winston in 1959 who mounted the diamond in its current ring setting. Winston sold the ring to Marjorie Merriweather Post. Mrs. Post donated the ring to the Smithsonian and it remains there with other famous blue diamonds, including the Hope Diamond and the Heart of Eternity Diamond.

These famous blue diamonds have recently gone through a grading and examination process, to classify their colors and to determine the source of the color. The Hope Diamond is classified as Fancy Deep Grayish-Blue. The Heart of Eternity has been classified as a Fancy Vivid Blue.

The Blue Heart Diamond has not yet been classified, but some experts categorize it as either Fancy Vivid Blue or Fancy Deep Blue. Blue diamonds are of specific interest to scientists not only because of the color and the impurities that create it, but because blue diamonds also have an electric conductive property that makes them unique among clear and other colored diamonds. Blue diamond is one of the most beautiful jewelry I ever saw.

Alisa Haeften manages Diamond Jewelry site and an author of Jewelry Review

July 15th, 2010 by Brad Handsome

Via our day to day movements our diamonds get smudged and soiled. Even when we aren’t wearing them, they collect dust. Lotions, soaps, our natural skin oils, can cause film and grime on diamonds and inhibit their brilliance.

Want to maintain that Brilliance and Shine? Diamonds require cleaning to ensure that maximum amounts of light can refract fiery brilliance. Remember that all it takes can be a few minutes and a little care to keep that diamond as fiery as the day you first saw it.

You’ll be able to use an small soft brush for example an eyebrow or lip stick brush and soap and water to clean your jewelry. Merely make a bowl of warm sudsy drinking water with a mild detergent and place your pieces inside mixture. Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles in the brush although they are inside suds. You’ll need to have to make particular that you rinse them clear in the suds after cleaning them. You’ll be able to use a modest kitchen strainer such as a tea strainer to contain them whilst rinsing under warm water. Use a lint free of charge cloth, or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.

If your diamonds are in will need of a stronger cleansing, you might wish to soak them for 30 minutes in a option of half and half drinking water and ammonia. Once they have soaked for 30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings having a tiny brush. Then replace the pieces to the solution and swish them around inside mixture ahead of removing them to rinse and pat dry.

If you locate your self too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, a lot of department stores sell liquid jewelry cleaners. Most are kits, with everything you will need included. You may need to understand the labels to determine the one that’s right for your diamonds and other jewelry. Read the complete directions and follow all the precautions.

And should you discover yourself additional the “high-tech type”, even in your diamond cleaning routine, you’ll find multiple ultrasonic cleansers on the market. These machines use high-frequency to produce a cleaning motion. All machines aren’t the same, so please understand the instructions just before utilizing.

Only you’ll be able to pick the cleaning method correct for you. But, it is crucial to keep your jewelry clean to keep it brilliant and sparkling. Between cleaning, try not to touchyour clean diamonds with your fingers or handle your jewelry by its edges. This will help maintain its shine and brilliance for longer periods.

Brad Handsome manages Diamond Jewelry site and an author of Jewelry Review

July 14th, 2010 by Ulysses M. Smith

Marcasite these days is in mishmash with sterling silver and other stones of convoluted designs. Both these minerals are used in making marcasite bracelet that offers nature stimulated designs in forms of butterflies, dragons and griffins. Marcasite is now used to create “epoch style” where tradition is altered to make trendy designs.

Marcasite in permutation with sterling silver is now used in a wide range of marcasite bracelets. This has enabled the women folk to show off and take pleasure in antique jewelry. Silver rings and silver bracelets made of sterling silver with the addition of marcasite are in much more demand as it’s much less expensive than traditional gold jewelry. The women now have the power to have an exclusive piece of silver jewelry for every occasion and apparels.

Women have become all the more jewelry conscious as it is now easily accessible. Marcasite mineral is also known as white iron pyrite which is used in the finishing of the jewelry. It’s fragile and is lighter than the pyrite mineral. Its brittleness is due to its shaky crystal configuration. Marcasite is the improper term used for pyrite, as it is never used as the nugget. It can be twisted as both a primary and secondary mineral.

As primary mineral it forms nodules, concretions and crystals in numerous sedimentary rocks. As a secondary mineral, it’s formed by chemical alterations of primary minerals. It’s generally found in pale yellow color and has a dazzling metallic sheen. When tarnished, it gives a black flash. Because of its appearance, it is often termed as a ‘false friend of gold’.

Marcastite bracelet became popular in the era of Queen Victoria. Its black color blended flawlessly with the somber clothing wore by the women of that period. Marcasite was even used in combination with the ivory. It’d the status of pagan metal which is believed to have the aptitude of opposing the impact of negative energy on the individual. It was fitted in the silver ring or silver bracelet of the person who wanted to get relived off the bad effects. Marcasite is fixed by the jeweler by good care in the sterling silver with the special jewelry cement. This means that it requires special and vigilant handling.

The author has written more about onyx bracelet and marcasite bracelet on his site, check them out: onyx bracelet and http://www.marcasitebracelet.org/marcasite-pendants/.

July 14th, 2010 by Tuan Matteson

The onyx diamond bracelet is one of the most popular jewelry items worn by women. Their delicacy and design add to a women’s appearance making them even much more alluring. Since, there are a lot of options available in the market; one has to be smart enough to buy the best ones. Here is a look at some steps to buying the right onyx diamond bracelets.

The first step requires one to go out in the market and find a fine jeweler. It is usually better to go to an established jeweler. At first, you should try out the loose gemstones offered by them; it will tell you how good a quality they offer. Any jeweler with high quality gemstones will definitely have some genuine onyx diamond bracelets to offer. The next step is to check out the various available onyx diamond bracelets options.

You have to first of all decide on the type of diamonds, i.e. colorless or colored diamonds. Some of the options may also have some colored gemstones along with diamonds. The third step requires you to check out the various available onyx diamond bracelets, focusing solely on the metal setting. You will have to choose the kind of metal used, i.e. white gold or platinum. Also you would have to choose between the simple link chains as well as more intricate settings.

You also have to decide on how much of a “dangle” would you prefer, in case you do not want a close fit. While in the shop, you should check the tennis bracelet under different lighting conditions throughout the day. The aim is to check how the diamonds behave under different lighting conditions caused by different circumstances.

An assurance of authenticity is your right as the buyer; hence you should always request a certificate of authenticity from the jeweler of your choice. A fine jeweler will promptly and willingly offer you a laboratory certificate authenticating the onyx diamond bracelets.

The author has written more about sterling silver bracelet and Onyx Bracelet on his site, check them out: sterling silver bracelet and http://www.onyxbracelet.org/.

July 14th, 2010 by William Bartolo

When you decide to buy jewelry for any woman in your life, you certainly want to be sure that the gift will be one she loves. A piece of jewelry is a very personal gift and you want to ensure that the message you’re sending is the one that you want to communicate.

Jewelry is a sign of love and true appreciation. You want the piece to be as beautiful as the woman in your life. You also want it to reflect the unique personality and character of the woman. One way to determine what piece would be right is know the style the woman prefers. If you know her well enough to buy her jewelry, you certainly know what her particular style and tastes are. You’re sure to have noticed patterns in her own choices of clothing, accessories and decorations.

Invariably, you’ve noticed the kind of clothing she prefers. Perhaps she’s a practical woman who tends to prefer clothing that is comfortable and durable. If this is the case, you may choose a piece of jewelry that is equally sedate. It may be a nice bracelet or necklace that can easily be paired with casual clothing.

Sometimes the practical dresser is that way due to necessity. If the woman in your life is one who works in a field that doesn’t afford her much room for self expression, you may want to consider a piece of jewelry that speaks more to her true character. Just because she has to wear a uniform all day doesn’t mean there isn’t another side to her personality. It may mean a great deal to her that you see her more unique and feminine side, and a piece of jewelry that communicates that message may be just the right heartfelt gift.

The woman in your life certainly already owns jewelry. The jewelry that she chooses for herself is a good indicator of her personal style and taste. If you’ve noticed she wears a lot of silver instead of gold or platinum, you may take that as a sign that she really prefers silver.

The type of designs and gemstones that a woman chooses for herself are also an indicator of the kind of jewelry she may prefer. You may notice that she really likes a particular color of stone or perhaps her outfits or decorating choices tend to favor certain shades. These are all signs that she may appreciate jewelry that features the same colored stones.

The occasion for which you’re giving the jewelry can also be a determining factor in what you select. If you’re celebrating a special event or milestone in the woman’s life, you will want the gift to be equivalent to the significance of the moment. A birthday, holiday, promotion, educational achievement, or other special recognition are all reasons for celebration. The jewelry you give should be as special as the event you’re celebrating.

There are, of course, moments that are special to just the two of you. If you’re giving jewelry as a gift for an anniversary, you may want to consider a piece that carries some symbolic value. The piece itself may not cost that much but it should have a special significance to the woman. Celebrating a first anniversary can be a good time to give a small token of your appreciation. A simple necklace or pair of earrings can be a perfect choice.

Momentous occasions merit more spectacular gifts. The celebration of the birth of your first child for instance can be a great time to purchase a piece of jewelry that features both of your birthstones and the birthstone of your newborn. Or perhaps you’re celebrating your 10th wedding anniversary, in which case you may want to consider purchasing her a ring that rivals the beauty of her engagement ring.

Each woman is different and the jewelry you buy for that special lady in your life should be true to her own special nature. Reflecting your own intimate knowledge of her and your unique appreciation for her splendid beauty is important. It lets her know that you see her for who she really is and love her for all that she brings to your life.

Buying jewelry or any similarly personal gift can be intimidating. Of course, you want it to be something that she will love. You may be afraid that you won’t choose the right piece to clearly communicate how special she is to you. You may think you’ll choose something that she won’t like all that much.

Odds are that your worry is for naught, as you likely know her better than you think. You probably know more about her tastes, personality and character than you realize. All you really need to do is take a good look at the lady in your life. Examine the way she carries herself, the clothing she loves and the decorations she chooses to surround herself with; you’re sure to have a good idea of what type of jewelry may suit her well.

William Bartolo is the owner of WJ Exclusive Jewelry; an online site for William J Exclusives, located in Springfield, IL. WJ Exclusive Jewelry are exclusive jewelry stores that offers a wide range of merchandise including beautiful hand crafted bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pendants. Visit us online today for more information!