Diamonds and Diamond Jewelry
History of the Diamond
Loose
diamonds are made up of carbon that was deep within the Earth
under intense pressure and heat. Diamonds are the oldest gemstones
and the hardest known substance. Diamonds do not easily break, crack
or chip. India began mining diamonds 1,000 years ago until diamonds
were found in other places. Today, 90 percent of diamonds are mined
in African countries with the rest mined in Australia, South America,
Canada and Russia.
Diamonds are now known as beautiful engagement and wedding pieces.
The traditional started when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave
the first diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. Now,
more than 250 tons of earth is mined before a single 1-carat jewelry-quality
diamond is found.
How to Buy a Diamond
When buying wholesale loose diamonds for engagement or wedding rings,
remember to start off with a budget. There is a modern convention
that a ring should be approximately two month's salary. Once you
have a budget, you can find out more information on the type of
diamonds you want.
Popular shapes for a diamond
rings are emerald cut, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess,
radiant and round. The most traditional and popular shape is round.
Round diamonds such as solitaire diamond rings show the most brilliance
and sparkle while also hiding imperfections because of its diamond
shape. The other diamond shapes are sometimes more expensive because
of the difficulty of cutting the diamond rough into various shapes.
When picking out a diamond shape, think of her style and preferences.
Does she like the traditional? Then a round diamond set in gold
or platinum would be a good style for her. Is she modern and likes
the more trendy style? Then princess or emerald shaped diamond rings
may be her favorite. Speak to her friends and do a bit of investigation
work; she may already have a shape in mind.
Study the Four Diamond C's, Cut, Clarity, Color and Carats, to
be better informed. The most important C is the cut.
The cut determines the brilliance of the diamond. If the diamond
is poorly cut, the light is lost through the sides and bottom, and
the diamond will lack radiance. When looking for a diamond ring,
look for one with a diamond measured Ideal to Good cut. You can
find more information regarding cuts in our Cut section.
The next C is color. A diamond that is colorless or near colorless
is most prized. When picking out a diamond, look for grades D-H,
which are colorless or near colorless. For more information about
color, look in our Color section.
The third C to think about is clarity. Clarity is the clearness
of a diamond. The most valued diamond would be one that's clearest.
When shopping for diamond rings, look for diamond clarity grades
from FL to SI2. A diamond from VS1 to S2 are the best value because
it'll be lower in price without too many inclusions. For more information
regarding clarity, look in our Clarity section.
The last C to look for is carat. The diamond carat determines
the size of the diamond. Dollars per carat increase exponentially
as the size increases. A one-carat diamond is worth more than several
small diamonds that equal a carat in total weight. When deciding
on the diamond size, think of the size of the hand. If the hand
is small, a large diamond may look too big and gaudy, but a small
diamond may look too small on big hands. Determine the style and
size of person who will be wearing the diamond. They may like the
subtle size or a larger size to show off the diamond ring. For more
information about carats, look in our Carat section.
Once you have picked your loose
diamonds at wholesale, you need to find the right setting. There
are several types: bar, bezel, channel, chevron, invisible, pave
and prong. Each style is different and good for different reasons.
Prong settings are very popular because they display the diamond
high and beautifully. However, the bezel setting is better for those
who are more active because the diamond is secured with a closer
setting. Look in our diamond settings section to find out more information
about the setting right for your diamond.
Now that you have the diamond shape, Four C's, and setting in
mind, you can go out and buy the perfect diamond for your loved
one. Remember to do some research and to ask questions about the
products when you are browsing. After your hard work, you will be
rewarded with beautiful diamond rings at better price and value.
Diamond Care
Now that you have your ideal diamond rings, you must maintain their
beauty through proper care. Diamonds are the Earth's strongest material,
but a hard single blow could cause a diamond to chip. If you keep
the diamond ring away from heavy activity, the diamond should last
a lifetime.
To clean diamonds
and diamond rings, use water and a little bit of ammonia with
a light brush while being careful of the metal. Keep the diamond
away from lotion, perspiration and other household cleaners. Those
items can dull the surface of the diamond.
Store your diamond
rings separated with paper or bags, so the diamond do not scratch
or dull each other.
By following these simple rules, you will have beautiful diamond
rings that will last for a lifetime.
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