Diamonds

The diamond, or the "adamas", a Greek word that means "invincible", is the hardest material known. This magical piece of shiny carbon actually holds the world besotted to its allure. Mention the Kohinoor Diamond, it can start a war, raise a sigh, or simply bring a vision of glittering royalty.

If one scientifically looks at diamonds, it is a clear crystal of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms. Along with being one of the hardest materials known, it has semiconductor properties; and brilliant dispersion of light. It is also very tough, which means that it is not scratched easily.

On the relative Mohs scale of mineral hardness, it is classified as 10 with the absolute hardness value being anywhere 90, 167, and 231 gigapascals. This fact has been known for years, in every culture diamonds are synonymous with steadfastness, which is why it is given as a sign of true commitment, as in an engagement ring.

One of the hardest diamonds is found in the area of New South Wales in New England, Australia. These small diamonds, and are used to polish other diamonds. These diamonds are hard because they have a single stage growth. Other diamonds have multilayer crystal growth stages; that actually adds in defects and flaws, and even makes them less hard.

In the industry, diamonds have quite a different use; these are ideal for cutting and grinding. Diamond tips are used as drill bits, diamond powder is a well-known abrasive, and it can cut materials as wide as glass, steel, acrylic and more.

There is now a harder material called the aggregated diamond nanorods, this was first manufactured in 2005. It is an allotrope or form of carbon.

Diamonds take so many millions of years to form. Carbon-based materials are exposed to high pressure and temperature, deep within the belly of the earth, below 150 kilometers or 90 miles. Here the pressure is around 5 gigapascals and the temperature is a furnace of 1200 degrees Celsius or 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. It never forms below oceans. The diamonds that are mined are on earth’s surface and these are over 1 billion to over 3 billion years old. We have to respect this stone for its age! So, girls if diamonds are your best friend, remember that it is a rather ancient crony!

Judging the Gemology Quality of Diamonds Diamonds are expensive and as gems, they need to be judged, before you wear them. Diamonds are graded by the –

• Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
• Diamond High Council (HRD) Official certification laboratory in Belgian, by their core diamond industry
• American Gemological Society (AGS)

The highest grade is 10 and the lowest is 0.

One of the most important factors of pricing a diamond is its weight or the carat. One carat is one-fifth of a gram or 200 milligrams, usually higher the carat the more expensive the stone.

Clarity or the lack of flaws is another important measure of a diamond, as they may posses inclusions or defects deep within. These could be foreign material like crystals, cracks, etc. Very few diamonds are truly flawless.

Color or transparency is also an important factor. This means that a perfect diamond is one that has no color or hue. However, a perfectly blue or pink diamond will have more value than an almost white diamond.

Cutting, polishing and shaping the Diamond - Such an art
Diamond cutters, polishers and shapers are valued, simply because it is a skilled job. When this stone is mined, it is rough. A quality cutter gives it shape and enhances its value. This art dates back to hundred of years. More facets to this skill were added in 1919 when the mathematician Marcel Tolkowsky created the "round brilliant cut". This set new standards, and ever since remarkable progress has been made. A well cut, polished and shaped diamond fetches far more than one that is heavier in terms of carats. The GIA has set the standards for cutting, called Facetware.

Next time you buy a diamond, remember though that it is old, it cuts a fine picture and is in remarkable good shape and weight. Give the stone its due respect!

How do You Know Fake or Real Diamond
Buying diamond jewelry would be a daunting task. Since diamonds are very expensive, you should be thoughtful and alert while purchasing them. You need to identify real and fake diamonds to be able to purchase those high quality real diamonds. Here is some useful information about how to know whether its a fake or real diamond.

Facts About Diamonds
Are you fascinated with the dazzling beauty of diamonds? Here are some interesting and amazing facts about diamonds that will unravel the story behind all the sparkle and glitter of these precious stones.

Diamonds: What are Certified Diamonds
As quoted by someone, ‘Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one’, may not always hold true. To ensure you pick the authentic piece, read on to know more about certified diamonds.

Diamond Clarity
Diamonds are the precious possessions and Diamond Clarity is one of those "C" to evaluate its preciousness. The Clarity of Diamond indicates the measure of extent and number of the flaws present in that specific diamond. Let us explore the grading system based on the diamond clarity…

Diamond: The April Birthstone
Know more about the Diamond – the birthstone for April…

Don’t Drop the Soap in the Prison Shower? How ’bout a Diamond?
Not the smartest criminal on the block, a man arrested for theft accidentally dropped his stolen $25,000 booty into a prison shower grate.

Conflict Free Diamonds
As name suggests, Conflict Free Diamonds are diamonds that are free from the malpractices like war funding, child labor, force labor, etc. Kimberley certification process sponsored by UN is the best available means to confirm it.

Diamond Color
Diamond one of the most precious gem stone is graded based on 4 C’s namely color, carat, clarity and cut. Although, diamond color can vary from colorless to pink or brown, colorless is the most desirable and highly rated parameter for color of diamond…

Facts on Emeralds
Green means envy, but the emerald has a class of its own! Known to be best paired with diamonds, astrologically and aesthetically speaking, emeralds until recently were the only representative of the higher classes so far!

Yellow Sapphire
Yellow Sapphire, a stone that is perhaps the most popular gemstone after diamonds and rubies. Known for its various properties, it gives the wearer a magnificent halo unmatched to any other luster in the universe.

The Lure of Diamonds
It may seem surprising that diamond is simply carbon, just like charcoal or graphite. Since times immemorial, diamonds have been associated with Romanticism, and this could not have been truer than it has been in this day and age.

The World's Most Sought After Diamond
The story of a diamond which is coveted by the Governments of two countries. Kingdoms have been lost and a lot of blood has been shed.

Buying Diamonds - Diamond Buying Advice
When you start to think about buying a diamond, you naturally will want the best diamond that you can afford. Diamonds can be found in a range of shapes, sizes, qualities & prices. If you are about to buy a diamond for an engagement ring, you may want to consider spending the commonly accepted guideline of two months' salary. Diamonds are a symbol of love and eternity. Diamonds are forever.

Buying Diamonds From Reputable Dealers
When buying diamonds you should be careful and exercise caution that you are in fact dealing with a reputable diamond dealer or jeweler. Never buy a diamond that has not been certified and always make certain that the diamond was actually independently certified.

Diamond cutting – The Future is here
The part technology providers participate in the diamond pipeline: Technology and high-tech paraphernalia are increasingly being utilized in almost all links of the diamond pipeline. Heavy apparatus for mining and sorting is utilized for hauling diamonds from the earth, sea, and rivers.

Rough Cuts
We are all perfectly unperfect.

Tips to maintain your precious Diamond forever new
Presenting a few straightforward advices on how to preserve your diamond ornaments and keep them in the most excellent conditions everlastingly. Your diamond ornaments pleased your dreams.

Impress Your Girl With A Beautiful Marquise Cut Diamond
Diamonds are girls’ best friends. True to the core. They are reliable proposal and wedding gifts. This rock from the heart of mother earth has won many hearts and unfailingly generates an affirmative without second chances. So, if you want to woo your spouse for a perfect date, then diamonds are just made for it.

When Diamonds Become Girl's Worst Friends
Diamonds may be forever. But what's a girl to do when she gets dumped or divorced and those rings, necklaces and love gifts lose their emotional sparkle?

Summer Care for Your Diamond
Caring for your diamond during the summer months will ensure that it's brilliance shines for years to come. And while summer activities may be great for all who participate, diamonds can be sensitive to summer's effects. This article gives tips to help take care of your diamond this summer.

Blood Diamonds : the Tip of the Iceberg for the Jewelery Industry
Blood diamonds are just one of the ethical challenges that the jewelery industry faces. Human exploitation and environmental damage needs to be taken into consideration.

Certified Diamonds - A Brief Guide
What are certified diamonds. Should I ask for a certificate when purchasing certified diamonds. This is a brief guide to what they are all about.

Diamond Buying Guide
A Diamond Buying Guide with simple tips and tricks for buying your next diamond. Diamond buying resources and information for the average diamond shopper.

D Flawless Diamonds
Information on D Flawless Diamonds and where to find them.

Simple Steps For You Follow In Selecting The Right Diamond Watch As A Gift
It is clear that a diamond watch is a unique gift to give to that special person in your life. To make your buying decision a little easier following the guidelines will help. Read on to learn more.

Picking the Right Diamond…and Setting
Advice on pairing a diamond and setting together to create a diamond engagement ring that will compliment the recipient's personality and personal taste.

World's Largest Uncut Diamond Denounced As Plastic Fake
After more than a month of speculation, the 'world's largest diamond', said to be twice the size of the famous Cullinan, was yesterday denounced as a "piece of plastic" by the man at the center of the drama over its discovery.

Mr Jolly and a Murky Tale of World's Biggest Diamond
It was the kind of news item of which dreams are made. South Africa's national radio led its 8pm bulletin with an announcement that the world's biggest diamond had been discovered - and it was twice the size of the fabled Cullinan diamond.

Miners Unearth World's Biggest Diamond
South African find is twice as big as the Cullinan Expert predicts feverish bidding on huge stone.

Becoming Familiar with the Four C’s of Diamonds
The Four C’s of diamonds are cut, color, carat-weight and clarity. Find out what these factors mean and how they can affect the way you look at them, and how much you pay for them.

Conflict Diamonds - Still a Problem?
Are conflict diamonds still a problem in the diamonds trade? Let's look at what's been going on.

Diamond War- The UN Stand
The suffering of the African people became too much to ignore. The UN formally recognized the role that blood diamonds play in fuelling the wars and conflicts in Africa and decided to take some measures in order to put a stop to the vicious activities there.

Blood Diamonds in Popular Culture
There are more references to conflict diamonds in popular culture, which is a good thing. But people should stop enjoying start listening to what they're saying. Listen to the message and start caring. It doesn't matter if all the artists in the world sing songs, make movies, or write stories about the conflict diamond trade if ordinary people will not pay attention to their message.

The Life And Horrors Of The Children Of Africa
The innocent and not so innocent blood shed in the wars and coups financed by conflict diamonds IS the reason for the Africa diamonds being labeled "blood diamonds". However, though this may be ghastly enough, the truth is that the very roots of the diamonds are dark enough to warrant the label of blood diamonds even without the bloody wars.

How To Tell If Yours Is A Non Conflict Diamond
Blood diamonds are used to fund wars and other brutal activities in certain parts of the world. Diamonds sold in this illicit trade promote violence and kill people; you want to make sure that your own non conflict diamonds.

Blood Diamonds- Amnesty International and Conflict Diamonds
Amnesty International monitors the events surrounding the diamond industry and the industry's efforts to make diamond trade more transparent. It also holds activities that foster awareness and that encourage buyers to actively participate in doing something to stop the diamond trade. Amnesty International has also made recommendations to help strengthen schemes aimed at stopping the trade in conflict diamonds.

Diamond Pendants – A Timeless Classic
A diamond pendant with a quality chain is something that she never has to take off. Plus a diamond pendant is the compliment to any outfit either casual or formal.

Loose Diamonds
Loose diamonds are the most affordable way to up grade your current jewelry or to wear your own designs. Purchasing loose diamonds can now be done online and usually at the best prices. We have designed a guide for you to follow when purchasing a loose diamond.

Diamond Clarity: The Crucial Factor in Purchasing a Diamond
Diamond clarity is the most important thing to consider if you’re thinking about purchasing a diamond. However, it can be challenging to get high quality diamonds, especially if you don’t know much about them...

Diamonds
Lavish, sparkling and smooth are the synonyms of diamonds. It is not only their eternal beauty that forces a person to acquire them but the value that these stones carry due to their rareness. So, if you want someone to make special and distinguish go for a glittering diamond. Believe me, you don’t need any words, its spark and light will say every thing.

Conflict-Free Diamonds: An Ethical Wedding Choice
Just exactly what are Conflict Free Diamonds and why is it important to me as a diamond buyer?

Diamonds, Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite: How They Differ
Know the differences between diamonds, Cubic Zirconia and Moissanite

Add some sparkle with a Diamond & Sapphire bracelet
A diamond and sapphire bracelet is an awesome combination of two of world's most precious & beautiful gemstones...

Buy Diamond
Diamond is one of the rare and expensive stone that is really desirable and valuable. With its glittering shine and lavishness in style, diamonds are always a great piece to treasure it for throughout the ...

Diamonds are Forever
Diamonds are always a great way to cheer a girl up, whether bought by her man or herself. Now buying diamonds is an easy process that you can do from home.

Past, Present and Future: The Three Stone Diamond Ring
If you are looking for the perfect way to say "Marry me", "I love you" or "Happy Anniversary", there is nothing more romantic or appropriate than the three stone diamond ...

Diamond-studded Cake is $1.7m Christmas Treat
A diamond-studded Christmas cake went on sale at Takashimaya department store in Tokyo this week for $1.7m (about £970,000).

A Diamond bracelet for her "just because"
A diamond bracelet is like the icing on the cake.

The Attention of a Diamond Necklace
Finding a diamond necklace that suits your preference can well be accomplished with the huge variety of styles to choose from.

De Beers to Reverse Apartheid Legacy
De Beers, the most famous name in diamonds, will today unveil the biggest shake-up in its 117-year history when it hands over part of its South African mining arm to black investors.

Lab-Created Diamonds – Simulated Diamonds And Manufactured Diamonds Review
Consumer confusion about lab-created simulated diamonds exists. Here you will find clarification to simplify the selection process when choosing a lab-created diamond or manufactured diamond jewelry.

Man Made Diamonds – Save Big Money And Avoid Mined Diamond Scams
Adroit shoppers know that man made diamonds offer superb value and mirror mined diamonds, allowing jewelry lovers to look glamorous and bank the colossal difference in cost. This point is punctuated along with exposing the inherent pitfalls when considering a mined diamond.

Understanding Diamonds
Do you know the four C’s when purchasing a diamond? Where do diamonds come from and how are they formed? This article provides resources on everything to need to know about purchasing a diamond.

Making Sense of Diamond Grading Specs
Understanding diamond grading specs for the layperson!

British Bank Rebuked Over Secret Liberian Diamond Deal
After 14 years of savage civil war and two of an uneasy peace, diamond-rich Liberia, a country of 3.5 million traumatised people, has a shattered economy.

Diamond Rush is Forever on Kimberley Plain
More than 130 years after South Africa's first diamond rush, hundreds of prospectors are hoping to strike it rich on the booming international market by taking picks and shovels to the rocky terrain of the country's veld.

Cow Eats Diamonds Hidden In Hay
An Indian diamond merchant has been waiting almost a month to retrieve a stash of diamonds eaten recently by one of his cows.

African Tribe Wins Rights to Diamond-rich Land
A South African tribal community robbed of its land in the 19th century yesterday won a court battle to regain land and mineral rights to diamonds that could be worth billions of pounds. The Nama community in Richtersveld are former goat herders who today mostly live in tin shacks without...

Diamond Miners Exploit Land of the Bushmen
Botswana is letting mining companies explore for diamonds in parts of the Kalahari desert from which San Bushmen were recently evicted, renewing the accusation that the country's oldest ethnic group is the victim of a plot by the government and multinational companies. Sections of the...

Thieves Pull Off Biggest Gem Heist in Diamond Capital
123 safes emptied but raid undetected for days.

Diamond states bar war zone stones
Forty-five countries engaged in the diamond trade finally signed a new scheme to stem the flow of "conflict" diamonds yesterday. The certification scheme, which will take effect on January 1, is the result of 30 months of negotiations on controlling the trade in illicit rough diamonds.