Thursday 22 September 2011

PostHeaderIcon Sparkling Diamond Rings For Special Events


The diamond is one of the oldest and rarest minerals on earth. Formed in the mantle, they are the result of the extreme pressure and temperatures put on carbon-containing minerals. Geologists tell us it takes between 1 to 3.3 billion years for the average diamond to complete its growth. That means some stones are nearly as old as the earth!

The mining of diamonds has been an obsession of adventurous individuals for thousands of years. Archeologists have uncovered diamond mines in India that date back to the 1st century BC. In addition to its beauty, part of the stone’s appeal was its remarkable rarity, which meant that only the elites could afford them. Why are diamonds so rare?

Many experts believe that there are huge deposits of diamonds in the earth. The only problem is that they are in the mantel, which is one hundred miles beneath the earth’s crust. The diamonds we see on fingers today are the result of volcanic eruptions that bring them up to or near the surface. Of course, these eruptions could have occurred thousands, even millions of years ago. In other words, diamond miners have to dig.

Advancements in mining methods resulted in the establishment of the international diamond trade in the 19th century. Annual sales of wholesale diamonds now top 60 billion dollars in this lucrative global industry. But even with all the improvements, the stones are not easy to find. According to industry insiders, two hundred and fifty tons of ore must be mined in order to locate a single one carat diamond. And that is why diamond rings are so expensive.

We should also mention the enormous demand. Because mining diamonds is less expensive than it was in the past, the stone is has become a popular gift to give on special occasions. One occasion where the giving of a diamond ring has become a tradition is a proposal of marriage. Ever since engagement rings became affordable for the middle class, Western brides have come to expect them. Eighty percent of the successful marriage proposals in the U.S. involve a diamond ring. The other twenty percent merely wish they had. Why diamonds?

Yes, they are beautiful. Yes, they are rare. But the symbolic meaning of a diamond is often more important than the price tag. A diamond stands for strength, purity and eternity. It is one of the hardest materials on earth and it truly will last forever, as we can only hope of romantic love.

Shopping for a Ring

The average beau knows next to nothing about shopping for an engagement ring. Diamonds are serious and expensive gifts, and if he has never been married before, it is highly unlikely that he will have ever had to shop for one. Still, he might remember the 4 Cs, which tell us that “cut,” “clarity,” “color” and “carat” are the most important factors when shopping for a diamond. Let us take a moment to review them.

Cut

Many young Romeos confuse the shape of a precious stone with its cut. But they are not the same. The cut of a diamond is determined by the lapidary who cuts the stone based on its nature, quality and flaws. Popular cuts for diamond engagement rings include oval, round, emerald, princess, heart and pear. The cut of a stone rarely has much of an effect on its price.

Clarity

Like all precious stones, diamonds are graded on a scale according to their flaws. The most common flaw is known as an inclusion, which is a cloudy spot in the stone that affects its clarity. Diamonds range from F (flawless) to included 3 (flaws that can be seen by the naked eye). Flawless diamonds are extremely rare and are considered the most beautiful. When held up to the light, they act as prisms that reflect all of the visible rays of the spectrum. This cannot be done with a stone that has inclusions. For this reason and many more, flawless stones are often worth as much or more than diamonds that are twice as big.

Color

Color is perhaps the most disputed of the 4Cs. Some jewelers maintain that color should have little or no effect on price, while others believe the best stones are always colorless. This argument tends to reignite as colored stones frequently fall in and out of fashion. According to color scale, a colorless stone is graded at D and a brownish or yellow stone receives a grade of Z. Colorless diamonds are far more popular, especially in engagement rings.

Carat Weight

Most men know that diamonds are measured in carats (weight). For obvious reasons, the weight of the stone has a profound effect on the price of the ring. When it comes to engagements, the most popular carat weight is the one carat ring. The price of the average one carat diamond can vary greatly depending on the color and clarity of the stone.

As helpful as they are as a basic guide, shoppers should rely on the advice of experts instead of the 4 Cs alone. Take some time to find some lovely diamond rings that catch your eye now.

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