| |
| |
|
Humanities Information |
|
|
|
Precious Stones The Big Five - Part 4 The Diamond
The diamond is generally regarded as the premier gem in the world of precious stones. Of all the precious stones the diamond has the simplest composition; it is merely crystallized carbon. The most common substance that is known, a substance that is present in every plant, animal and mineral on the earth. Diamonds come mostly from the mines in South Africa, but are also found in Brazil, India, Australia and even in the United States. The diamond is the hardest substance known, being #10 on the Mohl scale, despite it's hardness, the diamond is not indestructible; diamond will cut diamond; it can be burned in the air, being carbon and will leave behind carbon dioxide gas. The facets of a cut diamond can be worn away to some extent by the constant rubbing of clothing. The diamond is also brittle, and can fracture if struck against a hard surface. Diamonds have a wide range of color; most numerous are the whites, yellows, and browns in a great variety of shades; then come the greens; red stones of strong tints are very rare, as are also blue, which have been found almost exclusively in India; other tints of occasional occurrence are garnet, hyacinth, rose, peach-blossoms, lilac, cinnamon, and brown; black, rarities. Diamonds without tint or flaw are rare indeed and even most of the world's famous diamonds have imperfections. The origin of the diamond's name is the Greek word adamas, meaning unconquerable; from the same root spring our words adamant and adamantine. The origin of the diamond, according to classical mythology, was its formation by Jupiter, who transformed into stone a man, Diamond of Crete, for refusing to forget Jupiter after he had commanded all men to do so. The Facts About Diamonds A diamond's value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of "slightly included" may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader. As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used. Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers shouldtell you if the diamond you're considering has been fracture-filled. Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or pots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care. While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That's because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you're considering has been laser-drilled. Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones. Diamond jewelry: diamond rings, diamond earrings, diamond wedding rings, diamond wedding bands, diamond necklace, diamond watches, diamond pendants and diamond bracelets are some of the most sought after gemstone creations. Your eyes tell you how beautiful a piece of diamond jewelry is, but how do you know you are getting your money's worth? A little knowledge can go a long way to help you purchase a beautiful piece of diamond jewelry at a fair price. When shopping for diamond jewelry online, apply these tips. 1. Shop with companies you know or do some homework before buying to make sure a company is legitimate before doing business with it. 2. Take advantage of information and referrals from an Internet company you have come to trust. 3. Get the details about the product, as well as the merchant's refund and return policies, before you buy. 4. Look for an address to write to or a phone number to call if you have a question, a problem or need help. The diamond is the birthstone for the month of April. Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of "How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off." This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Native American Indian Art Wood Carvings of the Pacific Northwest Native American Indian art in the American southwest is dominated by the magnificent pottery and jewelry in the region. When it comes to the Pacific Northwest region which covers the states of Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada) and the southern part of Alaska, the Native American art here is mostly wood carvings. Murder Solved From The Grave I am very interested in reading about ghostly stories and spirits etc. A couple of years ago I heard about a story which is apparently true, about a murder which was solved from the grave. Working With The Generations For the first time in history, there are four generations in the work force. Although this is an exciting time, it is not without challenges. Marcus Garvey: A Symbol for Black Nationalism My first kid's father named my son Marcus after legendary Marcus Garvey. Which made me curious to know more about who Marcus Garvey actually was?"Up You Mighty Race, Accomplish What You Will. Timbuktu and Brotherhood Too Juba II in America:Ahmed Osman tells us about the destruction of all knowledge around the end of the 4th Century Ad as a result of Roman edicts and the desire to make people into sheep to herd as they saw fit. "The Serapeum, originally established by the Ptolemies, later became also a centre for Gnostic communities, both Hermetic and Christian. Her Last Day in Court "Ron, I can't take much more of his sleazy behavior! I really don't think you are going to win this case for me anyway. I've lost everything; at least I can have the pleasure of making sure the jury knows their judge is another sexual power tripper, going in to his chambers to satisfy himself with the bailiff while he screws me over under the law! I don't. Tribal Tattoo Designs - Why Are They So Popular? Tribal tattoos have been practiced for thousands of years. Modern people still get them done for many reasons such as to belong to a modern 'tribe' even if they do it on a subconcious level. Precious Stones v.s. Semi-Precious Stones Stones have been worn by both women and men since prehistoric times. Just as in the jewelry of modern times, beautiful stones, rare and colorful, are most often the dominant feature of a piece with a metallic setting for ornamentation. Bewitching Jewelry -- Amulets, Talismans and Charms Throughout the ages, men and women have used gemstones and crystals in personal ornaments and body decorations as bewitching jewelry. Wearing them as charms, talismans or amulets, they were believed to possess the power to ward off evil spirits (or attract benevolent ones), keep one safe from harm, or to find love. Hello I Must Be Going: The Vanishing Twin They walk among us. By the mid nineties, science had only smoked out a few dozen of them worldwide but there are undoubtedly many more. Mythology and Parables in Modern Communication - Part 4 At the end of Part 3 in this series I was using my own Inspirational experiences as examples of how Self and Soul can erupt into your life. After the book manuscripts stopped flowing, music stepped in to take its place. Mexican Living: Myth Busting Myth One: Mexicans are lazy, good-for-nothings.I mention this one first because it is one of the vilest myths and an excellent example of Americans' xenophobic stereotyping. King Tuts Tomb was No Better - Found in America Between 603 and 702 AD. a truly marvelous temple was built by the Mayan people to honour a non-Mayan, non-Indian man. Troubadours CHRETIEN DE TROYES:Academics will freely admit that this man was a troubadour. But what is a Troubadour? They were important to the genesis of the Cathar mystique for a certainty and the Princeton people I will shortly quote will say that Chrtien was one of the first Troubadours in this region. How I lost A million Dollars In A Bank Robbery The Million dollars was my life-savings earmarked for prime the pump money for my biotech start-up. I am the Gerald Armstrong the owner of Gen Cells Cures?Gen Cells Cures is focused on private medical research for the individual. Is Timing the Secret of Success? Success is often viewed as a magic potion. Market demand has always been there, but no-one has worked out the recipe or how to bottle it. In Seach Of Heroes - Matrimonial Heroes (Part One) Just as our arrival at destination is tied to the supply of fuel, even if we are travelling by a perfectly functioning vehicle, so are our destinies tied to the Heroes in our midst, even though we seem to be doing well on the average.Their absence from our midst is the reason for the reign of 'lack-lustre' mediocres on the throne of our private lives. Conceptual Art: Who Appreciates It? Art is sometimes overwhelming. Life as a whole can become overwhelming, and at times I do find myself caught up in its whirlwind of drama. Building Catapults Required Engineering Know How When building catapults, armies had to include in their ranks those people capable of employing complicated mathematical formulas and turning them into machines of war.While their appearance on the warfare scene dramatically changed tactics for quite literally hundreds of years, it was no easy task for medieval armies to create the machines of war they needed to help ensure victory. Gymnastics History - A Brief Overview Gymnastics, as an activity, has been around for more thantwo thousand years in one form or another, from the ancientGreek Olympics, to Roman ceremony, to today's modern meets.As an organized and truly competitive sport, gymnasticshas existed for a little more than a century.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
