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Diamond is for Romance
Diamonds are a girl's best friend
Diamonds are the girl's best friend. Marilyn Monroe attested to that in her movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", in the immortal song which captured with such vivid imagination the allure of the diamonds.
Blonde or no blonde, ladies the world over will vouch for Marilyn. Give a girl a diamond and watch a sparkle in her eyes.
The word diamond comes from the Greek word "Adamas" meaning unconquerable. It is the hardest, most valuable and most enduring of all gemstones. Diamonds are formed in great depth, maybe 50 miles or more, at a temperature of 2012 to 2372 degrees under great pressure. Any eruption in volcanic pipes carries them with rising kimberlite to the surface of the earth.
Diamonds deposits can be found in many parts of the world, but most are in Africa and Siberia.
In ancient times, the diamond was ranked below several other gems, especially the ruby, the emerald, and even the pearl in terms of beauty. Its appeal was based on the belief that it enabled the wearer to acquire strength, protect a warrior in a battle, prevent mental illness or ward off the effect of a poison.
The beauty of the stone was not fully recognized until in the late 15th century when Ludvig Van Berquem discovered a method of shaping and polishing diamonds using an iron wheel coated with diamond dust.
At the end of the 17th century, an Italian lapidary Vincenzo Peruzzi invented the brilliant cut a round shape with 58 facets, which gives the stone maximum brilliance. It was based on the fact that a diamond has a high refractive index meaning that a properly cut stone can return large portions of the light that enters the stone.
The five C's: Carat, Color, Clarity, Cut and Certificate.
If you are wondering why diamonds are so expensive, it is because they are extremely rare. On top of that only 20 percent of all diamonds mined in the world are of gem quality. The rest are used for industrial purposes.
Bear in mind the five C's when you buy jewelry with diamonds. They are carat, color, clarity, cut and certificate.
The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, which is equal to one fifth of a gram.
Diamonds come in a variety of colors and those with strong natural, natural colors may fetch collector's prices. Most however appear with tinges of yellow which is not easily detectable except for an expert eye under special lighting. The whiter the diamond, the rarer and therefore more expensive.
In assessing the clarity, the number, size and position of the flaws are taken into consideration. Jewelers call these flaws inclusions and they are visible only when viewed under 10X magnification.
Most diamonds are cut with full 58 facets. When choosing pick up a good cut with more brilliance, fire and scintillation. A well cut and faceted diamond will capture light from the slightest flicker of a candle.
Always ensure that the diamond you are considering buying comes with a certificate. If it does not, go to a gemologist and have it certified before buying. The certificate should grade the diamond according to its shape and cut, proportions, finish, clarity and color.
And remember, the beauty of a diamond endures and lasts forever.
By Rebecca, special to Japan Update, May 28 1992
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