Diamond Informatoin
DIAMONDS - THE KING OF GEMSTONES
courtesy of ebay seller BangkokGemMart
If ever the description "turning an ugly duckling into a swan" were apt, the diamond is well described this way. We all know how beautiful they are when they are found in jewelry, but not everyone knows that they were once chunks of ugly dark carbon, which were nestled deep within the earth, or even in volcanoes lava. Eventually, these lovely gemstones find their way to the surface, where they are mined and then transformed into beautiful jewelry items.
History
Diamonds - the traditional birthstone for April, have a history that dates
back many thousands of years. Our knowledge them in history seems to be fairly
substantial, but many diamonds were formed billions of years ago in nature.
Diamonds are formed very deeply below the surface of the earth - often over
100 miles deep, and at temperatures and pressures which are difficult to
measure, let alone imagine. Diamonds are found in South Africa, Russia, and
even in Arkansas in the USA.
courtesy of ebay seller DKimages.com
Through the passage of times, and various forms of weathering, the material
which bears the diamonds, called lampriote or kimberlite, gets eroded and
carried away. They later become what geologists refer to as secondary deposits.
These secondary deposits were the first diamonds worked by ancient cultures.
They had the advantage of having wonderful clarity. As more time passes,
much of the heavily surrounding material breaks apart and leaves a cleaner
more durable piece of gemstone. Marine deposits have some of the finest quality
diamonds because of the millions of years of wave action, which destroys
the less durable stones.
India is thought to have been the first large source of diamond mining. The
ancient Hindus called the diamond "Vajra" which means "lightning,"
most likely because it sparkles like light and has incredible strength much as the lightning bolt.
Colors of Diamonds
courtesy of afroccentric.com
These beautiful gemstones vary from colorless to yellow for the traditional
"white diamond" look. Ideally the white diamonds should be colorless
with no yellowing at all. But the colors don't stop there. Fancy colored diamonds
exist in all shades, hues and colors of the rainbow. Some of the most popular
ones are orange, green, red, blue, pink and brown, and of course the famous "black
diamond." The most expensive colored diamonds are black, blue, green and
red.
Natural colored diamonds get their coloring in a variety of different ways.
The color can be caused by trace elements in the actual diamond itself, for
instance nitrogen will produce a yellow diamond. The color can also result
when radiation is present at the time of the diamond was manufactured. Many
of the green diamonds are the result of this natural radiation. Finally, inclusions,
which, though undesirable in a colorless stone, can add unique stones and splashes
of color to a fancy colored diamond. This should not be confused with lab created "diamonds" which
have been treated not only for the color, but for the making of the actual
stone.
Size of original and finished product.
A finished diamond is roughly one half the size of the original gemstone
in nature. Therefore, if the original stone is 1 carat, the finished diamond,
when polished will be 1/2 carat.
Durability of Diamonds
Everyone has heard the story of using a diamond to cut glass. A diamond
is the hardest substance in nature - four times harder than the next closest
rival. They are very durable gemstones, and this accounts for some of their
popularity in engagement rings. But be warned, diamonds can break. If they
are hit in just the right way, with a sharp enough blow, the diamond can break.
It has a grain, much like wood, and can splinter in the way wood will. A gemologist
can repair a broken or chipped diamond, often with little weight lost from
the original stone.
Fakes
With the flood of online shops selling lab created diamonds, a question
often asked is "how do I tell a real diamond from a fake one?" There
is no easy answer to this question. Identifying a real diamond from a true
synthetic one can be very difficult. It takes a trained eye to really tell
the difference. The substitutes will have certain characteristics that diamonds
do not have, so it is best to consult a gemologist if there is a question of
the authenticity of the diamond. If it is very inexpensive and the price is "too
good to be price, it probably is lab created.
Use of diamonds in Vintage Jewelry
Most vintage jewelry from the retro period of the 1940s to the 1980s had
very little use of diamonds. This jewelry was considered to be costume jewelry
and was meant to be imitations of the "real thing." The same can
not be said of antique jewelry, however. During the Late Georgian period (1760-1837),
necklaces with rows of graduated diamonds and diamond brooches in floral sprays
were very popular, especially with royalty. This continued in the Victorian
period (about 1837-1901) when diamonds and other precious stones were used
in rings, earrings and pendants. Because of the sparkle of diamonds and the
invention of the electric light in the 1880s, the two went hand in hand.
Later, during the art deco period (about 1920-1935), the roaring twenties
produced a popularity for geometric shapes with diamonds and other precious
and semi precious stones and diamond strip bracelets. In all cases, the diamonds
in vintage jewelry were either used alone, or in conjunction with other precious
stones.
Vintage Jewelry Lane does not deal in diamond vintage jewelry. A wonderful
site if you are looking for one of a kind diamond antique and vintage jewelry
is Lang Antiques. Here are a few
of their recent selections. They are all exquisite.
|
|
|
|
Diamond Folklore Facts
The diamond is the traditional birthstone for April and for the star sign
Aries. In mythology, diamonds were thought by ancient Greeks to be splinters
of stars which had fallen to earth. Some even thought they were tears of the
gods. They also believed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped in diamonds.
It makes perfect sense that this has translated, over the years, so that this
lovely stone has acquired the reputation of being the gift of lovers.
Healing powers of diamonds
The diamonds is considered by metaphysical thinkers to be the Master gemstone
healer. It is believed to be an extremely powerful stone in the removing of
types blockages, and all forms of emotional negativity. It is also considered
to be the stone that bonds relationships and enhances love. It is said to bring
longevity, especially to relationships, balance, clarity and abundance. It
is also thought to give the one who wears or carries it courage and hope. Historically,
crushed diamond has been used as a cure for many ailments. In yoga, the diamond
is associated with the crown chakra.
The Hope Diamond
Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institute
No discussion of diamonds would be complete without mentioning the Hope
Diamond. This unique stone is a large, 45.52 carats fancy deep blue diamond,
which is currently housed in the Smithsonian
Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. The Hope Diamond appears blue
to the naked eye because of trace amounts of boron within its structure. Under
ultraviolet light, it exhibits red phosphorescence. It is famous for supposedly
being cursed.
The history of the Hope diamond is long and began when King Louis XIV of
France sold it in 1668, along with 14 other large diamonds and several smaller
ones. It passed through many royal courts and then was reset in 1749, during
the reign of King Louis XV. During a week-long looting of the crown jewels
in September of 1792, the French Blue diamond was stolen.
Several owners claimed it over the next decades until it was sold to Pierre
Cartier in 1909 and it was again reset in 1911 and mounted on a headpiece with
other large diamonds. Sometime later, it became the pendant necklace we know
today. Harry Winston's purchased it in an estate in 1949, after which it was
shown at many exhibits and charitable events worldwide. Finally, in 1958, it
was donated to the Smithsonian Institution. This wonderful blue stone is the
museum's premier attraction. You can read the full history of the stone on
the Smithsonian institution link above.
Care of Diamonds
Although diamonds seem to be resistant to heat, large stones and those with
major inclusions can sometimes damaged by jewelers who linger too long with
a torch during prong work. It's often safest to remove them before working
on a setting. Keep your diamonds clean! Diamond rings, especially, are prone
to collect dust and dirt behind the stone, since they are normally worn daily.
You can easily clean them by simply soaking them in water with a touch of gentle
soap. Use a soft bristled toothbrush to scrub the stone. Ultrasonic cleaners
are fine for diamonds too, because of their hardness and durability.
As with all precious stones, it is best to remove diamond jewelry before
starting such activities as strenuous sports, heavy housework or yard work
where the diamonds are prone to impacts. Also avoid harsh chemicals near them.
Check often for loose settings, and be careful when storing them that they
do not brush or jar against other jewelry. When not worn, store them in soft
jewelry pouches especially designed for this purpose or in acidic free line
jewelry cases. With a bit of common sense and care, your diamond jewelry will
last for your lifetime and will be treasures to pass down to your children.
I try to offer accurate vintage jewelry information, but may make errors from time to time due to mistakes in research information.
