The Diamond Engagement Ring.. why..

The first diamond ring given as an engagement was by Archduke Maximillion of Austria in 1477 to Mary of Burgandy. During these times diamonds were thought of to be talismans, or charms to enhance the love between a man and a woman.

For over 500 years the diamond has been a symbol of everlasting love. The word “diamond” is derived from the ancient Greek word adámas meaning “unalterable”, “unbreakable” and “untamed”. It is no wonder a woman would cherish this gift from the man she wishes to spend eternity with.

In recent years diamonds have been looked upon rather harshly, for the horrific social concerns and cost, some say they are not rare enough to substantiate the price tag.

Within the diamond industry much has been done to thwart the injustices that have been caused by their popularity. First and foremost The Kimberly Process has been initiated, please follow up at: http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/home/index_en.html

This act has created an agreement with diamond miners and merchants to essentially boycott the purchase of diamond obtained through the rebel movements responsible for the devastating inhumanity.

The cost of a diamond is linked to its rarity. As many have heard diamond substance is not particularly rare. That being said gem quality diamond is very rare. Finding bright clear diamonds that when polished sparkle exquisitely is limited and extraordinary. These gems were created deep within the earth’s mantle (over 100 miles deep) and are at least hundreds of millions of years old, in some cases they are billions of years old.

Think about that for a moment next time you hear the price of a small little stone dazzling your eye, billions of years old.

Roughly 80% of diamond material is of abrasive quality, meaning it is uses are industrial used for cutting and polished materials such as metal and rock. Of the 20% of diamond that is gem quality the purity of color and clarity and size becomes more rare at an exponential rate, like earthquakes. For example, every time a diamond goes up one grade in quality it becomes 10 times more rare than the one a grade below.

Each diamond has its very own unique microscopic markings inside. When your diamond gets certified and a constellation of each crystal or inclusion is mapped for you. This is so if ever lost you are able to identify it, but also it ables you to see your diamond is unique from all the others. Each one is one in a million.

The diamond is the hardest substance known to man, this hardness is what gives the stone the ability to sparkle like no other crystal. Your diamond will last you forever to pass on to further generations. DeBeers many have coined the term “A Diamond is Forever” and used it for a brilliant marketing campaign, but it was brilliant because it was simple, true and pure as the diamond itself.

For inquiries for your present or future diamond purchases or if you would like your diamond appraised here are some websites you may find helpful:

http://www.zeexchange.com/

http://www.gemsareforever.com