Safe, Scenic & Secure Sussex County Delaware

As I write this, there is a considerable concern about the dangers of urban life, triggered by the terrorist attacks on the USA. As some of you know, I have been a student of disaster preparations and a real estate consultant for those seeking “secluded and survival properties” for over thirty years.

At one time, I had a several hundred item checklist for my “Survivalist” clients to read and check off for me so that I could guide them to what they considered to be the most Utopian place to live safe and secure with their family. I guess it could be said that some of my clients were -- at least eccentric, but the common thread running through all of their needs and wants was to be able to live safely and securely regarding all possible or likely threats, whether man made or natural.

The most common concern of those who wanted to find a better place to live was a fear of urban riots and terrorism. After that, the concerns were safe schools for the children, a low crime rate, clean air, clean water, friendly communities, and quite often they wanted as little intrusion into their personal lives, as possible, from the various government agencies.

There was always the concern about earthquakes from those who came from California. There was concern about tornadoes from those in the Midwest. One of the greatest concerns about power outages came from those in the northern areas. Concern about hurricanes and terrible storms came from those who lived close to the coast and from those in the south. There was also an often, at first unstated, fear of nuclear, biological and chemical attacks.
So to sum it up, the so called Survivalists were just people, people like the rest of us in many ways, and people interested in having a better life, free of violence and trouble from any predictable natural or man-made sources. They just wanted what we all want, a better life! Now, since the eleventh of September, the concerns of those “Survivalists” are exactly the concerns of nearly everyone. We are getting quite a few calls and thousands of contacts on our web sites, from those looking to get out of the city and come to the country. Rural Living is making more and more sense to more and more people.

Some of those who hired me in the past wanted to purchase caves or played out coal mines so that they could have an affordable way to have a safe “bunker”. Some people have been taught by the media to invalidate anyone who has that bunker mentality. However, we seem to think it’s just fine for all of our government officials to have numerous bunkers and shelters and safe places to go. Most highly placed government officials, at county, state and federal levels; have a selection of these safe and sheltered places to go. We don’ t but we purchase their retreats with our tax dollars.

Some of those past clients wanted a special remote access property, one with difficult or impossible access such as a winding mountain road or a tunnel into the property which they could close off for their own personal security and for that of their family. Some wanted energy efficiency and many wanted to be able to grow most or all of their own food. This was always a very small micro percentage who wanted these things and far fewer who were willing to pay for them. There are hundreds of people, outside of government officials, who seek a safe place to be in the case of disaster, but few of them ever take the step to purchase one.

In all of those years of searching for “perfect places” and Utopian retreats I learned a lot and eventually presented seminars several times. Some of those preparing for the worst and hoping for the best were the Survivalists. Some where those concerned about personal and community preparations such as the Mormons, Conservative Christians, Buddhists, Home Schoolers, Naturists, Organic Gardeners, Vegetarians, and lots of hopeful hermits, back to the soil, Mother Earth types and all manner of folks seeking refuge from the rigors and turmoil of urban and suburban life.

I’ve found the best place, in my well informed opinion, over all, is Sussex County Delaware. I live here myself. I help others move here for the same reasons and others. I’ll tell you why this area is my first choice for safety, lifestyle, security, and permanent “survival” of the best and highest kind.

Other than the first half mile distance inland from our coast we have had virtually no damage from any of the hurricanes which occasionally reach us. We have lots of alerts each year but only a few storms that actually reach us or affect us. In those rare instances when the storms do reach us, they nearly always fail to reach farther than a half mile from the waterfront. In fact only twice since 1955 have the storms done any damage five miles inland, in my experience. On those two occasions it was some downed tree limbs and some flooding of streets or roads at little country bridges and that’s about all. For the coastal areas there is flood insurance which is required, so the beach front area homes and businesses that were harmed were soon repaired.

The quality of our air is wonderful except for a quarter of a mile or less along the Delaware Bay. There we get some very light and nearly undetectable aerial effluent from the Delaware City refineries under certain weather conditions, almost no one is even aware of this minor fact.

Although we are due east of Washington D.C., we don’t get polluted by the air currents from there. From an airplane you can see the D.C. air pollution stop dead at the Chesapeake Bay, which is fifty miles or more from this area. The tempering effects of the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, Atlantic Ocean and all of our myriad Inland Bays give us a climate like that of South Carolina.

Thomas Jefferson gave us the nickname “Diamond State” because he found our soils and growing season to have a worth like diamonds. This is due to the rich values in farming and gardening that are available in southern Delaware now as it was then.

Our climate is the MOST suitable climate for nearly all American plants. According to the National Park Service botanist our local state and federal parks have the greatest number of different plants of any land location on earth. We have a long and rich agricultural history and a great place to learn about it.

We have a large retirement community here in Southern Delaware due largely to our almost nonexistent property and income taxes. Our taxes are among the lowest in the nation. As a result of this retirement community we have fully capable hospitals, lots of restaurants for every taste, theater, numerous first run movie theaters, music festivals, poetry recitals, over a dozen writers’ groups, great book stores, coffee shops, bake shops and one of the best selections of adult education opportunities anywhere. We also have tax free shopping in over 200 “factory outlet stores”. Our lifestyle is so relaxed here that we are known as Lower, Slower, Delaware. We even sell hats and t-shirts to celebrate this slogan.

More and more people are moving here to telecommute to jobs all over the world. I specialize in helping teleworking folks to find affordable, wonderful homes where they can enjoy life and work at home. You can work in your pajamas, work from the pool or garden or even work naked if you want! We have high speed cable modems, in many areas of Sussex County.

We seldom get much snow here. When we do get a few inches or less it is usually gone, as a result of the warm climate and sea air, within a few hours. When someone moves here, knowing how bad the snows can be in the northeastern United States, they often ask me what to do in preparation for the snow storms. I tell them just get an extra bottle of wine or two and a couple of logs for the fireplace. By the time they’re done with the wine and before the logs are used up, the snow will have usually melted.

Of course we are famous for our beaches and our summer resort life but you can find out all about that in several of my other articles.

Give me a call or e-mail us and we’ll find you something to fit your needs and budget. But call now so you can start enjoying what we all know is the best place in America to live, work and play. My informed survival advice to you is to get out of the city now, leave the urban strife and get a better life. Come to Sussex County Delaware and learn to enjoy the Lower, Slower, Delaware life.

By www.JodyHudson.com copyright 2001

Source of article is:

http://www.kate-jody.com/essays/safesecure.html

Gemstone Jewelry Secrets Revealed

The mystery and magic of colored gemstones has been an integral aspect or the "Lore" of most cultures for many centuries. Here is what noted gemstone experts Antoinette L. Matlins and A.C. Bonanno have to say on the matter.

"The fascination with colored gemstones dates back to the very beginning of civilization. For our ancestors, the blue of sapphire produced visions of the heavens; the red of ruby was a reminder of the very essence of life. By Roman times, rings containing colored gems were prized symbols of power-and the most powerful wore rings on every joint of every finger!

Since ancient times, colored stones have been thought to possess innate magical powers and the ability to endow the wearer with certain attributes. According to legend, emeralds are good for the eyes; yellow stones cure jaundice; red stones stop the flow of blood. At one time it was believed that a ruby worn by a man indicated command, nobility, lordship, and vengeance; worn by a woman, however, it indicated pride, obstinacy, haughtiness. A blue sapphire worn by a man indicated wisdom, and high and magnanimous thoughts; on a woman, jealousy in love, politeness, and vigilance. The emerald signified for a man joyousness, transitory hope, and the decline of friendship; for woman, unfounded ambition, childish delight, and change.

Colored gems, because of the magical powers associated with them, achieved extensive use as talismans and amulets; as predictors of the future; as therapeutic aids; and as essential elements to many religious practices-pagan, Hebrew, and Christian."

Gemstones 101

Natural gemstones are found in nature. Laboratory-created stones, as the name implies, are made in the laboratory. These stones, which also are referred to as laboratory-grown, {name of manufacturer} - created, or synthetic, have essentially the same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. Laboratory-created stones do not have the rarity of naturally colored stones and they are less expensive than naturally mined stones. By contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such.

Gemstones may be measured by weight, size, or both. The basic unit for weighing gemstones is the carat, which is equal to one-fifth 91/5th) of a gram. Carats are divided into 100 units called points. For example, a half-carat gemstone would weigh .50 carats or 50 points. When gemstones are measured by dimensions, the size is expressed in millimeters (for example, 7x5 millimeters).

Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are treated to improve their appearance or durability, or even change their color. Many gemstones are treated in some way. The effects of some treatments may lessen or change over time and some treated stones may require special care. Some enhancements also affect the value of a stone, when measured against a comparable untreated stone.

Jewelers should tell you whether the gemstone you’re considering has been treated when: the treatment is not permanent; the treated stone requires special care; or the treatment significantly affects the value of the gemstone.

Some common treatments that you may be told about and their effects include:

* Heating can lighten, darken or change the color of some gems, or improve a gemstone’s clarity.

* Irradiation can add more color to colored diamonds, certain other gemstones and pearls.

* Impregnating some gems with colorless oils, wax or resins makes a variety of imperfections less visible and can improve the gemstones' clarity and appearance.

* Fracture filling hides cracks or fractures in gems by injecting colorless plastic or glass into the cracks and improves the gemstones' appearance and durability.

* Diffusion treatment adds color to the surface of colorless gems; the center of the stone remains colorless.

* Dyeing adds color and improves color uniformity in some gemstones and pearls.

* Bleaching lightens and whitens dome gems, Including jade and pearls.

In this day and age, gemstones are generally worn for their natural beauty or as a fashion statement, but there are many that "buy-in" to the mythical and mystical symbolisms of gems as well. Whatever a persons reason, the world of gems today offers an almost endless choice. Many new gems have been discovered and are widely available in reds, blues, greens and many unusual shades as well. Enjoy!

For more information or to browse our selection of beautiful jewelry and gemstones besure to visit www.morninglightjewelry.com

Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didn’t know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

A Powerful Suggested Technique for YOUR Home & Property Search

A Powerful Suggested Technique for YOUR Home & Property Search

by Jody Hudson

You can be a pro at buying a home: Whether you are buying your first home or you are an experienced home buyer who owns more than one home, there are some things that can help you get faster results and get more professional and pleasant help from your Realtor.

A home or property purchase is one of the most important and exciting events to experience. Owning a home can help you build equity while reducing your income tax.

Land of any size requires minimal maintenance and is one of the best long term investments, even compared to gold or diamonds. However, along with the low maintenance, there is seldom any income to offset the cost. There are exceptions, mobile home parks, parking lots, and land rental under a shopping center are wonderful investments with relatively low maintenance if any.

Those who own land and property, as opposed to those who rent or lease, are historically considered to have a measure of stability, success and personal merit in addition to the obvious personal financial worth. This is so true that our Founding Fathers, who were dedicated students of all recorded human history, decreed that to be eligible to vote in our country a person must be a freeholder -- that is one who owned property mortgage free. They knew that the most responsible citizens would be the most responsible voters. Few of us would meet that criteria today. A person who held his property debt free, that is with a free and clear title, a Freeholder, was considered to have made good decisions, had good self control and managed his affairs well. Therefore, that person was considered to have obtained a level of maturity and responsibility -- that proved an ability to manage personal affairs and money as well as a priority to think of the future. The person who owned property with no debt, thus had obtained a sufficient ability to be allowed to vote on the management of our government and the public trust.

We are a nation of home and property owners more than any other nation on earth. However, most of us have a mortgage these days. If you, like most of us, need a mortgage on your new property, we hope you will find value in this article and that it will help you understand the advantage of planning your mortgage as a prerequisite to your purchase of a home. Having completed the mortgage acquisition step, a Realtor can help you organize your home search, as you begin browsing through the housing market.

Determining what features you want in your ideal or dream house and what payments you can afford are the important first steps. We ask that you consider the entire cost of home ownership, that is a total of the principle and interest payment, taxes, insurance and maintenance. Most folks are aware of the first four P.I.T.I. or Principle, Interest, Taxes and Insurance. There is another cost of home ownership that is not often figured in. It is property maintenance.

Maintenance is usually about 5% of the value of the improvements per year, if the average is taken over a long period of time, such as forty years. Many people think that 5% is too high a figure and prefer to use 2-3% instead. Whichever you use, make sure you figure in the cost of maintenance or you will end up not easily able to afford the upkeep on your property. This is very important to realize whether you are buying a new home or an older one. And, the older home will usually have a lot of deferred maintenance -- that is things that should have been done and haven't been!

If, for example, you purchase a home and lot where the vacant lot would sell for $50,000, and the home could be replaced for $250,000 and the landscaping value is $20,000 -- a rule of thumb is that you should figure $12,000 per year in maintenance of the home and another thousand in the maintenance of the grounds. We see properties all the time where the improvements have what is known as deferred maintenance. That work that should have been done and hasn't been, soon will need to be done. Deferred maintenance, maintenance not done that should have been done, is subtracted from the value of a home by those in the market, even if it is subconsciously done.

Home maintenance includes painting, caulking, re-carpeting, floor sanding refinishing, re-roofing every 15 to 50 years, depending on the composition of the roof and even replacing of windows, trim and siding. Outside there are sidewalks, the driveway, out buildings, decks, mulching, shrubbery maintenance, fertilizing, reseeding and replanting and of course the regular cutting and similar lawn care expenses. The reason we bring all this up about maintenance is that we hope you figure in the cost of it in addition to your home cost. If maintenance is not figured in you will end up with a mortgage plus maintenance cost or have to borrow more money to do the work that is needed, and that makes it more difficult to afford your new home.

It is important to figure in all the appropriate costs, expenses and other pertinent things, and to get a mortgage that you are able and willing to afford. It is important to your Realtor too. Some Realtors, in order to conserve their time and have more available for serious buyers, require that a person or couple be pre-qualified for the price range in which they seek to purchase a property first, before they begin to show properties. This is a good idea for the buyer as well as the Realtor and some sellers even ask us to NOT bring any prospective purchasers, unless they are financially prequalified -- in writing!

Mortgage brokers will gladly pull your credit report and get you a letter of pre-qualification or even a loan commitment letter for the amount you need to purchase a home. If you have a written loan commitment in hand when you first contact a Realtor, you will get considerably more and better attention.

One of the most difficult situations for a Realtor is that some percentage of the prospective purchasers that come to see properties for sale are not able to purchase those properties. Roughly 95% of a Realtor's time is preparation, paper work, promotion, marketing, web site modification and maintenance as well as maintaining contact with our most qualified buyers and sellers. When we spend two or three hours with a prospective purchaser, and it's usually far more, we are taking away from all the other things we are responsible to do for our other buyers and for our sellers. That time has to be made up.

For properties under $200,000 perhaps half of the folks that come to see us for a home are not able to buy the one they want to see. For properties under $100,000 about 75% of the folks who ask us to see properties are not able to purchase those properties. And, for those folks who come into our offices or call us regarding properties under $100,000 the percentage who can't purchase what they want is greater and greater as the price goes down.

Interestingly enough, a fairly high percentage of those who seek a property over a million dollars are qualified to purchase those properties without the help of our mortgage broker. Either they have their own banker, or they are able to obtain the funds on their own from other investments, or perhaps they even have a liquid assets account such as a money market account.

If you wish to be a shining light, and of greatest interest to your chosen Realtor, you are well advised to seek a mortgage broker or mortgage banker first and get a response in writing to bring with you. Your mortgage banker will probably ask for copies of prior years' tax returns. If you have copies of your credit reports, tax returns, lists of assets and all liabilities, and your bank statements are organized, you're ready to start exploring the housing market and shopping for a mortgage.

By the way, as I write this, our in-house Mortgage Broker or another lender of our choice, is able to give you a better rate and better terms than any other mortgage banker or broker in the market. Whether you use us as your Realtor or not, and if you are planning to purchase in our area we hope you will use us; you will get the utmost attention from your Realtor when you show up with a loan commitment!

Now SHOP! And, have fun!

Copyright 2004 by Jody Hudson www.JodyHudson.com

Read many more informative articles http://www.kate-jody.com/essays/index.html and about the hot real estate market in Rehoboth Beach Delaware at www.Kate-Jody.com

Jody Hudson has been a Realtor since 1972 and in the real estate business as a member of a family real estate business even before that.

The How-Tos When Shopping For a Diamond Online

One of the most frequently asked questions by visitors to my site is "Is it safe to buy a diamond online?"

My answer is unequivocally YES!

We're all getting much more comfortable these days with the ease and security which the majority of Internet sites provide when shopping for whatever we fancy online, so why not diamonds?

Shopping for a diamond is like shopping for a car. You wouldn't buy a car without knowing what specifications you were looking for, and what your budget allows, would you? It's the same with diamonds. Learn as much as you can about the all-important 4Cs before you go shopping for a diamond, whether shopping online or offline.

I recommend you start with the Diamond Buying Guide on my website.

And just like car salespeople, there are the quality diamond websites and the (ahem!) "less than quality" websites.

My favorites are www.bluenile.com and www.mondera.com. They are both extremely high quality online jewelry retailers and both offer amazing value for money.

Bluenile.com is the largest retailer of certified diamonds on the Internet and has been voted Forbes Magazine's "Favorite Online Jeweler" for the past five years.

Its powerful diamond search tool lets you search through over 50,000 diamonds for shape, color, size, carat, clarity and price, and all their diamonds come with a GIA or AGS grading report - your guarantee you are getting what you paid for.

Mondera.com is an equally high-quality site. Mondera features a diamond search tool where you can choose your diamond by size, clarity, color, cut and value and the GIA or AGS report is available when you purchase.

Mondera also offers a great diamond education center, where you can learn everything you need to know about purchasing diamonds beforehand.

Both Bluenile and Mondera offer same day FedEx shipping for in stock diamonds, and a 30-day money back guarantee.

I've never had a negative testimonial from visitors to either site, and the majority of happy customers tell me that they saved as much as 30% to 50% on normal retail prices.

And if great value and great service isn't enough, think about what a breeze it is to shop for your diamond online. You don't have to leave home, traipsing from store to store, looking for carparking and being hassled by over-zealous staff.

So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable in front of your computer, and start shopping!

Alex Miller has been involved in the jewelry industry for more years than she cares to remember! She lists her passions as "diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds" and has turned her passion into an informative website. You can find more great articles about diamonds, engagement rings, bridal jewelry, honeymoons and more at http://www.Engagement-Rings-Guide.com The place to go BEFORE you shop for jewelry online.

Diamond Flashes

Beyond magnificence and splendor, the world of diamonds evolves on stirred grounds. When the stake is so important, interests collide. But technology develops following its onward course. Here are some interesting off-stage events in the diamond industry and innovations in technology.

De Beers sued by head of the Diamond Bourse

Derek Parsons, the president of the Diamond Bourse of the Southeast United States has filed a lawsuit against De Beers, on the charge of the company's disregard of American competition law. Their Supplier of Choice policy puts the American dealers at a disadvantage.
The suit was not launched on behalf of the Miami bourse but on behalf of diamond dealers in America, condemning the criteria on which De Beers makes the sales – they would sell only to their sightholders, discouraging the non-sightholders and keeping prices artificially high at a non-competitive level.

Diamond mining expands

De Beers holds control of only 50% of the roughs market

Diamond rising prices have stimulated the exploration and mining in more countries such as Canada, Russia, Angola, India, Brazil. Nevertheless, about 40% of diamonds still come from Botswana and South Africa. De Beers' control on the rough diamond market was declared to have decreased from 70% to about 50%.

Canada, Russia and West and Central Africa are considered by specialists an important potential diamond source. India and Brazil are prospected by geologists also due to the fact that they are known to have been a diamond source in the past.

The largest diamond reserve of Africa lives in extreme poverty

Although the fourth largest producer in the world by value and the holder of the largest diamond reserves in Africa. Angola's per capita gross national income GNI is estimated at $650 per annum. People' s main means of subsistence is agriculture.

The diamond sector has been seriously affected by the long war and by gem smuggling. Yet it still represents a very important potential driver of economic development. Since 2002, when the conflict between the government and the UNITA rebel movement ended, developing the sector has become a national priority and the government has already made changes to the diamond sector regulations. Serious redevelopment and investment is needed in this area. At present, artisanal mining operates in Angola and it brings very little economic benefit to local communities.

Increasing conflict in Russia between diamond cutters and miners

The Russian company Alrosa is the largest diamond miner in the world outside De Beers. Diamond cutters accuse Alrosa of favoring exports and providing larger stones for the foreign market and offering only small-sized diamonds to the internal market. On the other hand, Alrosa says that cutters cannot be allowed to pick the assortment of size they want.
The result is that Russian cutters are buying million dollars in rough stones from South Africa each month. Russian manufacturers had a production of $1.1 billion in 2003, and Alrosa is estimated to produce around $2 billion worth rough diamonds this year.

Find-diamonds computer program

Partition Enterprises has been working together with the De Beers company and the University of Queensland to develop a program that calibrates the density separator x-ray sorting machines more accurately, thus maximize the diamond yield. Partition will showcase their products at the Electra Mining 2004 Exhibition in Johannesburg.

De Beers sightholders

Sightholder firms have to satisfy various criteria such as a high degree of expertise in valuing rough diamonds, high experience in cutting and polishing. De Beers has 125 sightholders to whom they assure a monthly direct supply of rough diamonds and from whom they collect around $ 600 million. The privilege of being a sightholder company is carefully preserved, as being a sightholder means being „on the cards”, otherwise the supply of diamonds may become dangerously scarce for that company. That is why the offered diamonds will be eventually purchased regardless of their quality – the pack diamonds can be argued on but they are very rarely rejected, as the sightholder cannot afford to lose its status and break the relationship with De Beers Diamond Trading Company, relation that is essential for business.

In Japan, the only company appointed as sightholder is Tasaki.

Innovative complementary grading tool

A new feature will be added in grading reports: the light performance. Although the concept of measuring the light performance of diamonds has been introduced six years ago, this standard of diamond evaluation was never introduced into the grading reports of diamond grading laboratories. GemEx Systems, Inc. of Wisconsin and EGL USA of New York will provide a combined diamond grading report to diamond customers – besides the certification of the 4Cs, its light performance will be measured. The specific section in the report will contain the results of diamond analysis under six different lighting angles.

The GemEx Light Performance Report makes the difference between diamonds with similar 4C characteristics that can differ in brilliance, fire and sparkle. The analysis is the result of a patented spectrophotometer technology based on the computerized BrillianceScope that measures diamonds’ brilliance, fire and sparkle, providing a powerful tool for the cutting, sales, buying and marketing of fine diamonds.

Laura Ciocan writes for http://www.loveanddiamonds.com/ where you can find more information about diamond engagement rings

Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared. lauracio@gmail.com

How To Choose Diamond Stud Earrings

Diamond beauty versus cost: What is the best combination?
Better quality diamonds are more brilliant and beautiful, but they command higher prices as well. This article explains how to find the best value in diamond stud earrings: the brightest diamond for the lowest cost.

For those who can afford it, we recommend an excellent cut diamond of G-H color and "eye-clean" clarity. This is a moderately priced diamond, but earrings of this quality will produce the same dazzling shower of light as those costing thousands of dollars more.

There are three simple reasons: first, it is the excellent cut that breathes life and sparkle into a diamond. Second, most experts agree that a G-H color appears colorless when mounted, so spending more for D-E-F color diamonds isn't necessary. Third,a diamond of SI2 clarity is "eye-clean", meaning it has no flaws visible to the naked eye, but costs a lot less than the higher clarity grades.

Excellent bargains with only a slight compromise in beauty can be found in the I1 Clarity range as well, as long as the cut is good and the color is in the G-H range.

For those who are on a budget, don't feel embarrassed to buy diamonds of a lower quality. All diamond earrings sparkle when they are worn on a woman's ear, and let's face it: for the same price, many women would rather wear 1 carat studs of a lower quality than 1/2 carat studs of a higher quality.

Fast Fact: there are many good websites to purchase diamond stud earrings. Our top recommendation, however goes to a specialty site www.diamondstudsonly.com. They sell the same color, clarity and cut grades for about 25% less than the typical "sale" price in a retail jewelry store (and other internet stores), and they back it up with a price comparison tool that allows you to view prices for earrings of the same quality on many other major internet jewelry sites. You will also have the security of their free insurance against loss of any kind for a full year.

Choosing the right Color:
The finest diamonds are colorless, rare and expensive. On the GIA grading scale, D-F are considered colorless, G-I near colorless and any grade J or below shows an increasingly yellowish tinge. Beyond the preference for a whiter stone, however, the color of a diamond does not affect its brightness or sparkle.

Fast Fact: Most experts agree that, when mounted, diamonds in the "G-H" range appear colorless, and represent a much better value than "D-F" stones which command significantly higher prices.

Choosing the right Clarity:
Diamonds with fewer flaws (inclusions) are rare and therefore more highly prized. In many cases, these flaws don't detract from the beauty of the diamond because they are invisible to the naked eye.

Fast Fact: Any grade "SI2" or above has inclusions that are "eye clean", not visible to the naked eye. An "I1" grade can be an excellent value, particularly if the inclusion is on the outer edge. "I2" grades can still exhibit a fair degree of fire and light. "I3" grade diamonds are noticeably more opaque or dark to the naked eye.

Choosing the right Cut:<
More than any other attribute, it is the Cut that makes a diamond brilliant and beautiful. A diamond that is well cut reflects light internally and displays a dazzling shower of light back through the top of the stone.

Fast Fact: When viewing a diamond, look directly into the center: if there are dark facets in the center or a dark ring around the center, or if the diamond appears opaque, it is probably due to poor cut.

Brilliance, Dispersion and Scintillation:
The secret of a diamond that is properly cut is that it returns a measurably greater amount of light, which is displayed as brilliance, dispersion and scintillation. This is the true measure of a diamond's beauty.

Brilliance: The total amount of white light, both external and internal, returned from the diamond to the eye of the observer.
Dispersion: Flashes of color, or fire, particularly when viewing a diamond in strong, direct light.

Scintillation: Reflections and flashes of white light from the diamond's surface as the diamond, observer or light source moves.

Click here to view photos along with the above presentation

Submitted by: Lauren Stomel

Diamonds - These Rocks Will Knock Your Socks Off

Every diamond is unique. It can be white or colored, flawless or flawed, big or small and it takes skill to cut and set each one to show it off at its best and bring out the sparkle that can only be seen in a real diamond. "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" reflect our lasting affection for these stones, traditionally given as a token of undying love.

There are a few diamonds in the world that are so huge and rare that they are almost priceless. Some are even rumored to be cursed. Here are a few of these famous rocks to knock your socks off.

Among the best known is the Hope Diamond. Before being cut, it was a rather flat, blocky 110-carat rough diamond. It is now 45.52 carats, steel blue in color and you can see it on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. There are many legends of bad luck and curses falling on those who own the Hope Diamond. Maybe that's why it was donated to the Smithsonian in 1958.

The Koh-I-Noor (Mountain of Light) is now among the British Crown Jewels. This diamond weighs 105.60 carats. First mentioned in 1304, it is believed to have been once set in Shah Jehan‘s famous peacock throne as one of the peacock's eyes.

The Agra is graded as a naturally colored fancy light pink and weighs 32.34 carats. It was last sold for about $6.9 million in 1990. Since this sale, it has been modified to a cushion shape weighing about 28.15 carats.

The Dresden Green stands out among the natural colored diamonds. It is the largest green diamond in the world weighing 40.70 carats. This diamond is historic, large and has a natural green color with a slight blue overtone. These aspects make it virtually priceless.

The Transvaal Blue is pear cut. This blue diamond weighs 25 carats. It was found in the Premier Diamond Mine in Transvaal , South Africa.

The Great Chrysanthemum was discovered in the summer of 1963, in a South African diamond field. This 198.28-carat fancy brown diamond appeared to be a light honey color in its rough state. However, after cutting, it proved to be a rich golden brown, with overtones of sienna and burnt orange.

The Conde Pink is a pear shaped and weighs 9.01-carats. This pink diamond was once owned by Louis XIII.

The Tiffany Yellow diamond is a beautiful canary-yellow octahedron weighing 287.42 carats in the rough. It was discovered in either 1877 or 1878 in South Africa . After cutting, this gem weighs an extraordinary 128.54 carats and, until recently, was the largest golden-yellow in the world.

The Taylor-Burton diamond is a pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond. Cartier of New York purchased this diamond at an auction in 1969 and christened it "Cartier." The next day Richard Burton bought the diamond for Elizabeth Taylor. He renamed it the "Taylor-Burton”. In 1978, Elizabeth Taylor put the diamond up for sale. Prospective buyers had to pay $2,500 each to view the diamond to cover the costs of showing it. Finally, in June of 1979, the diamond was sold for nearly $3 million.

The author lives in Australia, home of the Argyle mine where rare pink diamonds are found. If you're looking for a special piece of diamond jewelry, you'll find a beautiful selection at http://www.diamonddiscountcenter.com.

The First Real Competition of iPhone - HTC Diamond

The first time HTC released its TouchFlo mobile phone to the public it did not deliver well. But now HTC has made some remodeling to impress us with its second generation.

The HTC Diamond has been beautifully designed. The HTC Diamond may be small but it is packed with a whole new features. As compared to its older brother HTC Diamond is quite taller, thinner and narrower.

Unlike with Samsung F480 there is no problem viewing the HTC Diamond in direct sunlight. Even when you are wearing gloves it is still very responsive. With its VGA resolution it displays crisp images on the screen. The backlight automatically adjusts in different lighting conditions.

The keys situated at the bottom of its screen are used for navigation purposes and the like. The buttons are Back, End, Home and Send and like with other phones it has a middle button or key. You will not be disappointed with the audio quality that HTC Diamond provides because it does not distort at the maximum volume.

The TouchFLO 3D software is breathtaking. Just like the iPhone you can slide the screen to the left or right to reveal more keys. Browsing images is made easy just by flicking it up and down. The Internet does not only launch the browser but it also displays other applications like YouTube for quicker access.

Though it is designed with a glossy black it still leaves fingerprint smudges on the screen. HTC has a pouch the will be able to clean the mobile inside and out but it is not included in the package.

With the TF3D software you still need to open it by tapping the screen. When the mobile phone is opened it takes a bit long around 15 seconds to boot. HTC Diamond really puts a fight with the iPhone because it only has few mistakes but it is not major. The overall functionality, performance and look of the HTC Diamond are really impressive.

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Princess Cut Engagement Ring - What You Need to Know

An engagement is a very special time for most people, and giving the perfect Engagement Ring can really make the occasion extra special. There are many ring types to select from, but for those that want to give something that is extra special Princess Cut Engagement Ring could prove the ideal choice.

Princess Cut Engagement Rings are the most popular in sales because they accentuate a diamonds fire rather than its luster. The top of the diamond is cut in a square shape and the overall shape is similar to a pyramid.

Every diamond regardless of its shape gets it brilliancy and scintillation by cutting and polishing the diamond facets to allow the maximum amount of light that enters through its top to be reflected and dispersed back through its top. A correctly cut, "well made", stone allows light to enter the stone and bounce back out of the top almost like a mirror. As you can see if the angles are correct the light that enters is dispersed properly back through the diamond's top facets.

When a stone is cut too shallow or too deep the light that enters through the top is allowed to escape through the diamond's bottom and does not allow the maximum beauty of the diamond to be realized. If a diamond is cut to wide the light tries to exit the bottom. If the diamond is cut to thin the light exits out of the sides.

The clarity of a diamond is influenced by the amount and location of flaws in the diamond when viewed under 10 power (10x) magnification. Most diamonds contain very tiny blemishes known as "inclusions." An inclusion can interfere with the light passing through the diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the more beautiful the diamond will be. Similar to scratches on the face of your watch

A Princess Cut Diamond Engagement Ring is just one of many different cuts that have been developed in order to best utilize a diamond gemstone's superlative material properties. A diamond cut constitutes a more or less symmetrical arrangement of facets which together modify the shape and appearance of a diamond crystal. Diamond cutters must consider several factors, such as the shape and size of the crystal, when choosing a cut.

The princess cut is sometimes referred to as a "square modified brilliant," as it combines the brilliance of a round cut with an overall square or rectangular appearance. A princess cut engagement ring does sacrifice some brilliance in order to have its unique square shape.

The beauty and classic elegance of this type of Engagement Jewelry will thrill the recipient. You can make her feel like a celebrity when you present one of the fabulous princess cut engagement rings available today. She will be thrilled to show off the ring at your engagement party or celebration, and you will be able to rest easy that you have presented her with a beautiful ring that she will treasure for years to come.

Dan Batizky

http://princesscutengagementring.zoxic.com/

What Are The Meanings For Different Color Diamonds

On the day your handsome prince pops that all important question, it is the beginning of one of the most exciting and romantic periods in your life. The engagement ring he presents to you will be one you wear for many years to come, and you may want something different than the conventional crystal, clear colored diamond. There are diamonds of different hues and each one has a sentiment for giving behind it.

Pink Diamonds for a Creative Lady

If you are a creative and artistic type of person, wearing a pink diamond is a reflection of that aspect of your personality. Of course, you may only get a pink diamond if money is no object. A pink diamond is one of the rarest types in the world and those who purchase them have plenty of money to spend on this valued prize.

Yellow Diamonds for the Selfless Bride

If your fiancé thinks you are one of the most thoughtful and considerate people he knows, he may want to show his appreciation for those qualities by presenting you with a yellow diamond. The yellow diamond celebrates the sweetness of the bride's personality as well as her willingness to come to the aid of others.

Blue Diamonds for Peace and Good Health

It is said that the groom who purchases a blue diamond for his soon to be bride will be promoting serenity and calm in all of their communication. This may be a lucky charm that keeps you from having a fight that may send you home, crying to your mother. The blue diamond also represents good health for the blushing bride to be.

The Bold and Beautiful Red Diamond

If the groom looks on his future bride as a source of strength and stability, he may consider purchasing an engagement ring that is a beautiful shade of red. It is thought that a red diamond is also a tool to relieve stress, so it can help your emotional and mental health once you begin your journey of life together.

Deciding what color and style of engagement ring may be a daunting task for many prospective grooms. You can drop hints by pointing out the styles and designs you like for an engagement ring. When your groom uses color to make a statement of his love for his new bride, it shows that he too is kind and considerate and is dedicated to showing his new wife just how much she means to him.

If you need some wedding favors such as beach wedding favors, silver wedding favors, coaster favors and more we got you covered.

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Don't forget the ladies either purchase them some nice bridesmaid gifts they'll love.

Facts About Champagne Diamonds

The majority of the Champagne color diamonds are found in the Ragged Ranges in the Kimberley region of Australia. In this remote corner of north west Australia is the largest diamond mine in the world the called Argyle Diamond Mine. Diamonds were discovered here in October of 1979.

Since Argyle Diamond Mine was officially opened in 1985 it has produced over 600 million carats of diamonds. By volume this mine is the largest producing diamond mine in the world but only about 5 percent of the stones produced are considered gem-quality. Other diamond mines usually have about 20 percent considered gem-quality.

There are three primary causes of color variations in diamonds. The first is some type of foreign element was trapped inside the diamond. Nitrogen is the most common element and is responsible for yellow or orange coloration. If boron is responsible then the diamond will be a blue color. The second cause of color variations in diamonds is Natural Radiation and it will cause a green color. These are all considered type I diamonds.

Type II diamonds have very few if any nitrogen impurities in them. They get their coloration due to structural anomalies caused by Plastic Deformation during the crystal growth. The intense pressure changes the lattice structure of diamonds and has led to the formation of Red, Pink, Brown, and Champagne colored diamonds.

The Type II diamonds are rare and constitute less than 2 percent of the gem-quality diamonds available. Most of Australians production of diamonds are of the Type II verity and are usually a steely blue or grey due to scattered boron within the crystal matrix.

Argyle Diamond Mine produces over 95 percent of the Champagne colored diamonds and they have developed a color grading scale that is used by the majority of the gemologists today. Champagne diamonds range from light straw color to deep rich cognac color.

Argyle color grading scale for Champagne Diamonds:

C1 - C2 = Light Champagne -

C3 - C4 = Medium champagne -

C5 - C6 = Dark Champagne -

C7 = Fancy Cognac

The Earth Star

First found in the Jagersfontein Mine in May 1967 and the rough gem was 248.9 carats. It was cut into a pear-shaped and weighted 111.59 carats and is considered one of the largest pear shape cognac colored diamonds in the world. It was purchased by Stephen Zbova, of Naples, Florida in 1983 for $900,00.

The Golden Jubilee

This diamond is currently considered as the largest faceted diamond in the whole world. Also known as the fire rose cut diamond, this diamond has a unique fancy yellow-brown color that made it one of the most beautiful pieces of stone ever unearthed.

David Cowley has created numerous articles on Diamonds. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to Diamonds. Visit Diamonds

Selecting The Perfect Diamond Wedding Ring

Kings in the 15th century wore diamonds in order to symbolize courage, invincibility and strength. But as time passed by, diamonds became popular as the symbol of love and admiration. It is said that the arrows of cupid were also tipped with diamonds and the magic could not be compared with anything else. Even today this gemstone is associated with legend and romance. When it comes to weddings, diamond rings are very much in demand because they not only look beautiful, but classic as well. It is very important that you choose the right diamond wedding ring.

There is a wide variety of cuts, shape and colors available and if you want to pick the right one for your partner then you will have to keep a few things in mind. Since a wedding ring will be worn for many years, choose a style that is timeless yet classic. Always keep in mind that a wedding ring is a sign of your love and feelings for your partner so try and buy something that is beautiful, durable and unique. The design should compliment the look and personality of your partner, but at the end of the day whichever design you choose, the diamond will be the main attraction in it. So choosing the right wedding ring has got a lot to do with the right diamond.

Diamond characteristics:

There is a lot of variation in the quality and price in diamonds. The size is not the only factor that decides the price of this gem. There are five characteristics that determine the price of a diamond:

Color

Weight in carats

Clarity

Shape of the diamond

Cut

The weight of your diamond wedding ring:

Many people are of the view that the more carat the better. Diamonds that are large in size are considered to rare and of more value. However, if your budget does not allow you to buy a large diamond then it is better to look at other options because you will find beauty and charm in a small diamond also.

Color of the diamond:

Even though you will mostly find clear or colorless white diamonds, other color variations are also available in the market. There are some stones that give a SOILED look. The cost of clear stones is more. Letters indicate the color of your diamond. D stands for the color of the rarest diamonds, totally colorless. This is considered to be on top of the color grade and you will hardly find such stones at an ordinary jewelry shop. Next is the E grade which is also called colorless. F is another grade that is less clear than E and most affordable in an engagement or wedding ring. Even G and H have a good market value.

Diamond clarity:

Clarity and color of a diamond are related. There is no diamond that is absolutely clear and the ones that are close to perfect, cost a bomb. When light passes through such diamonds, they look exceptionally beautiful.

Cut of a diamond:

The cut can affect the look of your wedding ring. The proportion of the diamond is the cut and it needs to be good in order to make the jewelry look stunning.

Diamond shape:

Round and the princess shape is the most popular diamond shape, but other varieties are also available. No matter which shape you buy make sure that it reflects a lot of love.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about jewelry and diamonds including diamond wedding rings. When looking for jewelry, we recommend you shop only at the best online jewelry stores for diamond gems, loose diamonds, diamond rings, fashion jewelry, fashion earrings, fashion pendants, engagement rings, wedding rings, and wedding bands.

Properties and Significance of a Diamond

Diamond is the hardest natural material. The Mohs hardness scale, on which diamond is a '102 and corundum (sapphire) is a '92, doesn't adequately attest to this incredible hardness, as diamond is exponentially harder than corundum. Diamond is also the least compressible and stiffest substance. It is an exceptional thermal conductor - 4 times better than copper - which gives significance to diamonds being called 'ice'.

Diamond has an extremely low thermal expansion, is chemically inert with respect to most acids and alkalis, is transparent from the far infrared through the deep ultraviolet, and is one of only a few materials with a negative work function (electron affinity). One consequence of the negative electron affinity is that diamonds repel water, but readily accept hydrocarbons such as wax or grease. Diamonds do not conduct electricity well, although some are semiconductors.

Diamond can burn if subjected to a high temperature in the presence of oxygen. Diamond has a high specific gravity; it is amazingly dense given the low atomic weight of carbon. The brilliance and fire of a diamond are due to its high dispersion and high refractive index. Diamond has the highest reflectance and index of refraction of any transparent substances. Diamond gemstones are commonly clear or pale blue, but colored diamonds, called 'fancies', have been found in all the colors of the rainbow.

Think of a circle. It has no beginning or end. Think of a knot tied around your finger. It binds and reminds. And so it is with a ring. It reminds you of an eternal binding commitment to a lover, spouse, friend, school, church, club, or country.

The commitment to marry a woman is usually expressed by placing a ring on her fourth finger. This custom might have originated with the Egyptians. They believed a special vein or nerve ran from that finger to the heart.

Another explanation for the custom is that it may have been a suggestion to women that they should be submissive to their future husbands since the fourth finger is the weakest one and can't be used independently. A third explanation is that placing the ring on the fourth finger may have been a way to avoid damaging the ring since it is the best-protected finger.

Diamonds were probably first added to wedding and engagement rings in the 15th century.

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You Can Afford A Nice Engagement Ring

Okay -- You've found "The One" and you are ready to tie the knot. It's time to get an engagement ring, a purchase that the jewelry companies make fraught with tension. Some of their ads say you are supposed to spend two months' salary on a ring. So, should you?

The answer is: not necessarily. While two months' salary can get you a nice ring, in today's economy it is not always practical. Relax, you can still get a lovely engagement ring and not have to break the budget. Don't worry, an affordable ring won't turn your finger green and can be a lovely heirloom to pass on to your children.

Make sure you go to a reputable jeweler. They can be found in local shopping centers, on line or in the phone book. Looking online first can help you get an idea what rings are available and give you an idea of prices so you don't waste time.

Of course, the bulk of the price of an engagement ring is in the diamond. You may have heard of the four Cs of diamond appraisals. These 4 Cs determine how expensive your ring will be.

Cut is the first C. The better the cut, the higher the diamond is rated. A good cut will give the diamond its sparkle.

Clarity is the second C. The clearer a diamond is, the higher the diamond is rated. Clarity comes from the amount that carbon is pressurized within the stone. The less carbon, the clearer the diamond will be.

Color is the third C. You may be surprised to know that all diamonds have color, usually a yellowish tint. Some diamond color may not be seen by the naked eye. The more purely white a diamond is, the higher it is rated.

Carat is the fourth C. Carat is the measure of a diamond's weight. Of course, the more carats, the more highly a diamond is rated.

To get a more affordable ring, decide which of these Cs are less important to you. For example, a smaller diamond that is more perfect in other respects may be acceptable to you, while another couple wants a big stone and not care how yellow it may be. Another option is to go for a smaller, simpler setting to enhance the beauty of the diamond.

If you have something specifically in mind, many jewelers have designers on staff that may be able to help you create a perfect ring within your budget. For example, if you have Grandma's engagement ring but just do not care for the setting, a jewelry design may be able to incorporate the stone into a ring that suits you.

It is also possible to not have a diamond engagement ring at all. After all, it is your relationship. You and your intended are unique. Your ring can be unique too. Whatever you choose, make sure it is a ring that celebrates your love for each other.

Focusing recent findings in engagement verses, he wrote almost entirely for http://www.engagement-rings-tips.com With his detailed publications, the author expressed his skill on areas associated to engagement poem and engagement verses.

Diamond Rings Through the Years

Despite antique designs of diamond rings in the market that copy those that were created in the regency and Victorian period, the diamond ring did not really boom until a decade before the start of the 20th century. This is perhaps because only a few can actually afford to buy diamond rings for themselves. This rare gemstone is only reserved to the affluent especially to the members of the royal class.

But because of modern technology and the boom of diamond mining in India and in several parts of the world, supplies of diamond surged upwards, making this gem affordable to the middle class. Because of this, diamonds became very popular especially to women who still see it as a sign of wealth and class.

Discoveries of new mining fields in South America and South Africa, have also increased the world supply making it more accessible to the public. With such steady supply, jewelry makers are now able to make more designs that the masses can afford.

Although diamonds are placed in virtually every kind of jewelry, from necklaces to bracelets to earrings, it is the diamond ring that captures the imagination of most people. In fact, it has become through the years the symbol of eternal love between two people and has become one of the essentials in engagements and weddings.

Diamond rings are preferred during wedding ceremonies. People get excited more when seeing a diamond engagement ring compared to rings that use other gemstones. In fact, diamonds are even the favorites even after the wedding, bought as gifts for anniversaries and other special occasions.

Diamond rings can be made in different settings, gold, platinum, silver and titanium. Unlike other gemstones, whose color may clash for instance with some shades of gold, the diamond with its pure white color will look good with any setting. Perhaps one of the most engaging properties of the diamond is the fact that it symbolizes this innate purity in its color and brilliance.

Diamonds come in all sort of shapes and cuts. This is often one of the properties that people look for in their diamond rings. Diamonds are naturally found in oval or round shapes. Jewelers however cut them in different shapes and depending on the designs. Among the varieties of cuts that people have enjoyed through the years are the pear, the heart, the marquise, the emerald and the princess cut.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Diamond Rings, please visit http://diamond-ring.articlekeep.com

What Is Diamond Clarity?

The clarity of a diamond is perhaps one of its most valuable selling points in the eye of the consumer. A diamond, that has flash and fire, will stand out even above others that are far larger.

That's because diamonds are basically prisms, which capture light and reflect it back and forth, before it leaves the stone. If you had two similar stones and were wondering which of them was the diamond, you could put a tiny light behind each one and see how the light passed through it. If you basically got the beam of light coming out the other side, the stone is not genuine. A diamond refracts the light so many times, that it would only emerge from the other side as a soft glow.

Clarity is considered to be how "clean" the diamond is. Diamonds can have minor inclusions, which are miniscule amounts of gas, liquid, and even minerals, all of which cause an interruption in the flow of light through a stone. Inclusions can be so small, they go unseen by the naked eye. Others may not be visible, especially in small stones, but if they are of the right type, or there are several of them, their presence will disrupt the passage of light to the point where the stone is dull, or looks cloudy.

Some of the finest diamonds in the world have an inclusion of one kind or another, but it does not detract from the overall quality, when considered together with the cut, color and carats.

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Tips for Choosing the Perfect Piece of Diamond Jewelry

Diamonds are a gemstone which appears in many different pieces of jewelry. Perhaps it is due to their sheer brilliance or popularity in general which prompts many jewelry designers to use diamonds as the focal point of their products. Although one does not necessarily have to be an expert on gemstones such as diamonds in order to purchase a nice item, it certainly helps to take some tips into consideration when shopping for that perfect piece of diamond jewelry.

Know the 4 C's

Before embarking on your diamond shopping adventures, it might be wise to read up a little on something known as the 4 C's. The 4 C's stands for cut, color, clarity and carat with regard to the diamond gemstone. It is important to know what to look for within each category so that the diamond which is chosen is the best possible one for your needs. Each of these categories has a scale pertaining to them and it is a way to judge the overall quality of the diamond which one is purchasing.

Consider a Desired Price Range

Diamonds can range in price from relatively affordable to exorbitant in amount. Whether one can afford a certain stone depends on their current financial situation. It is important to have a budget in mind prior to starting the search for that perfect piece of diamond jewelry. Doing so will allow the buyer to determine what quality of stone they can obtain for the price they wish to pay for it. Having a set number in mind will help the purchaser to choose the perfect piece of diamond jewelry and still maintain a budget while doing so.

Keep An Open Mind With Regard to Style

One who is shopping for a diamond jewelry selection should keep an open mind with regard to style when doing so. There are many different shapes and styles of diamonds and diamond jewelry to choose from when making this type of purchase. It is also often the case that the buyer doesn't really know how the piece of diamond jewelry will look until they try it on. One style of diamond jewelry which may not appeal to an individual while in the case may look radiant on the prospective purchaser when they try it on. Therefore, if one is buying their diamond jewelry item in a store setting, trying on various pieces and keeping an open mind with regard to style will often equate with the best possible purchase.

Shop Around

Lastly, for those who wish to pick the best piece of diamond jewelry possible, shopping around for a while prior to making this serious purchase will often yield the best results. By browsing various stores, online vendors and diamond selections, the buyer can make an informed decision when it comes time to choose the final diamond selection and know that the one which they have chosen is the right one for them.

James Greene is a Graduate Gemologist and Master Gemologist Appraiser. James has been in the diamond, jewelry, and appraisal business for over 25 years and specializes in Insurance and estate appraisals. http://www.diamondmarketwatch.com

Tell Me About the Hope Diamond

The diamond that is known today as the Hope Diamond was discovered in India. To the naked eye the Hope diamond appears to be bright blue. It is the world's largest blue diamond. Around 1660 a Frenchman named Jean-Baptiste Tavernier purchased it and sold the 115 carat diamond to French royalty. The diamond was cut to 67 1/8 carats and named the "French Blue". Today the Hope Diamond takes it residence in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in the Washington DC region of the United States of America. From its introduction into European history to its current resting place the Hope Diamond has been associated with much myth, mystery and legend.

The legend stems from a story that says Jean-Baptiste Tavernier stole the diamond from the eye of a idol in India. The myth is that when one of the idol's eyes was discovered missing the priests placed a curse upon whoever possesses the diamond. The mystery is that some of the possessors of this diamond actually have had unfortunate things happen to them.

Some of the early owners of this diamond were very misfortunate. However, because of their lifestyles it would be hard to say that their misfortune was due to possessing the diamond. For example: King Louis the sixteenth gave the diamond to Queen Marie Antoinette. They were both beheaded near the end of the French revolution (1789 - 1792). In 1792, Cadet Guillot helped to steal the diamond from the French crown jewels. He ended up deep in debt and tried to sell the diamond in London where he was imprisoned for his actions.

The whereabouts of the diamond after 1793 is undeterminable. In 1812 it is documented that a diamond resembling the French Blue was in the possession of Daniel Eliason, a London diamond merchant. It is commonly believed that the diamond was acquired by King George IV of England and in 1830 the diamond was sold to pay off his debts.

By 1839, England's Henry Phillip Hope, for whom the diamond is named, was the recorded owner. There is no record of any misfortune happening to him. However, his family fought over the diamond after his death. It stayed in the Hope family until 1901 when it was sold to settle gambling debts.

During the next few years, the Hope Diamond changed hands several times. And several documented suicides and murders occurred in the life of the owners during this period. In 1910, Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean from the Washington DC region of the USA purchased the Hope Diamond from Pierre Cartier of Paris. It is believed that Cartier or one of his salespersons made up the legend of the curse in order to intrigue Mrs. McLean into buying the diamond. Mrs. McLean often wore the diamond at social functions. She was somewhat eccentric and would at times have her great Dane wear it on his dog collar. Some believe that the several misfortunate events in Mrs. McLean's life were confirmation of the legendary curse on the Hope Diamond. The diamond remained in her ownership until her death in 1947.

In 1949 Harry Winston, Inc of New York city, purchased Mrs. McLean's jewelry from her estate. Over the next 10 years, Harry Winston, Inc. placed the Hope Diamond on exhibition world wide. On November 10, 1958 Harry Winston, Inc. donated the Hope diamond to the Smithsonian Institution. The Hope Diamond remains with the Smithsonian until today. There have been no misfortunate events due to the Museum's ownership of the Hope Diamond.

The Hope Diamond's statistics are as follows:

WEIGHT: 45.52 carats

DIMENSIONS: Length 25.60 mm

WIDTH: 21.78 mm

DEPTH: 12.00 mm

CUT: Cushion antique brilliant with a faceted girdle and extra facets on the pavilion.

CLARITY: VS1. Whitish graining is present.

COLOR: Fancy dark grayish-blue

COST: Estimation unverifiable

(c) KNG Enterprises, Inc. 2008

KNG Enterprises, Inc. is an ecommerce business. The "Company's" sales vehicles are websites, each designed to promote and sale one specific product category (niche). The Jewelry Store Gate's niche is diamond jewelry. There you can find Diamond solitaire engagement rings, Three stone diamond pendants, and Diamond stud earrings. We also have a huge selection of GIA and EGL certified loose diamonds. So, whether you are looking for a "D" colorless, "FL" flawless, sparkling cut, large loose diamond or a very beautiful loose diamond that fits into your budget, WE HAVE QUALITY DIAMONDS for YOU!!! We will even help you pick out your setting. You are welcome to visit us at http://www.TheJewelryStoreGate.com

Buying A Diamond Ring That Fits You

Buying a diamond ring seems to be pretty simple but it’s actually not. In addition to the designs, you also have to take into account a variety of things that will determine the cost of the piece of jewelry.
Below are some of the factors that you have to consider in buying a diamond ring that will really fit you.

1. Clarity

Clarity refers to the clearness of the stone. This means that the stone must not be hazy in appearance. When seen under the lens, there should be no flaws or imperfections in the form of spots. This is important as the number of flaws will determine the level that the diamond will be in. The higher the clarity, the more expensive the diamond will be.

2. Color

Although diamonds are basically clear in its color, colorless in short, there are some that carry shades of yellow. This is because of the way the diamond developed in the mining field. Because of this, diamonds are classified according to the color shades. The colorless ones are the costly ones while those with yellow shades are less expensive.

3. Cut

Although this is actually not so much a determinant of price, people still include this in their list of considerations because this will determine the brilliance of the diamond. The cut does not only refer to the shape of the stone but also to the number of cuts that make up its facets. The princess cut for instance can have as much as 57 facets. Other kinds of cuts are the marquise, the emerald, the pear, the oval and the round.

4. Carat

The carat, as most know, refers to the weight of the diamond. The bigger and heavier the diamond is, the more expensive it is. Stores will have a calculation of how heavy the individuals stones and also a calculation of the total weight. If there are colored stones like sapphires, rubies and emeralds, it is also good to ask for their equivalent weight.

5. Setting

In buying a diamond ring, you also have to choose the kind of setting that you want. There are actually a lot of metals that you can choose from. There is the gold, both white and yellow, that is still the choice of most people. There is also the titanium, the silver and the platinum, which is fast becoming a popular commodity in the country when it comes to rings.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy and may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more info on Diamond Ring, please visit http://diamond-ring.articlekeep.com

Famous Diamonds Of The World

Diamonds are the most precious thing in this world. The cost of the diamond is very expensive. The "sparkle" of the diamonds makes it more admirable and wanted by all. They can be extracted from the earth. Carbon has to be exposed under high pressure and temperature for a stipulated time to form diamonds. They are usually formed under 90 miles below from the earth with 5 Giga-pascal pressure and temperature up to 1200 degrees.

Diamonds have named according to the type of carbon found in diamonds. Recently extracted diamonds from the earth, has predicted that it have to be taken approximately 1 to 3.3 billion years to form. This article provides information about the world famous 12 diamonds and they are listed as:

• Mountain of Light

"Kohinoor" is a one of the world famous diamonds which is known by the title of "mountain of lights". The actual weight of this stone was 186 carats. It has oval shape. There is a belief that it has been fixed in the eye of the peacock throne of Saharan. Now it has kept among the British Crown Jewels with the weight as 108.93 carats.

• The Cullian

It is one of the largest diamonds. It is found with the weight of 3106 carats. It was very rough and it had a weight as one and half pound originally. It had cut into 96 small stones and 9 big stones.

• The Star of Africa

It is a large piece of stone from the Cullian diamond which weighs 530.20 carats. It has 74 facets and it has been the largest stone in the world.

• The Excelsior

It has a second largest stone in this diamond. It was rough with the weight as 995.2 carats.

• The Great Mogul

This diamond was found in the 17 th century which weighed 793 carats.

• The Orloff

It may have weighed 300 carats at the time of its discovery. It is kept in the Diamond Treasury of the former Soviet Union in Moscow.

• The Idol's Eye

The size of this diamond is like a bantam's egg. It weighs 70.20 carats. Before this diamond was stolen, it was kept once in the eye of an idol.

• The Regent

It is a unique historic diamond and it was found in 1701. An Indian slave discovered it near Golconda. It weighed 410 carats and it was rough. This diamond was owned once by William Pitt, the English Prime Minister. Later on it was renamed "The Regent".

• The Blue Hope

This was owned by Louis-XIV. This diamond is designed as "the blue diamond of the crown" officially. It is kept in Washington.

• The Sancy
This diamond weighted 55 carats with a pear shape. The first owner of this diamond was Charles, Duke of Burgundy.

• Taylor-Burton

It was also a pear shaped diamond weighs 69.42 carat. It was first sold in an auction during the year 1969. Later on it was sold for around 3 million dollars.

• Hortensia

This diamond was a part of a French Crown Jewels until Louis-XIV bought it. It is a peach coloured stone with 20 carats.

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