The History of Diamonds and Their Use in Jewellery
Diamonds have a mystique about them that goes back around 3000 years following their discovery in India.
Their brilliance and durability combined with myths of their magical qualities make them not only attractive, but serve as the ultimate status symbol.
The mythic history of diamonds is part of the reason they are so coveted today.
Early Uses and Myths Diamonds have been used in various forms since they were first discovered.
The earliest diamonds were used in battle as a form of talismanic protection.
It was believed that even to have one concealed inside a jacket or tunic during battle would imbue the wearer with the qualities of the stone, virtue and courage and victory would be theirs.
This may stem from the meaning of the word "diamond" as it comes from the Greek adamas, meaning "unconquerable.
" During the Dark and Middle Ages, diamonds were used for their healing qualities.
Patients were advised to wear a diamond next to the skin, to warm a diamond whilst in bed, make the sign of the cross whilst holding a diamond, and swallowing diamond powder.
Most of the anecdotes fail to recount the spurious success of these methods and most end with the death of the patient.
Diamond powder is now known to be a poison.
Cutting and Polishing Although rough diamonds have always been worn for decorative purposes, it wasn't until around the fourteenth century that diamond polishing started, and the 1500s that diamond cutting began.
This new way of enhancing the stone's natural reflective qualities led to exciting ways to use and present them, and jewellery makers exploited it.
The most common use for diamonds in the world of jewellery is in a ring.
Variety of Cuts Diamonds for jewellery are cut into a variety of shapes, each one designed to highlight different aspects of the stone's natural reflective properties.
Each cut also gives hands a slightly different appearance when worn in a ring.
Diamond cuts include oval, princess, round, emerald, heart, marquise and radiant.
Today, the most common style is brilliant.
The classic conical shape and faceted top increases the amount of light passing through the diamond giving this cut its brilliant sparkle.
The princess cut is a modern cut which is like a square pyramid and draws attention to sparkle rather than lustre.
Emerald cut diamonds are very striking.
Originally a cut used for emeralds, its shape is rectangular with flowing lines.
They don't accent the fire the way some other cuts do, but give off sensational light flashes.
The Four Cs and Buying Diamonds Once cut, a diamond is graded according to the four Cs - colour, clarity, cut, and carat.
The colour differences between stones is very subtle and must be done by comparison.
The cut refers to the shape of the finished stone and also takes into account the number of facets and how uniform they are.
All diamonds have flaws or inclusions within them that affect clarity.
These are minute deposits of crystals and minerals that give each diamond its unique character.
The fewer the flaws the more rare and expensive the stone.
Diamonds are weighed in carats not by dimensions and one carat is equal to 0.
2 grams.
These gradings should be taken into account when buying diamonds.
As buying diamonds is an important decision, a good jeweller should explain in detail the four Cs and how each of them gives the stone its unique quality.
Their brilliance and durability combined with myths of their magical qualities make them not only attractive, but serve as the ultimate status symbol.
The mythic history of diamonds is part of the reason they are so coveted today.
Early Uses and Myths Diamonds have been used in various forms since they were first discovered.
The earliest diamonds were used in battle as a form of talismanic protection.
It was believed that even to have one concealed inside a jacket or tunic during battle would imbue the wearer with the qualities of the stone, virtue and courage and victory would be theirs.
This may stem from the meaning of the word "diamond" as it comes from the Greek adamas, meaning "unconquerable.
" During the Dark and Middle Ages, diamonds were used for their healing qualities.
Patients were advised to wear a diamond next to the skin, to warm a diamond whilst in bed, make the sign of the cross whilst holding a diamond, and swallowing diamond powder.
Most of the anecdotes fail to recount the spurious success of these methods and most end with the death of the patient.
Diamond powder is now known to be a poison.
Cutting and Polishing Although rough diamonds have always been worn for decorative purposes, it wasn't until around the fourteenth century that diamond polishing started, and the 1500s that diamond cutting began.
This new way of enhancing the stone's natural reflective qualities led to exciting ways to use and present them, and jewellery makers exploited it.
The most common use for diamonds in the world of jewellery is in a ring.
Variety of Cuts Diamonds for jewellery are cut into a variety of shapes, each one designed to highlight different aspects of the stone's natural reflective properties.
Each cut also gives hands a slightly different appearance when worn in a ring.
Diamond cuts include oval, princess, round, emerald, heart, marquise and radiant.
Today, the most common style is brilliant.
The classic conical shape and faceted top increases the amount of light passing through the diamond giving this cut its brilliant sparkle.
The princess cut is a modern cut which is like a square pyramid and draws attention to sparkle rather than lustre.
Emerald cut diamonds are very striking.
Originally a cut used for emeralds, its shape is rectangular with flowing lines.
They don't accent the fire the way some other cuts do, but give off sensational light flashes.
The Four Cs and Buying Diamonds Once cut, a diamond is graded according to the four Cs - colour, clarity, cut, and carat.
The colour differences between stones is very subtle and must be done by comparison.
The cut refers to the shape of the finished stone and also takes into account the number of facets and how uniform they are.
All diamonds have flaws or inclusions within them that affect clarity.
These are minute deposits of crystals and minerals that give each diamond its unique character.
The fewer the flaws the more rare and expensive the stone.
Diamonds are weighed in carats not by dimensions and one carat is equal to 0.
2 grams.
These gradings should be taken into account when buying diamonds.
As buying diamonds is an important decision, a good jeweller should explain in detail the four Cs and how each of them gives the stone its unique quality.
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