Diamond-encrusted bras are nothing new for Victoria’s Secret. They have been creating them for years now and this year’s model for their newest creation is none other than Miranda Kerr. For what it is worth, she is pretty famous for her cleavage, so picking her wasn’t much of a stretch. Not only that, but she happens to be the wife of actor Orlando Bloom making her a very good candidate to wear this high-profile garment. Continue reading »
Yellow diamonds are rare enough that if one comes up for auction, it should sell rather easily. That is what the U.S. Marshal’s office is hoping for now that they have seized a large yellow diamond that they will auction online. A 43.51-carat yellow diamond was confiscated in a sting that uncovered money laundering as well as drug activity. The diamond is known as the Golden Eye diamond and is a beautiful intense yellow, brilliant cut with 25 facets.
Originally, an Ohio businessman was trying to unload it with an estate in trade for $19.5 million and a boat. The U.S. Marshal Service arrested the man and ended up with the diamond and has contracted Bid4Assests, an online auction company, to sell it with a minimum $900,000 bid. With the prices of diamonds rather high and the demand quite strong, there is no reason to believe that the diamond will not sell. Some recent diamonds have sold for over $200,000 per carat, so someone may get a real deal this time. Continue reading »
Astronomy is one of the many science sectors that amaze most people. They use very high-powered telescopes and other computer modeling techniques to find new planets and other astronomical bodies out there in space. Sometimes they find out things that we don’t really care about, almost too technical for our comprehension and other times, they discover things that are newsworthy have such a dramatic effect on the way we think about space that we even daydream about aliens and all things outer space. It can be fun to hear about new solar systems and new planets and the breadth of the universe can be truly overwhelming. There are other types of science that are more down to earth and can explain certain phenomenon here on earth that can be very interesting as well. One thing that always seems to excite people is the formation of the diamond and how that happens. When carbon is heated and pressurized, it can become a diamond. We mine them and use them for jewelry as well as for industrial purposes. Since diamond is one of the hardest substances on Earth, it is great for cutting and polishing other hard materials. Continue reading »
Diamonds are one of the most popular gems that exist. When people see a large, clear diamond, they are often mesmerized by it and tend to stare and dream of owning it. They think about what it would look like as a pendant or in a ring and daydream. That occurrence is often universal, regardless of where they may be from as diamonds are revered throughout the world. The image of a high-quality diamond is one that excites the masses and when it is a colored diamond, it is even more exciting as full color diamonds are rare and not often seen. Red, yellow and even green diamonds are considered the rarest of colors and when large specimens are found, they can bring millions of dollars at auction. The owners of these diamonds know what they have, so they have the diamonds cut in a fashion that really brings out the fire and brilliance of the shape of the raw diamond itself. Recent specimens have fetched over $100,000 per carat, which is an extremely high price for a diamond, even if it is fancy. Continue reading »
The diamond industry moves and sells billions of dollars of product every year. It is one of those industries where crime and fraud is rather rampant. It is very easy to steal a very small, but expensive diamond from a store or an individual without anyone noticing. If you are running a diamond jewelry store, you know you need to have very tight security and you will need to watch your goods like a hawk as they can come up missing and it will not be as obvious as you would think. Keeping the diamonds you sell close to your chest and secure is the best way to not take any losses that may result in you going out of business. The diamond trade is international with some of the larger cities as hosts to large diamond operations, either on the rough or polished side. They have to have the tightest security possible as they have billions of dollars of diamonds in their building. Some of these countries are not the safest possible and many have to watch out for serious, deadly criminals that will stop at nothing to get what they want. Continue reading »
Controversy seems to surround diamonds and that only adds to their mystique. So many people have died because of diamonds and the diamond trade that many refuse to own them as a matter of principle. The Kimberly Process bans the sale of diamonds that are surrounded by violence in an attempt to fix the reputation that diamonds have throughout the world. In Africa, rough diamonds were used to fund violence and the rebels who were involved killed many people in the mining trade in that area. Blood diamonds are banned from sale and it is illegal to be in possession of rough cut stones as they could be blood diamonds. Anyone caught in possession of rough cut diamonds could face severe penalties for having them and the recent case involving Naomi Campbell shows how dangerous it can be to have them in any capacity. Naomi claims to have been given some rough cut diamonds after a dinner in 1997. She then gave the diamonds to Jeremy Ractliffe, who was the chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund at the time.
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The diamond engagement ring is one of the most symbolic things you can buy to signify your love for another person. When you pop the question, it is traditional etiquette to have a ring for your beloved to give to her as a symbol. It can be any type, but traditionally, a diamond is used in these situations as diamonds are one of the most beautiful and delicate gems available for use in jewelry. Regardless of the size or expense of the ring, it is a great way to express your love for your future wife. Many rings are beautiful in design and are considered excellent examples of exquisite work. Tiffany’s is one company that has been making diamond engagement rings that would turn heads for decades. Even affording a ring that is designed by Tiffany’s is a feat in and of itself as they can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but really have an impact on everyone who sees it and especially the woman who is lucky enough to wear it on a daily basis.
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Custom made items are something that most people would like to own, but the costs associated with them can be very high regardless of the type of item you would like to get. Most assume that custom items are for the wealthy, and while that is the case, you can customize items yourself using custom touches that are not too expensive. The custom market appeals to many as it offers you a chance to have an item that no one else has and that can add a touch of originality to your life. Even if you buy something that everyone else has and add a few custom touches, you at least have something that is unique and no one has. There are many designers who can make you a diamond ring or necklace using whatever materials you designate, but it may cost you many times a standard piece would cost you. When it comes to high-end materials such as diamonds and gold, the price is rarely low, so consider starting off with something small or inexpensive to have customized for you.
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Diamonds of all shapes, sizes and colors have been mined for thousands of years and have been used for many purposes from merely cosmetic to healing. Although there is no scientific proof that diamonds have any healing powers, they have been used for this purpose in many countries across the world including Africa, India and Indonesia. Regardless of their value for healing, they are still valuable due to their overall beauty and they can be quite rare, especially large ones. There are large diamonds that fetch millions, but not just for the mere fact that they are diamonds. The price a diamond gets is based on several factors, some measurable and some not so measurable. The four C’s are four categories which help determine the price for everyday diamonds and do play a part in the pricing of famous and large diamonds as well. For the most part, carat weight and clarity seem to be the most important valuation aspects especially when considering large diamonds that are up for sale through auction houses like Christie’s.
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In recent years the jewelry stores all across the country have taken to the newest way to create bridal business. Using technology to target potential new customers via a scavenger hunt with text messaging. These types of events coincide with the spiked interest for social gaming.
To participate, couples have to submit an essay explaining why they should win the diamond ring. The jewelry stores decide how many couples may participate and handpick from the essay entries. Before the actual games starts the ground rules are laid out. The jewelry store can decide if the participants must only play on foot or if bikes, roller blades and skateboards are acceptable. Also, the time allotted to solve all the clues are up to the jewelry stores. The couple to answer most clues correctly and scored the most points are the winners of the diamond ring.
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