What Makes Up A Diamonds Carat?

A diamond is a gem that is formed far under the surface of the earth by intense pressure. When evaluating a diamond there are generally four things to consider: Clarity, color, cut, and carat. These are called the 4 C's of diamonds. Carat, in terms of gems, is way of describing the weight of the diamond.

The General Conference on Weights and Measures is a meeting that takes place every 4 to 6 years in order to maintain and establish an international standard of measurements. It was at the fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures, in 1907, that the carat was defined. A carat is 200 mg or about .007 ounces. There are a hundred points in a carat that are each 2 mg. In the same way that there are a hundred pennies in a dollar, there are 100 points in a carat.

Special, extremely sensitive, digital scales are now used to measure a diamonds weight, but it was not always this precise. The name carat actually originated from the Greek word for the carob seed. Carob seeds were frequently used to weigh things like gold or diamonds. This is because they had a uniform size and weight, and irregular seeds could be easily picked out by the naked eye.

Generally the higher the diamonds carat, the more it costs. A flawless diamond is called a paragon and weighs at least 100 carats. This is of course very rare and expensive. Most diamonds found in jewelry are considerably less than 100 carats.

A 2 carat diamond will likely be much more expensive than a 1 carat diamond. Sometimes rings and other types of jewelry with multiple diamonds are described in total carat weight (TCW). This includes the combined weight of all of the diamonds in the piece of jewelry. The price of a diamond is actually frequently described in weight per carat.

While a diamonds weight or carat is important, it is only part of the equation when grading a diamond. The cut, clarity, and color of the diamond will all also play an important role in determining its value. When buying a diamond for yourself or a loved one it is important to take all of these factors into consideration, but finding the right size is very important. Remember that the larger the finger, the smaller the diamond looks, and of course the inverse is true. Take this into consideration when modeling the ring on yourself or the sales person. A diamond with a higher carat does not always look bigger to the naked eye. This is because the cut of the diamond can make it look larger than it actually is. Also if size is a factor, but you are on a budget, consider a diamond with a lower color grade, but a good cut and carat.

Diamonds make a great gift for your family, friends, and for yourself. They can be a large investment though, so it is important to understand how they are valued. If you familiarize yourself with the 4 C's and the different types of diamonds available, you will be able to purchase a diamond that will bring you or a loved one much happiness.

By Brad Brubaker

Conflict Diamonds

Diamonds are beautiful stones that are formed deep below the Earths surface. Their shine and brilliance are some factors that make them so popular and valuable. They are also the hardest material known to man, so they have many practical uses in business and manufacturing. Most people purchase their diamonds from a jeweler or online retailer. Diamonds have actually led a very full life by the time they ever end up in a store, and many are well over 3 billion years.

Diamonds are of immense value and like many things of value; they have been frequently used to fund violence and to organize government resistance. Diamonds that are used for this purpose are called conflict diamonds. A large percent of the world's diamonds come from Africa. Rough diamonds, diamonds that have not been cut or polished, have been used extensively to fund wars and buy arms by rebels and revolutionists in Africa and throughout the world.

The world first took note of conflict diamonds during a very violent conflict in Sierra Leone. This was in the late 90's, but diamonds have been used to fund violence in Africa and abroad since their discovery in Africa. The fighting in Sierra Leone propelled this practice to the front pages of papers around the world, and the UN passed a resolution banning the importation of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone.

This resolution spearheaded what was to become the Kimberly Process in 2003. The Kimberly Process is aimed at ensuring that only non-conflict diamonds are purchased. As more and more governments and leaders in the diamond industry embrace the Kimberly Process, the amount of blood diamonds has shrunk, and it is estimated that 99% of diamond available to the public are conflict free.

The Kimberly Process requires that shipments of rough diamonds are thoroughly checked at each border. They must be transported in tamper resistant shipping containers and have a valid Kimberly Process Certificate. The shipment may only be sent to other countries that participate in the Kimberly Process, and a shipment can not be imported or exported unless it has been certified.

Members of the diamond industry have also taken many actions to self govern their actions. Many in the diamond industry have continued to boycott the purchase of diamonds that are used to fund wars, and have created a zero-tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds. They have decided that all members of the diamond industry must ensure that they do not buy uncertified diamonds, or ones from an unknown or suspect supplier.

When purchasing a diamond it is important to ensure that the dealer actively complies with the Kimberly Process. The Kimberly Process requires that a warranty is provided with each purchase to guarantee that their diamonds are free from conflict. A company that does not follow the Kimberly Process is immediately expelled from all diamond industry institutions, and may risk governmental sanctions or punishment.

A diamond can be a beautiful thing, but if it is used to spill the blood of others then it is no longer a thing of beauty. When purchasing diamonds, ensure that the dealer participates actively in the Kimberly process, to make certain that you do not unintentionally fund violence or war.

By Sarah Langley

The Trend For Diamond and Ruby Wedding Rings

One of the latest trends in formal jewelry is engagement rings that feature a splash of brilliant red flash. Gone is the virginal row of white diamonds that used to identify the old fashioned wedding ring. Today you are just as likely to see diamond and ruby wedding rings embracing the fourth fingers of new brides.

These diamond and ruby wedding rings come in all kinds of interesting and creative designs. One of the most popular styles of engagement ring is the single large solitary ruby that is set in a band of diamonds. This color scheme then can be complimented by a ring of white diamonds, red rubies or a ruby and diamond circlet that serves as the wedding band. The visual effect of the blood red ruby wedding band is particularly startling against the whiteness of a diamond. It is also flattering on any color of skin.

So why choose a ruby and diamond wedding ring over just diamonds? It might just have to do with the symbolism of the color red. Red symbolizes love, warmth and vitality. In Feng Shui it is considered to be the color of prosperity. It also looks particularly good cut in a heart shape and surrounded by diamonds in the ring. The diamond and ruby wedding ring is also very romantic. The glittering red ruby provides stark contrast to the glittering white diamonds, kind of like Snow White and Rose Red.

The word ruby comes form the Latin word "rubens" which means "red." Ruby red is a color in itself and is used to refer to brilliant reds that are warm and fiery in color. The stone also symbolizes fire and blood, which of course equates to erotic and sexual passion. The flashing of its natural fire also symbolizes the beating of the human heart. A diamond and ruby wedding ring set is the perfect mix of Fire and Ice.

Rubies are also rare gemstones and much rarer than diamonds. In a way their specialness says something about that once in a lifetime love. It is also a very durable stone with excellent hardness so like a diamond it is worth your investment.

Diamond and ruby wedding rings also have a bit of a cachet when it comes to being popular with the funky or new age set. A ruby band is the perfect gift of jewellry for a woman who is a Buddhist or Hindu. This is because for the longest time, rubies came from India. In fact in Sanskrit, the Ruby is called the "ratnarj" which means the "King of the Gemstones."

Officially the ruby is the red variety of the corundum mineral. The sapphire also belongs to this family of minerals, which are among the hardest on earth. On the Moh scale of hardness they register a 9, which is second only to the hardness of diamonds.

The red color of a ruby can be attributed to the presence of a combination of or any number of the following elements in the stone: iron, titanium, vanadium and chrome. Chrome is the element responsible for the tinting of most fine quality ruby gem stones. Rubies that contain chrome have the deepest red color. However they are also the smallest rubies as too much of this element causes the stones to crack while they are growing. That is why it is so rare to find a large bright red ruby. In fact the smaller the ruby you buy, the more chrome it is likely to contain and the redder it is likely to be.

The fact that chrome causes so many fissures in the brightest and reddest of rubies is also why it can be hard to find a stone that does not have any inclusions. The ruby simply cracks before it can be harvested as a large rock. Unless it is made in a laboratory (the Russians have perfected this art) you are not likely to find a ruby gemstone for a ring that is larger than 3 carats. Rubies that are larger than this and especially ones that have no flaws or inclusions are more expensive than even the largest of diamonds.

The absolutely most expensive rubies are the Star Rubies. When cut in a half shape it displays a star with six rays that moves across the surface of the stones. If such a stone does appeal to you keep in mind that the ones with the best value have a star that shines in the center of the stone and not slightly off to the side of the gem.

When shopping for a diamond and ruby wedding rings you might want to consider what professional jewelers refer to as "the silk of the ruby." This is a deep glow that some rubies have that also gives them a soft yet brilliant appearance. This effect, which is caused by a hundreds of microscopic scars in the stone, is also sometimes referred to as "asterism." The rubies that boast complete asterism are the Star Rubies.

Compared to most stones, rubies also express a great deal of "personality". This is because they come in different qualities of silkiness, asterism and also in different hues of red. The color of a ruby is greatly determined by where it comes from. For instance the orange and bluish hue of the Burmese Ruby is particular to gem stones from Burma and the ancient mines from the Mogok Stone Track (also known as the Valley of Rubies) in the North of Myanmar India.

Another interesting and quite trendy ruby are the blue black varieties that are mined near the city of Mong Hsu in the North-East of Myanmar. These rubies often appear to be purple or black in the center. Sometimes these rubies are treated with heat to get rid of the dark core and give the stone a lustrous deep blood red color. These heat-treated rubies are among the less expensive choices if you are looking for a ruby band.

Other color variations include purple rubies from Vietnam and the orange and brown hued "Siam" ruby color from Thailand. The raspberry red ruby, originally from Ceylon, is incredibly rare today as the mines in that region have been depleted of their precious stores.

What is nice about a ruby is that you can match the color of the stone to suit the preferences of the bride. Like people, rubies display quite a bit of personality and like a soul mate, the ruby with the perfect hue can take a lot of time and effort to find.

By Enid Edginton