|
by Julie Lee of Julie's Jewelry Design, LLC.
April's birthstone is the diamond. It is also the traditional stone for
the tenth and sixteenth wedding anniversary.
Diamond is a super-dense form of carbon, the most compact form of
currency, and the most valued of all gemstones. To many people, diamonds
symbolize love, purity, and faith; to others power, success, and security. Above
all, the image of diamond is one of romance, reflected in lovers' eyes.
The first recorded diamond engagement ring was presented to Mary of
Burgudy from the Archduke Maximilian of Austria in the fifteenth century. Thus
the fifteenth century saw the forging of the bond between diamonds and love.
Other historical figures such as Louis XIV showered diamonds on his young
queen Marie Antoinette, and Peter the Great gave his with, Catherine I, a crown
containing more than 2,500 diamonds.
Scattered around the world are a few major diamond collections, which
have histories almost as diverse as the diamonds they contain. In the U.S.A.,
the Hope diamond, a 45.52 ct. dark blue oval brilliant cut, is undoubtedly the
most famous and was donated to the Smithsonian Institution by New York jeweler
Harry Winston. Another beautiful diamond housed at the Smithsonian is the
31-carat bright blue heart shaped Eugenie, which was donated by Majorie
Merriweather Post.
Great Britain holds claim to the world's two largest cut diamonds: the
Cullinan I, or the Great Star of Africa, a 530.20 ct pear shape; and the second
largest at 317.40 ct., the Cullinan II which decorates the Imperial State Crown.
Many of Russia's czars contributed to the largest collection in the
world. Among them are the 189 ct Orloff which is mounted in the Imperial
Scepter, and the 88 ct. bar shaped diamond named the Shah, which bears three
inscriptions, the earliest dating 1591.
Nobility throughout the ages has owned diamonds, but it was not until the
twentieth century that the possibility of owning diamonds came within reach of
large segments of the American public. By the end of Worlk War II the tradition
was firmly established in both England and the U.S. as a symbol of love and
commitment.
Rough diamonds are sourced from Australia, Botswana, South Africa, and
the Soviet Republic. We carry a clarity range of standard round diamonds from VS
to I2, and color ranges of G to I. Jewelry
by Julie's Jewels carries
standard size fancy shapes that range from G to I. In larger diamonds of 3/8 ct.
and larger we carry various clarities, colors, and shapes up to 6 ct.
Julie Lee is a web designer and founder of
Julie's Jewelry Design, LLC. Julie's Jewels is a
Texas based retail jewelry company specializing in high quality, affordable
jewelry pieces created to be treasured for a lifetime.
If anyone would like to republish the above article, please
email me your request and where it will reside, and I'll send you a
short bio you can use with it for your site.
| 
