This is a video where Skip and Steve Robbins talk about their engagement ring store: Robbins Bros. World’s Biggest Engagement Ring Store.

De Beers was founded in South Africa in 1888 and today is the largest producer and seller of diamonds.  Almost from the beginning the De Beers company has had a strangle hold on the diamond industry and a huge advertising budget.  Diamonds are not as rare as the advertiser would have you to believe.  De Beers keeps a huge stockpile of diamonds and tightly controls supply.

De Beers started the very successful advertising campaign A Diamond Is Forever in 1947.  The Advertising Age magazine has voted this to be the most recognizable advertising line of the twentieth century.  This advertising campaign was designed to discourage diamonds owners from putting their old diamonds back into the market.  The success of this campaign turned diamond into the symbol of eternal love and dramatically increased demand for the gems.

The ability to create cubic zirconium happened in the 1950 but it was not until 1979 that it became economically feasible to mass-produce and use them as a diamond substitute.  Only a gemologist can tell the difference between a diamond created by nature and a diamond created in a laboratory.

There are several companies that are investing a lot of time and money in developing a laboratory-grown diamond process and are doing quite well.  Because of the diamonds optical, thermal, chemical, and electronic properties, laboratory-grown diamonds have a lot of potential to affect many industries and not just the Jewelry industry.

Gemesis is a company founded in 1996 and based in Sarasota, Fla., that is growing diamonds in high-pressure, high-temperature crystal growing chambers.  Each chamber starts with a tiny diamond crystal or diamond seed that is bathed in a molten solution of graphite and a metal-based catalyst at about 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit and 58,000 atmospheres of pressure.  The diamond begins to grow, molecule by molecule and in about three and a half days a gem-quality 2.8 carat rough diamond has been created.

A rough diamond of this size can create a diamond of about 1.5 carats that has been cut, polished, and is ready for mounting in a setting.  Naturally occurring colored diamonds will show color because of the trace amounts of impurities in them.  Replacing fewer than five atoms per 100,000 of carbon atoms in a diamond crystal lattice with nitrogen atoms gives a diamond with a yellow coloration or tint.  These diamonds sell for about $4,000 per carat, which is about one third of the cost of a mined diamond.

The company adopted the term Gemesis Cultured Diamond to distinguish its laboratory-grown diamonds from the mined diamond to assure that consumers were not being misled as to the nature of the product.  The first commercial production of gem quality diamonds, were made in 2002.

The company business strategy changed in 2005 from producing from offering individual loose, cut and polished diamonds to retailers to producing and selling only rough stones in lots to jewelry manufactures and designers similarly to the way in which diamond mines sell natural diamonds. 

The man-made diamonds made today are of a better quality than the natural ones.  A trained jeweler will be unable to determine a real one from a made-one unless he had some very expensive equipment.  Insist on a certification before purchasing a diamond for investment purposes.  It will tell you the stone’s carat weight, its color and clarity, and its flaws.  If the seller is unwilling to supply a certification with the diamond then he may not be telling the truth and you should find someone who will.  After all when you want to sell the diamond the new owner will want a certification from you.

Whether you have just decided to get married and are shopping for cubic zirconia wedding rings or you’re already married and have chosen to replace your former rings with something new, there’s nothing quite like the flawless image of a sparkling simulated diamond accenting your hand. If you’re in the market for a new set of cz wedding rings, below are five fascinating facts to keep in mind:

Cz eternity rings symbolize eternal love. A wedding band represents an unbroken line, which is said to represent everlasting love. Whether you choose a textured or high-polished design or you prefer something with gemstones, the unbroken circle of your rings will reflect the commitment that you have to your spouse.

Cubic zirconium is harder than most other gemstones. Because it measures an 8.5 on the scale of hardness, it has earned the distinction as being harder than all other gems with the exception of a diamond, ruby or sapphire. What does this mean? When it comes to cubic zirconia wedding rings, the hardness of the stone will add to the durability and longevity of the ring.

Diamond simulants shine more brightly than most other gemstones. A cubic zirconia is designed to imitate a flawless diamond, which means its ability to shine is one of its most important characteristics. A genuine diamond has a high reflective index of 2.41, whereas a cz is close behind with a reading of 2.15. In comparison, these numbers indicate that these simulated rings will come close to the brilliance of their diamond competitors in terms of light reflection and shine. As an added bonus, these rings offer the look of flawless eye clean diamonds.

Faux diamond wedding rings are ideal for newlyweds. Because of their affordable price, cubic zirconia wedding these rings are a wonderful way for couples to begin their lives together without being in debt. While some may choose to spend a lot of money on their wedding rings and either use their savings to pay cash or go into debt by using a credit card, others are opting for cubic zirconia rings and using the money saved toward life’s essentials.

Cubic zirconium rings are ideal for travel. Whether you’re out of town on business or pleasure, you will likely want to take your wedding rings along for the trip. If you were to wear genuine diamond rings, how much would you be losing if those rings were lost or stolen? With cubic zirconia wedding rings, you would be sad over the loss but you could still replace them without depleting your savings. Whether you currently have a diamond ring set that you just aren’t comfortable traveling with or you want to start your married life with money in the bank, cubic zirconia simulated diamond rings may be the answer you’re looking for.

Synthetic diamonds are diamond crystals manufactured in laboratories through a technological process, versus natural diamonds, which are produced deep inside the earth through a geological process.

Synthetic diamonds are not to be confused with fake diamonds as we know it, like diamond-like carbon, which is amorphous hard carbon or diamond stimulants, which are made of other materials such as cubic zirconia or silicon carbide.

Synthetic diamonds are actually real diamonds; only they are produced in labs or are man-made, and depending on the process, can even be superior to natural diamonds.

The procedure of creating a synthetic diamond is relatively easier than mining and processing natural diamonds, which is why these stones are usually used in many industrial applications, such as drilling and cutting tools, as well as in electronics.

The process of producing these cultured diamonds was first discovered by French chemist Henri Moissan in 1892. This process created small diamond fragments by heating charcoal, which is carbon, to an extremely high temperature in a cast iron crucible.

It is then rapidly cooled by immersing the crucible into cold water, causing it to shrink, which then creates enough pressure to crystallize the molten carbon into tiny diamond fragments.

After Moissan’s process, the first commercial application of synthetic diamond production was developed by Tracy Hall for the General Electric Company in 1954.

This production process is known as the HTHP or high-temperature high-pressure, a procedure that has been improved upon and has been used to make industrial-grade diamonds to this day. Another main process being used to create synthetic diamonds is the Chemical Vapor Deposition or CVD method, which was first developed during the 1980s.

The HTHP technique applies a combination of heat and pressure on a diamond seed by using either a four-anvil tetrahedral press or a six-anvil cubic press. This is a process that attempts to replicate the natural conditions of diamonds formation inside the earth. The CVD method on the other hand, adds a vaporized carbon-plasma mixture with hydrogen, activated on the diamond seed using microwave energy, which then allows the gas to substrate.

This makes the diamond seed grow in successive layers.

Both procedures can produce cultured diamonds in a span of just several days. These stones can have the identical hardness, cleavage, light dispersion, refractive properties, specific gravity, and surface luster of a natural diamond, and may even contain small inclusions. Some cultured diamonds are even superior to their natural counterparts.

Just some of the known synthetic diamond manufacturers are Apollo Diamonds, Chatham Gems, Gemesis Cultured Diamonds, and Taurus Created Gems.

These companies create a range of lab diamonds, as they are also called, from colorless grade D diamonds to fancy diamonds.

Most synthetic diamonds will have a slightly yellowish hue because of nitrogen impurities that are present during its manufacturing.

These cultured diamonds can be distinguished from natural diamonds by using any of the following: infrared, ultraviolet, or X-ray spectroscopy. Its UV florescence can also be measured with a Diamond View tester.

There is a huge array of diamond wedding rings available today, and choosing the one that will be with you for a lifetime is a serious affair.

Not only are there aesthetic factors to bear in mind, your diamond wedding ring holds also a deeper significance. It is a symbol of your love for the person that you married, and you should select the ring that you feels best captures the essence of these feelings.

The diamond ring you choose for your wedding should be everything that you feel your love to be – unique, beautiful and durable. And while there are a huge variety of styles and ring settings available, the core features of a truly beautiful diamond remain the same regardless of the style of diamond ring you pick to celebrate your wedding. You will hopefully wear this ring the rest of your life, so choose a style that seems timeless to you.

Selecting a wedding ring isn’t as easy as it looks. You are going to wear your ring for the rest of your life, so it should be something you won’t get tired of in a couple years. You will have to look at and try on many different rings before you come to a final decision and, being an intelligent consumer, you should know what your options are.

First, you will have to decide how much you can afford to spend. Then, with your budget in mind, choose the material you want your ring made of.

Wedding ring materials can be:

- 14K or 18K yellow gold, classic and still very popular for wedding and engagement rings;
- white gold, which is gaining popularity because it looks stylish and very modern. Also white gold can be worn with silver or platinum jewelry and it goes with most fabrics;
- platinum is one of the hardest metals, which in itself makes platinum a suitable symbol for enduring love. It is also very pure: while 18 K gold contains only 75% gold, most platinum jewelry is 95% platinum. Platinum rings look similar to white gold, are very elegant and stylish, don’t scratch and don’t loose their look with the passing years. Platinum rings are the most expensive but, considering that you will wear your ring for the rest of your life, that doesn’t really matter for many couples;
- titanium is long lasting, light and not very expensive, so it has recently became a very popular material for wedding rings. Titanium rings are similar in appearance to white gold rings but they are so light that you can hardly feel one on your finger. Titanium is a particularly popular material for men’s wedding rings.

Diamonds are unbeatable favorites for wedding rings and with good reason – not only are diamonds the most beautiful and expensive of all precious stones, but they are also the hardest. Other hard stones are rubies and sapphires. Gemstones like amethyst or aquamarine are too soft, which makes them unsuitable for a wedding ring that you are going to wear every day.

No matter which style and material you chose, you want a ring that would be comfortable on your finger. For this reason it is always best to go with a ring that is smooth around the edges.

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about diamonds. When you start sharing the
fascinating diamonds facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

Diamonds are measured in Carat Weight. One carat weighs 200 milligrams. If a diamond is referred to as four grains, this also means that it is a one carat diamond. The word Carat comes from the word carob. A carob is a bean that grows on a tree in the Mediterranean. In times past, if a diamond weighed the same as a carob bean, it was
one carob, or one carat.

How can you put a limit on learning more? The next section may contain that one little bit of wisdom that changes everything.

In the far east, where Carob trees do not grow, rice was used to measure the weight of a diamond. If a diamond weighed as much as four grains of rice, it was four grains – or one carat as we know it to be now. The majority of diamond purchases are for diamonds that are 1/3 of a carat.

Beware when shopping for diamonds that are already set or mounted. If more than one
diamond is used in the piece, the tag on the jewelry will give the CTW or Carat Total
Weight – it does not tell you the carat weight of each stone in the piece. You need to ask
the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in the piece to truly
understand what you are buying.

The setting you choose is a matter of your own personal taste, but the diamond in your wedding ring should adhere to these important factors.

The characteristics of a beautiful diamond are known as the four Cs – carat, color, clarity and cut. Regardless of the style of diamond wedding rings that you and your partner choose, these are factors that will apply.

The carat of your diamond refers to its weight – simply put, the larger the diamond, the more valuable it becomes. While larger diamonds can be impressive, certain settings suit smaller carats better. Choose a carat that appeals most to you – a large diamond may be valuable, but the most important factor is how valuable it is to you.

The color of a diamond also relates to its value – the clearer the stone, the more valuable your diamond wedding ring.

The third factor is clarity – once again, the more clear a diamond, the more valuable it becomes. Though few diamonds are perfect, the ones with less clouds or flaws are more rare, and thus more expensive to purchase.

The final factor is the diamond’s cut. The best cut will display the diamond’s brilliance to the best effect.

Your jeweler will be able to help you select a diamond that fits all these characteristics, but remember that each diamond is beautiful in its own right. Your diamond wedding rings are a symbol of your love, so choose the one that speaks to you.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of diamonds. Share your new understanding about diamonds with others. They’ll thank you for it.

And men, you need to take great care when shopping for that special diamond ring! Remember to ask the jeweler for the total carat weight of the largest diamond in the piece to truly understand what you are buying. Don’t pay more for what you are getting.

We are dedicated to helping you learn more about diamonds, for better selection and your money’s worth.

Tyra Banks Interview

Diamond is the hardest naturally formed mineral found on earth. It is used not only for making expensive and beautiful jewelry but also for making drilling equipments. Since diamonds are very hard, they are ideal for making cutting and grinding equipments. Diamonds can be used to cut, drill, grind and polish. Thus it is greatly used in various industrial applications. Some of the common equipments used are the diamond tipped drill bit and the saw blades. Diamond powder is used as an abrasive in industries. The diamonds used for these purposes are of lesser quality and are called ‘bort’. Thus, there are two grades of diamonds – the gem grade diamond and the industrial grade diamond. The industrial grade diamonds should be hard and have heat conductivity.

The demand for diamonds is greater than the supply, so the diamond drill is very expensive. Although, there are a number of types of drills, the diamond drill is a very essential piece of equipment in an industry that needs to do a lot of drilling. The diamond drill is actually a drill with the diamond drill bit attached to the end of hollow drill rods. The diamonds used are fine to micro fine diamonds. To keep the sharpness and hardness of the diamond drill, it is necessary to give it sufficient lubrication and cooling. The holes made are very clean and giving the best results. The drilling has to be done slowly so that the life of the drill bits can be extended for a longer period of time. Drilling is a laborious process. It is also a tiring and demanding task and uses up a lot of physical energy. But, it needs to be done.

The diamonds drills can make holes in any type of substance, right from a soft one to a hard one. It includes bricks, metals, concrete and any other material without giving out much noise. The holes can be made quickly without any vibrations and much effort, since the drill is made of hard diamond. The diamond drilling equipments are long lasting and penetrate fast to drill a hole.

The diamond drilling equipments are used in all kinds of industrial applications. We are generally not aware of it many uses. They are used by the construction industry for making holes in bricks, concrete and iron. It is used in the mining industry to drill holes at places where there are mines. Wherever holes have to be made for placing cables, where anchoring bolts have to be placed and also where load carrying machines have to be installed, the diamond drilling equipments are used.

There are two types of drilling techniques. The dry drilling technique is used when concrete, hard surfaces, pavements, bricks or any hard surface has to be drilled. The wet drilling technique is used when the place that has to be drilled is fully under water.

The diamond drilling equipments are of different types. Synthetic diamonds are used in the impregnated bit’s matrix series. The matrix layer has the diamonds in a powdered metal bond. They have a long life and also penetrate fast. They are used in many forms of drilling. Surface set diamond bits have a single natural diamond layer. They have a hard matrix compound on the face of the bit. They are used while drilling soft to medium hard surfaces.

Diamond reaming shell has natural or synthetic diamonds. It is used to attach the drill bit to the core barrel. The main work of the reaming shell to make a hole that is exact in diameter for the core barrel to go through, having enough space for a new drill bit, when the old one has to be changed. Long diamond reaming shells are also available for drilling purposes.

Diamond core bits are thing walled core bits that are used in a large number of applications. They are used to drill holes in are concrete, glass, ceramics and also in all kinds of pipes used in electricity, drainage etc. Wet cut drill core bits and dry cut drill core bits are available for various purposes.

Synthetic diamond polycrystalline is also used in making drilling equipments. They are used in making drill bits, reaming shells, saw blades etc. Polycrystalline diamond pads or cutters (PDC) are placed in rows of polycrystalline diamonds kept on tungsten carbide substrate on the bit face, to drill holes in areas that are too sticky or soft. You have PDC core bits and PDC drill bits which are cost effective and very useful in drilling and cutting activities.

The diamond drilling equipments are no doubt expensive, but they are very effective in making clean holes that are necessary for all construction, mining and power, drainage, gas lines purposes. We should check out the various companies that manufacture these equipments, obtain details about the equipments and the price and then order the equipment that we need. The internet would be the best place to gather all the information.

There are also misunderstandings about monetary terms between Russians and Americans:

For example, you go into the jewelry store and your Russian fiancé picks out a ring. You tell her that it is expensive. You mean that it is overpriced, or that it is more than you can afford.

She thinks you mean that that you cannot afford to buy her a ring and that she is not going to get a wedding ring. Russians think in black and white, not shades of gray.

She starts to cry and you cannot understand why. After you calm her down, you laboriously explain to her what your budget is for a ring. She still thinks you are a miser, but you make the purchase.

This may be the end of it or it may not.

Some Russians Have Kitschy Taste. I know one acquaintance that has purchased a wedding ring for his wife five times because he keeps imposing a budget on his wife.

He went to Fast Eddie’s Discount Wedding Rings first. His fiancé buys the biggest, gaudiest ring she can find for the money, but she doesn’t like it because she keeps comparing it to my wife’s wedding ring.

His fiancé buys the biggest diamond even though it is of poor quality. My wife has excellent taste. I explained to my wife when buying a wedding ring about diamond quality. I told her about quality versus size.

She picked a beautifully designed ring and a stone that was good quality and a reasonable size for the money. It was a little more than I wanted to pay, but it made my wife happy.

Her friend has somewhat kitschy taste. Big and gaudy is better in her mind. Yet when she keeps comparing it to my wife’s ring, she is unhappy.

She keeps pressing her husband to trade up. Eventually, she will get the ring she always wanted. But it will end up costing more in the long run than if he had just bought the right ring in the first place.

Do not buy a wedding or engagement ring in Russia. The choice is much better in western countries. Russians don’t have a tradition of engagement rings so she isn’t expecting one.

Wedding rings in Russia are simple gold bands. They do not have diamond wedding rings as a rule.

Buy her a wedding ring when she gets to America. Let her help pick it out so she is happy with it. Work within your budget, but…

Don’t go cheap because she will see what other women are wearing as soon as she finds her way around.

The general feeling that Russians have about westerners is that they are cheap. This is because they are always talking about money. Don’t reinforce her pre-conceived notions by being cheap.

When Russians hear a foreigner complaining about expenses all the time, they think he is greedy.

Diamonds have been used in rings since the middle ages, and the first reference to a diamond engagement ring or wedding ring was in 1477. Because of the supernatural powers accredited to diamonds, they became more popular, and Italians said that a diamond maintained harmony between husband and wife.

Diamonds also have a reputation for supernatural powers, such as protecting from enemies, and negating magnets, which goes back thousands of years. Diamonds also play an important role in Hinduism and Buddhism, in fact the oldest dated book, the Diamond Sutra from 868, also mentions diamonds.

Despite having a reputation as very expensive, diamonds are affordable and can be a worthwhile investment. Whether choosing a diamond solitaire ring, diamond earrings or loose certified diamonds, there are several things to be considered to ensure that you purchase the right diamonds for your needs.

Here are 8 tips to help you choose the perfect diamond.

1. Diamonds are sold by weight, so the weight is also the size of the diamond. A carat is divided up into 100 points. A diamond weighing 50 points is half a carat. As well as the weight, cut, colour and clarity are all very important when choosing a solitaire ring, diamond earrings or other diamond jewellery.

The term carat is used to measure the weight of a diamond, and is the equivalent of 0.2g. The term carat came to English from French and means the fruit of the carob. Carob seeds were traditionally used as a measure of weight because the seeds are all very similar in size. Other countries had their own carat, which was approximately the same size as a carob seed, and it wasn?t until 1914 that the carat was standardised to 0.2g in the United Kingdom

2. The cut of the diamond is the only aspect that can be changed by a human. The weight, colour and clarity are all down to nature. A well cut diamond will have many facets which reflect the light. When a diamond is cut, the light reflects from one side to another, to make it sparkle. A diamond that is cut too deep or too shallow will lose light and so won?t sparkle as much.

3. A diamond seen in a jewellers shop, in earrings or on a solitaire ring, is often transparent, or slightly yellow. The whiter the diamond, the more valuable it is. Diamonds with a strong blue or pink colour to them are called fancies, and are very rare. However, diamonds are available in almost any colour.

4. The clarity of a diamond is determined by the number of inclusions which are caused by multiple growth stages in formation. The value of the diamond depends on the number and severity of these inclusions. The clarity scale ranges from diamonds with no inclusions visible to the naked eye, or with magnification, to diamonds with inclusions that can be seen with the naked eye.

5. Diamonds can be cut differently for different applications. A diamond earring might have a different cut to a solitaire ring. The most popular cuts are brilliant, emerald, pear shape, marquise, princess, oval and heart shape. Brilliant cut diamonds are shaped so that they reflect the light upwards and make the diamond appear white when viewed from the top. Sometimes brilliant cut diamonds appear darker at the centre, which can indicate that the cut is too deep or too shallow and the light isn?t reflecting upwards.

6. Loose diamonds can be purchased and then turned into your perfect piece of jewellery, such as diamond earrings or solitaire ring. The type of jewellery that the certified diamonds are for will help to determine the size, shape and cut of the diamond. A ring is likely to require a bigger diamond than a pendant or earrings. These certified diamonds should be approved by an independent gemological laboratory, which acts as a guarantee that the diamonds are genuine, and not manufactured.

7. Purchasing online will allow you to choose the right diamond jewellery for your needs without going into a jewellers shop. As well as being able to choose from a wider range, whether you are looking for a diamond bracelet or necklace, substantial savings can be made as the overheads are much lower.

8. Despite diamond being the hardest natural substance, it is still important to take care of your diamonds. Diamonds can be chipped by a heavy blow, and can scratch other items, including other diamonds, so it is advisable not to wear a diamond ring when doing rough or manual work. Diamonds should also be cleaned regularly using jewellery cleaner.

Now that you know what to look for, and how to purchase your diamond engagement ring or earrings, you can buy your diamonds in safety online from a reputable diamond jeweller and still save money. Surprise the love of your life with diamonds today, and they can be enjoyed for years to come.

The tradition of engagement rings has been embedded in western culture for over a millennia. The concept is that a woman is presented with an engagement ring as a gesture of a mans intention to wed her. The ring is worn until the wedding day when it is replaced during a wedding ceremony by the wedding ring. The engagement ring is then is either worn with the wedding ring or put in storage. The wedding ring is a symbol of the marriage commitment and deeply ingrained in western religious practices.

Engagement rings started in classical period where Aristotelian natural sciences believed that a vein from the finger of the left hand was linked directly to the heart, so a ring worn on that finger was representative of being directly linked to the heart. In Western culture the ring was introduced as a symbol of betrothment after the Pope Innocent III, who ruled around 1215, introduced a period of waiting before people were married.

At that feudal point in history wealth was not spread around and only the nobility and the church had money to purchase precious stones. The feudal period lasted well into the sixteenth century and during that time the proletarians would use whatever they could get their hands on, such as metal or wooden bands. As it is today, engagement rings became a status symbol and the very rich would have elaborate engagement rings designed with precious stones encrusted in them. Plain bands are still used today in certain countries mainly around Lutheran Europe.

As the feudal system began to dissolve through the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with the emergence of the merchant class or what is referred to today as the middle class, there was more money available and engagement rings became a more common place occurrence. During this period to be betrothed was a serious matter and it was not taken likely, as with many traditional values this has dissolved these days and divorce and broken engagements are commonplace.

Depending on where you live the laws differ around this subject. In certain states of the United States of America the ring is the property of the person giving it, as it represents a commitment to marry. If this is not honoured then the ring has to be returned to the donor irrelevant of who is seen to be at fault for the dissolution of the engagement. In other places it is understood that the ring is a gift and becomes legal property of the recipient after the donor has handed it over.

Engagement rings today take many forms however after a massive advertising campaign in the 1940s a leading diamond manufacturer basically said that you do not love your fiance unless you give her a diamond. This changed popular culture and now diamond solitaire engagement rings are the most popular. Other forms of engagement rings are birth stones, or precious stones, whose initials are an acronym for a message such as beloved, love or dearest.

The engagement ring is a symbol of love and intent to wed, many couples who do not believe in marriage will still wear rings on their fingers called commitment rings. This practice has survived over two millennia and countless empires and today engagement rings are big business, as it is not only a symbol of love but a status symbol.