By Juliette Stewart

A close friend of mine makes the point that as we get older, we should replace fashion statements with jewellery statements. Not bourgeois jewellery like gold chains or pearls which are lovely but if not used properly can make you look mumsy. But larger, bolder even gem intensive fashion pieces. And of course wearing less is more when it comes to large jewellery pieces, were you can get the look by wearing a single, diamond-studded cuff bracelet or a one-of-a-kind cocktail ring.

A few years ago this same friend of mine found out how to make jewellery at home and is now running a successful small jewellery business from home. What started out as a how to make jewellery at home hobby to make jewellery pieces for herself, quickly spread to making jewellery as gifts, for friends and she is now busy making bespoke jewellery pieces for an ever increasing client base.

I recently asked Sam for her advice on how to make jewellery at home and here is a brief summary of what she told me:

A Summary Of Points On How To Make Jewellery At Home

* If you are interested in how to make jewellery at home think carefully of the types of jewellery you would like to start with, based on your specialty, and how you wish to combine them into collections. You can design all sorts of jewelry from necklaces to bracelets, earrings to rings, brooches to hair pins and even men%u2019s accessories such as cufflinks, belt buckles, tie pins and buttons. You can use beads, synthetic or semiprecious gemstones, polymer clay, metal wire, ceramic pieces, or even organic or natural elements to embellish your designs.
* When thinking of how to make jewellery at home, think about what methods you will be using for designing and a list of basic jewellery-making tools and supplies that you will require. Generally speaking the startup cost is minimal, where you might initially need to invest in the basic tools, which are quite affordable, and the supplies can be bought on demand basis. Chances are if you have been making your own jewellery as a hobby, you will know where to look for bargains and deals, or check the Internet to find the best bargains that suite your needs.
* A big part of how to make jewellery at home into a successful business is to properly determine the best basic pricing for your jewellery, based on the start up costs and profit margins.
* Draft a business plan for how to make jewellery at home including your investment costs, profits and determine the path of your enterprise. Include a marketing plan on how you aim to sell your products and how you hope to advertise.
* Always keep abreast of current trends.
* Try match fine jewellery to their clients personal style.

One thing is for sure, the market for inexpensive, costume jewellery is huge. And if you have an interest in how to make jewellery at home, you can easily make a lucrative income selling your inspirational, hand-made artwork to eager buyers whether it be to retail stores, gift shops, online, or directly to consumers. There is great joy in designing beautiful jewellery and what better reward than seeing people wear your creation.

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By Imran Ali

Jewellery consists of ornaments like necklace, rings, earrings, bracelets, belts, cufflinks, pendants, chains, toe rings and other items made from silver, gold, platinum, titanium and other metals using pearls and gemstones. All these items are used to adorn different body parts. In early ages jewellery of stones, seashells and animal bones was used by people. People love to wear jewellery items and it has become an essential accessory of daily wear. The jewellery industry has now become one of the most profitable industries. There is an eclectic collection of famous jewellery designs with intricate and exotic styles available to choose from. Diamonds, crystals, pearls and other precious gemstones are used to make glamorous jewellery articles for men and women.

In art jewellery, design and creativity is prized above material value. A variety of materials both precious and non-precious are used in art jewellery. Nowadays people like to have jewellery that is unique and no one else has seen it before. They want to leave an everlasting impression on others through wearing stylish and wonderfully designed jewellery. With a great advancement in the jewellery industry, new and unique designs have been introduced to serve the requirements of customers.

Art deco era was the era of geometry which is also reflected in the jewellery of that period. The jewellery of that era was famous for using bold colors like black and white and geometrical shapes with strong use of symmetry. Some of the famous designers of art deco jewellery are; Boucheron, Cartier, Mauboussin and Tiffany & Co who have made exquisite articles of jewellery over the years. Rock crystals, pearls and corals were the most commonly used gemstones in Art Deco rings, earrings and bracelets.

Art Nouveau jewellery with innovative and striking designs was introduced at the end of the 19th century. The articles of Art Nouveau jewellery were representative of nature and a world of fantasy. The most common, beautiful and famous jewellery designs of Art Nouveau jewels consisted of women head with falling hair. These types of jewellery items were very feminine and dainty with ecstatic designs. Other exclusive designs of Art Nouveau necklaces, rings and other items include; soft curves, free flowing asymmetrical lines, butterflies, floral designs and patterns reflective of nature and women.

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By Sarah Maple

Historically, the first culture to make jewellery were the Chinese around 5000 years ago. Silver was more popular than gold and Jade was their favourite stone. The Chinese initially wore jewellery in order to display their wealth but later early tiara type pieces were worn by women to add to their beauty.

At the same time in Central and South America gold was much easier to find. Jewellery from this area was incredibly ornate however and included the combined use of gold with mother of pearl and amethyst inlayed. The Mayan civilization also used precious gems as a form of currency, whilst the Aztecs used jewellery and jewel-covered tools such as daggers during sacrifices.

Similar to the cross as worn by Christians, other religions have their popular symbols that are widely seen on necklaces and as pendants. Many Muslims wear the symbol of Allah and designs sometimes feature a ritual sword. Additionally, Judaism also has its typical designs such as the Star of David and the Hamesh Hand, a symbol that is traditionally believed to offer protection.

Body modification in some cultures uses jewellery. Inhabitants of Myanmar wear rings from an early age that stretch the neck over a long period of time. Whereas in the African tribes of the Mursi Lip plates are worn to stretch the bottom lip which is traditional before marriage.

Jewellery of the modern era takes on many forms. In the 20th Century artists and designers have used the medium in order to convey their ideas, whilst even pop culture movements such as Hip-Hop have adopted ‘Bling’ as a symbol of success and musical prowess.

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By: Kirsten Katz
Diamonds are a mineral, a natural crystalline substance, the transparent form of pure carbon or nearly pure carbon. Diamonds have extraordinary qualities. Diamonds have a broad colour range, high refraction, high dispersion of fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability. Diamonds are known as the “king of gems” they glitter, dazzle, and symbolize purity and strength.

A diamond is the oldest thing you will ever own, probably 3 billion years in age, fully two thirds the age of the Earth. A diamond is a strategic and high-tech supermaterial for our technological society. Diamond is the birth stone for the month of April.

A diamond is composed of the single element carbon, and it is the arrangement of the C atoms in the lattice that give a diamond its amazing properties. Both diamond and graphite are composed of just carbon. However a diamond is the hardest known material and graphite is one of the softest, this was caused by a rearrangement of the way the atoms are bonded together. Diamond carbon atoms are linked in a regular three-dimensional lattice with a repeating or crystalline pattern.

Diamond belongs to the cubic, or ‘isometric’ crystal system. The most commonly seen crystal structures or arrangements are:

• Octahedron (8 faces)

• Cube (6 faces)

• Dodecahedron (12 faces)

A diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that diamonds are the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that diamonds are four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum - sapphires and rubies.

Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth’s mantle layer from the element carbon, about 180km below the surface, where high temperatures and pressures exist. Some diamonds form at depths of 300-400 kilometres, or even deeper, but these diamonds are particularly rare.

The earths mantel is made up of molten rock, metals and other materials. The temperature is very high at this depth - between 1100 degC and 1400 degC. The high pressures needed to form diamonds are produced by the weight of 180km of rocks pressing down. Besides carbon, there are very small amounts of other substances, such as nitrogen and sulfur that can become trapped in the crystal when it is formed in the mantel. These impurities can give color to the diamond. One of the most rare is pink diamonds.

Natural diamonds are classified by the type and level of impurities found within them.

• Type Ia diamond - Most natural diamonds are of this type, which contain up to 0.3% nitrogen.

• Type Ib diamond - Very rare (~0.1%) in nature, but almost all synthetic (industrial) diamonds are of this type. They contain nitrogen at concentrations of up to 500 ppm.

• Type IIa diamond - Very rare in nature, these diamonds contain so little nitrogen that it can’t be easily detected by the usual IR or UV absorption measurements.

• Type IIb diamond - Extremely rare in nature. These have such a low concentration of nitrogen (even lower than type IIa) that the crystal is a p-type semiconductor (due to uncompensated B acceptor impurities).

Due to its unique internal structure and powers of light reflection, when cut to proper proportions, diamonds gather light within itself and then sends it back in a shower of fire and brilliance. The life of a polished diamond is regarded as the amount of light that is reflected back to the viewer. The term life is also referred to as brilliance. If the diamond is cut with good proportions then the brilliance will be increased. Lustre refers to the surface gloss on a polished diamond. Fire the play of colours that can be seen from the crown of a polished diamond. As light enters the diamond it is refracted and broken up into the colours of the spectrum and reflected back. The resulting rainbow-like colour flashes are called fire.

The hardness of diamond is an important property. As an industrial tool it has many uses and modern industry is highly dependent upon it. As a gemstone, it is resistant to scratching and abrasion, which ensures that a finished gem will retain its brilliance and polish. Because of its hardness and the unique way in which it is manufactured, a diamond polishes very slowly. It forms an unusually flat, finely-polished adamantine surface, with very sharp, straight edges between facets. No other gemstone can quite match this standard of polish.

Diamond has the highest coefficient of thermal conductivity of any known substance because the closely-packed crystal structure conducts heat very quickly. The thermal conductivity of diamond is five times higher than that of copper. This explains why a diamond feels cold to the touch when first picked up but quickly becomes warm from the heat of your fingers.

Only about one-fifth of all mined diamonds could be considered of gem quality. From 40 to 250 tons of gravel and sand must be processed today to recover one rough diamond from the world’s thinning diamond deposits. Experts estimate that all known supplies of diamonds will be depleted within 30 to 40 years. 75 - 80% of all diamonds mined are used for industrial applications such as drilling, grinding, or sawing. The remainder are used for jewelery or investment. Less than 2% of the diamonds mined are of such high quality that they may be considered investment quality.

On average, 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed to produce a one carat diamond of gem quality. When the mining operation is completed, sorters look at rough diamonds, separating them into small piles by shape, size, and quality, a long and laborious process.

The earliest examples of diamonds in human hands were found 3,000 years ago, in India. There, diamonds were used primarily as talismans to ward off evil and protect the wearer in battle. Diamonds were also used by the early Chinese, Greeks, and Romans as an engraving tool. While there was some mystique surrounding diamonds because they were so rare and difficult to obtain-many early cultures believed they had magical properties

The word diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas” meaning unconquerable, in reference to the eternity of love. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, thus, starting the tradition of diamond engagement rings. The reason a woman wears an engagement ring on her third finger of her left hand dates back to the Egyptian belief that the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of that finger.

Many of the rarest diamonds occur by rare accidents of nature in shades of pink, blue, green, amber, or even red. These diamonds are referred to as Fancy diamonds and are evaluated by a different set of color standards. Fancy diamonds are the most expensive due to their extreme rarity.

Towards the middle of the 20th century, De Beers began using its slogan “a diamond is forever” in its advertising. Their campaign was so successful that today, diamonds are strongly associated with engagement rings and eternal love.

It is the only gem mineral composed of a single element making it the purest of earth’s gemstones. Therefore it is fitting that the purest and most brilliant of all the world’s gemstones make the diamond engagement ring the perfect symbol of eternal love.

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The two main winter shows, the Tucson gem and mineral show, along with the Vicenza show in Italy, showcased a number of important colored diamond pieces. Dealers reported strong demand for rarer pieces at the top end of the grading spectrum and unusual color combination.  We are beginning to see a strong surge in demand for rare chameleon diamonds in Japan, where the retail market for these types of pieces has developed a trend not uncommon to the increase in cognac and champagne diamond sales experienced over the last five years.  Orange diamonds have also experienced a surge in price as collectors recognize the rarity and strong fundamentals of this beautiful segment of the colored diamond market.

We have an editorial in the March edition of a newsletter based out of Ireland.  The editorial covers off some of the developing supply and demand factors impacting the market over the medium-term, along with some interesting recommendations, such as the pink, chameleon and vivid yellow diamonds.

Supply is still the big issue right now as colored diamond rough is becoming more and more scarce at the major cutting centers and dealers continue to receive strong orders from international retailers and dealers.

We are in the process of acquiring a rare parcel of chameleon diamonds, with a deep olive colored pear shaped piece and a half-carat bluish green diamond included in the parcel.  These pieces have a beautiful olive to them and are sourced from the alluvial mines in Brazil as well as central Africa.  Chameleon diamonds are seeing a surge in demand from retail buyers as well as collectors, so we are very excited about the acquisition; dominant green chameleon diamonds are getting increasingly difficult to source.

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Author: Mary Taylor

Diamonds have been the focus of attention for artists, writers, religions, and people in general for almost all cultures for years because they represent status, beauty, perfection and wealth. There have been people who commited murder or will endure a great deal of trouble to steal diamonds. And there are people who will spend a great deal of money to get that perfect piece of diamond jewelry.

Diamonds are especially significant for many women especially as they represent status, beauty, and
class for the wearer. Owners of the larger diamonds are held in high regard by admirers, as these people are perceived as special and high status. In addition, various religions have recognized the symbolic beauty of the diamond and its extraordinary physical properties. But diamonds have a religious-mystical quality in various religions, such as the Diamond Sutra in Tibetan Buddhism is one of the most beloved texts. The devotional statues of Hindu gods had diamond eyes, as diamonds were thought to be treasured gifts from the gods. The ancient Greeks also associated diamonds with the tears of their gods. In fact, the name “diamond” comes from the ancient Greek word, adamas which means invincible, because diamonds have indestructable qualities.

Diamonds also can be used as tough, abrasive tools as well as set in a stunning piece of diamond jewelry by craftspersons and jewelry designers. The reason why diamonds are so unique as they are one of the two main forms of carbon (along with graphite) they can only be scratched by other diamonds, they are a dynamic conductor of heat, and they are excellent cutting tools that are used in various industries.The solid durability and the ability of diamonds to to reflect light are qualities which make them useful for industry and for a beautiful piece of jewelry. It takes over two tons of mined ore to find a quality diamond that can be used for a good piece of jewelry, so diamonds are certainly unique and special.

A mined diamond is taken to a diamond cutter in order to be cut and shaped into a round shape to be prepared to be sold for jewelry. The cutter attempts to cut the diamond to show the reflecting light from the various facets of the cut stone. The reflecting light, or the fire, is the most important attraction of a beautifully cut diamond. Diamond cutters treat diamond cutting as an art, because the light relecting from the diamond must be cut in such a way that is attractive as possible. The job is finished when it is polished.

Over the years, there have been many well-known diamonds that have been found and named after the owners, people, or places. These diamonds are usually quite large and have a great deal of value attached to them. In addition, they have no “name brand” as an authentic diamond is a product of nature not anything manufactured. The value of the diamond is not based on where the diamond was mined: it could be in India, Russia, Africa, Canada, Australia, and other countries. Diamonds can be formed from the magma from volcanic eruptions, plates of the earth crashing together, and even more rarely from glaciers.

People often wonder how a particular piece of diamond jewelry is assigned a price tag. The use of different types of gold or platinum for the setting, the quality of the diamond, and many more factors come into play. To determine the price, a company may be called in to appraise the diamond’s properties: its weight, clarity, cut and color. When the results are finalized with the assessment of the diamond, it is then bought by a diamond dealer who will try to sell it to a professional jeweler who will in turn to sell it retail to the consumer.

If a consumer would like to get an assessment or certification for a diamond, the GIA, which is the Gemological Institute of America would be a good place to get the work done. It is considered more accurate than a jeweler. After the results, the consumer can try to read a diamond cutter’s guide to try to interpret the results. It is not advisable to try the Diamond Calculators on the Internet, as they are not considered accurate. Remember that the Diamond Grading Report is considered the main resource for the serious shopper.

In sum, we can see that diamonds probably will never lose their attraction and significance in all cultures. Today, they signify true love, hope, and promise for those seeking engagement or wedding rings. It is often a romantic and intimate occasion for couples to go shopping for rings. Luckily, there are a broad array of diamond rings suitable for many budgets. And it is a very personal choice in the selection of the diamond ring; after all, diamonds last a very long time!

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Author: Jennifer

The black diamond was once considered worthless and flawed but today, it is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after gems because of its unique and exquisite quality. However, not all gems are equal. That is why; interested buyers have to study more on its characteristics before finally making a purchase.

What is a Black Diamond?

Compared with some most coloured diamonds that characterize their dazzling hues because of chemical
impurities that grow right within its crystal lattice, a black diamond provides smoky colourations from its mineral inclusions. These minerals are usually sulphide compounds, hematite, and magnetite. Higher concentrations of these inclusions generally cloud the stone, thus turning it into a rich or black colour.
Since this tinting is typically caused by the inclusions instead of some impurities, a black diamond is usually opaque, although semi-transparent and translucent specimens are considered as extremely valuable. A natural black diamond has been located in Australia, Venezuela, Africa and Brazil, and more of these are believed to have been shaped by meteor impacts.

Carbonados are a specific type of a black diamond that holds very little value in the whole of the jewelry industry. They are commonly large but are very much porous, unlike the crystalline structure of diamonds used in jewelry. Although less valuable, carbonados are used as abrasives to cut and shape other diamonds. Additionally, they are more common than those gem-quality stones.

Synthetic Black Diamond

Since a black diamond is starting to gain its popularity, different treatments have been developed just to meet the growing demand. It may be synthetically grown in a laboratory, while inferior diamonds may be irradiated to attain a smoky black coloration.

Also, annealing, or commonly called heat treatment, can also be used on low-quality gems. Stones are generally exposed at higher temperature until a graphite residue appears in the crystal, providing it with a gray or a black tint. Another method to create a gray or black diamond is injecting carbon dioxide into plasma. This will result into crystals that normally have a black hue.
Investment in Black Diamonds
When you buy a black diamond, always make it a point to carefully investigate whether that stone is synthetically enhanced or not. If it is treated, the stone normally requires a special care to refrain from damaging the treatment.

A black diamond is very luxurious and rare. If you wish to be unique with your pieces of jewelry, try considering it to exude a powerful and a dramatic statement.

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Author: Jennifer

Diamonds are one of the earth’s treasures that have become a much sought after gem stone. With their brilliant color and amazing texture this is one of the most amazing creations that can be found. Not only are diamonds beautiful to look at, they are one of the worlds hardest materials making them useful in things like saws and other equipment that is used for cutting.

Diamonds are an intriguing formation and fascinating to learn about.

How Are
diamonds Formed?

Diamonds are billions of years old and are created far beneath the earth’s surface. Diamonds are formed due to several conditions that exist within the earth’s mantel. Between extreme cold and a high level of pressure the diamonds are melted into being.

They are then carried up towards the earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions. These eruptions carry the diamonds up through formations in the earth’s surface like pipes.

Some diamonds that are extremely small have even been found in meteorite debris. Between the temperature of the meteor and the impact of it hitting the earth, a diamond can be formed. Glaciers have also been known to leave behind diamond, again due to the extreme cold and pressure of the glacier.

What Are Pink Diamonds?

Diamonds are classified by their color. Some diamonds are considered pure, that is to say there is no color in them and these are very valuable. The colored diamonds though are extremely attractive and the color just enhances the beauty of the natural stone.

Pink diamonds are created as the diamond is traveling to the surface. Pink diamonds result as the diamond’s carbon base becomes twisted and begins to absorb light. Colors that can result due to this process include yellow, blue, red and pink diamonds.

The colored diamonds are very popular and pink diamonds are currently very trendy thanks to celebrities acquiring them and wearing them.

Some diamonds can also be tinted to take on a stronger hue of color including the popular pink diamonds. Pink diamonds are considered rare, and this of course results in a much higher price for the elusive pink diamonds.

Some companies are now manufacturing diamonds that are grown in

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