They are squeezed out from the center of the earth, representing the compression of carbon under pressure and heat conditions that humans—despite having split the atom—still cannot properly synthesize.
Diamonds
(definition) are the hardest substance found on earth (“diamond”, in fact, comes from an ancient word for “invincible”), and as such have a wide variety of applications in industry. Scientists have managed to synthesize very small diamonds for industrial polishing and grinding. But the gem (the rarest form of diamond) remains inimitable.
Diamonds are distinct. Unlike most stones, valuable diamonds have no defects, and their shading and symmetry is unlike any other gem. Those who have had the privilege of owning a diamond know the entrancing effects of looking into the shadows of its depths.
Unlike gold, which is most precious when dissolved and reformed by craftsmen,
diamond jewelry , to a much greater extent, stands on its own. Great stashes of gold are throughout history stolen and vanish through the ages into jewelry, ornaments and even silk clothing. Diamonds, on the other hand, are stolen, sold and stolen again, all the while remaining whole.
Consider the
Hope Diamond . It has traveled the world from India, through the courts of pre-industrial Europe, and can currently be found at the Smithsonian museum. It is almost a living character in its own story, firing imaginations around the world through its mysterious past and inspiring rumors of its having been cursed. Our diamond products are covered by Amazon.com’s
A to Z guarantee , and GEMaffair.com assures you all our diamonds are shipped curse-free.
May Birthstone: EmeraldGive that special person born in May a stone that brings out the color of spring, all year round. And color is really what the
emerald birthstone is all about. Unlike most gems, the richness of an emerald’s verdant hues is its most important characteristic. This is for three reasons. First, emeralds bear the marks of their past, and wear them well. Much of the pleasure of owning
emerald jewelry lies in observing the ways in which the earth has imprinted itself on your particular gem over millions of years. Emeralds display a significant amount of variation depending on where they were formed, making their blemishes something collectors tend to embrace rather than overlook or avoid.
Second, the texture and density of
emeralds(definition) make them one of the more difficult gems to shape. Rather than the intricate geometric planes of the diamond, emeralds are cut to include broad flat surfaces where possible, with several-angled corners. More often than other valuable gems, emeralds may simply be smoothed and rounded so as not to risk damage through attempts at more complex shapes.
Third, the color of a real, quality emerald fascinates even the most, um, jaded of gem collectors. Rich emerald green is color found nowhere else. Larger, older emeralds tend to present the better color. Emeralds with a hint of blue are the more common variety, and so are less valuable—though they are also beautiful gems.
June Birthstone: Pearl
While most precious stones are forced in the furnaces of the earth, pearls are spun like a spider’s web by oysters in the depths of the sea—the prey, an intruder such as a tiny pebble. Oysters spin a material called
nacre around the intrusive object in order not to be damaged by it.
Methods for locating pearls have become more refined. Much in the same way silkworms are farmed, the collection of pearl oysters has often replaced diving. The
pearl birthstone remains a valuable item, and is most popularly set without adornment on a necklace or pair of earring studs. Pearl jewelry is also commonly adorned with white gold. Pearls are stones that give their wearer an air of elegance and are best when worn simply.
Prior to modern harvesting techniques, cultures would go to great lengths to obtain a pearl. The Ama of Japan are women who free dive for pearls, carrying on a tradition dating back thousands of years. Japan has a proud history of culling from the sea, and the women who became Ama took on one of the more difficult jobs in a difficult field. Coping with minimal opportunities to resurface, cold water, and the occasional shark, their labor is effective testimony to the allure of the pearl.
The tradition is dying out in an era where traditional culture is less valued. Luckily, these remarkable accidents of nature aren’t going anywhere. Pearls remain a timeless gem.
See you in the summer!
We hope you enjoyed the Spring 2007 Newsletter! We’ll be back next summer to inform you about another exciting season of jewelry. Happy Spring!
Winter 2007 