1. Sourcing Diamonds (Mining)

Of course, the hardest part of diamond mining is actually discovering the stone and a lot of money is spent on geological surveys, looking for veins of diamonds. Certain parts of the world produce more diamonds than others. Here are the top 5 locations in terms of carats produced:

1. Russia
2. Canada
3. Botswana
4. Angola
5. South Africa

Australia, in particular, has the famous Argyle Mine, which opened in the 1970s and has produced some stunning pink stones over the decades. The mine also produced high quality champagne diamonds, but sadly, Argyle Mine stopped production in 2019.

Leading diamond wholesalers may still have access to the best stones not just from the Argyle Mine; they will also be able to offer you diamonds in different colours. For example, you may be able to spot the most exquisite loose champagne diamonds for sale.

2. Rough Diamonds

As gems are discovered, they embark on a sorting process and it may surprise you to learn that only around 20% are used for jewellery, while the 80% is used for industrial purposes. So, it is only the premium quality diamonds that make it past the rough diamond stage and these stones are generally sold to gem wholesalers.

3. De Beers’ Central Selling Organization (CSO)

The vast majority of diamonds are funnelled through the De Beers’ CSO, where there are more than 5,000 categories for rough diamonds before the stones reach the wholesale gem market. These gems are sold at events called ‘sights’.

There are 10 sights per year, each lasting one week, which gives the wholesalers time to study the diamonds before bidding. The select few who are chosen are called ‘sightholders’ and they acquire the majority of the rough diamonds, while a few are auctioned.

4. Custom Jewellers

The custom jeweller is commissioned by a client to create a special piece of jewellery; a diamond engagement ring is a perfect example. With the client’s preferences, the custom jeweller can approach the wholesale gem dealer, looking for the right stones.

The jeweller is very picky when looking for specific stones and a lot of negotiation might take place before a deal is struck. The custom jeweller wants the lowest price for their client and they may have to work to the client’s budget, which can make things extremely tight.

5. The Jewellery Making Process

Once the custom jeweller takes possession of the rough diamonds, the cut is chosen and the jeweller also applies for a GIA Certificate for the finished stones. Typically, the jeweller would meet with the client several times to get an idea of the design. With the client’s input, the design is eventually approved and the work can begin.

The aspects of ring design include:

• Metal (gold (white, yellow or rose), or platinum)
• Precious stones
• Diamond cut
• Setting
• Overall design

When the diamond engagement ring is complete, the client has a private viewing. If all is good, the transaction is completed.

Read Also

• How to Choose the Right Diamond Engagement Ring
• What Do You Do with Your Engagement Ring on The Wedding Day?
• What Does Your Engagement Ring Stone Colour Mean?
• The World’s Most Expensive and Amazing Engagement Rings

The post The Various Stages Of A Diamond’s Life appeared first on .

1. Wilfred Rosado Engagement Ring:

The top spot simply belongs to the Wilfred Rosado amazing engagement ring that was presented to Mariah Carey from her then-fiancée James Packer. Worth a cool $10m, this 35-carat diamond and platinum engagement ring is undoubtedly the most expensive ever! While it must be nice to receive such an expensive ring; most females are happy with anything that comes from the heart.

2. The Blue Diamond Ring by Bvlgari:

The Blue Diamond by Bvlgari is worth a staggering $9.5m and was given to Elizabeth Taylor from her heart-throb Richard Burton. It weighed in at an amazing 33.1 carats and is still one of the most sought after in the world of diamonds. This romantic couple set the world on fire with their stormy relationship, which included getting married twice! There are some amazing diamond ring images to drool over.

3. Lorraine Schwartz Engagement Ring:

The Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring was presented to none other than Kim Kardashian (she had to be in our list) by her suitor Kanye West. The 15-carat diamond reflected his love for her, and if you want to wow your fiancée with something very special, check out the stunning range of antique style engagement rings from Kalmar Antiques, one of the leading Australian online antique dealers. There you can view many fine examples of classic rings that have a colorful and romantic history, and with secure online payment, you can acquire a ring that will set her heart on fire!

4. Paris Hilton’s Engagement Ring:

Paris Hilton’s Engagement ring was talked about for years and let’s face it, you can’t have a list of biggest and best without her name showing up. The billionaire hotel chain girl was presented a stunning 24-carat canary diamond ring by her then-fiancée Paris Latsis. The bad news? The wedding was called off, and the good news …. the ring was auctioned off with the proceeds going to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina!

5. Cartier Diamond Ring:

The famous Cartier diamond ring was given to the late Grace Kelly from her husband Prince Rainer III of Monaco, and at $4.6m, it was the most expensive at that time. If you are planning to surprise your partner with an antique diamond amazing engagement ring, look for a reputable online antique dealer. As they would have the best collection and the good news is, all pieces are valued at less than $1m!

6. Catherine Middleton’s Engagement Ring:

How can we forget about the news which nearly stormed the entire world, let alone England? Yes, we are talking about the engagement of Catherine Middleton and Prince William. On 16^th November 2010, when the royal pair got engaged, the only hype created was not about the royal wedding. But also about the royal-like engagement ring. The blue sapphire ring was surely a treat to the eyes but it could also make a hole in the pocket.

The ring originally belonged to Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997. Not only that, the robustness of the ring is as rich as its history. The stone is a whole 12-carat blue oval sapphire set with an 18K white gold. Now talk about royal!

7. Brangelina Engagement Ring:

The whole world witnessed the most popular celebrity engagement of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the sensation of Hollywood. But seldom did anyone not notice the engagement ring that Brad offered to Angelina.

It is a sheer masterpiece from Robert Procop, who made sure that it looks sophisticated and edgy, just like Brangelina’s charisma. Since then the Brangelina engagement ring became the epitome of custom made rings. The ring is set upon the highest quality of diamonds, with a huge bulging diamond as its centerpiece.

These are just a few of the most expensive (and dazzling) diamond rings ever presented to women by their rich husbands, yet demonstrating one’s love isn’t really about how big the diamond is; it’s more about the love that the couple shared, and if you would like to view some simply stunning antique engagement rings online, all you need to do is Google.

Make your sweetheart’s day by proposing and presenting a beautiful antique diamond engagement ring!

Read Also:

• How to Choose the Right Diamond Engagement Ring
• Loose Diamonds: Complete Guide to Buying
• 5 Unique Engagement Ring Ideas for 2018

The post The World’s Most Expensive and Amazing Engagement Rings appeared first on .

Deciding on a Budget :

The first step before you begin research is to set a budget for this all-important purchase. If you don’t start out with a clear idea of how much you can spend, you could find yourself either broken-hearted or entering into a debt that neither of you will appreciate in early marriage. A general guideline is to spend up to two month’s salary on an engagement ring, with $4,000 being a common figure. The amount you can spend on a ring also needs to match the amount you can reasonably save between now and the big day.

Find out What She Likes :

Once you know how much you can spend, find out what your sweetheart likes so you know what you’re looking for.

Pay special attention to her fashion sense in jewelry. Does she go for a modern or classic look? Does she prefer fine and subtle shapes, or chunky and eye-catching? Are most of her existing jewelry pieces made of silver, white gold, rose gold, or yellow gold? Girls will usually wear the jewelry that best suits their skin tone and the color of their wardrobe, so it’s especially important to get this right.

Consider How She’ll Wear It :

Next, think about her lifestyle. If she’s an active girl who goes for practicality, go for a smaller rock (but still elegant and feminine) that’s firmly set into the band and is unlikely to fall out or snag on her clothing. If she’s a dedicated fashionista with affluent friends, think about looking for a diamond that’s larger and more prominent, even if these means compromising slightly on indicators of quality. If your girl is a fan of matching sets, consider a diamond ring that comes with matching wedding bands. That way, you’ll end up with “his and hers” rings!

The best way to make sure your beloved will love her diamond engagement ring is to talk with her about it. She probably knows what shape and size of diamond she’d like, and the setting and band color that she prefers. It’s even possible that she may already have a ring picked out!

Learn a Bit about Diamonds :

When you finally step into the jewelry store, you’re going to want to know a bit about diamonds so you can select the perfect quality and design for your girl, and for your budget.

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America Inc.) came up with the “4Cs” of diamonds in 2007 as a way to make grading the value of diamonds more straightforward:

• The cut has to do with the workmanship involved in shaping the diamond, and rates its proportions, symmetry, and polish from “excellent” to “poor”. The cut determines the brilliance and appeal of the diamond.
• Color refers to how clear a diamond is on a scale from completely clear (a “D” rating) to yellowish-brown (a “Z” rating). The clearer the diamond, the higher it is worth.
• Clarity defines how many “inclusions” and blemishes are present inside a diamond, and ranges from “flawless” to “included”. The clearer the diamond of inclusions and blemishes, the rarer and therefore the more valuable the diamond is.
• Carat is a measure of the weight of the diamond, with smaller diamonds having a lower carat (less rare) and larger diamonds having a higher carat (most rare). Diamond carat ratings range from 0.5 to 5.0.

Diamonds come in a variety of classic and specialty shapes. The most popular shapes (and the ones that are least likely to ever go out of fashion) are round, square, and princess. If your lady is into trendy and unique shapes, consider the full range of shapes to find one that will match her style: oval shape, pear shape, radiant shape, heart shape, marquise shape, cushion cut, emerald, and Asscher cut.

For the diamond’s setting, the most popular design is the “solitaire”, which has a metal band with one solitary diamond. This setting is a classic and has stood the test of time.

The other main settings are:

• The “sidetone” features one large central diamond, flanked by two small ones.
• A “three stone” setting has three diamonds of the same shape, with the center stone typically being the largest in size.
• The “halo” setting has one large diamond in the center, with tiny diamonds positioned all the way around. This makes the center diamond appear larger.

Make Sure You’re Getting What You Pay For :

Finally, take the time to make sure that your stunning diamond engagement ring is the high-quality product you believe it to be. Go in person to the jeweler rather than purchasing online, and ask about lab certification. An independent, professional appraisal will confirm if the price you’re being charged is accurate. Once you’ve made your purchase, keep the certificate for any future claims and/or resale.

Congratulations, and all the best with the proposal!

Read Also :

• 5 Unique Engagement Ring Ideas for 2018
• 6 Things No One Tells You About Engagement Ring Shopping
• A Definitive Guide on How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring

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