What is an ‘eye clean’ diamond?
Being ‘eye clean’ affects the clarity and quality of a diamond, which will alter the price of any stone. If a diamond is ‘eye clean’ it does not visually show any inclusions or blemishes on the surface or interior when viewed with the naked eye. The diamond may feature an impurity, but it may only be visible with the use of a microscope.
The clarity of a diamond is one of the 4 Cs – Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat - because it is one of the fundamental attributes to knowing how to judge a diamond. Clarity becomes especially important if impurities are noticeable to the naked eye in diamond jewellery or engagement rings.
Clarity refers to the level of inclusions such as scratches, blemishes, pockets of air and non-diamond material inside or on the surface of a diamond. Fewer or less obvious inclusions make diamonds rarer and more highly valued.
What imperfections can a diamond have?
Any rough diamond can suffer from interior or surface imperfections, known as inclusions or blemishes. Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or another diamond crystal, or the presence of structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that appear cloudy or white. Cracks are often known as fracture lines, needles or feathers depending on the mark they leave or their cause. Internal crystals or marks can appear as singular ‘pinpoints’ or as clusters known as ‘clouds’.
Famous Pink Diamonds of the World
Both scarce and popular, pink diamonds are extremely sought after and expensive. With the exception of a couple found in India, almost all of the world’s pink diamonds are now produced from one mine in Western Australia: the renowned Argyle Mine. This extreme rarity means that the gems discovered there are considered highly valuable. Have a look at some of the world’s most fascinating, expensive and large pink coloured diamonds!
The Star of the South
This beautiful diamond was cut into a cushion shape and is also known as Estrela do Sul, since it was found by a slave girl in a mine of the same name in Brazil in 1853. It weighs an impressive 128.48 carats (25.70 g) and is graded as a type IIa diamond, with a clarity of VS2 and a colour grading of light pinkish-brown. There is a white reflection of light from the diamond, whereas the refracted light has a definite rose tint which gives the stone a light pink and brown shade.
Famous Yellow Diamonds of the World
Yellow Diamonds get their colour from nitrogen being present at the time they are formed. The hues of a diamond can range from pale sunshine yellow to bright canary yellow and amber hues. Seventy Seven Diamonds brings you a list of the most exquisite and famous yellow-coloured diamonds that have featured throughout history. Find about their history, their diamond credentials, and what it is that makes them so famous.
The Sancy Diamond
The most famous yellow diamond is the Sancy; an impressive 55 carat, light yellow diamond what fluoresces yellow and pink. However, it is the story of the diamond that makes it famous. It is thought that the Sancy originally came from India and legend has it that in 1477 the diamond was lost by Charles, Duke of Burgundy during a battle. Its first verified owner became Nicholas Harlai of Sancy, a French Ambassador, who bought the diamond in the late 1500's in Constantinople – hence the derivation of this stone’s name.
Famous Blue Diamonds of the World
Seventy Seven Diamonds brings you a list of the most exquisite and famous blue-coloured diamonds that have featured throughout history. Find about their history, their diamond credentials, and what it is that makes them so famous.
The Regent Diamond
This diamond was also commonly known as the Pitt Diamond and was discovered by a slave in the legendary Golconda mine, India, in 1698. The sparkler wasn’t hard to miss; it weighed an impressive 410 carats. However, the slave hid the stone and managed to escape to the coast – only to be murdered for the stone by an English sea captain.
The captain sold the stone to an Indian diamond merchant for an estimated £3,431. Thomas Pitt, Governor of Fort George in Madras, then bought the blue stone from the merchant in 1702 for £68,610. Thomas Pitt was grandfather to the famous American Revolutionist William Pitt and he was the one who transported the diamond to England for cutting.
The Regent Diamond is a cushion-shaped, brilliant cut diamond, white in colour but with a faint blue tinge. It now weighs approximately 140.50 carats and measures around 32mm x 34mm x 25mm. The moulding of the stone took 2 years before it was turned into the charming Regent Diamond – thought to be one of the finest cut diamonds in existence!
Top Celebrity Engagement Rings: Part Two
Continuing on from part one, we bring you even more of the top celebrity engagement rings! With a seemingly endless budget, celebrities are renowned for their extravagant and luxurious jewellery, designed by the best in the world. These stunners range from simple elegance, to extreme bling, but no matter what the style these rings all go for a hefty price!
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey’s engagement ring from her current husband and singer Nick Cannon, is equally extravagant. Her $2.5 million engagement ring by Jacob and Co. is a 17-carat emerald cut diamond surrounded with pink diamonds and two half-moon diamonds.
The proposal
The two singers met on the set of Mariah’s video. Nick proposed marriage to Mariah by hiding her engagement ring inside a candy Ring Pop, due to her taste for candy. The couple now celebrate their anniversary each year with a new ring and glamorous celebration!
More Top Proposal Locations!
Earlier this week we revealed some of the chief hotspots that could serve as the perfect romantic setting for your special marriage proposal. Let the location do the work for you in creating that magical atmosphere to ensure the moment is an unforgettable one.
Here are some more sensational destinations from around the globe which you can consider for the setting of the big question!
Maya Beach, Phi Phi Leh, Thailand
If you want absolute paradise for your romantic proposal, then this perfect, calm and beautiful white-sanded beach cove is right for you. The intense turquoise waters were the ones featured in the film The Beach and this idyllic background will compliment your big question – leaving you to enjoy the rest of your holiday together in complete luxury and relaxation.
Top Celebrity Engagement Rings: Part One
With their social status and money, celebrities go all out when it comes to special gifts – and engagement rings are perhaps the most special to feature in the media limelight. We look at some of the most extravagant and stunning examples taken from our favourite celebrity figures...which do you like best? Who has the best taste? Have any of them inspired your own designs?
Katie Holmes
Actress Katie Holmes’ 5 carat oval-shaped diamond engagement ring set in platinum and rose gold is reminiscent of art deco rings, with its focus on a large centre stone bedded in an elegant pave setting. The unusual two-tone, platinum-rose gold setting spruces up the antique-style ring, and adds a unique element and contemporary twist to a very popular look.
The proposal
Hollywood start Tom Cruise made his proposal to Katie Holmes at the Eiffel Tower in Paris in June, 2005.
Top Proposal Locations!
Popping that life changing question is probably one of the hardest things to do in life. Now that you've chosen the right time to propose, you now have to find the place to do it. Even though it doesn’t have to be too elaborate or expensive to impress your loved one, the place you choose can be crucial.
Once you have settled on the perfect diamond ring for your wife-to-be, the rest is in the personal gesture and the how and where you decide to ask the question. We know people are different; some romantic, some adventurous and daring, some traditional. The location for your big announcement is a very important factor which can add to the impact of the exciting and romantic news.
We’ve already given you some ideas of how to carry out proposals in the past, but here are some innovative ideas for the best proposal destinations and locations to help inspire you and create that perfect scene!
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
This awesome architectural masterpiece is known as a mausoleum and was built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Because of this, the building is considered to be a monument to love and devotion between man and wife. Early morning or sunset are the best times to catch the sun’s rays beaming onto the white and decorated walls of the impressive dome building, so time your unique proposal experience.
Diamonds: why it’s a good time to invest
This week the global gem-mining giant De Beers Group revealed that the world’s diamond supplies are running out. Despite recent economic hardships, the choice to invest in diamonds now may be a wise one.
According to the mining company, diamond mines are getting scarce and will eventually become history. De Beers has decided to reduce its production in order to extend the life of the mines.
The depletion in diamond mines will have a direct impact on the prices of stones. Diamond analyst at Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets, Des Kilalea, explained that owing to the moderated output, diamond prices could rise by at least 5 percent every year for the next five years.
De Beers is responsible for 40 percent of global diamond sales, but this figure is now likely to decline. The company had an astonishing record of producing 48 million carats per annum, but will now reduce their diamond production to 40 million in 2011.
Are you an aspiring jewellery designer? Part Two
Jewellery design from Simone Walsh
At Seventy Seven Diamonds we love to encourage talent and support up and coming designers in their struggle to become more skilled, successful and recognised. This is the second part of the blog series in which we identify some of the key challenges faced by jewellery designers and offer advice and information on current opportunities which they, as aspiring artistes, can use to their advantage for both creating and selling their pieces.
What can you expect?
In part one we outlined the job requirements for designers in general terms. If you’re fairly new to the game, here’s some more information about what you can expect to be involved in the job...
Jewellery designers plan the style and pattern of jewellery, silverware and other decorative metalwork products. As a jewellery designer, you could produce designs for mass production, or to be made individually or in small numbers by yourself or other craft-workers. For example, you could be commissioned to:
- Produce designs to meet the requirements of a client (known as a 'brief' or commission) or for general sale. This can include the work of large-scale designer line sales.
- Produce designs which are then made by other staff (if you work for a company).
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