DIAMOND AND DIAMOND

Diamond Brands and What They Mean

2011-09-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Diamonds are one of the few products that
simply cannot be ‘branded.’ Even though
there are different cuts, different grades, and
different values placed on each and every
diamond in existence, no diamond is any
specific brand – just as gold is not a specific
brand.
Branding is actually based on who owns the
diamond. For instance, if DeBeers owns the
diamond, it is a DeBeers Diamond – but it is
still just a diamond. If the diamond was cut by
a specific well known cutter, then it might be
branded in that way as well – but it usually
isn’t. It is still branded based on who owns it
at the time. So basically, when it comes down
to it – diamond brands mean absolutely
nothing at all.
Do not allow a jeweler to try to talk you into
paying an exorbitant price on a diamond
because it is a specific brand. This is a bit
of trickery used by unscrupulous jewelers
when they know that they are dealing with
people who don’t know much about
diamonds. Remember that diamonds are
not actually branded – unless mother nature
has her own brand!

Diamond Certificates

2011-09-19T09:59:00.001-07:00

A diamond certificate is also known as a
Diamond Grading Report. This report comes
from the Gemological Institute of America
(GIA), and you should require this report
when you are purchasing a diamond.
With a diamond certificate, you can verify
the color, cut, carat, weight, and clarity of the
diamond. You don’t have to worry about a
diamond dealer telling you anything less than
the truth, because the certificate comes
from the GIA – not the dealer. You may be
required to pay for the certificate, but the
cost is usually low, and in many cases, it
will help you negotiate a better price on the
diamond – or keep you from purchasing a
lower quality diamond altogether.
If you buy a high quality diamond, and then
later decide to sell the diamond, you will
need to have the certificate, or you will have
a hard time selling it to someone else.
Furthermore, you can use the Diamond
Grading Report to look up the wholesale
value of the diamond in question. Use the
guide that is used by the diamond cutting
industry.
With the Certificate, or Diamond Grading
Report, there won’t be any doubts when you
are trying to purchase a diamond. You can
easily find out what the diamond is worth.
This will prevent you from overpaying, and it
can prevent a seller from under-charging as
well.
A copy of the Diamond Grading Report
should be given to your insurance company
as well, when you insure the diamond. This
provides absolute, unquestionable proof of
the value of the diamond should it be stolen
in the future. Insurance companies cannot
argue with the report.
Avoid diamond dealers who seem reluctant
to provide a certificate! Also avoid sellers
who tell you that a certificate diamond will
cost you more – the only additional cost
should be the cost of the certificate, which
is low. If the dealer doesn’t want to provide
a certificate, then you don’t want to do
business with that dealer.
Don’t accept certificates from Gemological
Laboratories other than GIA. There are many
fly-by-night Gemological labs these days, but
in the end, GIA has been established as the
most respectable and trustworthy – not to
mention oldest – of the lot. So avoid dealers
who don’t want to use GIA for certification
purposes as well.
Don’t buy an expensive diamond without
paying the extra cost of the certificate. If a
dealer tries to convince you to make the
purchase without the certificate, or if they
want to use a company other than GIA, you
can be sure that the dealer has probably
greatly inflated the price of the diamond –
they have something th

Diamond Grading Reports

2011-09-19T09:46:00.001-07:00

You’ve been told that having a certificate or
a diamond grading report is important, and
as a responsible consumer, you get one –
unfortunately, you probably won’t understand
a word of what is on that diamond grading
report, unless you are a jeweler.
On the color grading scale, D, E, and F
mean that the diamond has no color. G, H,
and I means that it has very little color. J, K,
and L means that the diamond has a slight
yellow color. P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, and X
means that the diamond is a darker shade
of yellow. Z means that the diamond has a
fancy color – other than white or yellow.
On the color grading scale, D is the most
valuable, and X is the least valuable –
however diamonds that get a Z rating are
the rarest and most expensive diamonds
in the world.
There are many aspects to a grading report.
Figuring it all out can be very confusing. You
should talk to a jeweler you trust, and have
them explain everything on the diamond
grading report to you.

Diamond Scams

2011-09-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

When it comes to diamonds, there are
numerous scams to avoid. Most scams are
minor, but there are some major ones that
come up from time to time concerning the
buying and selling of diamonds. Scams
occur simply because most people who buy
diamonds – for whatever reasons – don’t
know that much about diamonds. Therefore,
they are easily fooled.
A common scam that most jewelry stores
participate in is the Carat Total Weight scam.
The tag on the piece of jewelry, usually a ring,
only states the total carat weight of all
diamonds in the piece, instead of listing the
total weights separately for each diamond.
This leads consumers to believe that the main
diamond in the piece is actually bigger than it
is. Ask what the total carat weight of the center
stone is. Also beware of fractions. Jewelry
stores are allowed to round off diamond
weights. This means that if the jeweler tells
you that it is a ¾ carat diamond, it is
probably between ½ and ¾ carat – but
closer to ¾.
Jewelry stores often run ‘fluorescence’
scams to varying degrees. Referring to a
diamond as a blue-white diamond is such a
scam. A blue-white diamond sounds very
unique and special, but in fact, this type of
diamond is of lesser quality – even though
the jeweler will try to make you think you are
getting something special. Jewelry stores
also like to show their diamonds in bright
lights. Lights make diamonds shine. Ask
to see the diamond in a different, darker
type of lighting as well.
Some truly unscrupulous jewelers target
those who want appraisals on diamonds
that were given to them as gifts or that were
purchased elsewhere. They will try to tell you
that the diamond is worthless, or worth less
than it actually is worth – and offer to take it
off your hands or trade it for a much better
diamond, along with the cash to make up
the difference. This is called low balling.
Get a second, third, and even a forth opinion
before taking any action.
Another common dirty trick is to switch the
diamond you have chosen and paid for with
one of lesser quality and value when you
leave it to be set in a piece of jewelry, or
leave a diamond ring to be sized. The only
way to avoid this is to do business with one
trustworthy jeweler. Avoid jewelers that you
have not done business with in the past.
There are many more scams that jewelry
stores commonly pull on unsuspecting
consumers. Just use your best judgment,
and purchase your diamonds with the
utmost care and consideration.

Colored Diamonds 3

2011-09-11T19:10:00.005-07:00

A "fancy" diamond is a natural diamond that
has color. These colors vary from red, green,
purple, violet, orange, blue and pink – and
most shades between. Fancy color shades
vary from faint to intense.

The most famous diamonds in the world are
Color diamonds. The Tiffany Diamond,
which is yellow and the Hope Diamond which
is blue are colored diamonds. Color
diamonds have an amazing financial track
record. The value has never decreased on
wholesale level in more than 30 years. Blue
and pink diamonds have doubled every 5
years of a strong economy. In the 1970’s
you could have bought a very high quality
blue diamond for about 50K and today the
very same stone would be worth between
2 and 3 million.

Colored Diamonds 2

2011-09-11T19:10:00.001-07:00

Synthetic colored diamonds are another
option if owning a colored diamond is
something you desire but cannot quite afford.
They are real diamonds, but they are created
in a lab.

Natural fancy color diamonds get their
coloring from different trace elements present
in the stones, such as nitrogen, which
produces a yellow diamond. Diamonds can
be colored by exposure to radiation during its
creation. An example of a diamond affected
by radiation is a Green diamond.

Another way that a natural colored diamond
gets color is by its inclusions. Regarded as
flaws and undesirable in a colorless diamond,
inclusions give unique tones and brilliant
flashes of color in a fancy color diamond.
Remember that Natural fancy colored
diamonds are very expensive, any colored
diamond labeled to be sold as natural should
be accompanied by a certificate from a
respected grading lab.

Colored Diamonds

2011-09-11T19:09:00.002-07:00

Fancy colored diamonds are all the rage
these days. Gemologists have developed
new ways to create versions that are
affordable for the average person - by
treating less desirable diamonds. These
less desirable diamonds are treated with
irradiation followed by intense heat. This
turns brown and yellowish diamonds into
beautifully colored diamonds that you can
afford. This produces stunning greens,
blues, yellows, reds, purples and other
colors. These colors are considered
permanent, but there is a possibility
they could change during repairs if a high
heat is used.

Treatments like irradiation make it possible
for more people to own these vividly colored
diamonds. Most natural colored diamonds
are rare and also extremely expensive. When
shopping for colored diamonds you need to
assume that any affordable fancy color
diamond has been treated. Ask about the
stones origin and request to view a lab
certificate to verify authenticity.

Choosing The Cut of A Diamond

2011-09-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

There are many different cuts of diamonds
to choose from. The cut essentially refers to
the shape that the diamond is cut into –
unless you are in the diamond or jewelry
business, but this shape has a great impact
on the much the diamond sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise,
oval, pear, princess, round, trillion, and
emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on
how much the diamond sparkles, but the
actual cutting itself – when the diamond
cutter actually cuts the diamond into a
particular shape – also matters a great
deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose
its sparkle.

However, in the diamond industry, the cut of
a diamond doesn’t refer to its shape at all.
Instead, this is a reference to the stone’s
depth, width, brilliance, durability, clarity, and
other aspects of the diamond. Common
cutting problems include a missing or off
center culet, misalignment, a diamond that
is too thick or too thin, cracks, or broken
culets.

When shopping for a diamond, you should
of course choose the shape that you like the
best, but then look at several different
diamonds of that shape to find the one with
the best cut – the one that sparkles the most,
in all types of lighting.

Buying Diamonds Online 3

2011-09-11T19:06:00.001-07:00

Ask for a diamond grading report from an
independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD,
EGL or AGS. You should see this before
making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable
escrow service for high dollar diamonds –
preferably one that will have the diamond
appraised while it is in their possession. The
seller sends the diamond to the escrow
service, and you send the money to pay for
the diamond to the escrow service. The
escrow service has the diamond appraised,
sends the diamond to you, and sends the
money to the seller. This is the surest way to
protect yourself…again, make sure that you
use a reputable escrow service!

Buying Diamonds Online 2

2011-09-11T19:05:00.001-07:00

One of the best things about purchasing
online is the unlimited selection. When
shopping offline, you are limited to the
selection in the stores in your general area.
Online, there are no limits. But again, you
must use a great deal of care and
consideration before handing your money
over to someone that you cannot see and
have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can
about diamonds – especially cut, color,
clarity and carat weights. When you are
knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be
harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once
you know more about diamonds, you will be
ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don’t purchase the first
diamond that you see that interests you.
Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale.
Do some comparison shopping to find the
lowest prices. Once you have found the
lowest price, start doing your investigation.
You know about diamonds, you’ve found a
diamond that you love, and you’ve found the
lowest price – but you are still quite a ways
away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as
professional jewelry associations that they
belong to. View and print the seller’s return,
refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire
about additional services, such as settings
and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do
a search for customer reviews on this
particular company around the Internet. Also
check with the BBB Online to see if there have
been any complaints.

Buying Diamonds Online

2011-09-11T19:04:00.001-07:00

With all of the potential for scams concerning
diamonds, buying diamonds online almost
seems unthinkable! However, you actually
can purchase diamonds online, without any
problems – as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to
purchase the diamond online, as opposed to
making a purchase from a local jewelry store.
The most common reason is price. Due to
low overhead costs, online jewelers and
wholesalers are able to offer lower prices.
However, you must be careful – sometimes
a price that is too low is a sure indication of
a scam.

Bonded Diamonds

2011-09-11T19:03:00.004-07:00

Bonded diamonds also have a breakage
policy. If the stone breaks or chips, the
bonded jeweler will replace it with a new one
– one time. No jeweler would ever offer such
a policy on any stone that was not 100%
natural, so just the offer of such a policy
should give you piece of mind concerning
the quality of the diamond. Bonded
diamonds are natural and untreated.

Bonded diamonds increase in value, with a
fixed appreciation rate that is designed to
keep up with inflation. This means that a
diamond that is worth a certain amount of
money today will be worth more in the future,
as the price of diamonds continues to rise.
This generally does not apply to buy backs,
however. It typically applies to trade-ins.

Alternately, by purchasing a bonded
diamond, you are protected against the
possibility of a market crash. If a market
crash occurs, the value of diamonds will
drop. However, the bonded jeweler
guarantees to refund you the difference
between what the diamond is now worth
and what you paid for it before the market
crash.

It may be difficult to find a bonded jeweler in
your area, but if you can, this is who you
want to deal with, as opposed to dealing
with an un-bonded jeweler. Specifically tell
the jeweler that you are only interested in
bonded diamonds. You can find a bonded
jeweler in your area by using various online
resources, or by calling the local jewelry
stores.

Bonded Diamonds

2011-09-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

Before you start shopping for diamonds,
consider dealing with a bonded jeweler.
Bonded jewelers sell bonded diamonds,
and there are very few bonded jewelers in
the world. In fact, out of all of the jeweler’s
in the world, only about 5% of them are
bonded. Buying a bonded diamond will
cost more than buying a non-bonded
diamond, but when you look at what you
get with the bonded option, you will see
that it is well worth the extra expense.

First, bonded diamonds have a buy back
policy for the life of the diamond. No matter
how long you have had the diamond, you can
take it back to the bonded jeweler and sell it
back to him or her, for a 100% refund. If a
jeweler does not offer a 100% buy back
guarantee, for the life of the diamond, then
you should take a closer look at the diamond
to see what is wrong with it.

Are Diamonds Really Rare?

2011-09-11T19:02:00.000-07:00

When you walk into a jewelry store and see
all the diamonds in all of the various settings
that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that
diamonds are indeed rare. Most people
don’t even stop to consider how that
diamond came to be sitting in that jeweler’s
case! There is quite a bit of work that is done
before a diamond is ready to sell to the
general public!

For every one million diamonds that are
mined, only one will be found that is a quality
one caret diamond. In order to find a two
caret diamond, about five million diamonds
must be mined. More than two hundred tons
of ore must be mined to find one small
diamond, and even then, more than 80%
of the diamonds that are mined are only
good for industrial use, such as diamond
drill bits.

So, the next time you visit your local jewelry
store, ask to see the one carat diamonds.
You should look at this diamond with new
appreciation – knowing that it truly is one
in a million!

All About the Clarity of Diamonds

2011-09-11T19:01:00.001-07:00

Clarity is an important aspect of a diamond,
and it is important to know how to grade the
clarity of a diamond before you buy one. It is
actually quite easy to learn how to grade the
clarity of a diamond. There are basically two
things that you must understand: Diamonds
with visual inclusions and blemishes, and
those that are ‘eye clean’ meaning that there
are no inclusions or blemishes that can be
seen with the naked eye. From there, the
clarity of a diamond is further broken down
into subcategories.

Many people mistakenly think that diamond
clarity refers to how clear it is. This isn’t so.
Clarity actually refers to the internal and
external imperfections of the diamond. The
best diamonds, of course get a grade of FL
or IF – Flawless or Internally Flawless –
meaning that it is perfect. A grade of I-1, I-2
or I-3 means that the diamond is imperfect,
with a grade of I-3 being the worst.

Other grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which
means that the diamond is very, very slightly
imperfect; VS1 and VS2, meaning the
diamond is very slightly imperfect; SI-1 and
SI-2, which means that the diamond is
slightly imperfect.

About Diamond Weights

2011-09-11T18:59:00.001-07:00

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.

However, 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.

Whitefacet.com: Jewelry website makes its debut in holiday season.

2009-12-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

Whitefacet.com: Jewelry website makes its debut in holiday season.

Whitesparkles Jewelry, USA has launched its new jewelry website whitefacet.com for selling diamond, precious stone and semi-precious stone jewelry online. After the successful launch of its diamond education website diamondchatforum.com, Whitesparkles has made its much awaited commercial debut on the Internet.
Whitefacet.com will retail rings, earrings and pendants in diamonds, color stones and other semi precious stone categories. Color stone jewelry will be available in rubies, sapphires and emeralds in different styles and designs combining the classic look with modern elegance. The semi-precious category will consist of unique designs featuring aquamarine, topaz, tanzanite, citrine and amethyst to name a few. The cream of the crop will be the diamond jewelry pieces which feature the traditional designs coupled with innovative products. All the products make use of authentic and natural gemstones.
Executive Director Mr. Anil Oberoi commented "Whitefacet.com has ushered in a new era of online retailing by taking advantage of in house manufacturing facilities. This will result in better quality control and substantial economies of scale for the company. These benefits can be further transferred to the online customer in terms of price, value and the quality of products purchased from Whitefacet.com. The product range on Whitefacet.com is broad and offers variety and style whilst catering to various customer groups. Products are priced very competitively and offer better value for money."

Apart from finished jewelry items the website also offers loose diamonds of various grades and sizes. The website seeks to educate customers on diamonds and also on care and cleaning of jewelry items. Purchasing online on whitefacet.com is secure and easy using the trusted PayPal online payment network. With the ever increasing trend of online jewelry purchasing Whitesparkles Jewelry sure want to prove a point with Whitefacet.com.

New Jersey Family Law

2009-11-26T12:06:00.001-08:00

New Jersey Family Lawyers, Diamond & Diamond have represented clients with their divorce and family law needs for more than half a century. Diamond & Diamond focus exclusively on family law matters and know the intricacies of the law and the realities of family dynamics. The depth of their experience in family law gives a unique perspective to guide you through the divorce process while avoiding any pitfalls.

All of the attorneys at Diamond & Diamond are experienced litigators and mediators and are admitted to practice at the trial, appellate, and supreme court levels.

Managing partner, Richard S. Diamond's credentials are as follows:

* Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Trial Lawyer, which is a distinction that few New Jersey divorce lawyers hold and is awarded only to family law attorneys with extensive trial experience such as his.

* A Certified Divorce Mediator, Economic Mediator appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court as part of its pilot program on economic mediation in divorce matters and a member of the Union and Essex counties family law Early Settlement Panel programs (ESP).

* Honored in Who's Who in American Law, and is a long-standing member of the New Jersey Bar Association, Family Law Section as well as a frequent lecturer on various family law topics and has been a guest on various radio and television programs within and outside New Jersey.

Its easy to see that Diamond & Diamond is the smart choice when you find yourself in need of legal representation in family law, divorce, domestic violence or child custody matters in New Jersey. With more than half a century's experience, why go anywhere else?

Diamond & Diamond, PA
225 Millburn Avenue, Suite 208
Millburn, New Jersey 07041
Telephone: 973-379-9292
Facsimile: 973-379-9210

GemTradeNet.com-The New Online Revolution in Gems & Jewelry

2009-11-25T09:57:00.000-08:00

GemTradeNet.com is your online destination for buying and selling Gemstones,Diamonds andJewelry.As a verified seller you can list your stock of gemstones or diamonds for displayin the online product listings of GemTradeNet.com.Buyers both local and internationalcan view listed gemstone and jewelry products and proceed to buy them directly.GemTradeNet.com facilitates the flow of information amongst international gemstone,diamond and jewelry buyers and sellers to communicate with each other and takeadvantage of the unlimited buying and selling opportunities.

GemTradeNet.com offers Gemstone,Diamond and Jewelry buyers and sellers a global platform to successfully conduct their buying and selling activities.

-Free Registration
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-Auction and Fixed Price Listings Available
-Low Transaction Fees
-Your Own Webstore

Buying and Selling is FREE

GemTradeNet.com-The Online Gems Marketplace invites Gemstone,diamond and jewelry buyers and sellers to buy and sell their products.Buying and Selling on GemTradeNet.com isabsolutley free.

The website is a prime B2B trading destination for the International Gemstone & Jewelry trading community. GemTradeNet.com is the perfect avenue to fulfill all your Gemstone,diamond and jewelry buying and selling needs.

Register now and Join the new online revolution in Gems and Jewelry.

THE MINERAL DIAMOND

2009-11-08T09:57:00.000-08:00

Diamond is the ultimate gemstone, having few weaknesses and many strengths. It is well known that Diamond is the hardest substance found in nature, but few people realize that Diamond is four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby). But even as hard as it is, it is not impervious. Diamond has four directions of cleavage, meaning that if it receives a sharp blow in one of these directions it will cleave, or split. A skilled diamond setter and/or jeweler will prevent any of these directions from being in a position to be struck while mounted in a jewelry piece.

As a gemstone, Diamond's single flaw (perfect cleavage) is far outdistanced by the sum of its positive qualities. It has a broad color range, high refraction, high dispersion or fire, very low reactivity to chemicals, rarity, and of course, extreme hardness and durability. Diamond is the April Birthstone.

In terms of it's physical properties, diamond is the ultimate mineral in several ways:

* Hardness: Diamond is a perfect "10", defining the top of the hardness scale, and by absolute measures four times harder than sapphire (which is #9 on that scale).
* Clarity: Diamond is transparent over a larger range of wavelengths (from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than is any other solid or liquid substance - nothing else even comes close.
* Thermal Conductivity: Diamond conducts heat better than anything - five times better than the second best element, Silver!
* Melting Point: Diamond has the highest melting point (3820 degrees Kelvin)
* Lattice Density: The atoms of Diamond are packed closer together than are the atoms of any other substance
* Tensile Strength: Diamond has the highest tensile strength of any material, at 2.8 gigapascals. However, that does not quite translate into the strongest rope or cable, as diamond has cleavage planes which support crack propagation. The strongest ropes can likely be made from another material, carbon nanotubes, as they should not suffer from the effects of cracks and break. Still, if a long, thin, perfect crystal of diamond could be manufactured, it would offer the highest possible pulling strength (in a straight line - don't try to tie it in a knot!)
* Compressive Strength: Diamond was once thought to be the material most resistant to compression (the least compressible). It is the material that scientists use to create the greatest pressures when testing matter. However, the rare metal Osmium has recently been shown to be even less compressible (although it is not as hard as diamond). Diamond has a bulk modulus (reciprocal of compressibility) of 443 GigaPascals (GPa). The bulk modulus of the metal osmium has recently been found to be 476 GPa, about 7% greater than diamond.

Diamond is a polymorph of the element carbon. Graphite is another polymorph. The two share the same chemistry, carbon, but have very different structures and properties. Diamond is hard, Graphite is soft (the "lead" of a pencil). Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Diamond is the ultimate abrasive, Graphite is a very good lubricant. Diamond is transparent, Graphite is opaque. Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system and graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Somewhat of a surprise is that at surface temperatures and pressures, Graphite is the stable form of carbon. In fact, all diamonds at or near the surface of the Earth are currently undergoing a transformation into Graphite. This reaction, fortunately, is extremely slow.

Michelle Obama appears on The Jay Leno Show

2009-10-29T11:43:00.000-07:00

First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on The Jay Leno Show last night, appearing in the “Ten at Ten” segment. This segment consists of ten often humors questions directed at the celebrity of the night. Tonight, Michelle was asked questions ranging from what Malia and Sasha would be wearing for Halloween to her favorite musicians. She kept the first daughters Halloween costumes a secret, however, she did state she has Sting, Mary J. Blige and her all time favorite artist, Stevie Wonder, on her music playlist. In addition, she also named all six Brady Bunch children in less than ten seconds, as The Brady Bunch was her favorite television series as a child. Mrs. Obama even admitted to being a little nervous when meeting Pope Benedict XVI and Queen Elizabeth II.

She appeared on the show with her hair swept up, wearing dazzling diamond stud earrings. She was wearing an inside-out lattice rose print dress by Thakoon, and added a bow at the collar for a little extra sparkle.

Do you think Michelle chose a good look for the night?

2009-10-25T11:28:00.001-07:00

When buying diamond rings, comparison shop with a variety of jewelry stores featuring diamonds, including retail stores and online sites. Try to keep the same variables for your stone of choice with the same clarity, cut, color and carat, so you can compare more effectively. Find mens diamond rings, wedding rings, men's earrings, rings, and gold jewelry online at discount prices!

As you compare, see how much the price differences are for loose diamonds that have the same cut, clarity and carat, but have different color. If you can get a bigger diamond with a slight yellowish tint, it would be a better deal than getting a smaller diamond that's graded colorless, simply because many times the difference in color is so faint that it's virtually impossible to tell with the naked eye.

Pick a shape for your center stone. There are different shapes of diamond cuts such as round, radiant, heart shape and more. The round shape is the most popular for a solitaire ring, but heart shapes are more stylized and symbolic.

Compare the different types of settings of diamond rings to see which one you like more. A list of popular settings include the prong, bezel, channel and paved. Choose one that best matches your style or the style of your loved one.

Diamonds often look good in white gold, yellow gold or platinum settings. Each person has a different preference with their jewelry, see and compare which type of metal you would like for your diamond ring.

Once you have all those choices, you can easily find the perfect ring that you are looking for. Be sure to comparison shop different stores to see all your options in buying diamond rings. You want to get the best possible for the dollar amount you pay.

Browse Diamond Rings

2009-10-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

John Diamond, Baron Diamond
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For the journalist, see John Diamond (journalist).

John Diamond, Baron Diamond PC (Leeds, 30 April 1907 – Chalfont St Giles, 3 April 2004) was a British Labour politician.

Diamond was educated at Leeds Grammar School and became an accountant.

Diamond was elected Member of Parliament in 1945 for the Blackley division of Manchester, but lost it in 1951. In 1946 and 1947, he was parliamentary private secretary to the Ministry of Works. He returned to the House of Commons in a 1957 by-election for Gloucester, caused by the death of its Labour MP, Moss Turner-Samuels. He served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 1964, a cabinet position from 1968, and Privy Councillor from 1965. He represented Gloucester until his surprise defeat in 1970 by Conservative, Sally Oppenheim.

Diamond was made a life peer as Baron Diamond of the City of Gloucester on 25 September 1970. In 1981 he left the Labour Party for the new Social Democratic Party. He led the SDP in the House of Lords from 1982 to 1988 but opposed its merger with the Liberals and rejoined Labour in 1995.

Diamond was first married in 1932 and had two sons and a daughter. He had a daughter, Joan, by his second wife, Julie Goodman, whom he married in 1948. They separated in 1966 and divorced 10 years later. Upon his death at 96, he was survived by his children and by his third wife, Barbara Kagan, whom he had married in 1976.

People splurge on gold, diamond jewellery on Dhanteras

2009-10-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

SURAT: Even the record high gold prices could not dampen the spirits of cash-rich Surtis when it came to splurging on gold and diamond-studded
jewellery on the auspicious day of Dhanteras.

This was evident on Thursday as Surtis thronged the jewellery shops for the big purchase of jewellery articles and gold coins. Interestingly, the jewellers witnessed a strong move towards the diamond jewellery, which registered a 40 per cent growth compared to the last year.

"Compared to last year, there is a 20 per cent increase in the jewellery sales on Dhanteras," informs Tushar Choksi, president of Surat Gold Jewellers Association.

Choksi, however, said the consumer preference of gold jewellery has changed with the soaring prices of gold. Now, most of the consumers who feel gold as safe investment have been opting for the diamond studded gold jewellery rather than buying plain gold jewellery.

For Vishal Makwana, senior manager with a private life insurance company, purchasing gold only as token for the auspicious day is better. But, he went to the jewellery shop with his wife Neha on Thursday to buy a diamond-studded pendant costing Rs 7,000 and a gold coin of two grams.

"Gold is very costly. Thus, my wife and I decided to opt for the diamond-studded pendant and a gold coin. Had it been a gold pendant, I would have to cough up Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000," said Makwana.

Even the jewellers in Valsad town, one of the biggest markets for gold jewellery, registered a significant growth in the sale of gold and diamond-studded jewellery on Dhanteras.

"There has been a record sale of gold and diamond jewellery. Compared to last year, we have registered a 25 per cent growth in the jewellery sales. The consumers thronged the shops to buy diamond and gold jewellery," said Ketan Shah, owner of Shah Virchand Govanji Jewellers, at Valsad.

Body Jewelry: an unusual way of enhancing the beauty of your own body

2009-01-19T05:39:00.001-08:00

ince ancient times body jewelry has been a part of the culture and heritage of different religions. It has been known to be an essential part of the clothing and appearance of the people in many regions of the world. At different parts of time through the centuries it was also used to signify the class demarcations prevalent in society at that point of time.

How ever in recent times it has acquired a new dimension. Body jewelry has never been in such high demand. The human body is not merely a body, it is a piece of art which has its own innate beauty and body jewelry is the perfect way to enhance the beauty of your body. Not only can you decorate your body with it, but you can also use it to bring into focus certain parts of your body or to enhance the beauty of certain parts.

Body jewelry items are usually for particular places on the human body. These more common places for body jewelry include the nose, eyebrow, nipple, ear lobes and naval, along with ear plugs (both curved and straight barbells). As fashion trends keep changing, the various parts where you can use body jewelry and the manner in which you can use it also keeps changing.

Nose body jewelry comes either in the classic captive circular barbell, or in the form of a nose screw. The nose screw can either be jeweled or plain, depending upon your preference. Eyebrow body jewelry is similar to that of the nose, in the sense that the eyebrow body jewelry also has the small captive barbell. This is now being made with a dangling, sparkling charm to hang from the upper most part of your eyebrow barbell. The eyebrow body jewelry can be either curved or straight with a charm of any style or color dangling from the top.

Nipple and naval body jewelry is one of the more popular types of body jewelry, it sis especially popular amongst the youth or the more adventurous in spirit. Nipple body jewelry includes the nipple barbells and the nipple shields. Naval body jewelry designs are also endless.

Whatever kind of body jewelry you use or wear it is important to keep some pointers in mind. Such as what kind of material is that specific body jewelry made off, is your skin allergic to it and is the piercing for the body jewelry done in a sterile and antiseptic environment.

This kind of jewelry is available for almost every conceivable part of your body. There are endless styles, designs, colors and textures in which body jewelry is made. What ever your budget, whether it is low end or high end; body jewelry is available in every range to suit your pocket as well as your tastes.

Body jewelry is not merely a decorative fixture; it is also a personal style statement. You can use it to bring attention or to take away attention from a specific part of your body. It is quite in vogue these days and has been in existence since time immemorial. If you have the attitude and the panache you can carry of any kind of body jewelry.