Famous Diamonds

A Diamond appraisal is basically a clinical process that is 75% objective and scientific, and 25% subjective, being based on personal judgment. That is because three of the four criteria used by diamond dealers to evaluate stones prior to purchasing from diamond wholesalers are based on measurements; carat, or mass and weight, color and clarity, whereas the fourth criterion is cut. This is important; certified loose diamonds that are cut properly are worth far more than those that are not.

In short, diamond appraisal is a somewhat dry and academic exercise in which a dollar value is placed on a stone that throughout history has been surrounded by fabulous legends and to which has been attributed mystical and even supernatural qualities. When dealing with diamond wholesalers, it is good to know the business end of matters and know that what you are purchasing are certified loose diamonds that have been subject to a thorough diamond appraisal; however, one should not lose sight of the romance and mystery that surrounds these rare and valuable gems.

The Most Famous of Them All

When it comes to mystery and legend, the Hope Diamond tops them all. It is not the largest diamond ever cut, but has had one of the most convoluted and lengthy histories of any diamond in existence.

Like most certified loose diamonds, the Hope Diamond was cut from a larger crystal, which in this case was the Tavenier Blue, a crudely-cut stone that was allegedly mined in the legendary Golconda region of India and stolen from a statue of the Hindu goddess Seeta.

The Tavenier Blue came into possession of a French traveler by the same name in 1660, and eventually became part of the French Crown Jewels. This diamond was stolen during the French Revolution in 1792. The Hope Diamond, which was cut from the Tavenier Blue, surfaced in England in 1812. It eventually wound up in the collection of one Henry Philip Hope in 1824. The diamond came to the U.S. when a Hope descendant, Francis Hope, married an American actress named May Yohe in 1894. It changed hands several times over the next sixty years before New York diamond dealer Henry Winston donated it to the Smithsonian Institution, where it remains on display.

A diamond appraisal and analysis in 2005 confirmed that the Hope Diamond was indeed a piece of the Tavernier Blue; although it has been said to have a "death curse," the fact is that most people who have had possession of the Hope Diamond died of natural causes at advanced ages.

Other Gems of Fame

Other famous diamonds include the Taylor-Burton, tribute to a tragic couple who could live neither together nor apart; at over 68 carats, it fetched $5 million at auction in 1979. Most recently in 2002, the "Incomparable Diamond" - a huge stone of 407.48 carats - made an appearance on the Internet auction site Ebay. At a reserve price of 15 million UK pounds - over $30 million US dollars and most likely determined by a diamond appraisal - it is small wonder that the gem has remained unsold.

Jonathon Blocker specializes in diamond appraisal and certified loose diamonds. He is known among diamond wholesalers and diamond dealers as an expert in his field. He is a consultant for GemFind.net, a trusted name in the jewelry industry since 1999.

The Theft Of Diamonds Has A Long History
Diamonds have long been tempting morsels for jewelry thieves everywhere. Through out the ages diamonds and other precious gems have been stolen and re-stolen time and time again. Valuable jewels have been and probably always will be the covetous item...

Extraordinary, Mystical And Desired - Blacked Diamond Jewelry
Diamond jewelry in itself is very much sought after and treasured by those who own it. It becomes all the more precious and rare in the case of colorful diamonds. It is known that the color of a diamond is actually an imperfection of the stone. Never...

Diamonds Have Always Been The Stars Favorites
Almost everyone in America loves to watch all the award shows that are televised. We are spellbound by the opulence of the stars and what they are wearing. We take in everything about them when they are embarking on their famously scrutinized walks d...

A History Of Gold And Diamond Jewelry
Tears of the sun, this is how the Incas first referred to gold. Through out history gold has been the first and most valuable ore to mankind. Its first uses were ornamental then as it still is today. This valuable substance has long been a number one...

Are Diamonds a Good Investment?
Even though the diamond industry looks very complicated on the surface, it actually is very simple. Diamonds are often associated with being precious, mysterious, magical and romantic token of love.Purchased at the right price, diamonds most certainl...

Fancy Necklaces And Other Shining Treasures
There have been many fancy necklaces worn by the rich and famous and royalty that we just cant seem to forget. We all think of sapphires as being a beautiful dark blue so we were all surprised to see just how amazing pink sapphires look when model Da...

A Little About Amateur Diamond Mining
It is common knowledge that people mine for diamonds in countries like South Africa, South America, India and other foreign places. Who knew that the average Joe could mine for them right here in the good old United States of America? Evidently you c...

Simulated Diamonds vs. Fake Diamonds
Believe it or not, there is a big difference between simulated diamonds and fake diamonds. When you think of a fake diamond, you may think of one that is being presented as genuine when it is actually anything but the real thing. A simulated diamon...

Hot Designer Jewelry on Display at Oscars and Emmy Awards
Many of the celebrities walking down the red carpet at this years Oscar and Emmy Awards can easily afford to buy their own sets of designer jewelry. But they need not do that. Many of the industrys best jewelry designers, including Erica Courtney, Ne...

Diamonds, Gemstones, Jewels to Mine - Needed, Skilled People North by North, Where The Boys Are
The interesting story of diamonds in only particular types of rock has been known for the past century. And until quite recently all those diamonds, virtually have come from South Africa, now following pipes of diamonds deep into earth, and infamous ...