New “Diamond Record”
$ 24,300,000. This is a new record sum which has ever been paid for a single diamond. The new world record was set during the Christie’s jewellery auction in London.
“The record-holder” is the legendary rare dark blue diamond Wittelsbach of an unusual oval 50-faceted cut. The Wittelsbach weighs 35.56 metric carats and measures 24.40 mm in diameter and 8.29 mm in depth. It is pure apart from a few surface scratches that were probably caused during removal from its setting. The diamond has been cut with 82 facets arranged in an unusual pattern - the star facets on the crown are vertically split and the pavilion has sixteen needle-like facets, arranged in pairs, pointing outward from the culet facet.
The first record of the Wittelsbach dates from the latter part of the seventeenth century. The king of Spain Philippe IV (1605 — 1665) included the gem into the dowry of his daughter infanta Margareta Teresa (1651 — 1673) when she was marrying the Emperor Leopold I of Austria in 1664. Then the diamond for a long period of time belonged to the treasury of Austrian and Bavarian monarchs.
Previously the diamond was sold in 1964 to a private collector for $180,000. Now the Wittelsbach has been bought by the head of the jewellery house of Graff — Lawrence Graff.
Dark Mysteries of Black Pearls
The pearls of black oysters “pinctada margaritifera” are also called the pearls of Tahiti. They are grown only on the French Polynesian isles. The shells of “pinctada margaritifera” with their black or deep-green colour of pearl issue, have always been praised for their unusual qualities – thickness and quality of the mother-of-pearl, depth and shine of the colours. Pinctada Margaritifera is the most diverse oyster speaking about colours. The colouring of the pearl itself seems to be safe from all external influences and depends only on the shell itself.
The pearls of the southern seas, the famous Tahiti pearls, can be easily recognized because of their size. It varies from 9 to 17 mm. The layer of nacre around the set core is usually thick and strong. That is how natural colour, glitter and beauty are acquired. These pearls do not need artificial treatment and are considered to be “the queens of pearlsâ€. Such pearls are divided into 2 main groups – dark and fair. Dark pearls come from the shells of “Pinctada margaritifera”.
Due to the remarkable qualities of these oysters Tahiti is acknowledged as the best producer of black pearls. Only one core can be used for a southern-sea pearl, in comparison with freshwater and sea-water pearls. Many of the black pearls found on Tahiti, are of perfect round shape.
Can pearl jewelry improve your health? Learn now!
From the very ancient times pearls were used not only for beauty, but as well for medical purposes. It is interesting to know, that even in our times the pharmaceutical industry uses pearls – especially those pearls of minimum quality, that can not be used fro jewelry. They are, for example, stirred up to thin powder, that is used for producing medical calcium of high quality.
Practically in every culture – from ancient China and India to medieval Europe and Arabia – pearls were used for medical purposes – as, for example, the means of sexual arousal or a medicine against insanity. Even those pearls, that were used in jewelry items, were supposed to possess some magical qualities and powers.
Pearls were included in a number of recipes of magic potions, balms or ointments, that were supposed to treat some illnesses. The legend says, that a pearl in your navel helps you to avoid stomach aches. Another illnesses and diseases, that can be treated and managed with the help of pearls, are memory loss, insomnia, asthma, jaundice, liver dysfunctions, heart diseases, infertility and the bites of insects or snakes.
Yellow Gold Overlay Sterling Silver Amethyst Butterfly Hoop Earrings w/ Diamond Accent : spring butterfly decoration.
Spring…the time, when the Nature wakes up and awakes all its children. Grass starts to grow, apple trees begin to bloom, streams of water cling and the birds come from the southern countries and start building their nests, pleasuring our ears with sweet melodies and songs. Oh, and butterflies – butterflies everywhere, bright and light, like the letters, Spring sends us. Today two of the butterflies have decided to rest on your ears, and the name of this couple is Yellow Gold Overlay Sterling Silver Amethyst Butterfly Hoop Earrings w/ Diamond Accent.
Light and comfortable, these earrings will bring spring closer to your heart. The dainty hoops are made of 925 sterling silver and plaited with 18 karat yellow gold, if not to say about the charming gemstone butterflies, that decorate the hoops. The wings of the butterflies are made from violet amethyst, and their precious bodies are formed by diamonds. The earrings are only 8 millimeters high and 10 millimeters wide – tiny, yet elegant and stunning! The hinged posts of the earrings snap into the grooves of U-shape.
Spring has come – let it to your heart! Let your eyes sparkle, your lips smile, your face shine with spring spirit! And our little butterfly helpers - Yellow Gold Overlay Sterling Silver Amethyst Butterfly Hoop Earrings w/ Diamond Accent – will help you feel the spring power.
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The glamour vision of the world - why women adore diamonds?
Diamonds are also called “a girl’s best friendsâ€. It was gorgeous Marilyn Monroe to give them this name, and she surely was perfectly aware of all the aspects of a real woman’s life. However, why did the friendship start?
Every friendship is based on some similarities between the friends, and the relations between diamonds and women are not an exception. First and foremost, diamonds and women are both beautiful. The word brillant, from which the word “brilliant†and its synonyms in many languages have originated, is French and has the meaning “dazzling, sparkling, shiningâ€. These are exactly the words to describe a woman wearing diamonds. Dazzling beauty, sparkling eyes and the note of luxury and grace - this is what a single diamond adds to every woman. Diamonds have always been and will continue being in, for they are an essential means of turning a woman into a queen, attractive and stunningly beautiful.
Not only beauty, but also strength is a characteristic feature of both women and diamonds. Diamond is the hardest mineral on the Earth, able to cut everything and very difficult to shape – just as a woman can be named the strongest creature in the world that always reaches its aims. Even a small-sized diamond will cut iron or gold, and even a fragile woman will always get what she wants, using her inner power.
Both women and diamonds are different. The Nature lavishly presents us an impressive variety of diamonds, starting with yellow, orange or cognac-coloured and ending with dark-red and green, not naming the most popular and valued limpid diamonds. It doesn’t matter, whether a woman is dark- or fair-haired, has dark, white or yellow skin, is cheerful, romantic or pessimistic, whether she is a busy top manager or a creative artist– she will always be able to find a diamond, that will reflex her mood and inner world and highlight her special, individual beauty.
Both a woman and a diamond carry a mystery inside. It is practically impossible to count all the mysterious stories, unveiled intrigues and secrets connected with famous diamonds, like Kokhinoor, Shakh, Kullinan or Nassack. Attracted by the sparkling beauty of the stones, people left homes and faced dangers, went through adventures and performed feats of valour. There are only two driving forces in this world, that can cause all this – beautiful women and beautiful diamonds. Their power is infinite, and their mysteries are tantalizing.
There is no surprise that women adore diamonds, for they resemble each other. Diamonds really appear to be a girl’s best friends – the friends, that will always add to her beauty and attractiveness, the friends, that make her a queen.