Diamond Advice > Interesting Facts
Some interesting facts about Diamonds
- Diamonds were formed between 3.3 billion and 900 million years ago, yet man did not discover them until after 2,500 BC
- The word diamond came from the ancient Greek word ‘adamas’, meaning unconquerable.
- Diamond is the hardest substance known to man (140 times harder that Ruby or Sapphire and 180 times harder than Emerald)
- Over 250 tons of ore must be mined in order to produce a one-carat polished diamond.
- Every single diamond is unique – no two are the same.
- The first diamond engagement ring made an appearance in 1477, when it was slipped on the finger of Mary of Burgundy by her fiancé, Archduke Maximilian of Austria.
- The 4Cs: Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat Weight combine to determine the value of a diamond.
- The famous slogan “A Diamond is Forever” was created over 50 years ago to capture the magic, mystery and beauty of the world's most precious gem.
- The ancient Greeks believed the diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to earth.
How much should you spend on your quality diamond?
While most purchases you make will depreciate in value over the years your diamond will appreciate and grow more precious like your love for each other. This is an important reason for buying the best quality diamond you can, regardless of the size.
A simple guideline on how much to spend on your engagement ring is between one to two months salary. The diamond ring you choose is the symbol of your love for each other celebrating a very special occasion in both your lives. How much you invest is very much a personal decision and diamonds are available in a wide range of sizes and quality to suit any budget. We will be delighted to explain and advise difference between various qualities and how these affect the price. Be careful we hear some alarming stories of couples who got ‘wonderful bargains’ only to find the opposite. An old friend in the jeweller trade had a simple message for such occasion: “If it seems too good to be true – It Probably IS!!”
While most purchases you make will depreciate in value over the years your diamond will appreciate and grow more precious like your love for each other. This is an important reason for buying the best quality diamond you can, regardless of the size.
A simple guideline on how much to spend on your engagement ring is between one to two months salary. The diamond ring you choose is the symbol of your love for each other celebrating a very special occasion in both your lives. How much you invest is very much a personal decision and diamonds are available in a wide range of sizes and quality to suit any budget. We will be delighted to explain and advise difference between various qualities and how these affect the price. Be careful we hear some alarming stories of couples who got ‘wonderful bargains’ only to find the opposite. An old friend in the jeweller trade had a simple message for such occasion: “If it seems too good to be true – It Probably IS!!”
How to care for your diamonds
Diamonds will look the brilliant best with a little care and attention. A clean diamond not only reflects light better – it will look bigger than one that has been ‘dulled’ with skin oils etc.
You can keep your ring free from such ‘dulling’ by simply cleaning your ring every weekend. Prepare a small bowl or cup of warm suds with any mild liquid detergent – i.e. fairy liquid. Place your ring in the warm water for five minutes to free up any oil or grease, then brush gently to remove any dirt or grime with a fine toothbrush. Transfer to a fine wire strainer and rinse under warm running water and pat dry with a soft cloth. You will find your diamonds will return to their brilliant best. We advise you to return your diamond rings and jewellery to us once a year to allows us to clean and check settings.
Diamonds will look the brilliant best with a little care and attention. A clean diamond not only reflects light better – it will look bigger than one that has been ‘dulled’ with skin oils etc.
You can keep your ring free from such ‘dulling’ by simply cleaning your ring every weekend. Prepare a small bowl or cup of warm suds with any mild liquid detergent – i.e. fairy liquid. Place your ring in the warm water for five minutes to free up any oil or grease, then brush gently to remove any dirt or grime with a fine toothbrush. Transfer to a fine wire strainer and rinse under warm running water and pat dry with a soft cloth. You will find your diamonds will return to their brilliant best. We advise you to return your diamond rings and jewellery to us once a year to allows us to clean and check settings.