Diamond Information
It is hardly surprising, given their history, that diamonds have traditionally been used as the main stones in engagement rings and now more commonly in eternity and wedding ring. They have always been admired and feared throughout history because of their brilliant appearance and many cultures think of them as representing prosperity, love and spirituality.
Mentioned throughout history, in the bible and by the Romans, and were thought to be a talisman. In the legend about Cupid, his arrow was believed to be tipped with a diamond.
In medieval times, the Italians thought that the diamond was created in the flames of love. What is true is that they come into being at great temperatures and pressures in the earth's crust This heat ends up with the unique arrangement of closely bonded 4 sided crystals that give them their unrivalled hardness.
India was the principle source until around 1850 when this was rivalled by Brazil and then, in 1867, South Africa when diamonds started to be discovered in large numbers.
The South African discovery was big and so it wasn't until after 1867 that diamonds became affordable for the wedding rings and the jewellery of all but the super rich. Nowadays it is more than likely that the diamond in your wedding ring has come from South Africa, the largest exporter in the world.
Diamonds have a very high reflective index (2.42), this accounts for their firey apprearance. However, much of an ring's sparkle is down to the skill of the stone cutter.
This craft was first practised in Bruges in the 15th centuary and now is a huge industry centred around Amsterdam and New York.
Perhaps the most famous diamond is the Koh-i-nur (Mountain of Light) that was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 and is now in the British crown jewels. Another well known stone is the Cullinan (discovered in 1905).
Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design has built up a network of diamond dealers that guarantee that any stone sourced for your eternity ring will be of the finest possible quality and value for money. We are particularly keen to ensure that all the stones that we use are 'conflict free' - ie have not been sold to fund terrorism. Together with the British Jeweller's Association we are working to eliminate these stones from the market completely.
