At Brilliance, we offer the most popular diamond shapes in our certified loose diamond search and fine jewelry selection. In the upcoming months we will be featuring different diamond shapes on the Brilliance Blog, starting with the Asscher cut diamond.
In 1902, Abraham and Joseph Asscher, owners of the Royal Asscher Diamond Company, utilized the step cutting and faceting techniques of an Emerald cut, but modified its design by making it perfectly square with cropped corners. Named after its inventors, the result of their design was the modern Asscher cut diamond. Like an Emerald cut, the faceting of a well-cut Asscher diamond will create an illusion likened to a hallway of reflecting mirrors. Today, new cutting techniques are yielding Asscher cut diamonds of stunning brilliance.
Sparkle and art deco allure make Asscher cut diamonds extremely popular in today’s market. Recently, celebrities such as Kate Hudson and Reese Witherspoon have chosen the Asscher cut diamond for their engagement rings and the shape was even featured on the hit show Sex and the City.
When selecting an Asscher diamond, look for the color to be rated no less than an ‘I’. It is advisable to select a clarity of ‘SI1’ or higher, as inclusions are seen more easily in Asscher cut certified diamonds. In reference to depth and table percentages, 55% - 72% are considered acceptable. Lastly, we recommend choosing a loose diamond certified by GIA, as their diamond grading is the most accurate and consistent.
The Diavik diamond mine is located in the Northwest Territories of Canada. This diamond mine produces some of the highest quality diamonds on the market today as well as notable quantities of such precious metals as gold, copper, zinc, and nickel.
The informative video above explains the process of setting up the Diavik diamond mine. Learn about the ethical standards that the mining companies have maintained to respect the Aboriginal people in the area and the steps they have taken to protect the environment.
Marine Mining requires offshore mining mechanisms that extract minerals from deposits under the sea floor using either the vertical or horizontal methods. Vertical marine mining uses a 5-7 meter drill to pierce the seabed and vacuum the diamond bearing matter from the ocean floor.
Horizontal mining uses a Seabed Crawler to move across the sea floor and carry the diamond bearing material to an offshore location. Once out of the water, the diamonds are separated from the rest of the material, which is then put back into the ocean. Prior to the invention of these modern methods, marine mining was conducted manually by deep ocean divers.
In 1967, the year after Botswana gained its independence from Britain, a huge diamond mine was discovered in a remote area called Orapa, about 250 miles from the capital city of Gaborone. The company that found the mine was De Beers, which was then — as it is now — the dominant seller of “rough stones” in the world. Four years and $33 million later, the mine was ready for production. Click to view news article on nytimes.com…
Gold has been considered a form of currency for over 5,000 years and has always been one of the most desired commodities. While paper money can depreciate in value as governments print more and increase supply, gold supply is intrinsically limited and therefore holds its value. The price of gold has historically responded to the fluctuations in the stock market; when the stock market falls, the price of gold goes up.
With the recent economic downturn, the price of gold has nearly doubled compared to its worth in 2005. With a stable increase in value that shows no sign of slowing down, investing in gold has proven to be a worthwhile venture.
Domestic jewellery company ALO Jewelry plans to present the most expensive jewel made in the Czech Republic in October. The gold ring with a large diamond will cost CZK 30 million (US $10-$13 million).
The birthstone for the month of August is the peridot, a gemstone from the olivine family of minerals.
The Peridot has a rich history rooted in spirituality and symbolism, with various connotations throughout the world. In ancient Egypt, the stone was believed to represent the sun, while Hawaiians claimed it symbolized the tears of revered goddess Pele. The peridot is the traditional stone for 16th wedding anniversary.
A Peridot’s green color is very noticeable and is due to the richness of iron and magnesium in its minerals. These gemstones range in color from light yellow-green to the color of bright green grass. The greener the stone, the more valuable it is. Peridots are found in lava, and are mined in Australia, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, and United States. In 1994, a magnificent deposit of Peridot was found in the Himalayan Mountains in Pakistan, including one stone that was over 300 carats!
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