| Diamond jewelry has been valued and worn | | | | * carat |
| throughout most of recorded history, although the | | | | * color |
| art and science of cutting loose diamonds is | | | | * clarity |
| relatively new - and diamond jewelry has only | | | | * cut |
| been available to the general public for the last | | | | "Carat" of course refers to the weight of the |
| 150 years or so. | | | | gem; a carat is equivalent to about 2 decigrams, |
| Prior to that, diamond jewelry was worn almost | | | | or a mere 1/150th of an ounce. That means the |
| exclusively by royalty. The earliest example of | | | | largest cut, polished diamond in existence - the |
| diamonds being placed in a setting dates from the | | | | famed Star of Africa - weighs just a little over |
| time of the Norman Invasion of England; at that | | | | 2-1/4 pounds. |
| time, one of the Ãrpád kings of | | | | Although we generally think of clear or white |
| Hungary, possibly Andrew I, had rough-cut | | | | diamonds, they come in a wide range of colors |
| diamonds set into a crown for his queen. | | | | ranging from crystal-clear white to dark amber. |
| However, cut diamonds would not be available for | | | | Pink, green, blue and even purple diamonds are |
| another half-millenium. | | | | not unusual, and some are far more valuable than |
| The mid-1500's were an energetic time; Martin | | | | their white counterparts. |
| Luther of Germany and Henry VIII of England had | | | | Clarity refers to just that - how clear the stone |
| broken with the Church of Rome; Ivan IV (the | | | | appears. All natural and artificial diamonds have |
| Terrible) expanded Russia to its present-day | | | | internal flaws; the fewer or the less apparent |
| borders, and Ottoman sultan Suleiman extended | | | | these flaws are, the higher the appraisal is likely to |
| the Turkish empire as far west as Vienna. It was | | | | be. |
| during this time of ferment that the first | | | | These three qualities are objective, and easily |
| diamond-cutters' guild was formed in Antwerp, | | | | measured and quantified. Cut is a more subjective |
| located in present-day Belgium. An industry soon | | | | quality; selecting gems that are appropriate for |
| developed for the purpose of appraising loose | | | | use in diamond jewelry requires a good eye and |
| diamonds, giving birth to the modern diamond | | | | aesthetic sense. |
| jewelry market. Antwerp continues to be the | | | | Of course, loose diamonds are not really jewelry |
| center of the international diamond jewelry trade. | | | | until they are placed in a setting, such as a ring or |
| The gems that are used in diamond jewelry is | | | | necklace. Even the finest diamonds' value can be |
| 75% science and 25% art. Together, these make | | | | affected by the setting; it is a value-added aspect |
| up the "4 Cs" that are used to evaluate loose | | | | of diamond jewelry. |
| diamonds: | | | | |