Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2008 | Page 64

life ANTIQUES Diamonds are a girls best friend By Philip Hoare Everybody knows that Diamonds are a girls best friend! But how do you know if you have chosen the right one? How do you gauge the authenticity of such a rare and beautiful gemstone? Diamonds are multifaceted, allotropes of carbon, they dazzle and sparkle in the light. It is a little known fact that Diamonds are the hardest known naturally occurring mineral and for that reason are used in industry (Diamond Headed Drills), as well as for jewellery! A Diamond is so tough it can only be scratched by another Diamond! Hence its name ‘Diamond’ which is derived 64 from Ancient Greek and means ‘Invincible’ Diamonds are incredibly popular today - just as they have always been and always will be - we see countless advertising campaigns on the TV, in magazines and on bill boards. Diamonds make wonderful gifts, but to judge the quality of one correctly one must take into account The four C’s which are Cut, Colour, Carat and Clarity. I have seen and dealt with many thousands of Diamonds in my 40 years as a valuer and only very few were really, truly beautiful and memorable. Even fewer had a certificate of authenticity. It is most important that you get this when purchasing Diamonds as it is your evidence of providence and quality. Without a certificate you could be purchasing something of average, poor or even artificial quality. Diamonds have been used throughout the centuries as gifts, particularly on rings, bracelets, pendants and other dazzling jewellery. Diamonds hold their polish extremely well and because of their virtual indestructibility can be worn on a day to day basis which is why they are perfect for the likes of an engagement ring. The largest known diamond is actually in space!! It is 2,500 miles wide and is believed to be the heart of an old star, of course, to mount this onto a ring would be rather difficult! Due to the advances in technology today it is possible to remove and alter impurities in Diamonds using both lasers and radiation. However this is only a temporary measure and if you haven't had your Diamond appraised and certificated properly by a Diamond specialist your Diamond could indeed be artificially enhanced and therefore either structurally damaged by laser or if radiated the impurities and inclusions could reappear. The technique of creating Diamonds from carbon compression has now been perfected, and these stones will soon be in abundance on the open market. The quality and colour of these stones is high, however, a Diamond specialist has the skill to identify a true stone from an artificially created one. The artificial diamonds will lack the uniqueness and individuality of the natural stones. Every genuine Diamond is as unique to a skilled Diamond appraiser as each star in the sky is to an astronomer! I cannot stress strongly enough that when buying a diamond, certification is of vital importance, it is your guarantee of authenticity and will give a full ‘Four C’s’ description of your Diamond and prove its uniqueness.  Designing your own certificated piece of Diamond jewellery is very exciting. You can choose from thousands of stones to find the one that has that special sparkle for you! All certificated Diamonds are Graded and measured, the ultimate, of course, is choosing a gem with pure clarity; on which there is a huge premium. The ring, bracelet, earrings, necklace etc can be individually designed and created in a traditional or modern style so that it is completely unique and carries the essence of you! If you are interested in aquiring bespoke certificated Diamond jewellery please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail I’m sure I can advise you on the perfect piece for you. email to: [email protected] www.wightfrog.com/islandlife