The Diamond Fanatic: March 2006

Friday, March 24, 2006

This looks like some Good Value Diamonds!

I just spotted this press release and thought that the range looked good, good value and stylish!

Did a bit of research on Slade & Kempton and they are one of the leading Diamond Jewellery Manufacturers in the UK.

Slade & Kempton / Millennium Gems Press Release

Diamond Jewellery Manufacturers and Wholesalers in the UK

As part of a number of new product ranges launching this year to celebrate Slade & Kempton’s 50th Anniversary, Slade & Kempton together with it’s sister company Millennium Gems have announced the launch of “The Diamond Value Range”.

The Diamond Value range consists of traditional diamond set jewellery designed and manufactured with high emphasis on value. Marketing Director Jeremy Kanzen explained “..the whole buying and manufacturing process has been streamlined to eliminate any unnecessary cost to ensure that this diamond jewellery range becomes more affordable than ever”.

The diamond grades used are colour J/K and clarity SI set in 9 carat yellow and white gold. The tactic of high sparkling diamonds detracting from the average colour works well to allow the appearance of a product looking much more expensive than it is.

Products in the range include: diamond solitaire rings, diamond trilogy rings, diamond eternity rings, diamond solitaire pendants, diamond trilogy pendants, diamond crosses, diamond stud earrings and diamond tennis bracelets.

Slade & Kempton have been manufacturing diamond jewellery in the UK for the last 50 years. Their sister company, Millennium Gems specialises in wholesale diamond jewellery in the UK. Both companies only supply to the jewellery trade.

The Diamond Value Range can be seen at your local jeweller.

Trade enquiries please contact Slade & Kempton, Diamond Jewellery Wholesalers

Jeremy Kanzen

Slade & Kempton

MillenniumGems

Monday, March 13, 2006

The Spain Diamond Center

If you are on holiday in Marbella this year and can't wait to get home before you "pop the question" you could alwasy call into the Diamond Center in Marbella.

I noticed their press release this week and remember seeing them near the taxi rank just in front of Marbella Old Town!

The Diamond Center Spain - Press Article

When you first walk into the Spain Diamond Center unlike some jewellery shops, you feel immediately welcome and at ease by their friendly and down-to-earth staff. There are over 4,000 pieces of jewellery on display and they boast the largest showroom in Southern Spain.

With over 45 years experience in the diamond industry and branches also in the USA and Belgium, you soon realize that this company really does mean business.

Over Christmas, the Spain Diamond Center held a well. attended drinks and canapés evening where guests were invited to look around and even try on the jewellery. The jewellery ranged in price from 500 euros right up to 40,000 euros (which was an exquisite diamond and ruby necklace).

Despite these spellbinding price tags, what is so humbling is that this is a family-run company of hardworking designers and goldsmiths and it is also the only cutting and polishing factory in Marbella.

You can often see the manager and founder of the company, Daniel Evro and his son working away in the workshop (situated actually in the showroom) and their dedication and pride in their work cannot go unnoticed. They believe diamonds are the best gift of nature representing brilliance, passion and power. Because of this rather unique aspect of an on-site workshop, you can ask them to design your very own distinctive piece of jewellery using any kind of gem whether it be a diamonds, emerald, ruby, sapphire, pearl or semi-precious stone and they can make rings, brooches, necklaces, bracelets and even watches.

All jewellery has a lifetime guarantee and you receive a gemology certificate with all diamonds.

The company offers transport to and from 5 star hotels and time resorts with whom the Spain Diamond Center works very closely so that clients receive a superlative service on private appointments.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Diamonds at the Oscars

The great thing about the Oscars is that the big name jewellers get to show off their latest creations under the full spotlight of the worlds public.

actresses such as Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez choose Grecian-style draped dresses, Lopez also wore diamonds with a flowing gown and a train in a yellowy shade of olive.

UK actress Kiera Knightly accessorized her Vera Wang dress with a vintage Bulgari necklace and many of the other stars wore diamonds on just about everything, ears, necks, fingers and wrist!

The stars of one film even wore Diamond teeth coverings which we wrote about last week.

Some people turn their noses up at the value of the jewellery but to me it's great to such beautiful dresses and gowns off set by some of the finest jewellery in the world!

Monday, March 06, 2006

The Blood Diamond (2006)

Now filming on location in South Africa and Mozambique is Leonardo DiCaprio's new film "The Blood Diamond". The film will be all about the civil war and lawlessness in Sierra Leone in the 1990's.

Blood diamonds (aka conflict diamonds) are diamonds that are sold by illegitimate sources usually to fund illegal activities such as guerrilla movements in civil wars.The diamond industry has in recent years introduced the Kimberley Process which is designed prevent the trade in blood diamonds.

The process to limit the trade of conflict diamonds has purely been source driven. I.e. responsibility is put on the supplier of the diamonds. As a result, most of the awareness has been limited to the diamond trade.

The planned release of "The Blood Diamond" is in December. The strong casting of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connolly, Djimon Hounsou and Arnold Vosloo will guarantee that the issue of blood diamonds will be put firmly into the limelight. The diamond jewellery industry (especially at retail level) is preparing for a huge increase in public awareness of trading in conflict diamonds.

I wonder how many local jewellers are prepared for the launch of this movie? For certain, there will be a publicity campaign that coincides with this year's xmas shopping season. It will be interesting to see how diamond jewellers cope!

What choosing a diamond says about you!

Many Oscar nominees and soem of the presenters were this week treated to an insight into what their choice of diamonds revealed about them.

At an avent sponsored by the Diamond Information Center, Romance Coach and Intuitive Advisor Suzannah Galland has just launched her new program, Romance Makeover™. For the past decade Suzanne Galland Suzannah has helped people find their true calling in life by helping them block out "that nagging" feeling we sometimes all suffer with.

At this years Diamond Aquifer’s celebrity event Suzannah has help shed some light as to what Diamond selections meant to the various people that had choosen them.

Suzannah is quoted as saying “Just as an individual is rich and diverse, each facet of a diamond reveals a hidden message. We are drawn to diamonds because they deflect negativity and each diamond has a unique message coded in the color, cut and clarity of the stone. When you choose a diamond, you are sharing a message from your heart,”

The guests were asked to choose a piece of jewellery from an immpressive inventory before they met up with Suzannah. She then gave each "invitation only" guest an insight into what there choice of diamond jewellery meant to them.

At this year’s event, guests selected Diamonds from a priceless inventory prior to their meeting with Suzannah. The Diamond Aquifer is a favorite and prestigious invitation-only event for the who’s who in Hollywood. Suzannah’s presence as a confidant of the elite is both an acknowledgement of her gifts and her discretion. Suzannah met with invited guests by appointment only throughout Oscar week and each exclusive session will surely leave the guest thrilled and delighted.

If you would like to find out more about what choosing a daimond says about your personality then please go through to Suzannah Gallands website, www.suzannahgalland.com.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

What Engagement Ring Will She Like??

Now this is a tough one. You want the question to be a surprise, you want to be romantic and you want to have the diamond engagement ring ready. Thing is, these diamonds don't come cheap! What do you do to make sure you are not stuck with a diamond ring that she hates?

Popping the question is a very nervous moment, will she say yes? Will she say no? By doing your research well you will have a good chance that not only will she like the ring but if she is 50/50 about marrying you, the diamond will seal it! ;-)

My advice is to talk to take note of what she wears, is it traditional/modern white/yellow gold, shapes? size? Talk to her friends/co-workers has she given them her opinion. But be careful you want to keep the question a surprise!

Go window shopping and casually pass a jewellery shop. Pretend to be dis-interested whilst she looks at the diamonds. Point out things you think she might like and pretend to dislike it, how does she respond? You get the idea.

Once you have done your research and found a jeweller that you like the look of, ask them if they would give a period of time to return your purchase should she not like it. Most reputable jewellers would.

Last thing is that women like diamonds so it will be easier than you think, the bigger the better!!

Good luck!

Thursday, March 02, 2006

Bling Bling Diamond Oscar Camera

Reese Witherspoon, Felicity Huffman, Keira Knightley, Charlize Theron and Dame Judi Dench will each be receiving one of these Kodak digital cameras. Nothing really special, until you notice that the camera is personalised with the initials of the nominees for the best actress awards. What's more is that they are made up of over 75 sparkling diamonds!

The KODAK dual-lens EASYSHARE V570 digital camera that usually sells for £300 suddenly costs over £12,000 with these diamonds! What will they think of next I wonder.

Obviously Kodak are looking for publicity here but the real story here is the decision to use diamonds to gain awareness. Diamond jewellery is becoming more and more fashionable and talked about. Diamonds are the ultimate accessory and I can't wait to see what the stars will be wearing at the forthcoming Oscars.

White Gold or Platinum - the differences

The most asked question I bet a jeweler gets asked is: “White Gold Jewellery or Platinum Jewellery, what’s the difference? They look the same!”

Whilst it’s true that both white gold and platinum look the same there are some fairly fundamental differences and I have tried to outline the main ones below.

Isn’t all gold yellow?

Nearly all gold used in jewellery making is not 100% pure. 24 carat gold is pure but most people buy either 9 carat or 18 carat gold.

Carats are the way that the purity of gold is measured you see. 24 Carat Gold is 100% gold, 24 carat gold is 75% pure gold and 9 carat gold is 37.5% pure gold. If you’re wondering what makes up the difference it’s a mixture of alloys.

White gold is simply a gold that has more white alloys mixed with it to give it a paler, whiter look. It is then coated in Rhodium which is a hard white metal and you end up with white gold.

So what is Platinum?

Believe it or not platinum is rarer than gold and is a naturally white metal. The platinum that is usually used in jewellery is around 95% pure and is much heavier and much harder than white gold.

So which is best, white gold or platinum?

As always, jewellery comes down to one thing, budget! White gold is cheaper than platinum and makes buying a whole lot easier for many people. If you wear the jewellery a lot over a number of years then there will come a time when you will need to get the white gold recoated in Rhodium.

Platinum on the other hand is much more expensive but over the longer term it needs no maintenance or recoating like white gold.

If you ask my opinion Platinum should be the jewellery of choice. It is a better metal than white gold; it is harder wearing and a lot more practical. I know that one eye is always on the budget, especially when you are buying say eternity rings, but try where you can to go for Platinum jewellery.

Buying and Owning Loose Diamonds

I was just about to start a posting on loose diamonds when I stumbled accross this article and thought that it did a pretty good job of explaining how to buy Loose diamonds.

Loose Diamonds
By Gagandeep Dhaliwal

Today, loose diamonds are also becoming more popular. Loose diamonds are those that have not been place into a piece of jewelry. Loose diamonds were first mined in India thousands of years ago. However, most diamonds are found in Africa today.

The main advantage of loose diamond is that it can be set in any kind of metal with the kind of design a person wants. While buying loose diamonds or other diamonds, a buyer must know about the 4 Cs: cut, color, clarity and carat. These Cs will help a person to determine its quality.

While shopping around for a loose diamond at any jewelry store or online diamond dealer be sure to ask each dealer for a 10X loupe. It is a clarity grade assigned to diamonds so that you may properly examine the core of the diamond under magnification. There are also such microscopes manufactured specifically for observing diamonds and gemstones. It is also essential to know about the nature and location of the inclusions present in the diamond.

Loose diamonds can also be purchased online, but it is always better to see the actual stone before buying. A picture cannot help a buyer to decide its quality. Seeing the gem closely is also the only sure way to determine things like its fire and brilliance.

Diamonds come in more shapes than any other gem. Diamond jewellery with pectacular center pieces are available in round, emerald cut, heart, marquise, oval, pear, princess, radiant, and trillion. Diamonds as accents are usually found in small round shapes and baguettes. Popular earrings are usually round or princess cut, though some may come in fancier shapes.

As with all other jewelry, diamond jewelry needs to be cared for properly to ensure long lasting wear and enchantment.

The author presents the website on loose diamonds. It covers advantages of loose diamonds, important steps followed while buying loose diamonds. You can visit his site on wholesale loose diamonds

0.2ct Diamond Earrings in 18k White Gold

A friend of mine was hunting around for a Valentines gift for his girlfirend and was asking my advice on buying her a pair of Diamond Earrings.

His budget was a bit tight so I suggested that he searched the internet for the cheapest 0.2ct Diamond Earrings he could find.

To my amazement he came back and told me about a whole new world that I had previously not known was out there.

Competitions!

If you goto Google and search "diamond earrings competitions" you will see a list of places where you are able to win a pair of earrings.

The top result for the UK is Loquax which is one of the UK's top competition websites.

Most of the competitions are easy to enter and have easy one word answers.

Of course your chances of winning are small but it takes just a few minutes and can get quite addictive.

My friend didnt win the 0.2ct Diamond Earrings that were in the competiton but if you are interested and want to find out more the best palces to go to are:

Loquax
Uk Competitons.com
Online-sweepstakes
Moneysaving expert forums

The Diamond Fanatic