The Diamond Fanatic: July 2008

Birmingham Assay Office flies flag at key London jewellery showcase

The Birmingham Assay Office is to make a major contribution to the International Jewellery London (IJL) Exhibition later this year as part of an ongoing project to increase the appeal of what is, the UK’s only specialist jewellery exhibition.

The aim is to attract more high quality visitors and develop IJL into a truly international event. To help towards this, the BAO is staging a debate designed to raise the exhibition’s profile and address key topics within jewellery manufacture such as the importance of ethical, humanitarian and social issues associated with the industry.

The IJL Great Debate, which takes place in September, in partnership with Reed Exhibitions, will be chaired by Trade Minister Lord Jones of Birmingham. Michael Rae, chief executive of the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices, will propose the motion: “This house believes that the global jewellery industry will deliver an ethically responsible supply chain in line with consumer demand”.

The motion will be opposed by Gordon Hamme, a long time member of the UK jewellery trade and editor of The Goldsmith magazine. Michael Allchin, BAO chief executive and assay master, said: “We believe this to be a very important issue for jewellers and we are delighted that Lord Jones has agreed to attend. “As a member of the IJL Advisory Board we are very supportive of Reed Exhibitions’ desire to raise the profile of the exhibition and create new reasons for people to visit the show.” “With Lord Jones as chairman the debate is bound to be lively and we look forward to welcoming many members of the international jewellery trade,” he added. BAO will also be offering retailers advice on planning their Christmas sales campaigns and Mr Allchin will also deliver a speech on the new Precious Metals Blue Book.

IJL director Chris Hartley said: “The events being staged by The Birmingham Assay Office are perfect examples of the added value we need to attract more high calibre visitors to the show.”

Diamond Eternity Rings

There is now a high demand for eternity diamond rings as they are fast becoming a must have jewellery item to add to any woman's jewellery collection and eternity rings have entered the same league as the demand for engagement rings.

The unique eternity rings at The Diamond Store are first and foremost about creativity and these jewels can be for decoration or of course a token of love between two people or a promise or simply the desire to possess such beauty. The eternity rings at The Diamond Store are not a fashion accessory, they are timeless pieces that transcend age.

Wearing eternity rings is a statement of luxury and pleasure with the purity of the diamonds revealing a taste of class, detail and sensitivity of whoever wears it. The history of the eternity diamond band is very closely related to that of the wedding ring that is a ring, or circle of metal that has no beginning and no end, in other words eternal.

Eternity rings are increasingly becoming very popular, and for good reason. A diamond eternity ring band is more than just a ring. An eternity ring symbolizes something. It symbolizes everlasting love from eternity to eternity and it tells that special someone that you love them forever and represents the eternity of your love. If the diamonds go around the entire ring, then it symbolizes that your love is a continuous circle that never ends. When you give an eternity ring, you really are saying how much you cherish someone and it is like a promise that you will always feel the same way about them. An eternity ring as engagement ring is also popular because the recipients will remember how you feel each and every time that they look at their beautiful diamond eternity engagement ring.

Some people believe that each stone symbolizes something about their relationship in a full eternity diamond ring. A romantic idea would be to see each stone as a representation of a special moment in your lives such as, one could be for the day you met. The next can represent your first kiss. One diamond can represent you falling in love. One can be for your wedding day. The next one or more can represent each of your children. A sapphire and diamond eternity band can also be used to represent the recipients birth month and there is of course the option of various other gemstone eternity rings as well.

Eternity rings make great gifts for many occasions. The birth of a child can really spark a flood of new emotions and mark a special time in a couple’s life. An eternity ring can represent this new life that you are embarking on together. Eternity wedding bands make wonderful rings and any of the rings in The Diamond Store's eternity wedding collection compliment almost every style of engagement ring. The timeless beauty of an eternity ring will ensure that you never grow tired of such a wonderful item of jewellery. The sparkle and beauty of a diamond eternity wedding band far surpasses that of traditional wedding bands.

There are two main types of eternity ring styles to choose from and these are either a full eternity or half eternity ring although a wishbone eternity ring is an alternative style of eternity ring and these do also fit very well with the majority of solitaire style rings. A full eternity band diamond ring has diamonds that go all the way around. These are very beautiful rings with the maximum amount of sparkle. Half eternity rings have the stones only on top of the ring. Some believe that half eternity rings are slightly more comfortable, but comfort is kept in mind with jewellers eternity rings when designing both types of eternity rings, so feel free to pick the one that you are drawn to.

The eternity ring designs can also be considered to be an extension of the wedding ring. The earliest recorded examples of giving a band eternity ring to symbolize everlasting love and devotion can be dated back to 2000BC in ancient Egypt and then following the rise of the Greek empire, the design of jewellery eternity rings follow into that tradition.
Whilst there are many designs and shaped eternity rings, one thing they all have in common is that they all have stones set in them, usually diamonds (although rubies, sapphires and other birthstones are often used, especially in conjunction with diamonds) This can be related to the month the recipient is born, as an eternity ring with birth stones will then have double meaning, such as a sapphire and diamond eternity ring or a aquamarine eternity ring for example. There is no set time when an eternity ring should be bought or received. Most often bought as a symbol of the continuation of a man’s love for his wife, they tend to be bought for special anniversaries or traditionally, following the birth of the first child although eternity engagement rings are also becoming increasingly popular.

Because a full eternity ring cannot usually be adjusted for finger size, they are custom eternity rings and made to order. Another thing to note is that not all eternity rings are just for women and many of the modern eternity ring collections at The Diamond Store contain styles that can be used for example as an eternity mens wedding band.

A half eternity band is a promise to love forever, and is a very romantic way to show that special someone how much they mean to you by giving them a diamond half eternity ring. The majority of rings sold are half eternity rings which is where the top of the ring is set with gemstones like diamonds, emeralds, sapphires or rubies and the palm side is precious metal like white or yellow gold or platinum. The 5 stone eternity ring can be named under this category and there are some delightful rings to choose from in this collection.

The reason why a gold diamond eternity ring is so popular can be attributed to two factors. Not so many gemstones have to be used and can therefore be less expensive and secondly a half eternity diamond ring takes far more wear and tear and the stones of half diamond eternity bands are protected from the worst of it. This style is also sometimes preferred since larger diamonds or gemstones can be used which therefore maximises the look by focusing all the diamonds in the visible head or front of the ring.

Due to half eternity rings only having stones mounted or set across the top of the band they are easier to manufacture and also to size and this is can be seen in the difference in eternity ring prices between the two different eternity ring settings making jewellery eternity rings a very good value item. Half eternity rings are mostly seen to be set with just diamonds, but again gemstone combinations such as a diamond and emerald eternity ring or a diamond and sapphire eternity ring are becoming ever more popular choices and they can of course be linked with the birthstone of the wearer. Plenty of gemstone combinations are available at The Diamond Store such as a diamond and ruby eternity ring and a sapphire pink eternity ring or if you really want to push the boat out and go for something a little extra special then the collection of platinum half eternity rings is where to look.!

A white gold diamond eternity band can often be worn together with a wedding ring and engagement ring, it can also be worn on the same finger of the opposite hand and separate from other rings. The presenting of an engagement eternity ring is yet again another possibility.

Traditionally a diamond eternity anniversary ring can be given by a husband to his wife after one year of marriage, or also after the birth of the first child. A White gold diamond eternity ring is a very fashionable item and has been very popular over the past few years as opposed to the more traditional yellow gold eternity ring, although it seems this could be on a turn and yellow gold jewellery seems to be bouncing back.

As well as white gold eternity rings, the collections of eternity rings on offer are also available as a platinum eternity ring and these are a great idea to be used as platinum eternity wedding bands. The gemstone most commonly used for eternity rings is of course diamonds although a white gold ruby eternity ring or a sapphire and diamond eternity ring can be popular choices. For instance, let’s say if the recipient was born in the month of July, a ruby eternity ring with diamonds would be a wonderful gift.

Other variations of stones are also popular such as the blue topaz eternity ring or the enchanting emerald eternity ring collection. A white gold full eternity ring can cost twice as much as the half eternity as it will inevitably have many more diamonds set in the ring. Diamonds such as princess or baguette cut stones are excellent choices for a diamond eternity engagement setting as they can be closely set end to end forming a continuous band.

The important factors to consider such as the style, stones, diamond cut and wearing of eternity rings are essential, although the sentiment portrayed by the giving of a yellow gold diamond eternity ring for instance, is really what it is all about. A diamond eternity band ring can represent the love and affection between two people and choosing this wonderful item of diamond jewellery is much easier than other types of diamond jewellery, as the main factor when trying to single out a diamond eternity ring or even a wedding band eternity ring is whether to go for a half or full eternity ring. You also have the opportunity to choose either a platinum, white gold or yellow gold diamond eternity band.

Also, let us not be forgetting that the gold eternity rings available can be used as a mens diamond eternity ring and with so many variations to choose from and styles to suit all tastes and budgets you are sure to come across some incredible mens diamond eternity bands. The eternity engagement ring settings on offer include channel set, claw set, pave set or the ever popular rub over setting.

After a princess cut eternity wedding band.? If the answer is yes, then look no further than the exquisite rings on offer in the Lauren eternity ring collection at The Diamond Store. With a huge selection on offer and total diamond weights from 0.50ct right up to 3.00ct there is sure to be a princess cut diamond eternity wedding band to suit everyone.!

If you are looking for something a little different then why not go for the diamond baguette eternity ring collections. A very popular diamond cut and guaranteed to go down very well with the lucky recipient.! The Grace, Lilly and Katie eternity ring collections all contain baguette cut diamonds and can be manufactured as a platinum, yellow gold or white gold eternity ring. It is very likely that you will only really purchase one of these designer diamond eternity rings once in your life, it is therefore advised that you go for the best eternity ring that your budget will allow.

If a pave eternity ring is what you are interested in purchasing then there is a simply stunning variety offered in the Jasmine pave diamond eternity ring collection. With a choice of Platinum, 18K White Gold and 18k Yellow Gold and 20 variations of these wonderful women's eternity rings there is sure to be a pave diamond eternity band here to suit all tastes and budgets. An ideal choice for that someone interested in acquiring a wider looking ring and remember that all eternity ring finger sizes can be supplied and made specifically to your order requirements.

As all of these eternity rings are made to order, there is the option to essentially design your own eternity ring if you wish and if a diamond sapphire eternity band ring is required or a topaz eternity ring for instance then this can most likely be catered for.

When purchasing eternity engagement rings or indeed eternity anniversary bands, we recommend getting the finger measured prior to placing an order as the size cannot be changed once it is made. For example, you may feel you require the eternity ring size i though it may have been a few years since you have measured your fingers and the size could have changed so it is definitely recommended to double check.

A frequently asked question is whether the diamonds in full eternity rings are supplied with independent certification. All the eternity ring collections at The Diamond Store contain certified diamond eternity rings although no independent certification is given for each single diamond as this would not be cost effective and would drastically increase the sale value as each diamond would have to be independently certified. Independent certification is therefore only relevant to items such as solitaire diamond rings which will generally only contain one diamond stone.

Petra Takes Ownership of Cullinan Diamond Mine

The Petra Diamonds Cullinan Consortium (PDCC) completed its acquisition of the famed Cullinan diamond mine from De Beers, Petra Diamonds said Wednesday (July 16, 2008.) PDCC agreed to buy the mine which produced the world’s largest rough diamond from De Beers in November 2007 for ZAR 1 billion ($149 million,) and sought the regulatory approval necessary to close the deal.

Petra Diamonds chairman Adonis Pouroulis called the acquisition a landmark deal at one of the world’s most important diamond mines. “Cullinan is a major producer and Petra’s associated production and cash flows are therefore expected to rise substantially over the next few years,” Pouroulis said. Petra expects the mine to produce 700,000 to 850,000 carats of diamonds in its first year of operation under its portfolio, and to ramp up to 1 million carats a year at full production from 2009-10.

Annual revenues from the mine are expected to reach $100 million, Petra said. Cullinan comprises the current operating levels at a depth of 747 meters (“the B-Cut,”) the Centenary-Cut (“the C-Cut,”) which lies beneath the B-Cut section with a potential 133 million carat resource, and a substantial tailings resource, Petra explained. Petra said the acquisition cost has been settled in cash, with Petra and Al Rajhi Holdings, which each hold a 37 percent stake in PDCC, contributing $40 million equity funding to the consortium. Al Rajhi also provided a $95 million loan to PDCC bringing the total financing package to $175 million covering acquisition costs and working capital. Petra will operate the mine and has the option to raise its stake in PDCC to 60 percent. PDCC’s black economic empowerment partners, Thembinkosi Mining Investments own 14 percent of PDCC and a broad based Petra employee share trust own the remaining 12 percent.

The Cullinan diamond mine was renowned for producing many of the world’s most spectacular diamonds, including over 300 stones weighing more than 100 ct. It also yielded the famous 3 106 ct Cullinan diamond, which was cut into smaller gems, two of which were retained for the British Crown Jewels. Cullinan is also the world’s only significant source of rare and valuable blue diamonds.

Labels: Diamond Jewellery

De Beers increases rough diamond prices by 5 percent

The world's biggest diamond producer De Beers boosted rough diamond prices by an average of 5 percent this month, the firm said on Friday.

The price hike by the group's marketing arm came amid strong demand for diamonds in Asian emerging markets and tight supply, which led to price increases of 8.5 percent earlier this year.
A De Beers official said last month that buoyant diamond demand from China, India and the Middle East would more than offset expected slower sales in the United States, which accounts for half of the diamond jewellery market.

De Beers, 45 percent owned by mining group Anglo American made the price increase during the firm's July "sight" this week, one of 10 week-long events during the year at which the DTC markets rough diamonds to tightly-screened clients."Some increases have been made at the July Sight, the overall effect of which is plus 5 percent," De Beers said in an email in response to a query.

De Beers said in February that it expected a rebound in its rough diamond sales this year after a dip in 2007.Sales fell 3.7 percent to $5.9 billion (2.97 billion pounds) last year, but supply shortages were expected to keep prices strong and help to lift the 2008 sales figures.De Beers, which controls around 40 percent of the diamond market, posted flat output of diamonds last year at 51 million carats and a steady result is expected in 2008.

Labels: Diamond Jewellery