Silver Bullion Coins

Silver Bullion Coins are available in various versions and sizes allover the world. Coins made from precious metals are commonly known as Bullion Coins. Silver Bullion Coins were the only medium of transaction in early ages. The existence of Silver Bullion Coins can be traced back to the time of the Greeks when silver ‘drachmas’ were used as trade coins. Most of the early age silver coins have now turned into collectable items.

Silver Bullion Coins are mainly stored for their value as investments. Silver Bullion Coins are available in two forms, silver “rounds” and silver “bars”. These terms are used for referring to coins that are minted privately. The set weight of these coins is of 31.105 g of pure silver (1 troy ounce of silver).

United States of America in 1986 started issuing the Eagle Silver Bullion Coins following their gold eagle bullion coin. Canada introduced their 1 ounce Silver Maple Leaf Bullion Coins in 1988.

Currently there are several countries all over the world that issue Silver Bullion Coins every year. Some of these countries have their own silver mines and others import the metals. All these mints provide separate designs and forms for each series of Silver Bullion Coins. The Australian Kookaburra series of Silver Bullion Coins feature a native bird known as ‘kookaburra’. The designs of these coins are changed every year to make them more attractive.



Britannia Silver Bullion Coins of Great Britain were introduced in 1997. These coins are produced in silver which has 958 parts / 1000 silver and include 1 ounce of pure silver and a little amount of copper.

There are numerous Silver Bullion Coins available in the whole world such as American Eagles, Chinese Pandas, Somali Monkeys, Zambian Elephant, and Mexican 1 Onza Plata Pura etc.

Cullinan Diamond

Cullinan Diamond is a pear shaped diamond that is acknowledged to be the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever discovered in the world and has a body mass of 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g).

The Cullinan Diamond has an interesting tale regarding its discovery. The stone was excavated in 1905 at the Premier mines in South Africa by Frederick Wells who was a mine superintendent. The man discovered the stone, which looked like a big piece of glass, as being embedded in one side of the mine wall while he was walking through the mine. He was appreciated with $10,000 for his discovery. The name of the diamond was after the mine's owner, Sir Thomas Cullinan.

The Cullinan diamond, after its discovery, underwent several cutting and polishing processes. The stone after its discovery was purchased for $800,000 as a souvenir for King Edward VII for the occasion of his 66th birthday. The stone was handed over to the cutters of Amsterdam named Asscher Brothers for bringing out a proper piece. The first attempt to cut the diamond by Mr. Asscher on February 10, 1908 was unsuccessful as the blade used for the process was broken whilethe diamond remained intact.

BHP Billiton

BHP Billiton is an amalgamated venture of an Australian company Broken Hill Proprietary and a British company Billiton with extensive operations in South Africa. BHP Billiton originated in 2001 and is recognized as the world's largest mining company.

BHP Billiton though is the outcome of merger of two companies but they are dual-listed companies. The Australian BHP Billiton Limited and the British BHP Billiton Plc are separate listed companies with different shareholder strategy and organizations. The governing and managing bodies are the same as the companies function as solitary business with identical boards of directors and a sole management organization. The Australian company based at Melbourne possesses approximately 60% of the operating commerce and the British investment comprises 40% of the operating trade and has a secondary headquarters in London.

The company is spread over 25 countries where they have an extensive variety of mining and processing operations that includes petroleum, diamonds, iron, coal, bauxite and copper primarily along with other metals and mined products. The company has a total manpower of over 100,000 people. The company has significant interests in diamonds, silver and titanium minerals.

Darya-ye Noor

Darya-ye Noor Diamond is recognized as the possession of the first Mogul emperor of India and is ranked as the most eminent diamond among the Iranian Crown Jewels. ‘Darya-ye Noor’ is a Persian word meaning "Sea of Light". The Darya-ye Noor is known as one of the largest diamonds in the world and has a body mass of 182 carats (36.4 g). The diamond has a unique pale pink color that makes it a rare diamond.

The history behind the Darya-ye Noor reveals a lot of facts. The extraction of this diamond was in India at the Golconda mine, which is in the southern India. The diamond was a precious possession of the Mughal knights. The invasion of the adventurer, Nader Shah of Persia occurred in 1739 and the adventurer congregated a lot of possessions from the wealthy Mughal treasury that included the Darya-ye Noor, which were carried to Persia leaving the country of origin forever. The diamond was passed on to the next generation and after the demise of Nader Shah, it was under the ownership of his grandson, Shahrokh Mirza and so on. The fate of the diamond was then in the hand of Qajars and was used as an armband, brooch and as a sign of honor.

Diamond

Diamond is the eternal and most precious gemstone of the world. The name diamond was derived from an ancient Greek word, ‘adamas’ which means ‘invincible’. Diamond belongs to the class of native metals and is a member of the group of Carbon. Diamond is a ‘polymorph’ of carbon. It is marked by immense durability.

Physical Properties

Coming to its physical properties, it is known to be the hardest natural material to be found. It is known to have ‘four directions of cleavage’. If it is hit in any of these four directions, diamond will break easily. Its melting point is 3820K. Its density is measured as 10 in the Mohs hardness scale. It is also an excellent thermal conductor but is a poor conductor of electricity. It can be burnt if exposed to high temperature and oxygen together. It is marked with negative electron affinity due to which it resists water but easily accepts wax, grease and other hydrocarbons.

Uses of Diamond

Diamonds are most popularly used as gemstones for making jewelries from time immemorial because they form the finest ornaments. They have great significance in the industrial sectors also due to their toughness. They are used as appropriate cutting and milling instruments. Their industrial utility is further enhanced by the fact that diamonds are excellent abrasives.

Precious Little Diamond

Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You

Precious Little Diamond
Let It Come to You.
Precious Little
Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You
. . .
Well
I Got My Reasons Why I Still Believe in You

You're My Cry of Wonder
There's no Doubt I Need You.
Love Is Talking to Me Whisper Sweet Things in My Ear

Chain to Chain Reaction If You Pull I Move Along.
You're My Will and Pleasure Never Felt So Good
So Strong.
Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You
Precious Little Diamond
Let It Come to You.
Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You

Precious Little Diamond
Crystallizing You.
Still I Got My Reasons
Won't You Talk to Me

You're a Precious Diamond - Baby
Stay With Me.
As You're Coming Closer
Pressure Disappears

Baby. Take It Over. Everything's So Clear.

Well
I Got My Reasons Why I Stlll Believe in You
. . .
Still I Got My Reasons
Won't You Talk to Me
. . .
Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You

Precious Little Diamond
Let It Come to You.
Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You
. . .
Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You
. . .
Ooh
I Got My Reasons
Won't You Talk to Me
. . .
Precious Little Diamond
I Leave It All to You

Diamonds are often called symbols of love

Diamonds are often called symbols of love. Giving diamonds as gifts proclaim our love and commitment to that person. Pure diamonds have four natural characteristics which determine their value. They are the color, cut, clarity and carat. While clarity, color and carat are naturally acquired qualities of a stone, it is the 'cut' which actually determine the desirability of diamonds.

Diamonds obtained from different parts of the world differ mildly in character. A diamond with the requisite carat and color can be transformed into an object of desire by the artful hands of a diamond cutter. Proportionate and properly angled cuts increase the clarity of the diamond.

It has become a fashionable act to wear stone jewelry. Jewelry can be made of any premium metals like, gold, sterling gold or titanium. But it is the embedded diamond which gives the jewelry its attractiveness. Fine jewelry made of diamonds and yellow metal are highly coveted by our women and girls alike.

Modern jewelry comes in many shapes and types. Diamond necklace simply make a woman shine among a gathering. Sparkling earrings simply make others swoon (either in jealousy or appreciation). Brooches, rings and bracelets are the other commonly used diamond jewelry pieces.

Buying diamond jewelry has become easy and reliable with the advent of some committed sellers. You can rest assured that the diamond you are about to buy is genuine and not fake. Look for vendors who promise to give the money back on return of the diamond within a period of thirty days, if you are not satisfied with the product.

The Mondera Diamond

For Robert:

Pictured above, “The Mondera Diamond”. A 60.19 carat, D-color, “flawless” diamond.

Purchaser: Robert Mouawad. Price: “priceless”

“Say Wha?” –you say? You’re “not” interested in the Mondera Diamond? And–you say you missed Cyber Monday? Then – check out the websites below for some terrific online Christmas shopping. (But–go easy–last year on Cyber Monday online shoppers spent a whopping $600 million dollars !)….

Special diamond

Special diamond cuts are the result of innovative polishing of the diamond, lending it an interesting or extraordinary shape. Special cuts meet the demand for unusual diamonds on the part of jewelers and diamond lovers. Many companies work on the development of special cuts alongside the more standard cuts and apply for patents upon their launch.

The creation of a special cut – such as the “Rising Star” or “Hearts and Arrows” – requires intricate skill and vast experience, because most of the special cuts are particularly difficult to manufacture. During the polishing stage of these diamonds, a large percentage of the rough diamond is lost as emphasis is placed on the extraordinary design rather than the diamond’s final weight.

In order to create special cuts, use is often made of laser in order to achieve perfect results. The current computerized technology available in the industry often enables the prediction of the results of special cuts, and based on the GIA and AGS diamond grading systems they are usually granted top grades.

Israeli diamond companies are renowned for their innovative, original and breathtaking cuts, which are sought worldwide. These special cuts stem from creativity, skillfulness and knowhow which combine to bring real innovation to the industry.

Higher Standards, Superior Diamonds

"I buy every diamond as if it’s going on my wife’s hand." — Zed Mervis, President, Mervis Diamond Importers

That’s a pretty high standard. But higher standards mean superior diamonds.

Zed travels regularly to South Africa and the other major diamond centers to find the finest diamonds in the world. Because of his stature in the global diamond community, Zed is among the first to look through the latest production of diamonds. As he likes to say, he’s high in the pecking order so he gets the pick of the litter — and he flat-out rejects diamonds that don’t meet the Mervis standards.

Zed selects every diamond himself. Unlike other stores, Mervis owns all of its diamonds. This might not seem important, but think about it. Zed will not invest in a stone unless he’s confident it’s superior. We don’t act as a clearinghouse, passing along unacceptable diamonds to you. In turn, you can be confident that every Mervis diamond is a superior diamond.

UV Rays Shed New Light on the Hope Diamond’s Mysterious Red Glow

Hundreds of rare precious gemstones are on display in the Gems and Minerals Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. According to Dr. Jeff Post, curator of the United States National Gem and Mineral Collection and avid mineralogist, few of those gems garner more attention than the world famous and Smithsonian’s own, Hope Diamond. With its breathtaking beauty and mysterious past, the Hope Diamond intrigues millions of museum visitors each year; but beyond its rumored curse, the world’s largest blue diamond is proving to be a unique scientific specimen.

The 45.52-carat blue diamond puzzles scientists because of the fiery red glow it gives off for several minutes after being exposed to ultra-violet light. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as phosphorescence. “It looks like a glowing orange coal in your barbeque grill,” explains Post. “It has been described as one of the unique properties of this unique diamond, something special to the Hope Diamond.” No comprehensive studies on the nature of the phosphorescence exist, which has made Dr. Jeff Post question the impressive glow for years. “There didn’t seem to be a lot of consistency, or certainly no quantification of the nature of the phosphorescence,” Post says. Thus, he and a team of researchers took on the challenge to dispel the deep dark secrets of the Hope Diamond.

UV Rays Shed New Light on the Hope Diamond’s Mysterious Red Glow

Hundreds of rare precious gemstones are on display in the Gems and Minerals Galleries at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. According to Dr. Jeff Post, curator of the United States National Gem and Mineral Collection and avid mineralogist, few of those gems garner more attention than the world famous and Smithsonian’s own, Hope Diamond. With its breathtaking beauty and mysterious past, the Hope Diamond intrigues millions of museum visitors each year; but beyond its rumored curse, the world’s largest blue diamond is proving to be a unique scientific specimen.

The 45.52-carat blue diamond puzzles scientists because of the fiery red glow it gives off for several minutes after being exposed to ultra-violet light. Scientists refer to this phenomenon as phosphorescence. “It looks like a glowing orange coal in your barbeque grill,” explains Post. “It has been described as one of the unique properties of this unique diamond, something special to the Hope Diamond.” No comprehensive studies on the nature of the phosphorescence exist, which has made Dr. Jeff Post question the impressive glow for years. “There didn’t seem to be a lot of consistency, or certainly no quantification of the nature of the phosphorescence,” Post says. Thus, he and a team of researchers took on the challenge to dispel the deep dark secrets of the Hope Diamond.

the different between wondering and knowing

GIA wants you to understand exactly what you’re buying when shopping for your diamond. As creators of the 4Cs and the International Diamond Grading System™, GIA set the standards for diamond grading and has been helping consumers make educated diamond buying decisions for over 50 years.

GIA’s D-to-Z color-grading scale, Flawless-to-I3 clarity-grading scale, and Excellent-to-Poor cut-grading scale are all recognized by gem and jewelry professionals everywhere. And, by extension, the GIA Diamond Grading Report, Diamond Dossier®, and Gemological Identification Report are considered to be the world’s premier evaluations of gem quality and authenticity.

Jewelers to the Stars Design Celebrity Worthy Engagement Rings

As everyone knows, when it comes to practically everything, celebrities are known for going over the top. Their homes are ten times bigger than the average dwelling, their clothing budget is akin to what most people bring home over a five year period and the cost of their jewelry would rival the national budget of a small country. When it comes time to design engagement and wedding rings, celebrities naturally turn to extremely well known designers. Continue reading »

Celebrate Fine Art Forms through Alternative Jewelry

The recent popular growth of handmade jewelry and fine jewelry designs implementing rough diamonds and other unrefined looks has led to a trend of crafting alternative jewelry to be a form of fine art. These pieces are typically one-of-a-kind, but use fine metals and gemstones such as diamonds and pearls instead of glass beads.

Whether you prefer the classic and simple look or need a piece with added flair and color, you’re sure to find a piece of alternative jewelry that fits your personality. Chunky and stackable bracelets, pendants, earrings and necklaces are made of yellow and white gold or platinum and accented by artistic images, diamonds, and other gemstones, creating a head-turning piece like no other. Continue reading »

Pearls

Natural pearls begin to form when an irritant finds it's way into the shell of an oyster. The oyster tries to free itself of the irritant, but cannot.

The oyster's next option is to coat the intruder with layers of a substance called "nacre", or calcium carbonate.

As years pass, the irritant becomes a bead which grows into a pearl.

Cultured Pearls are formed much as are natural pearls. The difference is primarily the manner in which the irritant is introduced.

The oyster shell is carefully opened enough to accurately place a small bead in the oyster.

Then the oyster is returned to a natural environment for sufficient time to allow the oyster to form the layers of nacre.

Keshi are unseeded cultured natural in a baroque shape that occur naturally in oysters that have been seeded.

Sometimes Keshi pearls are mistaken for freshwater pearls, but the luster and color is more complex than freshwater varieties.

Imitation Pearls are manufactured imitations of glass, wax, fish scale and other uninteresting materials

Pearl Selection Characteristics that determine the value of pearls.
Luster - by far the most important factor. The higher the luster the more beautiful the pearl
Finish aka Complexion - is second in importance. The absence of pits and blemishes enhances the value
Shape - perfect rounds are much more rare than teardrop, button or baroques
Size - value increases rapidly with diameter which relates directly with the time required for the pearl to grow.
Color - less of a value factor and more subjective. White, silver and gold are the more popular hues.

Modern Diamond Cutting

Laser sawing allows fashioning shapes and facet combinations than were not seen a generation ago.

Cutting diamonds is rather ingenious. Since diamond is the hardest material man has known for centuries, how do you cut one?

Answer: With another diamond.

Actually, the cutting is done with diamond powder, which is applied to a cast iron wheel, often as a slurry with olive oil.

The cutter must study the rough diamond carefully in order to position the crystal properly.

Diamond Treatments and Enhancements

Two common methods of enhancements are fracture-filling and lasering, and if your diamond has been enhanced in either manner, you should pay less for it than you would for other diamonds.

Any legitimate jeweler will always disclose either of these treatments to the consumer.

Fracture-filled diamonds have cracks visible to the naked eye, which are filled with a glass-like substance that makes the cracks disappear except when viewed under a microscope.

If a fracture-filled diamond is treated carefully it might remain as beautiful as it is the day you buy it. But ignore the special care instructions and the filler can evaporate or change color, which will make the diamond much less attractive.

A prong gets broken and the ring needs to be repaired. In most cases the fracture-filling disintegrates leaving all the cracks visible.

Superlatives Diamonds

Superlatives used to describe diamonds don't even compare to actually gazing into a high quality stone. A diamond exists to fascinate and to draw attention.

Briefly the 4 "C"s of Diamonds
Carat .. 1 carat = 1/5 gram
Clarity .. is about 10X loupe visible inclusions
Color .. coloration of crystal
Cut .. symmetry - proportion - finish

Jewelry - Gold - Platinum - Silver

Settings are much more than just a pretty face! Consider the functions of a setting for precious gems or diamonds

When you look for gold jewelry, what karat works for you. Is there a golden rule for 18k or does 9K fit the type of wear? Color vs polish for gold jewelry.

Gemstones

Colored gems vary in hue and tone. We all know that. But wearability may be even more important. Wearability usually equals durability of gemstones