Made in China

When you think of diamonds, you tend to think of sparkly rings and earrings, etc. However we rarely think of how that diamond got to our finger or ears. Well, let me tell you, it’s quite the process. 

Diamonds form deep underground under immense temperature and pressure and are then catapulted to the surface via a violent explosion. Hardy little buggers aren’t they? After this colossal explosion the diamonds wait to be discovered. And sometimes they wait a very, very long time. For example, the diamond currently sitting on my finger is hundreds of millions of years old. Hundreds of Millions But that’s not the craziest part, the real humdinger is that my diamond, and many like it, sat for ages without anyone knowing that they were there. You’d think with billions of carats of diamonds just hanging around, people would be starting new mines all the time. 

However, few things in life are that easy. Finding a new deposit of diamonds is exciting, but just because there are diamonds doesn’t mean that they will ever make it out of the ground and into our jewelry boxes. Mining is an expensive proposition and extensive research is conducted before digging ever begins. Multiple samples are taken, and environmental impact studies are run. If a diamond deposit doesn’t look like it will produce high quality stones in an appropriate volume, the deposit will not be mined. This may seem counterproductive but to put it in perspective, to start a mine can take years of work, and cost upwards of a billion dollars. That’s right, a billion dollars, to dig a hole. Ok so it’s a lot more complicated than that, but still, wow. So the caution is understandable. Finding a new, quality site worthy of mining is a really exciting event in the diamond world, and it hasn’t happened in over ten years. 

Photo : Xinhua

So it was thrilling and newsworthy, when officials from Liaoning, a northern province of China, announced that a new mine had been discovered and that it had a projected lifespan of over 30 years. Yes, even diamond mines have expiration dates. There are only so many diamonds per site and when they are gone, they’re gone, 30 years is a huge lifespan for a mine. Yu Wenli, director of Liaoning’s geology and mineral resources bureau described the discovery, telling that the mine was found by an employee in early 2011. Can you just imagine what was going through that guy’s head? If it were me it would be “Oh my God, Oh my God”, on repeat, and then I would probably start running around like a chicken with my head cut off to tell someone. Because I’m cool like that, yep, cool as a cucumber. Anyways, I sure hope that they gave that guy a raise because he stumbled upon a mine that doesn’t just have diamonds; it has a LOT of diamonds, more than a million carats. And all of those carats are worth billions. Not bad for some rocks that were formed over 400 million years ago. But then again, these aren’t your average rocks, or your average diamonds for that matter. Officials are claiming that the diamonds from this mine are more pure than even those found in South Africa. 

So what does all of this mean? Well, we have new hope for the future of diamond mining. Remember, all current mining operations will eventually run out, so it is vital that new discoveries are made. Because I will be highly perturbed if, when I save up my pennies for that 2 carat stone, they tell me that they’re out of diamonds. Secondly, the words “Made in China” have never been truer. And thirdly, I would just like to commend the handwriting of whoever it was the wrote those characters so neatly on the girdle of that diamond pictured above. I don't think I could write Chinese characters that neatly ever, even on a big sheet of paper.

A PSA for the Men

This is a friendly PSA to men everywhere. As of this morning, Valentine’s day is a mere 15 days away. Now, I know many of you see this news as akin to the cancellation of the Super Bowl. “What, I have to think of another thoughtful gift, already?!” But don’t despair, you have a secret weapon up your sleeve, us. Here at Union Diamond, we’ve got your back. With our help you can find that perfect gift without the hassle, heck you may not even have to leave the house. Score! So with your ease and comfort in mind, we have a few gift ideas that would be perfect for your sweetheart. 

After all, Valentine’s Day is the one day per year dedicated to love and matters of the heart. So what better way to reaffirm your feelings than with heart-shaped jewelry. No matter if you’ve only been dating a short time, or if you’ve been married for 15 years, there’s a heart that’s perfect for any relationship and every girl. I took a moment to walk through our showroom and was astounded all over again at the sheer variety. There are diamond hearts in various sizes and metals, and heart-shaped gemstones bezeled with gold, and much, much more. One piece in particular caught my eye. This 18k White Gold necklace contains .30 carats of diamonds bezel set around ¾ of the heart. However what really makes this piece unique are the details. Notice how the diamonds aren’t set in a straight line, but allowed to meander their way around the shape lending a softer, more organic feel. It makes me think of wildflowers in the springtime with each diamond a bud, waiting to bloom. Which is perfect for getting through the dark, wintery month of February, if I do say so myself. Even the chain on this necklace is unique. Twisted around the metal, it lends a sweet, casual look, setting the piece on an angle which is perfect for elevating those every-day looks into something decidedly more fun. And it’s a steal at just $1385, stock number 13353.

Tune in later this week for more great ideas!

The World's Largest Emerald: Sort of

Reports surfaced yesterday that the “World’s Largest Emerald” may actually not, be the world’s largest emerald. Wait, so you’re telling me that it was all a lie?! Well, yes and no, and we’re not all that sure. It appears that in his quest for putting his shop on the map, owner Regan Reaney may have glossed over a few details. 

Photo: Western Star Auctions

And by a few details we’re talking details that amount to saying that the moon is made of cheese. In an interview, Jeff Nechka, the gemologist who appraised the stone was quoted as saying, “I’m positive that it contains emerald but I’m not sure how much of it is emerald. It has been dyed to some extend but it’s impossible to tell the intensity of the stone prior”. He even goes further to add that he can’t confirm whether or not the stone actually is, “The World’s Largest Emerald”. 

Shane McClure, director of GIA’s West Coast Identification Service, offers some possible explanations. He asks that we take his speculations with a grain of salt as he has not personally examined the stone, but feels that if there is white beryl mixed in with emerald and that if GIA graded the stone it would most likely be graded as “beryl with zones of emerald”. He goes on to further state that the GIA would “probably not call it emerald no matter what”. Claiming that “they seem to think there is indication of natural green coloration but we wouldn’t call it emerald in any case”. 

So to sum up so far, this ‘wonder of nature’ is looking more and more like Frankenemerald. Who knows what this thing is actually made of.  However Nechka valiantly tries to defend the beleaguered stone, claiming that it is still worthy of the 1.15 million dollar price-tag. “If it was solid, untreated emerald, you would be looking at 10 or 20 times the value for sure. Well, um, duh. But just like with anything in this world, proving that something similar is worth a ton of money doesn’t make your item worth tons of money by association. If that were true I have a huge clump of carbon that I’d love to sell. It’s the exact same chemical composition as diamond, so that makes it worth millions right? I could facet it, and dye it silver if that would help. Well according to Reaney, that’s exactly how it works.

“This is 100 percent what we say it is. We know there is emerald throughout it, we don’t know how much. We know it’s not a total white beryl, but it has some white beryl in it. It’s not gem quality, and we know it’s commercial grade. But the size of it is what makes is special.” Let’s all pause for a moment and let that sink in. First he’s claiming that the “World’s Largest Emerald” is emerald, maybe, we’re not sure. He’s also claiming that it’s not gem quality, which means that it is essentially the type of stone usually used for decorative bookends and doorstops that you buy at places like Wal-Mart and Barnes and Noble. 

All I can say after learning all of this is that I am SO excited to watch the auction tomorrow. Will it sell, and if so for how much? But don’t worry if it doesn’t sell. If no buyer is found for Teodora, Reaney claims that he will send it to the GIA lab for evaluation. 

*Watch this space for updates after Saturday’s Auction!

The World's Most Expensive T-Shirt

Let’s say I’ve won the lottery. WOHOOO! Now comes the fun part. What would I spend my millions on. Herein lies the problem. After you’ve bought the standard mansion, Ferrari, huge diamonds etc. there’s still going to be tons of money left over. (I’ve obviously won a very big lottery.)So what do I do with those extra millions? Well as we’ve learned, I love diamonds, but I assume that I will have bought enough to bedeck my wrists, neck, ears, and every one of my ten fingers, so what else is there? Well I’ll tell you. It’s something magical that creates the perfect solution to having more diamonds than you have fingers. Put them on your clothes! And not just any article of clothing, a t-shirt. 

Yes, you heard me correctly, for the right price, you too can own a diamond studded t-shirt. So you can be comfy and sparkly, what could be better?! Oh, and that right price? A lottery friendly $400,000. Ok, here’s where even I can’t keep up with this fantasy anymore. $400,000 for a t-shirt, you have got to be kidding me. Unfortunately this t-shirt does exist and it really does cost the equivalent of a house, or a car, or a huge diamond, or all three if you budget it correctly. So why does it cost so much?

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Photo : TheMostExpensiveTshirtinthWorld.com

Turns out, it’s that pesky environment again. The company claims that their t-shirts are made using only renewable resources like wind and solar power, and has only 10% of the carbon footprint of a standard T. It’s even made with organic cotton which is great for sensitive skin. However this is still sounding like a t-shirt that I could buy for under $30 bucks from the thousands of crunchy ‘granola’ types on the internet. But then it gets interesting, at least for me, they bring up the diamonds. It seems that every shirt is “encrusted with 8 white diamonds each over 1ct and 8 ‘enhanced’ rare black diamonds also over 1ct each. Alright, I’m not sure about all of you, but when I read encrusted I picture something covered in wall to wall bling. 16 stones wouldn’t even cover a bracelet, let alone a whole t-shirt. Now if it was a shirt encrusted with 16,000 stones, that would be something I could get on board with. Although the wearability of a shirt like that would be highly questionable. Heck, even the actual shirt would pose some problems. First, how do you wash the thing? You’d have to do it by hand and even then the diamonds would get all covered in guck. Here at the office we throw dirty stones in the ultrasonic followed by a brief visit to the steam cleaner. Now, I haven’t checked, but I’m fairly positive that this t-shirt would not fit in the ultrasonic, and steaming it would be problematic at best. 

So, all of that being said. I actually like the design of the shirt. I think it would look cool with bezel set rhinestones. But it’s really hard to get on board with a shirt with such an outrageous markup. I mean it’s not exactly the bones of the Redeemer we’re talking about here. It’s ridiculous, and I’m ashamed to admit that if I had $400,000 burning a hole in my pocket I might order one. I’m just that curious. This is why it’s probably a good thing that I don’t have that kind of cash, I would end up with the strangest purchases. 

So what would you buy? Would you splurge on the T, or would you be more practical and purchase a supercar, or a solid gold Christmas tree?

The Wedding Band… One Girl’s Search for the Ring of her Dreams

Hi, my name is Megan, and I LOVE diamonds…. And I work for a company that sells, gorgeous diamonds. This is fantastic! But there is one downside. I’m already engaged, which means that my engagement diamond and engagement ring shopping days are over. I cannot tell you how hard it is to see all of these beautiful diamonds every day knowing that my ship has sailed, so to speak. It brings to mind terms that scare the daylights out of my fiancé. Terms like ‘upgrade’ and ‘reset’, along with visions I’m sure of me, rubbing my hands together and laughing manically. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my engagement ring with every fiber of my being, but as they say, the grass is always greener on the other side. So what’s an engaged girl to do? Wedding Planning! Or in my diamond obsessed mind, wedding band shopping! It was a legitimate excuse to shop for diamonds, what could be better? So off I ran to the showroom. 

I decided that a good place to start, aside from trying every ring in the store on my finger was to take examples of the various band types and see which ones I liked best. I came up with five categories, 5 stone, eternity, shared prong, pave, and channel set. Of course there are more but these classics are a good place to start. 

As I surveyed my options, my eyes gravitated first towards the five stone band. With a total weight of .75 carats, each individual diamond really packs a punch. I slipped it on my finger and could have swooned from the sparkle. I have a three-stone engagement ring, and each diamond in the five stone band matched perfectly with the size of my side stones. It’s quite a nice luxurious and celebrity –like feeling. Now, there are those who say that five stone bands should be gifts for a fifth anniversary only. That’s hogwash in my opinion. I prefer to think of them as gorgeous bands, that happen to have five stones. The point is, don’t let societal norms stop you from having exactly the ring that you want. It is your ring after all and should make you happy. Remember, this is supposed to be fun! Ooh and fun it is! Isn’t it beautiful?

So I sadly took off the five stone, and chose my next option, a wide pave band. This is big bling as well, but done in an entirely different way. Whereas the larger diamonds in the five stone seemed to scream, “Look at me, I’m gorgeous and sparkly”, the pave is more of a nudge, “Hey, look over here, gosh I’m beautiful”. Ok these rings seem to have really narcissistic personalities, but how can you fault them, they speak the truth. Anyways, this particular ring is truly something special. Three rows of delicately set pave diamonds add up to over a carat in weight. And the sparkle, it’s so delicate, but the width of the band gives it such presence. Another thing that I like a lot about this band is that it is what we call a ‘faux’ eternity. The diamonds go from essentially 7 o’clock to 5 o’clock leaving only a slight gap at the bottom. This gives the illusion of diamonds that go all the way around, all the while allowing the flexibility for sizing if needed. I tend to be a worrier by nature so this is comforting to me. It’s time to move on, but I don’t want to take this band off either. This decision could be harder than I thought. 

Ok, so I’ve pried the pave band from my finger and I’m now moving on to a full eternity. Nervous nelly that I am, I am still floored by the elegance and perfection of this band. There is just something magical about the symmetry and symbolism inherent in the design. Like the circle, the diamonds have no beginning and no end, it’s mesmerizing. And it’s a total plus that no matter how much this ring spins, you will always see diamonds. Man this thing looks good. I’ve just slipped it on and I’m in love. It’s gorgeous and at .75 ctw it’s so comfortable! This is a big factor for me as I am a total jeans and t-shirt girl, even though I’m obsessed with fancy jewelry. Comfort is big. I’m actually pretty shocked at how natural it feels. The ring is impeccably crafted, which is important when you have a band with prong-work running all the way around. What you’re looking for is a ring that feels smooth when you run your finger along it. The prongs shouldn’t be rough or sharp, and they shouldn’t snag on clothing. This band’s prongs are perfection. I don’t want to take this one off either.

But I must, because the shared-prong or common prong band is up next and it’s one of my favorites. This particular example has diamonds running from roughly 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock and weighing in at just under half a carat in total weight. It’s a delicate band which is the shared prong’s specialty. Now the idea behind a shared prong is simple. Your average solitaire diamond, for example, is held by four prongs. Well on a shared prong, each diamond shares prongs with the diamond beside it, allowing for a ring that showcases the diamond without seeing too much metal. This is especially important for the daintier bands as the prongs can easily overpower the stones. The shared prongs allow each diamond to shine. There are some big bonuses to diamond bands like this one. For one, they’re hardier. Diamonds may be the hardest substance on earth but they can still shatter when hit. Eternity bands need to be given a little extra TLC to keep them looking their best. So if you have a career as a blacksmith etc, you might be better suited to a common prong band like this one, which if I do say so, looks really nice on my finger. 

Ok, so we’re at our last band which is a total departure from the others with no prongs anywhere in sight. Channel Set bands are just what they sound like. The diamonds are placed in a small channel that slightly curves over the edges of each diamond holding it in place. Quality craftsmanship is exceedingly important for these bands as well because uneven walls and diamond spacing are glaringly obvious with such a simple and streamlined design. But this ring is stunning. Simple, and unfussy, this design really speaks to my minimalistic side. So now I have a problem. 

I love them all! It’s like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, all of these bands have diamonds, but they each have such different personalities, all of which I can relate to. Some days I want to have that five stone shouting out its beauty to everyone I meet, but some days I feel a bit more like the quiet nudge of the pave. And then there are the days when I imagine that I’m Audrey Hepburn descending the staircase in my elegant gown and eternity band, but then I remember that I’m a total klutz and think perhaps the shared prong band would be better, all the beauty with half the worry right? And then my favorite IKEA catalog arrives and I’m lured in by the crisp lines of their sleek and modern designs, and I’m right back to the channel set band. But don’t worry; I have the perfect solution, winning the lottery. However even if that day never comes, I know I can’t go wrong. Each and every band is stunning and I would be proud to wear any of them.

Marquise Cuts... These Beauties Deserve a Second Look

Whenever I hear the phrase “9 carat D - flawless diamond”, my heart skips a beat. Ok, when I hear “(any size) D - flawless diamond” I get excited. These stones are the rarest of the rare, one in a billion. But few are as spectacular as this one. 9.22 carats, D in color, Internally Flawless you can’t get a whole lot better when it comes to adjectives. The price alone is staggering. This beauty sold for nearly $1 million. But beyond all of those adjectives, what really grabbed me about this stunner was its shape, Marquise. *swoon*

Photo : Bonham's

Legend has it that Louis the XIV of France was in love with love. And during his reign one of his biggest loves was a woman by the name of Marquise de Pompadour. Now the Marquise was undoubtedly a handsome woman, but her best feature was her smile. It so bewitched the king that he commanded his artisan jewelers to create a diamond that looked just like it. And so the marquise cut diamond was born. 

The marquise hasn’t changed much in the hundreds of years since its creation. It is elegance personified, with sparkle for days. With such a beautiful cut it is frustrating to hear its proportions likened to a football, or even worse, a canoe. In truth, the perfect marquise should look like neither. It should be roughly twice as long as it is wide, and show a healthy amount of brightness and fire. Although I have to admit, all perfect proportions aside, that I have a certain fondness for the chubby marquise stones that come through our office.

But beyond all of the beauty of the cut, and the fantastic history full of royal intrigue, there are a few other reasons to give the marquise a second look. First up, size, A 1 carat marquise will look substantially larger than a 1 carat round brilliant. For example, the 1 carat round brilliant will be ~6.5mm in diameter while the 1 carat marquise will be ~10.5mm in length x ~5mm in width. That is a huge visual difference! And what girl would turn down a bigger diamond? Another bonus is that the longer shape has a very slimming effect on the fingers and can even make them look longer. I have extremely small hands and short fingers, so small I can wear child size gloves, and marquise stones make my hands look so elegant it’s fantastic! And last but not least, money. For you budget conscious guys out there, seriously consider a fancy shape like the marquise. Due to a variety of factors, they can be far cheaper for the same carat weight. That means more size for less money and you can’t beat that!

In case I’ve piqued your interest, and I sincerely hope that I have. I’d just like to point you towards a ring that we have in our case that I think is perfect. It is my dream, to one day own a beautiful example of every diamond shape. And when that day comes, once I’ve won the lottery, a gorgeous marquise diamond will be coming home with me, in this setting. I love everything about it. From the substantial halo, adding that extra sparkle, to the step and brilliant cut alternating side stones adding some extra visual interest and it’s all set in luxurious Platinum. It’s my perfect movie-star worthy look. And let’s not forget those finger lengthening qualities! 

So what are you waiting for? Take a chance on love… marquise love that is!

Record Breaking Emerald

I’m sure you all know by now, that here at Union Diamond we love diamonds and gemstones. They are all beautiful in their own ways, but the big ones are the most beautiful of all. Well, perhaps I spoke a bit prematurely on that count. You see, on Saturday, a record breaking emerald will be sold in Canada. This emerald is hailed as the largest, faceted emerald in the world. Called Teodora, or gift from God, the gem was mined in Brazil and cut in India. It weighs in at a mind-numbing 57,500 carats, or around 25 pounds, and is appraised at $1.15 million dollars. 

Photo : Western Star Auctions

Regan Reaney of Gems Canada is particularly enamored of the stone. “I’m still amazed every time I look at, pick it up, touch it. It is amazing” and “super rare” with a stunning aura. “It’s almost in the form of priceless because of the size of it. There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe this.”

Ok, so let’s come back to reality here for a moment as we gaze upon the wonderment that is essentially a dark green boulder. The stone is unfortunately, on its best day, just shy of opaque. However, to give credit where it’s due, it is a mammoth, around the size of a watermelon, which is in-and-of-itself, quite a marvel. And let’s also take a moment to ponder the fact that this stone is faceted. I have the strongest mental picture of a wizened Indian man lugging this huge green rock over to his cutting wheel and then scratching his head in bewilderment, wondering where to begin. I mean, it seems like a feat on par with clipping the toenails on an angry grizzly bear, which would be nearly impossible. So, I am impressed that the cutter was able to create any recognizable facet pattern out of the rough. And when you’re imagining yourself at the cutters wheel, remember, the rough most likely started out as a much larger, lumpier, and much heavier stone. 

Photo : Western Star Auctions

However, as impressed as I am with the sheer fortitude and probable insanity of the cutter; I just can’t get over the fact that all of the effort that went into polishing this stone is akin to putting lipstick on a frog. I can’t help but wonder how much more awe inspiring it would have been to see this specimen in its natural crystal form. Because at the end of the day, a stone this size is impressive, and exceedingly rare, worthy of a museum. But by faceting it, they have tried to make it something more than it is, and have created instead, little more than a novelty item. However, at the end of the day, if there is room in this world for diamond encrusted skulls, then perhaps there is room for a watermelon sized Emerald.

So in the name of fun and games, let’s think of a few uses for Teodora when she is purchased by her lucky new owners on Saturday.

1. Door Stop - At 25 lbs, this would keep open even the heaviest of doors in your opulent mansion with style.
2. 25 lb Dumbell - Have you heard of the recent craze using large cowbells as free weights? Well, enter the Teodora workout. It will become the envy of the rich and famous at 1.15 million dollars per set. (Celebrity trainer not included)
3. Stone Floor Medallion - Honestly! I think this would be stunning at the centerpiece to a stone flooring design.
4. Kick-Butt Necklace, Flavor Flave Style - Now Reaney claims that “obviously you can’t make a piece of jewelry out of something this big”, but in on he hasn’t met Flav, or for that matter Lady Gaga. I would LOVE to see what they could come up with

So tell us, if you had the cash, would you buy Teodora? If so, what would you do with it? Bonus points will be awarded for any photos of your ideas!