When it comes to jewelry, there are many kinds to choose from and numerous reasons to wear it. Whether it's to make a fashion statement, declare love, emphasize a certain body part or show off wealth, most people wear some sort of jewelry.

Jewelry can be made out of various materials including metals such as platinum, silver, titanium and gold. It can also be created from such gems as sapphires, emeralds or rubies. However, nothing makes a statement quite like a diamond.

Diamond jewelry is classic and elegant. Diamonds have so many uses and are commonly used in necklaces and earrings. But, when it comes to diamond jewelry, most people think of an engagement ring.

Rings can be worn to communicate a variety of things and serve to show off the hand of the wearer. If you've ever been the recipient of an engagement ring, you already know that wearing one can get you a lot of attention. Above all, it makes a firm statement that you're taken. A diamond engagement ring is one tradition that's not going anywhere soon.

Of course, diamonds have many other uses in jewelry design. Diamonds are commonly featured in necklaces, for example. If you're a woman who needs to dress for a festive occasion, a diamond necklace is the perfect accessory. In fact, your ensemble will most likely seem incomplete without it. Among other things, diamond necklaces serve to show off your individual style and commonly your financial position.

And don't forget about an ever-popular favorite, diamond earrings. Although earrings are sometimes an afterthought, they are an important fashion accessory. Not only do they have the ability to make you stand out in a crowd, they're commonly worn by both men and women today. They're commonly seen as a way to express your personality.

There are several options when it comes to wearing diamond earrings. Diamond stud earrings are classic while long dangles add elegance to any formal dress. And, as you can imagine, the sparkles will be seen across the room.

Unique ways to wear earrings include in one ear only, both ears, and even multiple earrings in one or both ears simultaneously. In a time where anything goes as far as your imagination can wander, your ears and personality will have the opportunity to impress.

Whether you choose one signature piece or several, remember to buy the highest quality diamond you can afford. Typically this can be accomplished by shopping for used diamond jewelry at auctions or stores offering this service. Most often you'll get a better stone for your money.

Rough diamonds are those diamonds which are uncut and still in their natural form. Uncut, rough diamonds come in different shapes and sizes. These are Octahedral, Cubic, Macle Twins, Balas crystals and more. When you get used to seeing uncut rough diamonds, you are most likely able to recognize one when you see one in a diamond mine or diamond pit.

Ancient Use of Diamonds

During the older times, uncut diamonds were picked from riverbeds. Kings and nobles already recognize the value of this hard crystal and utilized the diamonds for armor studding in their breast plates. Further on, kings and queens used the rough diamonds as accessories for their crowns and other jewelry. They might not look as beautiful as they do now but they still have their appeal because diamonds were prized even a long time ago.

In this day and age, most diamonds are mined in Africa. In the early 1500’s, diamonds were traded from India. When the supply from India petered out people found diamonds in Brazil and this country became the next diamond center for the following years. Eventually, volcanic pipes were discovered in Africa and these contained the most of the best rough diamonds in the world.

The largest of all rough diamonds ever found to this day is the Cullinan Diamond which was found in 1905 in South Africa. It is 3, 106.75 carats and the second largest is the Excelsior Diamond at 995.20 carats, also found in South Africa. Most rough diamonds found in Kimberlite volcanic rock is approximately 1 billion to 3 billion year old.

Up to this day, more than half of the diamonds available in the world come from Africa.

Most common available diamond specimens are from South Africa, Australia, and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Picking a Diamond

When buying a cut diamond, professionals will advise you to remember the 4 c’s. That means Carat, Clarity, Cut and Color, not necessarily in that order. Diamond size may be indicative of its price if all other factors are good. Metric carat, which is .20 grams, is the standard unit of weight for diamonds.

Clarity refers to how clear a diamond is. Most diamonds have imperfections in them. The clarity scales measures how severe the imperfections or inclusions of the diamonds are. When we talk about the cut of a diamond, this means the shape of the diamond, and its proportions and finish, major factors that determine brilliance and sparkle of the diamond. The second biggest factor that affects the price of a diamond is its color. Diamonds come in many colors. Usually, a diamond is colorless or white. A slight yellowish tinge can lower its value, whereas, if it is really yellow then it goes under the fancy color category. Fancy colors of a diamond can range from blue, pink, yellow, red and any others.

Today like no other time in history the choices in metals that can be used to make jewelry especially engagement rings and wedding rings is almost over whelming.

A metal that may be new to many people is Platinum, however it does have a rich history with its use in decorative pieces dating back to the 7th century and ancient Egypt. The use in jewelry and decor began its rise in Europe in the 18th century however it was not obtainable to those who were not royalty or extremely wealthy. In 1930's during the time of the great depression and WWII platinum became a controlled substance therefore its use in jewelry making was almost unheard of.

It has only been in the last ten years that platinum has made a real resurgence. This metal has gained popularity in recent years among the general population however the price makes it an unrealistic choice for most of us. A platinum ring generally costs double the amount of its white gold counterpart therefore it still viewed by many as a symbol of wealth and status.

Platinum is a white metal that is appreciated for not only its beauty but its strength and long wear ability. This is one of reasons many skilled jewelers especially those making high end items like to use platinum prongs in order to set diamonds and gems in their pieces. It is also a desirable choice because it does not oxidize and is hypoallergenic. Another characteristic that makes platinum stand out from the competition is that when it does sustain a scratch this will not cause further damage to your ring, where as if a gold ring is scratched the gold will continue to breakdown in that area.

Unlike gold, high quality platinum has a purity of 95% and is often alloyed with metals such as titanium, copper, rhodium, palladium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium. Platinum is rated by a 1000 count, with platinum of 950 parts per thousand being used to make high quality jewelry. It is recommended that if you are going to pay the money for a quality platinum piece that you do not buy anything below 850 parts per 1000. High quality platinum will have a mark stating what its count is and it should be and combination of the number such as 950 and the lettering Pt or Plat.

If you ever decided to purchase or even try a platinum ring on the first thing you will notice is the weight of it. Platinum is a very dense metal therefore a platinum ring will weigh approximately 60% more than the same ring made from 18kt gold. As well platinum has a much higher melting temperature then gold, and can be heated over and over again allowing very small intricate pieces to made. Platinum allows a jeweler the flexibility to make pieces that are very elaborate and detailed without losing strength or durability.

Platinum rings may not be for everyone however if the price is out of reach then an option may be to purchase a ring that has its diamonds or stones secured with platinum prongs. Other options can be to go to a simpler design with the added security that your ring will last or do to a ring with a mix of metals.

Generally speaking, Platinum is 95% pure and does not discolor or fade, so it always stays the same as when you purchased it; for a lifetime. platinum wedding rings are also hypoallergenic so they are perfect for anyone’s skin situation and chemical makeup.

Thinking of platinum wedding bands we often invoke. For this reason they are becoming one of the most popular metals to be used for the bride and groom.

The history of platinum wedding rings is very interesting. As well, the processing of platinum began in Ancient Egypt where rare metals and gems were used to embellish the living quarters of ancient rulers. Platinum was the metal of choice because of its unique lovliness and resiliency.

All platinum wedding bands today are made with a mixture of alloys. Those made with ruthenium are much more durable than those made with cobalt. But whichever one you pick, it will give you a beautiful shine and precious look that will cause people to question you about your platinum wedding rings.

People love this metal for a variety of so many reasons. Platinum wedding bands have a brilliant, white luster that is expressed only by this metal. Because of that distinctive shine, diamonds reflect beautifully in every setting whether the setting is conservative or ornate.

Interestingly enough, in 1940, during World War II, it was prohibited, and you could not use platinum in jewelry and all production of it for this purpose ceased. By the 1980’s, the ban was lifted and once again platinum quickly became the most exquisite metal of choice amongst those who love its look and the status it brings to those who wear it.

In the past, gold has always been heralded as the metal of choice. Many are totally surprised that platinum is more expensive than gold.

Clearly, one of the reasons for this, is that it is more rare than gold, but also it has to do with the amount of platinum that has to be mined to obtain a small amount.

When people acquire platinum wedding rings, understand that you are wearing a metal that is 30 times rarer than gold. It has been said that if all the platinum in the world were poured into an Olympic sized swimming pool and you stood in it, it would only be ankle deep.

This rare metal, platinum has always been a coveted metal. There is very little platinum discovered in the world with only a few places it is mined.

To obtain one ounce of platinum, manufacturers have to mine 10 tons of ore. In contrast, they have to mine 4 tons of gold to attain one ounce. Therefore, because it is found less than gold and it takes much more to make platinum that you can use for your platinum wedding rings, the consumer pays more when purchasing it.

If you want something that will only rise in value, platinum wedding rings and platinum wedding bands are something that is rare and beautiful. Enjoy this prized and rare bit of the Earth on your finger today.

Platinum wedding bands are much heavier than either yellow or white gold by just about 60% more. Most people love that heavy, smooth feeling on their hand; it feels like it has a great deal of worth; and it does.