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Recommended Links
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Jewelry Facts & Tips
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History of
lampworking / flameworking
Renowned glass
lampworking artist and teacher Robert Mickelsen has published a fabulous
article on the history of the art at
http://www.nfobase.com/html/history_of_flameworking.html. |
Diamonds
Did you know…?
• Diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth.
• Diamonds were formed approximately 100 miles beneath the earth’s surface.
• Diamond crystals are brought closer to the earth’s surface through
volcanic activity.
• 250 tons of earth must be mined to produce a single one-carat diamond.
• Less than 20 percent of the diamonds mined worldwide are gem-quality.
• The earliest written account of diamonds dates back to around 500 B.C.
Courtesy the Gemological Institute of America.
Did you know…?
• In their pure state, diamonds are colorless.
• Blue and pink are the rarest colored diamonds.
• Yellow and brown are the most common colored diamonds.
Courtesy the Gemological Institute of America.
Did you know…?
• Diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth.
• Diamonds are virtually fireproof. To burn a diamond, it must be heated to
1292 degrees Fahrenheit. (The typical house fire reaches a temperature of
approximately 1100 degrees.)
• Only one polished diamond out of a thousand weighs more than one carat.
• The word carat comes from the Carob Mediterranean tree whose seed was used
for centuries as the standard of weighing precious stones.
• 1 carat = .2 grams or .007 ounces.
• The largest rough diamond, discovered in 1905, is the Cullinan diamond,
weighing in at 3,106 carats (2.8 pounds)!
Courtesy the Gemological Institute of America.
Did you know…?
• Even though the U.S. only accounts for less than one percent of total
global gemstone production, America buys more than half of the world’s gem
quality diamonds – making it the world’s largest diamond market. (Consumers
in the united states alone purchased $9 billion worth of loose gem-quality
diamonds in 2001.)
• Australia produces the most diamonds by volume.
• Until the 18th century, the only diamond mines were in India.
Courtesy the Gemological Institute of America. |
How to buy a
diamond
The
Gemological Institute of America
(GIA) offers a wonderful
tutorial on its site called "How To Buy A Diamond." |
How to purchase estate
jewelry
The
Gemological Institute of America
(GIA) site has an extremely informative article on
"Tips For Purchasing
Estate Jewelry". |
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| Caveat: I'm good
at researching facts, but for my own protection and yours, let me be clear
that the information in this section is my opinion only, except where
specific attribution has been made, and does not imply or guarantee the
accuracy of these opinions or statements. |
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