Diamonds, the hardest substance known, were discovered around 5000 years ago, the earliest mines were in India dating as far back as the 19th century B.C. Then, as now diamonds were used for industrial purposes as well as for jewelry because of their extreme hardness.http://ezinearticles.com/?History-Behind-Diamond-Jewelry&id=2566067

Diamonds are a form of carbon. They are rated as “10” on the Mohs scale of hardness and are graded by what is known as the “Four Cs”, cut, carat, clarity and color.ttp://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/diamond.htm

Nowadays diamonds are mined in many locations, 80 percent of the world's rough diamond supply, is produced from Australia, Botswana, Zaire, South Africa, Russia, Angola and Namibia. ttp://www.emporia.edu/earthsci/amber/go340/diamond.htm

Although the most highly prized, colorless or white diamonds are not the only ones available. Diamonds can be found in many colors, even black, one of the most famous being the Hope Diamond which is deep blue and located in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Washington, DC.

Diamond Jewelry today is more popular than ever, if you choose to acquire diamond jewelry, you will have a lifetime of pleasure from wearing one of nature’s most beautiful gemstones.

This guide will look at the various types and styles available and places to look when purchasing your Diamond Jewelry.

The style of diamond ring you choose will depend a great deal on the purpose of the purchase, whether it is to be an engagement ring, eternity ring, wedding ring or as a gift to a daughter on her coming of age, for instance.http://www.thediamondjeweller.co.uk/catalogue/category-281/index.html

Within these boundaries the selection will be overwhelming. It is a good idea to set a budget and then do some research. With so many reputable outlets selling diamond jewelry on the internet, you may find that the local retail jewelry shop doesn’t carry a very wide selection by comparison and also the prices may not be so competitive.

A good website to follow is diamondreview.com.http://www.diamondreview.com/ This is a website that doesn’t sell diamond jewelry, but provides you with up to date information on all aspects of diamond jewelry including finding a reputable jeweler in your local area. You can ask questions and check prices.

When choosing a diamond ring there is the choice of a solitaire, a center stone with diamond accent stones, a cluster ring or an eternity style ring. The same carat weight in multiple stones will seem to be bigger than a solitaire, so it appears to be a bigger ring for the same money.

4 C’s Diamond Guide

Cut – Cut means a diamonds shape and its proportions. If a diamond is well proportioned this brings out its maximum beauty. If a diamond is cut too deep or too shallow it will loose light through the facets, resulting in loss of sparkle.

Clarity – Clarity means how many inclusions a diamond contains; if they are visible they can hinder the light as it passes through the diamond again resulting in a loss of sparkle.

Color – Apart from fancy color diamonds, the best color for a diamond is colorless, The Gemological Institute of America who are the worlds most respected name in diamond grading and gemstone identification, has created a scale to measure diamond color, ranging from D (colorless) to Z (yellow) Fancy color diamonds are graded Z and higher They are a non profit making, independent, organization, who are recognized world wide as being reputable and reliable.

Carat – Diamonds are measured in a weight called Carats. A carat is measured in parts called points; One carat equals 100 points. http://www.anythingbutcoffee.com/home/how-to-choose-the-quality-of-a-diamond-ring/

As a gift, a diamond bracelet is very hard to beat. It is not as personal as a ring and you don't need to know the size so accurately. As a treat for yourself, a diamond bracelet is a treasure that will give you pleasure for a lifetime.

When choosing the style you need to select a diamond bracelet that will suit the wearers wrist, a wearer with a slim wrist usually looks better with a more delicate diamond bracelet, while someone with a slightly larger wrist will suit a more chunky design.http://www.diamondbracelets.co.uk/

The diamond tennis bracelet so named, when Chris Evert wore one in the 1987 US Open tournament has become a classic design which will suit almost anyone.http://www.classicdiamondtennisbracelets.com/blog/?p=6This is a bracelet which can be quite affordable or can cost a vast amount of money depending on your budget.

Another pleasing style is a diamond bangle, there are some lovely examples to be found among Indian designs, some of which feature delicate filigree work.http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/India/Indian-Diamond-Bangles/2952 Again the internet is a good place to research styles and prices.

One of the most classic of all earrings are diamond earrings. This is a timeless piece of jewelry which will suit any age and look equally good with a little black dress or T shirt and jeans. As a gift you simply cannot go wrong with this choice. Once again they can be very affordable or quite expensive.http://www.diamondearrings.co.uk/

The styles are many and range from a simple stud earring to a hoop or drop design.http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/webstore/l/diamonds/category|earrings/

A diamond necklace or pendant is probably one of the most eye-catching items of jewelry you can ever own. More visible than a ring or earrings this is one item of jewelry guaranteed to be noticed and commented on.http://uk.tiffany.com/Shopping/CategoryBrowse.aspx?mcat=148204&cid=287465&search_params=s+5-p+1-c+287465-r+201323351-x+-n+12-ri+-ni+1-t+

As with any diamond jewelry the choice of the precious metal for the setting is very important, platinum is the most expensive, but also the most durable, then there is white, yellow and the more unusual rose gold which is becoming increasingly popular.

When looking for your diamond necklace, pendant or any other item of diamond jewelry, it's worth looking at the television shopping channels as well as the internet.http://www.thejewellerychannel.tv/5 Many of them apply a system known as a reverse auction, which at first appears a little misleading, it is the final price that everyone pays which is the important one, they always tell you the carat weight of the gold and any gemstones, many high street jewelers do not, and they offer a money back guarantee usually covering quite a long period, during which they suggest that you have the item valued locally to make sure that you have indeed saved money on your purchase. The prices they charge are lower because the leading companies of this type are also the manufacturers so they can cut out the middle men. You can also buy online from many of them.http://www.gemstv.co.uk/6

Whatever diamond jewelry you choose, it will give you endless pleasure when it is worn, diamonds really are a girls best friend!