At Xmas show your dearest ones how much you love them with a stunning coordinated set of jewelry from John Hardy. The array of styles offered in silver is so very wide you can be quite certain of finding the ideal even for those people who are always tough to please. Really: why risk your friends and family being less than pleased this holiday season - as you can be sure they will be overjoyed with something from John Hardy!

The men’s jewelry ranges feature many different chains, rings, cufflinks and a range of other pieces in silver and gold. Though they maintain the same painstaking attention to detail linked with John Hardy, this range features a chunkier feel and a style most suited for gentlemen. Therefore, with all these alternatives at your fingertips, finding the right present will be easy this year! To make choosing even easier, John Hardy jewelry is on offer for almost any look a woman may wish to embrace. Women who have a penchant for classic fashion might wish for a traditional piece. For the positively adventurous woman, you can select from a selection of bolder designs. In any case, all of the ladies’ collections boast bracelets, earrings designed for day wear and evening wear and various necklace styles. What about kids? John Hardy features a special range of kid’s jewelry. Sizing aside, each and every piece has been created to the same exclusive quality as you would expect from any other adult item offered by John Hardy. Bangles, ear studs and necklaces are just a few of the present ideas for children.

It is notoriously challenging to buy an unusual present for a infant. Silver christening spoons, baby-rattles and minute bangles are just a small selection of the gift ideas promoted by John Hardy as a feasible solution. To give a little back this Xmas, there is the phenomenal Bamboo scheme for green shoppers. The scheme is named Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo and if a piece from this program is purchased, a percentage of the sale goes for planting sustainable crops in areas like Nsu Penida and Bali. Each piece of jewelry is marked with the number of seedlings donated before shipping. The Bamboo program has an enormous range of items to suit all tastes; so shopping for environmentally friendly presents has never been simpler.

Therefore, this holiday season, rather than go to the shopping center to spend your money on something you aren’t that sure about in the first place, take a look at the incredible collections John Hardy has to offer.


16.03.2010. | Categories: Shopping Parlor, Lifestyle Stuff, Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

Imagine how happy your loved one will be on Christmas morning because they receive a coordinated set of exquisite John Hardy jewelry. The variety of sets made in silver is so wide that you can rest assured you’ll find a fantastic item of jewelry for even those individuals who are constantly tough to please. Well — why gamble on your loved ones being disappointed this Christmas - because you can be sure they are going to be happy with a gift from John Hardy! The gentlemen’s jewelry ranges boast numerous different styles in a range of precious metals and finishes. These pieces are produced with all sorts of men in mind. So, with all these options, finding a suitable present is going to be so very simple this holiday season.

Whatever taste a lady may embrace, this famous jeweler has a piece that should suit her perfectly. Women who prefer minimalist style might fancy an item featured in one of the traditional selections. For the positively pioneering lady, there is a selection of decidedly design-led collections. But irrespective of the specific design, all the ladies collections feature narrow and wide bracelets, earrings suitable for day and evening plus, of course, varying lengths of pendants you can choose your favorites from.

Everyone knows that Christmas is a truly magical time for children and John Hardy has jewelry collections specially for them. Every item of jewelry has been created with all the rigorous attention to detail all of us have come to expect from John Hardy, though obviously in sizes to suit kids. Giving any child some fine jewelry provides them with something they will always remember you by.

Picking out an appropriate present for infants is notoriously hard. Silver cutlery sets, rattles and little bangles are just a few of the pieces featured as an easy way out of this impasse. The Bamboo scheme is fantastic for anyone who would like to make ecologically aware gift selections. When an individual chooses an item from the Bamboo collection, part of the profit is used to plant sustainable resources in the South Pacific islands. Each piece of jewelry is engraved with the amount of seedlings donated before they are shipped. This jewelry collection has a wonderful range of sets for gentlemen and women; so it is easy to delight your friends and family without harming the environment. So, this year, rather than head out to the stores to pick up another average present, better take a gander at the marvelous ranges John Hardy has to offer.


24.01.2010. | Categories: Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

Timex Corporation is a great and conventional producer of wrist watches and was founded in 1854 as “Watebury Clock”, located in the Naugatuck Valley (Connecticut, USA). During the nineteenth century the Valley was legendary for its different resident watch producers and consequently for a long time well-known as the “Switzerland of America”. Today the Timex Group B.V. is owned by the Fred Olsen & Co Group and an important part of Timex Group USA, Incorporated.

Creating the first Mickey Mouse watch in history

In 1880 Waterbury gained its first big success when they built an economically priced mechanical pocket watch. Wristwatches got popular in North America in the early years of the 20th century and Waterbury also followed this trend. In 1933, they constructed a special product: Licensed by Walt Disney himself, Waterbury produced the first Mickey Mouse watch in history. The comic star’s hands pointed at the time.

Promotional slogan "it keeps on ticking"

It was 1950 when the name of the company changed. The wristwatches wrist watches have been sold since this date under the new name “Timex”. A special characteristic trait of Timex were their so called “torture tests”. Watches were encountered in extreme situations to prove their promotional slogan “it keeps on ticking”.

In the following three decades, Timex tried to extend their portfolio step by step. In the 1980s, for example, Timex joined the home computer market and produced computers like the famous “Timex Sinclair 100”. After this short experience, the company decided that they can’t compete with their contestants in this market yet and withdrew.

Nevertheless, during the 1970s and 1980s Timex became a large and well-known brand in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. Moreover, Timex is also worldwide known for their high quality wristwatches. Additional to its normal wristwatches, the Group manufactures a series of “PDA type watches” called “Timex Datalink” as well. In addition to that, Timex produces GPS active watches and related high tech equipment.

Headquarters in Europe, North America and Asia

Today, Timex has approximately 5.500 employees on amazing four continents. The Timex Group USA has sold nearly one billion of its watches worldwide. Since its foundation the products of the Timex Group are manufactured mainly in Asia and Switzerland. The technology of its watches is developed in Germany and in the United States. Timex has headquarters in various countries in Europe, North America and Asia. Men’s watches


2.09.2009. | Categories: Shopping Parlor, Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

salehoowholesale

CNN Money Network Endorsed: http://www.wholesale-dropshippers.org
The ONLY eBay 100% Approved Wholesale Dropshipping Suppliers Online
Get Salehoo at 75% Discount, Only From The Above Discount Link!

Get Wholesale Graduation Mugs at Salehoo wholesale directories and help your business. For many individuals selling on eBay is what draws them to drop shipping. Read on about Wholesale Graduation Mugs, Jordan Shoes Wholesalers In United States and how Salehoo Wholesalers can help. How exactly is drop shipping done? In simple terms drop shipping is where an online store offers different products and gets orders from customers. More on Wholesale Graduation Mugs and Wholesale Custom Made Candy Boxes at Salehoo wholesalers. And also see more about Wholesale Perfume Oil Manufacturer

Wholesalers have access to wholesale inks and materials which could mean greater savings for you. With lowered costs and faster turnaround time, you can have your full color print jobs finished on time. It can also save you hassle and time. Read on about Wholesale Graduation Mugs and Wholesale Custom Made Candy Boxes. In case of a problem you will have all the records at your fingertips to trace the order and make a correction. More on Wholesale Graduation Mugs and Jordan Shoes Wholesalers In United States at our Wholesale Review website. Find out more about Wholesale Graduation Mugs and how Salehoo directory can help you start your own business from home. Wholesale Graduation Mugs, The odds of finding a real wholesale distributor instead of middlemen by using a search engine are very slim.

Get: Wholesale Graduation Mugs at Salehoo wholesale directories, and get a head start in your own startup business. The only way to thrive in your startup business is to get quality products cheaply, and from 100%, weekly verified wholesale suppliers from all over the world.
100% Endorsed by CNN Networks, Forbes, Business Networks and Many other TOP Business Journals! See more at http://www.wholesale-dropshippers.org

wholesale

100% Verified Wholesale Suppliers.
The ONLY eBay Approved, 100% Verified Wholesaler & Dropshipping Supplier Directory

Endorsed by CNN Money Network As The Top Wholesale Directory Online: http://www.wholesale-dropshippers.org


2.09.2009. | Categories: School of Products, Jewelry Musings, Auctions + Sales | Comments Off

What was one time, in the earliest years of take-away wirstwatches, thought to be unsuitable for men and only for ladies, has built nowadays into a fashion utensil that everybody has. Meanwhile, the wristwatch is more than a instrument to tell which time it is.

The turn of the 20th century on the wrist

With the turn of the 20th century, a different level of technical progress was made, which made it possible to put the mechanisms in an even smaller space. It was now possible to design the clockworks in such a way that people could fasten them to a wristband without a problem. The practical application of this new breakthrough let the pocket watch to be quickly substituted by the wristwatch. It rapidly became the fashion to wear a wristwatch. It appeared like the models sprouted from the ground and the diversity produced with great speed. In the early years, however, wrist watches were used only by ladies. Gentlemen did not wear timepieces on their wrists.It just didn’t seem right. The war brought a change of mind concerning this. The soldiers quickly realized the advantage of a watch on the wrist, which didn’t have to be pulled out of the bag first. And in this way, the wristwatch prevailed with the male sex.

Away from the mechanical - on to electronics

While the first wristwatches were still being wound, several innovations developed in relation to the mechanics. The automatic wristwatch emerged, which no longer had to be wound manually, but was wound automatically through the movement of the clock. Later, at the end of the 20’s, the quartz watch was invented. Time was indicated here by the so-called electronic oscillating circuit. Watches for men


31.07.2009. | Categories: Shopping Parlor, Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

Why is online jewelry a better value compared to brick and mortar stores?

It happens every time you walk into a store. “Excuse me, ma’am, are you looking for something?” Every time, you resist the urge to politely explain that if you wanted help you would have asked for it and offer a simple, “no, thank you.” Often times we forget about the additional opportunities that the Internet offers us. We have the option to enter any store at any time from the privacy of our own homes. One of the best facets of online shopping is that of online jewelry. The Internet has forever changed the way people shop for jewelry.

Online jewelry shopping lets you see pictures of the product from several different angles. Product descriptions, right down to the size, weight, karat and metallurgy are readily available, as opposed to having a salesperson spend precious time searching through a binder for these same facts. Detailed information about purchasing, shipment, and return policy are available at the click of a button. Reviews and information about every online jewelry vendor is available on each site. Customer service is paramount, and online vendors have to compete over you.

Savvy Internet customers make price comparisons on the piece of jewelry that interests them by looking up the piece on several websites. No longer do you have to drive to three different stores! Three clicks of the mouse and three online jewelry stores are at your fingertips. This is both a time and a sanity saver. Another asset of online jewelry shopping is faster delivery service. A website accurately depicts its stock and delivery time, whereas a store will only give you an estimate as to when it can have something available. People agree, however, that price is the best reason to shop online. Most online jewelry stores do not have actual brick and mortar stores, so they are able to give you the item at a large discount, usually close to wholesale price! Without numerous employees, stores to pay rent on, and security to worry about, the online vendor provides the customer with the best possible value. One such online jewelry store is Apples of Gold Jewelry. Their prices often beat their competitors’ both online and offline. Their “about us” page, says of their jewelry, “The difference is not the jewelry. The difference is the price”. These and other online jewelry stores are an excellent source in today’s age for getting the best value, quickly, efficiently, while still maintaining your high standards for quality jewelry.

It is readily apparent when making the comparison that online jewelry shopping gives the consumer a wider product selection and clear cut payment procedures. With the click of a button you can purchase low-cost, high quality merchandise and know exactly what you’re getting and from where it will arrive. When added together with the ease of shopping from home, and having all of the information at your fingertips, is it any wonder that online jewelry sales have increased greatly in the past several years?

Afshin Yaghtin, graduated as an English Major from UCLA before earning his Master’s Degree at the University of Wales, in Aberystwyth. He now runs Apples of Gold Jewelry.


21.02.2008. | Categories: Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

Rolex replica watches are the hottest selling items in the market for replica watches. This parallel industry of replica watches has been on the upward move since the last few years. The demand for a luxury watch being inhibited by the price tags has moved form the original brands to the replica watches. So has the goodwill, since Rolex is one of the most sought after brands despite the price tag, it availability as a Rolex replica has spurned the demand even further.

Despite ethical considerations of wearing a replica watch, Rolex replica watches have been in great demand since the inception of the industry. A Rolex replica watch comes with a 27 jewel ETA Titonic or 34 jewel movement compared to the original that comes in 25 jewel, 27 jewel ETA or 31 jewel Valijoux movements.

Keeping aside the Rolex replica, the original Rolex was founded in 1905, by Mr. Hans Waldron, a German, in London. Christened as Wilsdorf & Davis, they manufactured pocket watches and gradually expanded to the wrist watch market by successfully adapting the large accurate movements of the pocket watches to fit the wrist watches. 1910 saw Rolex getting its chronometer rating, the first in the world from School of Horology in Switzerland. Official validation came in 1914 from London’s Kew Observatory, when they certified that a Rolex wristwatch is precise as a marine chronometer.

Wilder, who was utterly taken by the precision, went on to develop a screw crown and casebook mechanism that was another first to the watch industry. This design kept moisture and dust out and increased the reliability. This gave birth to the first water proof watch that was advertised across the world by keeping the watches immersed in aquariums in showrooms across the world to satisfy the skeptical consumer.

This increased the brand awareness of Rolex and contributed to increased sales, which even today helps the Rolex replica sales.
1928 saw the Rolex Prince and 1932 saw the Rolex rotor enabling the advent of automatic winding of watches. 1945 saw the invention of Date just, the first ever wrist watch to sport a calendar. Rolex went to Switzerland after the First World War to cut the prohibitive custom levies on some movement parts, as a step to cut costs.

Here onwards, Rolex went form strength to strength and bought in many firsts to the watch industry. The charm of owning a Rolex lies in its rich history and its commitment to excellence and quality.

Even today, Rolex manufactures the best watches in the luxury segment. The kind of time and resources that go into making a Rolex watch greatly enhance the pricing, but being a luxury brand, Rolex can afford to keep it high and out of reach of most people to keep the exclusivity and appeal in place. These aspects of price and appeal raise the demand and thus widen the Rolex replica market. Replica watches are just a substitute but they do appeal to the ego and status of a person who cannot afford an original.

This timeless appeal of a Rolex watch is often an excellent investment. It is known that Rolex watches that have been sold after 20-30 years have fetched prices double the original. A Rolex replica watch however does not have the same appeal or resale value. Replica watches serve the purpose of satisfying a human desire, and they perform admirably at a fraction of the cost.

Replica watches are available in various qualities. A Rolex replica watch, made in Switzerland is considered the best of all replica watches, since it is made with almost the same components and quality measures of the original. Rolex replica watches made in Switzerland are also the most expensive in the replica watch market.

For more info regarding replica watches you can visit the following link : Replica rolex watches - The site offers information about the online replica market. It includes weekly added articles, sites reviews and two directories.


2.02.2008. | Categories: Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

As a woman I always anticipate Valentine’s day, for me it evokes very strong memories. For so many, happy memories are formed this time of year, I’m no different. Four years ago, I decided to propose to my boyfriend. I’m aware that being a women, that this is slightly breaking with tradition, however I was determined to go through with it. I remember buying the ring, I was very nervous at the time, I still refer to it as my boyfriend’s Valentine’s ring.

It was a very strange experience. I had the idea a few months before. My boyfriend and I were very much in love and had been together for nearly eight years, so it felt right. I knew that we were both ready, I was just a little anxious as to how he would respond as I offered him the Valentine’s ring. Quietly, I was confident. I had dropped a number of hints in the weeks and months building up to it, I guess you’re never one hundred percent sure until the Valentine’s ring is on their finger though.

My family and friends were very supportive, I even decided to speak to my boyfriend’s parents about it. They were overjoyed and offered to help with the preparations. There was not a lot to do at that stage, however their offer and the fact they cared meant a lot to me.

Visiting the jewelry was a great experience. Effectively, I was purchasing an engagement ring. However, since I was breaking with tradition by asked a man to marry me, I wanted it to be known as a Valentine’s ring. I looked at so many, there was just so much choice. It dawned on me how difficult it must be a for a man to buy any form of jewelry for a woman.

Eventually I was able to find the perfect Valentine’s ring. It was just wonderful, it was a fabulously simple design, platinum ring. I was even able to put my own inscription on the inside of the ring, it read “May this Valentine’s ring always be with you, just as I hope to be”. It sounds a little soppy now, however at the time and still to this day, I meant every word.

We had both agreed to spend a lovely evening enjoying a meal for Valentine’s day. We booked a special restaurant that was candle lit and had soft music on in the back ground. It was just perfect. The meal was wonderful, although I can not remember what we had. All I could think about was that I was going to propose to my boyfriend. I must have checked to see that I still had the Valentine’s ring in my pocket a dozen times.

When dinner was over, my time had arrived. I looked into his eyes and smiled. He smiled back at me. I simply said to him “Will you marry me?”. His smile grew wider and he looked at the ring I was holding in front of him. “Yes” he exclaimed, “of course I will”. With that, I placed the Valentine’s ring on his finger.

We were wed the following year. Valentine’s day is so special for both of us. I wish you the same happiness this Valentine’s day.

For 14 years Titanium Rings Studios has been making the finest quality handmade titanium rings and www.tirings.com carries a full line of Weddding Rings, Engagement Rings, Celtic Rings, Tension Rings, Friendship rings.


1.02.2008. | Categories: Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

It seems nearly impossible to watch TV or open a newspaper without seeing something about man-made diamonds. For hundreds of years science has tried to create a perfect synthetic diamond. Finally, 21st-century technology has made that prospect a reality.

There are many reasons to purchase synthetic diamonds instead of the mined variety. The prices charged for mined diamonds are, in the very best verbiage, an illusion. To put it more bluntly, Cecil Adams, in his award-winning newspaper column “The Straight Dope” says: “Diamonds are a con, pure and simple.” Diamond prices are largely controlled by the DeBeers diamond cartel, and they are not a fair reflection of diamond scarcity. Additionally, studies show that one out of three diamonds sold in the US today has been altered to artificially increase its value. Further studies have shown that on average a couple pays 40% too much for their diamond engagement ring.

Beyond deceptive pricing, there are the issues of “blood diamonds”, forced child labor, and a myriad of other disturbing diamond facts.

Recently, socially conscious celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Minnie Driver, and Angelina Jolie have made a vocal issue of wearing only synthetic diamonds to the many gala events they attend.

Good synthetic diamonds are virtually indistinguishable from the mined variety, but without the baggage, and additionally, they cost thousands of dollars less. But, which synthetic diamond is the best choice?

There are many types of man-made or synthetic diamonds available. The choices are numerous, but unbiased information is scarce. Here is an overview and comparison of the synthetic diamonds currently unavailable on the market:

Cubic Zirconia
The grandfather of simulated diamonds, Zircons are available widely. In their best examples, CZ’s are actually a fairly decent diamond replica. Unfortunately, the commodity-like availability and vast differences in quality have made the stone synonymous with low-cost fashion jewelry. Perhaps a good choice for cheap bling, but not for fine jewelry. Many sources are available, a decent one is: http://www.czfantasy.com

Russian Diamonds
Including Russian Brilliants, Russian Stars and others, they are in fact nothing but high quality cubic zirconias. This is not mentioned prominently on their web sites and they will only cop to it when pressed, but that is the fact. Russian diamond simulates are priced around $280 per carat.

Russian Diamonds are a fine jewelry selection and are usually mounted in quality precious metal settings.

Russian Brilliants are one of the best and oldest sellers of “Russian Diamonds” available at: http://www.russianbrilliants.net

Moissanite
Moissanite is a lab-created mineral that is a very good diamond simulant. Moissanite has been on the market as a fine jewelry choice since the early 90s and has picked up quite a few fans. Moissanite is a hard mineral that, like diamond, will cut glass. There are a couple of minor downsides to moissanite however. First, it is quite expensive, (though still cheap compared to diamonds) usually priced about $500 per carat for good samples.

Secondly, moissanite does not have the same optical qualities as diamond and there are several indicators that make them easy to spot with the naked eye for an experienced practitioner. It is difficult to produce a pure white moissanite and they often appear slightly green when viewed in natural light. Also, moissanite has significantly higher radiance and brilliance factors then natural diamond, causing them to appear “too sparkly” to some. Overall though, moissanite is a beautiful synthetic diamond choice.

“Moissanite From the Sky” at http://www.fromthesky.com is a good source of fine moissanite jewelry.

Diamond Nexus
Diamond Nexus gemstones are the result of a fairly new scientific advancement in processing technique, and have only recently been available in the United States.

Diamond Nexus gemstones are excellent diamond simulants and come very close to matching the properties of mined diamonds at many different comparison points. They cut glass, being virtually identical to diamond on the Mohs (hardness) scale. They refract perfect “hearts and arrows” and have radiance and brilliance readings extremely close to flawless diamond.

Best of all, they are currently introductory priced for the U.S. market, and are a steal at $79 per caret. Diamond Nexus gemstones are only available in precious metal, solid-gold settings.

Diamond Nexus is only available from Diamond Nexus Labs at: http://www.DiamondNexusLabs.com

White Sapphire
Sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral on the Mohs scale, surpassed only by diamond. They are, unlike the others in this review, a natural stone. Their radiance and brilliance are not up to the standards of diamond however. Nevertheless, quality white sapphires priced at around $220 per carat are a good diamond alternative.

A quality source is: http://www.TheNaturalSapphireCompany.com

Gemisis Cultured Diamond
Gemisis diamonds are beautiful and almost perfect diamond replicas. Unfortunately, they are not available in a clear, white color, so they are not a good choice for traditional diamond settings. However, if a yellow, orange or pink diamond is what you crave, Gemisis offers stunning choices in beautiful precious metal, fine-jewelry settings.

Gemisis Cultured Diamonds are only available at: http://www.gemisis.com

Recap:

Synthetic diamonds offer many advantages over the mined variety. You can buy with confidence, knowing that you are getting exactly what you paid for, and have not been the victim of diamond pricing chicanery. If you are concerned with the world around you, you can have a clear conscience, knowing that your money has not contributed to the support of an unethical and abusive industry.

However, there are many choices of synthetic diamonds, with varying degrees of quality. Take a little time to review the seller’s information to get a clear idea of what the science is behind the gemstones you are buying.

For my money, I believe the best choices are quality Moissanite stones or the new diamond simulant gemstones available from Diamond Nexus Labs.

Gary La Court is a technical consultant, an expert in refractive dynamics and a frequent author. He has recently done research for several synthetic diamond manufacturers including http://www.DiamondNexusLabs.com


10.01.2008. | Categories: Jewelry Musings | Comments Off

There are more than three hundred fifty named diamonds famous for their histories.

The Cullinan, is the largest cut diamond in the world. It was found in South Africa and was named for the owner of the mining company. The Cullinan diamond was 3106 carats, and was cut into 105 stunning diamonds. The largest was named the “Star of Africa” and is 530 carats by itself. In 1907 this diamond was given to King Edward VII of England, and set into the Royal Scepter. It is kept, along with the other Crown Jewels, safely in the Tower of London.

The Cullinan II is 317.40 carats. The color is white and is the cushion-shaped diamond in the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. It is also in the Tower of London with the British Crown Jewels.

The Dary-i-Nur is 186 carats, is pink and is in the Iranian Treasury. It is the largest uncut diamond in the world. Its name means “Sea of Light”.

The Dresden Green is 41 carats; it is green, and a very rare type ila diamond of extraordinary quality. It gets its name from the city of Saxony where it had been on display for 200 years. The Dresden Green is now on display at the Albertinium Museum in Dresden.

The Hope Diamond is 45.52 carats, is blue, and is in the Smithsonian Institute. According to legend, a curse was placed on the large, blue diamond after it was stolen from an idol in India. Whether you believe in curses or not, the diamond has had a fascinating past - it was owned by King Louis XIV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to pay gambling debts, owned and worn almost daily by an American heiress, sold and worn to raise money for charity, and finally donated to the Smithsonian Museum.

The Hortensia is 20 carats, is peach colored and is in the Louvre. It is one of the crown Jewels of France, and was owned by Louis XIV. It was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland, who was the daughter of the Empress Josephine, the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte and the mother of Napoleon III.

The Kohinoor is 108.93 carats, white and is located in the Tower of London. As with many of the most famous diamonds, there is a curse of death and destruction attached to it. Its name means “Mountain of Light” and legend has it that it actually comes from another diamond also rife with legend, called the “Great Mogul” which was said to have weighed 244 carats and mysteriously disappeared in 1665. The Kohinoor was owned by the first sultan of Mogul, and passed down through generations, until it was given to Queen Victoria. It was recut and now rests in the crown of Queen Elizabeth.

The Orloff is 189.62 carats. It is thought to have weighed about 300 carats when it was discovered. For a while, it was confused with the Great Mogul diamond. One of the legends of the Orloff is that it was set in the eye of a god statue in the temple of Sri Rangen, and stolen by a French soldier dressed up like a Hindu. He is said to have escaped by swimming down a raging river during a storm. It was eventually sold to Prince Gregory Orloff. In an attempt to win back her heart, he gave it to Catherine the Great, who collected lovers and precious gems with equal passion. She had the diamond mounted on top of the double eagle in the Imperial scepter. It is in the Russian Diamond Fund, Moscow.

The Spoonmaker Diamond has many legends associated with it. (It supposedly got its name when the owner–who is said to have found it sitting on top of a pile of garbage –bartered it to a spoonmaker for three wooden spoons.) More likely is that it was purchased by a Frenchman named Pikot, who bought it from the Maharajah of Madras in India. He took it to France, but was robbed. The diamond ended up at an auction, and was bid on by the notorious Casanova. It was finally bought by Napoleon’s mother, Letizia Ramolino, who later sold her jewelry to help her son escape from Elba. It was bought again by an officer of Tepedelenli, and put into the treasury. When Tepedelenli was killed during a revolt, the entire treasury went to the Palace of Turkey, and the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, now called the “Kasicki” is there.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a 69 carat pear-shaped white diamond that was originally called the “Cartier Diamond” after the jeweler paid $1,050,000 for it at an auction. Richard Burton purchased it the day after the auction for Elizabeth Taylor. She later renamed it the Taylor-Burton diamond. Ms. Taylor wore the diamond publicly at a party for Princess Grace’s 40th birthday party in Monaco. She sold the diamond in 1978 and used the funds to build a hospital in Botswana. The diamond was later purchased by Robert Mouawad.

Read more about Diamond Myths, Legends & History at HomeGiftShopper.com

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. This article is provided courtesy of Home Gift Shopper: A premier resource for quality Gift Ideas. This article may be republished as long as it remains unchanged, this notice stays intact, and all links are made live.


24.12.2007. | Categories: Jewelry Musings | Comments Off