Diamond Facts

The First Diamond Engagement Ring

Ancient Romans would give the blushing bride a truth ring. The ring would be placed on the third finger of the left hand. This tradition stemmed from the Egyptians belief that the vein from this finger led straight to the heart.
In the 14th century wealthy Europeans had their wedding rings set with jewels, somewhat like modern engagement rings. It was 1477 that the modern engagement came into being, Emperor Maximilian gave a diamond engagement ring to his fiancé Mary of Burgundy. It was in the 19th century with the diamond rush in South Africa the diamond engagement ring came into its own.
In the 1930's the now famous slogan " A Diamond is Forever" was created.
The earliest written referance to rings as love tokens is in 2BC in a work by the Roman playwright Plautus.
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The largest polished diamond is the Golden Jubilee diamond. Weighing 545 carats, the yellow diamond was presented to Thailand’s King Bhumibal Adulyadej in 1996, to commemorate his 50 years of leadership. The diamond was mounted on a royal scepter and used as part of Thailand’s Crown Jewels. back

Other polished diamonds of impressive stature are:

The world’s largest documented rough diamond is the Cullinan. Weighing 3,106.75 carats (0.62 kilograms). Named after Sir Thoms Cullinan, who owned the South African mine that found the stone in 1905.

The stone was later cut into two smaller, polished stones; the Great Star of Africa, which weighs 530.20 carats, and the slightly smaller Lesser Star of Africa, which weighs 317.4 carats. Additionally 104 smaller stones were made, each being nearly flawless in both color and clarity. The Great Star of Africa currently rests in the Tower of London. back

Other rough diamonds of impressive stature are:

The diamond known thought the world for its infamous curse is the fabled Hope Diamond, a 45.52 carat steel blue stone, which is thought to be cursed, bringing bad fortune to all who possess it. It was first unearthed in India, where it was polished and placed in the eye of an idol in a temple on the Coleroon River in India. The legend began in the days before the French Revolution, as Marie Antoinette and Princess de Lamballe both possessed the diamond and were both executed at the guillotine. It was later purchased, in the mid-1880’s, by Henry Thomas Hope, a British banker, who bequeathed it to a descendant, Lord Francis Pelham Clinton Hope, upon his death. Lord Hope later went bankrupt and lost the diamond, which later resurfaced in the court of Abdul Hamid II, the Sultan of Turkey and Caliph of Israel. He gave it to his wife Subaya, who was later executed. Mrs. Evalyn McLean bought the stone in 1911. After her death in 1949, Harry Winston bought the stone as part of the McLean collection and donated it to the United States of America.back

The Oldest Diamond in the World

The oldest diamond is generally considered to be the Briolette of India. Given to Eleanor of Auitaine by Louis VII of France in the 12^th century and to Diane de Poitiers by Henry II in the 16^th century, the 90.38 carat diamond went unseen for hundreds of years until 1950, when an Indian maharaja sold it to Harry Winston, a New York jeweler. Mr. Winston sold it to Mrs. I. W. Killam and then bought it back after her death 10 years later.back

The Most Expensive Piece of Jewelry Ever Created for a Movie

The diamond necklace worn by Nicole Kidman in "Moulin Rouge". Designed by Sydney, Australia-based artist Stefano Canturi, it radiates with 1,308 diamonds, weighing 134 carats, set on a white gold necklace. back

The Highest Price that Anyone Has Ever Paid for a Diamond on the Open Market

In 1995, a sheik from Saudi Arabia paid $16,548,750 for a pear-shaped, flawless, 100.1-carat "D" diamond from Sotheby’s. back

Other Uses for Diamonds Beyond Jewelry

Industrial diamonds are used for tools, including drilling, sawing, cutting, grinding and polishing.
Since diamonds can withstand high pressures and temperatures they are useful for manufacturing and cutting materials. back

Unusual Diamond Uses

• Julian MacDonald customized his Ford Roadster by setting the car with over 2,000 cut diamonds, totaling over 150 carats. It is for sale, for the hefty price of $1,000,000.
• Victoria’s Secret also used diamonds making the Heavenly Star Bra, which features a 90-carat emerald-cut diamond, valued at over $10,500,000, situated between the bra’s cups. The cups are set with around 1,200 Sri Lankan pink sapphires and 2,300 diamonds set in platinum. With an asking price of $12,500,000 that this is no ordinary piece of lingerie. back

Source: magazine

Who said that ?

"I never hated a man enough to give him his diamond back."
- Zsa Zsa Gabor

"Diamonds have no mercy. They will show up the wearer if they can"
- The Sandcastle by Iris Murdoch

" If anyone accuses me of being a Communist, I'll hit them with my diamond bracelets."
Paulette Goddard responding to accusations by the House of Un-American Activities Committee

"Size does Matter"
Anonymous Red Head

" Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their job."
Malcolm Forbes

" Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without"
Confucius

Rock Classics Song Lyrics That All Mention 'Diamonds'

You wouldn't know a diamond if you held it in your hand/ Things you think are precious I can't understand.
"Reeling In The Years," - Steely Dan

Hours are like diamonds/ Don't waste them.
"Time Waits For No One," - The Rolling Stones

All the pretty people drinking, thinking/ that they got it made/ Exchanging all precious gifts/ But now you better take your diamond ring/ you better pawn it babe.
"Like a Rolling Stone," - Bob Dylan

I've been through diamonds/ I've been through minks/ I've been through it all.
"Love Stinks" - The J. Giels Band

As I was walking down the street one day/ a pretty lady walked up to me/ and said her diamond watch had stopped.
"Does anybody really know what time it is," - Chicago

You're built like a car/ You got a hubcap diamond star halo/ You're dirty sweet and you're my girl.
"Bang a Gong", - T.Rex

That little chip of diamond on your hand/ Ain't a fortune girl/ But you know it stands/ for your love.
"Lets Hang On," - The Four Seasons

He don't string diamonds around my neck/ Because all he's got's an unemployment check.
"He's Sure the Boy I love," - The Crystals

She said "my baby buys me things/ you know he buys me diamond rings", you know she said so.
"I Feel Fine" - The Beatles

Now Leroy was gambler/ He loved those fancy clothes/ And he liked to wave his diamond rings/ Under everybody's nose.
"Big Bad Leroy Brown," - Jim Croce

Add to our collection. Please email your song lyrics to tees@diamondagent.com

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Top Ten Jewel Thief Movies

- Charade - Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant
- To Catch a Thief - Grace Kelly and Cary Grant
- Jewel Robbery - Kay Francis and William Powell
- 15 Maiden Lane - Cesar Romero and Claire Trevor
- Desire - Marlene Dietrich
- Diamonds - filmed in London & Tel Aviv 1975
- A Fish Called Wanda - John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis,Kevin Kline, Michael Palin
- The Great Muppet Caper
- The Pink Panther - Peter Sellers, David Niven
- Retrun of the Pink Panther
- Oceans Eleven
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