Hong Kong - September 15, 2015 - The ancient Romans believed there was a vein that went directly from the fourth finger on the left hand to the heart, thus calling it the ‘vein of love’, so wearing a ring was not only a symbol of legal marital status, but also a symbol of a commitment to the heart. The Romans were known to swap modest betrothal rings of iron and in later periods they switched over to gold, but how did the diamond become the ultimate singular symbol of professed love? Haywards of Hong Kong have released a new infographic detailing the timeline of the world’s most prevalent symbol of love and commitment, the diamond engagement ring. From the first cited use of a diamond ring signifying engagement by Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477, through to today’s most expensive ring in the world, a 5.30-carat blue diamond engagement ring sold by Bulgari.
Along with diamond ring historical highlights, this new infographic by Haywards outlines the critical “4C’s” of diamonds - Carat Weight, Cut, Clarity and Colour.
The 4C’s
1. Carat Weight - Diamond carat weight is the measurement of how much a diamond weighs. A metric "carat" is defined as 200 milligrams and each carat can be further subdivided into 100 'points.' allowing very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. Generally a diamond’s value increases with the Carat Weight as larger diamonds are more rare and desirable, but it's important to remember that a diamond's value is determined using all of the 4Cs, not just carat weight.
2. Cut - Diamonds are renowned for their ability to sparkle in the light. While you might think that the cut means it’s shape, a diamond's cut grade is really about how well a diamond's facets interact with light. The diamond which has an even pattern of bright and dark areas scores in the top category for all grade-setting determinants
3. Clarity - Diamond clarity is about the absence of inclusions and blemishes. Small crystals can become trapped in a diamond when it’s forming and this causes inclusions. Many inclusions and blemishes are too miniscule to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader. To the naked eye, different diamonds may look exactly the same, but these diamonds are actually quite different in terms of overall quality, so expert and accurate assessment of diamond clarity is extremely important.
4. Colour - As you might guess, diamond colour is more about a lack of colour. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water and, consequently, a higher value. Many of these colour distinctions are so subtle that they are invisible to the untrained eye; however, these distinctions make a very big difference in diamond quality and price.
Haywards of Hong Kong is one of the leading bespoke jewellers with over 40 years combined experience in the industry. Established in 2006, Haywardsgive expert guidance throughout the process of creating custom of jewellery, from diamond selection and design through to crafting each bespoke piece.
Contact:
Website: http://www.haywards.com.hk/
Call +852 2545 4400
Email: bespoke@haywards.com.hk