The diamond engagement ring is heavily steeped in tradition. In North America and the United Kingdom it is usually worn on the left hand ringfinger by the woman and it signifies her betrothed status. This tradition dates back to Roman times but the practice wasn't really used until the13th century and only then it was used in exceptional circumstances. In fact, many women used to receive a sewing thimble, but times have thankfully progressed. It wasn't until the 1900s that rings were given to signify marriage, and it wasn't until the 1930s that diamond rings assumed their familiar place. One carat of diamond is roughly equivalent to 0.2 grams, which is then divided into 100 points. For example, a diamond of 20 points is ⅕ or 0.20 carat. The measurement of carat dates back to the carob seed from the Ceratona Siliquia tree which almost precisely measures at 0.2 grams. Smaller diamond gemstones are more common place than large ones, meaning that the larger the diamond the more expensive it is. This means prices quickly sky rocket according to size, particularly since the price per carat increases with overall carat weight, including large spikes in price around various weight thresholds. The weightier diamonds therefore end up incredibly expensive not least because they are the most desirable for lavish jewellery that has traditionally only been fit for royalty. Fluctuating demand for diamonds of a certain weight can also greatly influence the price. If you are lucky enough to have a piece of jewellery with multiple diamonds in it, you might come across the phrase Total Carat Weight. This is the overall weight of each diamond added together - something which can end up as a huge sum for diamond necklaces. Carat might sound like the sole determining factor when considering what type of diamond to buy but it isn't. The quality of the diamond also has a huge role to play in terms of its clarity, cut and colour. Cut is a very important factor in diamonds, since it is the only time when artificial factors influence this naturally occurring gemstone. The cut of the diamond dictates its shape, style, proportion, symmetry and finish. It is at this point that the signature sparkle or brilliance is added to the stone which gives it its distinctive rainbow of colours, which is also known as fire. Diamonds with a symmetrical cut refract light perfectly around their interior which is what draws so much attention to diamond rings. Clarity is also something that you should invest some time investigating. It refers to the number of defects in the crystal called Inclusions. This could be some foreign matter, or the intrusion of another diamond crystal which can cause numerous imperfections. A trained professional will typically be able to grade a diamond by using a magnification factor of around 10x. These inclusions can compromise the structure of the diamond depending on their severity, so if you have a diamond that has fractured, cracked or is not refracting light well, this could be the likely cause. The Article is written by www.marlowsdiamonds.com providing Diamond Engagement Rings and Diamond Rings. Visit http://www.marlowsdiamonds.com for more information on www.marlowsdiamonds.com Products and Services___________________________Copyright information This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links and this copyright statement must be included. Visit www.marlowsdiamonds.com for more services!
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