American couples might be trading down slightly when it comes to carat size, but even in this tough economy, they are still buying diamond engagement rings.

When it comes to an engagement ring, people will still want what they want. They are going to slightly smaller sizes but staying with the same quality.

Whatever size is selling these days–whether it be a small three-quarter-carat sparkler or a 5-carat rock–retailers say there are two key ways to keep engagement ring sales on target in a turbulent year: partnering with other bridal-focused businesses to offer special promotions and keeping up the tradition of top-notch customer service.

After all, when a couple decides to spend their lives together and start planning a wedding, the goal is to make it the event of a lifetime, whether it happens in the midst of an economic crisis or not.

“I know that for people that are in love and want to get engaged and want to get married, it’s supposed to be a one-time experience,” a storeowner says. “It’s not the area where they really want to cut back.”

In strict connection to the post of yesterday we have a clear confirmation to the fact that American Indian jewelry is in. Anna Sui’s stilled tribal jewelry is amazing and it definitely sets the trend for 2009. Complex and full of color necklaces, have a look!

After the world’s most expensive blue diamond, The Wittelsbach, was sold to diamond dealer – Laurence Graff – last year for $24.3 million, Sotheby’s has another impressive blue diamond for the next auction.

Despite the economic woe, apparently sales for big, rare stones are still going strong. The new diamond is a fancy vivid blue gem weighing 7.03 carats and is rated internally flawless – high praise for a natural stone. Petra Diamonds, the diamond mine, unearthed this rare gem from the Cullinan mine in South Africa.

The blue beauty will be shown in Hong Kong, Paris, New York and London before winding up in Geneva for the Sotheby’s auction on May 12th, where it is estimated to sell for as much as $8.5 million.

Made by Mikimoto, this 18-inch pearl strand, took 10 years to gather the 27 perfectly round cultured pearls. The pearls are White South Sea AAA quality and are extremely rare. No wonder it took so long!

The expensive strand also has a noval clasp with 11,92 carats of diamonds, but its beauty realy lies in the cultured pearls. The high quality is showed in their 15.06 x 17.24 mm diameter, in the way pearls reflect light and a very special luster. Even so, $1,000,000 for a pearl strand?

According to DCLA, The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia, we know have to think about 5 C’s instead of 4 C’s when we go out to get a diamond.

The C’s identified by DCLA are: carat-weight, color, clarity, cut and the most important C of all, according to them, confidence.

“Confidence is found in the form of an accurate diamond grading certificate. Some differences in quality are easily noticeable, others need specialist equipment and qualified graders with years of experience to assess and detect.

Accurate assessment of a diamond is only possible prior to being set. Once the stone is set even a trained grader cannot precisely determine color, size and purity clarity. Therefore quality and value can only be estimated. Minor differences in color, clarity and weight can have a major effect on value. For this reason, laboratories only grade loose diamonds.” says the DCLA team.

The Oscars 2009 – Everyone is still waiting for more photos, comments, gossip but from what we’ve soon so far, the Oscars are still glamorous and elegant. In what concerns jewelry, there was more to flaunt in the past years, but let’s not minimize their impact this year also.

The simple but spectacular green diamond earrings and ring of Angelina Jolie made a wonderful contrast with the simple black Elie Saab dress she was wearing. Quite stunning I may say. They are the creation of Lorraine Schwartz.

The lovely Kate WInslet, the winner of Best Actress Oscar had a truly perfect appearance. The lovely grey satin dress was accessorized with clear diamond accessories. Wonderful

Another great piece of jewelry was worn by Amy Adams. She wore a colorful and large Fred Leighton necklace, that seems perfect for that the striking red dress.

Clear white diamonds are also wore by Taraji Henson, to accessorize her wonderful ivory white dress. Not overly accessorized, Taraji brings just the right amount of bling to suit her complexion and outfit with her lovely starred diamond necklace.

Penelope Cruz stirred everyone’s attention with the lovely ’50 vintage dress. The simple but fitting diamond jewelry (stud earrings, necklace and bracelet) turned her into the princess of the ball. The seductive Spanish is the winner of the Best Supporting Actress.

Lovely and youthful Natalie Portman wore most of her sparkle on her strapless pink dress, but not only. The diamond studs and the diamond bracelets appear to be a “must-have” at any awards recently.

When it comes to bringing in the heavy stuff well, Heidi Klum just did it. The several bangle bracelets and huge earrings surprisingly fit her fiery red dress. I guess the more the better, isn’t it Heidi?

The amazing rock was found near Lesotho in September 8, 2008 and it is the 20th largest rough diamond ever found !

Precious Earth jewelry is promoting throughout its activity the sustainable jewelry concept. “Our goal is to make jewelry that is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside ” they say.  I declare myself an enthusiastic of this idea and I will expand it for you too.

By supporting consciousness and transparency in the jewelry trade,  jewelry producers such as Precious Earth also support the economic independence of the people in Namibia, Botswana, and other gem mining countries. The jewelry producers offer unemployed local habitats jobs and trainings in the cutting gems industry and the chance of a better future for their families.

Renowned designer Robert Pelliccia has designed the recently Endangered Species collection that marks the launch of Precious Earth as part of the Kari Feinstein’s Golden Globes Style Lounge. Beautiful creations in my opinion that also raise awareness for the continent of Africa . Take a look and convince yourself:

“Kazanjian Red” the vividly blood-hued red diamond is still on display in the museum’s Gem and Mineral Hall, Los Angeles,  until February 1st.

All diamond lovers know the story of this incredible rare diamond. It was discovered in 1927 in a diamond field in South Africa, got stolen during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands (World War II), secretly hidden for years in a salt mine, brought to daylight and mistaken to be a ruby due to its vivid red color, hidden again for 37 years by a private collector…and finally purchased by Los Angeles-based Kazanjian Bros. Inc.

Wow, another incredible adventurous rare diamond background to the list.

I feel quite embarrassed to admit this, but only today had i found out that diamond is not the hardest material known to man. I feel a little sad, as for all these years diamonds represented supreme hardness, eternity, singularity, brilliance. It still does but now not only “diamonds are forever”.

Diamond is still the hardest natural material, but not the absolute one. Who hasn’t heard of Aggregated Diamond Nanorods (ADNR or hyperdiamond)? Well frankly, I haven’t, until today. These allotropes of carbon can scratch natural diamonds.

Aggregated Diamond Nanorods - stereomicroscopic image

The great discovery was made by a team from the Bayerisches Geoinstitut (Universität Bayreuth) who succeeded in synthesizing the aggregated diamond nanorods (ADNR) and their properties, after testing at the ESRF. The density of the ADNR material is higher than that of diamond by 0.2 – 0.4%; thus making it the densest form of carbon. ADNR is also 11% less compressible than diamond. An aggregated diamond nanorod has a modulus of 491 GPa, while a conventional diamond has a modulus of 442 GPa.

The conclusion is that diamond is no longer the hardest and least compressible known material, but hopefully its beauty is not so easily replaceable, as in the heart of any jewelry lover the diamond is ultimate luxury and brilliance.

Source: Azonanotechnology