Are diamonds really rare ?

If you’re shopping for rare diamonds and you want the real thing be sure not to be fooled by an imitation or replicas. Some stores advertise color treated diamonds as if they were genuine

Flawless colored diamonds are extremely rare and expensive in particular blue diamonds. They are a delight to see and the envy of many women, and men, that own them.

Are Diamonds Really Rare? When you walk into a jewelry store and see all the diamonds in all of the various settings that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that diamonds are indeed rare. Most people don’t even stop to consider how that diamond came to be sitting in that jeweler’s case! There is quite a bit of work that is done before a diamond is ready to sell to the general public! For every one million diamonds that are mined, only one will be found that is a quality one caret diamond. In order to find a two caret diamond, about five million diamonds must be mined. More than two hundred tons

Pink diamonds are the world’s most rare and highly sought after diamonds. The Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia is the world’s foremost source of pink diamonds but even then, only a handful are mined each year

of ore must be mined to find one small diamond, and even then, more than 80% of the diamonds that are mined are only good for industrial use, such as diamond drill bits. So, the next time you visit your local jewelry store, ask to see the one carat diamonds. You should look at this diamond with new appreciation – knowing that it truly is one in a million!

Other resources

• How are diamonds mined
  We seldom think about how the diamonds we wear came to us. Natural diamonds, as opposed to synthetic diamonds or fake diamonds, are mined from the earth. There are currently two methods of mining diamonds: Pipe Mining and Alluvial Mining
  read more: How are diamonds mined
• How are diamonds made?
  Diamonds form between 75 and 120 miles below the earth’s surface. According to geologists the first delivery of diamonds was somewhere around 2.5 billion years ago and the most recent was 45 million years ago. The carbon that makes diamonds comes from the melting of pre-existing rocks in the Earth’s upper mantle.
  read more: How diamonds are made

Topics: Are diamonds rare

Famous Diamonds: from royalty to the gods

Around the world there are many diamonds that have been talked about or written about in various stories and official documents. Famous diamonds are part of our world’s history, and have been found in various parts of the world, by all types of people. From royalty to the gods, famous diamonds are often as well known as the people who owned them.

The world’s most famous diamonds are colored diamonds so why shouldn‘t you have one in your engagement ring?

For centuries diamonds, famous diamonds or otherwise, were used in the armor of warriors and the crowns of our kings and queens as a symbol of fearlessness.

The Mountain of Light

One of the few oval shaped famous diamonds, the “mountain of light” was first mentioned in the year 1304. It weighed an astounding 186 carats, and it is said that the diamond was set in the peacock throne of Shah Jehan as an eye of one of the peacock’s.

During Queen Victoria’s reign, the famous diamonds shape was altered a bit and it was recut to weigh 108.93 carats. The diamond is currently one of the British Crown Jewels.

Flawless colored diamonds are extremely rare and expensive in particular blue diamonds. They are a delight to see and the envy of many women, and men, that own them.

The Orloff

When the Orloff diamond was found, it was said that it weighed around 300 carats. This gemstone of the famous diamonds is held at the Diamond Treasury of the former Soviet Union located in Moscow.

A story about the Orloff claims that the diamond was actually placed in the eye of a god, in the temple of Sri Rangen, which is how it became known as one of the world’s famous diamonds.

The Regent

Before this incredibly large diamond of the famous diamonds was cut it weighed 410 carats! Originally called “The Pitt”, after the English Prime Minister, William Pitt, it was cut into a rounded shape and consisted of more than 140 carats.

In 1717, the diamond was sold to the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France. It was then that the diamond was renamed “The Regent”. When Louis XV had his coronation, the stone was set into his crown.

Some of the most famous jewelers in the World, Cartier, Fabergé and Tiffany & Co.

When the French Revolution ended, “The Regent” was owned by Napoleon Bonaparte, and was placed into the hilt of Bonaparte’s sword.

Currently, the diamond is on display for all to enjoy in the Louvre.

The Blue Hope

The most well known of all famous diamonds, the Blue Hope is currently in the Smithsonian Institution located in the state of Washington. It was owned by Louis XIV, and at the time was called “the blue diamond of the crown”.

Sometime during the French Revolution, the Blue Hope diamond was stolen. It was later found in London in the year 1830, where it was later purchased by Henry Philip Hope. The blue hope diamond received it’s name from this individual, as well as it’s reputation for causing bad luck to those who owned it. While Henry Philip Hope owned the precious blue diamond, each of his family members died in extreme poverty.

Continuing with the bad luck, a later owner of the Blue Hope, Mr. Edward McLean also lost many family members to poverty while he possessed the diamond.

The American Topaz, world’s largest cut topaz

The world’s largest cut topaz, called the American Topaz, resides at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. A 172-faceted topaz weighing 22,892.50 carats (4.5785 kg), it’s the largest cut yellow topaz in the world, and one of the largest faceted gems of any kind in the world. Originating from Minais Gerais, Brazil, it was cut over a period of two years. It was purchased by the Rockhound Hobbyists of America and presented to the Smithsonian Institution in 1988.

As stunning as this cut topaz is, another display at the Smithsonian is equally dazzling and awe-inspiring. That’s a sherry-colored topaz “spray” from the Thomas Range in Utah. This color of topaz can be found in Mexico and Utah, but when it’s exposed to sunlight, will become clear.

Most topaz forms in pegmatites. There it can grow into some of the world’s largest gem-quality crystals, such as the two specimens 31.8 kg (70lb) and 50.4 kg (111 lb) shown here along with the 22,892,5 carat (10.10lb) American Golden Topaz gemstone. Topaz crystals generally grow from silica- and aluminum-rich solutions containing fluorine

Other spectacular displays of natural crystals include a cluster of Stibnite, an ore of antimony, which has a bright metallic luster. This spectacular group of crystals is from Iyo, Japan and look like something from Superman’s home!

Another huge mineral in the exhibit is the Smithsonite, named for James Smithson, who bequeathed the funds to establish the Smithsonian Institution. He first discovered this greenish zinc carbonate mineral from the Kelly Mine in New Mexico.

The American Museum of Natural History displayed a superb large blue topaz from the Xanda mine, Virgem da Lapa, Brazil.

Some of the other don’t miss items in the Smithsonian’s Gem Collection are the Smithsonian Canary Diamond, a huge canary and diamond ring. The 98.6-carat Bismarck Sapphire is also part of the collection and is one of the world’s largest sapphires. It originally came from Sri Lanka. It’s also fascinating to see some of these gems in their raw uncut state, such as the large corundrum crystal which is the mineral that sapphires are made of, and a very large beryl crystal, from which the emerald and aquamarine family of stones is derived.

Does OC8 Oil Control Genius Really Work

 Christi’s Curious:
Hi Beauty Brains! I was wondering if you could tell me about the product OC8 Oil Control Genius. It says it has “ACRYSORB micro-particles” (which sounds like a marketing gimick to me), and it absorbs only the excess oil on your skin. I’m just wondering if it really does absorb the excess oil like it says it does. And if it is absorbing oil, like it says it is, and it’s all sitting on your skin, would this cause acne?

The Right Brain Responds:
Christi, The Beauty Brains applaud your skepticism! Acrysorb sounds like Marketing hype to us too! Let’s take a closer look:

The product contains the following ingredients:

Purified water, Acrysorb ^{(brand of acrylates copolymer), propylene glycol, PEG-400, carbomer 940, sodium hydroxide, methylparaben, and disodium EDTA.}The last two are easy: methyparaben and disodium EDTA are simply preservatives. The PEG-400 and Carbomer 940 are thickeners; the sodium hydroxide is a neutralizing agent for the carbomer (that’s what makes it get thick). The propylene glycol provide some humectant properterties and finally the Acrysorb (which is just their trade name for a type of acrylate polymer, is in the formula to absorb oil as they suggest.

Is this kind of absorption possible? Well, there are certain types of acrylate copolymers that can absorb oil. So theoretically, this kind of product could “trap” some of the surface oil on the skin and make your skin feel less greasy. That should not contribute to acne breakouts, however, because oily skin is not the only cause of acne. You also need bacteria and clogged pores.

But while it could work in theory, we doubt that it could absorb enough oil to really make a difference on your skin. To be fair, we haven’t actually tested it so we can’t say for sure. Have any of our loyal Beauty Brainiacs used OC8? If so, what do YOU think?

How To Tell If You Need A Facial

Cheong’s Facing A Facial:
Do I really need to get a facial to get a perfect complexion or is just cleansing and moisturizing at home enough? If I do need facials, how often should I get them?

The Right Brain Replies:
The first question is: why should you get a facial in the first place? What good does it really do? The answer depends on what kind of facial you get and who does it.

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, “Facial rejuvenation can effectively reduce wrinkles, treat sun spots, tighten loose skin, improve skin tone and color, remove blotchiness, and eliminate damaged blood vessels.” They discuss 9 types of facial treatments including the use of Topical Products; Fillers and Botox; Chemical Peels; Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion; Laser Resurfacing; Radiofrequency Technologies; Photodynamic Therapy; Surgical Excision; and Liposuction. If your complexion is really messed up, you may need one or more of these procedures to get it back in shape.

Most of these procedures must be performed by a doctor but a beautician or aesthetician can help you with topical products, chemical peels, and dermabrasion. Depending on the condition of your skin, these treatments may need to be repeated for best results. There’s no way to know how many treatments you’ll need or how often you’ll need them without actually examining your skin.

If your complexion just needs a “touch up” then you really only need basic facial care like cleansing, exfoliation, massage, and extraction of blackheads. If that’s all your skin needs, The Beauty Brains say that there’s no reason you can’t do that yourself at home. Of course, it’s always more pampering to have someone do it for you, but there’s no technical reason you couldn’t do it yourself. (Oh, and if you’re wondering about “speciality” treatments like oxygen mists or collagen sheets that spas offer, don’t worry about them too much. While they may feel great, they have little functional effect on your skin.)

Matching Clothes with Accessories

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Style Space – December 2006

December 22nd 2006 08:09

Kate Middleton candid (WENN)

I’m all for matching shoes and accessories with clothing in an outfit – it can often help to emphasise and complement a colour or feature that might look out of place or too bold on its own. I know I’ve proclaimed my love for contrast in the past, and I’m not trying to contradict myself with this post, but I do believe that having a couple of complementary pieces gives an immediate impression of coordination and harmony in an outfit. For example, take a look at Kate Middleton’s outfit on the right. Her white scarf goes perfectly with her white pants – if she had worn the scarf without the pants or vice versa, the white might have been too strong on its own, but by having two separate yet matching white pieces in the form of a garment and accessory, Kate’s successfully created a well-balanced outfit. Not too shabby for a potential future princess!

Keira Knightley candids

(hqcb.net)

Keira is absolutely rocking this little black outfit, tying a navy blue ribbon around her waist to subtly highlight the navy blue peeking out from under her trench-dress. She’s taken the harmonising one step further by coating her nails in some complementary black polish. The effect is quite understated but she looks gorgeous! I love how a simple matching ribbon can turn an outfit that was almost all-black and dangerously close to being bare into something that looks just that little bit fancier.

Britney Spears in her little lace dresses (dlisted)

I think Britney should clear her wardrobe altogether of any scanty lace dresses, but if she’s going to wear one at all, she should at least try and find a set of matching underwear. These images demonstrate the difference matching can make in an outfit – the pink bra on the right looks completely inappropriate and gives the black lace dress a much trashier feel than the navy blue one on the left.

Jackie O’s hat and coat (Getty Images)

Jacqueline Kennedy wore this pink ensemble consisting of a Halston straw hat and Oleg Cassini Alaskine coat when she met the Indian Prime Minister and his daughter in 1962. Jackie O was a big fan of the matching-hat-and-coat look and it definitely worked for her – she always glowed with grace. While other women of her time adorned themselves in incongruous minks that clashed with the rest of their outfits, Jackie O’s carefully matched ensembles exuded elegance. Even when she wore lively cultural clothes during her trips to energetically dressed countries like Mexico and Pakistan, she managed to maintain her modish matching habits by pairing the bright garments with complementary jewellery.

I hope I’ve convinced you of the benefits of matching clothes and accessories without putting you off the concept of contrast. I admit that sometimes, a feature piece will actually work less effectively if it’s matched with something else, so matching doesn’t hit the spot every time, but if you look at yourself in the mirror and a part of your outfit looks completely out of place, don’t replace it straight away – try adding something else in the same colour to set it off.

* These images are taken from World Entertainment News Network, HQCB, Dlisted, and Getty Images.

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Posted By: Sisi – Category: Clothes

Product styling: When is a wrinkle a “good” wrinkle?

Product styling. I promised a more lengthy post on the subject after the query about styling jeans as product.

Essentially, a product stylist is the person who is responsible for arranging a product (a shirt, a smear of lipstick, a tea cup) in preparation for a photo. Usually this kind of stylist works either for a magazine (as a freelancer) or for a retailer in need of advertising/promotional (commerical) photos. Commercial work, as always, is much better paid.

On more complex jobs, a product stylist might also be responsible for arranging multiple pieces together in one photo or amongst other props. I won’t address this sort of styling here, since it’s such a specialized field.

For now let’s just talk about clothing. Unlike you might imagine, styling product is a much more tiring process than styling wardrobe on a fashion shoot. The job is tedious and extremely accurate records must be kept of everything that is photographed. When you’re looking at the contact sheets at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to tell many simillar looking items apart. I find that each stylist and photographer has his/her own methods for this record keeping. Use whatever is the most logical and least time consuming.

The first thing that needs to be done on a product shoot is the preparation of the clothing. Unless you haven’t travelled far with your goods, they’re probably wrinkled by the time you arrive at the studio. Be sure to check in advance if there will be an ironing board on set. Bring your own iron–on a shoot is not the right time to be figuring out the quirks of someone else’s. If you must, bring your own ironing board too. I’ve been told before that there’s an ironing board, only to find out that there is only the board section (no legs attached). That was a real pain.

Sort out your merchandise as soon as you arrive. I always carry extra clothes hangers (again, so I don’t have to rely on what may or may not be in the studio). I find it best to sort out my goods by size. Everything long (jeans, trousers, dresses) goes in one pile, tops in another, shorts and short skirts in a third, etc. This way your photographer shouldn’t have to change his lighting too many times.

Start ironing immediately. There are tricks to this but the main one is “the iron is your best friend!” With enough tucking, pressing and steaming you can make virtually any clothing item look the same shape that it would on the body (hourglass, tapered, gappy at the inner thighs, etc.). Hang each piece as you iron it or in the case of trousers, lay them flat after steaming into position.

Another suggestion is to always borrow samples in the smallest size possible. Borrow an american size “0″ and it will look like a “6″ in the photos…borrow a “6″ and it will look plus sized.

After you are ready to shoot, you will need to decide how the clothes should be arranged. Should the pieces imitate the shape of a person wearing them or should they look as if you’ve laid them all on the bed before choosing your outfit? Often this will be pre-arranged with the client. Try to get them to commit to a certain style or you might find yourself with a nasty re-shoot. If no style has been arranged, use your judgement according to the style of the magazine/company and the readers/shoppers who will see the final image.

Sweatshirts: Hoodies can be a problem. Here are two examples. Also check how the arms will be arranged. (Short sleeved, delias.com; green hoodie, ae.com; pink jacket, netaporter.com)

Jeans: Fight with the iron to create the right shapes or opts for the easy out and fold in a “z” shape–especially good if you are trying to emphasize the back pockets or other backside details. (Blue jeans, delias.com; white jeans, netaporter.com)

Tank tops: Two versions of the “thrown on the bed” style. Sometimes wrinkles can look natural but iron everything before adding “fresh” wrinkles. (Aqua tank, netaporter.com; pink tank, abercrombie.com)

Skirts: Be careful to mind the waist band. With a skirt it’ usually nicer not to see the inside of the waistband and the inside label. (Long skirt, netaporter.com; short skirt, short skirt, delias.com)

Shorts: You’ll need even more steaming here since it will be harder to hide the excess fabric at the crotch. (White shorts, netaporter.com; green shorts, abercrombie.com)

Rants, raves, kudos and questions: add a comment now!

Labels: Diary of a Stylist

posted by Rachel Michaela aka Stylebites at Saturday, May 20, 2006   

FASHIONTRIBES 5 MIN. PODCAST. Wal-Mart Spend$$$ Big on Advertising in Fashion Mags. FASHIONTRIBES FASHION BLOG & PODCAST

From Marie Claire, to Cosmopolitan to O: The Oprah Magazine, Wal-mart made the season mighty merry for Hearst – purchasing a mindboggling 56 ad pages in their various fashion & lifestyle publications. Their 17 page buy in O marked the single biggest media buy in a single title in the publishing conglomerate’s history.

In fact, the ads for Sam’s Club are only part of a trend of bargain price chains going after the fashion crowd, such as ads for Kohl’s in the December issue of Vogue. Designed to showcase the fact that these lower priced chains carry higher ticket items – especially fine jewelry such as diamonds and pearls – this mirrors the trend of people shopping at either extreme of the market. The very rich like to find a savvy bargain at the Costco-like stores of the world, while those on a budget are indulging in aspirational purchases such as key chains and iPod holders from A-list labels.

Naturally, industry cynics – and savvy readers – wonder when such a splashy ad buy will begin paying off in terms of editorial credits for Wal-Mart. “Does this mean readers will start seeing Sam’s Club fashion credits in O and Oprah herself sporting a Sam’s Club diamond ring on an upcoming cover?” asks WWD. A Sam’s Club spokeswomen noted that the advertising was more driven by demographic fit than buying editorial credibility, however, she did add that: “We hope that any magazine may recognize that value.” (via WWD)

To hear the Fashiontribes 5 Min. Podcast about this, visit PodcasterNews.com.

- Lesley Scott

Fashiontribes.com