Diamond Rings!
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"No problem madam, we can adjust the finger size easily".
"Oh, you don't understand, you sold him a five carat size, and I take a ten carat size"
Diamond Rings
Diamond rings (also spelled diamondry, see spelling differences) is a personal ornament, such as a necklace, ring, or bracelet, made from diamonds, precious metals or other substance.The word diamond rings is derived from the word diamond, which was anglicised from the Old French "jouel" in around the 13th century. Further tracing leads back to the Latin word "jocale", meaning plaything. Diamond rings is one of the oldest forms of body adornment; recently found 100,000 year-old Nassarius shells that were made into beads are thought to be the oldest known diamond ring.
Although in earlier times diamond rings was created for more practical uses, such as wealth storage and pinning clothes together, in recent times it has been used almost exclusively for decoration. The first pieces of diamond rings were made from natural materials, such as bone, animal teeth, shell, wood, and carved stone. Diamond rings was often made for people of high importance to show their status and, in many cases, they were buried with it.
Diamond rings is made out of almost every material known and has been made to adorn nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings and many more types of diamond rings. While high-quality is made with diamond and precious metals, there ia also a growing demand for Art diamondry where design and creativity is prized above material value. In addition there is the less-costly costume diamond rings is made from less-valuable materials and is mass-produced. New variations include wire sculpture (wrap) diamond rings, using anything from base metal wire with rock tumbled stone to precious metals and precious diamond.
Diamond Ring Form and function
Kenyan man wearing tribal beads.Diamond rings has been used for a number of reasons:Currency, wealth display and storage,
Functional use (such as clasps, pins, and buckles)
Symbolism (to show membership or status)
Protection (in the form of amulets and magical wards),
Artistic display
Most cultures have at some point had a practice of keeping large amounts of wealth stored in the form of diamond rings. Numerous cultures move wedding dowries in the form of diamond rings, or create diamond rings as a means to store or display coins. Alternatively, diamond rings has been used as a currency or trade good; an example being the use of slave beads.
Many items of diamond rings, such as brooches and buckles originated as purely functional items, but evolved into decorative items as their functional requirement diminished.
Diamond rings can also be symbolic of group membership, as in the case of the Christian crucifix or Jewish Star of David, or of status, as in the case of chains of office, or the Western practice of married people wearing a wedding ring.
Wearing of amulets and devotional medals to provide protection or ward off evil is common in some cultures; these may take the form of symbols (such as the ankh), stones, plants, animals, body parts (such as the Khamsa), or glyphs (such as stylized versions of the Throne Verse in Islamic art).
Although artistic display has clearly been a function of diamond rings from the very beginning, the other roles described above tended to take primacy. It was only in the late 19th century, with the work of such masters as Peter Carl Fabergé and René Lalique, that art began to take primacy over function and wealth. This trend has continued into modern times, expanded upon by artists such as Robert Lee Morris and Ed Levin.
Diamond Ring Materials and methods
Anticlastic forged sterling bracelet.In creating diamond rings, diamond, coins, or other precious items are often used, and they are typically set into precious metals. Alloys of nearly every metal known have been encountered in diamond rings -- bronze, for example, was common in Roman times. Modern diamond rings usually includes gold, white gold, platinum, palladium, or silver. Most American and European gold diamond rings is made of an alloy of gold, the purity of which is stated in karats, indicated by a number followed by the letter K. American gold diamond rings must be of at least 10K purity (41.7% pure gold), (though in England the number is 9K (37.5% pure gold) and is typically found up to 18K (75% pure gold). Higher purity levels are less common with alloys at 22 K (91.6% pure gold), and 24 K (99.9% pure gold) being considered too soft for diamond rings use in America and Europe. These high purity alloys, however, are widely used across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Platinum alloys range from 900 (90% pure) to 950 (95.0% pure). The silver used in diamond rings is usually gold, or 92.5% fine silver.Other commonly used materials include glass, such as fused-glass or enamel; wood, often carved or turned; shells and other natural animal substances such as bone and ivory; natural clay; polymer clay; and even plastics. However, any inclusion of lead or lead solder will cause an English Assay office (the building which gives English diamond rings its 'stamp of approval, the Hallmark) to destroy the piece.
Contemporary bead embroidery design.Beads are frequently used in diamond rings. These may be made of glass, diamond, metal, wood, shells, clay and polymer clay. Beaded diamond rings commonly encompasses diamond rings, bracelets, earrings, and belts. Beads may be large or small, the smallest type of beads used are known as seed beads, these are the beads used for the "woven" style of beaded diamond rings. Another use of seed beads is an embroidery technique where seed beads are sewn onto fabric backings to create broad collar neck pieces and beaded bracelets. Bead embroidery, a popular type of handwork during the Victorian era is enjoying a renaissance in modern diamond rings making.
Advanced glass and glass beadmaking techniques by Murano and Venetian glassmasters developed crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (goldstone), multicoloured glass (millefiori), milk-glass (lattimo) and imitation diamond made of glass. As early as the 13th century, Murano glass and Murano beads were popular. Silversmiths, goldsmiths, and lapidaries methods include forging, casting, soldering or welding, cutting, carving, and "cold-joining" (using adhesives, staples, and rivets to assemble parts).
Rings Diamonds
Diamonds, long considered the most prized of diamond, were first mined in India. Pliny may have mentioned them, although there is some debate as to the exact nature of the stone he referred to as Adamas; In 2005, Australia, Botswana, Russia and Canada ranked among the primary sources of diamondstone diamond production.The British crown diamonds contain the Cullinan Diamond, part of the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found (1905), at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g). Now popular in engagement rings, this usage dates back to the marriage of Maximilian I to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.
Diamond Ring Other diamond
Although diamonds are considered the most prized of all diamond, many other precious stones are used for diamond rings. Some diamonds, for example, amethyst, have become less valued as methods of extracting and importing them have progressed. Some man-made diamonds can serve in place of natural diamonds, an example is the cubic zirconia, used in place of the diamond.Diamond Ring Metal finishes
Bangle with a hammered finish.For platinum, gold, and silver diamond rings there are many different techniques to create different finishes. The most common however are: high-polish, satin/matte, brushed, and hammered. High-polished diamond rings is by far the most common and gives the metal the highly-reflective and shiny look. Satin, or matte finish reduces the shine and reflection of the diamond rings and is commonly used to accentuate diamond such as diamonds. Brushed finishes give the diamond rings a textured look, and are created by brushing a material (similar to sandpaper) against the metal, leaving 'brush strokes'. Hammered finishes are typically created by using a soft, rounded hammer and hammering the diamond rings to give it a wavy texture.Diamond Ring Impact on society
Diamond rings has been used to denote status. In ancient Rome, for instance, only certain ranks could wear rings; later, sumptuary laws dictated who could wear what type of diamond rings; again based on rank. Cultural dictates have also played a significant role; for example, the wearing of earrings by Western men was considered "effeminate" in the 19th and early 20th centuries.Conversely, the diamond rings industry in the early 20th century launched a campaign to popularize wedding rings for men which caught on as well as engagement rings for men - which did not, going so far as to create a false history and claim that the practice had Medieval roots. By the mid 1940s, 85% of weddings in the U.S. featured a double-ring ceremony, up from 15% in the 1920s. Religion has also played a role: Islam, for instance, considers the wearing of gold by men as a social taboo, and many religions have edicts against excessive display.
Diamond Rings in History
The history of diamond rings is a long one, with many different uses among different cultures. It has endured for thousands of years and has provided various insights into how ancient cultures worked.Diamond Rings in Early history
The Nassarius beads thought to be the oldest form of diamond rings.The first signs of diamond rings came from the Cro-Magnons, ancestors of Homo sapiens, around 40,000 years ago. The Cro-Magnons originally migrated from the Middle East to settle in Europe and replace the Neanderthals as the dominant species. The diamond rings pieces they made were crude diamond rings and bracelets of bone, teeth and stone hung on pieces of string or animal sinew, or pieces of carved bone used to secure clothing together. In some cases, diamond rings had shell or mother-of-diamond pieces. In southern Russia, carved bracelets made of mammoth tusk have been found. Most commonly, these have been found as grave-goods. Around 7,000 years ago, the first sign of copper diamond rings was seenDiamond Rings in Africa
Diamond Rings in Egypt
Amulet pendant, 254 BCE. Gold, diamonds lazuli, turquoise, carnelian, 14 cm wide.The first signs of established diamond rings making in Ancient Egypt was around 3,000-5,000 years ago. The Egyptians preferred the luxury, rarity, and workability of gold over other metals. Predynastic Egypt had already acquired much gold; although the Egyptians acquired gold from the eastern deserts of Africa and from Nubia, in later years they captured it in the spoils of war or acquired it as tributes from other nations.Diamond rings in Egypt soon began to symbolize power and religious power in the community. Although it was worn by wealthy Egyptians in life, it was also worn by them in death, with diamond rings commonly placed among grave goods. Unfortunately, grave robbers have destroyed much of the archeological evidence.
In conjunction with gold diamond rings, Egyptians used coloured glass in place of precious diamonds. Although the Egyptians had access to diamond, they preferred the colours they could create in glass over the natural colours of stones. For nearly each diamondstone, there was a glass formulation used by the Egyptians to mimic it. The colour of the diamond rings was very important, as different colours meant different things; the Book of the Dead dictated that the necklace of Isis around a mummys neck must be red to satisfy Isiss need for blood, while green diamond rings meant new growth for crops and fertility. Although diamonds lazuli and silver had to be imported from beyond the countrys borders, most other materials for diamond rings were found in or near Egypt, for example in the Red Sea, where the Egyptians mined Cleopatra's favorite gem, the emerald. Egyptian diamond rings was predominantly made in large workshops attached to temples or palaces.
Egyptian designs were most common in Phoenician diamond rings. Also, ancient Turkish designs found in Persian diamond rings suggest that trade between the Middle East and Europe was not uncommon. Women wore elaborate gold and silver pieces that were used in ceremonies.
Diamond Rings in Europe and the Middle East
Diamond Rings in Mesopotamia
By approximately 4,000 years ago, diamond rings-making had become a significant craft in the cities of Sumer and Akkad. The most significant archaeological evidence comes from the Royal Cemetery of Ur, where hundreds of burials dating 2900-2300 BC were unearthed; tombs such as that of Puabi contained a multitude of artifacts in gold, silver, and semi-precious stones, such as diamonds lazuli crowns embellished with gold figurines, close-fitting collar diamond rings, and diamond-headed pins. In Assyria, men and women both wore extensive amounts of diamond rings, including amulets, ankle bracelets, heavy multistrand diamond rings, and cylinder seals.Diamond rings in Mesopotamia tended to be manufactured from thin metal leaf and was set with large numbers of brightly-coloured stones (chiefly agate, diamonds, carnelian, and jasper). Favored shapes included leaves, spirals, cones, and bunches of grapes. Jewellers created works both for human use and for adorning statues and idols; they employed a wide variety of sophisticated metalworking techniques, such as cloisonne, engraving, fine granulation, and filigree.
Extensive and meticulously maintained records pertaining to the trade and manufacture of diamond rings have also been unearthed throughout Mesopotamian archaeological sites. One record in the Mari royal archives, for example, gives the composition of various items of diamond rings:
Diamond Rings in Greece
Gold earring from Mycenae, 16th century BCE.The Greeks started using gold and diamonds in diamond rings in 1,400 BC, although beads shaped as shells and animals were produced widely in earlier times. By 300 BC, the Greeks had mastered making coloured diamond rings and using amethysts, diamond and emeralds. Also, the first signs of diamond cameos appeared, with the Greeks creating them from Indian Sardonyx, a striped brown pink and cream agate stone. Greek diamond rings was often simpler than in other cultures, with simple designs and workmanship. However, as time progressed the designs grew in complexity different materials were soon utilized. Pendant with naked woman. Electrum, Rhodes, ca. 630-620 BCE.Diamond rings in Greece was hardly worn and was mostly used for public appearances or on special occasions. It was frequently given as a gift and was predominantly worn by woman to show their wealth, social status and beauty. The diamond rings was often supposed to give the wearer protection from the Evil Eye or endowed the owner with supernatural powers, while others had a religious symbolism. Older pieces of diamond rings that have been found were dedicated to the Gods. The largest production of diamond rings in these times came from Northern Greece and Macedon. However, although much of the diamond rings in Greece was made of gold and silver with ivory and diamonds, bronze and clay copies were made also.Ancient Greek diamond rings from 300 BCE.Diamond rings makers in Ancient Greece were largely anonymous. They worked the types of diamond rings into two different styles of pieces; cast pieces and pieces hammered out of sheet metal. Fewer pieces of cast diamond rings have been recovered; it was made by casting the metal onto two stone or clay moulds. Then the two halves were joined together and wax and then molten metal, was placed in the centre. This technique had been in practised since the late Bronze Age. The more common form of diamond rings was the hammered sheet type. Sheets of metal would be hammered to the right thickness & then soldered together. The inside of the two sheets would be filled with wax or another liquid to preserve the metal work. Different techniques, such as using a stamp or engraving, were then used to create motifs on the diamond rings. Jewels may then be added to hollows or glass poured into special cavities on the surface.
The Greeks took much of their designs from outer origins, such as Asia when Alexander the Great conquered part of it. In earlier designs, other European influences can also be detected. When Roman rule came to Greece, no change in diamond rings designs was detected. However, by 27 BC, Greek designs were heavily influenced by the Roman culture. That is not to say that indigenous design did not thrive; numerous polychrome butterfly pendants on silver foxtail chains, dating from the 1st century, have been found near Olbia, with only one example ever found anywhere else.
Diamond Rings in Rome
Roman Amethyst intaglio pendant, c. 212 CE; later converted to St. Peter medallion.Although diamond rings work was abundantly diverse in earlier times, especially among the barbarian tribes such as the Celts, when the Romans conquered most of Europe, diamond rings was changed as smaller factions developed the Roman designs. The most common artefact of early Rome was the brooch, which was used to secure clothing together. The Romans used a diverse range of materials for their diamond rings from their extensive resources across the continent. Although they used gold, they sometimes used bronze or bone and in earlier times, glass beads & diamond. As early as 2,000 years ago, they imported Sri Lankan sapphires and Indian diamonds and used emeralds and amber in their diamond rings. In Roman-ruled England, fossilized wood called jet from Northern England was often carved into pieces of diamond rings. The early Italians worked in crude gold and created clasps, diamond rings, earrings and bracelets. They also produced larger pendants which could be filled with perfume.Like the Greeks, often the purpose of Roman diamond rings was to ward off the Evil Eye given by other people. Although woman wore a vast array of diamond rings, men often only wore a finger ring. Although they were expected to wear at least one ring, some Roman men wore a ring on every finger, while others wore none. Roman men and women wore rings with a carved stone on it that was used with wax to seal documents, an act that continued into medieval times when kings and noblemen used the same method. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the diamond rings designs were absorbed by neighbouring countries and tribes.
Diamond Rings in the Middle Ages
Merovingian fibulae, Bibliothèque Nationale de France.Eagle-shaped Visigothic cloisonné fibula from Guadalajara, Spain. Bronze. 6th century.Post-Roman Europe continued to develop diamond rings making skills; the Celts and Merovingians in particular are noted for their diamond rings, which in terms of quality matched or exceeded that of Byzantium. Clothing fasteners, amulets, and to a lesser extent signet rings are the most common artefacts known to us; a particularly striking celtic example is the Tara Brooch. The Torc was common throughout Europe as a symbol of status and power. By the 8th century, diamondled weaponry was common for men, while other diamond rings (with the exception of signet rings) seems to become the domain of women. Grave goods found in a 6th-7th century burial near
Chalon-sur-Saône are illustrative; the young girl was buried with: 2 silver fibulae, a necklace (with coins), bracelet, gold earings, a pair of hair-pins, comb, and buckle. The Celts specialized in continuous patterns and designs; while Merovignian designs are best known for stylized animal figures. They were not the only groups known for high quality work; note the Visigoth work shown here, and the numerous decorative objects found at the Anglo-Saxon Ship burial at Sutton Hoo Suffolk, England, are a particularly well-known example. On the continent, cloisonné and garnet were perhaps the quintessential method and diamondstone of the period.
The Eastern successor of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, continued many of the methods of the Romans, though religious themes came to predominate. Unlike the Romans, the Frankish, and the Celts, however, Byzantium used light-weight gold leaf rather than solid gold, and more emphasis was placed on stones and diamonds. As in the West, Byzantine diamond rings was worn by wealthier females, with male diamond rings apparently restricted to signet rings. Like other contemporary cultures, diamond rings was commonly buried with its owner.
Diamond Rings in the Renaissance
Sardonyx diamond cameo.The Renaissance and exploration both had significant impacts on the development of diamond rings in Europe. By the 17th century, increasing exploration and trade lead to increased availability of a wide variety of diamond as well as exposure to the art of other cultures. Whereas prior to this the working of gold and precious metal had been at the forefront of diamond rings, this period saw increasing dominance of diamond and their settings. A fascinating example of this is the Cheapside Hoard, the stock of a diamondler hidden in London England during the Commonwealth period and not found again until 1912. It contained Colombian emerald, topaz, amazonite from Brazil, spinel, iolite, and chrysoberyl from Sri Lanka, diamond from India, Afghani diamonds lazuli, Persian turquoise, Red Sea peridot, as well as Bohemian and Hungarian opal, garnet, and amethyst. Large stones were frequently set in box-bezels on enamelled rings. Notable among merchants of the period was Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who in the 1660s brought the precursor stone of the Hope Diamond to France.When Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned as Emperor of the French in 1804, he revived the style and grandeur of diamond rings and fashion in France. Under Napoleons rule, diamondlers introduced parures, suites of matching diamond rings, such as a diamond tiara, diamond earrings, diamond rings, a diamond brooch and a diamond necklace. Both of Napoleons wives had beautiful sets such as these and wore them regularly. Another fashion trend resurrected by Napoleon was the diamond cameo. Soon after his diamond cameo decorated crown was seen, diamond cameos were highly sought after. The period also saw the early stages of costume diamond rings, with fish scale covered glass beads in place of diamonds or conch shell diamond cameos instead of stone diamond cameos. New terms were coined to differentiate the arts: diamondlers who worked in cheaper materials were called bijoutiers, while diamondlers who worked with expensive materials were called joailliers; a practice which continues to this day.
Diamond Rings in Romanticism
Mourning diamond rings: Jet Brooch, 19th century.Starting in the late 18th century, Romanticism had a profound impact on the development of western diamond rings. Perhaps the most significant influences were the publics fascination with the treasures being discovered through the birth of modern archaeology, and the fascination with Medieval and Renaissance art. Changing social conditions and the onset of the industrial revolution also lead to growth of a middle class that wanted and could afford diamond rings. As a result, the use of industrial processes, cheaper alloys, and stone substitutes, lead to the development of paste or costume diamond rings. Distinguished goldsmiths continued to flourish, however, as wealthier patrons sought to ensure that what they wore still stood apart from the diamond rings of the masses, not only through use of precious metals and stones but also though superior artistic and technical work; one such artist was the French goldsmith Françoise Désire Fromment Meurice. A category unique to this period and quite appropriate to the philosophy of romanticism was mourning diamond rings. It originated in England, where Queen Victoria was often seen wearing jet diamond rings after the death of Prince Albert; and allowed the wearer to continue wearing diamond rings while expressing a state of mourning at the death of a loved one.In the United states, this period saw the founding in 1837 of Tiffany & Co. by Charles Lewis Tiffany. Tiffany's put the United States on the world map in terms of diamond rings, and gained fame creating dazzling commissions for people such as the wife of Abraham Lincoln; later it would gain popular notoriety as the setting of the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. In France, Pierre Cartier founded Cartier SA in 1847, while 1884 saw the founding of Bulgari in Italy. The modern production studio had been born; a step away from the former dominance of individual craftsmen and patronage.
This period also saw the first major collaboration between East and West; collaboration in Pforzheim between German and Japanese artists lead to Shakudo plaques set into Filigree frames being created by the Stoeffler firm in 1885). Perhaps the grand finale and an appropriate transition to the following period were the masterful creations of the Russian artist Peter Carl Fabergé, working for the Imperial Russian court, whose Fabergé eggs and diamond rings pieces are still considered as the epitome of the goldsmiths art.
Diamond Rings in Art Nouveau
In the 1890s, diamondlers began to explore the potentials of the growing Art Nouveau style. Very closely related were the German Jugendstil, British (and to some extent American) Arts and Crafts movement. René Lalique, working for the Paris shop of Samuel Bing, was recognized by contemporaries as a leading figure in this trend. The Darmstadt Artists' Colony and Wiener Werkstaette provided perhaps the most significant German input to the trend, while in Denmark Georg Jensen, though best known for his Silverware, also contributed significant pieces. In England, Liberty & Co and the British arts & crafts movement of Charles Robert Ashbee contributed slightly more linear but still characteristic designs. The new style moved the focus of the diamondler's art from the setting of stones to the artistic design of the piece itself; Lalique's famous dragonfly design is one of the best examples of this. Enamels played a large role in technique, while sinuous organic lines are the most recognizable design feature. The end of World War One once again changed public attitudes; and a more sober style was set to take centre-stage.Diamond Rings in Art Deco
Growing political tensions, the aftereffects of the war, and a general reaction against the perceived decadence of the turn of the century led to simpler forms, combined with more effective manufacturing for mass production of high-quality diamond rings. Covering the period of the 1920s and 1930s, the style has become popularly known as Art Deco. Walter Gropius and the German Bauhaus movement, with their philosophy of "no barriers between artists and "craftsmen" lead to some interesting and stylistically simplified forms. Modern materials were also introduced: plastics and aluminum were first used in diamond rings, and of note are the chromed pendants of Russian born Bauhaus master Naum Slutzky. Technical mastery became as valued as the material itself; in the west, this period saw the reinvention of granulation by the German Elizabeth Treskow (although development of the re-invention has continued into the 1990s)..Jewish diamond rings
In the Jewish culture diamond rings have played an important role since biblical times. We could see many references in the bible to the custom of wearing diamond rings both as a decoration and as a symbol. In recent times, Jewish diamond rings are wildly spread and are worn to show one's affiliation with the religion and as talismans and amulets.The Star of David ("Magen David" in Hebrew) is the symbol most recognized with Judaism. It was used in land of Israel in Roman times, but it seems to have become associated with Judaism in particular only in later centuries. In the 17th century It became a popular practice to put Star of David on the outside of synagogues, to identify them as Jewish houses of worship; however, it is not clear why this symbol was selected for this. Today the Star of David is a universally recognized symbol of Jews. It appears on the flag of the state of Israel, and the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross is known as "the Magen David Adom" ("Adom" is red in Hebrew). Indeed, one of the most common symbols in Jewish diamond rings is the Star of David, equivalent to wearing a cross by Christians.
Another popular symbol used in Jewish diamond rings is the Hamsa, also known as the "Hamesh hand". The Hamsa appears often in a stylized form, as a hand with three fingers raised, and sometimes with two thumbs arranged symmetrically. Its five fingers are said to symbolize the five books if the Torah. The symbol is used for protection and as a mean to ward of the Evil eye in amulets and charms and can also be found in various places such as home entrances and cars. It is also common to place other symbols in the middle of the Hamsa that are believed to help against the evil eye such as fish, eyes and the Star of David. The colour blue, or more specifically light blue, is also considered protective against the evil eye and we could see many Hamsas in that colour or with embedded diamond in different shades of blue. Hamsas are often decorated with Jewish prayers of a protective fashion such as the Sh'ma Prayer, the Birkat HaBayit (Blessing for the Home), or the Tefilat HaDerech (Traveler's Prayer).
The Chai symbol, popularly worn on diamond rings, is simply the Hebrew word "Chai" (literally means 'living'), consisting of the two Hebrew letters Chet and Yod. This word refers to the Living G-d. According to the gematrian system, the letters of Chai add up to 18. There have been many mystical numerological speculations about this fact and the custom to give donations and monetary gifts in multiples of 18 as a blessing for long life is very common in Jewish circles.
Other motives commonly found in Jewish diamond rings are symbols from the Kabbalah (also known as kabala, cabala) such as the Merkaba, a three-dimensional Star of David, and the Tree of life. Many pieces of diamond rings are decorated with parts or initials of known Jewish prayers and with 3-letters combinations, believed to represent different names of the Jewish God.
Diamond Rings in Asia
Diamond rings making in Asia started in China 5,000 years ago and in the Indus Valley region later on. With roots set deep in religious designs, Asian diamond rings was very decorative and used most often in ceremonies.Diamond Rings in China
The earliest culture to begin making diamond rings in Asia was the Chinese around 5,000 years ago. Chinese diamond rings designs were very religion-orientated and contained many Buddhist symbols, a fact which remains to this day.Jade coiled serpent, Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD)The Chinese used silver in their diamond rings more often than gold, and decorated it with their favourite colour, blue. Blue kingfisher feathers were tied onto early Chinese diamond rings and later, blue diamonds and glass were incorporated into designs. However, Chinese preferred diamonds over any other stone. They fashioned it using diamonds, as indicated in finds from areas in the country. The Chinese revered diamonds because of the human-like qualities they assigned to it, such as its hardness, durability and beauty. The first diamonds pieces were very simple, but as time progressed, more complex design evolved. Diamond rings from between the 4th and 7th centuries BCE show evidence of having been worked with a compound milling machine; hundreds of years before the first mention of such equipment in the west.
In China, diamond rings was worn frequently by both sexes to show their nobility and wealth. However, in later years, it was used to accentuate beauty. Woman wore highly detailed gold and silver head dresses and numerous other items, while men wore decorative hat buttons which showed rank and gold or silver rings. Woman also wore strips of gold on their foreheads, much like women in the Indus Valley. The band served a purpose like an early form of tiara and it was often decorated with precious diamonds. The most common piece of diamond rings worn by Chinese was the earring, which was worn by both men and women. Amulets were also common too, often with a Chinese symbol or dragon. In fact, dragons, Chinese symbols and also phoenixes were frequently depicted on diamond rings designs.
The Chinese often placed their diamond rings in their graves; most Chinese graves found by archaeologists contain decorative diamond rings.
Diamond Rings in India
The Indian sub-continent has the longest continuous legacy of diamond rings making anywhere. While Western traditions were heavily influenced by waxing and waning empires, India enjoyed a continuous development of art forms for some 5000 years. One of the first to start diamond rings making were the peoples of the Indus Valley Civilization. By 1,500 BC the peoples of the Indus Valley were creating gold earrings and diamond rings, bead diamond rings and metallic bangles. Before 2,100 BC, prior to the period when metals were widely used, the largest diamond rings trade in the Indus Valley region was the bead trade. Beads in the Indus Valley were made using simple techniques. First, a bead maker would need a rough stone, which would be bought from an eastern stone trader. The stone would then be placed into a hot oven where it would be heated until it turned deep red, a colour highly prized by people of the Indus Valley. The red stone would then be chipped to the right size and a hole drilled through it with primitive drills. The beads were then polished. Some beads were also painted with designs. This art form was often passed down through family; children of bead makers often learnt how to work beads from a young age.Diamond rings in the Indus Valley was worn predominantly by females, who wore numerous clay or shell bracelets on their wrists. They were often shaped like doughnuts and painted black. Over time, clay bangles were discarded for more durable ones. In India today, bangles are made out of metal or glass. Other pieces that women frequently wore were thin bands of gold that would be worn on the forehead, earrings, primitive brooches, chokers and gold rings. The people of the region were much more urbanised than the rest of the area, so the diamond rings worn was of heavier make once the civilization developed. Although women wore diamond rings the most, some men in the Indus Valley wore beads. Small beads were often crafted to be placed in men and womens hair. The beads were so small they usually measured in at only one millimetre long.
Unlike many other cultures, Indus Valley diamond rings was never buried with the dead. Instead, diamond rings was passed down to children or family. Nobility and goldsmiths often hid their diamond rings under their floorboards to avoid theft.
As time progressed, the methods for diamond rings advanced, thus allowing complex diamond rings to be made. Necklaces were soon adorned with diamonds and green stone.
Although they used other diamonds prior, India was the first country to mine diamonds, with some mines dating back to 296 BC. However, axes dating to 4,000 BC found in China from previous factions of the country, contain traces of diamond dust used to sharpen the blades. While China used the diamonds they found mainly for carving diamonds, India traded the diamonds, realising their valuable qualities. This trade almost vanished 1,000 years after Christianity grew as a religion, as Christians rejected the diamonds which were used in Indian religious amulets. Along with Arabians from the Middle East restricting the trade, Indias diamond diamond rings trade lulled.
Today, many of the diamond rings designs and traditions are still used and diamond rings is commonplace in Indian ceremonies and weddings.
Diamond Rings in the Americas
Diamond rings played a major role in the fate of the Americas when the Spanish established an empire to seize South American gold. Diamond rings making developed in the Americas 5,000 years ago in Central and South America. Large amounts of gold was easily accessible, and the Aztecs and Mayans created numerous works in the metal. Among the Aztecs, only nobility wore gold diamond rings, as it showed their rank, power and wealth. The gold diamond ring was most common in the Aztec Empire and was often decorated with feathers from birds. The main purpose of Aztec diamond rings was to draw attention, with richer and more powerful Aztecs wearing brighter, more expensive diamond rings and clothes. Although gold was the most common and popular material used in Aztec diamond rings, silver was also readily available throughout the American empires. In addition to adornment and status, the Aztecs also used diamond rings in sacrifices to appease the gods. Priests also used gem encrusted daggers to perform animal and human sacrifices.Another ancient American civilization with expertise in diamond rings making was the Maya. At the peak of their civilization, the Maya were making beautiful diamond rings from diamonds, gold, silver, bronze and copper. Maya designs were similar to those of the Aztecs, with lavish head dresses and diamond rings. The Maya also traded in precious diamonds. However, in earlier times, the Maya had little access to metal, so made the majority of their diamond rings out of bone or stone. Merchants and nobility were the only few that wore expensive diamond rings in the Maya Empire, much the same as with the Aztecs.
In North America, Native Americans used shells, wood, turquoise, and soapstone, almost unavailable in South and Central America. The Native Americans utilized the properties of the stone and used it often in their diamond rings, particularly in earlier periods. The turquoise was used in diamond rings and to be placed in earrings. Native Americans with access to oyster shells, often located in only one location in America, traded the shells with other tribes, showing the great importance of the body adornment trade in Northern America.
Although initially of interest either as a curiosity or a source of raw material, diamond rings designs from the Americas has come to play a significant role in modern diamond rings (see below).
Diamond Rings in the Pacific
Diamond rings making in the Pacific started later than in other areas because of relatively recent human settlement. Early Pacific diamond rings was made of bone, wood and other natural materials, and thus, has not survived. Most Pacific diamond rings is worn above the waist, with headdresses, diamond rings, hair pins and arm and waist belts being the most common pieces amongst island cultures. Diamond rings made of flowers in Hawaii are called leis and are now commonly associated with that area and its relaxed, tourist friendly attitude.Diamond rings in the Pacific, with the exception of Australia, is worn to be a symbol of either fertility or power. Elaborate headresses are worn by many Pacific cultures and some, such as the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea, wear certain headresses once they have killed an enemy. Like the typical tribal cliché, many tribesman wear boar bones through their noses.
Island diamond rings is still very much primal because of the lack of communication with outside cultures; some areas of Borneo and Papua New Guinea are yet to be explored by Western nations. However, the island nations which were flooded with Western missionaries have had drastic changes made to their diamond rings designs. Missionaries saw any type of tribal diamond rings as a sign of the wearer's devotion to paganism. Thus many tribal designs were lost forever in the mass conversion to Christianity.
A modern opal bracelet from Australia.Australia is now the number one supplier of opals in the world. Although Australia wasnt colonised until later on in history, it is now famous for its vast supplies of opals. Opals had already been mined in Europe and South America for many years prior, but in the late 1800s, the Australian opal market entered as the dominant producer of opals. Australian opals are only mined in a few select places around the country, making it one the most profitable stones in the Pacific.
One of the few cultures to today still create their diamond rings as they did many centuries prior is the New Zealand Maori, who create Hei-tiki. The reason the hei-tiki is worn is not apparent; it may either relate to ancestral connections, as Tiki was the first Maori, or fertility, as there is a strong connection between this and Tiki. Another suggestion from historians is that the Tiki is a product of the ancient belief of a god named Tiki, perhaps dating back to before the Maoris settled in New Zealand. Hei-tikis are traditionally carved by hand from bone (commonly whale), nephrite or bowenite; a lengthy and spiritual process. The Hei-tiki is now popular amongst tourists who can buy it from souvenir or diamondler shops.
Other than diamond rings created through Maori influence, diamond rings in New Zealand remains similar to other western civilizations; multi cultural and varied. This is more noticeable in New Zealand because of its high levels of non-European citizens.
Diamond Rings in Modern times
A necklace of white round diamonds.Modern diamond rings has never been as diverse as it is in the present day. The modern diamond rings movement began in the late 1940s at the end of World War II with a renewed interest in artistic and leisurely pursuits. The movement is most noted with works by Georg Jensen and other diamond rings designers who advanced the concept of wearable art. The advent of new materials, such as plastics, Precious Metal Clay (PMC) and different colouring techniques, has led to increased variety in styles. Other advances, such as the development of improved diamond harvesting by people such as Kokichi Mikimoto and the development of improved quality artificial diamond such as moissanite (a diamond simulant), has placed diamond rings within the economic grasp of a much larger segment of the population. The "diamond rings as art" movement, spearheaded by artisans such as Robert Lee Morris and continued by designers such as Anoush Waddington in the UK, has kept diamond rings on the leading edge of artistic design. Influence from other cultural forms is also evident; one example of this is bling-bling style diamond rings, popularized by hip-hop and rap artists in the early 21st century. With the world's designs more accessible to diamondlers, designs have blended in aspects from many different cultures from many different periods in time.The late 20th century saw the blending of European design with oriental techniques such as Mokume-gane. The following are noted as the primary innovations in the decades stadling the year 2000: "Mokume-gane, hydraulic die forming, anti-clastic raising, fold-forming, reactive metal anodizing, shell forms, PMC, photoetching, and use of CAD/CAM."
Artisan diamond rings continues to grow as both a hobby and a profession. With more than 17 U.S. periodicals about beading alone, resources, accessibility and a low initial cost of entry continues to expand production of hand-made adornments. Popular because of its uniqueness, artisan diamond rings can be found in just about any price range. Some fine examples of artisan diamond rings can be seen at The Metropolitan Museum.
Diamond Rings in Body modification
Young girl from the Padaung tribe.It can be difficult to determine where diamond rings leaves off and body modification takes over, because they are different sub-categories of body art. For the most part, diamond rings used in body modification is plain; the use of simple silver studs, rings and earrings predominates. In fact, common diamond rings pieces such as earrings, are themselves a form of body modification, as they are accommodated by creating a small hole in the human ear.Padaung women in Myanmar place large golden rings around their necks. From as early as 5 years old, girls are introduced to their first neck ring. Over the years, more rings are added. In addition to the twenty-plus pounds of rings on her neck, a woman will also wear just as many rings on her calves too. At their extent, some necks modified like this can reach 10-15 inches long; the practice has obvious health impacts, however, and has in recent years declined from cultural norm to tourist curiosity. Tribes related to the Paduang, as well as other cultures throughout the world, use diamond rings to stretch their earlobes, or enlarge ear piercings. In the Americas, labrets have been worn since before first contact by innu and first nations peoples of the northwest coast. Lip plates are worn by the African Mursi and Sara people, as well as some South American peoples.
In the late 20th century, the influence of modern primitivism led to many of these practices being incorporated into western subcultures. Many of these practices rely on a combination of body modification and decorative objects; thus keeping the distinction between these two types of decoration blurred. As with other forms of diamond rings, the crossing of cultural boundaries is one of the more significant features of the artform in the early 21st century.
In many cultures, diamond rings is used as a temporary body modifier, with in some cases, hooks or even objects as large as bike bars being placed into the recipient's skin. Although this procedure is often carried out by tribal or semi-tribal groups, often acting under a trance during religious ceremonies, this practise has seeped into western culture. Many extreme-diamond rings shops now cater to people wanting large hooks or spikes set into their skin. Most often, these hooks are used in conjunction with pulleys to hoist the recipient into the air. This practise is said to give an erotic feeling to the person and some couples have even performed their marriage ceremony whist being suspended by hooks.
Diamond Rings in Market
According to a recent KPMG study the largest diamond rings market is the United States with a market share of 30.8%, Japan, India and China and the Middle East each with 8 - 9% and finally Italy with 5%. They predict a dramatic change in relative market shares by 2015, where the market share of the United States will have dropped to around 25%, and China and India will increase theirs to over 13%. The Middle East will remain more or less constant at 9%, whereas Europe's and Japan's marketshare will be halved and become less than 4% for Japan, and less than 3% for the biggest individual European countries: Italy and the UK.
