If you’re hoping to add a diamond or two to your already sparkling life, it may help to know a little about the most famous diamonds on earth. Unbelievably there are diamond stones that get as much, if not more attention, than many of today’s top global news stories.

One of the most notorious of these famous diamonds is the Blue Hope. Weighting in at an impressive 45.52 carats, this magnificent stone arrived from India and remains one of the most famous diamonds in the world. When the diamond was purchased in 1668, it was common to purchase loose diamonds in this way however, the exquisite stone was set in gold and suspended on what was then a neck ribbon and given as a gift to King Louis XIV. The King wore his beloved French Blue neck ribbon to special occasions and ceremonies however, during the French Revolution, the unforgettable stone was stolen.

It is thought that the diamond was eventually purchased in the early 1800s by an English King but sold in 1830 when he died. The diamond was purchased by Henry Philip Hope, from which the stone got its name. Unfortunately the diamond was deemed a stone of bad luck due to the entire Hope family dying in poverty.

The diamond continued to change hands and ownership for numerous years, bearing stories of its bad luck on entire families.  The stone was eventually donated to the Smithsonian Institution by Harry Winston of New York where it remains a premier attraction.

More famous than even the deadly Blue Hope diamond, the Koh-I-Noor or Mountain of Light was discovered at 186 carats. This oval cut diamond is said to be dated before the time of Christ. It was said that the person who possessed the Koh-I-Noor diamond also ruled the world. It changed many hands from its first documentation in 1304 until 1850 when it was presented to Queen Victoria by the East India Company.

It was displayed at the Crystal Palace for several years to the disappointment on onlookers who simply didn’t see a sparkle. This caused Queen Victoria to have the diamond re-cut, which reduced it to its current size of 105.60 carats. The brilliant, sparkling stone was used as the centre piece for her new crown however, in 1937 the stone was removed and placed on display in the Tower of London with the many other British jewels.

The mother of all loose diamonds is the Cullinan Diamond. Discovered rough at 3,106 carats, it remains the largest gem-quality diamond ever discovered. Mined in South Africa in 1905, this massive stone weighted 1 1/3 pounds and became notable for its outstanding purity and color.

The massive diamond was purchased by the Transvaal Government and given as a gift to King Edward VII of England in 1907. King Edward eventually sent the stone off to be cut and within several months, Amsterdam’s Asscher Diamond Company has produced nine major diamonds, two of which were given to the Royal Family. Aside from the nine large diamonds were another 96 smaller loose diamonds of brilliant cuts.

It seems when it comes to jewels, diamonds and celebrities go hand in hand. It is on celebrities that we see many stunning pieces of jaw-dropping designs in the form of diamond earrings, diamond rings, diamond necklaces and exquisite diamond pendants. No matter who wears it or where we happen to see it, beautiful jewelry that adorn the rich and famous are often admired and envied by everyone.

Regular folk such as us also keep an eye on celebrities for their unique choice of round diamond engagement rings. From modern actresses to past starlets, beautiful diamonds get as much notice as the person wearing them.

If you’re a fan of celebrities wild for jewelry you’re probably aware of some of the more well-known collectors who have an eye, and bank account, for the finer things in life. Take for example, leading ladies such as Jackie Onassis, Ivanka Trump, Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. To this list you can also add Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Catherine Zeta Jones, Gloria Swanson, Katie Holms and Gwyneth Paltrow, to name a few of the more notorious diamond-loving celebrities.

You may already know that it was Marilyn Monroe who sang the famous song, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend. Oddly enough, this stunning Hollywood actress did not own many jewels herself but she most certainly knew how to add an extra sparkle to them when she wore them. One of her most memorable pieces was a 24-carat pear shaped yellow diamond in her photo, The Moon of Baroda.

Other famous faces with a taste for sparkling glamour include the late Brittney Murphy. She too was a fan of yellow diamonds, which was to be the first of two engagement rings from her fiancé. This 5-carat diamond was adorned by a ring of smaller diamonds for an extra touch. Her second engagement ring was a stunning 6.5-carats. This beautiful cushion cut stone was cut to rest on a diamond-studded band.

Another famous engagement ring included that of Selita Ebanks who was presented with a gorgeous cushion cut 15-carat diamond. Although the engagement didn’t last, the diamond sure has.

How could anyone forget the incredible 19^th century, 150-carat choker diamond necklace worn by Nicole Kidman to the Oscars? No wonder she too, sang the famous song, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend!

Of course Elizabeth Taylor was as known for her passion of diamonds as much as she was known for her movies. She made no attempt to hide her obsession for the beautiful stones but instead, became rather famous for owning some of the most spectacular stones on earth.

The starlet actress and her adorning husbands kept her draped in diamonds, so much so, that several of the most famous diamonds were known to belong to her. One of these magnificent stones was the 33.19-carat Asscher cut Krupp Diamond that she received as a gift from Richard Burton in 1968. She wore this magnificent diamond ring everywhere she went. Elizabeth Taylor was also gifted with the Taj Mahal diamond for her 40^th birthday as well as, what became known as the Taylor / Burton diamond. This monster 69.42-carat was cut pear shaped rated as D-color; flawless!

It can be a daunting task for a man but choosing the perfect diamond engagement ring is important. Actually, whether you’re looking to buy engagement rings, diamond earrings or diamond pendants, the end choice is always an important one. The piece you choose should match the person for whom it is intended.

If your loved one is reserved they may appreciate a smaller diamond, perhaps sparkling stud earrings instead of heavy flowing pieces that dangle. If the person receiving the diamonds is a modern women, then she may love the choice of colored diamonds.

Choosing the right diamond for the occasion is not as difficult at one may think. Give a little thought into the type of person you are buying for. You can decide from there if the engagement ring should be large enough to be mistaken for a nighttime lighthouse, or if a more conservative engagement ring is better suited.

It is not out of the ordinary for modern couples to shop for round engagement rings together. As a matter of fact, it can take a load of worry off the man and ensure the women gets a ring she likes. By purchasing your rings together, you can also choose rings that will eventually match when you are both wearing your wedding bands.

Tips to choosing

Cost: It has often been said that a man should spend one or two month’s salary on an engagement ring. This conventional wisdom, although still a guideline for many, is not a rule that is set in stone. It is however, still used as a guideline.

Setting: It is a good idea to select a setting before heading out the door. To do this you can go on the Internet and get a feel for what choices will lay ahead of you at a jewellery store. Common choices include pave setting, classic solitaire, tension setting, settings with sidestones and even three-stone settings. You will also quickly learn that most shops also offer their own take on settings. Truth be told, your choices are only limited by your budget.

The four Cs: You will need to learn, even if only a little, about the all-important four Cs of diamond shopping. This includes cut, carat, clarity and color. If buying a diamond will be a one-time event, you can learn about these things on the Internet or in person at a reputable jewellery shop. Most shops will have charts that are very helpful with the four Cs. You will be able to see the difference in a diamond’s attributes by its shape. Oval, pear, heart shaped, marquise or round diamond engagement rings will each reflect differently due to their shape.

Metal: Having an idea of the type of metal she will like is also helpful and will tone down the choices once you start shopping. Diamond engagement rings are normally made of white gold, yellow gold or platinum, the latter being the most expensive. Platinum has tarnishing resistant abilities, a great quality, but it is also the most expensive for repairs.

No matter what your future wife loves, you can always surprise her with an outstanding Diamond engagement ring that she will absolutely love!

You do not need a special occasion or any valid reason to buy diamonds. Purchasing loose diamonds, diamond pendants or even diamond earrings should be considered an investment and not considered frivolous spending.

Purchasing diamonds to create your own personalized pieces is an ideal way to create special memories. A pair of beautiful diamond earrings can be given as a priceless gift for a special event. Diamond earrings can be passed down as family heirlooms.

Engagements are a common reason many men purchase diamonds. Searching for perfect engagement rings can be a time consuming and daunting task if you are not sure what to look for in a diamond.

If you find yourself searching for diamonds and are unsure where to begin, there are a few things you should know ahead of time. Understanding what to look for and why you are looking for these characteristics will help you to choose the perfect diamond, regardless of what you want to use it for.

Uses

Diamonds are incredibly versatile and are used for numerous purposes, including everything from fashion to industrial uses. Due to their hardness, they are virtually indestructible, which makes them ideal for use in applications such as abrasives in diamond slurries and drilling bits to drill holes into hard stone.

Due to their natural reflective qualities, diamonds are used in products such as x-ray machines for their high light dispersion. They are also used in manufacturing electronics for their impressively high thermal conductivity.

Aside from jewellery, diamonds are also often used to decorate collectable pieces of art and enhance areas where gold, silver and platinum are the surrounding metals. They are used this way for their high refractive index. Certain diamonds possess the natural quality to move light like a prism, causing it to spread and blend and displaying colors of the rainbow.

These factors are important to understand when you are choosing a diamond for yourself because you will want to make sure the diamond you choose possesses these same qualities of hardness, clarity and light refraction. It is these very same qualities that give a diamond its value.

Buying

It’s helpful to know ahead of time the size and shape or grade cut of the diamond you are looking to buy. This will help narrow down your search choices a great deal.

When someone refers to the carat of a diamond, they are referring to the weight of the diamond. Carat size is one of the largest factors on what your chosen diamond will cost. Typical diamond engagement rings can range from .5 carat up to 2 or more carats. The size is up to you.

Clarity is another factor that will determine the cost of your diamond. The more clear the stone, the more it will cost. Diamond clarity is rated on charts called clarity guides that can be found at any reputable jeweler. Diamonds rated VS2 or higher are normally flawless.

Color is another factor that you will need to consider. Although most people cannot detect one color grade from another, the price difference is significant nonetheless. Diamonds ranked in the D-F range are the clearest while stones in the G-I range still offer a colorless look for a much lower cost.

If you are going to buy a ring for your loved one, you should seriously consider round diamond engagement rings. But new buyers and diamond laypeople don’t exactly know how to buy the right diamond engagement ring. We are going to discuss some common myths related to buying round diamond engagement rings.

Here are some most common myths related to buying diamonds:

• Bigger means better
• More facets means superior quality
• Diamond grading is the best way to find out which diamond is the most beautiful
• Ideal cut is the best

Bigger means better

Yes, large diamonds do have a wow factor, but only if their quality is good. But actually, the value, beauty, and quality of a diamond have got nothing much to do with size. If you get a big diamond with low quality, it will be lusterless and low grade. It might have poor color, visible inclusions, or low clarity. But ever worse- it might be badly cut. But anyway, if size is an essential requirement for you, try to find the largest diamond that is also high on quality.

More facets means superior quality

There are many brands that boast of their superiority because they use more diamond facets. Of course diamond facets are there to steal the maximum amount of light and then bounce it from one facet to another so that it reflects the maximum, but it is not always true that more facets create more sparkle. Instead of the number of facets, you should be concerned about the precision and skill that is put in making those facets. If facet pattern isn’t made with faultless symmetry, light does not bounce off right.

Diamond grading is the best way to find out which diamond is the most beautiful

Diamond grading is indeed an important factor when you buy a diamond. But grading should be used as just a guideline rather than as a final decision maker. When it comes to making the final decision about diamond engagement rings, let your eyes be the last judge because your loved one needs to wear a beautiful diamond, not a grading report.

Ideal cut is the best

Round diamond engagement rings are called ideal when they are cut to certain proportions that were decided way back in early 20^th century. Proportions were measured and decided to get the best light dispersion from a diamond. But there is no actual industry agreement that says what kind of cut should be used on round diamond engagement rings. The ideal cut was popular many, many years ago, but over the decades, it just lost its charm. There are new cuts now that reflect light in many ways, and they utilize latest technology.