Diamond is the queen of precious stones and is the ultimate gemstone. Diamond is the birthstone of those born in April and is considered to be flawless. It is the most expensive precious stone available and diamond jewelry is exotic. It is almost impossible to imagine that the beautiful diamond is a form of carbon. It is the hardest stone available and is far harder than any other gemstone. Diamonds come in a wide color range. They have low reactivity to chemicals and are good conductors of heat. They are much sought after for their rarity and durability.

Diamond jewelry has created a special place for itself in engagements and weddings, in the form of diamond engagement rings and wedding rings. These are the traditional choice for brides and grooms. Beginning a life together with an untarnished diamond is considered to strengthen the bond.

Diamond jewelry has been valued and worn throughout most of recorded history, although the art and science of cutting loose diamonds is relatively new – and diamond jewelry has only been available to the general public for the last 150 years or so.
The mid-1500′s were an energetic time; Martin Luther of Germany and Henry VIII of England had broken with the Church of Rome; Ivan IV (the Terrible) expanded Russia to its present-day borders, and Ottoman sultan Suleiman extended the Turkish empire as far west as Vienna. It was during this time of ferment that the first diamond-cutters’ guild was formed in Antwerp, located in present-day Belgium. An industry soon developed for the purpose of appraising loose diamonds, giving birth to the modern diamond jewelry market. Antwerp continues to be the center of the international diamond jewelry trade.