Nguni
Hides
Jewel
Africa’s African Emporium stocks a number
of beautiful and much sought-after Nguni hides that are also
highly functional and often used as “rugs” or
furniture coverings both for their decorative beauty
and warmth.
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Tantalizing
Tanzanite
Tanzanite
is a unique gemstone discovered as recently as 1967 that is
found in only one place in the world - the small mining town
of Arutia situated at the foothills of Mount Kilamanjaro in
Tanzania...
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Choosing
a Diamond |
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More
about Diamonds
Diamonds are found in many parts of the world, but South Africa
has produced some of the largest, best quality, and most famous
diamonds known to man… The Cullinan, Eureka, Star of
South Africa, Niarchos, Premier Rose, Taylor-Burton, Tiffany,
De Beers Millenium Star, and Jubilee are but a few. These
diamonds are now displayed in magnificent settings such as
the Thai and British Crown Jewels, and the private collections
of film stars and business magnates. |
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Diamonds
have been celebrated and revered since antiquity… they
are the hardest of all gemstones and the name comes from the
Latin word “adamas” meaning invincible. In Ancient
Times it was believed that diamonds may be splinters of stars
fallen to earth, tears of the gods, or perhaps crystallized
lightening. Diamonds were worn into battle by kings as a symbol
of strength and courage, and kept as a talisman against poisoning,
devils, and phantoms. The history of diamonds is steeped in
romance, fame, grandeur and misfortune. The birthstone for
April, diamond is said to encourage self-confidence and symbolise
wisdom, enlightenment and purity. It provides protection,
preserves peace and gives power, wealth and happiness to the
wearer. |
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Diamonds
are one of the most valuable and fascinating natural products
found on Earth… here are a few fascinating diamond
facts:
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Diamonds
were formed deep within the Earth’s crust under
intense heat and pressure billions of years ago. Some
were even brought to earth in meteorites from outer
space. |
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They
are the hardest gemstone, more than a thousand times
harder than an emerald. They are, in fact, the hardest
natural substance known to man. |
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This
hardness is a result of their high density, and it’s
this density that makes them so brilliant - light passes
through them more slowly, refracting as it passes from
the air into and out of the diamond. |
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Diamonds also have the ability to separate (disperse)
light into the colours of the rainbow, so that when
properly cut, they produce more fire and brilliance
than other gemstones |
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Although
diamonds are found in many locations in the world, they
are expensive to mine. In fact, diamonds are the lowest-volume
highest-value product on earth - the average yield is
a handful of gem-quality diamonds from a pile of ore
the size of a house. |
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When
a diamond is cut from the rough, approximately half
the weight of the original stone is lost. |
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On
average, it takes an experienced craftsman a full
day to cut and polish 58 facets onto a one carat stone.
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A diamond cutter undergoes four years of training to
become skilled at his craft, and it takes almost double
that time to become a master cutter. |
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How
to Choose a Diamond
The
4 C’s and the value of your diamond...
 What
makes one diamond more valuable than another? Well, the
answer is simple: the entire industry, world-wide, uses
the 4 C’s as the guide. Each of these - cut,
colour, clarity and carat,
are considered when evaluating a diamond.
Carat
The weight or mass of the diamond is measured in carats
(5 carats = 1 gram). A carat is divided into 100 points,
so that a 25 point diamond is ¼ of a carat. Size
is the most obvious factor in determining the value of a
diamond. But two diamonds of exactly the same mass may have
considerably different values depending on the other 3 C’s.
The word carat derives from the carob bean which was used
as the weighing measure of a diamond in ancient times.
Colour
A diamond’s value also depends on the hue or tint
detectable in its inner body. Diamonds are found in all
the colours of the spectrum, however, the majority of diamonds
are graded on the scale below. (You will notice there is
no A, B, or C on the scale.) The choice of colour is a matter
of personal preference, but the most valuable diamonds are
graded D - the ‘colourless’ white diamond.
Clarity
Almost all natural diamonds contain very small traces of
non-crystallised carbon, known as inclusions. A diamond
with fewer inclusions exhibits more brilliance, and is more
valuable. However, inclusions are only visible to the naked
eye in diamonds rated I1 or below.
Cut
The cut of a diamond will greatly affect the brilliance
and fire of your stone and it is the one and only aspect
that is influenced by human expertise - the other three
being determined by the forces of nature. The Cut of your
stone really counts because, believe it or not, not all
diamonds are cut to maximise their brilliance. If a diamond
polisher’s first consideration is to cut as large
a diamond as possible from a given stone he may compromise
its potential brilliance. A thick girdle, a large table
and exaggerated angles will all decrease the diamond’s
ability to reflect light properly. If the diamond is cut
too shallow the light will escape through the base, causing
the diamond to look glassy, watery and dull, even grey.
If the diamond is cut too deep the light will escape downwards.
The centre will appear dark, absorbing rather than reflecting
light.
A master craftsman knows that the angle of every facet to
every other facet is critical. He will cut the diamond to
maximise brilliance, and because of this, the diamond will
be more valuable.
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Jewel
Africa specialises in diamonds that guarantee maximum brilliance
such as:
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South African Ideal Cut ™ Diamonds
>> 10/10
Precision Cut
South
African Ideal Cut ™ Diamonds
 This
special range of diamonds is precision-cut with utmost delicacy
to maximise the brilliance and fire found in a diamond…
they are called South African Ideal Cut ™ Diamonds.
A diamond cut according to South African Ideal Cut™
specifications will be more brilliant, and more valuable
than an inferior cut stone of the same weight.
Choosing something as emotional and valuable as a diamond
isn’t easy. Aware that purchasers require re-assurance
that they are buying a precision cut diamond rather than
an inferior one, Tim Watson, of Panda Diamonds decided to
launch the first branded diamond into the South African
Market in 1998. These are sold by leading jewellers countrywide,
and consumer response has been overwhelming.
Every single South African Ideal Cut™ diamond fits
within a narrow range of criteria that ensure maximum brilliance.
These criteria are based on a combination of traditional
fine craftsmanship, and the latest empirical evidence available.
In 1914 mathematician and diamond cutter, Marcel Tolkowsky,
worked out how to cut a diamond
so that the light entering it would be reflected inside
and then leave only through the top (not through its sides)
creating ultimate brilliance. He concluded that the best
cut was a round brilliant stone with 58 facets cut at specific
angles to each other.
During the last decade, the Gemmological Institute of America
has applied computer modelling (and thousands of observations)
to measure the effect of the relationship of every facet
to the other facet on a diamond. Their findings indicate
that a range of proportion combinations provide high brilliance
and fire. The South African Ideal Cut™ takes cognisance
of these findings, and every stone with that certification
is guaranteed to fall within this narrow range.
The stones are not only perfectly round and symmetrical,
but are cut to ensure maximum brilliance. On average, it
takes an experienced craftsman a full day to cut and polish
58 facets onto a one-carat stone… it takes twice as
long to create a South African Ideal Cut™ diamond.
A South African Ideal Cut™ diamond is valuable anywhere
in the world and they all come with two certificates. The
first is either from the Jewellery Council of South Africa
or the European Gemmological Laboratory. These are independent
and internationally-recognised laboratories, which use sophisticated
equipment and trained technicians to grade diamonds.. These
certificates indicate that the diamond is an authentic,
natural diamond that has not undergone irradiation, colour
enhancement, laser drilling, fracture treatment or fissure
filling. The second certificate guarantees that the diamond
has been cut and polished to meet the criteria of a South
African Ideal Cut™ diamond. It is also guaranteed
to have been obtained from non-conflict sources.
10/10 Precision Cut
Unique to Jewel Africa, the 10/10 precision cut diamond,
is the only diamond in the world showing
10 hearts and 10
arrows.
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The
term “hearts and arrows” is the
description used to describe a diamond that exhibits an exquisite
kaleidoscope of hearts and arrows when viewed through a special
magnifying viewer. Viewed from the top, a circle of arrows is
clearly visible in the crown of the stone; and when viewed from
the bottom, a perfectly symmetrical circle of hearts shines
from the pavilion.
This phenomenon only occurs when the diamond is cut to the highest
standards in existence today. To achieve perfect symmetry, every
facet must be exactly the same shape and size, and every one
must be precisely aligned. If the cut of the diamond is even
slightly asymmetric, the resulting pattern is uneven or incomplete.
Every facet of the diamond acts like a mirror, and when they
are symmetrically aligned, the light is magnified endlessly
within the diamond, and focused directly at the viewer through
the crown, producing the ultimate brilliance.
A single 10/10 hearts and arrows diamond can take up to four
days to cut, whereas it takes an hour to polish a standard round
diamond. The cutter also sacrifices a far greater proportion
of the rough stone in achieving this level of perfection. For
these reasons, a “hearts and arrows” diamond will
typically sell in retail stores at up to double the price of
a round brilliant cut not displaying hearts and arrows.
The 10/10 hearts and arrows diamond – polished specifically
for Jewel Africa - is considered one of the most magnificent
diamond cuts in the world. Not only will it last forever, but
the symbols of cupid encapsulated in its facets make it the
perfect symbol of love.
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Caring
for your Diamond
All diamonds will sparkle for eternity. However, they do require
a little tender, loving care.
Firstly, remember that one diamond can scratch another.
>> So store your diamonds separately
and with care.
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Do not allow them to rub against
each other.
A diamond should be cleaned regularly, (they naturally attract
grease) and it is simple to do this yourself.
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Use a mild liquid detergent.
>>
Soak you diamond in a small bowl
of warm, sudsy water.
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Brush the diamond gently with
a soft brush - an old toothbrush is perfect.
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Pat dry with soft, lint-free cloth.
Be sure to take your jewellery to a reputable jeweller to have
it professionally cleaned and checked at least once a year.
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Conflict
Diamonds
A lot has been said in the media on the subject of conflict
diamonds since Leonardo Di Caprio’s appearance in the
much awarded movie “Blood Diamonds” – an accurate
portrayal of the brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the 1990’s.
The United Nations (UN) defines conflict diamonds as “diamonds
that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed
to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and
are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments,
or in contravention of the decisions of the security council”.
In a nutshell, conflict diamonds are diamonds illegally traded
to fund conflict in war-torn areas, particularly in Central
and Western Africa.
In the early 1990’s, reports estimated that as much as
20% of the total diamond production were being sold for illicit
purposes, and 15% were specifically conflict in nature. By 1999,
the illicit diamond trade was estimated, by the World Diamond
Council, to have been reduced to 3.06% of the world’s
diamond production. The World Diamond Council reported that
by 2004, this percentage had fallen to approximately 1%.
Although the United Nations first identified the diamond conflict
issue in 1998 as a source of funding for war, it was the diamond
industry that took steps to address the conflict diamond issue
by convening a meeting to plan a process by which diamond origin
could be certified. In May 2000, diamond producing countries
of Southern Africa met in Kimberley, South Africa to plan a
method by which the trade in conflict diamonds could be halted,
and buyers of diamonds could be assured that their diamonds
have not contributed to violence.
17-18 January 2001, diamond industry figures convened and formed
the new organization, the World Diamond Council. This body set
out to formulate a new process, whereby all diamond rough could
be certified as coming from a non-conflict source.
March 13, 2002, the UN gave approval to the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS) and in November 2002, after two
years of negotiation between governments, diamond producers
and non-governmental organizations, it was finally created.
Today, 71 governments have enshrined into their national law,
the Kimberley Process.
The Kimberley Process is a simple process in which rough diamonds
are sealed in a tamper-resistant container and have a forgery-resistant,
conflict free certificate with a unique serial number each time
they cross an international border. This process ring-fences
conflict diamonds in order to prevent them from entering the
diamond supply so that they do not fund any rebel groups.
The biggest weakness of the Kimberley process is how it is monitored.
Any country can become a member of the Kimberley Process just
by sending a letter to the organisation’s president, South
Africa. Whether or not the country meets the standards of the
Kimberley process, they can still become a member. This means
that some conflict diamonds are still getting past the system.
However, the industry is closely monitoring the members and
in 2004, the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) was removed
from the scheme, because despite having no official diamond
mining industry, the country was exporting large quantities
of diamond, the origin of which it could not detail. In 2006,
Ghana was nearly removed from the scheme and is being monitored
closely.
In Sierra Leone, the Kimberley Process and the end to the conflict,
has increased the diamond revenues more than tenfold, from US$10
million in 2000 to about US$130 million in 2004.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo now exports about 8% of
the world’s diamonds.
Another positive spin off from the Kimberley system is that
it increases governments’ transparency by forcing them
to keep records of the diamonds they are exporting and importing
and how much they are worth. This shows the governments their
finances so that they can be held accountable for how much they
are spending for the benefit of the countries’ population.
Now that we have conflict diamonds under control, the world
needs to look at other “conflict areas”. Namely
“conflict oil” which some critics believe purchase
more weapons than “conflict diamonds”.
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