Conflict Diamonds

As a consumer and potential buyer of diamonds you are right in being concerned about the ethics of diamond mining and trade. You may already know about the 4 Cs but there is an increasing awareness of the so called 5th C - Conflict Diamonds, especially since the release of the film "The Blood Diamond" featuring Leonardo di Caprio and Amnesty International's campaign "Are you looking for the perfect diamond". What Are Conflict Diamonds?

Conflict diamonds, also known as "blood" diamonds, are rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance armed conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments. Profits from the trade in conflict diamonds, worth billions of dollars, were used to buy arms during the devastating wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Côte d'IvoireWhile the wars in Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone are now over and fighting in the DRC has decreased, the problem of conflict diamonds hasn't gone away. Diamonds mined in rebel-held areas in Côte d'Ivoire, a West African country in the midst of a volatile conflict, are reaching the international diamond market. Conflict diamonds from Liberia are also being smuggled into neighbouring countries and exported as part of the legitimate diamond trade.

The Kimberly Process

Kimberleyprocess

The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates the trade in rough diamonds. It was launched in 2000 by several southern African countries. Its aim is to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds, while helping to protect the legitimate trade in rough diamonds. A Kimberley Process certificate, guaranteeing diamonds as conflict-free, accompanies all official shipments of rough diamonds to and from participating countries.

To support this, the international diamond industry agreed to a voluntary system of warranties to ensure diamonds continued to be tracked right up to the point of sale. All invoices for the sale of rough diamonds should now include a written guarantee that states they are conflict-free. Our Guarantee

Pomeroi only use and supply conflict-free diamonds and only deal with suppliers that provide this guarantee. We can trace the origin of all our diamonds and we are happy to supply you with a written guarantee that our diamonds are conflict free should you wish to receive one.

More information on an introduction to diamonds; http://www.pomeroi.co.uk/jewellery-articles/diamonds---introduction.cfm

What are Bonded Diamonds?

Before you start shopping for diamonds,
consider dealing with a bonded jeweler.
Bonded jewelers sell bonded diamonds,
and there are very few bonded jewelers in
the world. In fact, out of all of the jeweler’s
in the world, only about 5% of them are
bonded. Buying a bonded diamond will
cost more than buying a non-bonded
diamond, but when you look at what you
get with the bonded option, you will see
that it is well worth the extra expense.

First, bonded diamonds have a buy back
policy for the life of the diamond. No matter
how long you have had the diamond, you can
take it back to the bonded jeweler and sell it
back to him or her, for a 100% refund. If a
jeweler does not offer a 100% buy back
guarantee, for the life of the diamond, then
you should take a closer look at the diamond
to see what is wrong with it.

Bonded diamonds also have a breakage
policy. If the stone breaks or chips, the
bonded jeweler will replace it with a new one
– one time. No jeweler would ever offer such
a policy on any stone that was not 100%
natural, so just the offer of such a policy
should give you piece of mind concerning
the quality of the diamond. Bonded
diamonds are natural and untreated.

Bonded diamonds increase in value, with a
fixed appreciation rate that is designed to
keep up with inflation. This means that a
diamond that is worth a certain amount of
money today will be worth more in the future,
as the price of diamonds continues to rise.
This generally does not apply to buy backs,
however. It typically applies to trade-ins.

Alternately, by purchasing a bonded
diamond, you are protected against the
possibility of a market crash. If a market
crash occurs, the value of diamonds will
drop. However, the bonded jeweler
guarantees to refund you the difference
between what the diamond is now worth
and what you paid for it before the market
crash.

It may be difficult to find a bonded jeweler in
your area, but if you can, this is who you
want to deal with, as opposed to dealing
with an un-bonded jeweler. Specifically tell
the jeweler that you are only interested in
bonded diamonds. You can find a bonded
jeweler in your area by using various online
resources, or by calling the local jewelry
stores. Or you can Ask The Diamond Guy Here

Where is Bingo Originated from?

Did you know that bingo is originated from Italy and is more than 500
years old? Bingo as a game originated somewhere around the year 1500,along with the unification of Italy. Italy is also called as the birth place of this game, where it evolved from the game of Lo Giuoco del Lotto Italia. However, bingo didn't come into its present form till 1778.

In the classic version of the game, the playing cards were divided into three horizontal and nine vertical rows. Each horizontal row had five numbered and four blank squares in a random arrangement. The vertical rows contained numbers from 1 to 10 in the first row, 11 to 20 in the second row, et cetera, up to 90. No two cards were alike. Chips numbered from 1 to 90 completed the playing equipment. Later
numbers were called out and the same, if on anyone's card was crossed.
The first one to cover a fixed set pattern (vertical, diagonal,
horizontal etc) was anointed the winner.

In the present version of the game, players buy cards with numbers on
them in a 5 X 5 grid. Numbers are then drawn at random out of a
possible 75, until finally one player completes a Bingo line with five
numbers in a vertical or horizontal row.

One of the biggest changes to take place in the bingo world was of
course the emergence of online bingo. 2003 saw the first UK online bingo sites and now more than 3 million people regularly play bingo online and offline. You can join in the fun with Partybingo as you
could win crusies, jackpots and vacations. You can even chat while
playing bingo, so there's always something cool happening. So grab a
coffee, put your feet up, and enjoy the some bingo online!

Moissanite - the ultimate jewel

Moissanite is, quite simply, the ultimate unique jewel that speaks to women with incomparable fire and brilliance.

Adding to the sparkle, moissanite costs considerably less than commonly desired gemstones and jewels, including diamond. But moissanite is far from common. Just as splurging on a pair of designer shoes, a fashionable handbag or a visit to a day spa can make you feel special, wearing moissanite jewelry, chosen to fit your style, can make you feel beautiful, dazzling and smart!

Moissanite created by Charles & Colvard™ may initially look like diamond however, moissanite is a unique jewel with different physical, optical and chemical properties than diamond. Moissanite is a lab-created jewel that are available through a proprietary and patented thermal growth process exclusively through the house of Charles & Colvard.

For those who want beauty, brilliance and durability of an exquisite jewel at a surprisingly affordable price should try looking into Moissanite.

Moissanite Stardust has the largest range of moissanite jewels.
For special deals CLICK HERE!

Clarity Enhanced Diamonds

What are CE and HTHP Diamonds?

Clarity Enhanced (CE) Diamonds are totally natural Diamonds that have been treated with a New Clarity Enhancement Process. This new revolutionary process optically eliminates "feathers" (inclusions), which are naturally occurring imperfections found in most diamonds.

High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) Diamonds are also totally natural Diamonds that have been treated with a complex process that involves heating the stone while it's under pressure until the desired alteration of color and/or clarity is evident. This treatment is only performed on certain diamonds.

The results are more visually stunning diamonds that you can purchase for significantly less than a similar-looking, non-enhanced diamonds, where only you and your jeweler will ever really know that you own a CE or HPHT Enhanced Diamond.

CE and HPHT Diamonds are both natural diamonds from deep in the heart of the earth which have been technologically enhanced to become as brilliant, clear and beautiful as modern science can make it.

When light travels from one medium to another, it either changes its course or reflects in a different direction. When light attempts to pass through a non-enhanced diamond that may have typical feather inclusions, the light hits the feather and reflects off in any number of directions. The more feathers, the more the diamond appears to be non-transparent. With a CE or HPHT diamond, the light passes THROUGH the natural inclusions, because the material used for the enhancement has the same optical characteristics as the diamond. The beam of light "thinks" it's still traveling through the same material (diamond) and continues its original course. The amount of material used to fill the feather is so minute that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has reported that the clarity enhancement process ADDS NO WEIGHT to a diamond. This treatment method is permanent and normally does not create special care requirements.

Clarity Enhanced (CE) as well as High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) Diamonds are normally GUARANTEED FOR LIFE by the manufacturer.

The CE clarity enhancement is permanent and is not visible to the naked eye, except the only things likely to compromise the integrity of your CE diamond's enhancement are the flame of a torch or boiling acids and bases. In the unlikely event your CE diamond should lose its enhancement, usually the manufacturer will restore the enhancement of your diamond, free of charge.

The HPHT clarity enhancement is totally permanent , even with the flame of a torch or boiling acids and bases.

You can usually expect to pay 15% to 25% less than what you'd pay for a natural Diamond for the same color and clarity.

To learn more about diamonds visit http://www.whatarediamonds.com