| What is it about diamond rings that so | | | | that transforms organic carbon into gems |
| compel us? Is it the shine and lustre - | | | | that wind up as part of mens diamond |
| that which jewelers refer to as "fire"? | | | | rings are thousands of times greater. In |
| Is it the mystery and allure that you'll | | | | fact, it is possible to turn coal into |
| find in a white gold diamond ring? Or is | | | | diamond, which is essentially what |
| it just good marketing? | | | | happens when artificial, |
| When it comes to the precious stone that | | | | industrial-grade diamonds are |
| is the centerpiece of diamond engagement | | | | manufactured in a laboratory. |
| rings and men's diamond rings, it is all | | | | (Theoretically, it is also possible for |
| of the above. Although diamonds have | | | | diamonds to turn back into coal, were |
| long been treasured for their hardness | | | | they subjected to hard vacuum under a |
| and rarity, they were not always | | | | complex set of highly unlikely |
| beautiful to look at. It took centuries | | | | circumstances.) |
| of trial and error before jewelers | | | | Early Diamond Rings |
| learned to create the exotic cuts such | | | | Diamond jewelry had been around for |
| as the princess diamond ring. | | | | awhile, but diamond engagement rings and |
| A Diamond...or a Lump of Coal? | | | | wedding rings were pretty well unheard |
| The story of diamond rings starts | | | | of before 1477, when Archduke Maximilian |
| hundreds of millions of years ago and | | | | I of Austria presented one to Marie of |
| miles beneath the earth's surface. You | | | | Burgundy on the occasion of their |
| are probably aware of the fact that | | | | wedding. |
| petroleum and coal is formed from the | | | | Diamond rings became popular during the |
| remains of plants and animals that lived | | | | Victorian Period, although the custom of |
| and died over half a billion years ago. | | | | presenting diamond engagement rings and |
| These remains went under the earth over | | | | the concept of mens diamond rings came |
| time, where they were subjected to | | | | along much later. |
| preternatural geologic forces, which | | | | Today, the tradition is found almost |
| transformed them from organic matter | | | | everywhere in the Western world as well |
| into oil and coal. | | | | as Japan and India (where the bride |
| The precious stones that are set in | | | | usually wears a diamond toe ring). |
| diamond engagement rings are formed the | | | | Diamond rings can be purchased as is, or |
| same way. The difference between a lump | | | | can be created especially for the |
| of coal and a diamond is one of degree - | | | | customer. |
| the geologic forces of heat and pressure | | | | |