The word "diamond" is derived from the Greek "adamas", meaning indomitable. In the Middle Ages the diamond was thought to be a protection against the plague, Queen Elizabeth I wore one in her bosom to protect against infection. Napoleon, another believer in its mystic powers, had the famous Regent diamond in in the hilt of the sword he carried at his coronation. The diamond has the legendary power of protecting the wearer form evil, especially when worn on the left side. This belief may well have added to the choice of a diamond for an engagement ring. Continuing the marital theme there is a superstition that a gift of a diamond "quickens the affection and restores love between husband and wife".
From statements in an old Indian manuscript of the first century B.C. it is thought that the diamond was known in India during the Buddhist period of about 400 B.C. The earliest recorded diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy in 1477 by her fiance, Maximillian of Hapsburg. It was during the latter half of the 17th century that the Italian, Vincenzo Peruzzi invented the brilliant cut, forerunner of the many diamond cuts known today and still the cut that produces the most "fire" in a stone.
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Today there is a plentiful supply of very small diamonds and these feature prominently in modern designs. The different surface finishes of precious metals lend themselves to the scattering and clustering of these smaller diamonds. A single solitaire diamond of adequate size to stand alone without embelishment however is still considered to be the most luxurious form of ring. They are the four variables that determine the value of a diamond (known as the 4 C's).
Carat Weight CARAT WEIGHT is the standard of measurement for the gemstone industry. One carat equals 0.2 grams. Historically, the "carob bean" was used as the standard, which, although was not precise, had a fairly consistent weight. This is where the name "carat" came from. For stones under one carat, carats are generally broken down into "points", where,
100 points equals one carat (ct).
50 points equals ½ ct, 25 points is ¼ ct etc.
A .86 ct diamond is said to be 86 points, or sometimes an "86 pointer".
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