Australian Opal and Diamond Pendant

Australian opal inlay pendant with diamond accents by The Hileman Collection. Alternating blue-green and red firing Australian opal make this handmade 14k gold pendant a real showstopper. Style #P408

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Diamond Necklaces - Georgian Necklaces

Diamond necklaces, like other jewelry of the Georgia period, were handmade. These design period in jewelry occurred at the same time as the reign of the four English kings who gave their name to the period, namely about 1714 through 1830.

Diamond necklaces from this period reflected the desire to experiment with new designs, new metals, and new ways of cutting the diamonds. At the onset of the Georgian period, diamonds were the gemstone of choice, so diamond necklaces were very popular. The demand for diamond lookalikes was so strong that a whole industry grew up using paste, rock crystal, cut steel,and marcasite (iron pyrite) as substitutes for the real thing. Even royalty was not adverse to wearing the fakes, since they were so well done.

Diamond necklaces from the early Georgian period often used large stones set in an elaborate rococo style. This placed emphasis on shell like curves, the same as found in many of the buildings created in the style. Elsewhere it was also called Baroque, or even the French style. The main characteristics are the size, the arcs and curves, and further, asymmetric designs.

As Georgian period progressed, diamond necklaces moved from rococo to Gothic revival and on to neoclassical in architecture as well in jewelry. Not many pieces are found today in Georgian style. Knowledge of the appearance mostly is from portraits commissioned during the times.

A fairly consistent giveaway in detecting Georgian era diamond necklaces is often the way in which the diamonds are mounted. Today, diamonds are often set in open work but Georgian gems typically were set over silver or gold foil and the backs of the diamonds were enclosed in metal in the same way in which rhinestones typically are mounted today. In fact, foil backing in today's jewelry pieces nearly always indicates that the stone is fake.

Other common features of Georgian diamond necklaces included gold work that was flat and low, diamonds that were backed with foil, and bezel mounting. Often enameling of black and white or cobalt blue was used. Charles Pinchbeck, an English watchmaker created a zinc and copper alloy which was used as a substitute for gold.

During the years of the Georgian period, diamond cutters set their skills to producing exciting new gem cuts which were displayed in the diamond necklaces created by the artisans. The brilliant cuts, cushion cut and rose cut all found favor with the public.

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Diamond Earrings

The word 'diamond' is derived from an ancient Greek work meaning "impossible to tame." Diamonds are one of the best-known forms of carbon. They have been used as gems from time immemorial and have a wide variety of industrial applications. The popularity of diamonds increased in the 19th century because of improved cutting and polishing techniques. The quality of the diamond is usually judged by the four C's, referring to carat, clarity, color and cut.

Diamond earrings are a personal adornment worn attached to the ear lobe. Egyptians initiated the fashion of earrings by first wearing large gold hoops, which eventually grew smaller and also contained a pendant. In Babylonia and Assyria, men used to wear earrings as a sign of position. The Romans were connoisseurs of earrings set with precious stones. In the 18th century the diamond earring became more fashionable, and the 19th century witnessed the extensive use of the cameo.

Two basic types of diamond earrings exist. Diamond post and diamond wire earrings are for pierced ears, while diamond clips are for non-pierced ears. Post earrings use a clutch, nut or some other means to support it in the ear. Post earrings with a solitary diamond at the end are called stud earrings. Wire earrings like fish hooks and kidney wires use a differently shaped small wire that slips through the pierced ear to hold the earrings in place. Sometimes a hook at the back is used as an additional support. In the clip earrings a hinged clip clasps the earring in the ear lobe.

Diamond earrings vary in style, price range, size and weight. The diamond may be set with other diamonds or precious stones like emeralds, rubies and sapphires in yellow, white or red gold, silver, rhodium or platinum. There are infant and baby earrings as small as 0.06 carat, which is a 2-millimeter diamond in each ear, available for $49. On the other hand, some earrings set in platinum with an 18K princess-cut diamond are priced over $5,000, and can be as expensive as $20,000.

Elegant and sophisticated, diamond earrings have always been considered a favorite piece of jewelry with women.

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