‘49ers – 170th anniversary 2019 marks the 170th Anniversary of the famous California gold rush of 1849. Prior to this historic event California had been a small settlement of about 200 people. California had belonged to Mexico and there was no constitution or little in the way of laws or property rights, particularly for miners. […]
Read More
News
We produce a regular e-newsletter which features items of interest in the trade and beyond. If you would like to receive a copy please sign up here.
Diamonds are not the only thing to sparkle here at The Diamond Trust
We have recently taken delivery of a substantial quantity of Champagne, just in time for Christmas celebrations. Our own label makes these bottles rather special and they could become collectors’ items one day. Champagne Fred Legras is produced from grapes from the same vineyard as those which are used in the prestigious Dom Perignon brand. […]
Read MoreA Rather Unusual Diamond Anniversary
60 years ago, this month, on 10th November, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington acquired the Hope Diamond. The 45.52 carat Hope Diamond is one of the most famous jewels in the world, with ownership records dating back nearly four centuries The jewel is believed to have originated in India, where the original (larger) stone was purchased in […]
Read MoreHow do I find out my finger size?
In the UK finger size is measured on the ‘Wheatsheaf’ gauge, which uses the letters of the alphabet with half sizes in between. A is the smallest and Z the largest, although we occasionally are asked for a ring in a Z+1 or a Z+2. We once made a pair of wedding rings for a […]
Read MoreHow Do I Judge A Good Sapphire?
The birthstone for September is sapphire. Most people think of a sapphire as a blue stone which of course is correct, but it is only part of the story. The words sapphire and blue are almost synonymous, but sapphire is available in just about every colour of the rainbow. They have been known since Biblical […]
Read MoreWhy Are Diamond Engagement Rings Popular?
No one can say with any authority exactly when the custom of giving rings for engagement or betrothal began. There is a reference in Genesis (Chapter 24 v 22) which describes the giving of a ring, weighing five and a half grams, when Isaac sets his sights on Rebekah. Many ancient civilisations such as the […]
Read MoreThe Truth about Tanzanite
Over the summer holidays, some of our customers will be travelling to far away places such as the Caribbean, South Africa, The Far East or one of many other exotic destinations. In many of these places there will be shops selling Tanzanite jewellery. First discovered in 1967 in one specific location in Tanzania, this amazing […]
Read MoreSeals, Crests and Signets
The tradition of wearing a signet ring is seeing a revival. Rich in history, the practice goes back thousands of years. Before we had PIN numbers, utility bills and other forms of ID an official document would have been endorsed with a seal. At one time these were the privilege of nobility and would have […]
Read MoreEaster Greetings
We sincerely hope that winter is now behind us with its snow and ice. We now look forward to warmer weather and the new life which is evident all around us as Spring arrives. It is highly probable that you will be enjoying the odd Easter egg over the next few days so it seemed […]
Read MoreA Royal Engagement
There will be two special weddings this year in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The spotlight will certainly be on Prince Harry and Meghan Merkle on May 19th but also of interest to royal watchers will be the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank on Friday October 12th. The announcement of their engagement, in […]
Read More