3 Facts about BLACK DIAMOND

1. Extraterrestrial gems? Sounds crazy, right? Especially since all other diamonds—even other fancy colors—have science that attests to their geological birth. But some research does point to black fancies as having extraterrestrial origins. While hundreds of tons of conventional diamonds have been mined, traded, and, finally, polished, since around 1900, not a single black diamond has been discovered in the world’s mining fields.
And, because black diamonds have been found to obtain trace elements of nitrogen and hydrogen that some claim are sure indicators of an extraterrestrial origin, some researchers believe that black diamonds were formed in stellar super nova explosions. Furthermore, their research indicates that black diamonds, when they first landed on earth, were once the size of asteroids, a kilometer or more in diameter. While jewelry designer, Annie Fensterstock, may or may not agree with this research, she does design engagement rings that are quite fitting for diamonds that may have origins that are not-of-this world, don’t you agree? This one in 22K rose gold, propped up against a stack of handcrafted high-karat gold wedding bands, would look extraordinary worn side-by-side any of these.

2. For any of you who watch reruns of TV’s romantic comedy, Sex and the City, you know that the main character, Carrie Bradshaw, had an on-again/off-again relationship with the guy you loved and loved-to-hate, Mr. Big. Finally, in the 2010 movie, “Sex and the City 2,”Carrie said “yes,” when, at the end of the film, Mr. Big proposed with a five-carat black diamond engagement ring. How on-point when Sarah-Jessica Parker’s character asked him “why black?” and he answered: “Because you are not like anyone else!” As it turns out, it was kind of the ring that launched a thousand rings—because jewelry manufacturers today create their versions of the Carrie ring. And not just in five carats either. Gemvara offers many interpretations of Carrie’s platinum design with 80 pavé diamonds halfway down the slim shank and circling as a slim halo. For SATC fans, BTW, the original ring was designed by Itay Malkin, a native of Israel, who’d emigrated to New York City in 2002. Mr. Malkin saw the beauty in black diamonds years ago—soon after arriving in New York, he began designing custom pieces from rough-cut black diamondbeads, which led to his first collection, Black Diamonds by Itay Malkin. If you love black diamonds, you should certainly take a look at his collection.

3. To compensate for what can often be a lack of even color and smooth surface in a natural black diamond, some gem dealers irradiate green diamonds, for extra-long periods of time, in order to ensure that the stones have an ebony-like color. While irradiation can achieve that, you want to be sure to ask if the black diamond in the ring you’re buying has, in fact, been irradiated. Because, as a customer, you should always know exactly what you’re buying. The black diamonds in this especially romantic ring weren't irradiated, perhaps because the company, Facet, Barcelona USA, specializes in natural color diamond and gemstone jewelry.