There are many ways to be a good neighbor. And one Pittsburgh jeweler is showing their thanks to the community with a special treasure hunt. The prize? A 1.5 carat diamond ring! Now we knew that we had your attention! The Shadyside’s Henne Jewelers’ treasure hunt will be held on May 22^nd.

The glittery, shiny prize is a Mark Patterson diamond ring of 1.5 carats with a value of $15,000. To join the jewelry store’s treasure hunt, simply register at their website, www.HenneDiamondDash.com. We’re sure they’ll see a great response from the community!

What a thoughtful (and glittery!) way to thank the community. They’ve even gone hi-tech with their treasure hunt, allowing contestants to send in treasure hunt questions via their cell phones through texting.

Here are some tips to be a successful treasure hunter. To win a treasure hunt takes a bit of luck as well as skill, but our tips can certainly put you ahead of the pack. Good luck on your way to finding glittery, lovely baubles!

1. Follow the rules. If the diamond treasure hunt says to show up at 9am then come just a little before this time so you are there right on time. Make sure to allow a little extra time for a big crowd, parking your card and registering if you haven’t taken care of that yet. All of the rules exist for a purpose. Not following them can keep you far, far away from the all things glittery and shiny!
2. Wear something cute and comfortable. A treasure hunt is both a mental and physical activity. You need to figure out the clues logically and creatively and also walk (or drive) to different places. Make sure your outfit is comfortable and cute and that you’ve got the right shoes on for walking. Now why should your outfit be cute too? Probably because you’ll be photographed as the diamond treasure hunt winner!
3. Bring a bottle of water and an easy to eat snack with you. There’s nothing like being involved in something exciting like a diamond treasure hunt and realizing that your stomach is rumbling. Have a hearty breakfast like yogurt and fruit or oatmeal and then pack a bottle of water and an easy to eat and very portable snack so you’ve always got something quick to eat that will give you energy. Good choices are protein bars or fruit or dried fruit and nuts.
4. Remember to charge your cell phone, bring a tiny notebook and pen and other practical items with you. Read the rules carefully to see if there are any items you should bring with you. For some treasure hunts, you will actually find the item itself. We have a hunch this jewelry store will hide something to represent the diamond ring and then you trade it for the ring itself. But bringing a clean sandwich baggie along with you to put clues in, a tiny notebook and pen, a mini calculator and a charged cell phone could all be great ideas. The more prepared you are, the better a time you will have.
5. Remember a diamond treasure hunt is all about the fun of the prize. There will be lots of people to enter and only one winner. It’s okay to get your hopes up, just don’t get them up so high you’re disappointed to not win. Then again, it will be quite helpful to know which finger you would put the ring on and what your ring size is…

Source: http://www.wpxi.com/entertainment/23316155/detail.html

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Stonehouse couple Ron and Sheila Page celebrated their diamond-wedding anniversary on Thursday, February 25^th 2010. Even years filled with challenge couldn’t keep this happy couple apart. A diamond-wedding anniversary! What could be more wonderful than to celebrate a life event with diamonds?

The Page couple met in July 1949 at the old Blue Ballroom on Eastbourne Pier. Ron went over to Sheila and asked her for a dance. Nearly six months later they married at St.Michael and All Angels Church in Eastington on February 15, 1950.

Just three weeks later, Ron had to leave for the Far East due to his serving in the RAF. He left Sheila and their first-born son Clive at home until they could be with him in Hong Kong during his final deployment year.

After returning home to Kent, Sheila gave birth to their second child, a daughter Angela. The family then relocated to Germany for two and a half years and then to Yorkshore for awhile until Ron went by himself to the RAF Gan office located in the Indian Ocean for a final service year.

The couple is now retired and they now have four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. They live in Stonehouse and have many fun hobbies. Shelia enjoys painting and volunteer work. Ron likes to do photography and swims at a local pool.

Ron and Shelia credit their relationship staying together in part to sending each other love letters. Getting a love letter in the mail was a way to know the other was thinking of them, even while far away. We can imagine the two must be very good at writing love letters and keeping the lines of communication open – to reach their wonderful diamond anniversary!

Every anniversary is special but your diamond anniversary is extra special. Why not celebrate it with custom diamond jewelry designed for the bride and groom. Create jewelry to celebrate the two of you as a couple. A jeweler who specializes in diamonds can create jewelry to signify the milestones the two of you have faced together. Whether it is a new ring, pendant, bracelet or other type of diamond jewelry – this diamond anniversary jewelry will be especially unique as only the two of you will have it. What could be more special and expressive for both the bride and groom to share? Diamonds are the ideal way to express your love. Timeless, pure and everlasting – a diamond simply says it all.

Reaching a diamond-wedding anniversary in this day and age is a significant life achievement. Every diamond lover knows how special diamonds are – it’s easy to see how important your diamond wedding anniversary is.

Here are some popular wedding anniversaries and the appropriate gift for them.

1^st wedding anniversary – paper

5^th wedding anniversary – wood

10^th wedding anniversary – tin or aluminum

15^th wedding anniversary – crystal

20^th wedding anniversary – china

25^th wedding anniversary – silver

30^th wedding anniversary – pearl

35^th wedding anniversary – coral

40^th wedding anniversary – ruby

45^th wedding anniversary – sapphire

50^th wedding anniversary – gold

55^th wedding anniversary – emerald

60^th wedding anniversary – diamond

75^th wedding anniversary – platinum

Source

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Diamond lovers will be thrilled to know a new movie has been released this winter about the love of diamonds – and the fascinating woman who wore them. Now isn’t every woman who wears diamonds the most fascinating woman you know? We thought you would agree.

The title truly captures one’s attention and is inspired by the loss of one of the heroine’s earrings. Teardrop diamond earrings sound so glamorous and romantic – and certainly the type of earrings to draw attention to the wearer. According to The Chicago Tribune’s film review, the screenplay for this movie was written in 1957 by Tennessee Williams. It is set in Memphis, Tennessee in 1923 during the Jazz Age. The heroine Fisher Willow is preparing for the ball season and loses one of her teardrop earrings. Willow’s life is far more dramatic than simply the loss of her favorite (and very costly) baubles. Her mother is in an institution and her alcoholic father works on the estate and becomes a gigolo – soon joining Willow on the ball circuit.

It’s easy to see that this diamond themed movie is full of drama, romance and lush scenes of the South. The Jazz Age was an exciting time when women began to have more freedom – and the bold woman took more liberties such as “bobbing” her hair and dancing the Charleston (not certain if Willow does either of these things). For many men and women this was a fun and exciting time when both music and champagne flowed in a never-ending stream. It will be interesting to see how Tennessee Williams’ play is shown on the silver screen.

Fisher Willow is played by Bryce Dallas Howard. Other cast members include Ellen Burstyn and Will Patton.

You don’t want to lose your teardrop earrings – or any of your diamond earrings for that matter. Here are some of our favorite tips for not losing your earrings:

Have a special place to keep your diamond earrings. A small jewelry box or a portion of your jewelry box specific for your diamond earrings. Make this easily accessible for you to reach day and/or night.

Get into the habit of putting away any of your jewelry as you undress. This will help keep you in the habit of putting away your diamond earrings. Diamond earrings – or any jewelry often gets lost when you put it down “somewhere” as you are going about your day. It is best if you can become quite habitual about when and where you take your jewelry off and what you do with it.

Develop a monthly routine for cleaning your jewelry. Clean your jewelry the first weekend of the month for example. Or on the 15^th of the month. This may mean you take out every piece in your jewelry box. But developing this habit will help you keep track of your diamond earrings. Notice we are strong on developing habits!

Double-check the posts for your earrings, making sure they are secure. Buying new posts for your earrings is easy and often can be found at your jewelers within a day or so. Don’t ignore a loose earring with a post that needs to be replaced on your diamond earring!

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-201001071358tmsfilmclipctnyf-b20100108jan08,0,6284372.story

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On a cool October day in 2009, the 32.01 carat diamond ring that wealthy billionaire Leonore Annenberg purchased for her 90th birthday, was auctioned off. Christie’s had been given the task; and successfully sold it for $7.7 million; a considerable hike from the expected pre-sale estimate of $3million to $5million.

Prior to her death in March, 2009, it must be noted that Mrs. Annenberg had been named an ambassador during President Ronald Reagan‘s first term; serving as U.S. chief of protocol. Mrs. Annenberg and her billionaire husband, The Honorable Walter H. Annenberg, had also been very involved with the arts and with education.

Annenberg diamond

The exceptionally gorgeous, square shaped diamond ring, designed by Manhattan jeweler David Webb, is colorless, flawless, and roughly the size of a walnut. It is said to be the absolute epitome of what one would consider to be the perfect diamond, in that it incorporates the very best of the 4 C’s (Carat, Clarity, Color, Cut) On either side of the huge and breathtaking center stone are diamonds that are 1.61 carats and 1.51 carats respectively. Leonore was able to enjoy wearing her gift to herself for a little over a year before she died at the ripe old age of 91.

On the day that Mrs. Annenberg received it, it was delivered by armed guards to her home in California. It has been said that she was delighted whenever visitors would admire it. (Who wouldn’t?!).

Although the name of the purchaser was not disclosed, it is only hoped that this beautiful diamond ring brings as much joy and delight as it did to Mrs. Annenberg.

May she rest in peace.

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Great news is on the horizon for the technologically savvy person in search of the perfect diamond engagement ring. It seems that diamond daydreaming (or providing hints for that special someone) has now been elevated to the point of being at least one step closer to reality. This past summer, an Apple iPhone application was released to the public that will more than likely have great appeal to diamond engagement ring daydreamers, as well as to those who would like to try before they buy. And the best part is this: It is absolutely free!

How does it work? First, a picture of your hand, taken by an Apple iPhone camera is downloaded. The application, named “Live Diamond Tryon“, was developed to allow a user to virtually design a diamond engagement ring in any and every configuration possible! Even more fascinating, is the fact that the resulting virtual ’ring’ image, when laid on top of the picture of the hand, will appear in the correct proportions; as if in actual size.

Meaning…one would be able to have an eerily close idea of what it would feel like to be wearing “the real thing”. This application is so ’smart’, that it even has the ability to show the ’ring’ at different angles; enabling it to sparkle, shine and behave closely in the same manner as its genuine counterpart. Carat size (up to 5), shape, settings….each of these can be virtually chosen and assembled within the privacy of one’s own home or office. Or…if one is brave enough and wishes to do so, the resulting captured image can also be “facebooked“, “twittered“, “myspaced”… you name it. So now after you have created the perfect ring , what next? Only your trusted jeweler has the ability to make your diamond dreams come true. In the meantime… “You can’t touch this!”

Hammer time!

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“Pssst…I just happen to have a few extra “diamonds” swishing around in my purse. Wanna buy one?”

What may appear to some as being an unlikely (as well as outrageous) scenario; actually happened to someone recently in the Silicon Valley. It seems that there are currently scam artists running around, casually attempting to do this very thing; in at least one case, with apparent success In this particular instance, the victim happened to be an elderly woman whom one of them approached to ask for directions. Working in tandem with a male accomplice; a female scammer produced five “diamonds” from out of nowhere and offered to sell them to the elderly woman. The male accomplice coincidentally had a friend in a nearby Medical Center (who just happened to be an “appraiser”). After taking them in to his friend, he came back in with the “official” price. The “appraiser” had placed a value on the gems as being slightly over $10,000 each. However, the female scammer offered a discount, in that she would settle for a price of $7,000 each. After a little more back and forth discussion, an even lower price of $6,000 was soon settled upon.

The male accomplice then convinced the elderly victim to share the cost of one of the diamonds with him. She would pay half ($3000), and he would pay the other half. The woman then withdrew $3000 from her bank, handed it over to the man, and then gave his accomplice a ride to a shopping center. The man promised to wait for her to come back; after assuring her that he would have the diamond when she returned.

Of course, when she did return, he was nowhere to be found. As of this date, these persons have still not been apprehended.

Sadly, this is apparently not an isolated incident; and so we offer the following sound advice: Whether in-person or online, seek only a trusted jeweler, or certified appraiser when purchasing fine jewelry. Safeguard your assets, as well as your peace-of-mind .

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_13359685?nclick_check=1

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Do you like wearing diamonds but don’t want anyone to see them?

As unbelievable as it may seem, there are really people who exist on this planet who feel this way. There actually exists jewelry designers who have crafted their ring and necklace designs with secret compartments containing the precious stones. We know…by now, you are scratching your head and saying, “huh?” Why in the world would a person want to wear diamonds and not let them be seen?

Apparently, this is the “answer”: It seems that there are a few of those among us; secret diamond wearers if you will; who like the feeling of wearing such expensive baubles, but do not necessarily want to invite casual onlookers. And so, as a repellent, they cleverly choose to wear their diamonds on the inside of their jewelry. One such design has an inscription on the outside that reads: ‘Diamonds inside’. The diamonds can only be seen by peering at them through little pricks in the metal or via a tiny little glass window located on the inside. However, the wearer is always kept aware of their presence with the soft swishing sound that they make as they move around encased in their enclosed ’prison’. Pretty nifty, huh?

Lest you think that this is an isolated anomaly; research will show that there are actually a number of designers who do this on a regular basis. There also appears to be a somewhat less frivolous reason for doing so in a few cases. It seems that sometimes a designer will incorporate a few precious stones under the band of a particular style of ring as a trademark. In this way, it discourages counterfeiters who attempt to make copies, but are unable to foot the expense of the surplus jewels.

One thing you can know for sure: This diamond lover prefers to wear hers on the outside.

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Let me tell you a story. This author’s story:

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband bought me a beautiful anniversary band; one center marquise diamond, flanked by two smaller marquise diamonds on either side. Fast forward three years later…

Getting ready to go to work on the first day after maternity leave…Dressed in a black skirt, and feeding my newborn a bottle; for some reason, I decide to look down at my ring finger. To my absolute horror, I discovered that the middle diamond was missing…Originally secured by two, apparently fragile prongs, a big gaping hole lay where there had once been a marquise stone. Panicked, I didn’t move. Suddenly, looking down, out of the corner of my eye, as I held my small son in the crook of my arm, I caught a small sparkle of light refracted from the loose diamond that sat squarely in the middle of my lap. Had I not looked down; or had I not worn a black skirt that particular morning, all would have been lost. I quickly snatched up the diamond and took the ring off. My husband took it to the jeweler later to have it re-secured.

A few years later, I lost the diamond again. Unfortunately, this time, it was not recovered. Is there a lesson in this? You bet. Prong settings do make a difference! Please keep the following in mind:

• A thin prong with a “hook” configuration can be easily pulled away. This configuration is not advised.
• Prongs should hold the diamond securely and have virtually no “wiggle room”
• Four prongs are more secure than two. Six prongs are more secure than four
• Have your ring examined by a professional jeweler at least yearly

It is hoped that my personal tale of heartache will not be yours, and also to serve as a reminder that it is possible to have the right diamond ring….but with the wrong prong. Check with your trusted jeweler to discover which prong is best for you.

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Many of us may still be trying to decide what to give to a special Mom, graduate, or Birthday Girl. The gift of a diamond necklace is certainly one that can be considered. You will find that diamond necklaces are available in quite a number of styles and prices. Whether it be a circle of diamonds captured in gold, or a diamond floating heart pendant; a necklace of this kind is perfect for a lady of any age. The design can either be one that is classic or contemporary; multi-diamonded or single stoned. A puffed heart diamond pendant can be fun and flirty; whereas a flat diamond heart may appeal to a more conservative lady.

A diamond journey pendant necklace can also be a nice jewelry piece to give your beloved in recognition of a special anniversary; especially to commemorate a milestone year. Three-stoned pendants are perfect gifts for symbolizing a couples’ past, present, and future relationship.

And now for the ultimate: A diamond eternity necklace is sure to take the breath away of any woman who is fortunate enough to receive one. The necklace’s diamonds can be set as close or as far apart as taste and/or budget will allow.

If a diamond necklace is your choice, please make sure that the setting is one that complements the wearer. Will it be: Yellow gold? White gold? Silver? This will depend on personal tastes, lifestyle, as well as the skin tone of the recipient. Care should also be taken that any hardware (especially the clasp) is able to hold the diamonds in place attractively, as well as securely. Your reputable jeweler should be able to assist you in addressing all of your diamond selection needs. With a little effort, you will find that the perfect beautiful necklace is just waiting for you to discover.

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Tequila and diamonds!

Could this guy be a diamond in the rough?

Under normal circumstances, if asked, one would be hard pressed to come up with a way to make any connection between the two. However, this past summer, three research scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, stumbled upon a new use for the widely popular alcoholic beverage, creating an unusual relationship between the unlikely pair. The interesting and exciting buzz is not about intoxication, and the new twist has absolutely nothing to do with lime slices. Through experimentation, it was discovered that the atomic composition of tequila is proportionately similar to that of diamonds.

Yes, you read it correctly…Diamonds.

It was found that a combination of 60 percent water and 40 percent ethanol turns out to be almost the perfect set of ingredients needed for creating diamond film. With this astounding fact in mind, one of the three scientists, on the way to work one morning, decided to purchase a small bottle of inexpensive white tequila for testing. (Yeah, right ;-) )

To his amazement, in controlled circumstances, and in a device created especially for the experiment; he, along with his colleagues, were able to repeatedly create pure diamond crystals! But before you get too excited, note this: While the quality of diamond material produced is superb; the resulting diamonds are exceptionally small and are for the time being, good only for industrial use.

Unfortunately, diamonds created under these circumstances are unable, for now, to be produced in sizes that are suitable for use in fine diamond jewelry. This means that we will still have to visit our reputable jeweler for our quality gems and trinkets. But, for now… the tequila still goes into the margarita.

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