Press Release - 2 November 2010
The beauty and romantic tradition of the engagement ring began centuries ago, when in 1477 Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented a diamond engagement ring to the beautiful Mary of Burgundy.
From the earliest civilisations diamonds have been considered prized possessions and were worn by people as potent symbols of love, commitment, pride, wealth and power. King Louis IX of France recognised the gem’s power and the authority their appearance could lend to lesser mortals, that he passed a law in 1283 outlawing the wearing of diamonds by commoners!
Today, the most favourite diamond cut for engagement rings is the round brilliant cut, usually set in a solitaire setting. The word solitaire comes from the Latin ‘solitarius’, meaning quite literally solitary or alone and is a classic design. The most popular setting for a solitaire engagement ring is the four claw setting, where four small prongs hold the diamond above the surface of the band.
The word ‘diamond’ is derived from ancient Greek meaning "unbreakable". Diamonds are composed of almost pure carbon and although carbon is one of the earth’s most common substances, it is only under exceedingly rare circumstances and over billions of years, that it manifests itself as the world’s most precious jewel. An indicator of such is that the youngest diamond is 900 million years old!
“If you were to gather all the diamonds ever polished since the beginning of time, they would fill only one double-decker bus,” say the experts at De Beers.
Rare, precious and indestructible, these essential qualities have made diamonds the perfect symbols of true love and romance. Diamonds are without a doubt an eternal celebration of life’s perfect moments.
Nothing says ‘I love you’ better than a diamond.
Stephan Welz & Company Pty Limited, in Johannesburg, has on auction, lot 847: a 3,42cts round brilliant-cut solitaire diamond ring, set in 18ct gold, on 17 November 2010 at 14:00.
847 A solitaire diamond ring, 3,42cts
claw-set with a round brilliant-cut diamond, in 18ct gold. Accompanied by a certificate from The Jewellery Council of South Africa, no. 38651, stating that the diamond is a Tinted Colour 2 (P) and VS1 Clarity
R45 000 - R65 000
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