Centuries later, the ring once again returned to a highly political party. Owned by Imelda Marcos, wife of the late Ferdinand Marcos. She had purchased the diamond ring just a few years before her dictator husband was removed form power during a massive uprising. Imelda had the stone reset into another ring which was done by world renowned jewellers at Cartier. After her husband’s death, Imelda herself became known for her extravagant lifestyle in particular her shoe collection. She parted with the ring in the mid 1990’s, most likely in an attempt to raise money to pay off the debts her extravagance had accumulated over the years.

Other items that will be available include an emerald brooch once owned by Catherine the Great of Russia. According to the historian’s at Christie’s the brooch remained in Catherine’s family for many generations, passed down over the years until it was acquired by a private collector in the United States in 1972.

Despite the strenuous global economy, Christie’s sales figures have remained strong, totalling nearly $300 million in sales for 2009. Sales records were also set for several milestones. The most impressive was the total price paid for a single diamond. A 5 carat pink diamond sold for $10.8 million last year, raising the bar significantly. The record for the per carat price of any white diamond sold was also broken when a magnificent 32 carat stone labelled the Annenberg Diamond sold for $7.7 million. Auctioneers at Christie’s agree that if a gem is rare enough, someone will always be able to come up with the money to be able to own it. While the wealthier buyers of these rare gems are less likely to be influenced by a struggling economy than most people, jewellery sales across the globe still remain strong.

London’s Bonham jewellers finished up their very first large scale auction of fine jewellery this year. Despite the global economy still recovering, the auction managed to bring in a sizeable £2.2m. Bonham’s was more impressed than anyone at the final sales numbers as they were concerned that would not be able to match the success they saw in jewellery sales in 2009. So far, they seem to be off to a very good start with the results they achieve with their first auction of the year.

The high final number is said to be due largely to the four extremely valuable items that were part of the 135 lot auction. The first of the four was a solitaire diamond ring that was estimated to sell for between £55k and £65k. The 5 carat stone in the diamond ring was graded as internally flawless, a rare classification to find in larger stones. The diamond ring surprised auctioneers when it sold for just over £80k.

The next impressive piece up for bid was another 5 carat solitaire diamond ring estimated to sell for between £80k and £100k. With a higher overall grading on the Four C scale than the first ring and a more elaborate setting, this beauty managed to sell for an impressive £222,000. Also selling for the same amount was a 4.74 carat diamond solitaire ring, nearly identical in diamond grading to the previous lot. With an estimated selling price of £100k to £150,000k, the ring once again surpassed Bonham’s expectations fetching the same £222k as the previous lot. Experts attribute the high sale price of these two rings to the immense interest displayed on both items during the bidding process. Ultimately, one lucky person willing to spend over £440k was able to walk away with both rings in hand.

The crown jewel of the auction however, was not in the form of a ring. In fact, it was a diamond necklace. Weighing in at over 14 carats, a pear shaped pendant was saved for the final lot of the auction. Estimated to sell for a steep £200k to £300k, the diamond pendant was said to be one of the most stunning that Bonham’s has ever had to offer. Just as with the other auction pieces, this pendant exceeded all expectations, selling for a final price of £468k.

With such a wide variety of diamond earrings on the market to choose from, there is bound to be a pair to perfectly suit her personality and the occasion, if there happens to be one. Diamond earrings allow you the chance to give her the beauty and dazzle of diamonds without the risk of giving her the wrong message or signal if you’re not at a point where you wish to change the status of your relationship or take it to the next step.

From diamond hoops to chandelier earrings, the selections are seemingly endless. You can choose from white or yellow gold, the ideal way to best complement her skin tone or personal preference. You can also choose to have the diamond earrings set with coloured stones as accents, perfect for representing her birthstone or favourite coloured gemstone. If she prefers the luxury of simplicity, a beautiful pair of diamond solitaire earrings may be just the perfect gift. The added benefit of solitaire earrings is that the stones can be removed from their settings later on to be incorporated into an engagement ring or promise ring. This not only adds a sentimental touch to the ring, it also takes an item from earlier in your relationship and helps carry it through to the next step with you.

One of the easiest ways to make your white gold wedding rings pop is by focusing on the details that go into them.  If you are a nature lover, choose a white gold wedding ring etched with tiny flowers or leaves.  For a more modern appeal, opt for geometric patterns or designs incorporated into the surface of the band.  If romance is more your style, nothing says I love you more than a white gold wedding ring etched with your favourite line of poetry.  You can also choose a special quote or saying that the two of you share to have scribed on the inside or outside of the white gold wedding rings.

While the white gold wedding ring should never try to draw too much attention away form the engagement ring itself, there’s no reason it can’t have a little sparkle of it’s own.  One of the hot trends is having tiny diamonds or other coloured gemstones inlaid into the white gold wedding rings.  These typically range anywhere from three to five small accent stones in each band, just enough to give them that hint of sparkle to catch the eye.

If you want a little more sparkle, perhaps not enough to overshadow the engagement ring but enough to still blend the two together, opt for an eternity style white gold wedding ring.  While the eternity ring design was once reserved for anniversaries of childbirth, they are becoming more and more popular when used in place of traditional white gold wedding rings.  The key to using this design is ensuring the engagement ring itself has enough dazzle and brilliance of it’s own to still remain the central focus.

Overall, there are numerous ways to ensure your white gold wedding rings are as one of a kind as possible.  By using various etching techniques and patterns, adding a hint of sparkle, or opting for all out dazzle, you can make sure to turn heads and get people talking whenever they see your stunning white gold wedding rings.

One of the most affordable ways to make your eternity ring unique is to opt for sparse set diamonds.  This type of eternity ring features bezel set stones that are inlaid into the band at set intervals, offering the sparkle and shine of an eternity ring, with a much lower price point.

Another trend that seems to be all the rage right now is moulded eternity rings.  While channel set rings are completely smooth on either side, moulded rings are fitted to the outlines of the individual stones.  An eternity ring featuring round stones, for example, would have a wave like appearance on either side.  Another popular choice is princess cut stones turned diagonally, creating an angled pattern where the metal wraps the outer edges of the diamonds.

For another twist on the classic eternity ring design, many people are opting for baguette diamonds in a channel setting rather than square stones.  The elongated rectangle shape of the baguettes offer a beautiful variation on the traditional design.

For a more charming twist, you can always opt for more than one cut of diamond.  A growing trend in eternity rings features round and square stones alternating in the band.  While it may seem unconventional at first, the whimsical nature of the design is definitely keeping it on the must have list.

While many eternity ring variations focus on the stones within the rings, others earn more towards the bands themselves.  For an added sparkle, choose a band that is etched or embossed on either side of the stones, often giving the appearance of much larger stones from a distance even though it is simply a design added to the band itself.

Not too long ago, one of the leading diamond ring distributors began a campaign to explain exactly how much a man should be spending on a diamond ring intended for engagement purposes. Their formula encouraged the man to seek out a diamond ring that was equivalent to two months of his salary in price. The formula seemed logical enough and, for many people, it is still very much relied on today as a gauge to determine the correct price range the diamond ring should be in.

What you need to keep in mind, however, is that the formula was created by one of the major player’s in the diamond industry. The most important factor in the equation when selecting a diamond ring shouldn’t be limited to your take home pay. Instead, it should be about what type of diamond ring best expresses the personality and visual preferences of your potential bride to be. There are many times when the ‘perfect’ diamond ring may only cost the equivalent of two weeks pay as opposed to two months. For some, the ring could cost four months salary if the perfect style and design happens to be a pricier piece. The cost of diamond rings is also greatly influenced by the price of gold, still the most common precious metal used for engagement rings. In essence, a ring that costs two months salary one minute may cost three months salary the next.

While the formula may be a great way to give you a general ballpark price range for your ring, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to look above or even below that price point. You may not necessarily want to look for the cheapest ring on the market, but keep in mind that breaking the bank for the largest ring you can find is not the best idea either. While personal financial situations will contribute a great deal to the amount of money you are able to spend, the ‘perfect’ ring is ultimately determined by the look on her face when she says ‘yes’, not the price tag.

The most basic diamond ring of them all is the diamond solitaire. Consisting of a single stone in a precious metal setting, the solitaire ring was long considered the standard for engagement ring purposes. Over the years, however, styles of acceptable engagement rings have broadened, creating a much larger design pool to choose from. The solitaire ring, while not the only style of engagement ring, still remains highly symbolic with regards to marriage proposals.

A diamond eternity ring is designed for two primary purposes. They are intended to be used as gifts to celebrate a wedding anniversary, sometimes replacing the wedding band itself, or they can be given to commemorate the birth of a couple’s first child, sometimes including the child’s birthstone as well as diamonds. Both the full eternity rings and the half eternity rings can be used to represent these two milestones in a relationship.

The three stone ring, like the eternity ring, is also used as an anniversary gift. The stones are symbolic of the couple’s past, present, and future. While some brides to be are choosing a three stone ring in place of an engagement ring, they are typically reserved for anniversary purposes.

The right hand ring, or dress diamond ring, was intended to be marketed towards single women who didn’t feel the need to be in a relationship in order to be able to wear a diamond ring. Because there is no specific style associated with the right hand ring, any of the above designs can be used to represent a woman’s independence.

While there are several other styles and types of diamond rings on the market, these are the primary categories. Keep in mind, however, that just because a ring is traditionally used for one purpose that doesn’t mean you can’t choose your own tradition to create.

The men were reportedly seen driving in a Toyota Avensis with a blue T registration and were reportedly following the victim for some time, waiting for him to reach his destination and exit his vehicle. The primary attacker is described as being “Eastern European appearance, 5ft 8in (1.72m) tall and aged between 30 and 35” according to Det Sgt Nina Winfield. His three accomplices are also described as Eastern European, in their late twenties, and wearing jackets and jean.

Authorities are interested in speaking to anyone who may have witnessed the events and may be able to provide any leads as to the description of the attackers. They are also asking that anyone that comes upon the chance to buy some very well priced diamond rings contact them as soon as possible with details on the seller. The chances of the attackers trying to sell the diamond rings quickly is anticipated.

While the hot diamond ring may be a ’steal’ as far as price goes, as soon as it is traced back to the crime, it will be seized for evidence and you will most likely not be reimbursed for any amount you did pay for it. This incident is yet another of the many examples of why you should always choose a reputable merchant from which to purchase your diamond jewellery. Not only are you guaranteed authentic and legitimate merchandise, you also know you are getting the best quality for your money as well as a product warranty.

The Snow White band features multiple round cut diamonds set into a moulded white gold wedding ring.  The way the metal conforms to the shapes of each round stone helps to create the perfect white gold wedding band to represent one of the most famous princesses in Disney history.

The white gold wedding ring dedicated to the beautiful Sleeping Beauty is a royal beauty indeed.  Featuring a band fully set with delicate princess cut diamonds.  To further add to the beauty of this white gold wedding ring, the portion of the band surrounding the stones in their eternity ring design is cast with a unique embossing, adding even more sparkle and shine.

Everyone’s beloved princess, Belle, nicknamed aptly as Beauty for her stunning visage, has a white gold wedding ring dedicated to her that truly does envision the concept of beauty itself.   The white gold wedding ring itself is created in yet another eternity ring design, this time featuring a series of small round diamonds set around the circumference of the band.  To add a touch of uniqueness, the metal holding each stone in place is slightly cut into, allowing a tremendous amount of light to pass through, as well as under, the stunning diamonds.

The Cinderella white gold wedding ring possesses the same intense dazzle as the Sleeping Beauty band.  This ring, however, features round cut diamonds in place of the square princess cuts that are in the Sleeping Beauty band.  This white gold wedding band, however, features the same beautiful band embossing that helps set both of these eternity ring styled white gold engagement rings apart from the rest of the pack.

The Ariel white gold wedding ring focuses on the beauty of the baguette cut.  Set in a simple yet elegant channel set design, this white gold wedding ring truly gives the appearance of something so beautiful you may only be able to find it under the sea.

Last, but definitely not least, the Jasmine white gold wedding ring opts for detail rather than stone quantity.  This band uses sparsely set princess cut stones mounted diagonally into the band, along with delicate scroll accents to show the world just how amazing slightly understated designs can be at times.

The Cinderella white gold engagement ring features a stunning princess cut stone in the centre, flanked by two smaller stones on either sides.  All of the stones are surrounded by numerous smaller diamonds and mounted in an eternity ring design.

The next white gold engagement ring in the collection is dedicated to Sleeping Beauty.  It features the same elegant centre princess cut stone, this time haloed with a bevy of diamonds in a unique geometric shape.  The setting potion of the band is rich with luxurious inlay cuts and the ring portion is fashioned in the eternity ring design as well.

One of the most dazzling in the collection, the Snow White white gold engagement ring features three beautiful round cut stones which serve as the focal point for the design.  While seven diamonds may have seemed appropriate for this particular design, the white gold engagement ring instead features a band set entirely with smaller round diamonds.  The metal in the band itself is moulded around each stone, creating a unique bubble effect for this unique white gold engagement ring.

Similar in the basic design, the Belle white gold wedding ring is created in a three stone design, beautifully set with one large round diamond, shouldered on each side by two slightly smaller round stones.

The Jasmine ring is, by far, the most unique of all the five designs.  This dazzling white gold engagement ring features three princess cut stones, each set diagonally to create a unique angled design.  Each stone, of course, is surrounded on all sides by smaller diamond accents.

Lastly, the Ariel ring features a design as unusual and intricate as the character it was based on.  This white gold engagement ring combines round stones, baguettes, and unusual bezel setting and inlay cuts to create a dazzling masterpiece.