Diamonds stolen from show display

Diamonds with an estimated value of £200,000 have been stolen during an exhibition in Birmingham - a year after a similar theft at the same event.

Police said the offenders managed to get behind a stall at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and gain entry to a locked cabinet.

The clear, prestige hallmarked diamonds belong to a Belgian firm, police said.

The theft occurred during the Spring Fair, a five-day retailing event where a diamond dealer was targeted in 2007.

West Midlands Police would not confirm how many stones were taken last year.

source from:-http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7228873.stm

Diamonds fail to take shine off India's political champion of the poor as earnings reach £7.7m

· Party members fill the coffers of 'Dalit Queen'
· Anti-corruption raid found 54 bank accounts

Randeep Ramesh in Delhi
Wednesday February 6, 2008


India's so-called Dalit Queen, a former schoolteacher who has become the country's most powerful untouchable politician championing the poorest people, was yesterday revealed to be on track to earn 600m rupees (£7.7m) this year.

Income tax records show that Mayawati Kumari, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has amassed the fortune through political contributions from supporters in her Bahujan Samaj (Majority People's) Party. She has demanded gifts from loyal followers and elected politicians have been asked to donate a minimum of 300,000 rupees (£3,900) a year.

Tips and trivia about diamonds

1. What is a diamond?

Once believed to be the tears of God or splinters of stars, a diamond is carbon in its most concentrated form. The graphite in your pencil is made of the same molecules as your diamond, the atoms are just more compact.

2. Where does the word "diamond" come from?

"Diamond" started with the Greek word "adamas" meaning unconquerable; fitting since it is the hardest natural substance on Earth.

3. Why are diamonds the ultimate symbol of love?


4. Where did the tradition of diamond engagement rings begin?

The modern tradition gets its strength from successful advertising campaigns. But Archduke Maximilian of Austria set the trend in 1477 when he gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond engagement ring.

5. What else are diamonds traditionally used to celebrate?

Diamonds are April's birthstone. The 10th, 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries are also associated with diamonds.

6. Where do diamonds come from?

Natural diamonds are found in kimberlites, or diamond pipes, which were formed by powerful magma eruptions millions of years ago. An estimated 65 percent of the world's diamonds are found in Africa, but other big deposits are found in Australia and Russia.

7. What are the "four C's"?

Knowing the four C's is essential for choosing a quality diamond, not just one that looks good under the jewelry store's lights.

- Color: Most diamonds appear colorless, but almost all contain varying degrees of yellow or brown, sometimes called champagne diamonds. "Fancies" are colored diamonds, which can be found in pink, red, blue, green, amber or black.

- Cut: The cut allows a diamond to make the best use of light. When a diamond is cut to good proportions, light is reflected from one facet to another and then dispersed through the top of the stone. Cut too deep or too shallow and the stone can appear duller. The most common shape is the round brilliant, but you can choose from a marquise, pear, emerald, cushion, oval, baguette, princess, heart or the new flower cuts.

- Carat Weight: Like all precious stones, the weight of a diamond is expressed in carats; a tradition since jewelers weighed gemstones in relation to the seeds of the carob tree. Now standardized, one carat is equal to 0.2 grams. One carat is divided into 100 "points," so that a diamond of 25 points is described as 0.25 carats. Less than 5 percent of all the diamonds made into jewelry are larger than one carat.

- Clarity: Almost all diamonds contain tiny traces of non-diamond crystals, but most are invisible to the naked eye. These hiccups in your diamonds perfection are called inclusions. The fewer inclusions, the more rare and desirable the stone.

8. How do I pick a jeweler to buy my diamonds from?

A good jeweler should be happy to explain the four C's to you, the difference between various qualities of diamonds and how these differences affect the price. To find a jeweler you can trust, ask for recommendations from family and friends. Or, ask the Jewelers of America (www.jewelers.org) or the American Gem Society (www.americangemsociety.org) for a recommendation.

9. What are conflict diamonds?

Also called blood diamonds, conflict diamonds are mined in war-torn countries to fund rebel causes. Amnesty International estimates that the smuggling of conflict diamonds is responsible for 3.7 million deaths in Africa.

10. How do I know my diamond isn't a conflict diamond?

The Kimberley Process is an international initiative to regulate trade in rough diamonds. Kimberley members must meet extensive requirements to call their diamonds "conflict-free." To avoid buying a conflict diamond, only buy diamonds that have guarantees. Reputable jewelers, if abiding by the Kimberley Process, will only buy from suppliers who provide guarantees, which should be recorded in their invoices. The store also should have a clear and firm policy on conflict diamonds.