Pink Diamonds for Valentine's Day

Most of us think of diamonds as pure and colorless as distilled water. We see diamonds as translucent and transparent, and we call them ice. But did you know that one of the most famous crown jewels of the world, Persia's Darya-e-Noor, is actually a pink diamond?

The Darya-ye Noor دریای نور means "Sea of Light" in Persian and is one of the largest diamonds in the world, coming in at 182 carats (36 g). Its pale pink color is one of the rarest to be found in diamonds. The Darya-ye Noor is on display at the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran as part of the Iranian Crown Jewel collection.

Pink diamonds generate a warmth and lustre that is not found in their more conventional counterparts. If you are looking for a unique gift this Valentine's Day, a pink diamond ring might just be the thing. Far from being a frivolous choice, you gift will signify a unique connection to the royal family of Persia and to the Le Vian dynasty of jewelers.

The Darya-e-Noor was mined in Andhra Pradesh, India. It was owned by the Mughal Emperors of India. But one day, sometime in 1739, Nader Shah, the King of Persia, invaded India with a mighty army, took possession of Delhi and massacred many of its people. When he returned the crown of India to the Mughal emperor, Nader Shah kept for himself most of the crown jewels of India, the Darya-e-Nur chief among them. For years this important jewel was kept by the Le Vian family on behalf of the whoever was the current King of Persia. The last to wear it was Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi at his coronation in 1967.

Now that there is no Shah of Iran, the jewel is a symbol of a bygone era kept under guard by those who despise beauty and personal adornment.

While few among us are royalty, we can all possess the lustrous warm glow of a pink diamond of our very own.

The pink diamond engagement ring featured above is available from Amazon. At 1.55 carats, it is no match for the Darya-e-Noor, but is quite respectable for any modern day princess or commoner.

The center radiant cut natural diamond is a vivid pink and is color treated, while the side round cut diamonds are .55 carats and are white diamonds of even clarity.

For those who feel 1.55 carats are not enough, a very intriguing choice is this pear shaped pink diamond engagement ring that weighs in at 1.70 carats.

Better yet, this unusual center round cut natural diamond is vivid fancy pink color treated and weighs 1.45 ct with SI1 clarity enhanced. The side round cut diamonds are 1.25 ctw with H color and SI clarity.

If you want to get yourself a pink diamond ring, I recommend this one, as it is not a classically designed engagement ring, and it might even be mistaken for a class ring.

Another very good choice is the Princess Cut pink diamond engagement ring, A little chunkier than the other models, it goes well with vintage clothing and a night out on the town.

The history of pink diamonds starts with conquest, pillage and looting. It continues with a bloody revolution that ripped the shah from his throne, and transported the Le Vian family from Iran to the United States. Pink diamonds are powerful and mysterious. Thrones have toppled and fortunes have been made and lost. Still, the allure of a diamond that special shade of pink cannot be denied.

This year on Valentine's Day, consider pink diamonds. They are an affordable luxury.

Copyright 2011 Medora Trevilian