Zen philosophy, with its roots in Buddhism, is known for its focus on meditation and mindfulness practice. In this tradition, gems, especially quartz, have been used for centuries as tools to facilitate meditation and promote serenity and connection with the world around us. In this article, we will explore how certain gems, such as quartz, are used in Zen philosophy and how these practices can benefit those who practice them.

Quartz and its Meaning in Zen Philosophy

Quartz is one of the most commonly used gems in Zen philosophy due to its unique properties and its connection to the earth. In the Zen tradition, quartz is considered a stone of healing and balance, and it is believed to have the ability to purify the body and mind. Additionally, quartz is associated with mental clarity and concentration, making it a valuable tool for meditation and mindfulness.

How Gems are Used in Zen Philosophy

In Zen practice, gems are used in various ways to facilitate meditation and promote serenity and connection with the world around us. Some of the most common ways of using gems in Zen philosophy include:

Meditation with Gems: During meditation, a gem can be held in the hand or placed in front of one to focus the mind and promote concentration. Quartz, with its calming energy, is especially useful for this practice.

Gems in the Environment: Gems can also be placed in the meditation environment to create a tranquil and harmonious atmosphere. For example, quartz can be placed in a room to promote serenity and calm.

Gems in Jewelry: Some people use gems in jewelry as a constant reminder of serenity and connection with the world around us. For example, a quartz necklace can serve as a daily reminder of the importance of meditation and mindfulness.

Benefits of Using Gems in Zen Philosophy

The practice of using gems in Zen philosophy can have several benefits for the mind and body. Some of these benefits include:

1. Increased Concentration: Gems, especially quartz, can help focus the mind and promote concentration during meditation.
2. Serenity and Calm: Gems are associated with serenity and calm, which can help reduce stress and anxiety.
3. Connection with Nature: Gems, being made of natural materials, can help promote a greater connection with nature and the world around us.
4. Purification and Balance: Quartz is believed to have the ability to purify the body and mind, promoting greater balance and harmony.

The classic, like engagement rings with diamonds, will never go out of fashion, but there are those who seek to be more risky and original opting for a jewel with colored gemstones and thus surprise your partner with a different detail. The designer of 'Gene & Co' jewelry, Gene Set Colquicocha Ochoa, shows us the latest in engagement rings.

Peridot

A natural round cut peridot set in a classic braided solitaire ring is perfect for girls who are modern and like something different.

Amethyst

An oval cut amethyst set in a solitaire ring, an imposing gem, is ideal for brides who do not want to go unnoticed.

Tourmaline

A pink tourmaline with pear-shaped cut, set in a Tiara style ring for classic brides, with 18 carat yellow gold.

Emerald

A classic rosette, with a natural emerald, set with a rosette ring with white and yellow gold, surrounded by diamonds.

Topaz

The ring has a blue topaz set in a leaf model, for those brides who love the sea and dream of getting married during the day.

It competes in brilliance with diamond and is credited with extraordinary qualities.

The zircon is one of the most interesting and misunderstood precious gems of nature, it has been sought and treasured by many civilizations without knowing that it was the oldest gem that has ever existed, but thanks to the American scientists of the university of Wisconsin-Madison and the technological advance of dating has been able to decipher the origin of the zirconium crystallization exactly 4.4 billion years ago.

As it was created in the eons ago and has been known for thousands of years, the zircon has a rich mythology. In the Middle Ages, for example, it was said that zircon helped to rest, induced deep sleep, drove away evil spirits, brought prosperity and promoted honor and wisdom in its owner.

According to some, the zircon relieves pain and is said to prevent nightmares, ensuring a deep and peaceful sleep. Beyond all this, it is believed that the zircon grants the user wisdom, honor and riches.

The brightness of a diamond

The zircon may be the last crystal in the alphabet of precious stones, but its sparkles, sparkles and flashes of color or fire rival the very diamond, so for centuries the natural white or colorless zircons were confused with them, and today in Many jewelers and jewelries day when you speak of zircon confuse it with the zircon, the synthetic crystal used to simulate the diamond, perhaps also because they are quite similar to their names.

Although it is true that the transparent zircon can be confused with diamond and zirconia, it is really known for its brightness and variety of colors. The zircon can be of almost any color you can imagine: including red, yellow, orange, brown, green, champagne, gold and saffron, but the most valued color is blue. All of them are different, pure and have a striking and characteristic fire that distinguishes it from other gems.

The zircon has one of the highest refractive indices in nature, surpassing three of the four large gemstones; ruby, sapphire and emerald. (1.92-2.01).

For gemologists, the refractive index of a precious stone is an optical property that refers to the relationship between the speed of light in vacuum and the speed of light through a transparent gem, a process that divides light into its spectral tones like a rainbow.

Then, the rainbow effect breaks and focuses on the facets of the gem to create the brilliant light show we see. Translated into the language of the rest of the mortals, the zircon is after the diamond the second most brilliant gem of all nature.

In the world of gems, a type of stone is often given different names for each of its colors, and this precious stone is no exception. The blue zircon is also known as the bright blue or "starlite". Jacinto refers to the variety yellow, orange, brown or red. Jergon is the colorless variety, pale gray, golden or pale yellow zircon. Diamante matura is another trade name for colorless zircon.

Where to find it?

Although today it is difficult to find it in the great international jewelers houses that do not want to be in the position of having to explain the difference between a zircon and a zircon, the blue zircon was one of the favorite gems in the Victorian era so we can appreciate it in many jewels of the then designed by the great French firms such as Cartier or Bulgari, although its greatest advocate was the famous gemologist of Tiffany & Co, George Kunz. Who proposed the name «starlite» to promote the igneous nature of the gem.

The zircon like 99% of the colored stones is commonly treated with heat. The brown zircons can be transformed into colorless or blue through thermal treatments. The Zircon is a gem with good hardness on the Mohs scale (6 to 7.5) and a tenacity close to that of the diamond. Its deposits extend from Australia to the United States, but the main source of zircons used for jewelry is in Cambodia, near the border with Vietnam so when it is cut in brilliant cut it is known as the Bright Blue of Cambodia.

How to take care of the zircon?

The care and cleaning of the zircon is simple, it is best to clean the gem with a soft cloth or a brush with soft bristles and a neutral soap. Rinse the zircon with warm water or at room temperature to remove soap residue.

On the other hand you should avoid using ultrasonic ultrasonic cleaners that professionals use, especially if it is blue zircon, and of course you must avoid the use of chemicals or aggressive cleaning agents, especially bleach and acid.

Ultimately the Zircon is a natural gemstone with incredible features, a remarkable gem with wonderful colors and bright flashes of light, a wonderful treasure for jewelry users and gem collectors.

In addition, it is considered one of the natal gems of the month of December so it is a great gift for anyone born the last month of the year or for those who appreciate the dazzling fire of their crystals.

Chocolate Dessert With Diamond

We've already seen a chocolate with diamond, ice cream cone with diamonds other other things that have diamonds like, shoes and bags. Now, here is another chocolate with diamonds from Mervis Diamond Importers, a small chain of jewelry stores in the Washington, D.C., area, who are well known for gaining eyeballs by creating buzz through their successful advertisements.

The latest on this company is the dessert that is made of chocolate, topped with a blackberry that holds a 2 carat ascher cut diamond and costs $18,000. So gentlemen, if you want to give your girlfriend a chocolate and a diamond, this one is a perfect combination for you.

Originally published in http://fine-diamond-jewelry.blogspot.com/

This jewelry editorial for Flair Magazine is a simply delightful spread of color and sparkling jewels. Shot by Alix Malka, who is known for his vision of pop art photography, the editorial features model Lydia Hearst with a face bedazzled with amazing diamonds.

The editorial is a suggestive exhibition of beauty and a girl’s best friend. Alix Malka finds inspiration in artists like Pedro Almodovar.

Other pictures of diamond-studded faces below:

If something characterizes Kim Kardashian are its ostentatious and expensive jewelry that does not hesitate to show off in events and social networks. What are your favorites?

 Necklaces

Engagement Ring 

Choker

Earrings

Long Earrings

Choker

Bracelets and Rings

Cartier reinvents itself by offering a new collection of live expressions that only color can offer. It was at the Fashion Week in Paris that the French house officially unveiled Coloratua, its new collection that celebrates the vibrant color that dwarfs the world with slight nuances that surround the cultures of the entire planet.

As he has been accustomed to his faithful followers, on this occasion Cartier transformed each piece into a work of art; No matter the number of pieces of each jewel, each one will have the elegance of a brand that has created objects of desire and luxury throughout its history. Inspired by colors and cultures, this collection includes noses that highlight the delicacy of Asian influences and the enigmatic Egyptian culture.

Rubies, sapphires, diamonds and emeralds, in all their shades, are some of the precious stones that create a range of sparkles in each of the brand's glamorous creations. All highlight the inspiration of great cultures through designs that have marked their mark over time.

On this occasion, the French firm has had time to play, propose and create. And the lover of the jewels will be able to explore other alternatives to the classic gemstones. Many of the designs are created without pretending that one piece looks more than another, but with the aim of creating synergy between them so that the result is balanced. At the end of the day, they are all precious stones worth bearing.

We've noticed Serena Williams's love of diamonds before but the tennis champ topped herself this time, showing up at a post-match press conference in a diamond necklace worth $2.5 million.

Williams wore the 427-diamond necklace after her first round win over Australian Samantha Stosur at the Sydney International tournament. Williams had met with a jewelry designer in Sydney over the weekend who offered her the pricey piece to wear during a match.

She decided not to play with the necklace because she was too concerned about what would happen to it but decided to wear it to the press conference instead.

Technology for now continues to evolve and it's now a big use to everyone of us. We can use it in our daily life, just like cellphone. Cellphone for now is not just for texting and calling but you can use it for surfing the web and shopping like engagement ring. According to Luxist, shoppers now can buy engagement ring through iPhone. Stuller has partnered with Gemvision Corp. on an app that lets you try on a ring no matter where you are using the iPhone camera. The app is called "Live Diamond Try-On (brought to you by Red Box Diamonds)" and will be available for free this summer from the App store.

Users can select a diamond engagement ring, choosing metal, carat size, style and more then try it out for size on their own hand. To get the full effect you can put the iPhone on your hand and tilt it to get a sense of the ring's sparkle as it shifts. The image can be saved and e-mailed and posted on Facebook or Twitter. The user can then get the real thing using the app's "find a jeweler" function.

Good news to gentlemen who to wish to propose wedding to their girlfriend with no real ring required?

Wittelsbach diamond became the most expensive stone or piece of jewelry ever sold at an auction at Christie’s in Central London. This sky-blue gem was given as the wedding dowry of a Spanish princess “Infanta Magarita Teresa” painted by Velazquez on 1664. The said jewel is originally from India and hasn’t been on the market for 80 years.

According to dailymail, the London Bond Street-based jeweler Laurence Graff paid a whopping £16.4 million (US $24.47 million) for the extraordinary Wittelsbach diamond. Mr. Graff said that diamond might have sold for £50 million if there had been no credit crunch. Graff says that he will reshape the 35.56 carat gem before selling it. Earlier, the diamond was expected to sell for £9 million, but the auction ended with setting the world record for the most expensive diamond.

The inhabitants of the Big Island of that American archipelago have been surrounded by beautiful small greenish stones.

It seems that nature has decided to reward with a shower of green gems the damage caused by the different eruptions of Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii (United States) for more than a month, reports Forbes. Thus, explosions of lava and ash have caused the crater to expel olivine crystals - a common mineral in the area - that have been scattered throughout the territory. "My friends live in Hawaii, right next to the area affected by the most recent lava flows." In full destruction of the surroundings and with stress for the unknown, they woke up with this: small pieces of olivine all over the ground. literally, nature is really amazing, "meteorologist Erin Jordan wrote on her Twitter account.

In Hawaii there are green beaches due to the high concentration of olivine from magma rich in magnesium and iron. "Olivine is not uncommon in Hawaii, it is one of the fundamental components of basalt, a mineral that makes up 99.99% of the rocks of these islands," the GEOetc portal tweeted. 

Normally, the olivine is inside the basalt rocks when Hawaiian lava erupts calmly, but in this case it is striking that it becomes a separate crystal due to sudden ejection and rapid cooling. 

 If someone wants to collect those gems to enrich themselves, they should know that taking stones, minerals or sand from Hawaii is illegal. In any case, the price of each gem varies between 50 and 80 dollars per carat, although fine specimens that are larger, have the right color and are well cut can be worth up to $ 450 per carat.

 Marriage is the ultimate symbol of love and commitment between two people who promise to cherish and care for each other for the rest of their lives. It begins when the man or the woman pops the ultimate question that usually comes with a presentation of a ring. An engagement ring symbolizes one's intention to love you forever which is why even before marriage couples wear a pre-engagement ring, a promise ring or a diamond engagement ring. More than that, it is a symbol of a pre-marriage vow that they are ready to share their life with the other under death to them part.

It is not easy to shop for an engagement ring especially if you don't know what to start or what features should be considered.Of course, it is always easier if the couples shop together, but that is not always the case. Cost aside, there are so many things to consider such as the style and material of the ring's band and gemstone. Each ring has an embedded gemstone which can have a different cut, color and weight. One of the popular designs is the trinity ring, a three-stone diamond engagement ring said to symbolize the couple's past, present and future.

Unlike women, men usually has a wedding band that was also his engagement band. The former, on the other hand, wears an engagement ring after accepting a proposal and a separate marriage band after the wedding. Therefore, getting married will require purchasing, at least, three rings. For many couples, they have opted to purchase a jewelry wedding bands in a matching set that includes a man's wedding band, a woman's engagement ring and a woman's wedding ring.

Getting married means that you are giving your love and dedication to you partner forever, which is the reason why diamonds have been associated with marriage through its rings.Diamonds are the most popular and preferred gemstone for engagement rings and marriage rings because of its breathtaking beauty and natural characteristic of being the hardest mineral. Diamond is ranked as having the highest grade of hardness in the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, a method used in materials science to comparing hardness of stones. In addition, a diamond ring is a good investment because of its resistance to scratches makes it perfect for daily wear.

It is important to do some research and set your budget before shopping for a diamond engagement ring. Diamond rings are more expensive than others because its gemstone is a high-priced, precious commodity. The average price is somewhere between $3,500 and $4,000, depending on the diamond's color, carat weight, cut and clarity. The trick is to look around until you find the ring you feel your girlfriend will like and, at the same time, falling within your budget limit. A diamond ring adds a special feeling to the engagement, but it's size doesn't reflect the level of love you have for each other.

In the end, remember that the focus of marriage if you as a couple, and not the material symbol of it. Set a reasonable budget and stick to it while ring shopping in stores and online. Also, consider buying jewelry wedding bands in a set since these usually come in cheaper. Most importantly, enjoy shopping!This should be an exciting moment for the buyer as much as it will be for the recipient of the ultimate question and the engagement ring.

Popping that question and presenting a diamond engagement ring is a big moment for any couple. After all, a diamond ring represents a long lasting love and eternity which is what marriage is all about. But contrary to this traditional belief, marriage rings need not have diamonds in them. For those with budgetary concerns, there are wedding rings made of other beautiful stones and affordable set of jewelry wedding bands as an option. The important thing is the celebration of true love between the couple, and not the material symbol of it.

 It is said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. And we already Cheryle Cole Diamond-Encrusted Maskssaw diamond-studded faces by Alix Malka, and now here's another dazzling diamond-encrusted masks of Cheryl Cole in Harpers Bazaar. The photo of this beautiful series was taken by Alexi Lubomirski.

The embellished face mask is such a cool look, I think a superhero should be named after it.

If we could all afford these beautiful items, we would be a very sparkly, pretty world.

 The iPad is the hottest invention since sliced bread and it Diamond Encrusted iPad seems everyone and their mother is shelling out the dough for a taste. Now it seems Katherine Hughes and designer Stuart Hughes have designed the ultimate one, as the Supreme Edition iPad is sickeningly gem-ed out.

Made completely out of diamonds and gold, this Supreme Edition iPad is not for the faint-hearted. This one-of-a-kind iPad puts to shame the plain ones and sets a whole new bar for ultra luxury.

"The front and the back of the device is fabricated from solid 22ct gold and weighs quite a cumbersome, 2,100 grams. To further glorify this unique creation, Ms. Hughes has used 53 individually set sparkling gems in conjunction with the 22ct Apple logo and the iPad has been encrusted with 25.5 cts of ‘I’F’ Flawless diamonds."

 Lots of people loves to travel to different parts of the world. Most of them enjoying on looking in some beautiful places. But besides on this, some of them also accidentally forgot their valuable personal belongings and hard to track on where they left this. This is frequent to happen not only for ordinary person but also for famous people. Just like Angelina Jolie.

Jolie left her pair of Asprey diamond earrings at the Dorchester hotel. She wore the diamond earrings with her Armani Prive dress at the Bafta awards but left them in her suite at the Dorchester hotel before taking off.

According to the Daily Mirror, Jolie realized that she had forgotten the earrings before leaving the country and called the hotel which found them and sent them on to Los Angeles. The total amount of the said diamond earrings is £1.1 million.

 We've already seen Hello Kitty ring encrusted with diamonds, gold and ruby as well as Barbie diamond pendants. And now, here is another fine jewelry and watch line inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants, a cartoon character.

The line will include pieces in gold, silver and enamel and products will sell for $150 to $75,000. The line will debut in the fall. The 12-carat total weight diamond-encrusted SpongeBob pendant shown here will be auctioned off for charity with proceeds benefiting Simmons's Diamond Empowerment Fundwhich funds schools in Africa.

Simmons Jewelry, the creator of the Hello Kitty fine jewelry line, Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products partner on co-branded SpongeBob SquarePants fine jewelry line.

 Lots of expensive bags nowadays are also with diamonds. Just like the Hermes Birkin Himalayan bag. It is one of the Victoria Beckham’s collection. Her bag collection continues to grow as she shows off her latest addition — a limited edition Hermes Birkin Himalayan bag. The Hermes bag, which is one of three in the world, costs her £80,000 ($116,665). What makes it so expensive are hundreds of diamonds etched on its body, including a three-carat diamond on the lock.

Victoria showed off her diamond-studded handbag in Dubai as husband David made his debut for AC Milan Victoria. Beckham, the 34-year-old former Spice Girl, who owns this luxury bag that is so elegant, chic and so posh, is certainly one of those three lucky ladies on the earth to have one.

 Not to be outdone by those 'other' ultra expensive gem rich timepieces, watch maker Girard Perregaux creates what is possibly it's most expensive watch yet - and it's for the ladies. The popular Cat's Eye line serves as the base for the Girard Perregaux Cat's Eye Haute Joaillerie fully diamond encrusted watch.

For those who haven't made the connection (or know French) "joaillerie" means "jewelry." This watch is as much decoration as it is a fine timepiece with a Girard Perregaux automatic GP033R0 mechanical movement inside; visible through the sapphire crystal covered caseback window. The 35.25mm x 30.25mm case itself is18k white gold, with an interesting close-link bracelet (can you wear the extra links as jewelry too after sizing the watch?). I really like how the crown, with its star shape engraving, is set into the case itself, only protruding when you set the watch. Aside from the small seconds dial (part of the crescent moon), the face features a power reserve indicator that makes up the comet trail for the star in between the 3 and 4 o'clock position.

 Jewelry shopping has already seen a hit this year due to the recession, but nevertheless, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” still holds true. Even Barack Obama will agree with it, and that pretty much explains his choice of gift for his wife, Michelle.

A spokesman for top Italian designer Giovanni Bosco has confirmed that President-Elect Barack Obama is looking to purchase a $30,000 Harmony ring made of rhodium and encrusted with diamonds to say “thanks for your support”.

We expect the future First Lady to receive the ring in time for her husband's January inauguration ceremony. The gift is a thank you for her support throughout the last two years of campaigning.

One of the world's rarest and most precious metals, only about 25 tons of rhodium are mined each year, setting the price at over $7,660 per ounce -- or about ten times the cost of gold. The ring may be uncharacteristically extravagant for Mrs. Obama, but we're sure she'll find a way to wear it with all her usual grace and confidence.

 Last year, the largest D-color flawless diamond sold for nearly £8 million at Sotheby’s. Now, Christie’s might see a diamond being sold out for as much as £10 million when it goes on sale in London on December 10.

This extraordinary blue-grey diamond was given to Infanta Margarita Teresa by her father King Philip IV of Spain. This girl was the portrayed in Las Meninas, the famed painting by Spaniard Diego Velázquez. It is said that the Wittelsbach diamond is originated from the Indian diamond mines. It was then passed into the Austrian and then Bavarian crown jewels, before being sold into individual hands in 1931.

This stunning 35.56 carat gem is almost an inch across and is the star lot in Christie’s auction Jewels: The London Sale. The nearest comparable coloured diamond sold at Christie's was one just a third of the size, a 13.39 carat intense blue diamond that fetched $8.9 million (£5.5 million) in May.

François Curiel, chairman of Christie's Europe and its international head of jewellery, said: "It is a great honour and a lifetime dream to handle a museum quality stone such as the Wittelsbach.

"The appearance of a large blue diamond, among the rarest of colours, with a history that can be traced back to the 17th century and 300 years of royal connections will surely be a thrilling occasion for all collectors of exceedingly rare jewels and works of art."