De Beer's Talisman collection of jewels made from both rough and polished diamonds has a distinctive look and the perfect choice if pretty-pretty oh-so perfect polished diamonds are not your bag. And what's more, the rough-hewn diamonds and hand-dinted metal recall ancient myths of the talismanic powers of the diamond. The name De Beers is almost synonymous with diamond solitaire engagement rings. But here is a collection that will make you think twice about diamonds and how to give them to your beloved this Valentine's day. Using both rough stones and polished, these jewels highlight the beauty of this precious stone in its raw form. Different coloured diamonds and shapes are set to evoke the healing and protective powers of this ancient stone. As a diamond is probably the most ancient thing you could wear, with some dating back as far as 2.5 billion years ago, it is fitting to have them in a suitably antique setting. Travellers from Marco Polo's times told tales of the magical stones. Pits full of writhing serpents held the glimmering promise of diamonds. Hunks of meat were thrown down the pit into which the diamonds, that attract oils, would become embedded. Eagles were then set to dive down into the pit. Legend has it that the eagles would drop the diamonds at the top of the pit, interested only in the tasty meat. The ancient Greeks believed they were the tears of gods and called them 'adamas' meaning unconquerable. It is interesting to note that 'madame' has the same linguistic root. So strong was the belief in the indomitable power of diamonds that only kings were allowed to wear them until the 14th Century. It is easy to forget that when diamonds emerge from the earth, they aren't sparkling, perfectly facetted stones but are normally in the shape of a rugged octahedron that looks like two pyramids joined at the base. They have a milky sheen that is lost when the stone is cut and polished at the wheel. This I think only adds to their appeal. If you choose one of these for your beloved, you could always spin the story about the ancient talismanic powers of the diamonds and their protective powers. Well, it's a good story and the jewels are pretty fabulous.
