Outline
Diamonds are some of the most coveted diamonds on the planet. Since olden days, mankind has been enchanted by the unique beauty and infinite shine of this gem. The diamond is the only jewel composed of a single element, carbon, and is known to be the hardest naturally occurring mineral on the earth. Within the earth's crust, this gorgeous gemstone is created under extreme temperatures and pressures. It is a really unique gemstone due to its chemical makeup, structure, and formation process.
Diamonds are believed to have first been mined in India approximately 4000 years ago along the banks of the Krishna, Penner, and Godavari rivers. India started trading diamonds as early as the 4th century BC, according to historians. Brazil became a significant source of diamonds in the 18th century. The first major diamond resource in South Africa was discovered in the late 1800s.
Diamonds are nowadays mined in various places of the world. Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Russia, and Canada are some of the most prominent sources.
The name diamond comes from the Greek word 'adamas,' which means "invincible" or "indestructible." Diamonds are noted for their incredible hardness, scoring 10 on the Mohs scale. A diamond can only be scratched by another diamond. Diamonds are available in a variety of colors in addition to white. Yellow and brown are the most popular diamonds, while blue, green, orange, and red are the rarest.
Symbolism
Fearlessness, abundance, perfection, and illumination are all attributes associated with diamonds. It is renowned as the 'Stone of Invincibility' due to its unyielding hardness. Diamonds are also believed to bring its wearer triumph and power. Diamond gemstones are also considered to be the birthstone for those born in the month of April. It is also the gemstone connected with the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries. This jewel, which is a symbol of purity, love, and eternity, is a favorite center stone for engagement and wedding rings.
According to legend, the God of Mines formed diamonds by crushing and merging rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other jewels of various hardness. Diamonds were once associated with the butterfly, an emblem of transformation and immortality for Native Americans. Diamonds were thought to increase one's energies, both positive and negative, in ancient times.
Jewish High Priests believed that when put in front of a guilty person, a diamond would dim and darken, but when held in front of an innocent person, it would light brilliantly. Diamonds were considered to be the tears of the gods or splinters from falling stars by the ancient Romans and Greeks. Cupid's arrows were said to be tipped with diamonds as well. Diamonds were even described by Plato as living beings who embodied celestial spirits.
The first diamond ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke Maximillian of Austria when they were betrothed in 1477. This established a trend among European aristocracy and nobles. Diamond engagement rings were very expensive and only available to wealthy households. The discovery of diamond mines in South Africa increased the availability and affordability of this lovely stone.
Grades
Every diamond is unlike every other. A diamond's quality and price are influenced by a number of factors such as color, cut, clarity, and carat.
Color
Diamonds are available in a variety of hues. Diamonds in the normal color group span from colorless to light yellow to brown. Colorless diamonds are the most expensive and rarest of all of them. There are also 'fancy' diamonds that are less expensive and available in red, pink, yellow, purple, blue, and green. 'Champagne' and 'cognac' diamonds are terms used to describe brown and yellow diamonds.
Even the slightest color shift can drastically influence a diamond's value. The official standard color grading system for diamonds ranges from 'D' to 'Z'. Diamonds with a Z-K rating have noticeable color and are not very valuable. J-I are almost colorless, with a warm tone that can be detected. H and G are nearly colorless as well. Unless they are compared to a colorless stone, it is difficult to tell what hue these diamonds are. Although F and E appear colorless to the naked eye, an expert gemologist can identify minute amounts of color. D-graded diamonds are colorless, highly rare, and extremely precious.
Clarity
Inclusions diminish a diamond's clarity and value. Diamonds with no defects or imperfections are the most valuable. Only about 20% of all diamond deposits have any gemstone value, with the rest being too opaque or imperfect. The size and appearance of imperfections and inclusions are used to determine the clarity of diamonds.
The clarity grades range from 'FL' (Flawless) to 'I3' (Imperfect) (large inclusions visible to the naked eye). Internally Flawless (IF) diamonds have no internal or exterior flaws, while Flawless (FL) diamonds have no internal flaws. Under a 10x magnification, very very slightly included (VVS1, VVS2) diamonds have imperfections that are hard to see. Diamonds that are Very Slightly Included (VS1, VS2) have flaws that are not noticeable to the naked eye. Slightly Included (SI1, SI2) ones have flaws that may be seen under 10x magnification and may even be seen with the naked eye. Minor inclusions will be evident to the naked eye in included (I1, I2, I3) graded diamonds.
Cut
A diamond's overall beauty, fire, and luster are determined by its cut. To put it another way, the finer the cut, the more the sparkle. Nearly all of the light that penetrates the diamond is reflected by an excellent cut. Compared to a poorly cut diamond, the cut is the most essential quality component in a diamond, since a well-cut diamond will look larger and have increased color and clarity. Brilliance, fire, and scintillation are the three optical effects that determine a diamond's allure.
Carat
The unit of weight measurement used to weigh diamonds and jewels is the carat. It just measures the weight of the diamond, not its size. Little diamonds are less expensive per carat than larger stones of the same quality because small stones are more frequent and huge stones are more uncommon. Other characteristics such as color, cut, and clarity can affect the price of a diamond of the same carat weight.
Shapes
A diamond's shape refers to its physical form. While round diamonds are the most common, fancy diamond forms princess, cushion, emerald, asscher, radiant, oval, pear, marquise, and heart are also popular. Each shape has its own distinct appeal and allure. While certain shapes maximize light returns, others emphasize the diamond's clarity.
Round
Till date, the most common diamond shape has been the round brilliant cut. Diamond cutters have been attempting to maximize the fire and brightness of round diamonds for nearly a century. Round brilliant diamonds are the most popular choice for engagement and wedding bands.
Princess
Princess cut diamonds are the second most popular diamond shape. The sparkling sparkle of princess cut diamonds is similar to that of round brilliant diamonds. Its unusual square shape gives it a fresh, modern appeal.
Cushion
For more than a century, the cushion shape has been popular. Cushion cut diamonds are identical to square cut diamonds, with the exception that they have softer, rounded edges. The classic cushion shape works well in a variety of settings.
Emerald
Emerald cut diamonds are prized for their distinct yet exquisite appearance. Emerald cut diamonds have beveled corners and step facets, resulting in outstanding clarity, color, and sparkle.
Asscher
Joseph Asscher, a renowned diamond cutter, invented the asscher cut in 1902. It's very similar to the emerald cut, except that it is square and has cut corners.
Radiant
The radiant cut combines the beautiful emerald cut with the brilliant round cut to create a stunning result. This cut is relatively recent in the jewelry industry, having been introduced roughly 20 years ago.
Oval
The fire and brilliance of an oval diamond are comparable to that of a round diamond. The extended shape gives it the illusion of a larger diamond.
Pear
A pear diamond is cut in the shape of a drop of water. One side has a rounded edge, while the other has a tapering tip. The round and marquise cuts are combined in the pear shape.
Marquise
A marquise diamond features graceful elongated facets that look incredibly lovely. It looks magnificent especially when paired with round or pear-shaped side stones.
Heart
Heart-shaped diamonds are a fantastic choice for engagement or anniversary jewelry since they are the perfect symbol of affection and love. It's also one of the hardest diamond shapes to make.
Identifying Real Diamonds
A diamond's distinctiveness makes it easy to admire. It is one of the world's most valuable gemstones. The high demand for this gleaming gem has resulted in a surge of fake diamonds. This is how you can tell if a diamond is real.
- Hold the stone up to the light to see how it glistens. Inside a real diamond, it will sparkle gray and white, whereas fakes would have rainbow colors exposed.
- Place the stone in front of your lips and take a deep inhale through it. It's possible that the stone is a fake if it's fogged for more than two seconds.
- Real diamonds will have a few flaws when viewed under a magnifying glass, but lab-grown and fake diamonds will appear flawless. Furthermore, real diamonds have sharp edges rather than smooth edges.
- Using sandpaper, rub the stone. A genuine diamond will remain perfect, however a faux diamond will scratch.
- On a sheet of paper, keep your loose diamond. It isn't a true diamond if you can see the writing enlarged through it.
- Using a penlight, shine a light through the stone. A halo is created by real diamonds, however a false diamond allows light to pass through to the opposite side.
- Heat will also reveal whether or not your stone is genuine. Glass may shatter, but a genuine diamond will not be affected.
- Other stones that closely resemble a genuine diamond include white topaz, white sapphire, cubic zirconium, and moissanite.
Chemically, optically, and physically, lab-grown diamonds are similar to natural diamonds. They are practically flawless since they are created in laboratory environments utilizing advanced technical techniques.
Care Guides
Although diamond is the hardest natural object on the planet, it is susceptible to fracturing when set in a ring, bracelet, or pendant. Its lustre and sparkle will be diminished as a result of everyday wear and dirt accumulation. If you take proper care of your diamond, it will sparkle for many years' time.
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Individually wrapped in muslin cloth or within jewelry pouches, store your diamond jewels in a fabric-lined jewel box.
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Chemicals in body lotions, cosmetics, and perfumes might ruin your diamonds therefore use them before putting on your priceless diamond jewelry.
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To preserve the diamond's sparkle, remove your diamond jewelry before swimming or having a shower.
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Use lukewarm water and mild dish soap to clean your jewels. If necessary, use a gentle brush. After rinsing, dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
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Make sure the settings on your diamond jewelry are secure on a regular basis.
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Have your diamond jewelry professionally checked at least once a year. Your jeweler may clean and repair your jewelry, as well as tighten loose settings.