The Origin
Diamonds are fashioned by nature, roughly 150-200 km beneath the floor of the Earth. A lot of the diamonds that exist now have been fashioned billions of years in the past, which make them treasured. Not like different gem stones, they’ve a deeper origin and are made of 1 factor, carbon. As soon as mined, they’re sorted in several classes when it comes to weight, color and readability. They’re then crafted and smoothened out in several sizes and shapes.
(Uncut diamonds)
The Principal Traits
A diamond is outlined and valued based mostly on 4Cs, that are recognized to be its principal options. The principal parts that outline their magnificence, worth and high quality worldwide are:
CUT: A diamond’s magnificence is set by its reduce, which displays the sunshine exquisitely. It shouldn’t be too deep or flat and reduce in good symmetry. The aspects must align completely to maximise their sparkle.
COLOUR: The brilliance can also be outlined by the diamond’s color. They need to both be clear or uniformly colored.
CLARITY: Identical to the right reduce, a diamond must also have utmost readability. Their magnificence can also be outlined based mostly on how a lot readability it possesses.
CARAT: The final distinguished characteristic is the diamond’s Carat – which refers back to the weight of a diamond. One carat is the same as 200 milligrams. Even a fraction of distinction in carat could make a substantial distinction in its financial worth.
This technique of grading diamonds was invented by GIA (The Gemological Institute of America), an institute devoted to analysis and training within the discipline of gemology. The 4Cs is the common commonplace for evaluating diamonds. As soon as a diamond has gone via GIA’s grading system, it will get an evaluation report which states the diamond’s 4Cs together with a diagram of its readability, traits and a graphic illustration of the diamond’s proportions. It helps in guaranteeing whether or not the diamond is in its pure kind (with none remedy) or not.
(GIA diamond grading report)
The GIA web site states, “GIA licensed diamond is a misnomer. GIA doesn’t certify diamonds – it grades them. The phrases ‘GIA certificates’ and ‘GIA cert’ are generally used within the jewelry business to seek advice from diamonds which have undergone GIA’s rigorous grading course of and to the experiences that accompany them. GIA itself doesn’t use the phrase “certificates” to explain the doc it points. GIA examines the diamond, assesses its qualities based mostly on the 4Cs, and describes it. It doesn’t certify the diamond or its worth. Slightly, like different scientific laboratories, GIA points a report on the outcomes of its analysis of a selected diamond and believes “report” is the suitable time period to explain its grading outcomes.”
The fifth C (Confidence)
In terms of diamond buying, there’s loads to be taught. Most shoppers are conscious of the 4Cs, however there may be additionally a fifth C, which is Confidence. It’s the certification, which states the primary components of the diamond. It helps in guaranteeing if the diamond has all of the options described by the vendor. Forevermark additionally grades the standard of their diamonds. Forevermark is a diamond firm and subsidiary of De Beers, which is taken into account because the world’s largest producer and distributor of diamonds. Their grading certificates present an in-depth info on the reduce, readability, color and caratage of the diamond.
Sachin Jain, President at Forevermark India, factors out that there are a lot of parameters past the 4Cs which can be assessed when a diamond is within the strategy of getting a Forevermark certification. “One should look out for certifications from world and revered organisations,” he recommends.
(Diamond certification by Forevermark)
He additional provides, “We’re the biggest diamond mining firm on the earth and fewer than 1% of the world’s diamonds are eligible to develop into a Forevermark diamond. The factors of high quality are so strict and tight. We assure our shoppers that they’re shopping for a diamond which is able to maintain worth for the remainder of its life.”
Laser Inscriptions
Many diamonds include a singular serial quantity laser inscribed by GIA which helps in matching the diamond to its certification. GIA solely grades free diamonds and its processing price for his or her companies varies on the burden of the gemstone. At an extra price, a particular quantity may be laser inscribed on the diamond’s girdle – the periphery. This distinctive quantity offers added safety to the diamond’s proprietor.
(Diamond with GIA Laser Inscription)“At Forevermark, a diamond has to undergo 29 completely different high quality exams. And in the event that they qualify all of the exams, a diamond will get a singular quantity inscribed. It represents a three-fold promise: The diamond is gorgeous, uncommon and responsibly sourced,” explains Sachin.
(The Forevermark inscription is 1/5000th the width of a human hair)
Common Diamond Shapes
A diamond may be reduce in any form after mining. Amongst many shapes, the most well-liked are- Spherical, Princess, Oval, Marquise, Pear, Cushion and Emerald, and so forth. Let’s dig into the historical past and information of a few of the hottest diamond shapes:
(Diamond cuts)
Spherical Good: That is the most well-liked form and it has been round for the reason that 17th century. The form is designed in such a approach that it produces most brightness. It’s mostly used for engagement rings, earrings and pendants. “It’s estimated that 75% of all diamonds offered are round-shaped and in keeping with analysis by The Knot, 53% of engagement ring centre stones are spherical.”
(The Good (Spherical Good) Minimize; Picture courtesy: Forevermark)
Oval: It is among the oldest shapes recognized in historical past. The world-famous Koh-I-Noor is an oval-cut diamond, which was first found in India within the 13th century and now resides within the Tower of London in the UK. The oval form is an elongated model of the spherical form and creates an phantasm that the finger is longer and slimmer.
(The Oval Minimize; Picture courtesy: Forevermark)
Princess: This square-cut form diamond is the second hottest diamond form after the spherical form. Its roots hint again to 1960s and it turned fairly in style throughout the 1980s. It is among the fiercest diamond cuts in style available in the market right now. The primary attribute of this reduce is that it releases much less tough waste, because it makes use of as much as 80% of the tough stone as in comparison with different shapes.
(The Princess Minimize; Picture courtesy: Forevermark)
Cushion: It’s a square-cut diamond with spherical corners and has develop into some of the fascinating shapes now. The reduce could seem trendy, however it has an extended historical past and traces again to the 17th century. Generally known as ‘previous mine reduce’ up to now, lots of the world’s well-known diamonds are on this form. These embody the Hope Diamond, the Regent Diamond, the yellow Tiffany Diamond and Napoleon Diamond necklace with 28 mine-cut diamonds.
(The Cushion Minimize; Picture courtesy: Forevermark)
(Hope Diamond; Picture courtesy: GIA)
(The Tiffany Diamond; Picture courtesy: Tiffany & Co)
(Napoleon Diamond Necklace; Picture courtesy: GIA)Spherical, Princess and Cushion reduce are probably the most most well-liked shapes for engagement rings. “Each diamond is particular. Each diamond holds a message of permanence and is a present of mom nature. It does one thing inside the center. While you purchase diamonds of events that are timeless, easy designs and basic merchandise are a lot better,” quotes Sachin.
“Should you purchase one thing which may be very excessive style, very right now and classy, the longevity is approach shorter. My solely enter can be, for particular events, one ought to all the time be inclined in the direction of a basic piece,” he additional provides.
Disclaimer: Content material Produced by The Gem & Jewelry Export Promotion Council
