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Want to know about Diamond...
You know they sparkle. You know they are every girl's best friend. But what makes diamonds so valuable? Diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to mankind. That, along with their brilliance, have made diamonds the quintessential symbol of timeless, enduring love. The simplest of all the gemstones, diamond consists of 99.95% pure crystallized carbon. A diamond begins to crystallize far beneath the earth's surface among a mixture of liquids, gases, and crystals. Diamonds can, in fact, be from 1 to 3 billion years old--more than two-thirds the age of the earth itself.
Diamonds were first discovered in alluvial deposits in southern India about the 9th century BCE, and for centuries India remained the world's primary source of diamonds. This changed in the 18th century with the discovery of large diamond deposits in Brazil in 1725. Over a century later diamonds were discovered in South Africa, and so began the leadership of South Africa in the diamond trade. |
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Diamonds
There are four factors (Four Cs) that contribute most to the value and look of a diamond. These
are :
There is a 5thC
also there, that is confidence
there is sign "If you don't know
diamond
know your diamond dealer with whom
you can have a confidence"
Cut
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Brilliant |
Oval |
Pear |
Emerald |
Marquise |
Heart |
Princes |
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Another factor you'll need to consider when choosing a diamond is its shape. Although 'shape' and 'cut' are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same. There are eight popular shapes into which diamonds are crafted.
Diamonds are available in seven shapes: round (also called brilliant or full-cut), marquise, oval, princess, heart, pear and emerald. Which shape you choose is purely a matter of personal preference. Don't confuse a diamond's shape with its Cut, which is an evaluation of the diamond's proportions (and one of the 4Cs).
Of course, the most popular and commonly seen shape for diamonds is the round or brilliant cut, which has 57 or 58 facets (depending on whether the culet, or point at the bottom of the stone, is faceted or not). It's the 'classic' shape that most people think of when they think of a diamond. But the
round cut is by far not your only choice. All shapes are capable of fantastic fire and brilliance. The only difference is the result of the diamond cutter's decision to cut the rough diamond into that particular shape. A diamond's shape does affect its value, although usually to a lesser degree than its cut does.
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Colour
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Carat
Weight
A carat is a unit of measurement, it's the unit used to weigh a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, or 0.2 grams |
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Clarity
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| F |
Flawless: No internal or external flaws. Extremely rare. |
| IF |
Internally Flawless: no internal flaws, but some surface flaws. Very rare. |
| VVS1-VVS2 |
Very Very Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions very difficult to detect under 10x magnification by a trained gemologist. |
| VS1-VS2 |
Very Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions seen only with difficulty under 10x magnification. |
| SI1-SI2 |
Slightly Included (two grades). Minute inclusions more easily detected under 10x magnification. |
| I1-I2-I3 |
Included (three grades). Inclusions visible under 10x magnification AS WELL AS to the human eye. We do not recommend buying diamonds in any of these grades. |
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Diamonds must be kept clean and be stored carefully when they
are not being worn, or are being packed for travel. Because most
people wear their engagement ring 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
it's essential that you're always mindful of its care. Here are some
more guidelines to help keep your diamond in top condition:
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Avoid wearing your diamonds while doing housework, yard work
or any other kind of rough work.
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When doing household chores, never allow your jewelry
to come into contact with chlorine bleach.
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If you notice a loose stone setting, stones moving or any
other noticeable damage to your jewelry, do not wear the jewelry
until you have taken it to a professional jeweler.
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When you're not wearing your diamonds, be sure to store them
in a fabric-lined case or in a box with dividers or separate
compartments--diamonds can scratch other jewelry as well as each
other.
Diamonds, like anything else, get smudged, soiled and dusty.
Lotions, powders, soaps--even the natural oils from your skin--will
create a film on diamonds, which will reduce their brilliance. In
addition, chemicals in the air will oxidize or discolor the
mountings. Keeping your jewelry clean will maximize its brilliance.
Here are four ways to clean your diamonds:
Detergent Bath:
Prepare a small bowl of warm suds using any mild household liquid
detergent (be sure not to use any cleaners containing chlorine).
Brush the jewelry with a soft brush until you have created a lather
around it. With the jewelry on a plastic or metal strainer, rinse
off with warm water (be sure not to clean your
jewelry over the drain!) Pat your jewelry dry with a soft, lint-free
cloth.
Cold Water Soak:
Make a solution of 4 parts cold-water and 1 part very mild
dishwashing detergent. Soak the pieces for several minutes. Lift out
and tap gently around all sides of the mounting with a soft brush.
Rinse the pieces in the solution once more and drain on tissue
paper.
Quick-Dip Method:
Buy one of the brand name liquid jewelry cleaners, choosing the one
that is best for the kind of stones and metals in your jewelry. Read
the label carefully and follow the instructions. Do not touch your
clean diamonds with your fingers, as the oils from your hands will
leave a film on the stone.
The Ultrasonic Cleaner:
There are many types of these small machines available to the public
today. They will clean any piece of jewelry that can be soaked in a
liquid within a matter of minutes. These machines often have a metal
cup, which is filled with water and detergent. When the machine is
turned on, a high-frequency turbulence is created. Avoid putting
emeralds in ultrasonic cleaners.
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