.: DIAMONDS :.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY DIAMONDS?
Diamond name is derived from the ancient Greek adamas (invincible). Diamonds have been treasured as gemstones since their use as religious icons in ancient India.
Diamonds were known before 3000 BC and until their discovery in Brazil in 1725, India was the principal source of supply. Present sources are Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Botswana, Russia (Yakut), South Africa, Namibia, and Angola; the first two produce large volumes of industrial diamonds. About 50% of diamonds originate from central and southern Africa regions. Today, about 80% of the world's rough gem diamonds are sold through the De Beers Central Selling Organization in London.
Diamonds have become popular since the beginning of 19th century. The growth of world economy plus the ongoing successful marketing and advertising campaigns led to more demands for diamond jewelry around the globe. There has been remarkable increase in production supply. New improved ultra modern techniques of cutting and polishing has further enhanced the quality and helped designers all round the world to bring new exciting designs every season.
Diamonds may be found as alluvial diamonds on or close to the Earth's surface in riverbeds or dried watercourses; on the sea bottom (off southwest Africa); or, more commonly, in diamond-bearing volcanic pipes composed of ‘blue ground’, kimberlite or lamproite, where the original matrix has penetrated the Earth's crust from great depths.
X-ray and other recovery methods generally are used to sort out diamonds from the residue of crushed ground.
Diamond is the allotrope of carbon. Carbon atoms are arranged in an isometric-hex octahedral crystal lattice. It is the hardest known natural material to the mankind. Diamonds are specifically renowned for their superlative physical qualities. Nearly 130 million carats or roughly 26,000 kg are mined annually worth 9 billion dollars in value.
Rough mined diamonds are often dull or greasy. About 50% are considered ‘cut able’ which are cut and polished to finally set into diamond jewelry. Diamonds are sawn and polished using a mixture of oil and diamond powder. The two most popular cuts are the brilliant, for thicker stones, and the marquise, for shallower ones. India is the world's largest cutting center at Surat in Gujrat State.
Unlike many other gems in the market, diamonds are well-suited to daily wear because of its resistance to scratching and are preferred for designing and setting in engagement rings, wedding rings and anniversary rings, which are often worn every day by women and men.
The dispersion of white light into spectral colors is the primary gemological characteristic of gem diamonds. Diamonds can occur in nearly any color, though yellow and brown is by far the most common. Colored diamonds contain impurities or structural defects that cause the coloration, while pure or nearly pure diamonds are transparent and colorless. Grading scale from 'D' (colorless) to 'Z' (light yellow). Are typically used by the jewelers around the world.
Expert appraisers in the field of gemology have developed methods of grading diamonds and other gemstones based on the characteristics most important to their value as a gem. Diamonds are commonly judged by the “four Cs”: carat, clarity, color, and cut.
Natural diamonds are formed naturally within the earth. Synthetic diamonds are purely man-made manufactured. A diamond simulant is defined as a non-diamond material that is used to simulate the appearance of a diamond. Diamond-simulant gems are often referred to as diamante.
The most important factor when buying diamond jewelry is to look at the way the diamond is cut, its proportion and symmetry. How the light reflects on diamond surface is important. Badly cut diamond will neither have brilliance nor high market value. It really is the human factor, the craftsmanship that goes into the shaping the diamond, which makes all the difference. An independent international laboratory and institutions such as GIA, EGL, DCLA, HRD, IGI, and AGS certify the diamonds.
Diamond jewelry is often set in platinum or white gold that not only enhances the color of the jewel, but also makes it appear bigger and attractive though many may still prefer in yellow gold. There are four chief varieties of diamond: well-crystallized transparent stones, colorless or only slightly tinted, valued as gems; boart, poorly crystallized or inferior diamonds; balas, an industrial variety, extremely hard and tough; and carbonados, or industrial diamond, also called black diamond.
1. CUT:
Cut is all about precision and symmetry. The cut gives a diamond its true brilliance, releasing the sparkle within in it, if the cut is well proportioned, then a diamond reflects light internally from facet to facet and disperses it through the crow, or top, of the diamond otherwise badly cut diamond will loose the shine.
2. COLOR:
Diamonds come in many shades and sizes, ranging from colorless, white, yellow and brown to more intense colors such as orange, pink, green and black. Of white diamonds the most valuable is the colorless gem, which is called a D color diamond by the jewelers. In colored diamonds, the higher the intensity of color and brilliance, the more valuable is the piece. Clarity grading is done using a binocular microscope under 10x magnification.
3. CARAT:
Weight of any diamond is measured in carats. One carat is equivalent to 0.2g or equal to 1/5 the of 1 gram, or 0.007 of an ounce and there are 100 points per carat. Typically half or full carat diamonds command higher value.
A diamond's final price is based on two factors: The exact weight and the "price-per-carat". Multiply the price per carat dollar amount by the diamond’s weight for the total and final cost:
Weight X Price per Carat = Total Price.
The "price per carat" is established by a four factors examination: weight, color and quality, cut quality and shape.
4. CLARITY:
The number of flaws or inclusions or spots within a stone and their position determine the diamonds clarity. These inclusions come in the form of carbon spots or fractures, some of which may not be visible to the naked eye. Inclusions affect the brilliance of a diamond. The fewer the inclusions, the better the refraction of light through the diamond, and the higher the value. The clarity of a diamond is also judged by the position of the inclusions; the less obvious an inclusion the higher goes the value.
SHAPE:
Traditional diamond cuts are round brilliant, oval, marquise, pear, heart and emerald. But some of the new cuts are Asher square cut diamond and the Royal Radiant Cut. .
Diamond Wedding Bands
Most customers are absolutely clueless of what to look for when choosing and buying Click here to View
diamond wedding bands. All qualities look alike except designs and styles. There are hundreds of bands to choose from in various price range, colors and quality. It is overwhelming but nonetheless with some knowledge about diamonds can help decide better and make a right perfect buy!
Both men and women prefer to have unique and stylish bands that suit their fashion tastes and lifestyles at affordable prices.
In fact, in the ever-changing fashion world of jewelry, these wedding bands attempted to do something that had not been done earlier in the past. Designers made the setting of diamonds in bands in such a way that with high polished beads of white gold or platinum that couldn't be distinguished from the stone itself. As a result it gave the kind of effect that it would end up looking like a very feminine and yet petite. The look was awesome appearing as micro-thin row of diamonds in a band.
The design of the diamond wedding bands may be different from the single studded band, which is a mixture of Celtic knots. They are stylish and fashionable, yet giving unique and elegant class of look as a stand-alone piece of jewelry on the fingers.
When buying diamond wedding bands one should not forget the true characteristics of diamonds and methods of evaluation - cut, color, carat, clarity and shape.
Today, the round cut diamond is the most preferred type of diamond wedding band.
Many people invest in diamonds that match their personal taste, personality and lifestyle. A small, petite woman may prefer dainty channel-set hoops, while a tall, statuesque lady might wear large, round studs. Because diamonds last a lifetime and are women’s best friends it must define the persona of a wearer.
Princess cut and round brilliant diamonds are some of the most desirable stones. Despite their popularity, they look strikingly different. Channel set diamond wedding bands became very popular and with new micro-wall setting these have become the top biggest selling item now.
