First Step: Have the Diamond Ring Appraised

Before even contacting any potential sellers with regard to the diamond ring, it is important to know exactly how much your ring is worth. The best way in which to do so is to have the piece of jewelry appraised by a certified appraiser. This individual will inspect the ring and determine the worth thereof by engaging in various observations and appraisal procedures. After the appraisal has been completed, it is a good idea to have the appraiser issue a certificate stating the results so that the seller can supply it to the buyer if so requested.

Second Step: Determine How You Want to Sell the Item

The next step is to determine how you wish to sell the item. There are many different avenues one can pursue with regard to selling their diamond ring. Some prefer to sell it through ads in the paper whereas others may find that online sales provide wonderful convenience and a great way to find a buyer for the ring. In addition, some jewelry stores may purchase used diamond rings and pay the seller up front for the ring. Any of these sales options provide a good way to sell an old diamond ring and provide the seller with money for their used diamond jewelry.

Final Step: Part with the Item

The final step, which is sometimes most difficult for individuals, is where one parts with their diamond jewelry. Although the gemstone is considered to be old, it may still hold some sort of sentimental value even though the current owner wishes to part with it. Arrangements need to be made with regard to passing the diamond jewelry over to its new owner. The diamond ring will be given to the buyer in exchange for the agreed upon sum of money.

Summary of Important Points

In summation, some of the steps one should take when selling their diamond ring to either individuals or jewelers include determining the worth of the item, deciding how you want to sell the piece of diamond jewelry and then taking that final step with regard to exchanging the gemstone for money. Selling an old diamond ring is often a big step in the lives of individuals who do so yet it is well worth it if they wish to get rid of the ring and receive some money in return for doing so.

James Greene is a Graduate Gemologist and Master Gemologist Appraiser. James has been in the Diamond, jewelry, and appraisal business for over 25 years and specializes in Diamond Engagement Rings and Loose Diamonds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Greene

You will find that the diamond colors which are used for rings are white diamonds, pink Argyle diamonds, blue diamonds and yellow diamonds to give you a few examples. The rare red and pink diamonds look really fabulous in modern classic diamond ring style. The current traditional use for diamond rings is that of engagement rings.

You will see that diamond rings are used for wedding rings, men’s signature rings - although the diamonds which are found on these rings are of the small variety - and fancy diamond ring designs. The shapes of these diamonds are designed and chosen so that they enhance the wearer’s finger. By choosing a ring shape which complements your finger you will find that diamond rings make a statement about the way that you feel about yourself.

Depending on the ring which is chosen your state of mind will also be revealed. For instance the main idea of diamond rings which are used as an engagement ring is that you are well loved and your fiancé has felt that you are worth the purchase of a diamond. Since the saying diamonds last forever is true you can expect that this ring that you have chosen represents the level of commitment in a relationship.

For other people who like the idea of wearing diamond rings these rings are the perfect complements to any outfit. The choice of diamond that you choose will in some cases limit what types of clothes that you wear. For instance you can wear a yellow diamond with colors that will not make the diamond ring look garish.

Besides buying natural diamond rings there is another type of diamond that you can buy. These diamonds are synthetic diamonds. These diamonds have been made so that they closely mimic the brilliance of these faux diamonds. The prices of these diamond rings are not as expensive as your ordinary diamond ring.

Now unless you have some experience with diamonds there is no way that an ordinary person will know if you are wearing a real diamond or a man made diamond rings. The best thing that you can do is to enjoy the pleasure of wearing one of the timeless beauties.

Thus they drill holes to the flaws and bleach out the dark inclusions and usually fill the holes or large inclusions that break the surface up with a compatible material. The only problem is that this makes the diamond unstable you can’t work on the ring. It can’t be cleaned in a real ultrasonic or steamed and it needs to be. Diamond is magnetic to oil and it needs to be heated to release the oil from the stone. There is no way to care for your diamond like a natural diamond. Find a nice GIA cert diamond SI 2 in clarity and F- G in color with a good make, or an EGL SI1 EF as they are much more leaning in there grading.

Please realize that a clarity enhanced stone is filled with a substance that fills in any fractures in the diamond, this may help to disguise any fractures or feathers in the stone, but it will also diminish the fire and brilliance of the stone and you still will have an imperfect diamond. However if price and size at a “price”are primary by all means purchase a clarity enhanced stone. But please remember an “edsel” is an “edsel” forever.

You will be better off long term, that way you can upgrade. The certificate acts like a pink slip to your car it is very important. Would you buy a car without a pink slip? You can also do a diamond halo around the center diamond to make it look bigger!!! 1 carat can look three carats. It is very fashionable.

The process used to fill surface breaking cracks in diamonds is to “impregnate” them with a lead rich glass. The original clarity of these treated diamonds was I2-I3. I would be skeptical of any gemological testing lab that would grade a Clarity enhanced diamond VS2.

That being said, I have seen some incredible looking diamonds that OVED has treated. I have usually sold them for earrings or pendants because I know they will suffer minimal wear under those conditions, but I recall an engagement ring or two that I’ve mounted with clarity enhanced diamond. I think they fulfill a need in the marketplace and offer customers another option. I would definitely go with one of the companies, like Ovid, that offer a lifetime warranty….just in case.

I just hope that you are very honest with your fiance about the ring that you would like to get. You don’t need to show her what the ring looks like, make it so that she can just make out in her mind what she thinks that ring might look like or you can always take a picture of a ring that kind of looks like that one you want and tell her that. If she is fine with it then I hope that you make a good choice.

Victor Epand is the owner of http://www.JewerlyGift.biz, a huge online jewelry superstore featuring the greatest selection of jewelry including personalizable items. Clearance Sale items are here: http://www.jewelrygift.biz/collection/clearance-sales.html .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Of the 4-Cs, clarity is the hardest to determine by the average consumer and one of the reasons to buy from a trusted jeweler. Grading starts at IF (internally flawless), followed by VVS1 and VVS2 (Very very slightly included). These two grades are very uncommon and for the money, is not a good value to buy a stone in. You can never differentiate a diamond between VVS1 and VS1 even under 100X magnification, yet the price difference could be thousands of dollars. People who want the best quality and value usually buy in the VS1 or VS2 level. SI-1 and SI-2 are the next level. SI stands for slightly included with SI-1 being clearer than an SI-2 stone. If you see a stone that has a lot of inclusions under a microscope but is not visible to a naked eye, this is an SI-2 stone. Any stone that has flaws visible to a naked eye will be an SI-3 or sometimes labeled as an I-1 stone. The rapport will grade these stones down to an I-3. These are usually the stones that are advertised for $399 a carat. For engagement ring quality diamonds, it is recommended not to go below an SI-2.

Of the 4cs, Color is the most visible to the buyer. The color chart starts at D, with D/E/F being the most pure and the most white of all the diamond colors. The second category is G/H/I, which is considered the near colorless category and will have a varying hint of color. When the majority of the diamonds were formed, gaseous elements such as nitrogen were trapped in the carbon lattice thus causing variation in the diamond colors. Within the J/K/L range, the buyer will be able to see varying degrees of yellow in the stones. Although color is graded down to Z, the rap sheet stops at M. For engagement ring quality, anything below the color “I” is not recommended. The lower color stones are usually made for other purposes.

Because the prices for color do vary greatly, it is imperative for the buyer to be able to differentiate between the colors. The only way to truly grade the color is to compare the stones upside down, against a white background and compare it to a master set of stones. For example, to see an E color stone, it must be compared against a D and an F stone. It is impossible to see color set in a mounting and empirically state the exact color. For people who want the best value and quality, buying a G color stone is ideal. A G color stone is noticeably whiter then the H, but it is priced in the near color-less category of stones, where the savings will be greater. To go with a high color and lower clarity combination, such as an E color but good SI-2 clarity will also yield a good value.

Carats or the weight of the diamond is the 3rd determinant of price. 100 points equal a carat, and is impossible for human eye to see. Though a diamond can be 1 carat in weight, it can look bigger or smaller than its carat weight states. So when buying a round diamond of 1 Carat size, look for stones that are at least 6.2mm in diameter. Also, because the jewelry industry has a tolerance level of 5% difference on stated carat weights on jewelry, this is why buying from a trusted jeweler is key. It is impossible for any one to eyeball carat size, you cannot tell the difference between a 1 CT tennis bracelet or a .90CT bracelet, yet there is a big price differential.

Cut is the most technical of the 4-C’s. The fact of the matter is that one can see a diamond that is cut well versus one that is cut poorly. The cut states that the crown (top of the diamond), pavilion (bottom of the diamond) and the girdle (thin middle ring that divides the crown and pavilion) should have ideal range that the diamond should be cut.

The last C is the certs that diamonds carry and is the final component that affects diamond pricing. Many stones that are above .75CT are certified by independent laboratories. The certificates will plot a mapping of the inclusions, give dimensions and measurements of the diamond, state the polish and symmetry, fluorescence, and state if a diamond has been enhanced. Although there are many labs that certify diamonds, the most popular on the market are certified by GIA or EGL. GIA (Gemological institute of America) has predominately been very strict or rather on the conservative side of their grading, so GIA diamonds tend to sell at a premium. EGL (European Gemological Laboratory) is also very popular but sometimes have struggled with their consistency. Thus their stones will usually sell 5 - 10% less then a stone with the same grade from GIA. GIA stones are not necessarily better stones then EGL certified stones. Plenty of beautiful stones get sent in to be processed by EGL as they do GIA.

The price difference for clarity and color affects the prices exponentially. Buying a high color is where the buyer’s dollar will be well spent. Clarity is impossible to see without a microscope but a diamond of high color can be seen from across the room. If there are two diamonds that have the same level of quality, acceptable price points and even the same grading from the laboratories, then let your eye be the final judge. After all, you are ultimately buying a diamond for its beauty and sentimentality. While only considering the technical jargon, let your heart be the final judge.

Check out Men’s Jewelry Store TreasuresInternational.com to see the entire collection of bracelets, rings, pendants, cufflinks, money clips and key rings in stainless, tungsten, titanium, cable, 18KT gold and diamond. This article was distributed by Objectware, Inc an Atlanta Search Engine Optimization and Web Development Company

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheila_Chun

1) Look for someone who has a good inventory of certified diamonds. I recomend GIA ( Gemological Institute of America) certified diamonds first as they are the leader in certifying diamonds. Then EGL certified diamonds, however I find them to be a little more giving with there grades so look for a little bigger discount on those diamonds. Stuller certified diamonds are also very nice and come in a impessive box.

2) Start comparing your certified diamonds by using the 4C’s grading system.. The KEY in searching certified diamonds on the web is you can compare a 1.00ct., SI1 clarity, H color with a GIA cert and you will see alot of different prices.. Where they get you is in the cut. Most individuals dont look at that. A 1.00ct round diamond should measure approx. 6.50mm.. Now some 1.00ct diamonds can measure 5.80mm. That would be considered a deep stone and when you get it, it will look like a 3/4 ct diamond. (Note: chech articles on ideal cut diamonds and diamond proportions).

3) Use a Credit card, you have some protection there if it isnt what the dealer says it is. Also look for a great return policy.

4) Make sure there is a contact person you can talk to incase there is a problem. Not email only. I would call first just to make sure.

5) Now to find the best deal. Start comparing all your 4C’s, compare stones with equal proportions, clarity, cut and weight. Once you recieve the diamond take to a GIA graduate gemologist to have it appraised. The certified diamonds will only have the grades of the diamond. Not a price. Its hard to compare non certified diamonds on the web because there is so much misgrading out there even by gemologist!

Good Luck and have fun.

By Author @ http://www.seemydiamond.com/platnium/how-to-buy-a-diamond-online.php

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zach_Ringford

Looking at the above prices, you can see that there has been a steady increase in prices since 1970 with the exception of 1980. From $3500.00 to $23,000.00 is about a 650% increase. This is about the same increase as gas prices for the same period in the US.

If we look at 1970 to 1980 we see a jump of around 1800%. What happened? From 1979 to 1981 diamonds were being sold as investments. Consumers were being told that top quality diamonds were in short supply and would continue to rise in price. This was not true. However, consumers continued to purchase them at a record pace and a record price. In 1981 the bottom fell out and the market collapsed. Over the next few years there was an up and down cycle and finally the market settled back to where it would have been had there been no so called investment craze.

Millions of dollars were lost during this crash and many were left holding diamonds that they would never recover their money from. I still do appraisals today on diamonds from that period, and many hope they can recover their $63,000.00 on a stone that is now worth around $23,000.00. And some of them still want to shoot the messenger. (Appraiser)

During this period most of the diamonds were sold with Diamond Grading Reports, or what became known as “Certs”. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) issued most of these. However, other laboratories started to spring up around the world. The top labs issuing grading reports today are GIA, AGS, EGL, and IGI. In my opinion the two that set the world standard today are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS).

When you purchase a diamond in today’s market, whether it is from a retail jeweler, or an internet seller, it should have one of these Grading Reports. Buying on the internet has its advantages. Let’s take the $23,000.00 diamond that we discussed above. This diamond can be found on the internet for around $18,000.00. That’s quite a savings. All you need to do is find the stone that you want, place your order, and in about 2 to 3 days it will be delivered to your front door. If you don’t like it, or it is not what you wanted, most companies have a 30 day return policy.

When buying from a retail jeweler you usually have several choices of stores in your local area which allow you to visit them, and talk to a salesperson face to face. The salesperson should be able to show you several diamonds that meet your criteria and thoroughly explain them to you.

I asked at the beginning if diamonds were a good value in today’s market. My answer is “yes” as long as you’re buying the stone for all the right reasons. The right reasons will be different things to different people. It might be for you to wear yourself, or give as a gift, or the most special of all… to give to that special person as an engagement ring. Just keep in mind that a diamond is bought as an investment in beauty and not as a financial investment.

James Greene is a Graduate Gemologist and Master Gemologist Appraiser currently doing appraisals in Southeastern Pennsylvania. He has over 25 years in the jewelry and appraisal business. http://www.diamondmarketwatch.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Greene

Thus they drill holes to the flaws and bleach out the dark inclusions and usually fill the holes or large inclusions that break the surface up with a compatible material. The only problem is that this makes the diamond unstable you can’t work on the ring. It can’t be cleaned in a real ultrasonic or steamed and it needs to be. Diamond is magnetic to oil and it needs to be heated to release the oil from the stone. There is no way to care for your diamond like a natural diamond. Find a nice GIA cert diamond SI 2 in clarity and F- G in color with a good make, or an EGL SI1 EF as they are much more leaning in there grading.

Please realize that a clarity enhanced stone is filled with a substance that fills in any fractures in the diamond, this may help to disguise any fractures or feathers in the stone, but it will also diminish the fire and brilliance of the stone and you still will have an imperfect diamond. However if price and size at a “price”are primary by all means purchase a clarity enhanced stone. But please remember an “edsel” is an “edsel” forever.

You will be better off long term, that way you can upgrade. The certificate acts like a pink slip to your car it is very important. Would you buy a car without a pink slip? You can also do a diamond halo around the center diamond to make it look bigger!!! 1 carat can look three carats. It is very fashionable.

The process used to fill surface breaking cracks in diamonds is to “impregnate” them with a lead rich glass. The original clarity of these treated diamonds was I2-I3. I would be skeptical of any gemological testing lab that would grade a Clarity enhanced diamond VS2.

That being said, I have seen some incredible looking diamonds that OVED has treated. I have usually sold them for earrings or pendants because I know they will suffer minimal wear under those conditions, but I recall an engagement ring or two that I’ve mounted with clarity enhanced diamond. I think they fulfill a need in the marketplace and offer customers another option. I would definitely go with one of the companies, like Ovid, that offer a lifetime warranty….just in case.

I just hope that you are very honest with your fiance about the ring that you would like to get. You don’t need to show her what the ring looks like, make it so that she can just make out in her mind what she thinks that ring might look like or you can always take a picture of a ring that kind of looks like that one you want and tell her that. If she is fine with it then I hope that you make a good choice.

Victor Epand is the owner of http://www.JewerlyGift.biz, a huge online jewelry superstore featuring the greatest selection of jewelry including personalizable items. Clearance Sale items are here: http://www.jewelrygift.biz/collection/clearance-sales.html .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

• A diamond gives victory to him who carries it bound on his left arm, no matter the number of enemies.^[27]
• Panics, pestilences, enchantments, all fly before it; hence, it is good for sleepwalkers and the insane.^[27]
• It deprives lodestone and magnets of their virtue (i.e., ability to attract iron).^[27]
• Arabic diamonds are said to attract iron greater than a magnet.^[27]
• A diamond’s hardiness can only be broken by smearing it with fresh goat’s blood.^[27]

Mary of Burgundy is the first known recipient of a diamond engagement ring, in 1477.

Because of their extraordinary physical properties, diamonds have been used symbolically since near the time of their first discovery. Perhaps the earliest symbolic use of diamonds was as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues.^{[citation needed]} In Hinduism Indra uses Vajrayudham or the thunderbolt as his primary weapon.^{[citation needed]} Vajra is the word for diamond and ayudham means weapon in Sanskrit. The diamonds themselves were thought to be endowments from the gods and were therefore cherished. The point at which diamonds began to be associated with divinity is not known, but early texts indicate that it was recognized in India since at least 400 BCE.^{[citation needed]} It is said the Greeks believed diamonds were tears of the gods;^{[citation needed]} the Romans believed they were splinters of fallen stars.^{[citation needed]} Many long dead cultures have sought to explain diamond’s superlative properties through divine or mystical affiliations.^{[citation needed]}

In Tibetan Buddhism, also known as Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle), diamonds are an important symbol,^{[citation needed]} and the Diamond Sutra is one of the most popular texts.

In Western culture, diamonds are the traditional emblem of fearlessness and virtue,^{[citation needed]} but have also often associated with power, wealth, crime and misfortune. Today, diamonds are used to symbolize eternity and love, being often seen adorning engagement rings and sometimes wedding rings as well. The popularity of this modern tradition can be traced directly to the marketing campaigns of De Beers, starting in 1938.^[28] Prior to the De Beers marketing campaign, engagement rings had no one particular stone associated with them. The first diamond engagement ring can be traced to the marriage of Maximilian I (then Archduke of Austria) to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.^{[citation needed]} Other early examples of betrothal jewels incorporating diamonds include the Bridal Crown of Blanche (ca. 1370–80)^{[citation needed]} and the Heftlein brooch of Vienna (ca. 1430–40),^{[citation needed]} a pictorial piece depicting a wedding couple. Inaccessibility of diamonds to the vast majority of the population limited the popularity of diamonds as betrothal jewels during this period.

The diamond is the birthstone for people born in the month of April, and is also used as the symbol of a sixty-year anniversary, such as a Diamond Jubilee (see hierarchy of precious substances). In a system of heraldry by gemstones occasionally used in the past for the arms of nobles, diamond was used to represent the color sable, or black.^[29]

Diamonds are a common focus of fiction. Notable pieces of fiction include Ian Fleming’s Diamonds Are Forever (1956), Arthur C. Clarke’s 2061: Odyssey Three (1988), F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Diamond as Big As the Ritz” (1922), and Neal Stephenson’s The Diamond Age (1995). In addition, diamonds are the subject of various myths and legends.

Gem diamond industry

A large trade in gem-grade diamonds exists. Unlike precious metals such as gold or platinum, gem diamonds do not trade as a commodity: there is a substantial mark-up in the sale of diamonds, and there is not a very active market for resale of diamonds. One hallmark of the trade in gem-quality diamonds is its remarkable concentration: wholesale trade and diamond cutting is limited to a few locations (most importantly Antwerp, London, New York, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam and Surat), and a single company—De Beers—controls a significant proportion of the trade in diamonds. They are based in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England.

The production and distribution of diamonds is largely consolidated in the hands of a few key players, and concentrated in traditional diamond trading centers. The most important being Antwerp, where 80% of all rough diamonds, 50% of all cut diamonds and more than 50% of all rough, cut and industrial diamonds combined are handled. This makes Antwerp the de facto ‘world diamond capital’. The De Beers company, as the world’s largest diamond miner holds a clearly dominant position in the industry, and has done so since soon after its founding in 1888 by the British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. De Beers owns or controls a significant portion of the world’s rough diamond production facilities (mines) and distribution channels for gem-quality diamonds. The company and its subsidiaries own mines that produce some 40 percent of annual world diamond production. At one time it was thought over 80 percent of the world’s rough diamonds passed through the Diamond Trading Company (DTC, a subsidiary of De Beers) in London, but presently the figure is estimated at less than 50 percent. De Beers used its monopoly position to establish strict price controls, and market diamonds directly to consumers in world markets.^{[citation needed]}

The De Beers diamond advertising campaign is acknowledged as one of the most successful and innovative campaigns in history. N.W. Ayer & Son, the advertising firm retained by De Beers in the mid-20th century, succeeded in reviving the American diamond market and opened up new markets, even in countries where no diamond tradition had existed before. N.W. Ayer’s multifaceted marketing campaign included product placement, advertising the diamond itself rather than the De Beers brand, and building associations with celebrities and royalty. This coordinated campaign has lasted decades and continues today; it is perhaps best captured by the slogan “a diamond is forever”. The De Beers account is now handled by the firm JWT, formerly known as J. Walter Thompson.^{[citation needed]}

Further down the supply chain, members of The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) act as a medium for wholesale diamond exchange, trading both polished and rough diamonds. The WFDB consists of independent diamond bourses in major cutting centres such as Tel Aviv, Antwerp, Johannesburg and other cities across the USA, Europe and Asia.

In 2000, the WFDB and The International Diamond Manufacturers Association established the World Diamond Council to prevent the trading of diamonds used to fund war and inhumane acts.

WFDB’s additional activities also include sponsoring the World Diamond Congress every two years, as well as the establishment of the International Diamond Council (IDC) to oversee diamond grading.

Industrial diamond industry

The market for industrial-grade diamonds operates much differently from its gem-grade counterpart. Industrial diamonds are valued mostly for their hardness and heat conductivity, making many of the gemological characteristics of diamond, including clarity and color, mostly irrelevant. This helps explain why 80% of mined diamonds (equal to about 100 million carats or 20,000 kg annually), unsuitable for use as gemstones and known as bort, are destined for industrial use. In addition to mined diamonds, synthetic diamonds found industrial applications almost immediately after their invention in the 1950s; another 3 billion carats (600 metric tons) of synthetic diamond is produced annually for industrial use—nearly 25 times the mass of natural diamonds mined over the same period.^{[citation needed]}

The dominant industrial use of diamond is in cutting, drilling, grinding, and polishing. Most uses of diamonds in these technologies do not require large diamonds; in fact, most diamonds that are gem-quality except for their small size, can find an industrial use. Diamonds are embedded in drill tips or saw blades, or ground into a powder for use in grinding and polishing applications. Specialized applications include use in laboratories as containment for high pressure experiments (see diamond anvil), high-performance bearings, and limited use in specialized windows.

With the continuing advances being made in the production of synthetic diamonds, future applications are beginning to become feasible. Garnering much excitement is the possible use of diamond as a semiconductor suitable to build microchips from, or the use of diamond as a heat sink in electronics. Significant research efforts in Japan, Europe, and the United States are under way to capitalize on the potential offered by diamond’s unique material properties, combined with increased quality and quantity of supply starting to become available from synthetic diamond manufacturers.^{[citation needed]} Since the quality of the best synthetic diamonds is now equal to or better than that of the most perfect natural diamonds, significant changes in the gem-diamond industry may also be forthcoming.

Diamond supply chain

See also: List of diamond mines

The diamond supply chain is controlled by a limited number of powerful businesses, and is also highly concentrated in a small number of locations around the world. In fact, the amount of power which De Beers has consolidated historically prevented it from direct trade with the United States, as its trade practices led to an indictment for violating antitrust regulations (the case was settled in 2004).^{[citation needed]} The concentration of power only loosens at the retail level, where diamonds are sold by a limited number of distributors, known as sightholders, to jewelers around the world.

Alluvial mining by traditional methods continues, as seen here in Sierra Leone.

Sources

Historically diamonds were known to be found only in alluvial deposits in southern India^{[citation needed]}. India led the world in diamond production from the time of their discovery in approximately the 9th century BCE to the mid-18th century AD, but the commercial potential of these sources has been exhausted.^{[citation needed]}

The first non-Indian diamond source was found in Brazil in 1725. While no commercial diamond production exists in the US, Arkansas and Colorado are the only states to have a verifiable source of diamonds. Today, most commercially viable diamond deposits are in Russia, Botswana, Australia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.^[18] In 2005, Russia produced almost one-fifth of the global diamond output, reports the British Geological Survey.

There are also commercial deposits being actively mined in the Northwest Territories of Canada, Siberia (mostly in Yakutia territory, for example Mir pipe and Udachnaya pipe), Brazil, and in Northern and Western Australia. Diamond prospectors continue to search the globe for diamond-bearing kimberlite and lamproite pipes.

Diamond output in 2005

Blood diamonds

Main article: Blood diamond

In some of the more politically unstable central African and west African countries, revolutionary groups have taken control of diamond mines, using proceeds from diamond sales to finance their operations. Diamonds sold through this process are known as conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. In response to public concerns that their diamond purchases were contributing to war and human rights abuses in central Africa and west Africa, the United Nations, the diamond industry and diamond-trading nations introduced the Kimberley Process in 2002, which is aimed at ensuring that conflict diamonds do not become intermixed with the diamonds not controlled by such rebel groups.^{[citation needed]} The Kimberley Process provides documentation and certification of diamond exports from producing countries to ensure that the proceeds of sale are not being used to fund criminal or revolutionary activities.^{[citation needed]} Although the Kimberley Process has been moderately successful in limiting the number of conflict diamonds entering the market, conflict diamonds smuggled to market continue to persist to some degree (approx. 2–3% of diamonds traded today are possible conflict diamonds^[19]). According to the 2006 book The Heartless Stone, two major flaws still hinder the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process: the relative ease of smuggling diamonds across African borders and giving phony histories, and the violent nature of diamond mining in nations which are not in a technical state of war and whose diamonds are therefore considered “clean.”^[20]

The Canadian Government has setup a body known as Canadian Diamond Code of Conduct: ([1]) to help authenticate Canadian Diamonds. This is a very stringent tracking system of diamonds and helps protect the ‘conflict free’ label of Canadian diamonds.

Currently, gem production totals nearly 30 million carats (6,000 kg) of cut and polished stones annually, and over 100 million carats (20,000 kg) of mined diamonds are sold for industrial use each year, as are about 100,000 kg of synthesized diamond. In 2003, this constituted total production of nearly US$9 billion in value.^{[citation needed]}

Mining

Only a very small fraction of the diamond ore consists of actual diamonds. The ore is crushed, during which care has to be taken in order to prevent larger diamonds from being destroyed in this process and subsequently the particles are sorted by density. Today, diamonds are located in the diamond-rich density fraction with the help of X-ray fluorescence,^{[citation needed]} after which the final sorting steps are done by hand. Before the use of X-rays became commonplace, the separation was done with grease belts;^{[citation needed]} diamonds have a stronger tendency to stick to grease than the other minerals in the ore.

Distribution

The Diamond Trading Company, or DTC, is a subsidiary of De Beers and markets rough diamonds produced both by De Beers mines and other mines from which it purchases rough diamond production. DTC performs sophisticated sorting of rough diamonds into over 16,000 categories,^{[citation needed]} and then sells bulk lots of rough diamonds to a limited number of sightholders a few times a year.

Once purchased by sightholders, diamonds are cut and polished in preparation for sale as gemstones. The cutting and polishing of rough diamonds is a specialized skill that is concentrated in a limited number of locations worldwide. Traditional diamond cutting centers are Antwerp, Amsterdam, Johannesburg, New York, and Tel Aviv. Traditionally, diamond cutters in these cities are Orthodox Jews or Chasidim. Recently, diamond cutting centers have been established in China, India, and Thailand. Cutting centers with lower costs of labor, notably Surat in Gujarat, India, handle a larger number of smaller carat diamonds, while smaller quantities of larger or more valuable diamonds are more likely to be handled in Europe or North America. Demonstrating this, India produces 90% of all cut and polished diamonds by number, but only 55% by value.^{[citation needed]} The recent expansion of this industry in India, employing low cost labor, has allowed smaller diamonds to be prepared as gems than was previously economically feasible.

Diamonds which have been prepared as gemstones are sold on diamond exchanges called bourses. There are 26 registered diamond bourses.^[21] This is the final tightly controlled step in the diamond supply chain; wholesalers and even retailers are able to buy relatively small lots of diamonds at the bourses, after which they are prepared for final sale to the consumer. Diamonds can be sold already set in jewelry, or as is increasingly popular, sold unset (”loose”). According to the Rio Tinto Group, in 2002 the diamonds produced and released to the market were valued at US$9 billion as rough diamonds, US$14 billion after being cut and polished, US$28 billion in wholesale diamond jewelry, and retail sales of US$57 billion. [2]

Synthetics, simulants, and enhancements

Main articles: Synthetic diamond, Diamond simulants, and Diamond enhancement

Natural diamonds are true diamonds that have formed naturally within the earth. Synthetic diamonds are also true diamonds, but they are created by a man-made process. A diamond simulant is defined as a non-diamond material that is used to simulate the appearance of a true diamond.

The gemological and industrial uses of diamond have created a large demand for rough stones. The demand for industrial diamonds has long been satisfied in large part by synthetic diamonds, which have been manufactured by various processes for more than half a century. However, in recent years it has become possible to produce gem-quality synthetic diamonds of significant size.^[22]

The majority of commercially available synthetic diamonds are yellow in color and produced by so called High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) processes. ^[23]. The yellow color is caused by Nitrogen impurities. Other colors may also be reproduced such as blue, green or pink which are a result of the addition of Boron or due to irradiation after synthetisation. ^[24].

Currently, trained gemologists can also distinguish between natural diamonds from synthetic diamonds. Although it has been claimed that synthetic diamonds are so perfect that it is virtually impossible to distinguish them from natural diamonds, this is not the case. Depending on the type of diamonds (either HPHT produced or CVD produced) and the color of the diamond (colored, D-Z color range or D-J color range) several methods of identification are at the disposal of a gemologist or gemlab: CVD diamonds can be identified through their orange fluorescence, D-J colored diamonds can be screened through the Swiss Gemological Organization’s (SSEF)^[25] Diamond Spotter and stones in the D-Z color range can be identified through the DiamondSure UV/visible spectrometer which is a tool developed by De Beers. ^[26].

A diamond’s gem quality, which is not as dependent on material properties as industrial applications, has invited both imitation and the invention of procedures to enhance the gemological properties of natural diamonds. Materials which have similar gemological characteristics to diamond but are not mined or synthetic diamond are known as diamond simulants. The most familiar diamond simulant to most consumers is cubic zirconia (commonly abbreviated as CZ); recently moissanite has also gained popularity and has often been mischaracterized as a diamond simulant, although it is sold and retailed as a replacement for diamond. Both CZ and moissanite are synthetically produced. However CZ is a diamond simulant. Diamond enhancements are specific treatments, performed on natural diamonds (usually those already cut and polished into a gem), which are designed to better the gemological characteristics of the stone in one or more ways. These include laser drilling to remove inclusions, application of sealants to fill cracks, treatments to improve a white diamond’s color grade, and treatments to give fancy color to a white diamond.

Currently, trained gemologists with appropriate equipment are able to distinguish natural diamonds from simulant diamonds, and they can identify all enhanced natural diamonds. New techniques for creating and treating simulants, such as coating them with a very thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer, are making it increasingly difficult to distinguish simulants from real diamonds as well.

The very low cost of producing large synthetic diamonds (which may ultimately drop to as low as a few U.S. dollars per carat) made possible by recent technological advances threatens the business model of the diamond industry, and the ultimate effect of the ready availability of gem-quality diamonds at low cost in the future is hard to predict at this time.

Most gem diamonds are traded on the wholesale market based on single values for each of the four Cs; for example knowing that a diamond is rated as 1.5 carats (300 mg), VS2 clarity, F color, excellent cut round brilliant, is enough to reasonably establish an expected price range. More detailed information from within each characteristic is used to determine actual market value for individual stones. Consumers who purchase individual diamonds are often advised to use the four Cs to pick the diamond that is “right” for them.

Other characteristics not described by the four Cs influence the value or appearance of a gem diamond. These characteristics include physical characteristics such as the presence of fluorescence, as well as data on a diamond’s history including its source and which gemological institute performed evaluation services on the diamond. Cleanliness also dramatically affects a diamond’s beauty.

There are three^{[citation needed]} major non-profit gemological associations which grade and provide reports on diamonds. While carat weight and cut angles are mathematically defined, the clarity and color are judged by the trained human eye and are therefore open to slight variance in interpretation.

• Gemological Institute of America (GIA) was the first laboratory in America to issue modern diamond reports,^[12] and is held in high regard amongst gemologists for its consistent, conservative grading.
• American Gemological Society (AGS) is not as widely recognized nor as old as the GIA but garners a high reputation. The AGS employs a number system for grading cut quality, color grade, and clarity. The highest grade being ‘0′, and the lowest being ‘10′.
• Diamond High Council (HRD) Official certification laboratory of the Belgian diamond industry, located in Antwerp. Antwerp World Diamond Center

Carat

The carat weight measures the mass of a diamond. One carat is defined as 200 milligrams (about 0.007 ounce avoirdupois). The point unit—equal to one one-hundredth of a carat (0.01 carat, or 2 mg)—is commonly used for diamonds of less than one carat. All else being equal, the value of a diamond increases exponentially in relation to carat weight, since larger diamonds are both rarer and more desirable for use as gemstones.

The price per carat does not increase smoothly with increasing size. Instead, there are sharp jumps around milestone carat weights, as demand is much higher for diamonds weighing just more than a milestone than for those weighing just less. As an example, a 0.95 carat diamond may have a significantly lower price per carat than a comparable 1.05 carat diamond, because of differences in demand.

A weekly diamond price list, the Rapaport Diamond Report is published by Martin Rapaport, CEO of Rapaport Group of New York, for different diamond cuts, clarity and weights.^[13] It is currently considered the de-facto retail price baseline. Jewelers often trade diamonds at negotiated discounts off the Rapaport price (e.g., “R -3%”).

In the wholesale trade of gem diamonds, carat is often used in denominating lots of diamonds for sale. For example, a buyer may place an order for 100 carats of 0.5 carat, D–F, VS2-SI1, excellent cut diamonds, indicating he wishes to purchase 200 diamonds (100 carats total mass) of those approximate characteristics. Because of this, diamond prices (particularly among wholesalers and other industry professionals) are often quoted per carat, rather than per stone.

Total carat weight (t.c.w.) is a phrase used to describe the total mass of diamonds or other gemstone in a piece of jewelry, when more than one gemstone is used. Diamond solitaire earrings, for example, are usually quoted in t.c.w. when placed for sale, indicating the mass of the diamonds in both earrings and not each individual diamond. T.c.w. is also widely used for diamond necklaces, bracelets and other similar jewelry pieces.

Clarity

Main article: Diamond clarity

Clarity is a measure of internal defects of a diamond called inclusions. Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or another diamond crystal, or structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that can appear whitish or cloudy. The number, size, color, relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the relative clarity of a diamond. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and other organizations have developed systems to grade clarity, which are based on those inclusions which are visible to a trained professional when a diamond is viewed under 10x magnification.

Diamonds become increasingly rare when considering higher clarity gradings. Only about 20 percent of all diamonds mined have a clarity rating high enough for the diamond to be considered appropriate for use as a gemstone; the other 80 percent are relegated to industrial use. Of that top 20 percent, a significant portion contains one or more visible inclusions. Those that do not have a visible inclusion are known as “eye-clean” and are preferred by most buyers, although visible inclusions can sometimes be hidden under the setting in a piece of jewelry.

Most inclusions present in gem-quality diamonds do not affect the diamonds’ performance or structural integrity. However, large clouds can affect a diamond’s ability to transmit and scatter light. Large cracks close to or breaking the surface may reduce a diamond’s resistance to fracture.

Diamonds are graded by the major societies on a scale ranging from flawless to imperfect.

Color

Main article: Diamond color

Jewelers sometimes set diamonds in groups of similar colors

The Hope Diamond. Its deep blue coloration is caused by trace amounts of boron in the diamond

A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond is perfectly transparent with no hue, or color. However, in reality almost no gem-sized natural diamonds are absolutely perfect. The color of a diamond may be affected by chemical impurities and/or structural defects in the crystal lattice. Depending on the hue and intensity of a diamond’s coloration, a diamond’s color can either detract from or enhance its value. For example, most white diamonds are discounted in price as more yellow hue is detectable, while intense pink or blue diamonds (such as the Hope Diamond) can be dramatically more valuable. The Aurora Diamond Collection displays a spectacular array of naturally colored diamonds, and is a good source of information on the topic of colored diamonds.

Most diamonds used as gemstones are basically transparent with little tint, or white diamonds. The most common impurity, nitrogen, replaces a small proportion of carbon atoms in a diamond’s structure and causes a yellowish to brownish tint. This effect is present in almost all white diamonds; in only the rarest diamonds is the coloration due to this effect undetectable. The GIA has developed a rating system for color in white diamonds, from “D” to “Z” (with D being “colorless” and Z having a bright yellow coloration), which has been widely adopted in the industry and is universally recognized, superseding several older systems once used in different countries. The GIA system uses a benchmark set of natural diamonds of known color grade, along with standardized and carefully controlled lighting conditions. Precision-crafted cubic zirconia master sets are sometimes used in the trade, however the GIA has found these sets to be inaccurate.^{[citation needed]} Diamonds with higher color grades are rarer, in higher demand, and therefore more expensive, than lower color grades. Oddly enough, diamonds graded Z are also rare, and the bright yellow color is also highly valued. Diamonds graded D-F are considered “colorless”, G-J are considered “near-colorless”, K-M are “slightly colored”. N-Y usually appear light yellow or brown.

In contrast to yellow or brown hues, diamonds of other colors are more rare and valuable. While even a pale pink or blue hue may increase the value of a diamond, more intense coloration is usually considered more desirable and commands the highest prices. A variety of impurities and structural imperfections cause different colors in diamonds, including yellow, pink, blue, red, green, brown, and other hues. Diamonds with unusual or intense coloration are sometimes labeled “fancy” by the diamond industry. Intense yellow coloration is considered one of the fancy colors, and is separate from the color grades of white diamonds. Gemologists have developed rating systems for fancy colored diamonds, but they are not in common use because of the relative rarity of colored diamonds.

Cut

Main article: Diamond cut

Diamond cutting is the art and science of creating a gem-quality diamond out of mined rough. The cut of a diamond describes the manner in which a diamond has been shaped and polished from its beginning form as a rough stone to its final gem proportions. The cut of a diamond describes the quality of workmanship and the angles to which a diamond is cut. Often diamond cut is confused with “shape”.

There are mathematical guidelines for the angles and length ratios at which the diamond is supposed to be cut in order to reflect the maximum amount of light. Round brilliant diamonds, the most common, are guided by these specific guidelines, though fancy cut stones are not able to be as accurately guided by mathematical specifics.

The techniques for cutting diamonds have been developed over hundreds of years, with perhaps the greatest achievements made in 1919 by mathematician and gem enthusiast Marcel Tolkowsky. He developed the round brilliant cut by calculating the ideal shape to return and scatter light when a diamond is viewed from above. The modern round brilliant has 57 facets (polished faces), counting 33 on the crown (the top half), and 24 on the pavilion (the lower half). The girdle is the thin middle part. The function of the crown is to diffuse light into various colors and the pavilion’s function to reflect light back through the top of the diamond.

Tolkowsky defines the ideal dimensions to have:

• Table percentage (table diameter divided by overall diameter) = 53%
• Depth percentage (Overall depth divided by the overall diameter) = 59.3%
• Pavilion Angle (Angle between the girdle and the pavilion) = 40.75°
• Crown Angle (Angle between the girdle and the crown) = 34.5°
• Pavilion Depth (Depth of pavilion divided by overall diameter) = 43.1%
• Crown Depth (Depth of crown divided by crown diameter) = 16.2%

The culet is the tiny point or facet at the bottom of the diamond. This should be a negligible diameter, otherwise light leaks out of the bottom. Tolkowsky’s ideal dimensions did not include a girdle. However, a thin girdle is required in reality in order to prevent the diamond from easily chipping in the setting. A normal girdle should be about 1%–2% of the overall diameter.

The further the diamond’s characteristics are from Tolkowsky’s ideal, the less light will be reflected. However, there is a small range in which the diamond can be considered “ideal.” Today, because of the relative importance of carat weight in society, many diamonds are often intentionally cut poorly to increase carat weight. There is a financial premium for a diamond that weighs the magical 1.0 carat, so often the girdle is made thicker or the depth is increased. Neither of these tactics make the diamond appear any bigger, and they greatly reduce the sparkle of the diamond. So a poorly cut 1.0 carat diamond may have the same diameter and appear as large as a 0.85 carat diamond. The depth percentage is the overall quickest indication of the quality of the cut of a round brilliant. “Ideal” round brilliant diamonds should not have a depth percentage greater than 62.5%. Another quick indication is the overall diameter. Typically a round brilliant 1.0 carat diamond should have a diameter of about 6.5 mm. Mathematically, the diameter in millimeters of a round brilliant should approximately equal 6.5 times the cube root of carat weight, or 11.1 times the cube root of gram weight, or 1.4 times the cube root of point weight.

Ideal cuts can be controversial as the definitions of brilliance and beauty are very subjective.

Tolkowsky’s mathematical model is now superseded by the GIA Facetware software that is the culmination of 20 years of studies on diamond cuts.

New diamond cuts are now all the rage in the diamond industry as for example a design invented in 2003 and called the Genesis cut. This cut differs in shape from the more traditional cuts in its concave surfaces and angles and resembles a 4-pointed star.

Shape

Diamonds do not show all of their beauty as rough stones; instead, they must be cut and polished to exhibit the characteristic fire and brilliance that diamond gemstones are known for. Diamonds are cut into a variety of shapes that are generally designed to accentuate these features.

Diamonds which are not cut to the specifications of Tolkowsky’s round brilliant shape (or subsequent variations) are known as “fancy cuts.” Popular fancy cuts include the baguette (from the French, meaning rod or loaf of bread), marquise, princess cut (square outline), heart, briolette (a form of the rose cut), and pear cuts. Newer cuts that have been introduced into the jewelry industry are the “cushion” “radiant”(similar to princess cuts, but with rounded edges instead of square edges) and “Asscher” cuts. Many fancy colored diamonds are now being cut according to these new styles. Generally speaking, these “fancy cuts” are not held to the same strict standards as Tolkowsky-derived round brilliants and there are less specific mathematical guidelines of angles which determine a well-cut stone. Cuts are influenced heavily by fashion: the baguette cut—which accentuates a diamond’s luster and downplays its fire—was all the rage during the Art Deco period, whereas the princess cut cut—which accentuates a diamond’s fire rather than its luster—is currently gaining popularity. The princess cut is also popular amongst diamond cutters: of all the cuts, it wastes the least of the original crystal. The past decades have seen the development of new diamond cuts, often based on a modification of an existing cut. Some of these include extra facets. These newly developed cuts are viewed by many as more of an attempt at brand differentiation by diamond sellers, than actual improvements to the state of the art. One of these is a diamond cut called Pristine Hearts which though round shaped has got a beautiful heart visible through table as well as the bottom side.

Quality

The quality of a diamond’s cut is widely considered the most important of the four Cs in determining the beauty of a diamond; indeed, it is commonly acknowledged that a well-cut diamond can appear to be of greater carat weight, and have clarity and color appear to be of better grade than they actually are. The skill with which a diamond is cut determines its ability to reflect and refract light.

In addition to carrying the most importance to a diamond’s quality as a gemstone, the cut is also the most difficult to quantitatively judge. A number of factors, including proportion, polish, symmetry, and the relative angles of various facets, are determined by the quality of the cut and can affect the performance of a diamond. A poorly cut diamond with facets cut only a few degrees out of alignment can result in a poorly performing stone. For a round brilliant cut, there is a balance between “brilliance” and “fire.” When a diamond is cut for too much “fire,” it looks like a cubic zirconia, which gives off much more “fire” than real diamond. A well-executed round brilliant cut should reflect light upwards and make the diamond appear white when viewed from the top. An inferior cut will produce a stone that appears dark at the center and in some extreme cases the ring settings may show through the top of the diamond as shadows.

Several different theories on the “ideal” proportions of a diamond have been and continue to be advocated by various owners of patents on machines to view how well a diamond is cut. These advocate a shift away from grading cut by the use of various angles and proportions toward measuring the performance of a cut stone. A number of specially modified viewers and machines have been developed toward this end. Hearts and Arrows viewers test for the “hearts and arrows” characteristic pattern observable in stones exhibiting high symmetry and particular cut angles. Closely related to Hearts and Arrows viewers is the ASET which tests for light leakage, light return, and proportions. The ASET (and computer simulations of the ASET) are used to test for AGS cut grade. These viewers and machines often help sellers demonstrate the light performance results of the diamond in addition to the traditional 4 Cs. Detractors see these machines as marketing tools rather than as scientific tools.

The GIA has developed a set of criteria for grading the cut of round brilliant stones that is now the standard in the diamond industry and is called Facetware.

Process

Main article: Diamond cutting

An uncut diamond does not show its prized optical properties

The process of shaping a rough diamond into a polished gemstone is both an art and a science. The choice of cut is often decided by the original shape of the rough stone, location of the inclusions and flaws to be eliminated, the preservation of the weight, popularity of certain shapes amongst consumers and many other considerations. The round brilliant cut is preferred when the crystal is an octahedron, as often two stones may be cut from one such crystal. Oddly shaped crystals such as macles are more likely to be cut in a fancy cut—that is, a cut other than the round brilliant—which the particular crystal shape lends itself to.

Even with modern techniques, the cutting and polishing of a diamond crystal always results in a dramatic loss of weight; rarely is it less than 50%. Sometimes the cutters compromise and accept lesser proportions and symmetry in order to avoid inclusions or to preserve the carat rating. Since the per carat price of diamond shifts around key milestones (such as 1.00 carat), many one-carat diamonds are the result of compromising “Cut” for “Carat.” Some jewelry experts advise consumers to buy a 0.99 carat diamond for its better price or buy a 1.10 carat diamond for its better cut, avoiding a 1.00 carat diamond which is more likely to be a poorly cut stone.

Light performance

In the gem trade the term light performance is used to describe how well a polished diamond will return light to the viewer. There are three light properties which are described in relation to light performance; brilliance, fire, and scintillation. Brilliance refers to the white light reflections from the external and internal facet surfaces. Fire refers to the spectral colors which are produced as a result of the diamond dispersing the white light. Scintillation refers to the small flashes of light that are seen when the diamond, light source or the viewer is moved. A diamond that is cut and polished to produce a high level of these qualities is said to be high in light performance.
The setting diamonds are placed in also affect the performance of light through a diamond. The 3 most commonly used settings are: Prong, Bezel, and Channel. Prong settings are the most popular setting for diamond jewelry. The prong setting consists of four or six ‘claws’ that cradle the diamond, allowing the maximum amount of light to enter from all angles, allowing the diamonds to appear larger and more brilliant. In bezel settings the diamond or gemstone is completely surrounded by a rim of metal, which can be molded into any shape to accommodate the stone. Used to set earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, bezel settings can have open or closed backs, and generally can be molded to allow a lot of light to pass through. Channel settings set the stones right next to each other with no metal separating them. This setting is mostly used in wedding and anniversary bands. The outer ridge is then worked over the edges of the stones to create a smooth exterior surface. This also protects the girdle area of the stone.

Fluorescence

About a third of all diamonds will glow under ultraviolet light, usually a blue color which may be noticeable under a black light or strong sunlight. According to the GIA, who reviewed a random sample of 26,010 natural diamonds, 65% of the diamonds in the sample had no fluorescence. Of the 35% that did have fluorescence, 97% had blue fluorescence of which 38% had faint blue fluorescence and 62% had fluorescence that ranged from medium to very strong blue. Other colors diamonds can fluoresce are green, yellow, and red but are very rare and are sometimes a combination of the colors such as blue-green or orange. Some diamonds with “very strong” fluorescence can have a “milky” or “oily” look to them, but they are also very rare and are termed “overblues.” Their study concluded that with the exception of “overblues” and yellow fluorescent diamonds, fluorescence had little effect on transparency and that the strong and very strong blue fluorescent diamonds on average had better color appearance than non-fluorescent stones. Since blue is a complementary color to yellow and can appear to cancel it out, strong blue fluorescence had especially better color appearance with lower color graded diamonds that have a slight yellowish tint such as “I” color or “J” color but had little effect on the more colorless “D” through “F” color grades.^[14]

Cleaning

Main article: Jewellery cleaning

Cleanliness heavily affects a diamond’s beauty. A clean diamond is more brilliant and fiery than the same diamond when it is “dirty”. Dirt or grease on the top of a diamond reduces its luster. Water, dirt, or grease on the bottom of a diamond interferes with the diamond’s brilliance and fire. Even a thin film absorbs some light that could have been reflected to the person looking at the diamond. Colored dye or smudges can affect the perceived color of a diamond. Historically, some jewelers’ stones were misgraded because of smudges on the girdle, or dye on the culet. Current practice is to clean a diamond thoroughly before grading its color.

Maintaining a clean diamond can sometimes be difficult as jewelry settings can obstruct cleaning efforts and oils, grease, and other hydrophobic materials adhere well to a diamond’s surface. Many jewelers use steam cleaners. Some jewelers provide their customers with ammonia-based cleaning kits; ultrasonic cleaners are also popular.

History

Diamonds are thought to have been first recognized and mined in India, where significant alluvial deposits of the stone could then be found. The earliest written reference can be found in the Buddhist text, the Anguttara Nikaya another sanskrit text, the Arthashastra, which was completed around 296 BCE and describes diamond’s hardness, luster, and dispersion. Diamonds quickly became associated with divinity, being used to decorate religious icons, and were believed to bring good fortune to those who carried them. Ownership was restricted among various castes by color, with only kings being allowed to own all colors of diamond.

In February 2005, a joint Chinese-U.S. team of archaeologists reported the discovery of four corundum-rich stone ceremonial burial axes originating from China’s Liangzhu and Sanxingcun cultures (4000 BCE–2500 BCE) which, because of the axes’ specular surfaces, the scientists believe were polished using diamond powder.^[4][15] Although there are diamond deposits now known to exist close to the burial sites, no direct evidence of coeval diamond mining has been found: the researchers came to this conclusion by polishing corundum using various lapidary abrasives and modern techniques then comparing the results using an atomic force microscope. At that scale, the surface of the modern diamond-polished corundum closely resembled that of the axes; however, the polishes of the latter were superior.

Diamonds were traded to both the east and west of India and were recognized by various cultures for their gemological or industrial uses. In his work Naturalis Historia, the Roman writer Pliny the Elder noted diamond’s ornamental uses, as well as its usefulness to engravers because of its hardness. It is however highly doubtful that Pliny actually meant diamonds and it is assumed that in fact several different minerals such as Corundum, Spinel, or even a mixture with Magnetite were all referred to by the word “adamas”. ^[16]. In China, diamonds seem to have been used primarily as diamond tools for engraving jade and drilling holes in beads. Archaeological evidence from Yemen suggests that diamonds were used as drill tips as early as the 4th century BCE. In Europe, however, diamonds disappeared for almost 1,000 years following the rise of Christianity because of two effects: early Christians rejected diamonds because of their earlier use in amulets, and Arabic traders restricted the flow of trade between Europe and India.

Diagram of old diamond cuts showing the evolution from the most primitive (point cut) to the most advanced pre-Tolkowsky cut (old European)

Until the late Middle Ages, diamonds were most prized in their natural octahedral state, perhaps with the crystal surfaces polished to increase luster and remove foreign material. Around 1300, the flow of diamonds into Europe increased via Venice’s trade network, with most flowing through the low country ports of Bruges, Antwerp, and Amsterdam. During this time, the taboo against cutting diamonds into gem shapes, which was established over 1,000 years earlier in the traditions of India, ended allowing the development of diamond cutting technology to begin in earnest. By 1375, a guild of diamond polishers had been established at Nuremberg. Over the following centuries, various diamond cuts were introduced which increasingly demonstrated the fire and brilliance that makes diamonds treasured today: the table cut, the briolette (around 1476), the rose cut (mid-16th century), and by the mid-17th century, the Mazarin, the first brilliant cut diamond design. In 1919, Marcel Tolkowsky developed an ideal round brilliant cut design that has set the standard for comparison of modern gems; however, diamond cuts have continued to be refined.

The rise in popularity of diamonds as gems seems to have paralleled increasing availability through European history. In the 13th century, King Louis IX of France established a law that only the king could own diamonds. However, within a century diamonds were popular gems among the moneyed aristocratic and merchant classes, and by 1477 had begun to be used rarely in wedding rings. Diamond wedding rings didn’t gain widespread social significance until the De Beers company started marketing the idea through cinema beginning in the 1940s. A number of large diamonds have become historically significant objects, as their inclusion in various sets of crown jewels and the purchase, sale, and sometimes theft of notable diamonds, have sometimes become politicized.

Record-holding diamonds

See also: List of famous diamonds

The Cullinan Diamond, part of the British crown jewels, was the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found (1905), at 3,106.75 carats. One of the diamonds cut from it, Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa, was formerly the largest gem-quality cut diamond at 530.2 carats, but now that title has been taken by the Golden Jubilee (1985), a 545.67 carat, yellow-brown diamond. The largest flawless and colorless (grade D) diamond is the Centenary Diamond which weighs 273.85 carats. The Millennium Star is the second largest (1990) at 203.04 carats.

Travis Metcalfe, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, believes that the galaxy’s largest diamond is the core of the white dwarf star BPM 37093. Observations indicate that the core is a diamond crystal 4000 km in diameter.^[17]