diamond education

Diamond Certificates Knowing the difference between the various diamond certificates is important.  What you are about to purchase is always important.  It is especially important knowing when your buying a diamond, gemstone or even a jewelry set.  There are several legitimate certification companies that provide a wide variety of service to the consumer.  The purpose of these certification is not only to verify the...

Most fancy color diamonds are considered Z+ in color, which means they are not found on the regular scale of diamond grading for white diamonds. These colors are considered to be very rare and are measured by the hue of color in which they omit. The most popular colors are yellow and pink but there are other rare colors as well; these colors are red, purple, blue and green and are becoming increasingly popular but supply is very limited for these expensive items.

This article by Elan Lamden of 1800 Loose Diamonds highlights these various parts of a diamond and how they affect the final value/cost of stones.

When jewelers or graders judge the quality and value of a diamond, they often consider Cut to be the most important of the Four C’s. The way a diamond is cut is primarily dependent upon the original shape of the rough stone, location of the inclusions and flaws to be eliminated, the preservation of the weight, and the popularity of certain shapes. As a consumer, it is important not to confuse a diamond's "cut" with its "shape." Shape refers only to the outward appearance of the diamond, and not how it is faceted.

Every genuine, natural diamond has a basic standard color grading system, with D being the highest grade, to Z, which is the lowest. The higher the grade, the whiter the diamond; the lower the grade, the more imperfections of color it contains resulting in a yellow or brownish tint.

A diamond or gemstone's "Carat" designation is a measurement of both the size and weight of the stone. One "Carat" is a unit of mass that is equal to 0.2 grams (200 milligrams or 3.086 grains) or 0.007 ounce.

Clarity refers to the presence or absence of tiny imperfections (inclusions) within the stone, and/or on the surface of the stone (blemishes). As a consumer, it is important to learn and understand the clarity designations found within the "Four C's" diamond grading system.

Platinum is an extremely rare metal found in the Earths crust. Platinum's wear and tarnish-resistance characteristics are well suited for making fine jewelry, and is more precious than gold or silver.

Early references to diamonds in India come from Sanskrit texts. Buddhist works dating from the 4th century BC describe the diamond as a well-known and precious stone but don't mention the details of diamond cutting. Another Indian description written in the beginning of the 3rd century describes strength, regularity, brilliance, ability to scratch metals, and good refractive properties as the desirable qualities of a diamond. Golconda served as an important center for diamonds in central India.