Diamond Industry

The diamond

A diamond is not more than a transparent crystal with an extreme hardness (2,417); it rates 10 on the Mohs scale of harness (Talc, the softest mineral, 1 on the Mohs scale). Nothing can scratch diamonds except another diamond. Due to its extreme hardness it resists scratching and so diamonds are often used for sharpening, boring, cutting and polishing other materials and diamonds. A diamond is a gemstone that exists of carbon (C). It is created inside the earth because carbon crystallizes under influence of high pressure and heat. Carbon exists on its turn out of burned wood, when squeezing this substance you get graphite. Graphite turns into diamonds when squeezing this under great heat (1300-2000 degrees of Celsius)

The graph here below gives us an overview of Mohs Scale:

Source:http://www.color-diamond-shop.com/txt

We know by now that a diamond is a rare gemstone. But how do the American women know how much their diamond engagements ring is worth?

In the first place is only 15%-20% of the found diamonds are useful for jewelries, so it’s already worthwhile receiving one and in the case of diamonds the size of a diamond does not tell you all! There are two possibilities, spending your money on the value per caret for a higher quality stone or you can spend your money on the size and receive a lower overall quality.

Besides that, the value of a diamond is based on four factors: Carat weight, Color, Clarity and Cut proportions. The first factor refers to the size; the others portray the gemstone’s quality.

Carat weight:

As the word already says, it is about the weight of the diamond. One carat is stands for 0.2 grams and one carat can be divided into 100 points meaning that when a diamond has 1.5 carat the stone has the value of 1 carat and 50 points. Normally the weight of a diamond is converted into carats and is rounded off.

Clarity:

Diamonds clarity is a measure of purity. Treatments improve clarity and will influence the value of the diamond. The characteristics of the stone can be at the surface (blemishes) and internal (inclusion). The fewer clarity characteristics the diamond has, the more valuable it is. Most founded diamonds have in the original state flaws.

The Clarity Scale

Clarity FL IF VVS1 VVS2 VS1 VS2 SI1 SI2 I1 I2 I3

Scale Flawless—

Internally Flawless Very Very Slightly Imperfect Very Slightly Imperfect Slightly Imperfect Imperfect

Source: http://www.diamondring.com/forums/diamondtutorial.php?learn=4

Color:

Most of the diamonds, 90%, has a yellowish color and the remaining 10% can be orange, brown, prink, green or blue colored. No matter which color the diamond has, the most valuable diamonds are nearly colorless. However color diamonds can be extremely valuable

The color(s) of a diamond is the second biggest indicator of its price, after carat weight. Again for this factor there is a scale, rating from �D’ (colorless), �Z’ (colorful) to �Fancy’. Whereby Fancy is more expensive than light yellow. A hint for the future husband: once a diamond is set in a ring, it is difficult to tell the difference between a �D’ and an �F’ color diamond.

Color D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Fancy

Scale Colorless Near Colorless Faint Yellow Very Light Yellow <------Light Yellow------> Color

Source: http://www.diamondring.com/forums/diamondtutorial.php?learn=3

Cut:

This is the only value factor which result of the human skill. It involves finishing and proportioning of a diamond and these two factors are responsible for the brilliant sparkle of the diamond. Gemologists follow some guidelines in order to maximize the brilliance of the diamond. These guidelines are better said proportions and are explained in the following graph:

Source: http://www.loveanddiamonds.com/learn/diamond-cut.html

If manpower has finished the finishing and proportioning at their best, all facets creating the optical beauty of a diamond will