The Affluence of a Diamond
There is just something about a diamond that sets it a level above other gemstones. A diamond is one of the most expensive gems in the market. More than its financial value, a diamond has a cultural significance as well. It is a gemstone representing purity, royalty, and thought to have spiritual and medicinal properties. A diamond is the most coveted of jewels. Every jewellery manufacturer has a line of diamond designs, for example, the Dancing Diamonds necklace from Maureen O Jewellery.
Diamond jewellery is usually associated with women. However, there is a range of diamond jewellery for men and even kids. Diamonds come in many varieties with varying characteristics. However, one should have some basic knowledge about it before investing in a diamond.
THE 4Cs
When buying a diamond, the main points to look out for are the 4Cs. These are the guidelines laid out by the GIA and are the legal standards for diamonds internationally.
Carat
The carat is the weight or more specifically, the mass of the diamond gemstone. A carat is the international weight measurement used by jewellers. A carat is equal to two hundred milligrams. The price of diamonds increases per carat as the diamond’s size gets bigger. Bigger diamonds are rarer than smaller ones and have a higher price. This varying price is not necessarily linear and follows the Rapaport Diamond report. This “rap report” sets the standard of prices globally on Thursday every week. This report is the baseline and not the actual price of the diamond in stores. Based on this report, individual jewellers set their prices differently.
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Clarity
The clarity of a diamond plays a role in its price. Some diamonds may have inclusions or imperfections; these could be small foreign crystals embedded in them or even diamond crystals embedded within the structure. It can give the diamond a cloudy appearance. A diamond with full clarity is the most costly as they are rare. Of all the diamond mined, only 20% have enough clarity to be used in jewellery manufacturing. The rest have value for industrial purposes.
Diamonds with inclusions can still be jewellery-grade depending on the location and size of the inclusion. These inclusions will not damage the diamond’s structure in any way. If the inclusion is at the top, it may cause fractures to form on the stone and is not of jewellery grade.
Colour
The colour of a diamond can vary depending on the impurities or inclusions found in it. The highest grade of a diamond, with the grade D, is colourless and transparent. These diamonds are rare and priceless. Diamonds with slight colour that are almost undetectable by the eyes are G or H grades. The grades range from D to Z based on the visibility of the tint. Diamonds of deep colours, like the Blue Hope Diamond, are even more valuable for their rarity.
Cut
The ideal cut for a diamond is the round brilliant developed by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. He specified a mathematical calculation to cut a diamond so that it reflects the most light. Diamond cutting is not the same as shaping a diamond. The cutting of a diamond refers to the making of a gemstone quality diamond from the mined rough. Tolkowsky’s instructions involve complex cutting ratios with fifty-seven facets or polished faces. This methodology gives the most brilliant and shining diamonds. Till date, the Tolkowsky method is the most valuable of cuts.
A diamond is more than a gemstone. It is an asset and a status symbol, with a dedicated jewellery line, as the Dancing Diamonds necklace, it is a gem valued above the rest. Even with its posh and untouchable stature, the diamond is still the most coveted of gemstones; such is the affluence of a diamond.