Wedding Engagement Rings - Diamonds

What is a diamond?

Diamonds are developed well below the Earth’s surface, at temperatures exceeding 690°F, and a massive amount of pressure, of at least 70,000kg per square centimetre. Because of the extreme conditions needed for diamonds to form, their creation occurs at least 120 miles below the Earth’s surface. They are brought to the surface of the Earth through volcanic activity. Smaller diamonds, called microdiamonds, have been known to form in the extreme conditions following the impact of a meteorite with the Earth’s surface.

Diamonds have been highly sought after for at least the past 3 millennia. The word diamond comes from the Greek word adamas, which means invincible, and this is due to diamond’s unparalleled hardness, being the hardest naturally occurring mineral known to man. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that man effectively learned how to work with and shape diamonds to his liking. India was a large source for much of the world’s diamonds up until the 18th century, and many of the famous diamonds up until that period came from there. The 105 carat Koh-i-Noor was highly sought after and the desire of many rulers for hundreds of years until finally being bestowed to Queen Victoria and made a part of the British Crown Jewels. The gem rests in the Tower of London to this day.

In the 18th century Brazil supplanted India as the world’s foremost producer of diamonds, with South Africa also becoming a major diamond exporter in the late 19th century. South Africa was the site of the famous Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond yet discovered. The diamond was cut into multiple fragments, the largest being the 530 carat Cullinan I, valued at over $400 million today. Several countries produce diamonds today, with the largest producer being Australia. Russia, Botswana, and the Republic of Congo are other major diamond producers.

Diamond cuts

The 4 C's - Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat

Cut:
Cut is widely considered the most important of the 4C’s of Diamond Grading. The cut to a large extent determines how well the diamond sparkles. Cut is not to be confused with the shape of the diamond, but rather as a way to facilitate the sparkle of the diamond through the creation of multiple planes, called facets. New technology has allowed diamond cutting to continually improve, becoming more complex and maximizing the diamond’s natural characteristics to its fullest extent.

Clarity:
Clarity is a determination as to how free the diamond is from blemishes and other imperfections in or on the surface of the diamond. This is determined through the use of a jeweller’s tool called the loupe. Only the top 20% of diamonds as determined by clarity are crafted into gems.

Colour:
The clearer a diamond is, the more able it is to refract and reflect light, but few diamonds have this flawless, clear color. Diamonds can occur in a variety of colors as a result of chemical impurities, and many are highly sought after despite their rating as imperfect diamonds.

Carat:
The carat is the weight of the diamond, 1 carat being 200 mg. A flawless diamond of at least 100 carats is considered a paragon, the most highly prized of diamonds.

Now that you have a better understanding of diamonds and their classifications, you should have a better idea of what to look for when shopping for your wedding rings. Also be sure to use reputable dealers, and request full documentation on any stone you’re considering purchasing.