Significance and Characteristics of Diamond
by Francis Alukkas | 01 April 2022 | DIAMOND JEWELLERYDiamond is undoubtedly the most famous and popular gemstone of all time. Composed of carbon, it is one of the strongest, most durable, and versatile substances known to man. Natural diamonds are formed deep under the earth in extremely high pressure and temperature. Here, each carbon atom forms a covalent bond with four adjacent carbon atoms. This bond is forged over the years to form a diamond. They are brought to the surface during volcanic eruptions. Below are some of the diamond significance and characteristics you must know.
Colour
Diamonds are usually said to be colorless. But most diamonds come with a noticeable yellowish or brownish tint. It is very rare for a diamond to be truly colorless. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), grades the color of colorless diamonds on a scale from D to Z. Here D refers to the most colorless diamond, and diamonds under the Z category contain a brownish or yellowish tint that is noticeable to the naked eye. The process of grading is meticulously done by comparing the diamonds to master stones - round brilliant diamonds of known color.
Very rarely, diamonds also come in different colors. The evaluation of such diamonds, also called ‘fancy diamonds’ is based on the strength of their color and has three main components: hue, saturation, and tone. Also, Read: Diamond Color and Clarity Explained in detail
Clarity
The existence of blemishes and inclusions has a significant impact on a diamond’s value. Clarity grades how void it is of inclusions (internal flaws) and (blemishes). It is interesting to note that only around 20% of all diamonds that are mined have any real gemstone value because a majority of them contain some inclusions.
According to GIA, diamond clarity is expressed by dividing them into six categories. They are FL (flawless), IF (internally flawless), VVS1, VVS2 (very very slightly included), VS1, VS2 (very slightly included), SI1, and SI2 (slightly included), and I1, I2, and I3 (included).
The assigned clarity grade for any diamond may vary depending on the laboratory. It is the same for color and cut quality too. The clarity of fancy diamonds is also graded on the same scale.
Cut
The cut quality of a diamond is the biggest indicator of its beauty. It refers to the precision of angles, proportions, symmetry, and polish of a diamond and directly impacts a stone’s fire, brilliance, and scintillation. GIA grades diamonds on a five-point scale of excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. Excellent cut-grade diamonds provide the maximum fire, brilliance, and scintillation.
Fancy color diamonds are not cut to maximize their brilliance. Instead, these diamonds are cut to achieve the best color possible. Therefore, the proportions that are considered ideal for colorless diamonds will not always be the best to bring out the color of fancy diamonds.
Carat
Carat denotes the physical weight of diamonds. It does not signify how large a diamond is. Diamonds of the same carat can differ in size depending upon their cut quality and shape. The price and significance of a diamond can increase with carat but two diamonds of the same carat can vary in price depending upon the other three parts of the 4C’s – the cut, clarity, and color as well as other criteria.
Care and Cleaning
Even though diamond is one of the hardest and most durable gemstones, they still require a little maintenance to keep them from being tarnished. Household chemicals are usually not harmful to diamonds, but a diamond can be damaged if it comes in contact with bleach and sulfuric acid. While dressing up, make sure you wear the jewelry last to avoid the residue from your makeup, perfume, or the like from falling on the diamond and making it look dull.
Also, use only mild liquid soaps and warm water to clean your diamonds. Soak the diamond in the solution for half an hour. Take it out and remove all the dirt with the help of a toothbrush. Rinse off and dry using a soft and lint-free cloth.
Make sure you store all diamonds as well as other softer gemstones separated from one another to keep them from being scratched. You can store them in individual cloth jewelry bags if possible.
What does Diamonds Represent?
Diamonds are beloved gemstones not only for their monetary value. They also represent strength, love, and health and have been worn by leaders and power figures throughout history to symbolize their power and vitality. Diamonds are also associated with good health and long lives. It is one of the many reasons that diamond jewelry designs are so popular and beloved.
Head on to our website to check out our amazing collection of diamond jewelry.
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