A diamond is a special shape by cutting the natural raw diamond mine. The natural diamond mine turns into a more sparkling “diamond” when cut in a special shape with a larger cut surface and a dome-like lower part. The difference between a diamond and the raw diamond is that the cut surface of the diamond is less and the bottom part is flat. After answering the question “What does a diamond mean”, let’s look for an answer to the question “How to assess diamond quality?”
The factors that determine the quality of the diamond are the shape of the diamond and its 4C properties. It has many different options in terms of diamond properties. For this reason, the things to consider when buying a diamond ring are called “4C”: Cut, color, carat weight, and clarity. In addition to these 4 features, stone shapes are also an important factor affecting diamond quality.
How to Understand Diamond Quality?
One of the most important elements of diamond quality is the cut. The cut is the only feature created by hand on a diamond. The dazzling sparkle of the diamond depends on the craftsmanship of the cut and the technology used. The finer the cut, the greater the shine, sparkle, and spark of the diamond.
The light entering from one surface of the diamond cut in the right proportions is reflected from the other surface and dispersed and radiated from the upper part called the “crown”. If the cut is too deep, some of the light will escape from the lower part of the diamond, called the “cone”. If the cut is not deep enough, it causes the light to escape from the cone and causes the diamond not to shine enough. A well-cut, top-quality diamond consists of surfaces (facets) at right angles that best reflect its brilliance.
Most diamonds appear to be colorless. However, the color difference in diamonds is indistinct. Well, let’s tell those who are wondering what the best diamond color is: The more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it is. There are hardly any colorless diamonds in the diamond color scale. In addition, diamonds with a very distinctive color are also rare. The color sequence of diamonds, which usually has colors such as pink, red, yellow, and blue, starts from the letter “D”, which is the first letter of the word “diamond”, and extends to the letter “Z”. In other words, the diamond letters you encounter while looking at the ring represent the color scale to which the stone belongs.
Among the diamond color classes, the letter D represents the whitest diamond. Its whiteness and colors change towards Z and it is difficult to find D color diamonds. According to the G.I.A (the Gemological Institute of America) diamond quality table by color, letters from D to Z in alphabetical order indicate the color ratio of the diamond.
The term you hear most often about a diamond is the carat. However, many couples are searching for the answer to the question of what carat means in a diamond. So let’s answer this question first. The word “carat” comes from the carob seeds, which ancient jewelry traders used to weigh their diamonds. In the past, a 1-carat diamond was equal to the weight of 1 carob seed.
In summary, the clearest answer to the question of what is a carat is “the unit of measure used to measure the weight of a diamond”. “How many carats of diamonds is good?” question is often asked. However, criteria such as the smallness or size of the finger, the shape of the mount, and the budget will be decisive at this point.
Every diamond in nature has only its own unique character. What makes the diamond unique are the other minerals mixed with it during the crystallization process. The number, color, structure, size, and position of these tiny particles, which are described as nature’s fingerprints, show the naturalness of the diamond. The fewer natural traces there are, the more light the diamond reflects and therefore the more value it gains. Since it is very difficult to find a diamond without natural marks, the one with the least traces is considered “near-perfect”.
The shape of the diamond is not the same as the cut. The quality of the cut affects the value of the diamond, but its shape can be chosen purely for the taste of the couple. It is the most common round cut. Apart from the round cut, there are varieties such as oval cut, marquise cut, drop cut, heart cut, emerald cut diamond.
A Completely Different Class Among Quality Stones: Diamond
Gemstones are considered to be minerals, with the exception of a few organic substances such as pearls and amber. About 3% of the 3,000 known minerals form gemstones that are valuable as jewelry. Only 20 of these are sold in qualities that will be of economic importance. Among these 3000 minerals, diamond has a special quality and due to this quality, it is considered as a different class. That’s why all other precious stones are mentioned as colored stones.
Diamond is the most valuable and has the best quality of the other stones economically and financially. While it is the most common stone in wedding rings, diamond is also the most well-known stone worldwide. It is both the lucky stone of those born in April and the only stone of those who celebrate the 60th anniversary of their marriage. The first diamonds were found in ancient India (perhaps 550 years before the birth of Christ). Because of the unknown cutting methods, most of these diamonds were found in jewelry in their natural shape or used alone. At that time, diamonds were valued for their rarity and unmatched hardness.
The best-known source of diamonds in Central Europe was India, and the trade routes between Europe and India were also very long, difficult, and dangerous. The diamonds brought to Europe were second-rate diamonds in terms of quality, and there were many reasons for this. First, the Indians held the highest quality stones or sold them to local buyers. Another reason was that precious diamonds were either given as customs duty or confiscated under the name of tax along the trade route.
Perhaps the poor quality of diamonds encouraged Europeans to improve the appearance of the diamond (before the ideal cut was found, the beauty of the diamond was not really noticed). With the development of the cutting style, the better display of its beauty made the diamond the most important stone used in wedding rings over time. However, at that time, diamonds were an item that only the very wealthy or nobles could obtain. With the Industrial Revolution, the demand for diamonds increased greatly. Because now the number of rich people to spend money has increased.
At the same time, large deposits of diamonds were discovered in South Africa (early 1867). Demand for diamonds and diamond prices continued to rise until 1870. Until the international economic recession caused a dramatic decline. De Beers, founded in 1890 by Cecil Rhodes, took control of diamond production. He adopted a stable wage policy by overseeing the diamonds offered for sale. This policy is still valid today. Demand for diamonds continued to increase in the twentieth century. There are different reasons for this increase in demand:
- By retaining its supply of rough diamonds, De Beers Company controls diamond prices and the value of the diamond
- gives confidence to the consumer.
- De Beers has made the diamond a symbol of love and success through advertising.
- Economic and political instability has forced people to invest their money in “expensive and easily transportable” things.
- The contacts made between East and West also offer new market opportunities in other countries with no diamond tradition.
- provided.
The diamond market is actually based on these factors, along with the rising standard of living.
How to Tell the Quality of a Diamond Ring?
Diamonds come in many sizes, shapes, colors, and various internal properties. The quality of the diamond is based on a combination of factors, and the rarer it is, the better its quality. This makes your diamond ring unique and valuable. Experts on the subject of diamonds have made various researches in terms of classification and based on this, they have created a classification system that allows the use of four important factors to classify diamonds.
These features are gathered under the titles of Clarity, Color, Cut, and carat weight, which they call 4C. A finished solitaire ring is classified according to 4C in terms of quality. The 4C defines the individual attributes of a diamond, and the attributes identified are unique to that diamond ring only. The terms that experts coined to describe and evaluate diamonds in the 4C have become part of an international language and have become easy to make sense of.
People who want to buy a solitaire ring will realize how valuable that ring is if they get information about clarity, color, cut, and carat weight only under the 4C headings. Things that are few in number in nature are definitely more valuable and perfect. Diamonds have scratches, blemishes, and surface irregularities in content. The fewer blemishes the diamond ring has, the greater its clarity.
Color is one of the most important factors in choosing a diamond ring. Even slight variations in color significantly affect its value. 2 diamonds with the same clarity, weight, and cut will differ in value when evaluated only on the basis of color.
Diamonds consist of different colors, and the most valuable one is colorless diamonds, which are very rare. In addition, there are diamonds in light yellow and brown tones. There is a chart of letters to grade the color of a diamond. Each letter represents a range of colors based on the hue and saturation of the diamond. Starting from D and going to Z, it goes from the most valuable to the least valuable. However, since it is rare in yellow diamonds, it also adds a special value to the diamond.
The cutting process of the diamond is the most skillful part of the job. Because it is made entirely by human hands and is the only part touched by human hands. The better the diamond is cut, the less damage it takes and the more shiny and sparkly it becomes. This is the moment when the consumer can be happiest. A diamond looks good because of three optical measures. White light reflections called brilliance, flashing of the color called fire, and light and dark areas called scintillation, namely the shimmering part, affect the value of the ring significantly.
One of the other important things that makes a diamond a diamond is its carat weight. Diamond weights are expressed in metric carats, abbreviated “ct.” A metric carat is one gram—only seven thousandths (0.007) two tenths (0.2). An ounce contains approximately 142 carats. A metric carat has 100 points. Diamonds are measured to one thousand (0.001) of a carat and rounded to the nearest percent or point.
Fractions of a carat can mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars in price differences, depending on the quality of the diamond. Diamond weights in carats are usually indicated as dots. A diamond weighing 0.83 carats can be said to weigh “eighty-three points”. If you pay attention to the important points mentioned above when buying a solitaire ring, you can have a quality diamond ring.
How to Understand the Authenticity of a Quality Diamond?
In addition to being sparkling, there are points to be considered in order to safely obtain diamonds, which have a high financial value. Understanding the differences between real and fake diamonds is a difficult process for people who do not know about this subject.
There are many ways that can be done individually to test the authenticity of the quality diamond. For those who want a more reliable guide as well as practical solutions, consulting a jeweler who has experience in diamonds and is an expert in the field will enable you to reach more precise results. However, no individual test results at home should be considered conclusive.
One of the simple test methods to find out that the diamond is real is the water test. Fill a regular-sized glass of water with water and slowly drop the apple into the water. If the diamond you drop into the water sinks to the bottom of the water, the diamond you have is real. If it is located on or in the water, the diamond you have is fake. Diamond is a high-density gemstone, so this simple test will give you a great deal of information, although it won’t tell you for sure whether your gemstone is real or fake.
Let it evaporate by blowing your breath on the diamond you hold with your fingers. You will get a hazy image on the diamond with your breath. If the haze on your diamond disappears quickly, your diamond is real. Prolonging this process will show that your diamond is fake. In addition to the ability to conduct heat quickly, diamonds also have the ability to dissipate heat quickly.
If your diamond is combined with precious metal for a piece of jewelry, here is the information you can use. Due to the high prices of diamonds, the precious metal placed on them should also consist of precious metals such as white gold, platinum, and gold. Phrases such as 10K, 14K, 18K that will be in or on the precious metal will provide you with information about the type of gold. When you see the phrases 585, 770, 900, and 950, you can tell if your precious metal is gold or platinum.
Diamonds are precious stones that can withstand high temperatures. After filling a normal water glass with cold water, put on your heat-protective glove. Then, heat the apple you are holding with the help of a lighter for 40 seconds and drop the apple into the water. The stone you drop into the water is not a real diamond if it breaks into pieces. Sudden heating and cooling cause elements such as glass or zirconium to crack and break. Diamond, which is some of the strongest precious stones in the world, will be resistant to these effects.
Another simple method by which you can tell if a diamond is fake or real is the UV Light test, although it is not certain. The Diamond you place under the UV light emits blue light. This does not apply to all diamonds. Therefore, it would be better to consult a jeweler who is an expert in the field instead of this test. Apart from these tests that you can do individually at home, always consulting a jeweler who is an expert in the field will provide you with accurate information about whether your diamond is real or fake.
Why Are Quality Diamonds Valuable?
Diamond is a gem that people have attributed different meanings and values for centuries. The main reason for this is, of course, its hardness and durability. After people noticed the hardness of the diamond, they began to see it as a symbol of strength and invincibility. That’s why the diamond has always displayed the power of the one who holds it. Throughout history, many wars have been fought to obtain the diamond representing the power of the rulers.
Quality diamonds are recorded because they are much rarer. However, although some of them are registered, their location is unknown. This is because; stolen or lost. Some of the stolen diamonds were cut in different ways and subjected to various processes, and their form was changed and turned into smaller stones so that they would not be recognized. Thus, despite its depreciation, diamonds have been cleared.
When it is realized that only another diamond can cut the diamond, it is processed; brightness (amount of reflected light) and play of light (dispersion) were brought to the fore. The shine of the diamond, which is not found in any other precious stone, has reached the highest level with the diamond cut, and since the diamond is rare, it adds value to its economic value.
Each community attributed a different meaning to the diamond. The diamond, which the Greeks described as the tears of the gods; For the Romans, they were stellar particles. It is believed that there is a diamond at the tip of the arrow of the god of love, Eros. It has become a symbol of immortality because it is difficult to harm. Today, diamond attracts great attention from those who want to express the immortality of their love. For the first time in history, Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented Princess Mary with a ring with a diamond stone as an engagement ring in 1477.
The usage area of diamonds is very wide. It is especially widely used in industry, and we can say that more than 80% of the diamonds extracted are used for industrial purposes. Diamond mining is difficult and arduous. The mines visible from space deepen in a spiral fashion. Soils mined are moved to another partition. Then, in this process area, the diamonds are sieved and separated from the rocks. About five tons of soil is worked to obtain one carat of diamonds.
Diamonds also have contradictory properties. While carbon indicates organic origin, a diamond made of pure carbon is inorganic. Special definitions have been made for the diamond as color and clarity class, and even the color definitions of the processed form of the diamond are divided into mineralogical and gemological. While nonmetals are insulators against heat; Although diamond is nonmetallic, it is a very good heat conductor. While other precious stones are being processed, cooling with water is done, but cooling is not done because the diamond transmits heat.
Also, a diamond has traveled to more countries than the average person. Because the countries where the diamond is mined and the countries where it is processed are different: Canada, Angola, Botswana, Russia, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, and Namibia are the main diamond mining countries. In countries such as India, Belgium, and Israel, diamonds are cut. The main diamond trading centers are Dubai, India, and Belgium. It is sold from these countries to all over the world.
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