Diamonds: The Art & Science
Diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to mankind scoring a 10/10 on the mohs hardness scale. They form about 100 miles below the earth’s surface, where the temperature and pressure are just right. Diamonds have had a variety of uses throughout the years across many industries. They are predominantly used in jewelry and are typically the stone of choice for engagement rings. Due to its amazing qualities, a diamond is seen as the best representation of eternal love and commitment. As famously said by De Beers, “A diamond is forever”.
The 4 C's
There are four factors that make a diamond unique. In the jewelry world, they are known as Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat weight. These four factors are all very crucial and build into the appearance and value of the stone. The highest level of grading for a diamond is from the Gemological Institute of America who certifies all of our stones. We have partnered with GIA to provide a user-friendly interactive tool to help educate our clients about the 4 C’s. This tool can be found directly below. Simply click on each of the factors to learn more about its significance.
Common Shapes
Diamonds can be cut in a variety of different ways. Above is a chart of some shapes that can be commonly seen in the jewelry world, but there are many more shapes and cuts available to suit your exact needs. The biggest factor that changes with the shape is the brilliance (sparkle) and concentration of brilliance. Each shape has a different number of facets that affect its appearance and make the stone even more unique.
Let's get fancy
Diamonds come in a large array of colors such as blue, red, green, yellow, purple, orange, and pink. Structural irregularities, radiation, and trace elements can all cause diamonds to take on different colors when they are formed. These nuances in formation can either be simulated in a lab or take place naturally. For example, it is possible to artificially irradiate a diamond until it becomes a different color. This process, however, is still simulated and will not add to the actual value of the stone. Naturally colored stones, on the other hand, are extremely scarce and difficult to acquire. They have become some of the most coveted stones in history. Typically, natural colored diamonds are inaccessible by most jewelers but we are proud to offer our clients a trusted source of some of the finest diamonds, both colored and colorless.
Lab Grown Diamonds
There are a lot of questions regarding the topic of lab-grown diamonds. Many question the legitimacy of lab grown diamonds and wonder if they are real. They have the same chemical makeup and are visually identical. The only difference between lab grown stones and natural stones are the way they are formed. Natural diamonds were formed over the course of many years below the earth’s surface, and lab-grown diamonds are manufactured by scientists in a lab. Although we do specialize in natural diamonds we are able to offer a wide variety of high-quality lab-grown stones as well.