Emily trained with the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (GEM A) and enjoys sharing her notes and experience in a guide to explain why diamonds are the King of gemstones. Jump straight to the section you need or read the guide here.
Chemical composition |
Carbon |
Crystal system |
Cubic |
Hardness |
10 (the highest) |
Colour |
Colourless |
Fancy |
Yellow, brown |
Fancy, rare |
Green, pink, blue, black |
Fancy, very rare |
Red and purple |
The crystal form of a rough diamond depends upon such variables, such as temperature, pressure, growth rate and trace elements.
The Octahedron form is the most common habit for diamond. Some complex forms do occur, including dohecahedron and the triangular twinned crystals called ‘macles’.
Carat (ct) weight |
The weight of the stone |
Colour |
The grade of colour, the relative ‘whiteness’ and the rarity and desirability of fancy colours |
Carat |
Clarity, or relative freedom from inclusions |
Cut |
The style and quality of cut |
Carat weight |
All other qualities being equal, the heavier the diamond, the higher its price per carat |
For loose stones, weights are measured on carat scales |
1ct = 0.2grams, 5ct = 1 gram |
For intermediate weights, each carat is split into 100 points (pts): |
1.00ct = 100pts, 0.50ct = 50pts, 0.01ct = 1pt |
‘Colourless’. These grades are judged by ‘lack of colour’ and increased brightness.
Slight tint of colour
Tint of colour
tT
This the point where most people start to perceive a draw of colour in a diamond
A stones freedom from inclusions. Clarity is graded on a scale of ‘flawless to imperfect’ as determined by an experienced grader with a 10x lens.
All characteristics found in or on a diamond can be divided into either:
Internal characteristics – features totally enclosed within the stone or extend into the stones from the surface (inclusions).
External characteristics – features found on the surface of the stone but do not penetrate into the stone (blemishes).
Number of inclusions |
Greater number, poorer the grade |
Size of inclusions |
Larger the inclusions, less brilliant the stone and hence the poorer grade |
Position of inclusions |
More central the inclusion(s), the greater visibility and hence the poorer grad |
Brightness of inclusions |
Darker the inclusion, greater its visibility and hence the poorer grade |
Nature of inclusions |
A faint ‘cloud’ (group of very small inclusions) will have a lesser effect on clarity than a dark crystal of same size and position if other factors are equal. |
Flawless (FL) |
Shows no inclusions or blemishes |
Internally Flawless (FL) |
Shows no inclusions and only insignificant blemishes |
Very Very Slightly Included |
Minute inclusions difficult to locate with a 10x lens |
VVS1 |
Inclusions are extremely difficult to see |
VVS2 |
Inclusions are very difficult to see |
Very Slightly Included |
Contains minor inclusions; small clouds, feathers |
VS1 |
Inclusions are difficult to see |
VS2 |
Inclusions are somewhat difficult to see |
Slightly Included |
Contains noticeable inclusions, only with a 10x lens. |
Sl1 |
Inclusions can be seen |
Sl2 |
Inclusions can be easily seen |
Imperfect / Pique |
Noticeable inclusions with a 10x lens, which can be seen face up to the naked eye, can affect the diamond’s transparency and brilliance. |
I1 / P1 |
Beauty and durability are somewhat affected, can be seen with the naked eye. |
I2/P2 |
Beauty and durability are seriously affected, are seen with the naked eye. |
I3/P3 |
Beauty and durability are seriously affected, easily seen with the naked eye. |
Shape |
Outline of the diamond. Symmetry of this shape is also important |
Proportions |
Relationships between sizes and angles of various facets (also termed as the ‘measurements’). |
Polish |
Describes the quality of the finish of a diamond |
Very good |
No visible symmetry deviations |
Good |
Only minor symmetry deviations seen |
Fair |
Visible symmetry deviations seen |
Poor |
Major symmetry deviations seen |
Very good |
No polish imperfections found / difficult to see with a 10x lens. |
Good |
Polish imperfections are fairly hard to find under 10x lens. |
Fair |
Polish imperfections are easy to find under 10x lens and may be seen with the unaided eye. |
Poor |
Polish imperfections are very easy to find under 10x lens and easily seen with the unaided eye |
Diamonds are mined either from pipe-like volcanic bodies of kimberlite or from river and beach gravels where they accumulated after erosion from these pipes.
The alluvial deposits of India and Borneo were the only known sources of diamond from classical times until the eighteenth Century. The important Brazilian fields were discovered in about 1725.
The alluvial and kimberlite pipe deposits of South Africa were discovered in 1866/67 and resulted in much larger quantities of diamonds reaching markets.
Siberia began mining during the 1850s and in the early 1980s Australia became an important producer of diamonds, especially pink diamonds from the Argyle Mine. In 1998 Canada also started mining diamonds.
Other important diamond-producing countries include: Angola, Botswana, China, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Zaire.
The fluorescence of diamond varies in colour and intensity, from inert to strong. In natural diamonds fluorescence maybe bluish-white to violet, green or yellow and rarely red.
Diamonds which exhibit a bright blue fluorescence displays a yellow phosphorescence, pink stones may show an orange fluorescence and phosphorescence.
Sunlight may also stimulate a bluish fluorescence in some colourless diamonds.
Surface-reaching fractures in diamonds may be filled with glass and even small stones may be treated in this way too.
Diamonds are placed in a chamber in which hot glass of low-melting point is forced into fractures so they become less visible and the clarity of the diamond appears to have improved. The treatment is not permanent and can be damaged by heat (by re-cutting) and acid (by ultrasonic cleaning).
The filler is sometimes of a yellowish-hue which made reduce the colour grade of the diamond. A very characteristic interference colour flash; typically a yellow-orange to purple flash in darkfield illumination and a blue to green flash in bright illumination. These flashes are quite distinct from the usual iridescent colours displayed by diamonds.
As this treatment is not permanent and hides many of the surface reaching fractures in the diamond, fracture filled stones are NOT clarity and colour graded because the filler can affect the grade and should be declared.
The best instrument to check diamond-set jewellery is a 10x lens, which ultraviolet fluorescence is a useful back-up for testing many stones or jewels at once.
The most common diamond simulant in modern jewellery is cubic zirconia (CZ). Observation with the 10x lens will provide clues to the identity of a colourless stone. A diamond’s high refraction, dispersion, reflectivity, supreme hardness and inclusions each contribute to the distinctive appearance of a cut diamond.
Synthetic moissanite is another simulant which has a slightly greenish or brown tint. Coupled with its high dispersion and large double refraction, which is detectable with a 10x lens, aids in its identification.
Thermal conductivity describes the rate at which a substance can transfer heat. Diamonds feel cool to the touch due to their high thermal conductivity.
A thermal conductance probe is a portable instrument used to distinguish diamond from its simulants as diamond has a higher thermal conductance, with the exception of synthetic moissanite.
Gem diamond can be synthesized by two methods: the ‘belt’ process and the BARS method. Both use high pressure and temperature to create diamonds.
Distinguishing inclusions in a synthetic diamonds are metallic flux and ‘dust’ or ‘bread-crumb’ inclusions or hour-glass colour zoning. Their crystals are predominately grow as combined forms. The actual shape of these synthetic crystals is controlled by the temperature, pressure and orientation of the seed crystal during the synthesis process.
Diamond
Adamantine
High
10
Variable – inert to strong blue or yellow
Glass (paste)
Vitreous to dull
Low to high
5
Variable
Zircon
Bright vitreous
Medium to high
7 1/2
None – weak yellowish
Cubic Zirconia (CZ)
Bright vitreous
High
5.56 – 6
Weak yellow orange to yellow-green, variable
Synthetic moissanite
Bright vitreous
Very high
9 1/4
Variable
Many factors go into selecting a diamond, however, this information somewhat relates to where your money is going. After my years of selling diamonds the most important factor is also ‘gut’ feeling. You will know when you have found the right piece of diamond jewellery for you or to give as a significant gift.
A consultation will enable you to talk with one of our team about your jewellery needs and to inspect the piece that you are interested in. Please fill in the form below and we look forward to talking with you.