In the depths of the Earth’s crust, in the molten rock of the mantle, where the right pressure and necessary heat can be found, carbon transforms into diamond.
It is not a quick process; in fact, the diamonds found in our era, that of humans, were formed millions of years ago.
The earliest records of diamonds date back over 4000 years to India. Over the centuries, diamonds were transported from India to Europe and other parts of the known world.
In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, which popularized the use of diamonds in engagement rings. In 1947, the De Beers company created the slogan “A Diamond Is Forever,” thus consolidating the association of diamonds with love and commitment.
Today, diamonds are valued both for their beauty and as an investment. Although diamond production and trade have changed significantly throughout history, they continue to be symbols of luxury and romance in many cultures.
The “4 Cs” of Diamonds
Diamonds are characterized by their uniqueness and unmatched qualities, meaning it is rare to find two diamonds with identical characteristics.
This is measured by the 4 Cs: Color, Clarity, Carat, and Cut.
The Color of Diamonds
Color refers to the natural hue inherent in diamonds. The more colorless the diamond, the rarer and more expensive it is.
The industry standard evaluates and assigns a grade to each diamond, ranging from “D” (colorless) to “Z” (faint yellow).
The color grading scale for diamonds is:
• D-E-F: Colorless
• G-H-I-J: Nearly Colorless
• K-L-M: Faint Yellow
• N-O-P-Q-R: Very Light Yellow
• S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z: Light Yellow
The Clarity of Diamonds
Clarity measures the purity of a diamond, classified by the visibility of imperfections under 10x magnification.
A diamond is considered flawless if, under 10x magnification, it has no inclusions.
The clarity grading scale for diamonds is:
• IF: Internally Flawless
• VVS1 VVS2: Very Very Slightly Included (1 and 2)
• VS1 VS2: Very Slightly Included (1 and 2)
• SI1 SI2: Slightly Included (1 and 2)
• I1 I2 I3: Included (1, 2, and 3) or Piqué
The Carats of Diamonds
Carats define the weight of a diamond, not its size. One carat equals 200 milligrams. A diamond can have a different carat weight without appearing larger, and two diamonds with the same carat weight may have different sizes depending on the depth of the cut. In other words, carat weight does not always indicate size.
The Cut of Diamonds
The cut refers to how the facets of the diamond interact with light. Symmetry, proportions, and polish determine this. More than any other factor, the cut determines the beauty of the stone.
Diamonds are classified as Ideal, Excellent, Very Good, or Good.
The cut also determines the shape or style of the stone.
Some of the most well-known cuts are:
