Of all the minerals known to man, diamond has the most unusual attributes, making it valuable not only as a gemstone, but an indispensable part of industry. In fact, only a small percentage of the diamonds mined are able to be cut into a treasured keepsake. Approximately 80 to 85 % of all diamonds are not used for gemstones.
Because diamonds are the hardest material known to man, they can be honed to a fine and sharp edge. This characteristic has made it invaluable to medical technology in developing sharp diamond instruments capable of removing cataracts without tearing the delicate eye tissues. Also in medicine, diamond's sensitivity to radiation becomes vital in another instrument, the dosimeter, which can monitor the amount of radiation administered during therapy. In addition, diamonds are used in dental drills.
The word diamond comes for the Greek word "adamas," which means unconquerable. Legends say that diamonds were considered great protection from nightmares and phantoms of the night, as well as a giver of great courage and virtue, especially used by soldiers in battle.
Most of the famous diamonds of the world come from their oldest source, India. Diamonds have been found in South America, United States and Africa. The largest sources of rough diamonds today are Siberia and Australia. The DeBeers Consolidated Mines, a large diamond cartel, controls the prices of rough diamonds throughout the world by either owning the mines, by controlling the stock in the mines, or by purchasing all the rough from independent owners and/or governments. Diamonds are so expensive because of rarity. Nearly 4 tons of kimberlite (the blue vocanic rock), must be mined to produce one carat of gem quality stones. Thus, the larger the stone the more rare and therefore the price will be many times more expensive as smaller ones.
The value of a diamond is determined by the four C's: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat Weight. Cut refers to two factors in diamond terminology. It may mean the shape of the stone; 1)--either a traditional round brilliant shape with 57 or 58 facets, (polished surface planes), or a description of a fancy cut such as Marquise, (navette shape), pear, oval, heart or emerald shape. 2)--Cut also refers to the way the diamond is proportioned. This is the most important factor in determining the brilliancy of the stone. If a diamond is cut too deep or too shallow, not polished with proper facet alignment, or polishing all facets to the maximum finish, then it will not reflect and refract light to its full potential and advantage.
Clarity refers to the microscopic inclusions found in the stone. These inclusions usually cannot be seen with the naked eye and require a 10X loupe or gemscope for proper grading. Inclusions do not affect the beauty of the stone unless they are large and obvious. Most inclusions are colorless and appear as tiny bubbles, thin lines, feathers or cloudy areas. Generally, the fewer and smaller inclusions a diamond has, the more valuable it can be. This value is also in relation to the cut, color and carat weight.
Color is another determining factor in the value of a diamond. This simply means the color or hue of the stone. Diamonds have been found in almost all colors of the rainbow, including blue, red, canary, green, black, and rose (pink). These natural colors are extremely rare and and are called "fancies." The more common diamond colors fall into one of three categories---white, yellow or "cape" (brown). This covers all shades within, from colorless to light shades of each. Most of the shade variances between the colors in each category are so subtle that even two experts may disagree on the exact color of a specific stone. We believe that color is an important consideration when choosing a diamond.
Carat weight is a metric measurement: 100 points = 1 carat, which equals 1/5 of a gram. Carats are broken down into smaller segments called points. One point is equal to 1/100 of a carat, thus 50 points = 1/2 of a carat (or .50 ct.). Generally, the larger a stone, the more valuable it is over a smaller stone of the exact same quality. The word carat is an ancient term derived from the carob seed which was used to measure the weight of gemstones centuries ago.
Diamonds must be cleaned regularly in order to maintain their brilliancy. They attract dirt and grease, which is used even today as a tool for mining, as the stones will stick to the greased bottoms of the sluce trays. (See cleaning of your diamond in the care section.)
Diamonds continue to be used as a great investment, as they have steadily and sometimes rapidly increased in value over the centuries. It is the most used stone in engagement rings in the United States. Consequently the diamond has come to signify eternal love and friendship. Diamonds within recent years, have been enhanced by "laser drilling." A laser is used to drill an extremely small hole into the diamond to burn out carbon spots, thereby increasing their value slightly. Another method is "quality enhancing," where open fissures and crevices are filled with special glass compounds. Still a controversial subject in the jewelry industry, because of possible repair and cleaning problems.
At Ralph Miller Jewelers you can be assured that our stones are not laser drilled or quality enhanced. We sell only top of the line quality stones; usually all our stones have facet or polished girdles giving you the top carat, cut, color and clarity at our very best, low everyday cost. Each newly purchased diamond comes with a full Appraisal Certificate at no additional charge.
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