Diamonds

Diamonds are THE most celebrated gemstone. The Ancient Greeks wore Diamonds into battle on their shields believing the stones could lend them their invincibility. Diamonds were believed to symbolize purity, innocence, and a joyful life.

Diamonds are hard. They are approximately 140 times harder than any other mineral. The supreme hardness means that diamond, while it can be shattered, cannot be scratched by anything other than another diamond. Diamonds are distinctive in the way they reflects light. They have a unique brilliance and also break the light up into spectral colors which dance within the stone as it is moved. Another unusual quality of a diamond is its purity. A gem quality diamond is among the purest elements found in nature.

So, just what is Diamond? It is the element carbon, crystallized in an inimitable molecular structure that makes it so hard and beautiful. Diamonds actually occur in all different colors, true red being most rare, followed by blue. Diamonds formed deep within the earth where the pressure and heat are intense. It was not until the 16th century that a diamond was first able to be cut and polished, thereby yielding it's true beauty.

The Four C's

A diamond is judged by four distinct factors that combine in a number of ways to arrive at its value.

Cut - Man's Contribution to the Diamond. All diamonds start out as octahedrons deep in the earth where they are formed over millions of years by intense pressure and temperature. A rough diamond isn't much to look at so people have figured out how to cut them into more beautiful shapes that reflect light better.

Clarity. All diamonds are given a clarity rating which describe how "clean" the diamond is on the inside. Most diamonds have what gemologists call inclusions, or imperfections in their internal structure. The fewer inclusions the more valuable the diamond is. Note most inclusions can only be seen through loupes or microscopes.

IF- Internally flawless
VVS1- Very, very, small inclusions
VVS2- Very, very, small inclusions but more than VVS1
VS1- Very small inclusions
VS2- Very small inclusions but more than VS1
SI1- Small inclusions
SI2- Small inclusions
I1- This is the point at which inclusions become visible to the naked eye.

Color. Diamonds come in all the colors of the rainbow, but traditionally people have preferred the clearer whiter type of diamonds. There are two main groupings of diamonds. These are the "white" diamonds and those with "fancy" color. White diamonds are perfectly clear in color (D) to an off yellow tint (K).

Carat. The weight of the diamond. The word carat originated in a natural unit of weight: the seeds of the carob tree. Diamonds were traditionally weighed against these seeds until the system was standardized and one carat was fixed at 0.2 grams (one fifth of a gram). One carat is divided into 100 "points" so that a diamond of 25 points is described as quarter of a carat or 0.25 carats.

Care of Diamonds

Even though you may wear your diamond jewelry around the clock, you should give thought to its care. Diamonds are durable, but they still require proper maintenance. Diamonds can get smudged, soiled and dusty. Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils, put a film on diamonds and cut down their brilliance. Clean diamonds "glow" because the maximum amount of light can enter the stone and return in a fiery brilliance. It takes just a little care to keep them that way.

Do not wear diamond jewelry, especially rings, when doing rough work. Even though diamond is one of the hardest materials in nature, it can still be chipped by a sharp, sudden blow.
Chlorine can damage and discolor the mounting on your diamond jewelry. Keep your diamond away from chlorine bleach or other household chemicals. You should also remove your diamond jewelry before entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub.
Clean your diamonds regularly using a commercial jewelry cleaner, a mix of ammonia and water, or a mild detergent. Dip the jewelry into the solution and use a soft brush to dislodge dust or dirt from under the setting.
Avoid touching your clean diamonds with your fingers. Handle clean jewelry by its edge