Pink diamonds are one of the most valuable coloured diamonds in the market which makes the decision of picking the perfect pink rock for you, just as significant! This means when shopping for a pink diamond engagement ring, first find out all you can about pink diamonds through your own research, who the most reputable jewellery professional as well as extremely knowledgeable in pink diamonds and lastly but most importantly, never rush into buying your pink diamond!

Pink Diamond Origin

The very first pink diamond to be known about was found in 1643, where it was gifted to Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conde and Commander of the French Army during the Thirty Years War. This light pink coloured diamond, named, Conde Pink Diamond, weighed 9.01 carats and was later bought by Louis XIII but now sits in the very famous, Musee de Conde in Chantilly, France.

Throughout history, large pink diamonds have surfaced to make their grand appearance but only recently, have people’s perception increased of its value within the last 30 years, when the Argyle Diamond Mine released its first pink diamond in 1985.

While scientists are still unsure as to what truly forms a pink diamond, they’re 100% sure of the fact that these little beauties go through the worst malformation abuse of all white and coloured diamonds. Only found in one kind of rock, called Lamproite, has made Australia famous for pink diamonds since no other active mines have yet been found to contain these gorgeous diamond’s very unique mode of transportation.

Searching For Your Pink Diamond

With the Argyle Diamond Mine producing one-third (around 35 million diamonds per year) of the world’s natural supply of diamonds, it only makes sense that they also produce the largest amount of pink diamonds. With 45% of their diamonds in the near gem quality diamond pile and 50% of industry quality diamonds, that leaves a mere 5% of rare, coloured diamonds out of which, only 0.1% of that will be pink diamonds.

To put that into better context, for every 10,000 white diamonds mined, only one pink diamond will be mined and the chances of that one pink diamond being an industry quality diamond is even rarer than that!

The Argyle Diamond Mine does release a very small, set amount of pink diamonds each year but only to select clientele. These lovely stones will always be very limited due to their rarity and more severely, the fact that by 2030, pink diamond mining will come to an end with the belief that no more pink diamonds will be available to mine.

The fact that the pink diamond supply will eventually cease may make you feel the urge to rush out and get one but this is an investment that you should NEVER take lightly or be rash about.

The first and most obvious step to take, once you’ve found a jeweller who specialises or is very knowledgeable in pink diamonds, is to set an appointment with your jewellery professional. He/She will be able to let you know what’s available, what’s a good asking price and narrow down your options to make a well educated decision.

If you can’t afford hundreds of thousands of dollars (or millions), then lighten up your choices – literally! The lighter and more faint a pink diamond is, the lesser the price. The darker and more vivid of the pink in a diamond, the price steeply climbs up the ladder.

Remember that pink diamonds aren’t ever remotely near anything close to a cheap price and you’ll never find a sale surrounding it. In other words, be prepared to spend a substantial amount when you make your final purchase!

Creating Your Pink Diamond Engagement Ring

Jewellery professionals are talented artists who appreciate every aspect of what makes up any piece of jewellery. If you’re planning on having a pink diamond engagement ring to pop the question with, then your best bet is to have the ring design customised so that this engagement ring gets a fabulous one-of-a-kind design the pink diamond truly deserves!

Your jewellery professional will sit down with you to go over many different designs of ideas he/she has that will enhance the pink diamond’s quality and appearance while also taking your own ideas and thoughts to create some designs of your own.

If you already know exactly what look you’ll be going for, then go ahead and sketch out your thoughts. Even if you aren’t the best artist in the world, your jewellery professional will understand once you’ve arrived at your appointment.

After looking through all of the different engagement ring designs that both of you have drawn up, the final outcome will produce the exact design you had in mind while including the final tweaking it needs to produce the perfect engagement ring.

1. How are diamonds formed?

The formation process that diamonds go through is absolutely amazing! Diamonds are the only element discovered that consist of one single element, Carbon, that form between 120-200 kms below the earth’s surface.

Obviously, the farther below the earth’s surface you go, the hotter the temperature gets, majorly increasing the pressure from all of the layers of surface above. This extreme heat and large weight of pressure cause carbon atoms to crystallise – which is how we get these beautiful diamonds that we treasure.

2. How are diamonds mined?

Not many people really think too much about the extraction part of the diamond process when putting a diamond on their finger but extraction is exactly what mining diamonds is. Before it can even be worthy of catching your eye, diamonds are pretty unrecognisable when inside of a mine.

Because it takes great skill and patience to gather diamonds without damaging them, there are two types of mining that are the most commonly used methods: Pipe mining and alluvial mining. Pipe mining is the more dramatic of the two since it involves recovering diamonds from volcanic pipes. Miners have to be lowered deep within the cave to be able to find these valuable stones.

Alluvial mining is a little less intense  and one that most people are likely to be more familiar with since it’s done above the earth’s surface. This type involves the screen you’ve actually seen before at riverbeds and ocean beaches, where people sway them back and forth, sifting in search of diamonds and other treasures.

3. Can diamonds break easily?

This is a very important question because the popular thought is that diamonds are invincible when surprisingly, they’re not!  Remember that even Superman has his weaknesses!

While they are the strongest gemstone known to man, they can still go through wear and tear just like any other precious stone and yes, diamonds absolutely can be broken if hit hard enough with a hammer (not that anyone would likely want to do this!).

Not only can they be damaged, they can also damage other gemstones if sitting too close together. For example, if a person is wearing two rings next to each other – a diamond ring on the ring finger and a ruby ring on the middle finger – and both rings accidentally turn towards each other, the diamond will win that battle, hands down.

4. What are the 4 C’s?

Instead of constantly spelling out all four components that make up a diamonds value (cut, clarity, colour, carat), it’s commonly known as the 4 C’s in the jewellery world.

The cut of a diamond is perhaps the most important ‘C’ of the bunch. This is what determines a diamond’s beauty and when cut to perfection, will enhance the diamond’s colour and hide inclusions at the same time.

Since everything is based on the diameter of the diamond, the perfect diameter for a 1ct. round diamond is exactly 6.50mm – not 6.48mm or 6.55mm – but 6.50mm. This allows for the perfect proportion to then be cut, resulting in a diamond that is now able to break up white light into the appropriate colour spectrum very strongly rather than very weakly.

The clarity of a diamond has to do with how ‘clear’ a diamond is. Any inclusions or imperfection within the diamond can lower its overall grade which decreases the diamonds value. In layman’s terms, the more clarity a diamond has, the more the diamond is worth.

The colour of a diamond is simply just that: the colour. Diamonds come in a beautiful variety of colours, to include just about any colour you can think of. To distinguish the difference between their colours, the terms Faint through Fancy and Fancy through Fancy Vivid are given to these gorgeous coloured diamonds.

And finally, the carat, refers to the weight of the diamond (see question #7).

5. What process do diamonds go through to get that, ‘Girl’s Best Friend’ sparkling, Fire and Brilliance finish?

Believe it or not, diamonds don’t pop out of the earth, glittering and ready to be sold! Diamonds are actually pretty dirty rocks that take an enormous amount of fixing up to get it engagement ring ready. Of course, diamonds are valuable as rough, raw stones but cutting and polishing them improve the diamond’s value by a minimum of 50%!

In order to get the full price and value put into a diamond, it takes an extreme amount of expertise and patience (this process can sometimes take up to an entire year to finish!) until the diamond is ready to be placed into a jewellery setting.

The first important C’s of any diamond is its cut, followed closely by the diamond’s colour. This is what gives each diamond, what I refer to as, that ‘Fire and Brilliance’. The cut and colour of every diamond is its heart and soul which makes these two C’s matter greatly in just how important a good diamond is.

Because diamonds rate a full 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, very precise tools, such as diamond saws and lasers, are used to cut the shape of the diamond. A Russian mathematician, Marcel Tolkowsky, worked out a formula in the early 1900′s that’s used nowadays to maximise the Fire and Brilliance of diamonds.

To give it that special dazzling factor, jewellery professionals use a special formula to determine where the facets should be placed on the diamond. The final process involves a fine, mechanically controlled saw, a laser or a rotating disk that is sprinkled with diamond powder.

6. What constitutes the carat of a diamond?

This is a very short answer with a single explanation: Technically speaking, a diamond’s carat is the term used to express the weight of a diamond, with one carat equalling 200 milligrams of actual weight. If a diamond is extremely small, it can then be expressed by points, i.e. 0.01 or one-hundredth of a carat.

7. Is there a difference between certified and uncertified diamonds?

Those who aren’t in the professional world of jewellery have a hard time fully grasping the concept of certified and uncertified diamonds. The reason that the difference between both kinds of diamonds might throw people off is because these words sound more like more valuable and less valuable. This is a diamond myth that has absolutely nothing to do with a diamond’s value, whatsoever!

Certified diamonds are graded diamonds. In other words, diamonds with a piece of paper that reputable gemmology labs grade a diamond’s quality with. This may sound a little disappointing but it’s actually the biggest difference between certified and uncertified.

Now, here is where this myth that certified diamonds cost more lies: Diamond wholesalers who possess a certified diamond will occasionally charge more for a certified diamond because the buyer knows without a doubt that everything about the diamond is authentic. This has nothing to do with the certification and has everything to do with the seller.

8. What are the three most famous diamonds in the world?

There are so many famous diamonds but sticking to the three biggest and most magnificent diamonds:

The Cullinan diamond: This is, without a doubt, the biggest diamond to have ever been discovered to date. Coming in at 3,106.75 carats of pure white diamond, it was then cut into nine smaller (figuratively speaking) diamonds with the two biggest rocks taking on famous names themselves: The Great Star of Africa (or Cullinan I) weighing 530 carats and the Lesser Star of Africa (or Cullinan II) weighing 317 carats

The Golden Jubilee: The reason for this diamond’s fame isn’t just on carat weight alone but for its colour. The Golden Jubilee is the biggest brown diamond to make its way to the earth’s surface with a whopping weight of 345.67 carats!

The Incomparable: This amazing yellow diamond was first discovered in its 890 carat glory but after being cut and polished, still holds firmly in third place with 407.48 carats of pure beauty.

9. Are diamonds a good investment?

Absolutely! Diamonds will always be valuable and is the one precious stone that will always remain in tact and at the top of the gem hierarchy. They’re a completely tangible investment because of this very reason.

Even if there is a slight fall in inflation, diamonds are guaranteed to ALWAYS go back up on the rise. Even if it’s hard to find a buyer right off the bat, it’s like any other investment that takes patience. The rewards that can be reaped by diamond investments can cover pensions, send children to college and provide a life of financial security if the right investment techniques are used.

10. Where can people find the best quality diamonds?

The most important advice for those who are looking for the best quality diamonds that nature has to offer, is to begin their search with the most reputable jewellery professional in town. Clients need to feel a sense of security and trust with their jewellery professional before rushing into any purchase so that they’re left 100% satisfied with their purchase with all questions answered.

These legendary top 10 biggest diamonds in the world come in all shapes and sizes. While their prices are sure to be left to pure royalty, there is no limit to the amount of admiration and awe to be shared amongst everyone.

Take a look for yourself and see if you aren’t dazzled by these diamonds!

1. The Golden Jubilee

Weight: 545.67 carats or 109.13 g

Estimated Value: $8 – $12 million

Firmly holding onto its #1 spot, The Golden Jubilee is the largest known diamond in the world! This large brown diamond was discovered in 1985 in a premier mine in South Africa with the original total rough shape weight of 755.5 carats (151 g) which was later reshaped and resized. The first name originally given to this enormous diamond was simply, ‘Unnamed Brown’. In honor of King Bhumibol Adulyade’s 50^th coronation anniversary, this brown diamond was presented to him as a gift during which, he renamed the brown diamond as ‘The Golden Jubilee’.

2. The Cullinan I

Weight: 530.4 carats or 106.1 g

Estimated Value: Over $400 million

Also commonly known as Star of Africa, the Cullinan I is the second largest diamond in the world. This pear shaped diamond measures 58.9 mm × 45.4 mm × 27.7 mm. It is called the Cullinan I since it was the largest of the 9 stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond which weighed 3106 carats when first discovered. The Cullinan Diamond was named after Thomas Cullinan (later Sir Thomas), who was a South African mine company owner.

3. The Incomparable

Weight: 407.48 carats

Estimated Value: $600,000

The Incomparable is the third largest diamond in the world, measuring in at 53.90 mm × 35.19 mm × 28.18 mm and was found in the town of Mbuji Mayi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in the 1980s. This large rock was first discovered in its rough state weighing 890 carats, then reshaped and resized and finally adjusted into a ring. The cutting of the diamond was done by a the team of Marvin Samuels, who was the co-owner of the stone together along with Donald Zale of Zales Jewellers and Louis Glick.

4. The Cullinan II

Weight: 317.40 carats

Estimated Value: Unknown

Initially dismissed as a real diamond, the cushion-shaped Cullinan II is now the fourth largest diamond of the world. Discovered by mine manager, Fred Wells, this diamond rests in the center-front of the Imperial Stat Crown of Great Britain which had, at one time, belonged to Queen Elizabeth II of England. It was cut from the same rough diamond, the Cullinan, and fascinatingly, has two loops on either side to wear it as a broach or with the Cullinan I.

5. The Spirit of de Grisogono

Weight: 312.24 carats

Estimated Value: Unknown

Coming in as the fifth largest diamond in the world, the Spirit of de Grisogono is also the world’s largest cut black diamond, discovered in West Central Africa. This deep, dark diamond’s original rough weight was 587 carats but was later cut and resized.  It’s now fitted into a ring and is encrusted with 702 small white diamonds which have a total weight of 36.69 carats.

6. The Centenary

Weight: 273.85 carats

Estimated Value: Unknown

The Centenary, discovered on 17th July 1986, is the sixth largest diamond of the world and has an almost heart-shaped appearance. This perfect coloured diamond was found at the premier mine by the electric X-ray recovery system at the Premier Mine and those who were a part of it were sworn to secrecy. The rough shape weight of this diamond was 599 carats with 247 facets, measuring in at 39.90mm × 50.50mm × 24.55 mm. It has since been reshaped and resized.

7. The Jubilee

Weight: 245.35 carats

Estimated Value: Unknown, although, in 1900, its estimated value was 7,000,000 francs.

The seventh largest diamond in the world is the colourless, cushion-shaped Jubilee. Discovered in 1895 in the Jagersfontein Mine located in South Africa, it was sent to Amsterdam where it was polished by M.B. Barends. The previous name given to original diamond before it was cleaved was the Reitz in honour of the then president of the Orange Free State, Francis William Reitz. After a 40 carat slab was separated from the original 650.80 carats of rough diamond, the remaining piece was polished, renamed as the Jubilee and destined to be sent to Queen Victoria. The Jubilee is now located in the Royal Thai Palace and is fixed into the crown along with other expensive and popular jewels.

8. The De Beers

Weight: 234.65 carats

Estimated Value: Would be valued $20 – $30 million if found again

The De Beers is the eighth largest diamond in the world and was discovered in the Kimberly mines located in South Africa in 1888. Before being resized and reshaped this amazing diamond weighed 428.50 carats. It was bought by the Maharaja of Patiala and then fitted into a necklace which was named the Patiala Necklace. In 1978, after being loaned to an event in Israel, the famous necklace went missing until it turned up later at a second-hand jewellery shop in London in 1998 – without the De Beers diamond. This light yellow diamond has yet to be found and until that day arrives, De Beers allowed Cartier to restore a cubic zirconium look-a-like to replace its spot on the Patiala Necklace.

9. The Red Cross

Weight: 205.07

Estimated Value: £2 million

The Red Cross is the ninth largest diamond of the world weighing 205.07 was also discovered in the Kimberly mines, South Africa but at a later date in 1901. There are two extremely significant features that make this canary yellow diamond so valuable and unique. The first rare feature is that after exposure to brilliant light, it emits those rays becoming self-luminous in the dark. Even more intriguing is its second rare feature: The Maltese Cross distinctly visible in the top facet, hence its name, the Red Cross.

10. The Millennium Star

Weight: 203.04 carats

Estimated Value: While the estimated value is kept private, it was insured by De Beers Chairman, Nicky Oppenheimer, for £100 million

Although it’s the last of the Top 10 List, the Millennium Star diamond is definitely not the least and is in fact, the second largest faceted D-Flawless diamond in the world. Discovered in Zaire in 1990, this clear blue coloured stone weighed 777 carats in its rough state and was considered to be a magical number. What makes this diamond extremely exceptional is that it is externally flawless without a single scratch or burn marks on any of the facets.

The less colour that’s present in a diamond, the more valuable a diamond is. Given a grade of D, E and F, these diamonds are considered rare and are much more expensive than your average diamond.

Knowing that, it may not make a whole lot of sense that a vibrant, red diamond would be considered one of the rarest and most expensive to those unfamiliar with different categories of diamonds. However, when coloured diamonds are given a class of their own and then rated accordingly, it then takes on its own value.

Coloured diamonds are referred to as Fancy diamonds and rate in a way similar to that of transparent diamonds. They have a ratings scale designed specifically for colour: Faint through Fancy and Fancy through Fancy Vivid. The more effervescent and pure the colour of the diamond is, the more valuable and rarer the stone is. Like transparent diamonds, the value of coloured diamonds also includes the 4 C’s – cut, clarity, colour and carat weight.

To give you a better mental picture, brown Fancy diamonds are on the low spectrum of rarity amongst coloured diamonds. Claret and champagne are the favourite choices of brown diamonds and perhaps the more affordable of all of the colours. Other colours include yellow, green, and orange with blue, pink and red being the most expensive and rarest of all coloured diamonds.

By using radioactive decay schemes, it’s been discovered that all natural diamonds were formed between 990.000,000 and 3.2 billion years ago. Because temperatures need to reach up to 900 – 1300 degrees Celsius to form a diamond, they’re brought up from 100 – 200km beneath the earth when a volcanic eruption occurs.[i] It’s extremely fascinating, isn’t it?

During this process, occasionally trace impurities, irregular growth patterns or exposure of different elements can change the colour of the diamond, thus creating your rare, coloured Fancy diamond.

Here’s a list showing which element creates which hue the diamond becomes:

Yellow – Nitrogen and/or Hydrogen              

Yellow Diamond

Brown – Nitrogen and/or Hydrogen

Brown Diamond

Blue – Boron

Blue Diamond

Green – Radiation exposure

Green Diamond

Pink – Irregular growth patterns within the crystal

Pink Diamond

Red – Irregular growth patterns within the crystal[ii]

Red Diamond

Because of their rarity and value, Fancy diamonds are quite costly. Most people can’t afford coloured diamonds because of the amount of money riding on it. If you’re one of those blessed with the fortune of obtaining such a stone, make sure that a certificate from a respected grading lab is kept securely placed where it can’t be mislaid, stolen or damaged. This is an extremely important document since it verifies the value of the diamond.

Coloured diamonds are not just pricey but because of their intrinsic value and rarity, are also considered to be an investment of sorts. Since so much money goes into purchasing Fancy diamonds, you should be cautious and not make a hasty decision.

The easiest way to identify whether you’re being sold a diamond that’s been coated to appear like a Fancy stone or the real deal is if the salesperson offers a discount or if the stone doesn’t have a certificate of authenticity to go along with it. Fancy diamonds will NEVER be offered for any discount.

I’m sure after understanding a bit more about coloured diamonds, you’ll agree that they’re truly fascinating and perhaps the most exquisite gemstone known to man. If you own a coloured diamond, I would love to hear about it!

Sam Kritsotakis

Eskae Private Jeweller

[ii] http://www.khulsey.com/jewelry/fancy_colored_diamonds.html

For this final installment, I will examine carbon, knots and growth tubes. Some of the inclusions I will look at today are not as well-known as some others, yet can still affect the clarity of the diamond and therefore also affect its value.

Carbon

You could easily assume that the pepper-like spots on a diamond are due to a lack of proper stone wash or simply dirt. If you look closer, however, you will notice that the block spots are actually inside the diamond and have nothing to do with its care, but everything to do with its creation.

The tiny black spots are actually undigested carbon inclusions – also known as natts. The tiny chunks of carbon simply never crystallized like the rest of the diamond. As the crystallization is a normal part of the process when a diamond is created, it is also very normal for carbon spots to be present.

When selecting the right diamond, it is important to examine the contained carbon inclusions as they can affect the clarity rating. And, no matter the size of the diamond, a large carbon spot will take away from its brilliance and beauty, leaving you with less than you bargained for in your diamond acquisition.

Knot

A knot is a diamond crystal inclusion that extends to the surface of the diamond. This type of inclusion is seen very well when looking at the stone with the naked eye as the inclusion reaches the polished surface of the finished diamond. It is possible for a knot to resemble the raised area on a facet surface, which can trick the eye. To better distinguish between the actual facet and the knot, look for differences in polish quality.

Because the knot extends to the polished surface of the stone, it does affect the quality of the stone, its clarity and its durability. The knot actually presents a risk to the integrity and durability of the diamond over the long-term. I tend to avoid any and all diamonds with a knot inclusion as I feel the diamond is not worthy of setting and wearing with such an obvious flaw.

Growth Tubes

Growth tubes are actually fascinating, although they do take away from the clarity and quality of the diamond. Still natural inclusions or imperfections, growth tubes are created at the same time the diamond is created. In the crystallization process of the diamond formation, a tube forms with an internal cavity that contained liquid.

A look at growth tubes provides a visualization of these inclusions, offering a roadmap of how they were formed. While I do not recommend purchasing a diamond with growth tubes inclusions, you can visualize the process of the diamond’s creation by following the length of the tube.

I hope you have enjoyed this series on inclusions. While it is possible you will run across other types of inclusions on your search for the perfect natural diamond, remember to look for the primary inclusions covered in this series, including clouds, feathers, cleavage, crystals, cavities, pinpoints, internal graining, needles, carbon, knots and growth tubes.

In this series of blog posts, I have been examining the brilliance and beauty of the natural diamond. I have touched on the colour, clarity and cut of the diamond. These three, along with carat weight make up the 4C’s. The 4C’s is a method by which the GIA – the benchmark in diamond grading throughout the world – compares the quality of diamonds.

In this post, let’s take a look at carat weight and how that plays into the value and desire of the diamond. The word carat is the term used to express the weight of the diamond and one carat is equal to 200 milligrams of actual weight and five carats is equal to 1 gram. Interestingly, while carat weight is used to measure other gemstones, different stones of the same weight are not necessarily the same sizes as the density of the stone plays a role in total carat weight.

When considering two equal carat diamonds, for instance, one may be cut too shallow and will appear to have a larger diameter but a smaller depth. The other diamond may be cut too deep – what is considered to be bottom heavy – and will have a smaller diameter, but will appear smaller when it is viewed from the top. In this case, both diamonds are equal in carat weight, yet look very different when viewed with the naked eye.

It is important to remember that as the diamond carat size increases, so does the diameter and depth of the diamond. As a result, a 1.00 carat diamond will not look twice as wide as a 0.50 carat diamond. At the same time, you must consider the size of the finger that will wear the diamond as a 1 carat solitaire looks much larger on a smaller finger than it will on a larger finger.

Smaller diamonds are weighed in points instead of carats. The carat weight is still the base of measurement, but the points communicate to the consumer and the jeweller how much of a whole carat is represented in the stone. In other words, there are 100 points in 1 carat and if a diamond is rated a 0.05, this means it is five one-hundredths. A 0.05 carat diamond is equal to five points.

The carat weight of the diamond will impact its value, simply because larger diamonds that are both brilliant and beautiful are much rarer. At the same time, the larger diamond is in more demand than smaller diamonds of the same quality. As a result, a larger carat diamond solitaire has more value that a diamond setting made up of multiple diamonds that total the same carat weight, but are individually smaller. Likewise, the diamond that is just less than one full carat will be less expensive than the diamond that surpasses the full-carat benchmark.

No matter what the carat weight of the diamond, its value will also take into account the cut, clarity and colour as all four combine into the 4C’s when determining the true quality and investment potential of the diamond.

I have enjoyed this series and I do hope that you have been able to learn some new and important information that will help you make the best decision when you are purchasing your next diamond – whether it be for an engagement ring or anniversary or just because…

If you are in need of expert advice, please contact me via my website, Eskae Jeweller and I will be happy to sit with you to go through the various options available in your next diamond purchase.

Sam Kritsotakis

Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller

Today, I will take a look at pinpoints, internal graining and needles. While many of these inclusions will have similar characteristics, there are also some differences we will explore here together so you better understand how these inclusions impact the beauty and value of the diamond.

Pinpoints

Pinpoints are the tiny light or dark crystals you may see in the diamond that can appear on their own or together with other crystals in clusters. When the pinpoints are gathered together in a cluster, they are known as a cloud because they can create a hazy area in the diamond. This cloud will affect the clarity of the diamond by disrupting the path of light through the diamond which in turn will also play a role in the quality grading for determining the value of the diamond.

Diamond Inclusions - Pinpoints create a cloud

Internal Graining

As diamonds are formed through a unique process, the crystals forming with the diamond take on their own characteristics. Internal graining occurs when irregular crystal growth takes place within the stone, creating internal distortions, waviness and/or a haze to the appearance of the diamond. This internal graining can easily be accompanied by an internal strain.

Internal graining is also known as grain lines or growth lines. If the grain line is colorless, it often will not affect the clarity of the diamond. If the lines are present in large masses, however, they can impact the diamond’s clarity again by disrupting the path of light through the diamond. At the same time, white or colored grain lines are known to lower the clarity grade of the diamond.

Diamond Inclusions - Internal graining

Needles

Needles are another example of internal flaws that can exist in a natural diamond. When the internal crystals are present in the form of long and thin needles, they earn the needle reference. Many needle inclusions are not visible to the naked eye, although needles that take on a particular color can be easily seen. As you can see in the photo provided, some needles can be clustered together, very apparent to the viewer in a way that vastly impacts the beauty and value of the diamond.

Diamond Inclusions - Needles within the diamond

While it is easy to assume that all inclusions will affect the quality of the diamond in a negative way, this is not always true. Instead, talk to a professional jeweller to determine whether or not the diamond of interest has any natural inclusions and how they may impact the quality of the stone. Keep in mind that most diamonds will have some form of an inclusion that gives it a unique characteristic that can at times enhance its beauty.

Believe it or not, we still haven’t covered all inclusions that could occur in a natural diamond. I will continue this series to make sure you are completely informed and educated on all the possibilities. Join me next time as I explore carbon, knots and growth tubes.

Sam Kritsotakis

Eskae Jeweller – Your Private Jeweller

In the process of creating the diamond, it is common for inclusions to be present that will affect the way light passes through the diamond. Inclusions can also result from diamond enhancement procedures, which include laser lines, used to drill out inclusions that will then be filled with a silicon-like substance to enhance the diamond’s visual properties. Often considered to be blemishes to the natural beauty of the diamond, inclusions can also impact the strength and durability of the stone.

It is common within the diamond industry to refer to inclusions as “internal characteristics” when describing the growth crystals that are unique to that particular diamond. Inclusions occur within the stone and are often referred to as flaws as they separate the diamond from perfection. In this post we will examine the inclusions Clouds and Feathers.

Clouds

Clouds resemble a gray overcast sky when they are present in a diamond, but not always to the naked eye. Clouds are known as a dense grouping of tiny pinpoints that create a cloudy zone that may or may not resolve as individuals pinpoints when the stone is magnified 10 times. The cloud generally consists of three or more pinpoint-sized diamond crystals located in close proximity and rarely impact the strength of the diamond.

While clouds are common, a single cloud should not cover a third or more of the diamond or it will affect the visual appearance of the diamond. On a diamond grading report, clouds are indicted as circles or formations comprised of small red dots or pinpoints. While the majority of clouds are translucent, the visibility of the cloud can vary depending upon the light source used to evaluate the cloud.

Feathers

Feathers are a much more serious inclusion as they not only impact the visual appearance of the diamond, but also its strength if they reach the surface of the stone. Feathers are essentially tiny fractures in the diamond. In a grading report, the feather is generally plotted with tiny red lines or hash marks.

Feathers are not always a cause for concern, unless they break the surface of the stone or impact the brilliance of the diamond as light passing through its facets. A professional will examine the diamond closely by “breaking” it into two halves on a diagram. If the feathers run through both “halves” of the diamond, this indicates the feathers run the gamut of the stone. Such a feather could cause the diamond to crack under undue pressure.

The important think to remember is that this crack “might” happen; I am not guaranteeing that it will. Instead, I am advising you to be careful and take your time when evaluating a diamond with a feather inclusion.

There are still many inclusions to explore. Check back with us next time as we look at included crystals, cavities and cleavage.

[2] www.gemnation.com/images/clarity/clouds3.jpg