They’re a girl’s best friend, the ultimate symbol of royal authority, the traditional gift bestowed upon your most beloved – even the tips of cupid’s arrows were said to be tipped with them, providing magic power without equal. What are these mythical things? The most prized gemstone in the world, the hardest known natural material and one of the best-known allotropes of carbon - diamonds.
The diamond itself is a mineral with amazing qualities; it’s hardness and refractive properties make the diamond a good resource for applications in the jewellery and industrial sectors. Their hardness makes them great abrasives, and it also means that they’re unlikely to be damaged even under harsh conditions. Diamonds are also great at keeping their shine – it’s that particular aspect that makes the gemstone interesting to those in the world of jewellery.
Diamonds are incredibly versatile stones and can be set in a variety of pieces of jewellery. Two of the key things to consider when choosing a diamond for use in any jewellery setting are the cut and shape of the stone. Over the centuries, a number of shapes have become popular for diamonds, including: round, marquise (a pointy oval, similar to a rugby ball), emerald (rectangular, mounted vertically), princess (square), pear, oval, heart, baguette (narrower rectangle than an emerald cut, mounted horizontally) and trillion (triangular). Popular cuts for diamonds include: step, which has rows of facets similar to a staircase; brilliant, which is comprised of 58 facets and known for it’s sparkle; and mixed, which is a combination of step and brilliant cut patterns.
An additional factor to consider when looking at diamonds is the colour of the stone itself. The most common mental image of a diamond is a sparkling, clear stone that reflects light brilliantly. This is a reasonable concept – but there are a number of variations on the stereotypical diamond, and in reality, they come in a full spectrum of colours. Bear in mind that diamonds are the produce of nature, and rarely are they chemically pure – it is the impurities that generate colour variations. There are diamonds with virtually every colour of the spectrum, from brightest white to deepest black. It is important to recognise that these stones are distinct from other gemstones, such as rubys, sapphires and emeralds, which are chemically different from diamonds. Some famous coloured diamonds include: the Black Orlov, a heart-shaped black diamond; the Hope, a deep, sapphire blue diamond; the Darya-I Nur, a pale pink diamond set together with a plethora of other coloured stones; and the Dresden Green, an exceptionally rare stone weighing 41 carats.
Often, diamonds are purchased on their own and then taken to a jeweller to mount as the customer desires. If you’re considering purchasing a diamond online, it is extremely important to discuss the company’s guarantee, appraisal and return processes and procedures so that you know you’re getting what you pay for and that you have a path for recourse if you’re unsatisfied. It is also highly recommended that you take the stone to an independent appraiser so that you have an accurate value for insurance purposes, and also can confirm you’ve received what you intended to purchase.
© Jewellery Box.org.uk 2006.
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