Diamond Blog

Chocolate Diamonds; April Diamond Month; How can you tell if a diamond is real or fake?; Gems from down under; Should you clean your jewellery to avoid coronavirus risk?; 10 Facts About Diamonds You Didn’t Know; GIA Diamond 4cs Guide; A Diamond with a story; Orange Diamonds; Argyle Pink Diamonds; Natural VS Lab Grown Diamonds

Natural Diamonds: Timeless and Rare 21/07/2023

Diamonds are a symbol of love, commitment, and luxury. For centuries, natural diamonds have been prized for their beauty, rarity, and durability. However, in recent years, lab-grown diamonds have become increasingly popular.

Lab-grown diamonds are created in a laboratory under controlled conditions. They are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds, but they are much less expensive. This has led many people to wonder if lab-grown diamonds are a better value than natural diamonds.

There are several reasons why some people prefer natural diamonds. First, natural diamonds are rarer than lab-grown diamonds. It takes millions of years for a natural diamond to form, and there is a finite supply of them in the world. This gives natural diamonds a sense of rarity and exclusivity that lab-grown diamonds do not have.

Second, natural diamonds are often seen as being more valuable than lab-grown diamonds. This is because natural diamonds are considered to be a more traditional and timeless choice. They have been around for centuries, and they are often passed down from generation to generation as heirlooms. Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are a relatively new invention. They do not have the same history or tradition as natural diamonds.

Finally, some people believe that natural diamonds are more beautiful than lab-grown diamonds. This is a matter of personal opinion, of course, but there is no denying that natural diamonds have a unique sparkle and brilliance that is often not found in lab-grown diamonds.

Of course, there are also some advantages to choosing lab-grown diamonds. First, they are much less expensive than natural diamonds. This makes them a more affordable option for many people. Second, lab-grown diamonds are created in a controlled environment, which means that they are free from the environmental and ethical concerns that often surround the mining of natural diamonds.

Ultimately, the decision of whether to choose a natural diamond or a lab-grown diamond is a personal one. There are pros and cons to both options. If you are looking for a rare, timeless, and beautiful gemstone, then a natural diamond may be the right choice for you. If you are looking for an affordable gemstone that is free from ethical concerns, then a lab-grown diamond may be a better option.

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April Diamond Month 05/04/2022

Diamonds are clear, colourless, and sparkling, and they are a romantic and magical token of affection and desire.

Taken from the Greek word ‘adamas’, which means unconquerable, Diamonds are truly a beauty that has captured the hearts of people for many centuries.

It will remain as one of the most glorious gems of all time, and for that, Diamonds are most certainly forever!

The name Diamond is derived from the ancient Greek word adámas, which means proper, untamed, invincible, unalterable, or unbreakable, a reflection of its unyielding endurance and quality.

Diamonds are the toughest gemstone and made up by just one element, which is carbon.

They are formed deep in the bowels of the Earth where the pressure is 65,000 times that of the pressure on the Earth’s surface, with temperatures exceeding 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its structure makes it 58 times harder than anything in nature and can only be cut with another diamond.

Diamonds have also been found inside meteorite craters on the Earth’s surface. They have high optical dispersion, allowing the stone to disperse a spectrum of different colours.

They come in several colours, including green, blue, pink, red, and yellow. They can also come in transparent, white, or black colour. They range in intensity, from faint to vivid. The more saturated the colour, the higher the value.

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Gems from down under 01/08/2020

Australia is home to one of the most prolific diamond mines in the world – the Argyle mine in the East Kimberley region, discovered in 1979. Diamonds in Australia were recorded as early as 1851, according to the government website Australian Mines Atlas, and most of the country’s diamond resources are in the very large, low gem quality content of Argyle. Today, Argyle accounts for about 90% of Australia’s diamond production.

Argyle is owned by mining giant Rio Tinto. Argyle is the world’s most prolific diamond mine by volume and the world’s main source of pink and red diamonds, yielding some 90% of all red and pink stones recovered annually. The Argyle mine also produces champagne, cognac, and blue diamonds. Each year, the company holds an exclusive sale of the best pink diamonds recovered from the mine. The event is known as the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, and the diamonds for sale are exhibited in major diamond industry centers around the world prior to the auction.

The Argyle Underground Mine is one of the most technologically advanced mines in the world, providing opportunities to be at the forefront of mining technology and innovation.

This year, Rio Tinto’s Pink Diamonds Tender collection included 65 rare pink and red diamonds and achieved the highest average price per carat since the Tender began in 1984.

Australia is also the home of the Ellendale diamond mine – the world’s leading source of rare fancy yellow diamonds.

The Ellendale Diamond contributes around half of the world’s supply of fancy yellow diamonds. According to Kimberley’s website, Ellendale is one of only three hard-rock diamond mine locations in Australia. Diamonds were first discovered at Ellendale in an olivine lamproite pipe in November 1976.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Kimberley Diamonds Ltd. placed its subsidiary, Kimberley Diamond Company (KDC), which operated Ellandale, in voluntary administration. Shortly afterwards, administrators of the collapsed mine told creditors they are owed millions of dollars.

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Does Size Matter? Discussing Diamond Carat Weight 25/06/2019

Carat weight is likely to be the 4C in which most customers are more familiar. It is also the easiest characteristic to describe and present to your customers since size differences are more easily discernible. Furthermore, carat weight plays an important part in the overall value of a diamond because larger diamonds are more rare and therefore cost more. However, just because a diamond might be bigger, does not necessarily mean it will be the best choice for your customer.
Overall diamond quality is determined by all of the 4Cs combined, and diamond jewellers should make it clear to their customers that larger diamonds can magnify cut, colour and clarity for the better and sometimes for the worse. As a diamond retailer, describing the pros and cons of a larger diamond, based on that particular diamond’s combined characteristics, will allow your customer to determine which qualities are most important to them and if that particular diamond is what they are looking for.

Defining Carat Weight The term “carat” is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and other gemstones. The name originates from the carob seed, which was the original unit of measure for diamond traders. In 1913 the United States implemented the modern metric carat, which is equal to 0.2 grams, and other countries soon followed. Today, a carat means the same thing everywhere in the world. A carat can be further divided into 100 points, allowing for very precise measurements. This is critical for jewellers as even a very small weight difference can have an impact on the overall diamond value and pricing structure.

Diamond Carat Size Comparison Just as two people, one who is tall and thin and the other who is short and stout, might weigh the same on the bathroom scale, two diamonds that appear to be different sizes might actually have the same carat weight. That’s because variations in shape and cut make diamonds of similar weights look different. Since carat weight is distributed over the entire diamond, other measurements are needed to describe the overall size: Crown Area – this is the total surface area of the top of the diamond (measured in mm2). It shows the size of the diamond as it appears face up, similar to how we view a diamond when set in a ring. Cut Proportions – if two diamonds are the same carat weight and shape, but one carries a larger percentage of its weight in its depth, then the table percentage (flat section at the top of the diamond) and overall crown area will be smaller, giving the impression that the diamond is smaller from the top. The photo (right) shows two 1 ct. round diamonds, but the diamond on the left is cut deeper and therefore has a smaller table percentage across the top. Shape – diamond shapes such as oval or marquise have elongated lengths, resulting in the appearance of a larger size per carat weight. Sometimes this size difference can be real, however, it can also be just an illusion based on perception. It is important to explain to your customers how these different factors affect the perception of diamond size. A diamond with a higher carat weight is likely to be more expensive, but may not look that much larger than a smaller carat weight diamond once set in jewellery. Help your customer find a diamond that gives the largest perception of size for the jewellery setting they like, while staying within their budget.

Carat Weight, Rarity, and Pricing The larger a diamond is, the more rare it is, so as the carat weight of a diamond increases, the diamond's price can also increase exponentially. In addition, diamond prices jump at the full-and half-carat weights. Not only is there an overall price hike, but as the carat weight increases, the price-per-carat climbs as well. Diamonds just below these cut-offs cost considerably less, and, because carat weight is distributed across the whole diamond, small size differences can be difficult to detect. Before buying or selling any diamonds, always check that you are getting or setting the right price. The industry’s primary source for diamond price information, shows exactly how much a diamond should cost based on size, shape, colour, clarity and cut.

Conclusion It is important for your customers to understand that carat is a measure of weight and not the physical size that the eye sees. Carat weight can have a large impact on a diamond’s value and for some customers this will be an important factor. However, for others, what really matters is the size a diamond appears to be from the top, once set in jewellery. As small changes in carat weight can have little impact on the overall size appearance of a diamond, but yet still impact the price, you should guide your customers to find the right cut and setting to reflect the desired diamond size within their budget.

So be smart, be Carat Smart