Diamonds

Diamonds are one of the most popular gemstones that exists today, thanks to their beauty and durability. These transparent crystals have been sought after for centuries because of their beauty and rarity, with whole industries serving the ongoing passion for the gem.

They are created under very specific conditions, when carbon material in the earth is subjected to immense amounts of pressure. In order for a diamond to be created, carbon must be placed under at least 435,113 pounds per square inch of pressure at a temperature of at least 752 degrees Fahrenheit (400 Celsius). Most are formed 90 or more miles under the surface of the earth, and are eventually brought to the surface over time due to shifts in the earth's plates, as well as volcanic eruptions.

Most diamonds that we see today were formed millions of years ago! Volcanic eruptions bring diamonds to the surface, creating "kimberlite pipes." They can also be found in river beds, and are called "alluvial diamond sites." These are still made in kimberlite pipes, but are shifted as the Earth moves over time. Glaciers and water can also move diamonds extremely far from their original surfacing point.

Almost half of the world's diamonds come from the African region, with the rest spread across many countries such as India, Russia, and Brazil. The hardest diamonds come from deposits found in Australia. The hardness of the diamond is determined by how many stages it grows through as it crystalizes-the less stages, the harder the stone is.

Diamond value is determined based on the "Four C's" in the diamond industry: clarity, color, cut and carat.

The clarity of the diamond refers to whether or not there are small defects. Most diamonds have them, but they are generally invisible to the naked eye. That's why you'll see proficient diamond buyers with the magnifying glass that wedges into their eye: you have to look at the diamond that closely to scan for flaws usually. They appear as cloudy looking patches, with the size and how many there are also factoring in to the overall rating of the diamond. The Gemological Institude of America (GIA) is one of a few institutions that has developed a standardized system for diamond clarity to help set industry standards and set common benchmarkes among dealers.

The term "carat" refers to the weight of a diamond. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. It seems logical that the bigger the gem, the more you pay. And, while this is true, diamonds have an especially steep price curve based on size, since larger diamonds are much harder to come by; they are typically found as smaller chips.

Diamonds come in many colors, with common (and less valuable) colors being yellow and brown. These colors happen when nitrogen seeps into the crystal. Rare colored diamonds (such as pink or canary yellow) are equally as celebrated as clear ones, though clear diamonds are glowing white because they are the purest form of the gemstone.

The cut of the diamond becomes important particularly when looking at how light refracts from it. Your classic round brilliant cut has 57 faces within it! Needless to say, the cut is an extremely crucial factor in diamonds, but is also the one the requires a lot of skill and much patience!