A very hard usually colorless stone that is a form of carbon and is used especially in jewelry. A pure or nearly pure, extremely hard form of carbon, naturally crystallized in the isometric system. In mineralogy, diamond is a metastable allotrope of carbon, where
the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic
crystal structure called a diamond lattice.
TYPES OF DIAMOND
Diamonds are the second most valued metals on earth after gold. Naturally, these precious stones are classified based on the type and quantity of impurities found on them. Basically, there are two main classifications of diamonds: type one which contains nitrogen molecules and type two which contains other impurities except nitrogen. Only 20% of diamonds are used as gemstones, with the rest used for industrial purposes. Here is a list of the different types of diamonds in existence.
White Diamonds - White diamonds are arguably the best known diamonds, being harvested in different parts of the globe in a variety of sizes and shapes. Those from Argyle mines are highly valued and it is the same variety that appears in most wedding and engagement jewellery. White diamonds are also the most used type of diamond when it comes to romantic gifts or holidays and celebrations.
Pink Diamonds - The pink diamond is regarded as the world’s rarest and the most expensive diamond. The Argyle is the main mine of this variety of diamond, producing up to 95% of all the pink diamonds on earth. Only 1% of all diamonds in the world have a pink color, which explains why they are the most valuable. Pink is the color that symbolizes love, fun, beauty and romance. Pink diamonds, therefore, are perfect romantic gifts for a loved one.
Champagne Diamonds - These type of diamonds are naturally colored, and come in a wide range of colors from straw to rich cognac. Just like the name implies, champagne diamonds have a pale straw color, with some appearing even much darker than that.
Pink Champagne Diamonds - These are attractive champagne diamonds that tend to have a secondary pink color. These variety of diamonds normally command a higher price per carat compared to champagne diamonds and display slight to bold flashes of light. Champagne pink diamonds from Argyle mines have three different shades ranging from light to medium and dark pink.
Yellow Diamonds - Also called canary diamonds, yellow diamonds are available in a wide range of shades ranging from rich canary colors to light yellow. As they often say, the more yellow the diamond, the more expensive it becomes. At the Argyle mines, there exists a limited quantity of fancy yellow diamonds.
Blue Diamonds - Blue diamond are extremely rare and very expensive. So rare and expensive are these type of diamonds that most jewelers have never seen, leave alone own one. In recent years, methods of producing fancy blue diamonds have been developed, thereby increasing hope for more people to lay their hands on these precious stones. Fancy blue diamonds are now available in a wide range of shades, ranging from sky blue to sapphire.
Green Diamonds - This is another type of diamond that is among the rarest colored diamonds in the market. Usually, the penetration of the green colour is not very deep and is mostly removed when the stone is being furnished. Usually, they represent hope, nature and growth. They get their unique green color as a result of exposure to radioactive materials.
Orange Diamonds - Orange diamonds are energetic and vibrant in nature. These diamonds usually represent creativity and success. They come in a wide range of variety ranging from fancy orange diamonds to vivid orange diamonds.
Purple Diamonds - Thanks to its delicate and precious nature, purple is the color that is associated with royalty. Purple diamonds, therefore, have a touch of mystery which gives them an unmatched romantic effect. Purple diamonds also symbolize warmth and coolness.
Brown Diamonds - Thanks to their rich color combination, brown diamonds are some of the most sought in the world. Brown diamonds have actually become such a great phenomenon such that most people often mistake them as their own color.
Grey Diamonds - Grey is a neutral and refined colour. Consequently, grey diamonds have a very classic and dignified look. Being a neutral colour, grey diamonds complement just about anything, meaning that they can go with anything you wear. They also come in a unique color combination including grey yellow, green and grey blue.
Simulated Diamonds - These are type of diamonds that do not suffer from lack of diversity or hardness. The best known diamond of this type is Cubic Zirconia. It is, however, denser meaning that it gives a smaller stone weight.
Synthetic Diamonds – These are man-made diamonds that are created in a lab. They are not considered as rare or valuable as real diamonds, but still tend to be fairly expensive.
Diamonds have come a long way and are still some of the most valued precious stones in the world today. If you are looking forward to buying a diamond but do not have a better understanding of the same, then you can now make an informed decision of which type to buy.
TYPES OF DIAMOND SETTING
There are no doubts that diamonds are beautiful and stunning. However, without a setting, it will just be a valuable but loose diamond which you cannot enjoy showing off. Three factors determine the diamond settings. These include the shape, number, and size of the stone used. How the diamonds are held on your piece of jewelry is the crucial determiner of the quality and design. There are numerous types of diamond settings, some of which are popular for diamond wedding rings while others for pendant or necklaces.
Prong setting - The prong setting is the most popular for rings. This is because it uses the least amount of metal to hold a diamond. The design for this setting focuses all the attention on the stone, thus showing off its beauty and not the part supporting the diamond. In this setting, the diamond is held in place using 4 or 6 prongs. The fact that the diamond is exposed to maximum light makes it popular especially for expensive rings.
Bezel setting - One of the oldest types of diamond settings is bezel setting. However, it has come popular of late and is actually considered among the modern look. It is the most durable setting for the diamond is held more securely thus protecting snagging or chipping. Another precious metal like gold is used to hold the diamond together. Bezel setting result to inexpensive rings because the diamond used is not of high quality.
Channel setting - The channel setting involves holding several diamonds in place using two pieces of metal. The diamonds are suspended in the channel created from two pieces. This gives makes them appear as if they are floating. This setting keeps the diamond adequately secured since none of their edge is exposed. It results to moderate expensive rings since you just require several stones to make. If you are active, this is the diamond setting you should look for when purchasing your rings. This is because there are no sharp corners.
Pave setting - In this setting, numerous tiny stones are used to make the design. These stones are either held on tiny prongs or held in small holes that are drilled on the band. Each stone contributes to the brilliance of the ultimate design. Therefore, these diamonds must be cut accurately to give the ring a dazzling appearance.
The invisible setting - In this setting, the diamonds have grooves that help to hold them onto the ring. This leads to a flush surface. If you want a top-notch jewelry, you should look for rings with invisible settings. It provides immense sparkle because the diamond is continuously on the surface. Due to the high level of skills required to make this setting, the rings are quite expensive.
The bar setting - The diamonds in bar setting are held perpendicular to the band using small metal bars. The setting is commonly used with same size of stones. The number and size of the diamonds determine the price. Even though the downside is exposed to damage, the stones provide a characteristic brilliance.
These are just some of the types of diamond settings available in the market. In order to make the right choice, it is important to consider the durability, price, authenticity, and vulnerability depending with your daily activities.
TYPES OF DIAMOND CUTS
Round Brilliant Cut – This is the most popular diamond cut because it gives maximum sparkle. A round cut has up to 58 facets, and it is very popular due to its versatility.
Princess Cut – Though relatively new as it was developed in the 60s, this cut is the second in popularity after the round cut. This cut focuses on color. It has pointed corners and is often square in shape, though it may sometimes be rectangular.
Emerald Cut – This cut is rectangular and has rounded corner facets. It reflects less light compared to other types of cuts, thanks to the flat surface of the top. Its rectangular facets highlight the diamond’s clarity. It is a popular choice due its timeless elegance.
Cushion Cut – This cut has a cushion-like shape and rounded corners. The common cushion cut diamonds have a low length-to-width ratio, which gives it a slightly elongated square shape. Their facets are usually larger compared to other diamond cuts to enhance brilliance.
Heart Cut – It has a heart shape. The 59 kite-shaped and triangular facets make it reflect light in a dynamic way but avoid diamonds with more color, such as J-color diamonds, as they will be less visible with this cut.
Pear Cut – This is another type of brilliant-cut diamond which gives maximum sparkle and brilliance. It is also known as teardrop due to its rounded and single-pointed end.
Marquise Cut – This cut is slender oval with pointed end. To get your preferable slimness, specify the corresponding length-to-width ratio. The marquise cut is a type of brilliant-cut diamond with a 58-facet design that offers maximum brilliance.
Oval Cut – This cut comes in a wide range of length-to-width ratios, ranging from narrow to tall to almost circular. It has the same brilliance as that of the round cut.
Radiant Cut – It is square to rectangular in shape and combines the elegance associated with the emerald cut diamonds with the brilliance radiated by the round cut diamonds.
Asscher Cut – It bears close resemblance to the emerald cut but it is square-shaped. Asscher cut diamonds are characterized by deeply trimmed edges and have more brilliance compared to emerald cuts.
Trillion Cut – It is triangular in shape (three sided). This brilliant cut offers a lot of sparkle and an adventurous experience.
So, if you are looking for diamond jewelry, take the diamond cuts into account. When buying a diamond, request the retailer for detailed information about diamond cuts so that you can make comparisons in order to make the right purchase.
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