Diamond Education- Carat
"I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond" - Mae West
The term 'Carat' refers to a diamond's weight, and should not be confused with 'Karat', used to describe the purity of gold. In ancient times, seeds of the Carob tree were utilised by traders for weighing gold, diamonds, gemstones and pearls. The term 'carat' therefore originates from the Greek 'Keration' and Arabic 'Quirrat'- names for the carob tree. Years later in 1913, the United States of America made the 'carat' an official gemstone measurement, closely followed by the United Kingdom and Europe. Today one carat weighs 200 milligrams, which is approximately the same as a single five pound note!
The carat weight of a diamond does not directly affect it's size; a diamond with a higher carat will not necessarily be larger than those of fewer carats. Factors such as cut and shape can dramatically change a diamond's overall appearance and perceived size. For example, longer shapes such as the Pear or Marquise will generally appear larger than a rounded shape, even if they are of the exact same weight! In the same way, diamonds with shallow cuts will often seem larger than those with deeper cuts. Blog entries on both diamond shapes and cut were posted earlier this week, so make sure you check them out and brush up on your knowledge!
Pear Shape diamonds often appear larger than Round Brilliant shapes, regardless of the carat weight.
While the carat weight may not have much influence over the size of a diamond, one thing it does directly affect is the price! The more a diamond weighs, the larger the carat... and the larger the price. This is because bigger stones are more in demand (who doesn't agree that bigger is better when it comes to diamonds?!), and therefore more scarce. So, while we all may dream of an impressive 20-carat engagement ring to rival those of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, at least we now know how to make a diamond appear larger! Test out some different styles for yourself at the engagement ring section of our website, where you can alter the diamond's cut and carat on all of our designs.
Diamond Education- Certificates
We all know how exciting it is to spend your hard-earned cash (or someone else's!) on something beautiful and special. And what better to spend it on than diamonds, the original girl's best friend? However, as with anything, it is important to know exactly what you are buying; and this is where diamond certificates come in handy. Used to confirm a stone's identity, value and technical characteristics, these certificates are an important part of buying a diamond.
Before a certificate can be issued, the diamond must be professionally examined, and its attributes must be authenticated. The exact measurements are recorded, as well as the following...
Carat weight
Colour
Clarity
Cut grades are also included in the certificates of Round Brilliant diamonds.
Professionals in the diamond industry generally accept that the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) sets the standard when it comes to diamond grading; although there are five leading certification organisations. In addition to the GIA, diamonds can be certified by the American Gem Society (AGS), the Diamong High Council - Hoge Raad Diamante (HRD), the International Gemological Institute (IGI) and European Gemological Laboratory (EGL). Here at Seventy Seven Diamonds, at least three-quarters of our 200,000 diamonds have been graded by the GIA.
There have been several developments in diamond certification, with the five leading organisations taking steps to further protect the consumer. Laser Inscribed Validation, for example, involves inscribing the diamond's girdle. The inscription can be easily verified with a magnification loop, ensuring confidence that the diamond purchased is the diamond received. Figures 1 and 2 (shown below) are examples of diamonds which have been inscribed by GIA and EGL.
In order to be certain of a diamond's quality, you should always insist on a certificate. And, to eliminate the risk of being misled and disappointed, ensure that your diamond is graded by one of the five internationally registered certificates.
Always buy a certified diamond!
If you wish to learn more about diamond certification, check out our education pages here
Diamond Shapes- Emerald
The emerald cut diamond, which is also known as the square emerald cut, was one of the first shapes to be used in jewellery. The term was initially used during the Art Deco period, when it was developed specifically for emerald gems. Cutting a gem this way reduces the amount of pressure, helping to protect the gemstone from chipping. Diamond cutters soon realized the importance of this, and started to apply it to their practice.
The rectangular shape has truncated corners and a flat plane. When viewed from above, it resembles stair steps, and so this style is referred to as a 'step cut'. Normally, the emerald cut is comprised of 57 facets, although this can vary.
The broad, flat plane of this shape highlights a diamond's clarity and natural crystalline growth. For this reason it is popular in engagement rings, and was favoured by icons such as Grace Kelly and Jackie O. Michael Todd famously gave Elizabeth Taylor a 30-carat emerald cut diamond to mark their engagement, and more recently Paris Hilton made headlines with her 24-carat, emerald cut engagement ring!
As well as highlighting clarity, the emerald cut's plane gives the diamond clean, flat edges; meaning that it can be adorned with a variety of side gemstones for a dazzling effect. Long, thin baguette diamonds make a beautiful side stones, as can be seen in this bespoke trilogy ring created by our team.
For further information on bespoke pieces, contact us here
The emerald cut looks equally stunning on its own, especially when set in a timeless, classic band such as the Ballerina ring below. The diamond sits on an abundance of curves in this luxurious ring, shown here in white gold. This style is particularly suited to shorter hands, as the rectangular shape of the diamond can help to elongate fingers!
Its not all about the engagement rings! The emerald cut diamond sparkles brilliantly in earrings as well. Whether you prefer drops or studs...
These classic Lumina studs accentuate the diamond...
Our Como drops add an Art Deco-style charm...
... and these 4-stone Borghese earrings are dazzling!
Wear your heart on your diamond…
1. What’s the most important thing to look for on a heart-shaped diamond certificate?
Cut in the heart shape is essential, as are symmetry and polish. The reason that cut is particularly important is because Heart-shaped diamonds tend to suffer from something called the “bowtie effect”. This occurs when light passing through the stone creates a shadow over the central facets and for this reason it is essential to look out for the cut grade, as an excellent cut will make it less apparent than poorly cut heart-shaped stones.
2. How do you measure the length-to-width ratio on a heart-shape?
The length of a heart shape is measured from the highest points of the lobes to the bottom tip, and the width is measured at the widest point of the shape from one edge of the lobe to the other.
3.What effect does altering the Length: Width ratio and setting have on a heart shape?
A smaller ratio will make for a more rounded, or “plump” heart, while larger ratios will yield a more elongated heart-shape. The recommended ratio for heart shapes lies between 0.90 and 1.10, however it is entirely down to personal preference.
However, with heart-shaped diamonds it is worth choosing the setting carefully as this can impact on the appearance of the diamond. When a diamond of this shape is particularly small some opt for a bezel setting as this may enhance the shape. However, when the stone is bigger, we usually find a three-claw setting is more appealing, although setting is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
4. I would like to buy my girlfriend heart-shaped earrings for Valentine’s day...is that too corny?
First of all, diamonds are never corny but the majority of our heart-shaped diamond sales are pendants rather than earrings. Heart-shaped diamond necklaces have been popular since the shape was first cut in the early 15th Century and they’ve even been immortalised on film! (As if you could forget Kate & Leo...)
However, if you really want her to wear her heart on her ear, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a heart shaped diamond. You can always opt for the Amore earring and necklace collection which use heart-shaped settings set with small diamonds. See below. Or, you can just play it safe with the classic round brilliant studs...
5. How much does a heart-shaped diamond cost?
There are many factors that influence the price of a diamond...cut, colour, clarity, carat, fluorescence, etc. Stones up to 1 carat can cost anywhere between £700 and £7,000 if they are of optimal cut, colour and clarity grading, while stones of the same size with lower grades lie in the range between £250 and £3,000. It is important to remember that differences between two grades such as D colour and E colour are often barely visible and yet the price difference between them can be considerable. There are many ways to maximise your budget and with our collection of over 200,000 loose diamonds, you are sure to find something that works.
To browse our collection of heart-shaped diamonds...click here!
To read more about diamond education...click here...
To take advantage of our special offers, click here...
The World’s Largest Diamonds!
Previously 77 Diamonds brought you the low-down on the largest and most prominent diamond mines on the globe. Some of the largest, rarest and most impressive diamonds that the world has ever seen have been unearthed in these mines! This week we present to you the five largest dazzlers ever found, each one totally unique and with its own story.
The Golden Jubilee
The Golden Jubilee has a staggering weight of 545.67 carats and is boastfully the largest faceted diamond in the entire world. The stone is a fire rose colour and was cut into a cushion shape. Discovered in 1985 at the Premier Mine in South Africa, the rough stone itself weighed 755 carats. For several years the gem was simply known as the ‘Unnamed Brown’. However, in 1997 the diamond was presented to the King of Thailand for the 50th anniversary of his coronation – his Golden Jubilee. It is now located in the Royal Thai Palace as part of the crown jewels. The value of the diamond is unknown, but it has been estimated at somewhere between £2.56 to £7.69 million!
The world’s greatest diamond mines!
Each and every beautiful dazzling diamond comes from somewhere; each one has a history and a place of origin. Certain terrains are home to the most fruitful mines in which diamonds, both coloured and clear, can be discovered. Mines are predominantly located in African countries, South American countries, India, Canada or Australia.
Here are a few of the world’s most impressive diamond mines which have produced some of the most exquisite sparklers!
The Catoca mine, Angola
This is boastfully the 4th largest diamond mine in the world, located in Angola, South-Central Africa. The mine sits on a kimberlite pipe and is owned by several international mining interests from Angola, Russia and Brazil.
What is an ‘eye clean’ diamond?
Being ‘eye clean’ affects the clarity and quality of a diamond, which will alter the price of any stone. If a diamond is ‘eye clean’ it does not visually show any inclusions or blemishes on the surface or interior when viewed with the naked eye. The diamond may feature an impurity, but it may only be visible with the use of a microscope.
The clarity of a diamond is one of the 4 Cs – Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat - because it is one of the fundamental attributes to knowing how to judge a diamond. Clarity becomes especially important if impurities are noticeable to the naked eye in diamond jewellery or engagement rings.
Clarity refers to the level of inclusions such as scratches, blemishes, pockets of air and non-diamond material inside or on the surface of a diamond. Fewer or less obvious inclusions make diamonds rarer and more highly valued.
What imperfections can a diamond have?
Any rough diamond can suffer from interior or surface imperfections, known as inclusions or blemishes. Inclusions may be crystals of a foreign material or another diamond crystal, or the presence of structural imperfections such as tiny cracks that appear cloudy or white. Cracks are often known as fracture lines, needles or feathers depending on the mark they leave or their cause. Internal crystals or marks can appear as singular ‘pinpoints’ or as clusters known as ‘clouds’.
Famous Pink Diamonds of the World
Both scarce and popular, pink diamonds are extremely sought after and expensive. With the exception of a couple found in India, almost all of the world’s pink diamonds are now produced from one mine in Western Australia: the renowned Argyle Mine. This extreme rarity means that the gems discovered there are considered highly valuable. Have a look at some of the world’s most fascinating, expensive and large pink coloured diamonds!
The Star of the South
This beautiful diamond was cut into a cushion shape and is also known as Estrela do Sul, since it was found by a slave girl in a mine of the same name in Brazil in 1853. It weighs an impressive 128.48 carats (25.70 g) and is graded as a type IIa diamond, with a clarity of VS2 and a colour grading of light pinkish-brown. There is a white reflection of light from the diamond, whereas the refracted light has a definite rose tint which gives the stone a light pink and brown shade.
Famous Yellow Diamonds of the World
Yellow Diamonds get their colour from nitrogen being present at the time they are formed. The hues of a diamond can range from pale sunshine yellow to bright canary yellow and amber hues. Seventy Seven Diamonds brings you a list of the most exquisite and famous yellow-coloured diamonds that have featured throughout history. Find about their history, their diamond credentials, and what it is that makes them so famous.
The Sancy Diamond
The most famous yellow diamond is the Sancy; an impressive 55 carat, light yellow diamond what fluoresces yellow and pink. However, it is the story of the diamond that makes it famous. It is thought that the Sancy originally came from India and legend has it that in 1477 the diamond was lost by Charles, Duke of Burgundy during a battle. Its first verified owner became Nicholas Harlai of Sancy, a French Ambassador, who bought the diamond in the late 1500's in Constantinople – hence the derivation of this stone’s name.
Famous Blue Diamonds of the World
This week Seventy Seven Diamonds brings you a list of the most exquisite and famous blue-coloured diamonds that have featured throughout history. Find about their history, their diamond credentials, and what it is that makes them so famous.
The Regent Diamond
This diamond was also commonly known as the Pitt Diamond and was discovered by a slave in the legendary Golconda mine, India, in 1698. The sparkler wasn’t hard to miss; it weighed an impressive 410 carats. However, the slave hid the stone and managed to escape to the coast – only to be murdered for the stone by an English sea captain.
The captain sold the stone to an Indian diamond merchant for an estimated £3,431. Thomas Pitt, Governor of Fort George in Madras, then bought the blue stone from the merchant in 1702 for £68,610. Thomas Pitt was grandfather to the famous American Revolutionist William Pitt and he was the one who transported the diamond to England for cutting.
The Regent Diamond is a cushion-shaped, brilliant cut diamond, white in colour but with a faint blue tinge. It now weighs approximately 140.50 carats and measures around 32mm x 34mm x 25mm. The moulding of the stone took 2 years before it was turned into the charming Regent Diamond – thought to be one of the finest cut diamonds in existence!
Follow Us!
Recent Posts
- The Millennium Star
- Coloured Diamonds
- Ring Sizing: How to Get it Right!
- The Perfect Christmas Present?
- The Perfect Accessories for Autumn/Winter Part II
Categories
- About Us
- Advice
- Auction
- Celebrity
- Charity
- Education
- Fashion
- Getting Engaged
- Market News
- Promotion
- Uncategorized
Useful Links
- No Tweets Available