DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

Introduction

•In mineralogy, diamond is the

allotrope of carbon where the
carbon atoms are arranged in an
isometric-hex octahedral crystal
lattice.
•Diamond derives its name from the ancient Greek (adamas) which means
as "invincible", "untamed", "to overpower, to tame“.

•A diamond is the hardest substance known to humankind, and is made of

a crystallized CARBON that has unique powers of light reflection.

•Since diamonds are composed of a single element, they are the purest of
all gemstones.

•Diamonds dazzle and delight - the eternal sparkling symbol of love and
eternity.
 DIAMOND FORMATION
Diamonds that are mined today 1
billion to 3.3 billion years old.
Highly pressurized Carbon
formed this seductive and valuable
mineral in the earth at depths over
150 kilometers and at temperatures
greater than 10,000 degrees Celsius..
In dramatic geological events
within the earth's core, melting
fluids far underneath the
Earth’s surface were pushed
violently to the surface,
causing volcanic eruptions.
These explosions created
conical pipes filled with
kimberlite, or hardened
volcanic rock. Once the
original volcanic cone was
removed by gradual erosion,
the kimberlite pipes containing
diamond is exposed.
Diamonds are in fact only
accidental fragments brought
to the surface of the earth
hidden within this kimberlite
rock
SOURCE OF DIAMONDS
 MINING INDUSTRY

• India led the world in diamond production from the time of their
discovery in approximately the 9th century BCE to the mid-18th
century AD.
• Diamond production of primary deposits only started in the 1870s
after the discovery of the diamond fields in South Africa; which now
constitutes of 49% of world diamonds origination.
• Top Diamond mining countries are also located in Botswana,
Namibia, Canada, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Russia.
• In 2005, Russia produced almost one-fifth of the global diamond
output, reports the British Geological Survey. Australia boasts the
richest diamondiferous pipe with production reaching peak levels of
42 metric tons per year in the 1990s.
• Diamond prospectors continue to search the globe for diamond-
bearing kimberlite and lamproite pipes.
 DIAMOND INDUSTRY

• Diamond industry can be broadly separated into two basically distinct

categories:
 Gem-grade diamonds
 92% of diamond pieces cut in 2003 were in Surat, Gujarat, India.
 Other important centers of diamond cutting and trading are Antwerp.
 De Beers owns or controls a significant portion of the world's rough
diamond production facilities and distribution channels for gem-
quality diamonds.
 Industrial-grade diamonds
 80% of mined diamonds (equal to about 100 million carats or 20,000
kg annually), unsuitable for use as gemstones are destined for
industrial use.
 Dominant industrial use of diamond is in cutting, drilling, grinding,
and polishing.
 Also used in scientific experiments.
 ROUGH DIAMONDS
In order to deal effectively with R ough
diamonds, one should be well educated in the
identification and evaluation of the cut and polished
diamonds. A good working knowledge of diamonds
in their natural form, known as roughs & is very
desirable.
 4 C’s OF POLISHED DIAMOND

In selecting a diamond, the rarity, value and beauty is determined by the four
factors mentioned here, called as:

The
4C’s
Of
diamonds C arat
C larity
C olor
C ut
 CARAT WEIGHT

Carat weight is the unit of weight measurement

used for diamonds and other gemstones.

1 carat = 100 cents / 0.200gms / 200 milligram

 0.075 - 0.02cts diamonds are known as ‘STAR’

0.02cts – 0.07cts diamonds are termed as ‘MELEE’
0.07- 0.13cts diamonds are termed as ‘+11 -14’
0.14 and above are termed as ‘Pointer’

 Carat weight refers only to the weight of the diamonds

and not to the dimensions of a diamond.
 CARAT WEIGHT

0.10cts 3.05 mm

0.25cts 4.10 mm

0.33cts 4.50 mm

0.50cts 5.20 mm

0.75cts 5.80 mm

1.00cts 6.50 mm

*Not in scale – a relative comparison

 DIMENSIONS

Sieves are used to sort the similar

size of diamonds from a mix lot of
sizes. The metal sieve plates has a
specified mm sizes of mesh holes
drilled in it through which the
diamonds, may or may not, pass.

The Sieve sizes starts from:

000 = 1.00 mm
00 = 1.05 mm = 0.05 cts
0 = 1.10 mm
1 = 1.15 mm
1.5 = 1.20 mm ,and goes on to----------

20 = 4.5 mm = 0.33cts (33 pointer)

 CLARITY

Clarity is the occurrence of

inclusions, small crystalline fractures or
irregular crystal growth, or the lack of
them inside the diamond. Clarity grading is done using
a binocular microscope under 10X
corrected magnification.
 CLARITY

FLAWLESS IF / FL

Very Very Slight Inclusions VVS1 , VVS2

Very Slight Inclusions VS1 , VS2

Slight Inclusions S1 , S2

Imperfect I1 , I2 , I3
 COLOUR

Colour is the amount of body colour in

the diamond. The clearer a
diamond, the more value able it
is. Colorless “D” on the color
scale is the most value able
because it has the most clarity.
However, when a diamond is
graded as a fancy colour, the
value increases due to the rarity
of the diamond.

Colour – sometimes refer as canary

yellow diamonds.
 GIA COLOUR GRADING

Colourless D,E,F

Near Colourless G, H, I, J

Faint Yellow K, L, M

Very Light Yellow N, O, P, Q, R

Light Yellow S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Fancy Yellow Fancy Light, Fancy, Intense

 Colour Comparison

It is not very much

possible every time, even
for an expert, to say the
exact color of the diamond
unless and until it is
compared with other
diamonds.
Fancy Intense Yellow

E-G COLOR

M-O COLOR
 CUT

 The Cut is the factor that

determines the brilliance
of a diamond. A classic
round brilliant cut
diamond has 58 facets :

• 33 on the top
• 24 on the bottom
• And the culet (1 point at
the bottom).

Each of the diamond's facets must be placed in exact geometric relation to

one another when the stone is being cut. Quality diamonds must be properly
cut and not "spread", which means that the proper proportions are
compromised to make the diamond weigh more.
 CUT

Analyzing Cut
To understand the sub-categories for well-cut diamonds, think of a pyramid with
"Ideal" at the top.
This narrow range is reserved for the most brilliant, rare and valuable diamonds.
The "Excellent" range includes beautiful diamonds that return almost as much light.
"Very Good" represents the balance between precise proportions and price
considerations.
 EFFECTS OF CUT

Shallow Diamond
“Fish-Eye”
“Palcha
Diamond”
Deep–Cut
“Nail-Head”

“Strong Cut”

Well-Cut
“Perfect Cut”

“Ideal-Cut”
 ROLE OF FACETS

CROWN Balance, Brilliance, Dispersion, and Scintillation

Provide a Setting Edge for the gem

GIRDLE
Reflect light back up through the crown
PAVILLION

CULET Prevent Chipping at the tip

Culet
 FANCY SHAPES
Fancy shapes are less
expensive than Rounds.
There is one quality which
can affect the cost of a Fancy
Shape yet never appear on a
Certificate, and that is "Shape
Appeal".

You don't need to be a

gemologist to know if a Heart

Shape has an appealing

look to it. The best way to
judge shape appeal is to look
at the stone's girdle outline
without a Loupe, and decide
if it's attractive
 COST

The cost of a diamond

is determined by:

• The combination of the 4Cs.

• The availability of diamonds
in the market.
• The choices you make about
the combinations of quality /
4 Cs, finally determines the
cost to you, & to the
consumer.
To calculate the price of a diamond -- multiply the carat weight by the
price/carat. For example: if a 1.25 carat diamond was priced at
Rs.40,000 per/carat the diamond would be sold for Rs. 50,000.
 CZ

Undoubtedly the best diamond simulant available today, Cubic Zirconia

has been established as an affordable diamond substitute as well as an
important fashion staple in itself.

CZ really took off in the

1980's, when Swarovski & Co.,
a world-renowned Austrian
producer of leaded crystal,
began producing cubic zirconia
for mass consumption.

Recently, new developments in CZ production have led to a sparkling

new array of CZs in every color of the rainbow. Most people, even
trained gemologists, cannot tell the difference with the naked eye
 CZ
Like a diamond?
In appearance, cubic zirconia looks
almost exactly like a good quality
diamond, although there are some
slight differences.
WEIGHT
CZ is about 75% heavier than diamond.
1 carat (Real) Diamond = 1.75 carat CZ
CLARITY
The finest CZs are perfect in clarity.
FIRE and BRILLIANCE
CZ has slightly less brilliance (sparkle) than diamond, while having more
fire (flashes of rainbow colors).
HARDNESS
There are very few substances on earth harder than CZ. With a hardness
rating of 8.5, CZ comes close to matching diamond's perfect 10
 CZ

CUT
The finestCZ is cut to exacting tolerances, according to the proportions
demanded in fine diamond cutting. Finely cut CZs will have a polished
girdle and more fire.

Diamonds retain superb

luster even after centuries of

wear wherein CZ loses its

luster very soon. However,
The overall effect is so similar
to diamond that trained
gemologists often require
special equipment to tell
them apart.