{"id":17576,"date":"2023-03-22T12:26:13","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T11:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rensiweb.com?p=17576"},"modified":"2023-03-22T15:28:17","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T14:28:17","slug":"diamond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rensiweb.com\/en\/diamond.html","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Diamonds – Everything you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Know them well, it is simple?<\/strong><\/p>\n\t

You surely know the 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat)<\/strong>, the 4 key parameters to determine the quality of a Diamond<\/strong>, we will definitely discuss and talk about them, mentioning them is necessary. You really think that knowing the 4Cs<\/strong> is enough to claim to know Diamonds <\/strong>?
Many people ask us if a Diamond lasts forever, if and how can happen that it loses luster and how to keep it beautiful and shining over time.
Sometimes we are asked about the Diamond<\/strong>, often is taken for granted that everyone knows its nature and characteristics, but it\u2019s not always so.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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In this article we will cover the topics gradually, starting from basic knowledge, answering as far as possible the most common questions and curiosities, even mentioning and, if requested by our readers, deepening technical and scientific aspects on the subject, trying to avoid dwelling on too much.<\/div>\n
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The topic will be treated in the best possible way, with simplicity, taking advantage of the knowledge and support of Gemologists, Goldsmiths, Technicians and sales staff<\/strong>, who every day directly talk to and confront people and customers within our Company.
If you need more explanation or clarification on a particular topic, please contact us and we will do our best to satisfy you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Diamond<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Among the most commercialized, known and desired stones, the Diamond has followed the history of man and his evolution, making him dream, adorning the most beautiful jewels of many famous Emperors and Rulers.
By now it is thought that everything is known about this wonderful stone, always regarded as the king of all precious gems.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Diamond\u2019s 4Cs (Cut, Color, Clarity, Carat):<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cut<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The key factor to get the maximum shine and brightness from a gem, it\u2019s a determinant factor for a Diamond and for any other gem in general.<\/div>
The most used and widespread cut is the Round Brilliant cut<\/strong>, so you should correctly talk about: Round Brilliant, Oval, Pear-Drop, Navette-Marquise, Princess, Radiant, Heart, Cushion, Trilliant diamond cuts<\/strong>; Step cuts such as Emerald cuts, both square and rectangular, and other mixed and fantasy cuts. Commercially, the most used and popular are the Round Brilliant cut Diamonds<\/strong> (as already mentioned).<\/div>
This type of cut consists of 57\/58 facets in total, 32 + 1 on the top (crown), 24 on the lower half (pavilion) + 1 extra if the apex is multifaceted. Very often people tend to shorten terms they use very much, so frequently we hear talking about Brilliants<\/strong>, using such a term to indicate the Round Brilliant cut Diamonds<\/strong>, but this would not be correct, as the Round Brilliant cut can be applied to other gems, precious and not.<\/div>
The modern brilliant cut<\/strong>, as we conceive it today, was created in 1919 by Tolkowsky<\/strong>; although this is not the only version of modern cuts, it is certainly the starting and reference point in the modern brilliant cut Era. Today in many countries the most important Brands use Diamonds cut with very good proportions<\/strong>, thus ensuring high quality standards; but this does not preclude the fact that on the market there are diamonds cut with mediocre or poor proportions (less and less frequently over the years).<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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It is also true the opposite, that in recent years, with the development of more advanced technological factors, diamond cuts have been designed and made with absolute precision, achieving a brightness never seen before. Generally, they are not commonly mounted in normal jewelry, as these excellent cuts produce a greater waste from the rough Diamond in the cutting process<\/strong> and so, raising the Diamond\u2019s price per carat, they can generate an average increase between 10% and 20% compared to similar stones.<\/div>
We must point out that usually these excellent cuts applied to diamonds are especially appreciable on stones that have a minimum size, the bigger they are the more you can appreciate the difference between Optimal and Excellent cuts.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Color<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Diamond reference Color Scale is often misunderstood by most nonprofessionals, this chart clearly illustrates the grading of diamond\u2019s Whites<\/strong>. In fact, it\u2019s a series of shades of white and not of real differences between Diamonds\u2019 colors, and it\u2019s dedicated exclusively to “colorless \/ white”<\/strong> diamonds and it\u2019s absolutely not used for Fancy Color Diamonds<\/strong>, whose colors are: Yellow, Pink, Brown, Black, Green, Light Blue\/Blue, Red<\/strong>. This generates among most customers the mistaken belief that one single degree of color difference between one diamond and another is easily visible to the naked eye in mounted jewelry.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t That\u2019s not true. In fact, a mounted Diamond is also submitted to the reflection of the adjacent metal, and this often makes impossible to see differences between 1-2 color grades (it also depends on the sensitivity of the eye). Obviously, we are talking about very small differences that will certainly increase or decrease the value and preciousness of a Diamond<\/strong>, but not so noticeably as you might think. Some people, to better understand the whites scale used for diamonds, give the example of a jug of water to which is added one drop of color at a time, every drop representing in an illustrative way 1 degree of color, so we are talking about very small differences.<\/div>\n
As you can see from the picture, the Diamond Color Scale goes from the letter D to Z<\/strong>, where D is totally colorless and Z is yellowish-sallow<\/strong> (but not yellow); when the intensity of color goes beyond grade Z we talk about Fancy Color Diamonds. Until today, almost 300 different colors have been classified. Commercially, the selection most used for diamonds mounted in Golden or Platinum jewelry by important Brands is between colors F and H; this does not preclude the possibility of using other shades of white.<\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Clarity<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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This point deserves important clarifications<\/strong>, it\u2019s not enough to say that this Diamond Scale indicates which Gems are more or less pure or beautiful. You will see that in Italian the word “purity” (purezza) is commonly used, as the exact translation of clarity (chiarezza) does not describe the concept well in our language.<\/p>

Essential point: we are not talking about purities or impurities, but about natural inclusions inside the crystals of a Diamond<\/strong>. In these crystals, during the formation and growth phase, it happens that very small extraneous elements get trapped within their structure: these internal inclusions are considered as if they were “fingerprints<\/strong>” of the Diamond, making it unique; therefore is correct to talk about characteristics of diamonds and not defects.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThese natural internal inclusions, if they are small, absolutely do not affect the beauty of a diamond<\/strong>, unless they become evident to the eye. In fact, the correct classification is determined by professionals (Gemologists<\/strong>) who do the evaluation and analysis with the help of a lens or a microscope at 10 X<\/strong> (10 magnifications), so up to the rank of “Purity” SI2 the eye should not see anything at all<\/strong>, if properly classified. Many Brands use Clarities ranging from IF to SI2<\/strong>, not just for commercial factors, in order to propose, in addition to Diamond internally pure<\/strong> (IF), also diamonds with some inclusions (VVS, VS, SI) that could help lower the prices, without penalizing the overall beauty of the gems<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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Clarity classification of a Diamond:<\/strong>\n \t
  • FL (internally and externally pure with 10 X lens); only used on some gemological laboratories and not by all.<\/li>\n\t
  • IF<\/strong> (internally pure with 10 X lens).<\/li>\n\t
  • VVS1, VVS2<\/strong> (very, very small inclusions, hardly visible with 10 X lens).<\/li>\n\t
  • VS1, VS2<\/strong> (very small inclusions, barely visible with 10 X lens).<\/li>\n\t
  • SI1, SI2<\/strong>, SI3 (small inclusions visible with 10 X lens); PS: the SI3 degree is not used and recognized by many important gemological institutes and laboratories.<\/li>\n\t
  • I1<\/strong> (inclusions hard to see with the naked eye), I2<\/strong> (inclusions visible to the naked eye), I3<\/strong> (inclusions easily visible to the naked eye).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Carat<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    It\u2019s the unit of measure (mass) used to weigh all precious stones, including diamonds, of course; from now on referred to by the initials ct.<\/strong><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    1 ct. corresponds to 1\/5 of a gram<\/strong>, so 5 ct. correspond to 1 gram.<\/p>

    The subunit of ct. is the “point”, a hundredth of a ct.<\/strong>, so all diamonds weighing less than 1 ct. may have their weight expressed in “points”, e.g. a Diamond of 20 points = 0.20 ct<\/strong>.; the indication in ct.<\/strong> remains by far the most used and correct.<\/p>

    There are also other subunits that haven\u2019t been used for several years, so we will not take them into account. The word Carat has its origin<\/strong><\/span> in the fact that once, when there was no appropriate equipment, the seeds of Carob were used to weigh Diamonds.<\/p>

    These seeds have the property to have a surprisingly regular weight<\/strong>, so at the time they were an ideal method to weigh Diamonds and other precious gems.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Cleaning and maintenance<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    We are often asked about how to clean jewelry<\/a><\/strong> with Diamonds<\/strong>, and the spontaneous response is: turn to your trusted jeweler who, in a short time and with professional tools, will provide a thorough cleaning of the jewels, performed by an expert goldsmith. Anyway, I have prepared an article in which I describe how you can easily clean them at home, by yourself<\/strong>. This type of operation done by a professional can still be useful to check the jewels, because they may need some repair or maintenance<\/a> intervention necessary to restore those that show signs of wear<\/strong>. These operations don\u2019t always require high expenses and sometimes even with partial actions you can keep your jewelry in good condition<\/strong>.
    You have to know that grease adheres easily to a Diamond<\/strong>, so if you wear your jewelry even when you do jobs involving direct contact with this item (grease), the Diamond will easily tend to lose (temporarily) its natural brightness. But don\u2019t worry<\/strong>, after a good cleaning it will return as bright and beautiful as before.<\/div>
    \u00a0<\/div>
    Some of you have asked if we could give more information on this topic, so we dedicated an article exclusively to: how to clean jewelry<\/a><\/strong>.<\/div>
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    Features of Diamonds<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Let\u2019s see less known but still important parameters that determine the quality of Diamonds, such as Fluorescence, proportions of Cut, Polish, Symmetry but also size and polish of Girdle and Culet.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Fluorescence<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    This is the reaction that some Diamonds can have under a long-wave Ultraviolet<\/strong> light (366 nm), about 50% of Diamonds feature a blue-toned reaction (but not only), see the example in the picture, the same Diamond in natural light on the left and on the right subjected to UV light; It is a completely natural factor, which generally does not affect the beauty and preciousness of Diamonds<\/strong>, except in cases<\/span> where the fluorescence appears to be medium or strong.<\/div>
    This type of testing is always applied to Diamonds with a Gemmological Certificate<\/strong>, an analysis that is not always carried out during a Gemmological test<\/span>, as this is only to check the main features. Fluorescence is a temporary phenomenon<\/strong>, as soon as the UV light source is turned off, the effect of Fluorescence in Diamonds disappears.<\/div>
    Fluorescence in Diamonds<\/strong> is classified on average in 4 different degrees, some Gemmological Institutes use 7 degrees:<\/div>