Unless you run a jewellery store or an aficionado of selling diamonds, you may not be aware that there is actual science behind choosing the right type of diamond for it’s worth. When it comes to the finest one, there are some criteria to comprehend and look for, when faced with several different selections either at the jewellery store or the raw supplier.
Out of all the multiple stones available on the face of the earth, it is the diamond that has always been one of the unsurpassed and most sought-after minerals on earth, and there are good reasons for this, and not just because it makes any piece of necklace or engagement ring ten times beautiful but also because it is used within numerous other prevalent industries.
Industrial diamond, however, is not the same as any other stones used for ornamental or adoration purposes. Manufacturing industries that use this specific type of stone use them as a principal tool for cutting. It is mainly the ones that are flawed or badly damaged that are used in various machinery and equipment.
These include the poorly shaped ones, or have inconsistent colours, and also those that have not much value to them, click here for further information about this. They can either be produced synthetically or mined from a natural deposit which contains three types, namely the carbonado (popularly known as carbon), bort and ballas. This is mainly because of two main reason – it is the hardest mineral on earth and has the highest thermal conductivity.
The Jewellery Industry
The other really large commerce that it is used in, is the jewellery sector. When it comes to jewellery, this rare and natural mineral is one of the most versatile and hard-wearing substances that can be shaped and produced to fit into any space to make any piece look exquisite. The reason it is used in this industry is that it has a lustre and comes in either a colourless piece or can be yellow or brown, and these characteristics goes well with other gemstones. Not to mention it does fetch a hefty price for the sellers.
According to the Statista website, in 2019 alone, over 140 million carats of diamonds were extracted from mines worldwide. Some of the biggest countries that produce this mineral include Canada, South Africa, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia and Australia. However, globally, it is dominated by a handful of companies such as De beers or Alrosa, or even Rio Tinto, that account for over 60% of the mining industry, you can look up this information on their website here: https://www.statista.com/topics/1704/diamond-industry/
Having said that these larger companies supply to the smaller companies such as the Whiteflash Diamonds of the world, who then sell it to the consumers. In terms of their value, this drastically increases from the minute it leaves the mine to the time it arrives into the jewellery stores glass cabinet. The price of these gemstones has increased ten-fold from what they were back in the 60s for instance.
The processing and selling are done mainly through the popular centres which sit globally and can be accessed by those licenced to buy them. Centres are mainly found in New York, Dubai, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv and Mumbai, this is because there is no universal market space for these stones like there is for other precious stones.
Having said that, when you buy your diamonds from any supplier, it is always a good idea to ask them where they get theirs from. Let’s look at a few things you need to consider when buying them from any supplier.
What to Consider When Buying Diamonds Legally
As mentioned above, one must ask the store or supplier where they source their material from. The chances are if they get it from any one of the above-mentioned global centres, you are good to go. Whether you buy a loose diamond or one inside a piece of jewellery, there are a few things to look out for to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth and from a legitimate business, to find out more about this you can read the Whiteflash summary on their website, to get an idea of what a popular and ethical jewellery company looks like.
Below are a few key aspects.
Choosing any piece of precious stone, especially a diamond, involves the 4Cs. These parameters are defined as Cut, Carat, Colour and Clarity.
The Cut refers to the proportions and symmetry, for instance, it could be a deep stone or a shallow one and the ideal one. It involves looking carefully at the angles, the way it is shaped, the minute details of the finishing touches and its ability to sparkle.
The Color is also of importance, and these minerals come in 3 common colours including a brown, yellow or colourless clear one. This involved a particular form of grading from D to Z. D is the colourless ones while Z are the ones containing a hue.
The Clarity is also graded from FL to 12, these could be the “flawless” ones to the “very slightly flawed” and the “inclusions 1& 2”. Those that have no visible internal imperfections are usually the flawless ones and have more lustre to them, and thus more valuable. While the ones with blemishes inside are not as popular. However, some collectors prefer the more natural-looking, flawed stones, which in some cases are more valuable, as they are untouched.
The Carat then is the weight of the piece. Most times it is not about the heaviness of an item as the beauty will overtake this option, however as one would have guessed, the heavier it is the higher the price tag will be. This is not to be confused by the size of the diamond, but the weight in grams or kilograms.
Each of these 4 components contributes towards the piece as a whole, its quality and its overall value and worth. The best thing to do is to discuss these aspects with the seller thoroughly, to get bang for your buck!