DIAMOND INFORMATION
OVERVIEW
RELATIVE HARDNESS CHART
PROPERTIES OF A DIAMOND
THE 4Cs
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTE DETAILS
RELATIVE HARDNESS CHART
METAPHYSICAL & HEALING PROPERTIES
OVERVIEW
When did the association between diamonds and love begin?
It was in the 15th century. The Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented the first diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy and that marked the historic connection between love and diamonds. After that, in the late 17th century, the Russian Czar, Peter the Great, gave Catherine I a crown of 2,500 hundred diamonds. Then, in the 18th century, Louis XIV of France showered diamonds on his very young wife, Marie Antoinette.
The tradition of offering a diamond engagement ring with a proposal is common around the world.
The giving of a diamond as a symbol of love and commitment was a tradition that really became firmly established in Great Britain and the United States by the end of World War II. But it has quickly becoming more prevalent in countries around the world, in the USA, Japan , Italy , China and Hong Kong ..
It is love and deep commitment that a diamond represents.
A diamond is a very romantic stone, very pure in its beauty, very reflective of the light around it, and it sparkles with a life that is not necessarily seen in other precious gems. The connotations transcend love to the deepest, brightest and most eternal of connections between two people.
Why do they say that a diamond is forever?
It makes sense if you consider the strength of a diamond. On the Mohs 1 to 10 scale of Hardness, used to measure the hardness of minerals, the diamond is a perfect 10. The most durable precious gem you can find. This may all sound very technical, but it proves that there is a reason to equate a love meant to endure forever with a magnificent precious stone that also has enduring qualities superior to all other gems.
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PROPERTIES OF A DIAMOND
The desirability and attraction of diamonds is due to the unique physical and optical properties they possess. In their natural, uncut state, a handful of diamonds might resemble a handful of dull gravel. The role of the cutter in releasing a diamond’s beauty therefore is highly important. Please find more details on this in our section on cut.
Physical Properties
Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. Their hardness is due to the way in which the carbon atoms bond to create its crystal structure. This allows a diamond to achieve a higher level of polish, which gives it greater lustre than any other gemstone. It also allows it to withstand abrasion. The fact that diamonds are so physically resilient makes them the perfect substance to use for industrial purposes, such as drilling.
Optical Properties
When we describe the appearance of diamonds, we often refer to the high levels of ‘brilliance’ they display. This term describes the stunning effect of reflected light accompanied by a variety of colours that we see when a well-cut diamond catches the light.
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THE 4Cs
The 4Cs - cut, colour, clarity and carat weight - are the characteristics that determine a diamond’s rarity and value. They are the four basic criteria you should look at when considering your purchase. Understanding these will help you to realise why two diamonds of equal sizes are not always of equal value.
Cut
The quality of the cut is very important. It determines how well the diamond catches the light.
Colour
While most diamonds appear white, virtually all of them display barely-there tints of colour. The colour of a diamond is measured by the degree to which it approaches colourlessness.
Clarity
Whilst a diamond is forming, tiny traces of minerals and gases may have become trapped inside. These are called “inclusions”. The clarity grade of a diamond is determined by the presence, size and positioning of these inclusions.
FL - Flawless - contains no internal or external inclusions of any kind visible under 10x magnification to a trained eye - the most rare and expensive of all clarity grades
IF - Internally Flawless - contains no flaws or inclusions visible under 10x magnification to a trained eye, but there may be some tiny external irregularities in the finish
VVS1 - Very, Very Slightly Included 1 - contains very tiny flaws or inclusions visible at 10x magnification
VVS2 - Very, Very Slightly Included 2 - contains tiny flaws or inclusions visible at 10x magnification
VS1 - Very Slightly Included 1 - contains small flaws or inclusions visible at 10x magnification
VS2 - Very Slightly Included 2 - contains several small flaws or inclusions visible at 10x magnification
SI1 - Slightly Included 1 - contains larger flaws or inclusions visible at 10x magnification
SI2 - Slightly Included 2 - contains larger flaws or inclusions easily visible at 10x magnification
SI3 - Slightly Included 3 - contains larger inclusions that may be visible to the naked eye for a trained observer
I1 - Included 1 - contains inclusions visible to the naked eye
I2 - Included 2 - contains large inclusions visible to the naked eye
I3 - Included 3 - contains very large inclusions visible to the naked eye
Carat Weight
The carat is a standard unit used to measure diamonds. One carat can also be referred to as 100 points. For example, if a stone is ½ carat, it can also be described as 50 points.
Which of the 4 Cs are most important?
The beauty and value of a diamond are dependent on a combination of all 4 factors. There is no straightforward answer to this question, as it comes down to a matter of personal taste. For many people size is the most important consideration and so they will buy the largest diamond they can afford. Others may feel more strongly about quality, and so are prepared to sacrifice some size so as to afford a stone of exceptional colour and clarity.
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DIAMOND PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES (Courtesy of IGS)
Chemistry - C
Crystallography - Isometric
Refractive Index - 2.417
Hardness - 10
Specific Gravity - 3.515
Cleavage - Perfect 4 directions
Heat Sensitive - No
Wearability - Excellent
Special Care Instructions - None
Enhancements - Some colors produced by irridation, common. Laser drilled to remove inclusions, common. Cracks filled with glass, occassional.
RELATIVE HARDNESS - MOHS SCALE
10 Diamond
9 Corundum (Ruby, Sapphire)
8 Topaz
7.5 Beryl (Emerald, Aquamarine)
6.5-7.5 Garnet
7 Quartz (Amethyst, Citrine, Agate)
6.5 Steel File
6 Feldspar (Spectrolite)
5.5-6.5 Most Glass
5 Apatite
4 - 4.5 Platinum-Pure
4 Fluorite
3 Calcite (Also a penny!)
2.5 GOLD-Pure(24Carat), Silver-Pure,(Fingernail)
2 Gypsum
1 Talc
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DIAMOND METAPHYSICAL & HEALING PROPERTIES
Diamond removes blockages and negativity. Reminds one of ones dedication to spiritual awareness and brings fidelity to ones interpersonal relationships.
Physical: Draws toxins from the physical body lends clarity of sight and helps to balance the metabolizing ability of the body.
Emotional: Removes blockages to the crown chakra, promotes clarity of thought and aligns one to thoughts associated with higher self. Stimulates unity and love of self and others.
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