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Helpful Diamond Facts and Information
When it comes to diamonds, you really need to know your facts before you commit to purchasing one. Not only is your engagement ring going to be one of the most sentimental pieces of jewelry that your significant other will ever wear, it is also one of the priciest.
Here is a list of helpful diamond information to help you make the best purchase. What are Diamonds? - Diamonds are naturally formed crystals made entirely from carbon. Diamond atoms grow in a cubic matrix, an arrangement that allows the crystal to expand at the same rate in all directions. This is how diamonds get their characteristic or octahedral shape. Diamonds are the hardest known substance on earth and are also very resilient. How Are Diamonds Formed? - Diamonds are formed approximately 100 miles deep within the Earth, well below the surface in the upper mantle. The intense pressure and weight of the overlying rock combined with intense heat is the combination required to grow diamond crystals. Rough Diamond to “Cut” Diamond - A rough diamond is first cleaved or sawed into smaller pieces that can be cut into different individual diamonds. Bruting is the act of grinding away the edges to provide an outline shape (for example, round, square, oval…). The diamond is then cut into further facets including the table, culet, bezel, and pavilion while the star, upper girdle and lower girdle are added last. Diamond cutters use computerized images and precise machinery to cut many diamonds produced for today’s diamond market. However, much of the diamond cutting is still performed by hand and these techniques have been passed down through generations of skilled diamond cutters. Why Are Ideal Cut Diamonds So Special? - Diamonds that are cut to ideal proportions are gems that fall within a precise mathematical set of proportions to maximize its brilliance and light dispersion. The ideal cut was first invented by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919 and has had some enhancements/revisions to his original diamond cut proportions over the last several decades. Some extremely skilled diamond cutters utilize computer software and machines to cut diamonds to extremely precise measurements; resulting in today’s ‘Super Ideal Diamonds’. |