About Diamonds
The 4 “C’s” of Diamonds
What Is Diamond Cut?
Cut refers to the facets, symmetry, and reflective qualities of a diamond. The cut of a diamond is directly related to its overall sparkle and beauty. Learn About Diamond Cut
Diamond Brilliant Cuts
What Is Diamond Color?
Color refers to the natural color or lack of color visible within a diamond, based on the GIA grade scale. Brilliant Earth carries only diamonds within the “colorless” and “near-colorless” range. The closer a diamond is to “colorless,” the rarer it is in value. Learn About Diamond Color
What Is Diamond Clarity?
Clarity is determined by the visibility of natural microscopic inclusions and imperfections within a diamond. Diamonds with little to no inclusions are considered particularly rare and highly valued. Learn About Diamond Clarity
What Is Diamond Carat?
Carat is the unit of measurement used to describe the weight of a diamond. It is often the most visually apparent factor when comparing diamonds. Learn About Diamond Carat Measurement
The Process Before Gemstone Quality
Most people today believe that all diamonds are formed from the metamorphism of coal. This proposed idea leads to be the “how diamonds form” story taught in most science classrooms globally today.
Coal has rarely, if ever played any role in formation of diamonds today. In fact, every diamond that have been carbon dated is much older than our Earth’s plants which is the source material of coal. This alone is enough evidence to remove any idea that Earth’s diamond deposits were formed by coal.
Another problem with the idea is that coal seams are sedimentary rocks that usually occur as horizontal or nearly horizontal rock units. However, the source rocks of diamonds are vertical pipes filled with igneous rocks.
Four processes are thought to be responsible for virtually all of the natural diamonds that have been found at or near Earth’s surface. One of these processes accounts for nearly 100% of all diamonds that have ever been mined. The remaining three are insignificant sources of commercial diamonds.
Stunning pieces of crystalized carbon known widely today as Gemstone quality diamonds, remains to be the hardest natural material created on Earth, and has for history been recognized for its monumental beauty as a gemstone. Roughly 142 million carats of diamonds are estimated to have been produced from mines worldwide in 2019. These diamonds are so hard that only tools made from a diamond can cut a diamond.
Recently noted Diamonds have been discovered in India at around 2400 years ago, India was the first known commercial producer of diamonds. Also the country dominated commercial diamond production until South American discoveries in the 1730s.
One-Element Gemstone
Diamonds have a very simple composition. They are composed of carbon. Diamond is the only gemstone composed of just one element. Any other trace amounts of other elements exist in diamonds as impurities. These can also give diamond a slight color such as nitrogen (yellow) or boron (blue) and be found in the region of the diamond-forming environment. Green, pink, orange and other colors are also noted possible outcomes.
