All about Diamonds
What is a Diamond?
Diamond is one of the most renowned and beloved gemstones and have been used as adornments since the olden days. The popularity and novelty that comes with diamonds naturally made our ancestors to categorize it as one of the four precious gemstones.
Diamond is considered to be a one-of-a-kind organic specimen due to its chemical composition and crystal structure. To start off, the way diamond forms dictates its properties. Because it forms only under unique situations with extreme temperature and pressure levels found more than 100 kilometers deep, it develops as a carbon mineral with an isometric crystal structure. This means that all the carbon atoms are tied in the same way and with the same strength in all directions, and is therefore the reason why diamond is such a hard mineral.
Then, diamond is virtually only made out of the element carbon with only on average 0.05% containing trace elements affecting its color, clarity, etc. This property lends to its unparalleled shine in comparison to other transparent gemstones and have contributed to its skyrocketing popularity following the mass marketing campaign of the De Beers Diamond Consortium.
Where are Diamonds from?
Natural diamonds are found around 150-200 km deep beneath the earth's mantle in mines located in Botswana, Angola, South Africa, Russia, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Australia, along with others. All diamond deposits produce diamonds with a large range of quality and sizes. Nonetheless, a large portion of gem-quality diamonds are found in the African Continent, Canada, and Russia.
The Origin
The word "diamond" is believed to be derived from the Greek word Adamas, which literally means indestructible. In the past, the word Adamas did not pertain to diamonds, but it eventually was adopted to refer to the strongest and indestructible material known to man, diamond.
Diamond Standards and Gradings
What Determines a Diamond's Quality?
Diamond is forever and no two diamonds are exactly the same. Each diamond has its own unique traits that came about after careful consideration by lapidaries in order to bring out the best of the stone in tandem with maximizing its value.
The most prominent set of guidelines for diamond quality consists of cut, color, clarity, and carat; abbreviated as the 4 Cs. The 4 Cs are interconnected such that the ratings of each individual quality factor would affect the rest in a meaningful way. However, the "right answer" to how a diamond should look is the look that you prefer, as most buyers favor some factors over the others.
Diamond Certification
Qualified gemologists equipped with specialized tools calibrate the weight and dimensions of the diamond and appraise quality characteristics such as the 4 Cs. Likewise, every Golden Eiffel diamond is individually inspected and verified by our tenured gemologists and jewelers with decades of experience. This ensures that our diamond quality and excellence is maintained in all of our products through time.
Golden Eiffel diamonds are accompanied with diamond grading reports (often referred to as diamond certificate), which disclose diamond experts' opinions on the quality of the diamond. We choose to carry diamonds certified by the world leader in diamond grading, the GIA.
Contact us today to view an electronic copy of a diamond's certificate.
How is Diamond Grading Decided?
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the leading gemstone laboratory in diamond grading globally. GIA laid down the foundation for diamond quality grading, inventing a scale called the 4 Cs to be the diamond quality standard for jewelers, appraisers, and end users.
Golden Eiffel Diamonds
At Golden Eiffel, we strive to offer diamonds only of the highest standard selected accordingly for their performance relating to the 4 Cs.
The 4 Cs
1. Diamond Cut
Cut is the particular workmanship displayed on a particular gemstone. It specifically refers to the ability of the facets in a diamond to interact with light. Diamond cut is directly correlated to its radiance and charm.
2. Diamond Color
Color is the natural color or the lack thereof which is apparent in a diamond. Golden Eiffel exclusively uses only diamonds of the "colorless" and "near-colorless" range. In general, the less color there is in a diamond, the rarer and more valuable it is.
3. Diamond Clarity
Clarity is the presence of organic inclusions and blemishes or the lack thereof within a diamond under magnification. The less inclusions there is within a diamond, the rarer and more valuable it is.
4. Diamond Carat
Carat is the universal unit of measurement to weigh diamonds. It is usually the most noticeable factor when comparing diamonds.
Certification
Every Golden Eiffel diamond is individually inspected and verified by our tenured gemologists and jewelers with decades of experience in the industry. This ensures that our diamond quality and excellence is maintained in all of our products through time.
Diamond Shapes
Diamond shape is the physical geometrical appearance of a diamond. Read more about round brilliant and fancy shaped diamonds, and determine the diamond shape that fits you best.
