Diamond Facts
- Each diamond is one of a kind, as unique as each couple's love for each other.
- Only a very few diamonds of all the diamonds in the world are suitable for fine jewelry.
- A one-carat, polished diamond requires the mining of 250 tons of ore.
- A diamond must be cut by an expert to exact proportions to bring out its beauty and fire.
- The diamond is the hardest natural substance known to man.
- The diamond was formed deep in the earth millions of years ago.
- The ancient Greeks believed that the fire of diamond reflected the constant flame of love.
- The people of ancient India believed that diamonds could make a person invincible.
- At one time, only kings and nobles had the right to wear diamonds.
- Ancient cultures believed that the vein of love connected the left third finger directly to the heart; that's why its called "the ring finger".
THE 4C's are the attributes and qualities that distinguish one finished diamond from another.
Cut
When a diamond is cut to good proportion, light is reflected internally from one facet to another and dispersed through the top of the diamond. Diamonds can be cut to many different shapes, but it is the precise proportions to which the facets are cut that allow it to capture light and release its brilliance and fire.
Color
Most diamonds used in jewelry appear white. There are, however, subtle differences in color, and the closer a diamond is to being colorless, the more valuable it will be.
Clarity
Most diamonds contain inclusions such as mineral traces formed during the crystallization process. This is part of what makes each diamond unique. The number, the size and position of the inclusions determine the clarity of a diamond and affect its value.
Carat Weight
This is the unit of weight for diamonds. A carat is divided into 100 smaller units called "points". So, for example, 3/4 of a carat is 0.74 points.
