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A diamond winked, and man (or woman) fell in love.

Women and men have long been fascinated by diamonds, which are characterised by their rarity, hardness, brilliance and fire. That the diamond is composed of the same element - carbon (C) - as coal hardly enters the mind when we see it set in a beautiful jewel.

The diamond gets its name from the Greek word, adamas, which means unbreakable or indestructible. Perhaps this is why we say "Diamonds are forever".

The earliest references to diamonds can be traced to India, which remained the most significant source of diamonds till at least 1725, when they were discovered in Brazil. Some of the biggest and most famous diamonds in the world were mined in Golconda, in present-day Telengana.

92% of the world's diamond pieces are currently cut in Surat, Gujarat, in western India. The quality of gemstone-grade diamonds is assessed and certified according to the 4 Cs, the standard set by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA).

The 4 Cs of the diamond

Until the middle of the 20th century, there was no agreed-upon standard by which diamonds could be judged. The Gemmological Institute of America - GIA - devised the 4 Cs, which have become the universal standard today in assessing the quality of diamonds anywhere in the world. This means that:

  • The quality of diamonds could be communicated in a universal language
  • A customer would understand, exactly, the diamond that was being purchased

These 4 Cs are:

  • Colour
  • Clarity
  • Cut
  • Carat Weight 

Colour

The finest diamond is colourless, like 'a drop of pure water'. That is why a perfect diamond is referred to as a 'of the finest water'. The quality of most gem-stone quality diamonds is determined by the absence of colour.

GIA's A-to-Z diamond color-grading scale is now widely accepted as the industry's standard grading system. D represents colourlessness and proceeds to Z with increasing presence of colour. These differences are very subtle and cannot be seen with the naked eye. It takes an trained eye to grade diamonds by colour, which marks a huge difference in the quality of the diamond as well as its price.

Today, coloured diamonds are becoming popular. These occur naturally, but can also be treated to produce colours like yellow, pink, black and so on. These are called fancy-colour diamonds.

Clarity

Diamonds are composed of carbon and are formed when exposed to tremendous pressure and heat deep within the belly of the earth. During this process, internal characteristics called inclusions and external characteristics called blemishes are formed.

In determining the clarity of a diamond, the number, relief, position and size of these inclusions are evaluated along with the external appearance of the stone. The more flawless a diamond is, the greater its clarity and price.

Diamond clarity is determined with the use of a 10x magnifier.

Flawless - Fl (loupe-clean)
- No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification

Internally Flawless - IF
- No inclusions visible under 10x magnification

Very, Very Slightly Included - VVS1 and VVS22
- Inclusions so slight that it is difficult even for an expert to see them under 10x magnification

Very Slight Included - VS1 and VS2
- Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterised as minor

Slightly Included - SI1 and Sl2
- Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification

Included - I1, I2 and I3
- Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification and affect transparency and brilliance

To a lay-person a VS1 and S1 diamond may look alike, but there is a huge difference and only an expert can tell them apart.

Also, a 'flawless' diamond is called 'loupe-clean' if, after an examination by an experienced grader with a loupe 10X (corrected for spherical and chromatic aberration), it has been found free of internal characteristics.

Cut

Diamonds in the rough are not brilliant at all. They have to be cut and polished to bring out their brilliance. The cut of a diamond brings out its inner light. A well-cut diamond reflects light and has 'fire'. The cut and the number of facets are determined with mathematical precision and require the greatest skill to optimise its proportion, symmetry and polish.

Of the 4Cs, the cut is the most difficult to evaluate. It quality of diamond's cut depends on the brilliance, fire and scintillation of the 'face-up appearance'.

The GIA Diamond Cut Scale has five grades from Excellent to Poor.

Carat Weight

The weight of a diamond is expressed in carats. One metric carat is 200 milligrams. Each carat is made up of 100 points or cents. A diamond that is less than a carat in weight is expressed by the jeweller only in cents. A diamond that is 0.25 carat = 25 cents, or called a 25-pointer.

Diamond Setting Guide

Prong Setting

This is the most popular and common setting. In this type of setting, prongs are used to hold the diamond in place. This is not as safe as bezel or flush setting, but displays the stone better. The trademarked Tiffany Setting, for instance, is a 6-prong setting in an exclusive design of the prongs and the shaft.

Bezel Setting

Bezel setting is ideal for active use. The diamond is protected by surrounding metal walls that extend slightly over the diamond. This is a very safe setting that combines safety and beauty. A full bezel setting or 'closed setting' is what we use in traditional south-Indian jewellery. A partial bezel setting is open on the sides or the back. The advantage of bezel setting is that it will not snag your clothes.

Channel Setting

In Channel Setting, diamonds are set between two walls of metal. These two walls form the channel in which the diamonds sit. This setting is a popular style for wedding bands.

Flush Setting

Flush Setting too is popular for wedding bands. In this method of setting, the diamonds/gemstones are set under the surface of the metal. The stone appears below the metal level as it is embedded in the metal.

Bar Setting

In Bar Setting, a thin U-shaped metal bar is used to hold the diamond or gemstone. In the case of many diamonds in a piece, a bar is placed between two diamonds. Bar setting is typically used in rings and where the stones have to be set in a row. This makes the diamond look bigger and protects the girdle or edge of the stone.

Pavé Setting (pronounced paa-vey)

When diamonds are set into small holes in the metal, it is called Pavé Setting. This allows for the maximum number of stones to be set, with minimum visible metal. Literally, the metal is 'paved' with the diamonds/gemstones. Only small diamonds - 1-2 cents or lesser - are used in pavé setting.

Tension Setting

This is a modern technique in which tension is used to hold the diamond/gemstone. It creates an illusion of the stone 'floating'. The stone appears to be suspended with metal on either side. It is held by pressure and there are no prongs or bars in tension setting.

Illusion Setting

In this kind of setting, a tiny bit of shiny or reflective plate/foil is used to create the illusion that the stones used are larger than they actually are. The prongs are more decorative in illusion setting and, in recent years, are also rhodium-plated, even if the metal used is yellow or pink gold.

Invisible Setting

This is a technique used to set diamonds in such a manner that hardly any metal can be seen. Only the stones are seen, the metal that holds them is 'invisible'.

Pressure Setting

A combination of illusion and tension settings, this technique uses seven stones - one stone surrounded by the others -that are fused together with pressure to look like a solitaire. This is a very popular setting. Four or nine diamonds in pressure setting look like a single square or princess-cut diamond.

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