A diamond ring is a timeless icon that symbolizes love. Even young children recognize a sparkling ring as a symbol of being engaged.
It’s no surprise that diamonds have become the most common choice for engagement rings. They are the ultimate symbol of forever.
The History of Diamonds
The history of diamonds is a fascinating one. Their resiliency and brilliance have long enthralled people from all over the world.
For centuries, they were primarily traded along the trade 鑽石 routes that connected India and China. This made them highly valuable to royal men and women, European aristocrats, and wealthy merchants.
In the 14th century, diamonds began to make an appearance in Europe. It was during this time that they began to be faceted and cut for jewellery.
By the 1500s, diamond cutting had become a major art in Europe and was practiced in Venice and Paris.
The diamond business grew through the 19th century as it developed into a major industry. Eventually, ruthless businessmen were involved in controlling the diamond supply. This resulted in artificial scarcity and high prices.
The Purity of Diamonds
A diamond is a pure stone, if it contains no blemishes visible with the naked eye. However, microscopic impurities can form during the diamond formation process and become trapped inside it. These imperfections, referred to as inclusions, give every diamond its uniqueness.
Inclusions can have a positive or negative effect on a diamond’s clarity grade. The size, number, position and nature of inclusions all play a role in determining the clarity grade.
For example, a large black crystal under the center table of a diamond will have a much larger impact on the clarity grade than a small, eye-clean feather on the corner of the stone.
These inclusions can be difficult to see with the naked eye, and they may make a diamond appear hazy or milky. However, they do not interfere with the brilliance of the diamond and have little impact on its value.
The Brilliance of Diamonds
Diamonds are regarded as objects of beauty, power and value in many cultures around the world. This is largely due to their brilliance, which has long been considered a symbol of love, commitment and loyalty.
The sparkle of a diamond is caused by the way it bends and reflects light internally. A well-proportioned diamond reflects most of the light back internally, making it appear more brilliant than a poorly proportioned stone.
Another factor is the angle of the cut. Make the angle shallow and it won’t reflect enough light, which can result in a dull sparkle.
In addition to the cut, other factors influence a diamond’s ability to sparkle, such as the number of facets and their placement. A diamond with numerous facets will have more reflections, which will produce more light.
The Value of Diamonds
A diamond is a gemstone that has been treasured since ancient times. They were associated with strength, power, and eternal life. In Greek and Roman tradition, diamonds were believed to be the hardest substance on Earth.
As a result, the price of diamonds is influenced by many factors, including rarity and market demand. Larger diamonds are more valuable than smaller ones of the same color, clarity and cut.
The value of a diamond depends on the four facets – color, clarity, cut and carat weight. These defining characteristics are known as the 4Cs and have become standard in the diamond industry.
A diamond weighing 2.00 carats is far more difficult to find than one weighing 1 carat, because it is rarer. This is why the price per carat for larger diamonds is significantly higher than that of smaller diamonds.
