Everything you need to know about diamonds before buying them

Where to buy

Diamonds are not a product that is purchased from time to time. For many, this is a single event in their lives. Therefore, you should not rush, go to the nearest store or hope to buy a pebble for the occasion.

There are three options:

• online store;
• jewelry salon;
• dealer office.

In each case, it is advisable to collect as much data as possible about the seller. Read reviews, especially negative or ambiguous ones. It’s better to choose not one option, but two or three.

A reputable office or salon always creates favorable conditions for the buyer:

1. A place for visual inspection and analysis of the stone.
2. Availability of special education for sales consultants.
3. Instruments and tools for research - 10x magnifying glass, carat scales, electronic calipers for measuring stones in three dimensions.

If the buyer does not know how to use the devices, the seller is obliged to do so at his request.

History and origin

The story of a diamond is similar to the story of the birth of a moth. Like a beautiful butterfly, which was previously an inconspicuous caterpillar, a diamond was born after the competent transformation of the hardest mineral in the earth's interior - Diamond.

About six thousand years ago, on the Indian peninsula, people discovered an unusually hard mineral. For a long time, diamond was not considered a precious stone, and was not even one of the expensive minerals. They found him, but they didn’t know what to do with him. The strength of the nugget did not allow the stone to be processed using the technologies of the past.

It was only in the 15th century that the first diamond was produced in Belgium. The Flanders were able to develop diamond cutting technology, which turned the mineral into a world-favorite attribute of wealth, a symbol of the elite. Thanks to Louis de Bernel, the inconspicuous pebble began to shine with all the colors of the rainbow. To this day, diamond cutting technology is used to process other precious and semi-precious gems.

Do you know that one of the largest diamonds is on the crown of the Queen of England.

The first cut diamond went to the Grand Duke of Burgundy. Karl the Bold, together with his favorite Agnes Sorel, started the fashion for diamonds in high society. Since then, no ruler could resist the charm of the diamond, including the Russian Empress Catherine, as well as the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte.

There is much controversy about the origin of diamonds. The most famous version speaks of the formation of a mineral in the depths of the earth's mantle under diabolical pressure. Volcanic underground explosions bring the gem to the surface through kimberlite pipes. Diamonds are not rare stones. However, in order to obtain 1 carat of diamond, it is necessary to process 500 tons of ore . Such efforts, multiplied by the work of the craftsmen and all the rare qualities of the stone, determine the fabulous price of the gem.

Diamond classification

At the everyday level, it is believed that the main advantage of a diamond is its weight. Professionals evaluate comprehensively, according to the international 4C system. Cut, clarity, weight, color are taken into account (from the English cut, clarity, carat, color).

Cut

It is the cut that turns a dull diamond into an expensive sparkling diamond. Its type is chosen based on the shape, size, and quality of the pebble. Good work neutralizes flaws, emphasizes advantages, and preserves the original weight of the stone as much as possible.

More often, the crystal is cut classically - round diamonds with 57 facets (KR57) are beautiful. This is how many facets there should be on a stone over 0.3 carats. Very large expensive specimens are cut with values ​​of 74, 86, 102; for small ones, an option with 17 facets is acceptable.

Fancy shapes such as heart, pear and marquise are popular.

Purity

The degree of purity determines how the stone reflects sunlight. According to the GIA classification, there are 11 purity groups - from IF (without flaws) to I3 (imperfect).

The Russian scale is different. A 9-point scale determines the purity of stones up to 0.29 carats inclusive; a 12-point scale evaluates crystals heavier than 0.3 carats. At the same time, 1 is the highest purity, 12 is the lowest-grade stones with significant inclusions.

Pebbles up to the seventh level are considered a good choice, so if finances are limited, choose a specimen from the “golden” mean based on purity.

Color

Almost all crystals are transparent or yellowish. According to international gradation, they are assigned a sign - from D to Z, indicating the degree of transparency and yellowness.

D is for “pure water diamonds.” Starting from H, the stones have a yellowish tint, which is visually distinguishable. Popular colors among Europeans are 4 and 5 (J and H).

In Russia, color is classified into 9 groups, from 1st – absolutely colorless diamonds to 9th – specimens with a pronounced yellow or brown tint. The price difference between them is two to three times. The best-selling stones are level 3–5, but it is impossible to determine by eye whether it is level 3–4 or level 4–5. It’s worth thinking about whether it makes sense to overpay.

For “white” crystals, the degree of colorlessness is valued. People of color are classified according to their color groups and subgroups. The characteristic includes the term fancy (that is, fantasy), a description of color and its saturation. Colored stones are usually cheaper. But bright, fancy blues, yellows, and greens are rare. They are considered the best, valued many times over, and sometimes an order of magnitude higher than classic colorless diamonds.

Weight

The Russian system is similar to the world one. Diamonds are weighed in carats to the second decimal place - one carat is equal to 0.2 grams.

Crystals according to this parameter are divided into categories (in carats):

• up to 0.29 – small;
• up to 0.99 – average;
• from 1.00 – large.

The weight of a stone in jewelry is calculated using special formulas. Knowledgeable people advise taking 0.99-carat copies. Visually, they are indistinguishable from one-carat ones, but are significantly cheaper.

Popular jewelry diamonds range from 0.30 to 1.00 carats. One-carat stones are used for rings, and smaller ones are used to decorate earrings.

Fluorescence

A high fluorescence rate reduces the cost of the stone by a third. Such specimens are identified by their luminosity in ultraviolet light.

The most famous types of diamonds

To simplify our story a little, we will dilute it with a description of the most popular stones.

Diamond 1/1

This is an excellent quality mineral that is very rare. Collectors hunt for it, and a certain public, consisting of fabulously wealthy individuals, seeks to purchase it as a financial investment or an indicator of their high status.

Diamond 2/2

Slightly more common than the previous one, and slightly less valuable. Let us remind you that it has small sparse spots, but they cannot be seen without a magnifying glass.

Diamond 3/3, 4/4 and others

They are already more popular among ordinary buyers. A diamond's clarity of 4/4 or 3/3 is an indication that there are defects, but they still cannot be seen with the naked eye. Therefore, in the eyes of anyone other than an experienced jeweler, such a piece will be flawless - but its cost is much lower.

It is far from a fact that in any jewelry store you will come across a diamond with a high level of clarity and good color. You need to choose places to buy wisely, consult with experienced people, and most importantly, decide in advance what kind of stone you need. Then you will be able to get a valuable acquisition, the quality of which no one will ever doubt.

Who issues certificates

The first thing a diamond buyer does is look at the quality certificate that comes with the stone. Guaranteeing authenticity is especially important if the item is purchased as an investment.

An international certificate guaranteeing quality and accurate evaluation is issued by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The second organization is HRD, but its testimony is less popular. In Russia, this is the competence of the Moscow Gemological Center and other institutions.

The document states:

• stone quarrying site;
• place of processing;
• weight;
• color;
• purity;
• degree of fluorescence;
• presence and nature of defects.

Such a certificate is an authoritative proof of the declared characteristics of a diamond.

Medicinal properties

The healing properties of diamonds became known quite a long time ago; for a long time it was used to heal internal organs. The gem allows you to cure diseases associated with the kidneys, lungs, and bladder.

Today, nuggets are actively used in lithotherapy - a branch of medicine that uses exclusively stones in its work. It is generally accepted that jewelry has the following properties:

• lifts the mood;
• reduces pain;
• normalizes blood pressure;
• improves the condition of the skin, hair, nails;
• relieves insomnia.

The stone can reveal its features in full only if it is worn on the left hand or next to the heart.

Important! Doctors believe that it is beneficial to drink the water in which the diamond has been kept for some time.

How to decipher a tag

An expensive diamond comes with a tag with characteristics.

For example, we see on it a set of numbers and letters - 4 KR-57 0.6 3/3 B. This means:

• 4 – the number of stones in the decoration, that is, 4;
• KR - means round cut;
• 57 – number of faces;
• 0.6 – weight of the product; if there are several stones in the jewelry, then their total weight is indicated on the tag;
• 3/3 – the color and quality of the stone, that is, the 3rd position on a scale from 1 to 9 (9 are the dirtiest stones);
• B – cut level, there are four in total (A, B, C, D), A – the highest.

To read the tag in the cabin, use tables with decoding of symbols. The sales consultant has them.

What to prefer color or clarity

Having an idea of ​​what colors diamonds come in and what their clarity is, we can talk about the difference between these characteristics. On jewelry tags they are numbered next to each other. The first rating is given to color, the second - specifically clarity.

When determining a priority characteristic, the following circumstances should be taken into account:

1. Color plays an important role depending on the specific frame. Thus, a whitish frame indicates the undesirability of visible shades, since in this case the yellowish tone will appear unnecessarily.
2. Clarity is more important with a yellow gold frame. This metal can literally absorb yellowness and make the stone visually white.

Things to remember when buying a diamond

When going for a precious stone, it is advisable to take a knowledgeable person with you. It will help you choose the right diamond. And in order not to lose your head in front of a sparkling display case, consider the following.

1. Determine the amount intended for the purchase.
2. Select several products that are similar in price and appearance. Compare by main characteristics.
3. Choose the option that suits the price/quality ratio.
4. Check the certificate for it. The document must be issued by the manufacturer or a reputable organization, but not by the store.
5. Avoid specimens of levels 8 – 12 in terms of purity. They have many defects that can cause the stone to crack.
6. When buying diamond jewelry, you shouldn’t splurge on super expensive colorless stones. The frame will change shade.
7. Even stones from 0.3 carats are equipped with a GIA certificate

A 1 carat diamond ring is significantly more expensive than one with many crystals of the same total weight. Placer dust particles no larger than 0.09 carats fetch $210–305 per carat. And to the inexperienced buyer they are presented as expensive diamonds.

Magic properties

The magical properties of the stone have been known since ancient times; its energy is so high that it can improve a person’s aura. However, only those gems that were received as a gift or inherited have such properties. If you purchase jewelry on your own, you should not count on such power.

Thanks to its magical properties, the diamond protects the owner from negative influences from others. In addition, such nuggets neutralize damage and all kinds of curses. A person who has such a stone gains self-confidence, becomes much more resilient, and does not experience a feeling of fear.

Advice! Diamond stones can only be worn by those people whose thoughts are pure, who are honest not only with themselves, but also with those around them. If there are evil intentions, the mineral will not only not help, but will also cause serious harm to the owner.

How to recognize a diamond

The gemstone market does not disdain artificial analogues or outright fakes; a high price does not guarantee authenticity. There are simple ways to evaluate the origin of a diamond.

• Under a magnifying glass. The 10x magnification model reveals inclusions. They are present in natural crystal, but are absent in artificial crystal.
• Glycerol. In a water-glycerin solution, the natural stone is noticeable, while the artificial one “disappears.”
• Acid. The sample is immersed in hydrochloric acid. The natural one will not change, the artificial one will become cloudy or stained.
• Cut. A real stone is trusted only by specialists, so the processing ensures the quality of the diamond, such as focusing. That is, when you turn a pebble, light gathers inside it at one point. If there is no effect, it is a fake.

However, it is difficult to determine the characteristics of this kind of stone. Amateur work with super-expensive stones is permissible if you have knowledge and experience. It is better to obtain the results of a gemological examination. We wrote about how you can determine authenticity at home here.

When you decide to buy a diamond, you need to prepare, arm yourself with knowledge, and choose the appropriate option. And remember that the exorbitant price is not always justified and not all sellers are honest with the “uneducated” buyer. Therefore, it is worth inviting a knowledgeable assistant, and when choosing, prefer a reasonable price/quality ratio. Then there will be no doubt about the authenticity of “best friends” and the wisdom of the purchase.

Physical properties

Diamonds, like rough diamonds, are made up of carbon atoms. The chemical formula of this nugget is C. The atoms are in a certain order, resulting in the formation of cubes. The density of the gem per cubic centimeter varies from 3.47 to 4.55 grams.

According to the Mohs scale, a diamond is considered the hardest substance, as its hardness reaches 10 units. Despite its high hardness, the material is quite brittle and will not be difficult to break. The melting process begins at a temperature of +4000 degrees. If you place a stone in a vacuum, it will burn completely when the temperature reaches +800 degrees.

Jewelry with mineral

A diamond is rightfully considered the most expensive gemstone. Only exceptional examples of other top five minerals - sapphire, alexandrite or emerald - can exceed its value. One carat of diamond with the best performance according to the 4C criteria starts at 25 thousand dollars.

Domestic stores offer an assortment of diamond jewelry at the following prices:

• Ring. For a product made of 750-carat white gold and for 3 stones with a total weight of 0.33 carats, you will have to pay 62 thousand rubles. If the total weight of diamonds in the same product reaches 0.77 carats, such a ring will cost about 200 thousand rubles.
• Earrings. Simple studs made of 14-carat white gold with diamond inserts weighing a total of 0.5 carats start at 65-70 thousand rubles. Inserts of 0.4 carats each will cost 200 thousand and more.
• Suspension. Fans of minimalism and cheapness may like the pendant for 20 thousand rubles. A diamond in such jewelry will weigh no more than 0.04 carats. An insert of 0.5 carats turns the cost of the pendant to at least 130 thousand.
• Brooch. Such jewelry with a scattering of diamonds with a total weight of 1.92 to 2.6 carats will cost from 460 to 600 thousand rubles on average.

Diamonds are also a profitable investment. If you want to make a profitable investment, buying a diamond is what you need. The price for a round-cut stone weighing 1.01 carats, the first in purity (1st category of the scale) with a very light color (3rd point of the color scale) can be 1 million 165 thousand rubles.

Who is suitable according to their zodiac sign?

The diamond suits the zodiac sign of Aries, Libra and Leo. From an astrological point of view, their energy is consonant with the vibrations of the stone. The gem can suppress the soft character of Pisces.

Diamond “Heart of the Ocean”

According to the horoscope, it will also suit other signs, the main thing is to establish personal contact with the stone.

(“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated)

Compatibility with other stones

Diamond is a fiery mineral. The proximity of Earth minerals (opaque stones), as well as Air stones, the connection with which leads to mutual destruction, is contraindicated for him. Energetically, diamond is incompatible with topaz.

The most expensive stone will not always endure the proximity of stones that are similar in element and equal in rank. Sapphires, emeralds, rubies and alexandrites are considered acceptable and beautiful combinations in jewelry. These gems usually act as the main insert, complemented by diamond scattering. The combination with pearls is considered an aristocratic classic.