Indeed! Diamonds are forever!

credits: http://www.swissgemlab.com/EducationPages/EducationSection.aspx?pcid=201&showAll=False History of Diamond

About Diamonds

Diamonds have been a source of fascination for centuries. The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word “Adamas”, meaning "Unconquerable". Diamond is a transparent gem made of carbon, which is one of the Earth's most common elements.  The diamond is the hardest known substance in the world. Billions of years ago, in a deep layer of the earth, a unique combination of chemicals, pressure and changes in temperature, created diamonds out of pure carbon.  The Diamond is uniquely resistant to damage by heat or scratching, and can be cut or polished only by another diamond. The diamond is thousands of times harder than corundum, the next hardest substance from which rubies and sapphires are formed. Even after many years of constant wear, diamonds will preserve their sharp edges and corners when most other stones will have become worn and chipped. However, many people expect a diamond to be unbreakable. This is not true. A diamond's crystal structure has "hard" and "soft" directions. A blow of sufficient force, in an exact direction, can crack, chip, split or even shatter a diamond.

Early History

The first recorded history of the diamond dates back some 3,000 years to India, where it is likely that diamonds were first valued for their ability to reflect light. In those early days, this stone was used in two ways, firstly for decorative purposes, and secondly as a talisman to ward off evil or provide protection in battle.

The Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages more attention was paid to the worth of diamonds, rather than the mystical powers surrounding them. Due to the improved public awareness of the value of diamonds, mine owners perpetuated myths that diamonds were poisonous. This was to prevent the mineworkers from swallowing the diamonds in an attempt to smuggle them out of the mines.

The popularity of diamonds surged during the middle ages, with the discovery of many large and famous stones in India, such as the Koh-I-Noor and the Blue Hope. But when the Indian diamond supply dwindled, smaller finds occurred in Borneo and Brazil, but these were not sufficient to meet the ever-increasing demand for diamonds. The mid-nineteenth century discovery of diamonds near the Orange River in South Africa sparked the world's biggest diamond rush, and helped to satiate the world's increasing appetite for diamonds.

Recent Times

On October 2nd 1979, geologists found the Argyle pipe near Lake Argyle: the richest diamond deposit in the world. Since then, Argyle has become the world's largest volume producer of diamonds, and alone is responsible for producing over a third of the world's diamonds every year.

Currently, most diamonds are mined in the following countries: South Africa, Zaire, Russia, Canada, Australia, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Brazil, Ghana, and China. The major cutting centers of the diamond world are in Antwerp, Bombay, Tel Aviv, and New York.

Diamond – The Symbol of Love

Now-a-days Diamond has become ‘The Symbol of Love’ through out the world. The tradition of giving diamonds as tokens of love and commitment began at the end of the 15th century when Austrian Archduke Maximilian gave a diamond ring to his fiancé. They chose to place the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand because legend held that this finger provided a direct link between tokens of love and the heart.

The diamond's strength and pure transparent beauty have always represented the purest emotions of human heart -- commitment and deep lasting love. Journey of a Diamond Everyone knows that diamonds are among the most precious items on earth. But not everyone realizes that journey of this stone is very long and difficult and lots of efforts are required to develop its beauty from a rough stone to a beautiful faceted gem.  Here is a brief recount of a diamond's incredible trip from Earth to the retail market.  A diamond's story begins deep in the earth - 100 to 200 miles below the surface. Approximately 3 billion years ago, these stones were formed as a result of unbelievable heat and pressure placed on carbon crystals.  Basically diamonds have two main uses: in Jewelry (due to their rarity and beautiful appearance) and in Industrial Applications (due to their unique molecular properties). In terms of quantity, about 30% of diamonds are of gem quality and are distributed to experts for cutting, polishing and jewelry production. The remaining 70% of diamonds are sold to industries for cutting, drilling, grinding and polishing in industrial applications.  Journey of a Diamond from the Earth to Retail contains several stages which are explained as under:  Diamond Process Flowchart  Exploration Due to powerful volcanic activities, 'Pipes' are formed which are nothing but openings in the earth and through these pipes, some diamonds and other minerals such as kimberlite etc. are forced up to the surface whereas most of the diamonds which are forced up through the earth settled back into the kimberlite rocks in these pipes.  In this process, Diamond Prospectors explore the possibility of diamond existence deep below the Earth and normally search for kimberlite rocks by testing the ground for changes in magnetic fields. Although diamonds are found in numerous exotic locations around the world, Australia, Botswana, Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Russia and South Africa account for some 80% of the world's diamond supply. Mining Once kimberlite or diamonds are discovered after the process of exploration then mining operations are used, to extract these minerals. In Mining operations following few methods are mainly used to extract diamonds: <%-- --%> Open Pit Mining - This is a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit. In other words, an open pit mine refers to an excavation or cut made at the surface of the ground for the purpose of extracting ore. Open pit mines are used when deposits of minerals are found near the surface or along kimberlite pipes. Underground Mining - It refers to various techniques used to mine gems, minerals, and ore bodies by tunneling underground and creating underground "rooms" supported by timber pillars of standing rock.  Marine Mining - This is a method of excavation of diamonds from the seabed. Now-a-days due to enhancement in technology, marine mining has also become commercially viable.  Artisanal Mining - This is a non-industrial method of mining where individuals, families and communities are involved in mining by using the most basic equipment, such as sieves and pans. After the extraction, the ore containing the rough diamonds goes through many stages of blasting, crushing and processing, including advanced x-ray techniques, to release the diamonds. It is estimated that it takes more than 250 tons of ore to produce just one carat of rough diamond. Over 120 million carats of rough diamonds are mined each year, out of which only about a quarter will be considered gem quality. Sorting  Once the rough diamonds have been mined and processed, the next step is to sort, classify and value them. In this process of sorting, these rough diamonds are grouped, according to their size, shape, quality and color, in to thousands of categories. Cutting & Polishing The next step for the rough diamonds are cutting and polishing. This is a great skill, with meticulous techniques that have been practiced for ages. Gem quality diamonds are usually distributed to one of the main diamond cutting and trading centers in Antwerp, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, New York, Johannesburg, China or Thailand.  Although some of the polishing process is computerized, most of the work is still performed by hand. Firstly, the cutter uses cleaving, sawing or laser cutting to separate the original rough into smaller, more workable pieces. Then, the girdler uses a process called Bruting that grinds away the edges of stone and provides its outline shape. Faceting follows, usually in two steps. The first 18 facets (table, culet, bezel and pavilion of a stone) are cut and polished by the blocker. The brillianteer cuts and polishes the final 40 facets, including the star, upper girdle and lower girdle. Finally, the cut gem is boiled in acids to remove dust and oil.  Jewelry Manufacturing  Once polished, most diamonds are sold and traded in the 24 registered diamond bourses around the world. At this point, the polished diamonds are ready to be set into finished pieces of jewelry, which is the manufacturer's job. USA, India, China, Italy, Spain, Thailand and Turkey have established a reputation in jewelry manufacturing.  Retailing  Finally, diamond jewelry is either sold to a wholesaler, who works as a middleman to sell the goods to the retailer, or sold directly to the retailer. Lastly, retailers sell the diamond jewelry to the consumers. The value of diamond jewelry sold each year exceeds US$60 billion, which includes the cost of the diamonds, precious metals and other gems. USA represents the largest market share (55%), followed by Japan (15%), Europe (10%), Asia Pacific (5%), Asia Arabic (5%) and other countries (10%). According to independent research, diamond jewelry is the most highly sought-after category of luxury goods, both by women for themselves and by men for gifts. The diamond industry employs approximately ten million people around the world, both directly and indirectly, across a wide spectrum of roles from mining to retailing.  Facts About Diamonds The Diamond is the hardest natural substance found on the Earth and incredibly it is the only Gemstone made of just one element – Carbon. Read some more interesting facts about Diamonds… Diamond is the hardest natural substance found on Earth.  Incredibly, diamond is the only gemstone made of just one element – carbon. Most diamonds, found in nature, were formed 1 to 3 billion years ago due to extreme heat and pressure. These diamonds were formed 100 to 200 miles below the surface of Earth. Volcanic activity brings diamond crystals much closer to the earth's surface.  A rough diamond looks so much like a pebble that most people would pass it by without a second glance.  The Diamond is the most effective heat conducting material, which expands very little when subjected to high temperatures, unlike most other conducting materials. In order to burn a diamond, it must be heated on more than a thousand degree Fahrenheit and it will simply vanish, without leaving ash. Only a little carbon dioxide will be released. However, many people expect a diamond to be unbreakable. This is not true. A diamond's crystal structure has ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ directions. A blow of sufficient force, in an exact direction, can crack, chip, split or even shatter a diamond. Diamonds were first mined in India over 2,800 years ago. It is estimated that only 500 tons of diamonds have ever been mined in recorded history to date. More than 250 tons of ore need to be blasted, crushed and processed to produce just one carat of rough diamond. In one-thousand polished diamonds, only one will weigh more than one carat. The largest Diamond ever found is the Cullinan with 3,106 carats. On average, each stone will lose 50% of its original weight during cutting and polishing. Diamonds come in a spectrum of colors. Colored diamonds are called “fancies”. Blue and pink diamonds are among the rarest whereas yellow and brown are among the most common.  80% of the world's diamonds are not suitable for Jewelry. These are used for the industrial purposes. Diamonds are one of the world’s, and specifically Africa’s, major natural resources. An estimated US$13 billion worth of rough diamonds are produced per year, of which approximately US$8.4 billion are from Africa (approximately 65%). The diamond industry employs approximately ten million people around the world, both directly and indirectly, across a wide spectrum of roles from mining to retailing. Global diamond jewelry sales continue to grow, increasing three-fold in the past 25 years, and are currently worth in excess of US$60 billion every year. Australia accounts for producing the most diamonds in volume. The most recent diamond discoveries were made in North America - in the Northwest Territories of Canada and in Colorado. America buys more than half of the world’s total gem quality diamonds, accounting for the world’s largest diamond market. The largest diamond ever found in the US was discovered in 1924 in The Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas – the “Uncle Sam Diamond” that weights 40.23 carats.  The Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas is the world’s only diamond mine open to the public and this is a dig-for-fee operation for tourists and rock enthusiasts. An average of 74,000 visitors comes to the park each year. About one out of 100 visitors find a diamond.  It is estimated that less than one percent of women will ever wear a diamond of one carat or more. Most Famous Diamonds Diamonds are always appreciated for their beauty and rarity and considered as a symbol of wealth and power. The largest and most rare stones have been noted throughout history. Below is detailed information of some of the World’s Most Famous Diamonds of all time… The Cullinan The Cullinan I / Great Star of Africa The Cullinan II The Centenary Diamond The Orloff The Regent Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light) The Great Chrysanthemum The Idol's Eye The Taylor-Burton The Sancy The Blue Hope The Tiffany Hortensia     1. The Cullinan Carat Weight: 3106 carats before Cut  Source: Found in 1905, Transvaal, South Africa  This was the largest diamond crystal ever found with a weight of 3,106 carats in the rough or over 1 ¼ pounds. The Cullinan gets its name from Sir Thomas Cullinan who was chairman of the mining company that discovered it. It was found in 1905. Frederick Wells, manager of the Premier Mine in South Africa, received $10,000 from the company as a gift for this discovery. It was purchased by the Transvaal Government and presented to King Edward VII of England. The Cullinan was cut into 9 major stones and 96 smaller stones. After the cutting of the Cullinan, following nine major stones were obtained: Cullinan I (pear, 530.20 carats) Cullinan II (cushion, 317.40 carats) Cullinan III (pear, 94.40 carats) Cullinan IV(square cushion, 63.60 carats) Cullinan V (heart, 18.50 carats) Cullinan VI (marquise, 11.50 carats) Cullinan VII (marquise, 8.80 carats) Cullinan VIII (rectangular cushion, 6.80 carats) Cullinan IX (pear, 4.39 carats) The Cullian was cut by Joseph Asscher and Company of Amsterdam, who examined the enormous crystal for around six months before determining how to divide it. Though, the goal was to split the diamond into only five crystals, it ended up being broke into nine crystals. When the Cullian was first discovered, certain signs suggested that it may have been part of a much larger crystal. But no discovery of the "missing half" has ever been authenticated.  The Cullinan I / Great Star of Africa  Carat Weight: 530.20 carats  Cut: Pear Shaped with 74 Facets Source: Cut from The Cullinan The Cullinan I or Great Star of Africa diamond is the largest cut diamond in the world. It is set in the Imperial Scepter and is on permanent display in the Tower of London. The Cullinan II Carat Weight: 317.40 carats Cut: Cushion Shaped  Source: Cut from The Cullinan The Cullinan II diamond is the second largest cut diamond in the world. Cullinan II is also become part of the Crown Jewels of England. The royal jewelers of King Edward VII, even went so far as to redesign the setting of the scepter in order to accommodate it. Cullinan II, humbly measuring 1.7 x 1.6 inches. It is in the British Imperial State Crown, it was handsomely set in the brow of the British Imperial State Crown. 2. The Centenary Diamond Carat Weight: 273.85 carats Clarity: Flawless Source: Found in July 1986, South Africa  The Centenary Diamond was discovered at the Premier Mine, in July 1986. This diamond weighed 599.10 carats in the rough. Master-cutter Gabi Tolkowsky and his small team took almost three years to complete its transformation into the world's third largest with carat weight of 273.85 carat, top-color, flawless diamond. The Centenary Diamond possesses 247 facets - 164 on the stone and 83 on its girdle. The 'Centenary' diamond was unveiled, appropriately at the Tower of London in May, 1991. 3. The Orloff Carat Weight: 189.62 carats Color: Slightly Bluish Green  Clarity: Exceptionally Pure Cut: Mogul-Cut Rose Source: India  The Orloff is thought to have weighed about 300 carats when it was found. There are so many historical episodes involved with this diamond. As per first tale, the Orloff was set as the eye of Vishnu's idol (one of the Hindu Gods) in the innermost sanctuary temple in Sriangam and was stolen in the year 1700 by a French deserter disguised as a Hindu. However, the deserter just dug one eye from its socket, because he was terror-stricken at the thought of retribution, so he couldn't take the other. He went to Madras, and sold the stone quickly to an English sea-captain for 2,000 pounds.  After many years, the stone arrived at Amsterdam where the Russian count Grigori Orloff, an ex-lover of Empress Catherine the Great was residing. He heard about rumors of the stone, and he bought the diamond for 90,000 pounds and took it back to Russia for Catherine's favor. The stone has been called the Orloff since then. Catherine received his gift and had it mounted in the Imperial Scepter. She gave a marble palace to Grigori Orloff in exchange for the Orloff diamond. However, Grigori couldn't get Catherine's love. Grigori Orloff passed away at the nadir of disappointment in 1783.  In 1812 the Russians, fearing that Napoleon with his Grand Army was about to enter Moscow, hid the Orloff in a priest's tomb. Napoleon supposedly discovered the Orloff's location and went to claim it. However, as a solider of the Army was about to touch the Orloff, a priest's ghost appeared and pronounced a terrible curse upon the Army. Napoleon scampered away without the Orloff.  4. The Regent Carat Weight: 140.50 carats  Cut: Cushion Shaped Brilliant  Source: India  A truly historic diamond discovered in 1701 by an Indian slave near Golconda. It once weighed 410 carats in the rough. It was one of the largest diamonds found in India. Once owned by William Pitt, the English Prime Minister and after that it was called "The Pitt". It was sent to England where it was cut into a cushion shaped brilliant of 140.50 carats. Of all the larger diamonds known throughout the world the Regent Diamond is considered the finest and most beautiful diamond in the world. In 1717, the diamond was sold $500,000 to the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France when Louis XV was a boy. It was then renamed "The Regent" and set in the crown Louis XV wore at his coronation. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette wore the diamond separately. He wore it on his crown and she wore it on her hat. After the French revolution, it was owned by Napoleon Bonaparte who set it in the hilt of his sword. When he went to exile, Marie Louis, his second wife, gave it to her father. Her father was the Emperor of Austria, he returned it to French Crown Jewels. When the Germans invaded Paris in 1940 the diamond was sent out of the country, when the war ended it was returned. During World War II, the Regent was hidden from Hitler's armies behind a stone fireplace in the Chateau Chambord. It is now on display in the Louvre, Paris. 5. Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light) Carat Weight: 108.93 carats  Cut: Oval Shaped Brilliant Source: India  The name of this diamond means "Mountain of Light" and its history is the longest of all famous diamonds. Firstly, in 1304, this diamond was found in possession of the Raja of Malwa, later, it was captured by Mogul Sultan Babar. This was a time when possession of such a stone symbolized the power of an empire. It is said that this diamond has been set in the famous Peacock Throne made for Shah Jehan.  Kooh-i-Noor was one of the precious jewels of the Emperor Mohammed Shah. In 1739, Nadir Shah of Persia successfully invaded Delhi. His systematic pillage of the city failed to uncover the huge stone, but then he was told by one of the harem women that the conquered Emperor Mohammed Shah had hidden it inside his turban. At the victory celebration party, Nadir Shah invited his captive to a feast and suggested they exchange turbans, the emperor partake in a well known oriental custom whereby the two leaders would exchange turbans. Retiring from the feast, he unrolled the turban and released the great gem. Seeing it he exclaimed "Koh-i-Noor", meaning "Mount of Light".  Then, Nadir Shah brought the gem back and took it back to Persia, but he was assassinated in 1747 and the diamond was fought over by his successors. It was in the jewel chamber of Lahore, capital of Punjab, but when that state was annexed to British India in 1849, the East India Company took it as a partial indemnity for the Sikh Wars. The Koh-i-Noor was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the East India Company. When the large stone was displayed at the Crystal Palace Exposition, people were disappointed that the diamond did not show more fire. So, Queen Victoria decided to have recut to enhance its brilliance and fire, which reduced the 190 carats diamond to its present size. In 1911 a new crown was made for the coronation of Queen Mary with the Koh-i-Noor as the center stone. In 1937, it was transferred to the crown of Queen Elizabeth (now Queen Mother) for her coronation. It is now on display with the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.  The Koh-i-Noor is said to have come to earth as a gift of God to India as reward for faith in God.  6. The Great Chrysanthemum Carat Weight: 104.15 carats  Cut: Pear Source: Supposedly, South Africa The Great Chrysanthemum supposedly found in South Africa in 1963, and it weighed 192.28 carats. This pear-shaped diamond was cut by Julius Cohen, a New York City dealer, bought the rough stone and cut to reveal the diamond's rich golden-brown, chrysanthemum-like color. In 1971, the diamond was exhibited at the Kimberly Centenary Exhibition in South Africa. The diamond was also shown in the Diamonds-International Academy Collection at the Diamond Pavilion in Johannesburg in 1965. Recently, Julius Cohen sold "the Great Chrysanthemum" to an undisclosed foreign buyer.  7. The Idol's Eye Carat Weight: 70.20 carats Cut: Pear  Source: Supposedly, South Africa  This is another famous diamond that was once set in the eye of an idol before it was stolen. This flattened pear-shaped diamond weighs 70.20 carats. As per a legend, it was given as ransom for Princess Rasheetah by the Sheik of Kashmir to the Sultan of Turkey who had abducted her. 8. The Taylor-Burton  Carat Weight: 69.42 carats Color: F-G  Clarity: IF  Cut: Pear Shape Source: Premier Mine, Transvaal, South Africa  This stone was found in 1966 in South Africa. The rough stone, that weighed 240.80 carats, was cut into a 69.42 carats pear shape diamond.  This diamond was sold at auction in 1969 with the understanding that it could be named by the buyer. Cartier of New York successfully bid for it and immediately named it "Cartier." However, the next day Richard Burton bought the stone as a gift for Elizabeth Taylor for an undisclosed sum, renaming it the "Taylor-Burton." After Burton's death in 1979, Elizabeth Taylor sold the stone for charity and reportedly received $2.8 million. She donated this sum in memory of Richard Burton to a hospital in Botswana. It was last reported to be in Saudi Arabia.  9. The Sancy Carat Weight: 55 carats Cut: Pear Shape Source: India  It was one of the first diamonds ever cut with symmetrical facets, having a history of over five hundred years. The stone is apparently of Indian origin. It was first owned by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who lost it in a battle in 1477.  The stone is named "The Sancy" after a late owner, Seigneur de Sancy, a French Ambassador to Turkey, in the late 16th century. Sancy was not only a prominent figure in the French court, but also an eager collector of gems then. He loaned this stone to the French king, Henry III, who wore it in the cap with which he concealed his baldness. Henry IV of France also borrowed the stone from Sancy. Later, Sancy was assigned the French Ambassador to England and he sold the Diamond in 1664 to James I, of England. In 1688, James II, last of the Stewart Kings of England, fled with it to Paris. It was stolen during the French Revolution in 1792.  The Sancy disappeared until 1828, when it resurfaced in the hands of Russian Prince Demidoff. His family owned it until 1865, and then sold it to a wealthy Indian, Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, of Bombay. The next public appearance was at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Lady Astor loaned the Sancy to the Louvre, as a centerpiece for its Ten Centuries of French Jewelry exhibition in 1962. However, after her death in 1964, the British government declares the stone a national treasure, but after that reportedly it has been sold to the French government.  10. The Blue Hope Carat Weight: 45.52 carats  Color: Dark Blue  Clarity: flawless  Cut: Oval Brilliant Source: India  The Hope Diamond is the world's largest deep blue diamond in public view today. It is famous for its striking color and its fascinating history of bringing bad luck to its owners. This attractive stone is also having a history of stolen and recovered, sold and resold, cut and recut. The legend of the Hope Diamond began in 1642, when it weighed about 112 carats. A French diamond merchant named Jean Tavernier found the diamond in India and sold it to King Louis XIV in 1668 who had it cut to 67.50 carats from 112 carats to bring out its brilliance. However, Tavernier was killed by wild dogs during a business trip to India.  The dark blue diamond was called "the Royal French Blue" or "Blue Diamond of the Crown". In 1774 Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette inherited the French Blue and wore it, as it was popularly known. The diamond was stolen during the French Revolution.  After that the Heart Cut Blue Diamond was believed to be sold in Spain where it was cut into three smaller stones. The Goya portrait of Queen Marie Louisa painted in 1799 shows her wearing a deep blue diamond cut into 44.5 carats of rounded oval. It is said that the stolen Royal French Blue was recut to its present size by Wilhelm Fals, a young Dutch diamond cutter. Fals died in grief after his son, Hendrick stole the gem from him. Hendrick, in turn, committed suicide.  In 1830, a wealthy banker Henry Phillip Hope bought this diamond for $90,000 and after that the diamond took on its now still existing name "the Hope Diamond". It stayed in the Hope family until the turn of the century and the legend of its sinister influence began again. The original Henry Hope died without marrying, leaving the stone to his nephew. The stone was then passed on to a grandson who changed his surname to Hope to inherit it. Unfortunately bad luck plagued him, and his wife ran off with another man. The last of the Hopes went bankrupt and the stone was sold to a jeweler. It changed hands frequently in the next few years. A Folies star who wore it, was killed by a jealous lover. A Greek broker who bought it fell off a cliff with his wife and children. The Turkish Sultan, Selim Habib, was deposed in the 1908 revolution. The seller, Simon Montharides, died in a car crash.  After that it was put up for auction in Paris in 1909 but no one bought it. Shortly after that, C. H. Rouseau purchased it only to resell it the same year to Cartier, the French jeweler. Somehow, the Hope Diamond found its way back to France in 1910. After that Mrs. McLean wife of Mr. Edward B. McLean and daughter-in-law of millionaire publisher John R. McLean bought this diamond for $154,000 from Cartier. In next few years her son, Vinson was killed in a car accident and her daughter died of an overdose of sleeping pills, Mr. McLean became mentally unbalanced, and died in a mental hospital. But in spite of all these malefic effects, she wore it constantly till her death in 1947. After Mrs. McLean death, the Hope Diamond was bought by Harry Winston along with other jewels in her estate for more than $1,000,000.  Harry Winston first displayed the Hope Diamond in his Fifth Avenue salon in New York. After putting it on display at various charity shows, he sent it by registered mail in a plain brown wrap, to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. The stamps cost him $145.00, $2.44 postage and the rest for insurance of $1,000,000. It is now on display at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.  11. The Tiffany Carat Weight: 128.51  carats Color: Fancy Yellow Clarity: flawless Cut: Cushion Shape with 90 Facets  Source: Kimberly Mine, South Africa  The Tiffany, the best of ever found yellow diamonds was found in 1878 from the famous Kimberley Mine in South Africa. The Tiffany diamond weighs 128.51 carats. It was cut from a piece of rough stone that weighed 287.42 carats. Charles Lewis Tiffany, the famous New York based Jeweler, bought it and cut it in Paris as a cushion-shaped brilliant with 90 facets. 12. Hortensia Carat Weight: 20 carats Color: Peach This beautiful stone was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland, who was Josephine's daughter and the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Hortensia had been part of the French Crown Jewels since Louis XIV bought it. Along with the Regent, it is now on display at the Louvre, Paris.  Diamond Education This Diamond Education defines the most essential characteristics of a diamond along with tips for its care. By understanding these characteristics, you'll be able to shop with confidence. Cut Color Clarity Carat Shape Certification Care Cut Diamond Cut is the most important property to increase its beauty because a well-cut diamond reflects light to maximize the stone's brilliance. A diamond with perfect color and clarity could nevertheless have poor brilliance if it is not well cut. After a proper cutting, size of the stone may reduce by half but its market value may increase more than four times for its brilliance and sparkle. Diamonds have a unique ability to manipulate light efficiently. This exceptional ability can be revealed and maximized only by cutting and polishing the diamond to an extremely high level of accuracy. It is very essential to know Diamond Anatomy before understanding Cut. Diamond Anatomy Diameter: Width of a diamond measured through the Girdle. Table: Largest facet of a gemstone. Crown: Top portion of a diamond extending from the Girdle to the Table. Girdle: Intersection of the Crown and Pavilion which defines the perimeter of the diamond. Pavilion: Bottom portion of a diamond, extending from the Girdle to the Culet. Culet: Facet at the tip of a gemstone. The preferred Culet is not visible with an unaided eye (graded "none" or "small"). Depth: Height of a gemstone measured from the Culet to the Table.  The cut of a diamond establishes how it reflects light, which is responsible for its sparkle or brilliance. Cut has following three components:  Diamond Cut by Shape A Diamond Cut by Shape describes the outline of the stone and pattern of the facet arrangement. A stone can be cut in various Shapes like Round, Princess, Heart, Oval, Pear etc. We will understand various diamond shapes in Shape part. Diamond Cut by Depth A Diamond Cut by Depth is the ultimate feature for its brilliance and fire.  Shallow Cut: Shallow Cut will let light lost through a diamond's bottom causing it to appear dull. Deep Cut: Deep Cut will allow light to be lost through a diamond's sides causing it to appear dark. Ideal Cut: Ideal Cut is considered as the best cut and it will reflect most or all of the light that enters in the diamond back to the eyes.  Quality of a diamond's cut can be determined on the basis of its power to reflect light. They can be broadly characterized as Ideal, excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair or Poor. Ideal or Excellent cuts release the inner brilliance of the stone and project maximum amount of fire and sparkle where as Very Good, Good and Fair cuts loose some light that enters the diamond. A poor cut looses most of its light from the diamond sides / bottom and it may even have some "dead" spots inside.  Diamond Polish and Symmetry  Polish and symmetry are two important aspects of the cutting process. The Diamond Polish expresses the smoothness of the diamond's facets where as the Symmetry refers to alignment of the facets. A poor Diamond Polish, or rough facets, can diminish a diamond's brilliance, as well as its value. Color Diamonds are found in all colors of the rainbow, from colorless and transparent stones to ink black ones. Varying degrees of yellow or brown color is common in most of the diamonds and slight difference in color can make a substantial difference in value. A truly colorless diamond is extremely rare and considered the most valuable. It allows most light to pass through the stone and create the most brilliance. During formation of Diamond from carbon, certain chemicals may have been drawn into the mix and results in added tinge of color in the transparent stone. Most diamonds appear white to the naked eye, but they all include trace amounts of yellow or brown color. The color scale goes from D to Z (no diamond of color grade A, B or C has ever been found), with D being the most white and Z being the most yellow. The best way to see the true color of a diamond is by looking at it against a white surface.  <%-- --%> Diamond Color Grade Table  Color Grade Description On Unaided Eye Inspection Colorless Stone looks absolutely clear and transparent, with no hint of color. Near Colorless Stone looks clear and transparent. Color will be noticeable by experts only when compared to diamonds of better grades. Faint yellow Color slightly detectable and will be noticeable by experts only. Very Light yellow Stone shows an increasing yellow tint, even to an untrained eye. Light yellow Stone appears yellow, even to an untrained eye. Fancy Bright, remarkable color - usually blue, pink, yellow, Red etc. <%-- --%> Fancy Colored Diamonds Although majority of diamonds come in shades of white, there are also "Fancy" natural intensely colored diamonds available in colors like yellow, pink, greens, brown, red, orange, blue etc. These intensely colored diamonds are very rare, attractive and desirable. A deeply colored diamond can cost more than its colorless counterpart. These intensely colored diamonds are known as "Fancy" colored or "Fancies". Fancy colored diamonds are graded in two ways. The first factor is the basic hue, such as pink, yellow, blue, green, etc. The second is the intensity. Both color characteristics form the basis for determining a fancy colored diamond's worth. In fancy colored diamonds, Z+ grade is used for their color grading. Usually, the more intense the color, the rarer and more expensive the diamond will be. For example, a fancy light pink diamond costs less than a fancy vivid pink diamond of equal size, shape and clarity. Though fancy colored diamonds rarely occur in nature, laboratories can easily create them through irradiation and heating. This process can permanently turn a natural colorless diamond into a fancy colored diamond. Treatments have also been developed to make lower-color white diamonds whiter. Irradiated colored diamonds have a significantly lower value than natural fancy diamonds and can be detected in a gem laboratory. Fluorescent Diamonds Fluorescence is a form of illumination that is created when a diamond is exposed to low or high wave ultraviolet radiation. Fluorescence up to some extent is common in majority of diamonds. Faint or medium fluorescence will rarely affect a diamond's appearance. Usually fluorescence remains unnoticed by human eyes in ordinary light.  Clarity Clarity is a term used to describe the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a diamond. In other words, the clarity of a diamond refers to a diamond's clearness or purity.  When these flaws / marks occur internally, they are called inclusions and the most common types of inclusions include Crystals, Tiny Bubbles representing small minerals that were absorbed into the diamond while it was growing, Internal Graining, Needles, Knots, Chips, Cavities, Cleavage, Feathers, and Clouds. On the contrary, when these flaws / marks occur on the surface, they are known as blemishes and the most common types of blemishes include Polish lines, Naturals, Scratches, Nicks, Pits, transparent stress lines that appear on a diamond's surface, surface graining, and extra facets, that are usually cut to remove a near-surface inclusion to raise the clarity grade of a stone. Most diamonds have these imperfections in them. Although many of these flaws are not visible to the naked eye, but under magnification, tiny featherlike shapes, crystals, bubbles and dark flecks become noticeable. These slight flaws make every diamond quite unique but they also do affect the beauty and value of the diamond. Diamond's clarity is based on the number, size, nature, and location of imperfections on the finished stone. Diamond with higher clarity is more valuable in comparison to diamond that contains numerous inclusions because it is less brilliant due to inclusions interfering with light passing through it.  Diamond Clarity Grading Scale Table  Image Clarity Grade Scale Description On Inspection through 10x magnification F Flawless Clear Stone, no inclusions or blemishes. Exceptional and beautiful diamonds. IF Internally Flawless No inclusions and only insignificant surface blemishes. Rare and beautiful diamonds. VVS1 – VVS2 Very, Very Slightly Included – 1 & 2 Tiny inclusions, which are extremely difficult to find, even under 10x magnifications. An excellent quality diamond. VS1 – VS2 Very Slightly Included – 1 & 2 Minor inclusions, which are difficult to see under 10 x magnification. These stones are less expensive than the VVS1 or VVS2 grades. SI1 – SI2 Slightly Included – 1 & 2 Inclusions, which are easy to see under 10 x magnification. A good diamond value. I1 – I2 – I3 Included – 1, 2 & 3 Inclusions, which are easy to see under 10 x magnification and sometimes, may be visible with the unaided eye. A good diamond value. Generally I3 grade is not used for jewelry purposes and mostly used in industrial applications. Carat  The term "Carat" refers to the weight of a diamond. It is derived from the carob seeds, which are remarkably consistent in weight and shape and so were the favored scale balances in ancient times. This was standardized in 1907 and after that 1 carat became 0.2 grams or 1/142 of an ounce. Furthermore, each carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, ¼ carat diamond is considered as 25 points and ½ carat diamond is considered as 50 points and so on. This term 'Carat' is different from the term 'Karat' which is used to describe gold's fineness or purity. When we consider all four Cs, that determine value of diamond, we can find Carat weight most accurately and easily by using a delicately balanced scale capable of weighing extremely small stones.  Diamond's Carat Weight Scale  There is one significant fact about diamond’s weight and price. When diamonds are mined, large diamonds are discovered rarely in comparison of small ones, which make large diamonds much more valuable. For that reason, the price of a diamond rises exponentially with its size. So, a 2 carat diamond of a given quality is always worth much more than two 1 carat diamonds of the equal quality. Although larger stones are often more highly valued, but size should not be the only consideration. High brilliance, which varies according to clarity, cut, and color grade, is highly desirable in a diamond.  Shape A Diamond Cut by Shape describes the outline of the stone and pattern of the facet arrangement. Although diamonds are available in various shapes like Round, Princess, Heart, Oval, Pear etc., but when most people think of diamonds, what comes to their mind is the modern round brilliant cut because in jewelry industry, this shape is sold more than 75% of all diamonds. All other non-round shapes are called fancy shapes and these different diamond shapes show individual's style and personality. The most popular and stylish shapes are defined as under: Round Brilliant Cut The Round Brilliant Cut diamond is the most traditional and popular of all the diamond shapes. Many experts consider this shape ideal for a diamond because it maximizes its sparkle. It has 58 facets which offer great brilliance and stability. This shape of diamond is most commonly used in solitaire diamond engagement rings.  Princess Cut The Princess Cut is most popular non-round diamond. Its beautiful brilliance and unique cut makes it a favorite for engagement rings. The princess has pointed corners and is traditionally square in shape. The ideal princess cut will have length to width ratio is as close to 1.00:1.00 as possible, as princess cut diamonds can range from this perfect square through to almost rectangular.  Emerald Cut The Emerald Cut diamond is a square or rectangular shaped stone with cut corners. This is also known as Step Cut because it has rows of facets, usually 48 to 50, that resemble a staircase. Due to its larger, more open table, this shape highlights the clarity of a diamond but with fewer facets brings less brilliance than the other shapes. Oval Cut The Oval Cut is also a beautiful shape and provides great brilliance and fire through its 56 facets. A well cut Oval shaped diamond can be almost as bright as a well cut Round Brilliant shaped diamond.  Marquise Cut The Marquise Cut is a traditional shape having elongated ends at both edges. The pointed ends make this shape the most fragile and the most expensive of brilliant style cuts. It has a total of 56 facets, construction of which requires a lot of experience and the delicacy of its sharp points demands utmost precaution. Now-a-days this shape is very popular for engagement rings.  Pear Cut  The Pear Cut diamond is often called a teardrop due to its single point and rounded end with 56 to 58 facets. This shape is popular for its uniqueness and brilliance. Pear Shape diamond is mostly used in pendants and also a good choice for a hand with smaller fingers. Asscher Cut  The Asscher Cut is a modified version of the Emerald Cut. This shape is named after Joseph Asscher of Holland who was an eminent diamond cutter. In 1902, his company, Asscher Diamond Co., developed and patented the Asscher Cut, a squarer step cut with an almost octagonal outline. This new cut enhanced the fire and light of the stone; it had a small table, a high crown, wide step facets, a deep pavilion and square culet.  Radiant Cut The Radiant Cut is a rectangular or square stone with cut corners. This shape comes with 62 to 70 facets and offers the elegance of the emerald shape with the brilliance of the princess shape. Trimmed corners are the signature of this shape, and they help to make the radiant cut a popular and versatile choice for jewelry. Diamonds with radiant shape look very good when adorned with baguettes or round side stones.  Heart Cut  The human heart is the ultimate symbol of love and the Heart Cut is regarded as the most romantic of all the shapes. The Heart shaped diamond is essentially a pear-shaped diamond with a cleft at the top and it typically contains 59 facets. Due to the complexity of the shape, skilled cutting is necessary to maintain the diamond’s brilliance. Generally people prefer a heart shape diamond for sentimental purposes. This shape is mostly used in pendants, but also suitable for most jewelry items.  Cushion Cut Cushion Cut diamonds are also known as "pillow cut" diamonds. This shape ranging from square to rectangular and it has rounded corners and larger facets to increase its brilliance. These larger facets also highlight the diamond's clarity.  Baguette Cut The Baguette Cut diamonds are generally used to fill in channels or stable grooved tracks around a gemstone centerpiece. This shape is similar to emerald shape. Trilliant Cut  The Trilliant Cut is one of the unusual cuts and the diamond with this shape displays a very sharp brilliance or fire. This triangular shaped diamonds may either have pointed corners or more rounded corners.  Certificate Acquisition of a Diamond or Diamond Jewelry is an important expression of love or accomplishment but on the same time it also represents a major investment of money. It is essential for you to know the credentials of the diamond and obtain confidence in the integrity of what you have acquired. A Diamond Certificate or Diamond Grading Report is a statement, issued by an independent Gemological Laboratory, that at the time of evaluation, the diamond in question has been examined, measured, and scrutinized by experienced Diamond Graders, using various gemological instruments, and determined to contain the characteristics as stated in the Certificate or Report. In other words, a diamond certificate can be accurately described as the blueprint of a diamond. This Certificate or Report includes an analysis of the diamond's characteristics in an easy to understand format. Generally a certificate or report covers following characteristics of a diamond along with the laboratory and certificate details: Name of the Laboratory Certificate Number Shape and Cutting Style Measurements of the Diamond's diameter Carat Weight Color Grade Clarity Grade Cut Grade Finish, Polish & Symmetry Fluorescence Comments Plotted diagram of the diamond for the imperfections. Key to Symbols that helps us to identify characteristics marked in the plot. Security Features for the Certificate Graphical image of Diamond Structure Information about Diamond's Depth, Table, Girdles, Culet and Facets etc. This certificate doesn't state monetary value of a diamond.  There are many laboratories available through out the world for diamond certification but below mentioned laboratories are considered as most respected ones in the industry, for their consistency and unbiased diamond grading systems.  The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) The Gemological Institute of America was established in 1931 in Los Angeles. The GIA created and introduced the international grading system. Headquarters are still located in Los Angeles. The Diamond High Council (HRD) The Diamond High Council is the officially recognized representative of the Belgium diamond trade and industry. HRD headquarters are located in Antwerp, World Diamond Center. The American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL)  The American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL) was established in 1934 in Las Vegas, Nevada by Robert M. Shipley, who also established the GIA. International Gemological Institute (IGI) The International Gemological Institute was established in 1975 in Antwerp. This laboratory is also having labs in New York, Bangkok, Mumbai and Tokyo.  Securing a certificate will provide you a much-needed peace of mind knowing that you are getting your money's worth. Here are some reasons to buy a diamond along with its certificate: A diamond certificate gives you the exact details of the stone and on the basis of this information you will be able to do some comparison-shopping before doing the actual purchase. A diamond certificate allows you to pay money on the basis of stone's characteristics. Your jeweler wont be able to charge you more and there are very good chances to get the best deals.  On re-sale of diamond along with its certificate, you will get better price for the diamond. To get insurance for your diamond, you also need to produce diamond certificate.  It is a standard practice in the Diamond Industry, to ask for a Diamond's Certificate or Grading Report from the jeweler before the purchase of it.  Care  Diamonds are forever as they are the hardest known substances on earth. But due to our day-to-day activities, it is inevitable that our precious diamond pieces get dirty and soiled. Even they can be scratched, chipped or dulled if not handled correctly. With proper care, they can last a lifetime and can even be handed down as heirlooms to future generations without losing their shining and sparkle. So here are some tips that will help you to preserve the life and beauty of your diamond: Cleaning of Diamond Jewelry Regular cleaning of Diamond Jewelry is essential to maintain shine and brilliance of diamonds. On wearing them, they get dirty as you use various skin and body care regimen such as soaps, lotions and even our skin's natural oils. Even when you are not wearing them, they collect dust. If you are cleaning your diamond jewelry by your own then it will take few minutes but before cleaning, you should be aware about the cleaning at home and cleaning by a professional jeweler:  You can use a small soft brush such as an eyebrow or lip stick brush, soap and water to clean your diamond jewelry. Simply make a bowl of warm sudsy water with a mild detergent and gently place your jewelry pieces in the mixture. Then brush the diamonds with the soft bristles of the brush while they are in the suds. You will need to make certain that you rinse them clear of the suds after cleaning them. After this process, use a soft cloth or a jewelry polish cloth to pat them dry.  If you feel that your diamond jewelry is in need of a stronger cleansing then you can use a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water for cleaning the diamonds. Once they are soaked for 30 minutes, remove them and gently brush the mountings with a small soft brush. Then use the mixture of soap and water to wash them and after that use a soft cloth to pat them dry.  But if you find yourself too busy to be mixing soaps and ammonias, you can use liquid jewelry cleaners which are sold by many departmental stores. You can find these liquid jewelry cleaners in kit form. You just need to follow all the written precautions and instructions of cleaning.  In cleaning process, treat metal settings gently as gold can scratch.  It is also a good idea to have them cleaned once a year by a professional jeweler, where he will check security of the settings. He will also give advice for repair of loose or bent prongs which hold your diamond in place. This will prevent your diamond from falling out of its setting and becoming lost. Storing of Diamond Jewelry Storing of diamond jewelry is also important as a diamond can scratch another diamond, as well as other jewelry pieces. Storage of diamond jewelry needs following precautions: Diamond jewelry should be stored individually in a soft cloth pouch to ensure that a diamond should not scratch other diamonds or other jewelry. Diamond jewelry pieces are best stored in a fabric-lined jewel case or in a box with compartments or dividers.  Wearing Precautions for Diamond Jewelry You should not wear diamond jewelry while doing heavy work. Even though a diamond is extremely durable, it can be chipped by a hard blow, and even everyday activity can loosen jewelry setting.  You should avoid the situation where your diamonds come in contact with chlorine bleach, hair spray or other chemicals because they can pit or discolor the mounting. If you will follow the above mentioned caring tips then your diamond jewelry will always shine and sparkle likes a new one. Diamond Buying Tips Diamond is purely made of carbon, which is one of the Earth's most common elements. The diamond is the hardest known substance in the world that is uniquely resistant to damage by heat or scratching, and can be cut or polished only by another diamond.  You buy diamonds or diamond jewelry either for yourself or for your loved ones and usually your decision of buying a diamond is based on some emotions. Buying a diamond or diamond jewelry is certainly an expensive purchase and it is advisable to you to get some knowledge about diamonds and their characteristics. You can get detailed information on each and every aspect of diamond in our diamond guide. Diamond Buying Tips These below mentioned diamond buying tips will certainly help you in finding the most suitable diamond, you are looking for. When you go out to buy a sparkling diamond, you must consider 4Cs of diamonds – Cut, Color, Clarity, and Carat weight, as a base for your decision. These 4Cs will help you to choose the best diamonds on the same criteria on which jewelers use to select them. Diamond Cut Diamond cut is the most important attribute which increases diamond’s beauty because a well cut diamond reflects light to maximize the stone's brilliance.  When we talk about diamond cut by depth, ideal cut is considered the best cut as it reflects most or all of the light that enters in the diamond back to the eyes. Whereas diamond cut by Shape describes the outline of the stone and pattern of the facet arrangement. You can find a diamond in various Shapes like Round, Princess, Heart, Oval, Pear etc. Polish and symmetry are also important for a well cut diamond. The diamond polish expresses the smoothness of the diamond's facets whereas the symmetry refers to alignment of the facets. Buying Tips for Diamond Cut You should always go for the ideal cut diamond with the desired shape. You should also ensure that diamond is properly polished and is with perfect symmetry.  Diamond shape is a matter of personal choice. Brilliant round shaped diamond is one of the most desirable shapes and offers maximum brilliance. Diamond Color Diamond color is also a vital factor to look for as diamonds are found in almost all the colors. Most diamonds appear white to the naked eye, but they all include trace amounts of yellow or brown color. Slight difference in diamond color can make a substantial difference in value. A truly colorless diamond is extremely rare and considered the most valuable. It allows most light to pass through the stone and create the most brilliance.  The diamond color scale goes from D to Z, with D being the most white and Z being the most yellow.  Diamonds are also found in various intense colors like pink, greens, brown, red, orange, blue etc. These intensely colored diamonds, known as fancy colored, are very rare, attractive and desirable. A deeply colored diamond can cost more than its colorless counterpart.  In fancy colored diamonds, Z+ grade is used for color grading.  Fluorescence up to some extent is common in majority of diamonds but it remains unnoticed by human eyes in ordinary light. Fluorescence is a form of illumination that is created when a diamond is exposed to low or high wave ultraviolet radiation. Buying Tips for Diamond Color The best way to see the true color of a diamond is by looking at it against a white surface.  Even though stones in the D-F color grades are the most valuable, you can still obtain great value and save substantial money with diamonds grades G-J and K-M, since no color is visible to the untrained eye. Even stones in the N-R range have a very light hint of yellow, which is visible to the untrained eye, can appear colorless in the right jewelry setting.  Usually yellow metal (gold) hides traces of color in a colorless diamond, while white metal (white gold, platinum, silver) enhances it.  While buying a fancy colored diamond, you should look into basic hue and intensity of the color.  Faint or medium fluorescence will rarely affect a diamond's appearance. Diamond Clarity Clarity is a term used to describe the absence or presence of flaws inside or on the surface of a diamond.  When flaws occur internally, they are called inclusions and the most common types of inclusions include crystals, needles, knots, chips, cavities, cleavage, feathers etc. On the contrary, when these flaws occur on the surface, they are known as blemishes and the most common types of blemishes include polish lines, naturals, scratches, nicks, pits, extra facet etc.  Diamond’s clarity is based on the number, size, nature and location of imperfections on the finished stone. Clarity of a diamond affects the beauty and value of the diamond.  Diamond with higher clarity is more valuable in comparison to diamond that contains numerous inclusions because it is less brilliant due to inclusions interfering with light passing through it. Buying Tips for Diamond Clarity While buying a diamond, you can compromise a bit on clarity aspect as most diamonds contain imperfections which are not visible to the naked eye. Choose a diamond with its imperfections hidden deep in the stone or hidden by prongs or bezels.  You can use jeweler’s 10X magnifying glass or microscope to examine diamond’s imperfections.  F (flawless) and IF (internally flawless) are rare and beautiful diamonds and exceptionally high price. Diamond, with clarity grades VVS1-VVS2, is always an excellent quality diamond. Whereas you can also buy diamonds with clarity grades VS1-VS2 and SI1-SI2 as imperfections in these grades are not visible to naked eye and you can save huge money. Diamond Carat Weight The term "Carat" refers to the weight of a diamond and 1 carat equals 0.2 grams or 1/142 of an ounce.  A carat may also be displayed in points and 1 carat is divided into 100 points. Therefore, ¼ carat diamond is considered as 25 points and ½ carat diamond is considered as 50 points and so on.  The price of a diamond rises exponentially with its size. So, a 2 carat diamond of a given quality is always worth much more than two 1 carat diamonds of the equal quality. Buying Tips for Diamond Carat Weight The carat weight of a diamond will always depend on your budget.  You must buy an average sized diamond with good cut, color and clarity instead of buying a larger diamond with not so good cut, color and clarity.  This term ‘Carat’ is different from the term ‘Karat’ which is used to describe gold's fineness or purity. Diamond Certificate A Diamond Certificate or Diamond Grading Report is a statement, issued by an independent Gemological Laboratory, that at the time of evaluation, the Diamond in question has been examined, measured, and scrutinized by experienced Diamond Graders, using various gemological instruments, and determined to contain the characteristics as stated in the Certificate or Report.  There are many reputed laboratories available for diamond certification, which are known for their consistency and unbiased diamond grading systems. For example, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society Laboratories (AGSL). Buying Tips for Diamond Certificate When you buy a diamond, you should always ask for a diamond certificate. It may cost you little more money but it will provide you a much-needed peace of mind knowing that you are getting your money’s worth.  A diamond certificate gives you the exact details of the stone and on the basis of this information you will be able to do some comparison-shopping before doing the actual purchase.  A diamond certificate allows you to pay the money on basis of stone’s characteristics. Your jeweler won’t be able to charge you more and there are very good chances to get the best deals.  On re-sale of diamond along with its certificate, you will get better price for the diamond.  To get insurance for your diamond, you also need to produce diamond certificate. General Buying Tips You must set your budget for buying a diamond and then explore all your options. By this way, you'll find a wide range of diamonds with different carat weights and qualities in your price range.  Always buy a diamond which fulfills the basic criteria of 4Cs and suitable to your budget.  You should give priority to diamond cut, color and carat weight over diamond clarity. Imperfections are almost always so small that they have no measurable effect on the diamond's brilliance. Brilliance is almost entirely the result of the cut and proportions of the diamond.  When you are buying a diamond for your loved ones, always keep their personality and preferences in mind.  You should ask your jeweler to give more information about the origin of diamonds available with him so you don't end up buying a conflict diamond.  You should also ask your jeweler, if the diamond you are considering buying is treated to enhance color or cover flaws. A treated diamond should cost less than a natural diamond.  Always buy a diamond from a reputed and known jeweler. If you don’t know any good jeweler then you should ask your family members or friends for their recommendations.  Beware of jewelry store lighting which usually consists of quartz or halogen bulbs. These can deceive as they blast high-intensity streams of light into goods to make them look like the crown jewels.  While buying a diamond, you should not be in a hurry or in pressure. You should buy it at your convenience and at your own pace. Now you can go ahead to buy a diamond with more confidence and always remember that ‘Diamonds are forever’. They won't depreciate or wear out like a car or a computer in few years. So enjoy buying the world’s most exceptional item by keeping the above mentioned buying tips in mind.