All about Diamonds
All about Diamonds
All About Diamonds: A Comprehensive Guide
Diamonds have captivated human beings for thousands of years. These dazzling stones have symbolized wealth, power, commitment, and eternity. But what makes a diamond a diamond? How are they formed, measured, evaluated, and sourced?
What Makes a Diamond Valuable?
Diamonds were first discovered in India more than 2,500 years ago, where they were traded as precious goods and believed to offer protection and strength. By the Middle Ages, they became coveted in Europe by the aristocracy. With the 19th-century discoveries of diamond deposits in South Africa, global diamond supply grew rapidly, transforming diamonds into symbols of romance and aspiration. The famous marketing line "A diamond is forever" launched in 1947, cemented their role in modern love stories.
The word "diamond" itself comes from the Greek word adamas, meaning "unconquerable" or "indestructible" a fitting tribute to the hardest known natural substance on Earth.
Diamonds are made of pure carbon. Under extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth's mantle (approximately 150–200 kilometers below the surface), carbon atoms bond in a specific crystal structure called a tetrahedron. This makes diamonds extraordinarily strong and gives them their brilliant, light-catching properties.
Thanks to advanced technology, diamonds can now be grown in laboratories through methods that replicate these high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. These lab-grown diamonds are chemically and visually identical to natural ones.
The 4 Cs of Diamond Quality
Cut
Often considered the most important of the 4 Cs, cut determines how well a diamond reflects light. It’s not about shape (round, oval, cushion, etc.) but about the angles, proportions, symmetry, and polish of the stone.
A well-cut diamond will reflect light internally and externally to maximize brilliance (white light), fire (colored light), and scintillation (sparkle when moved). Poorly cut diamonds may appear dull or dark.
- Excellent/Ideal
- Very Good
- Good
- Fair
- Poor
Color
The GIA color grading scale ranges from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Most diamonds appear white but contain slight color differences that impact value.
- D–F: Colorless
- G–J: Near-colorless
- K–M: Noticeable tint
- N–Z: Visible color, often used in fashion pieces
Fancy-colored diamonds like pink, blue, or green are graded separately and can be extremely valuable.
Clarity
Clarity evaluates internal inclusions and external blemishes. Graded under 10x magnification, these natural characteristics influence brilliance and price.
- FL: Flawless
- IF: Internally Flawless
- VVS1/VVS2: Very Very Slightly Included
- VS1/VS2: Very Slightly Included
- SI1/SI2: Slightly Included
- I1–I3: Included (visible to the naked eye)
Carat
Carat measures a diamond’s weight. Larger diamonds are rarer and more valuable, but value also depends on cut, clarity, and color. A well-cut 1.0-carat diamond can appear larger and more brilliant than a poorly cut 1.2-carat diamond.
What Is a Carat?
The carat is a unit of weight, not size. One carat equals 200 milligrams. The word comes from the carob seed, which was used in ancient times as a weight reference because of its relatively consistent mass.
Two diamonds of the same carat weight can appear different in size due to differences in cut, depth, and shape. Also, a diamond’s price doesn’t increase linearly with carat. A 2-carat diamond may cost more than twice as much as a 1-carat diamond of the same quality due to rarity.
Diamond Mining: How Are Natural Diamonds Sourced?
Diamonds are extracted from the Earth through various methods:
- Open-Pit Mining: Surface-level extraction
- Underground Mining: Deeper tunnel operations
- Alluvial Mining: Collected from riverbeds and beaches
- Marine Mining: Retrieved from ocean floors
These methods often have serious environmental impacts, such as deforestation and water pollution. Some diamonds—known as conflict or blood diamonds—have also been used to fund war and exploitation, highlighting the importance of ethical sourcing.
What Are Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Lab-grown diamonds are made using:
- HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature): Replicates natural formation
- CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition): Uses carbon gases to build layers
They are physically and chemically identical to mined diamonds but are more affordable, ethical, and sustainable. Lab-grown diamonds are traceable and created without environmental destruction or conflict concerns.
Diamond Certification
A certificate from an independent gemological lab confirms a diamond’s specifications and grading.
Top certification bodies include:
- GIA – Gemological Institute of America
- IGI – International Gemological Institute
- AGS – American Gem Society
- HRD – Hoge Raad voor Diamant
Reports typically include:
- Cut, color, clarity, and carat
- Polish and symmetry
- Fluorescence level
- Inclusions diagram
Certification provides transparency, ensures accurate pricing, and builds trust.
That is why we offer certificates for every diamond over 0.50ct.
Arter's Ethical Commitment
Our local manufacturing process ensures high quality and ethical sourcing from start to finish. Every material that goes into making an Arter piece is locally sourced from within the Antwerp Diamond District. The manufacturing is then done at our Antwerp Atelier and so ensuring complete transparency from start to finish.
We made sure to have full control over every step of the process and so being able to ensure ethical, transparent and environmentally friendly jewelry.