Diamonds have long been a symbol of love and commitment. They symbolize everlasting, unbreakable bonds and have become a popular choice for engagement rings.
When choosing a diamond, there are four key things to keep in mind: shape, cut, clarity and carat weight. Understanding these factors will help you choose the perfect ring for your partner.
History
The history of diamond rinf dates back to 1477, when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, the first recorded diamond engagement ring. It sparked a diamond craze among European aristocracy and nobility.
However, diamonds weren’t commonly used in rings 鑽石 until the Victorian era. This period saw sentimental Victorians ornately design engagement rings that mixed diamonds with other gemstones, precious metals and enamels. These were often crafted in flower shapes and dubbed “posey rings.”
During the Edwardian era (1901-1910), brides continued to ornate their diamond rings with jewels. They also continued the tradition of pairing diamonds with other gems and stones, often in filigree settings.
Symbolism
Diamonds are famed for their sparkle and beauty, but did you know that they hold spiritual meaning? The hardest naturally occurring stone, they’re a symbol of love and strength.
For thousands of years, civilizations have associated diamonds with various meanings. In ancient Greece, they were a symbol of victory and invincibility.
During the Renaissance period, some people began using diamonds as engagement rings to symbolize their unbreakable love and bond. The De Beers campaign monetized on that romantic idea, and today, diamond rings are the most popular adornment for engagements and weddings.
While white diamonds are most famous, other colored diamonds also exist – each one has its own unique color and symbolism. Blue diamonds, for example, are traditionally used as a symbol of royalty and power.
Brilliance
The sparkle of a diamond is a reflection of light off its facets. This can cause a rainbow effect when the stone catches light, and adds to its beauty.
A diamond’s cut quality has a direct impact on its brilliance. A good cut grade combines polish, symmetry, pavilion depth and table percentage.
Brilliant cuts maximize the amount of light reflected by a diamond’s facets. They also have angles that maximize scintillation, fire, and brilliance.
Ideally, all the facets in a diamond should flash at different times. This is called scintillation and depends on the facets’ structural contrast, which bounces light around.
Purity
When a diamond is graded on the GIA clarity scale, it’s evaluated under 10x magnification to identify any tiny imperfections known as inclusions. The presence of these imperfections is a factor in the diamond’s clarity.
Inclusions can be small, large or somewhere in between and can have a big impact on a diamond’s appearance and value. Grading entities take into account the nature of these flaws, including how deep they penetrate in the diamond and if they can affect the durability of the gem.
On the GIA diamond plot, surface blemishes are represented by green, while internal blemishes are illustrated with red. These colors are used to convey the type and position of blemishes on the diamond.
Value
The value of a diamond depends on its carat weight, clarity, color and cut. This standardization, known as the 4 C’s, is used around the world to define diamond quality and value.
Diamonds are graded by a variety of diamond-grading laboratories, including the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the HRD, and EGL. Each lab awards a different grading, with the GIA being the most strict and consistent.
The GIA also grades on a broader range of characteristics, including proportions and fluorescence. These factors can increase the value of a diamond, but can also decrease it. Blue fluorescence, for example, can counteract a yellowish hue and increase the value of a diamond with a lower color grade.