All in one place! Characteristics and Attractiveness of Diamonds
Diamonds are often given as engagement rings. A beautifully shining diamond is called the king of gemstones and continues to radiate its one and only brilliance. By the way, do you know the characteristics and meanings of diamonds?
If you want to give a diamond ring to your loved one, you should know more about diamonds. By gaining knowledge, your love for the ring will deepen and your choice of engagement and wedding rings will become more enjoyable.
Some people may think that diamonds are used only for jewelry, but in fact, because of their unique characteristics, diamonds are also used for purposes other than jewelry. Diamonds have a history of several hundred years since their attractiveness as gemstones was first discovered, and their value has also come a long way.
Diamonds are unique in that they have both practical uses and clear quality standards and evaluation institutions as gemstones. Let's take a look at the fascination and value of diamonds.
Characteristics and Uses of Diamonds
Diamond is the hardest mineral on earth, composed entirely of carbon. Although the image of diamonds as gemstones comes to mind, diamonds are widely used in a variety of situations due to their hard and sturdy nature.
In fact, diamonds are supplied for other uses far more than they are sold as gemstones, and their hard nature makes them indispensable in a variety of situations, such as the outer walls of aircraft, excavators in the process of digging tunnels, record needles, and parts of scalpels for medical use.
In addition, diamonds produced by the company often contain inclusions of foreign substances and are not uniform in composition, making diamonds of gem-quality rare. Diamonds that were once considered to have little value as gemstones are now being actively utilized as important minerals in industrial fields due to their usefulness.
History of Diamonds
Diamonds were first discovered in a river in India. The rough diamonds were so hard that they could not be polished or processed, and their beautiful brilliance was not well known to the people of that time.
It was not until 1475 that the beauty of diamonds was widely recognized. Ludwig van Berkem of Belgium invented a method of "polishing diamonds with diamonds. In the 1400s, the value of diamonds was further recognized when they became fashionable jewelry in Europe.
Origin of the Diamond Name
The name "diamond" is said to come from the Greek word "adamas," meaning invincible. Others say that it is derived from the Greek word "adamazein (unconquerable, stronger than anything else)," which is a combination of the negative "a" and "damazein," meaning to conquer, but in either case, the meaning of the etymology is the same. It is said that "adamazein" became "adamant" in Latin, and the negative "a" was removed to come to "diamond" (diamond).
Because of its hardness and brilliance, the diamond is considered to be a stone of invincible strength, and it is said to have been worn by Roman kings to ward off evil spirits and during battles. Even today, diamonds are considered to be a stone of overwhelming strength, and some people wear them as guardian stones.
The Japanese name "Kongoseki" is derived from "Kongo-fue," meaning "hard and unbreakable like metal," which is written in Buddhist scriptures.
Changes in the Region of Origin
When diamonds were first discovered, they were called "Indian stones" and were thought to be found only in India. Later, after they were discovered in Brazil around 1728, Brazil dominated the market for more than 150 years as an important source of diamonds.
Then, as demand for diamonds grew in the late 1800s, the first huge diamond deposits were discovered in South Africa, and by around 1900, South African mines were a huge producer, controlling about 90 percent of the world's rough diamond production.
Eventually, as mining progressed in South Africa, surface resources were depleted and mining had to be done deep underground, resulting in low production and huge costs. This led to advances in cutting technology and polishing techniques. Advances in the technology for processing mined gemstones into gemstones have increased efficiency and reduced costs. Furthermore, diamond mining is now conducted in various countries and regions around the world, including Russia, Botswana, and Australia.
What is a highly valuable diamond?
The value of a diamond is determined by four criteria (4C) established by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
1: Color
The first criterion is "color," which expresses the diamond's color. The more colorless and transparent a diamond is, the more valuable it is, as its translucent beauty is one of its charms.
Color ranks are graded on a scale of 23, from D (the highest) to Z (with color).
D, E, and F = colorless
G, H, I, J = nearly colorless
K, L, M = slight yellow
N to Z = light yellow to yellow
However, as an exception, the value may increase depending on the color.
For example, natural blue, green, and pink are extremely rare, so high quality pieces may command a higher price than colorless transparent ones.
2: Cut
The second criterion, "cut," is to judge whether the quality of the gemstone has been successfully brought out. Proportion (balance), polish (state of polish), and symmetry (symmetry) are judged as a whole and evaluated on a five-point cut grade scale. In other words, this is the only one of the 4C's in which human intervention is possible, and the evaluation varies depending on the quality of the processing technique applied by the craftsman.
Excellent (Excellent = the highest grade)
Very Good (Very good)
Good
Fair
Poor (below standard)
Cut is automatically determined by machine, but the final judgment is made by an appraiser who checks the cut with the naked eye.
There are several types of cuts, each with its own characteristics in terms of appearance and brilliance. The round brilliant cut, known as the typical cut for engagement rings, is calculated to maximize the brilliance of the diamond when it catches the light, making the diamond sparkle and show its attractiveness as the star of the ring. Other cuts include the emerald cut, which is a rectangular cut with corners cut off, the square cut, and the fancy cut, which is a drop-shaped or heart-shaped cut.
3：Clarity
Clarity is a measure of a diamond's transparency. The fewer impurities there are, the higher the value. The appraiser uses a loupe to magnify the diamond 10 times and evaluates it on a total of 11 levels.
・FL=No inclusions or scratches are found.
IF=Some flaws on the surface
VVS (1, 2) = Difficult to detect but includes inclusions
VS (1, 2) = Some inclusions more or less detectable than VVS
SI (1,2) = Easily detectable inclusions, but difficult to see with the naked eye. SI (1.2) = Easily detectable inclusions, but difficult to see with the naked eye
I (1.2) = Includes inclusions that can be easily seen by the naked eye.
The highest grade is "flawless," which recognizes no inclusions or scratches, but because of its rarity, it is almost never distributed in the general market.
4: Carat (Weight)
The fourth is "carat," which indicates the weight of the diamond. The carat is the unit of weight of a diamond. 1 carat = 0.2 grams. The larger the carat weight, the more valuable the diamond becomes.
A popular weight for engagement rings, for example, is 0.3 ct (carat), which weighs about 0.06 grams. Generally speaking, the larger the carat weight of a diamond, the more glamorous and graceful it will look. A smaller carat weight gives the impression of a delicate and subtle beauty. Select diamonds with the occasion and occasion of wearing in mind.
Diamonds of 0.1 carat or less are called "melee diamonds," and are often set side by side with other melee diamonds or used as a side stone to accentuate the main gemstone.
Meanings and expected effects of diamonds
Diamonds are loved by many people and are often admired. The strong and beautiful shine of diamonds also makes them popular as power stones. Let's explore the meanings and effects that people expect from diamonds.
The Meaning of Diamonds
The diamond is well known as the birthstone for April, and is considered one of the five most precious stones because of its rarity and beauty.
The words of the stone are "purity, cleanness, innocence, pure love, and eternal bond." Its colorless and transparent nature gives it the image of "purity and cleanness. It is the hardest mineral on the earth, and its hardness and resistance to damage make it a symbol of an unshakable "eternal bond," and it has been widely loved as a wedding and engagement ring gemstone.
Effects of Diamonds
As is still preserved in Western medieval paintings, gemstones have long been associated with religion and witchcraft, and are said to possess mystical powers. Even though it is said that stones with different powers are chosen by different people, diamonds, which are highly prized for their rarity, have long been believed to ward off the evil eye and protect against misfortune due to their strong radiance.
Diamonds are also said to enhance one's spirit and luck, and are expected to lead one to success when worn.
Why Diamonds are Chosen for Engagement Rings
Why are diamonds chosen for engagement rings? The reason is the hardness and rarity of diamonds. The strength of diamonds to withstand the pressure of magma and their eternal radiance symbolize "the eternal bond of love between two people," and the phrase "a diamond is eternally brilliant" used in commercials in the 1970s encouraged the image of diamonds as the engagement ring in Japan.
Does an engagement ring have to be a diamond?
Knowing the reasons why diamonds are chosen for engagement rings, some people may want to choose other gemstones. There is no rule that says you have to choose a diamond for your engagement ring. If you are looking for a ring that is different and unique, or if you have a favorite gemstone, you can choose an engagement ring with the gemstone of your choice.
Famous gemstones include rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, which, along with diamonds, are known as the "four most precious stones in the world. It is also said that wearing a birthstone brings happiness, so an engagement ring with a gemstone that is associated with you would be lovely.
<Birthstones
January: garnet
February: Amethyst / Chrysoberyl cat's eye
March: Aquamarine / Coral / Bloodstone / Iolite
April: Diamonds / Morganite
May - Emerald / Jadeite
June: Pearls / Moonstone / Alexandrite
July: Ruby / Sphene
August: Peridot / Third Onyx / Spinel
September: Sapphire / Kunzite
October: Opal / Tourmaline
November: Topaz / Citrine
December: Turquoise / Lapis Lazuli / Tanzanite / Zircon
To maintain the brilliance of diamonds
Diamonds are said to shine forever, but if they are worn all the time, they lose their original brilliance due to cloudiness caused by sebum oil and cosmetic oils. We recommend that you regularly care for your precious rings, not only diamonds.
How to care for your diamond ring
Diamond is a highly lipophilic mineral, which means that oil tends to adhere to it as dirt. For routine care, gently wipe off the oil with a soft jewelry cloth when removing the jewelry.
If the stain is noticeable, put a few drops of mild dishwashing detergent on the ring and tap it gently with a very soft toothbrush to lift out the stain. Then rinse well with lukewarm water of about 40°C (104°F) to thoroughly remove the detergent. After that, remove the water with a soft dry cloth and dry thoroughly.
If you are still concerned about the stain, please consult with the store where you purchased the jewelry, including ith, before forcibly rubbing the stain and damaging it.
Sparkling, expensive diamonds are very famous gems. It is a very famous gemstone, but surprisingly few people know about its history and charm. In addition to its beauty that captures our hearts in an instant, the diamond has been valued as a power stone since ancient times and symbolizes "eternal love" due to its hardness and transparency. By understanding the fascination of diamonds, we will be able to deepen our attachment to the rings and jewelry we will wear in the future.
The more you know about diamonds, the more fascinating their individual stories become. Please try to find a gemstone that matches your own sense of values.
