How Diamonds Are Made
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The diamonds that you see in jewellery look very different to the rough diamonds that are first found in the ground. All natural diamonds were created billions of years ago, between 20km and 120km below the earth’s surface, and formed from carbon that was exposed to very high temperatures (between about 900C to 1900C) and extremely high pressures (between about 45 and 60 kilobars).
Rough diamonds are either mined from volcanic pipes (usually kimberlite) or recovered from alluvial deposits (rough diamonds deposited in riverbeds), and are found in many different shapes and sizes, though they are often broadly octahedral (like two pyramids stuck back to back).
It is the job of a diamond cutter to turn rough diamonds into the glimmering gemstones we associate with fine jewellery. Diamond cutting is a highly skilled job, requiring a great deal of expertise and training. A good diamond cutter will optimise the value of the cut diamond by minimising wastage, while eliminating unsightly inclusions, and producing ideal proportions and perfect symmetry.
Many people are aware that diamond is the hardest material known to man, and so the obvious question is, how do you cut a diamond? Well the answer, is with another diamond. Diamonds are harder in one plane that they are in another, and this is exploited to allow one diamond to cut another. Similarly, diamond grit is used to polish a diamond once its been cut.
After diamonds have been cut and polished, they are graded for size (weighed in carats) and quality, (colour, clarity, and cut). This diamond grading system – known as the Four C's – is used to determine the value and therefore the price of all gem quality diamond.
Before investing in diamond jewellery, it is well worth doing a bit of homework to learn about how diamonds are made and graded. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information about this online. Ideally, if you are buying a diamond, it should also be accompanied by a diamond certificate which gives you an independent assessment of the carat weight, colour, clarity and cut. |
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Want to know more about How Diamonds Are Made ? Look here for an easy to use guide to How Diamonds Are Made.
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By :
Gareth Hoyle
Submitted
2010-11-02 07:07:56 |
Article From Article Mayhem
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