Diamonds
History of Diamonds
There is something very special and uniquely magical about diamonds, and as we know, they're certainly a girl's best friend! What can be more pleasing to the eye than a sparkling diamond, the name being derived from the Greek word 'Adamas', which means unconquerable? Diamonds are adored the world over and are attributed to the association of eternal love. But why are diamonds so special? To understand their true value, it's interesting to observe the history of this magnificent stone.
The 4 C's - Evaluating Diamond Quality
In simple terms, in order to establish the value and grading of diamonds, you need to understand what is known as the 4 C's, which is Colour, Clarity, Cut, and Carat.
Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds
It was during the 18th century that brilliant cut diamonds became popular; however, it wasn’t until the 20th century that diamond technology had advanced with a mathematical formula for cutting diamonds invented by gemmologist Marcel Tolkowsky. The new technique for cutting and angling facets on diamonds to enable the maximum light and brilliance to shine through became highly desirable and formed the basis of the modern Round-Cut Brilliance diamond shape, which is hugely popular today.
Radiant Cut Diamonds
Style, glamour and total sophistication are words that symbolize radiant cut diamonds. This sensational design offers everything – and more! Voted one of the top choices when choosing a diamond ring, American Vogue stated, "Women who like the radiant-cut style tend to be bubbly and outgoing. The brilliant faceting and rectangular shape are perfect for those who love tons of sparkle and flash.' Whether elongated or square-shaped, a radiant cut diamond will stand out from the crowd, allowing a sophisticated sparkling ring to offer the enviable celebrity status look.
Cushion Cut Diamonds
This highly appealing classic shape is also known as the pillow-cut, as its rounded form makes it appear as though it has been folded into the shape rather than cut. It's extremely desired and appeals to all romantics who adore the stylish antique look, and it's no wonder it's often referred to as the 'Old new classic'.
Emerald Cut Diamonds
Emerald cut diamonds are much harder to find, and only 3% of the world’s diamonds are actually this shape. Dating back to the 1500’s they are one of the oldest gemstones and are highly attractive in that they offer higher clarity than other shapes and are strong and bold in appearance.
Oval Cut Diamonds
Although oval cut diamonds in a rough form have been around since the 14h century, it wasn’t until the 1960’s that this design was officially created by a Russian designer named Lazare Kaplan. Since then, this magnificent shape has captured the marketplace, not only for its unrivalled beauty but also for its truly unique shape.
Pear Cut Diamonds
Originally created back in the 1400s, the exquisite pear-shaped diamond was invented by Lodewyk van Berquem of Bruges and still retains huge popularity. Berquem cleverly designed a diamond polishing wheel called a scaif, and in doing so, was able to produce the absolute symmetry of the diamond shape, and in turn, the magnificent lines of the popular, eye-catching teardrop shape which can be worn with the tip facing up or down.
Diamond Jewellery Care
Diamonds are precious and expensive and are probably the most treasured of all your jewellery, so caring for them is paramount to keep them in tip-top order. They've been portrayed throughout history to denote love, power, strength and wealth, and remain a thing of beauty and value to this day.