Diamond Guide
What Is a Diamond?
A diamond is a natural and unique mineral made entirely of pure carbon. It is formed from the immense forces that shape our planet, which took millions to billions of years to occur. Deep within the Earth’s mantle, where necessary heat and pressure stimulate the carbon atoms to collide and bond together, a natural diamond is created. There is no stronger natural material.
These crystals remained buried for millions of years until volcanic eruptions brought them to the surface. The first recorded diamonds were found in India and date back to the 4th century BC. Since then, diamonds have captured our attention and admiration because of their beauty and rarity and have become one of the most highly desired and valuable gemstones.
Where Luxury Meets Responsibility
Since we began in 2005, we have focused on changing the diamond industry for the better. We were the first jewellery company to create the Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds standard. The Beyond Conflict Free Diamonds standard goes above and beyond the Kimberley Process to ensure that our diamonds are truly ethical and sustainable. We are committed to making the industry better by educating consumers on the origin of their diamonds with complete transparency, so you can feel confident and good about the jewellery you wear.
How It Works
Types of Diamonds
Natural Diamonds
Natural diamonds are formed naturally from the raw, intense power of the earth in the hot mantle located deep within the earth and are often several billion years old. As a unique gemstone, they are composed of 99.95% carbon and are the only gemstones made of a single element. The intense heat and pressure they form under are what make them the hardest natural substance on the planet. Natural diamonds have become cherished for their limited availability and unique natural beauty, which has allowed them to symbolise timeless value for centuries and have even often been passed down for generations.
Lab Diamonds
Lab grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. The only difference is how they are created; rather than naturally forming in the earth’s crust over time, scientists have studied natural diamonds and the processes causing their formation, and developed methods to imitate this process in a lab environment, where scientists can grow a diamond using advanced technology. The primary component of any diamond’s brilliance and hardness is its crystalline structure, and all of the lab grown diamonds are considered to be identical to a natural diamond. Lab grown diamonds generally don’t have the rarity that comes with the natural diamond value proposition; thereby, they are typically sold to consumers at a more affordable price, with the added ethical, stunning and brilliant alternative which lab grown diamonds offer.
4 C's of Diamonds
If you’re wondering what to look for in a diamond, the best place to begin is by understanding the 4 C’s: cut, color, clarity, and carat. Created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the 1940s, the 4 C’s act as a universal scale to describe and determine the quality of diamonds.
Diamond Certification
Most diamonds, including all diamonds sold at 33Carat, are graded and certified by independent organisations, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the International Gemological Institute (IGI). Certification is extremely important. Certification reports provide an independent measure of the diamond’s quality and serve as proof of its authenticity.
When a diamond is graded, it goes through the grading process by trained professionals, using specialised equipment to assess the diamond’s cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. Each certification report includes symmetry, polish, fluorescence, and detail of the unique laser inscription on the diamond. The laser inscription is visible under magnification, and it guarantees that the diamond you have is a certified diamond.
At 33-Carat, we provide a digital certification with each diamond purchase. This digital certification is easier for you to access and enables us as an organisation to reduce our environmental impact and reduce our footprint associated with paper documents, packaging, and emissions from transportation.
Buying a Diamond
Finding the perfect diamond is a remarkable personal experience, and we are here to help! Below is a simple guide to make your quest for that perfect diamond easier:
Understand the 4 C’s: To find the best diamond for your budget, you will need to compromise with the cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. For example, if you buy a larger carat, you may need to take a hit on colour or clarity. There is no “right” answer. The best diamond for you is the diamond you love.
Choose Your Shape: The round brilliant cut is the most popular. But there are 2 more shapes that we have! ovals, cushions, emeralds, and many more. Look at different shapes to find the one that fits you best.
Make Sure It’s Certified: Always purchase a certified diamond from an independent body (like the GIA or IGI) that you trust. These documents allow for proof of the diamond’s qualities and authenticity. All of our diamonds over 0.33 ct. are certified, so you will never doubt that you made the right purchase.
To make your search easier, you can filter your search by shape and the 4 C’s. If you aren’t sure what you like or if you just have questions, we have super experts ready to assist you at every step 24/7 by chat, phone, text, or email. You can also book an appointment to view our diamonds in person!
Diamond Information
- “Diamond” comes from the Greek adamas, meaning “unbreakable” and “untouchable.”
- The largest rough diamond found belongs to the Cullinan Heritage Diamond, which originally weighed 3,106 carats, although it was cut into nine pieces in total; two of which are part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
- The first recorded engagement ring made with a diamond was in 1477, from Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy.
- Red and orange diamonds occur in nature as one of the rarest colours of diamonds.
- The Hope Diamond is a blue diamond weighing 44.52 carats and is considered both special for its size and because of its various and highly romanticised history of curse. A previous owner stole the diamond, and many believe the diamond was cursed from that moment on, after having been stolen from a statue of a Hindu God.
- There is a star believed to be approximately fifty light-years from Earth, which is thought to be a big diamond equal to about ten-billion trillion trillion carats. Scientists have named the star Lucky.
Diamond FAQ
How should you clean a diamond?
To make your diamond shine when it's become dirty, you can soak it in warm, soapy water for approximately 5 minutes. After soaking, all you have to do is scrub the diamond gently using a soft toothbrush to ensure all the dirt and grime are removed.
How do diamond testers work?
Diamond testers measure the thermal or electrical conductivity. Diamonds are excellent heat conductors; therefore, these simulants have poor thermal conduction. Thermal tests can adequately identify diamond as well as lab created diamonds, while electrical tests can occasionally produce false positives.
How rare are diamonds?
Diamonds are rare, as their gem quality is rare. Most diamonds that are mined are of lower quality and used for industrial purposes, which makes fine jewellery-grade natural diamonds or lab created diamonds very valuable.
What is a diamond accent?
A diamond accent is a smaller diamond that you would set around the main stone on engagement rings, wedding rings, or other forms of fine jewellery. These diamond accents will enhance the brilliance and detail of the main stone without overshadowing the main stone.
What makes a diamond sparkle?
The sparkle of a diamond is dependent on its cut. The better the cut, the better the brilliance, fire, and scintillation, and it will give the diamond its sparkle!
What do diamonds represent?
Diamonds are the birthstone for April, and by tradition, they represent love, strength and health. For centuries, diamonds have been regarded as a symbol of everlasting love.
How is a CVD diamond made?
CVD (Chemical Vapour Deposition) is a current means of growing diamonds in a laboratory. CVD is different from HPHT (High Pressure, High Temperature), which is another type of lab grown diamond.
What is a GIA-certified diamond?
A GIA-certified diamond has been graded by the Gemological Institute of America; it is genuine and has a certain quality. Certification can provide confidence to buyers that the diamond will have the characteristics it claims to have.
What is a melee diamond?
Melee diamonds are small diamonds that are typically used in an expensive piece of jewellery to add extra sparkle. Melee diamonds are different from accent diamonds; accent diamonds can vary in size, while melee diamonds are always really small.
What is an enhanced diamond?
Enhanced diamonds have been treated to improve clarity or colour. At 33 Carat, we are a firm believer in authenticity, and therefore, we do not sell enhanced diamonds.
