Diamond Rings -Why Do We Give Diamond Engagement Rings?

A diamond is considered to be the purest form of jewels. Owning a diamond hence becomes one of the most prestigious possessions for an individual, and this is what makes diamonds as costly as they are and enables people to own them and consider it to add to their assets and to their prestige. One gift diamonds to one’s loved ones rather than buying it for oneself. Diamonds are also considered as one of the best gifts to be given to your spouses and close ones.

A phenomenon suggests that a lot of people think we buy diamonds for engagement rings because of the advertisements that surround them. Some people also believe that the roots of this idea are the advertising campaigns driving the need of a diamond in the engagement ring as showcased in the 1939 ad campaign by De Beers.

In case of engagement rings advertisers just came along with the flow, long after the diamond had already cemented its place in the engagement rings. The real theory behind the use of diamonds in engagement rings is much more engrossing.

The reason finds its roots in the history and its economic idiosyncrasies:

For the longest time in the American history, if a man spent a night with a woman, he was legally obligated to wed her. In one of the political acts, the shotgun wedding laws were abolished in the Progressive Era. As love marriage took centre stage, the wedding laws were considered old- fashioned and out-dated. The abolishment of these laws was very easy process; there was not much protest among the general public as a majority was in favor of the decision of the court. And now, as all the other rules were abolished under the name of love, men used an engagement ring as a ‘pledge’. The new rule was that, if a man provided collateral to signify his love. It added to the baseline of the love, as the word of the man was not considered enough. This is where it idea of an engagement ring came into being and has been used largely since then. Even though the actual reason of using diamonds in engagement rings is a little somber, diamonds are still considered as the purest form of jewels.

They still hold paramount importance as gifts and accessories!

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Lab Grown Diamonds are a revolution to the diamond industry.They are chemically,physically & optically similar to mined diamonds.They have many advantages over mined diamonds.They are ecofriendly,conflict free and they don’t harm mother nature.Many people and companies have started investing in Lab Created Diamonds.They have value for money and are 20-30 % priced less than mined diamonds.
Type IIa diamonds are considered as most valuable,purest and rarest type of diamonds. They contain either very little or no nitrogen atoms in the crystal structure.They are usually colorless and are lacking of any measurable impurities. They signify only 1% - 2% of all mined diamonds in the world. Cullinan,Kohinoor are types of Type IIa diamonds. Type II diamonds form under very high pressure for longer time periods, and tend to have an irregular shape.They are highly valuable and consider a superior choice for investment.
 

KOH-I-NOOR

The famous Koh-I-Noor (Persian for Mountain of Light) diamond was found near Kollur in India. Originally weighing 793 carats and once the largest known diamond in the world, its size has been reduced to 105.6 carat after many cutting and polishing. Koh-i-Noor diamond passed several hands through dynasties, rulers and invasions and eventually landed up as a British Crown Jewel. It currently is a part of the Crown of Queen Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR DIAMOND

Formerly known as Krupp diamond, the Elizabeth Taylor diamond, a 33.19 carat Asscher cut Type IIa diamond, was bought by Elizabeth Taylor’s husband – Richard Burton in 1968 at a NY auction for USD 300,000. The diamond became an important part of Taylor’s collection and she wore it as a ring. In 2011, the Elizabeth Taylor diamond was sold by Taylor’s estate for USD 8.8 million.
 

ARCHDUKE JOSEPH DIAMOND

Originally weighing 78.54 carat, the Archduke Joseph diamond, a antique cushion-shaped, colorless, brilliant, Type IIa, was purchased by Molina Jewelers of Arizona in 1990s and was recut to 76.45 carat for improved clarity and symmetry. The IF, D grade is the largest DIF diamond ever graded at GIA. Recovered in India’s Golconda mines, the Archduke Joseph diamond’s first recorded owner was Austria’s Archduke Joseph August who had deposited the diamond in a Hungarian bank vault in 1933.
 
Similarly, there are many other famous Type IIa diamonds including The Star of the South, Winston legacy, The Agra, Darya-i-Noor, Beau Sancy and so on. Type IIa diamonds are either way very rare and declining production of Earth-mined diamonds make them even rarer.

Facts about Lab Grown Diamonds

1) Lab Grown Diamonds are chemically, physically and optically exactly the same as mined diamonds.
2) The only difference between Lab Grown Diamonds and mined diamonds is the point of origin.Mined Diamonds are formed inside the earth’s surface,while Lab Grown Diamonds are created in the laboratory.
3)Lab Created Diamonds are ecofriendly and contribute to green enviornments.
4)Lab grown diamonds are created without harming native communities,hence they are conflict free.
5)Lab created Diamonds are available in variety of colours.
6)Lab Made Diamonds are 20-30% cheaper than mined diamonds.
7)As they are grown inside the laboratory they are unlimited in sipply.
8)Scientists and gemologists can accurately replicate the exact qualities of mined diamonds.
9)They are available in different cuts,sizes,colour and shapes.
10)Lab Grown Diamonds are not fake.They are diamonds grown from a diamond seed.
11)They are a revolution in the diamond industry.They have many advantages over mined diamonds.
12)The global demand for Lab created diamonds is increasing especially in countries like United States,United Kingdom,India.
13)All Lab Grown Diamonds are graded as per same parameters and specifications as mined diamonds.
14)It is virtually impossible for the naked eye to tell the difference between lab grown and mined diamonds.
15)HPHT(High Pressure High Temperature) and CVD(Chemical Vapor Deposition) is used for growing lab created diamonds.;

HPHT Diamonds

Diamonds are precious stones which are found inside earth’s surface.Diamonds can also be produced inside the laboratory by using HPHT process(High pressure High Temperature) and CVD(Chemical Vapour Deposition).Such diamonds are called as Lab Grown Diamonds or Lab Created Diamonds.
HPHT Diamonds and CVD Diamonds create diamonds which are chemically, physically and optically exactly the same as mined diamonds.
HPHT is a Diamond Enchanement Process used to enchance natural diamond’s colour by making the natural diamond go through high amounts of pressure and high temperatures.HPHT Process creates diamonds that are of different colour than original diamonds.
In HPHT Process 70,000 atmospheres pressure(same pressure that is found inside mines) at temperatures upto 3,700°F.HPHT Diamonds can be used for 1)Creation of Synthetic Diamonds 2)Color Modification in Natural Diamonds.
In HPHT Process a trained gemologist places the diamond into a “containment cube” that is surrounded by heating mechanisms.Pressure is applied to the cube.By this process we get a diamond in its most mature,desirable and colourless state.Because of the high amount of pressure HPHT Colored treated diamonds are larger than 0.50 carats.The smaller diamonds cannot handle this extreme pressure and can implode.
Two main press designs are used to supply required temperature and pressure.
Belt Press:-High Pressure is created by using two high strength pistons which provide equal pressure in opposing directions.
Cubic Press:-This technique uses many pistons that provide pressure from many different directions.
HPHT can only be used on high clarity diamonds like VVS1,VVS2,VS1,VS2 and flawless.  
The HPHT diamond maturation process is permanent and irreversible.It is a permanent colour enhacement process.
The difference between a natural colour diamond and HPHT Coloured diamond can be made by freezing the diamond with liquid nitrogen.The cool diamond is excited with a laser to see the colour that appears.
A spectrometer is used to measure the difference in the light absorption patterns and excitation peaks.
Colored Diamonds are very rare and extremely expensive.With HPHT Process these diamonds are affordable and can be bought by many people.

Types of Diamonds

Diamonds are precious & rare stones which are found inside the earth’s surface. A natural diamond is a gemstone/precious stone made up of carbon.Due to environmental concerns Lab Grown Diamonds also called as Lab Created Diamonds are being preffered over mined diamonds.
Lab Created Diamonds are created in a controlled environment by using high-pressure high-temperature” method (HPHT), and the “chemical vapor deposition” method (CVP).
Diamonds can be classified into 4 types:-1a,1b,2a,2b.Diamonds are classified according to the level of their chemical impurities.
Type 1a:-In type 1a diamonds nitrogen atoms are clustered together within the carbon lattice.They are of pale yellow colour.When the nitrogen atoms are present in groups of three they absorb wavelengths of visible light on the blue end of the spectrum.Hence the light that is reflected appears to be yellow.Around 98% of the diamonds are type 1a.Type 1 a diamonds are futher classified into 1aA and 1aB.1aA are diamonds with nitrogen in aggregate pairs and 1aB are contains aggregates of four nitogen atoms.
Type 2a :-Type IIA diamonds are considered as purest form of diamonds.They contain no or very less impurities.They are considered as most  rare and valuable type of diamonds.They contain very little amount of nitrogen so they don’t easily absorb short wave light.They are colourless and are almost transparent.
Type 1b Diamonds:-In 1B diamonds single nitrogen atoms instead of clusters are dispersed throughout the crystal lattice.As they are scattered a lot of visible light is absorbed resulting in darker colours.
Type 2b Diamonds:-. Type IIB Diamonds do not contain nitrogen,but they contain boron The presence of boron makes these diamonds electrically conductive.All naturally blue diamonds belongs to Type 2b.They are extremely rare and form 0.1 % of the diamonds.
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BUYING A DIAMOND RING

A diamond is one of the most precious stones.Every person wishes to buy a diamond ring for his loved one.Diamonds are quite expensive hence person buying it need to do a little research before buying this precious stone. One must not rush and make hasty decisions while buying  a diamond.Buying a diamond ring can be a huge investment on the part of the person buying it.it is important to first decide you budget and the type of ring you want to buy.The 4 c’s of diamonds is what you need to consider while buying a diamond.The 4 C’s of diamonds are colour,cut,clarity & carat.

Lab Created Diamonds are ecofriendly,conflict free,available in variety of colours,their supply is unlimited and they replicate original diamonds.They are  at least 20-30% cheaper than mined diamonds.Lab Made Diamonds are created in a controlled enviornment.Lab Grown DiamondsLab Grown Diamonds are produced through one of two methods: the “high-pressure high-temperature” method (HPHT), and the “chemical vapor deposition” method (CVP).

Colour:-
The Color of diamonds is from colorless (most rare and precious) to many shades of yellow (less rare). Most diamonds vary in different  shade from colorless to yellow, brown, or gray. To decide the color grade, all diamonds are compared to an internationally accepted master set of diamonds, the color of which ranges from D, or colorless(most desirable) to Z, (the least desirable).
The color of diamonds, except for fancy color diamonds, are graded based on the absence of color in the diamond. Colorless diamonds are clear and contain no traces of color (e.g. yellow or brown).Diamond color is graded on a scale of D to Z. D, E, and F diamonds are considered the rarest, as they are virtually colorless whereas diamonds in the G and H color range are near colorless Diamonds in the I to J color range offer the best value for money, as they are about 10% cheaper than diamonds in the G to H range but still appear colorless to the naked eye.

CUT:-
How a diamond has been cut, polished, and to what proportions and symmetry, are very important these factors.If these cutting factors are below standard, the appearance of the diamond will be affected.
There are many different cuts, each having a specific effect on the following three attributes:
      Brightness – the amount of light the diamond reflects
      Fire – the various colors of the spectrum that a diamond gives off
      Scintillation – the sparkle and brilliance that is produced when a diamond is moved.

(A) When a ray of light touches the surface of a diamond, part of the ray is reflected back. This is external reflection.
(B) The rest of the ray penetrates the stone and is then relfected toward the center of the diamond.This known as refraction.
(C) The ray of light is reflected to the surface, where it is observed as the colors of the spectrum. This is known as dispersion.
Execution of the design, the precision of the cutting details and the quality of the polish are collectively called the finish.
The quality of a diamond cut is dependent primarily on symmetry and polish, as well as the proportions of the table size, crown angle, and pavilion depth to one another.

Carat Weight
The weight of a diamond is measured in carats, with one carat equaling 200 milligrams or 1/5 gram.Each carat can be subdivided into 100 ‘points. This allows very precise measurements to the hundredth decimal place. A jeweler may describe the weight of a diamond below one carat by its ‘points’ alone.Similarly, diamond of the same size and carat weight may not hold the same value, because one may have better clarity or color. The cut of a diamond also affects it’s carat weight and value because some diamond cuts hold more volume than others.

Clarity
Most diamonds contain inclusions (imperfections within the diamond).Inclusions that are very visible can affect the way light bounces on individual facets of a diamond and can therefore greatly affect a diamond’s fire, brilliance, and scintillation.
A diamond’s clarity is graded based on the quantity of inclusions and their location in the diamond. 
FL (Flawless)
Do not contain any visible inclusions (internal flaws) and blemishes (flaws located on the surface) even under 10x magnification. These diamonds are virtually flawless and are extremely rare and expensive.
IF (Internally Flawless)
IF diamonds have no visible inclusions or blemishes unless viewed under 10x magnification by a trained expert.
VVS1 VVS2 (Very Very Slightly Included)
VVS1 and VVS2 diamonds contain some inclusions and blemishes but they are not visible to the untrained eye. Even under 10x magnification, only a skilled grader is able to spot the inclusions. 
VS1 VS2 (Very Slightly Included)
Diamonds of VS1 or VS2 clarity grades contain minor inclusions that are not visible to the naked eye. The inclusions can only be seen under 10x magnification.
SI1 SI2 (Slightly Included)
Diamonds with SI1 clarity contain inclusions that are still invisible to the naked eye and can usually only be observed under 10x magnification. SI2 diamonds, on the other hand, contain inclusions that can be seen by the naked eye upon close inspection.
I1, I2, I3 (Included)
I1 to I3 Diamonds contain very visible inclusions that can be observed by the naked eye. I2 and I3 diamonds usually contain inclusions that can affect a diamond’s overall quality and appearance.

Diamond Shape:-Diamonds come in different shapes-round,oval,pear,emerald,heart,princess,radiant,marquise

Round:-
Round diamonds are popular among diamond buyers.They are the most expensive among other diamonds. They are popular because of their brilliance, fire, and light performance.

Oval:-Oval Diamonds are elongated in shape which makes them larger in appearance.It is popular with people who have smaller hands.The Oval shaped diamonds make their fingers look elongated.
  
Pear:- The pear shape is a stunningly feminine diamond shape with a rounded end on one side and a tapering point at the other.The pear shape helps in giving different types of cutting styles to the diamond.The best part about this diamond is that they have rounded end and a single point.They don’t belong to a traditional category as round diamonds nor do they are trendy like princess cut diamonds yet there are people who prefer these diamonds.

Emerald :-They are the most classic type of diamonds and can easily be spotted by beveled corners and stepped facets.They are more transparent compared to other diamonds.They resemble a rough diamond crystal hence they are the least expensive to cut.They have classic beauty and elegance which makes them different than other diamonds.

Heart :-heart shaped diamonds are most popular amongst lovers.They resemble true power of love and hence are preferred while gifting on occasions like wedding,anniverasary etc.

Princess:-The Princess shaped diamond is the most popular fancy cut diamond.The princess shape is a square design with a brilliant cut.Princess cut diamonds ate for those who like sparkle and brilliance of round cut diamonds, but prefer the shape of a square.

Radiant:-The radiant diamond is an emerald cut but has a facet arrangement that gives it brilliance similar to that of a round diamond.They have angled corners and range from square to rectangle.They combine the fire and sparkle of Emerald and round cuts.

Marquise:-The Marquisehas an elongated shape with pointed ends.It makes a small hand look longer.The shape of the diamond makes it look larger.

Lab Grown Diamonds: 4 C's of Diamonds

Lab Grown Diamonds: 4 C's of Diamonds