Diamond and diamond - synonyms? Or are there differences between them? From a chemical point of view, both are allotropic modifications of carbon. The only difference is that a diamond is a mineral that has just been extracted from a rock, and a diamond is a diamond that has also been cut.
Most diamonds are shaped like an octahedron (a polyhedron with eight sides) or a dodecahedron (a polyhedron with 12 sides). In appearance, they are completely different from the diamonds we are used to: they are cloudy crystals without much shine. To turn a plain diamond into a brilliant one, it must be cut.
Main difference
Diamond and diamond - what's the difference? A freshly mined stone does not have the shine or facets inherent in diamonds and is called a diamond.
The physical and chemical properties of the mineral do not change due to cutting or polishing; the diamond remains hard, resistant to destruction, but fragile : if you hit the stone, it will crumble into many small fragments.
What turns a diamond into a diamond? It is after cutting that the stone acquires its final appearance, which determines its value.
Which gem is the most expensive?
What is more valuable than a diamond? Nothing. The most expensive is the red diamond. It is of fantastic value and arouses the admiration of everyone who sees such an amazing stone. The price for one carat of a red diamond reaches one million dollars.
This cost is explained not only by the unsurpassed beauty of the gem. Red diamond is not easy to find and cut. The red diamond is found in Australia, and the number of stones mined per year does not exceed a couple of dozen.
Thus, it becomes clear what is more expensive: emerald or diamond?
Domestic jewelry history
The first mentions of diamonds in Rus' date back to the 11th century. In those distant times, precious stones were used instead of currency along with gold and silver. The use of diamonds in jewelry began only in the 17th century .
It is known that Tsar Michael had several gold jewelry inlaid with these precious stones. The Great Empress Catherine II was also famous for her love of diamonds.
Mass production of jewelry began when rich deposits were discovered in the Urals and Siberia. During the Soviet period, the largest diamond deposit on the territory of modern Russia was discovered - the Zarnitsa kimberlite pipe . There is no mining of minerals there today; the place is of strategic importance and is considered a state reserve.
There are only 7 factories in Russia engaged in cutting diamonds. The largest of them is located in Smolensk.
Sapphire or diamond
With sapphires the situation is somewhat different. Their pricing depends not only on weight and cut, but also on the presence/absence of heat treatment. Heat treatment is used in cases where the crystal is quite dull. It allows you to make it brighter. But such processing reduces the price of the pebble.
Thus, a heat-treated sapphire will cost about six hundred dollars, like a diamond, and an untreated one will cost from a thousand dollars per carat. However, it is worth noting that a cornflower blue mineral without inclusions can cost up to two hundred thousand dollars per carat, which exceeds the price of any transparent diamond (except red ones).
What is the difference between a diamond and a diamond?
The stones have the same characteristics, but the diamond is significantly more expensive . What is it due to? The final price of the mineral is influenced by the following factors:
- cutting;
- reflective ability;
- form;
- shine;
- presence or absence of foreign inclusions.
Rough diamonds can be purchased without any problems, but there is no particular benefit in doing so. Diamond processing is carried out by exceptional specialists whose work costs a lot of money.
Attention! You won’t be able to cut a diamond on your own: you need tools, technical capabilities, knowledge, and skills.
Mass of mineral
The initial weight of raw materials significantly exceeds the finished sample. Diamonds are stones whose value lies not only in their mass, but also in their purity and famous brilliance.
To reveal true beauty, the organ maker has to ruthlessly cut off the excess, forming the edges .
Carat
This term refers to the weight of a diamond. 1 carat equals 200 mg - a constant indicator.
The weight of technical products with diamonds is measured in grams. Diamonds are classified by carat as follows:
- Baby . Small stones weighing up to 0.01 carats. Often used to frame larger stones. They do not have a characteristic iridescent sheen; they shine when hit by light.
- Small ones . Weight 0.01–0.29 carats.
- Average. Weight 0.3–0.99 carats. The most popular in the jewelry market.
- Large ones . Stones weighing more than 1 carat. Products with a stone larger than 1 carat are expensive; only wealthy people can afford such jewelry.
Depending on the type of cut, the stone may appear larger or smaller than its actual weight.
Areas of application
Jewelry uses stones that have exceptional purity and light transmission. Substandard items are sent for processing for other purposes:
- Medical - for the manufacture of surgical instruments.
- Instrument-making – creation of light-sensitive lenses for microscopes.
- In metalworking and mechanical engineering, diamonds are used for boring hard metals. Fine crumbs are used to cover the surfaces of cutting tools and household appliances (needle files, glass cutters).
Diamonds are used exclusively for decorative purposes for inlaying rings, pendants, earrings, and necklaces.
Areas of application
Diamonds extracted from the quarry are cleaned and sorted. High-quality specimens are sent to jewelers for processing. Stones with cracks, scratches, chips, foreign inclusions and dark-colored diamonds are used for technical purposes:
- In medicine - for the manufacture of surgical instruments.
- In instrument making - to make lenses for photosensitive equipment.
- In the metalworking and construction industries , for the manufacture of heavy-duty tools for boring and milling hard materials. Diamond chips are used to cover the working surfaces of cutting discs and abrasive equipment. Diamond-coated tools are used for cutting, countersinking, drilling, grinding and polishing. They are used to sharpen knives, teeth, and cutters. They speed up the processing of hard and brittle (glass, ceramics) materials by 50%.
- In the manufacture of ships, cars, electrical appliances.
Tools coated with diamond powder are also used in everyday life. These are glass cutters, files, needle files, diamond hand stones. They simplify and speed up construction, repair and business operations.
Diamonds are used for decorative purposes only:
- They are inserted into jewelry - rings, earrings, necklaces and others.
- Today, clothes decorated with a scattering of diamonds have become fashionable.
- Diamonds of rare color of the highest category A are used to make tiaras and other jewelry for royalty.
- Outstanding specimens are kept in museums so that a large number of people can admire their beauty.
Every diamond was a diamond in the past, but not every diamond mined or synthesized will turn into a diamond. These minerals are “blood relatives,” but they are not identical. When entering a jewelry store, do not ask the consultant to show you a ring with a diamond, and in a hardware store do not ask to sell you a file with diamond chips.
Types of cuts
What makes a diamond a diamond? Of course, a high-quality cut! A natural mineral goes through stages of processing before turning into an expensive diamond :
- Inspection, identification of natural defects.
- Cutting a large diamond into several small ones, if there are cracks or chips.
- Cut.
- Polishing.
How are diamonds processed to make polished diamonds? It is possible to sharpen a hard stone only by using diamond powder of varying degrees of abrasiveness.
Old style diamonds
Antique cutting of stones in finished products before 1900. During this period, diamonds were given an even number of facets - 58 . Such minerals have a round, drop-shaped shape.
"Radiant" and "Usher"
The radiant cut was invented by Dutch cutters at the beginning of the last century. She remains in demand. The Radiant is a square with soft corners that perfectly brings out the hue of colored diamonds. "Asher" has a square shape.
Interesting! The ring with a radiant-cut diamond weighing 10.47 carats was owned by actress Grace Kelly, the famous Princess of Monaco.
"Marquis"
The cut stone has a boat shape. It is believed that the diamond was first cut in this shape for the Marquise de Pompadour, the favorite of King Louis XIV.
"Baguette" and "Trillion"
The first form is characterized by maximum preservation of the original shape of the stone. For example, round crystals are cut in a circle .
"Trillion" has a triangular shape. Varieties of processing are used even for small stones, making diamond production virtually waste-free.
Royal cut
A diamond cut must have exactly 86 facets to be called royal .
Only large stones are cut and are often exhibited in private collections. It is rarely used for making jewelry.
Round
The round shape is popular due to its versatility. Round diamonds are expensive because most of the stone is cut off during cutting.
Oval
Universal shape, suitable for rings, earrings, pendants. Oval diamonds can be large or small, and the number of facets is also different.
"Princess"
The stone is square in shape, with sharp corners. Losses during processing are minimal, so the cost of a princess-cut diamond is lower than that of a round diamond .
Heart
The technology for cutting heart-shaped diamonds has a large number of stages, is lengthy, and complex. This factor significantly influences pricing.
Important! Heart-shaped diamonds are preferred by romantic, young people.
Rose
The cut was named for its resemblance to a flower when viewed from above. The diamond has 24 triangular facets . The cutting method is used for diamonds weighing over 1 carat.
A drop
A delicate variety of pear-shaped stone cut. Looks good in pendants, rings, earrings.
View this post on Instagram
Posted by JEWELRY | SPB|MSK (@parure.at) November 15, 2019 at 5:14 PST
Conclusion
Based on what has been said, let's summarize:
- Diamonds have no obvious aesthetic value, which means that for jewelry purposes they are selected solely based on physical parameters.
- A diamond never appears in nature in the form in which we see it in jewelry - all this is the result of painstaking human work.
- Diamond crystals are used in a huge number of areas - from construction to medicine and electronics; in gold products you only see diamonds.
The Karatov online store offers a huge selection and an exclusive catalog of diamond jewelry. Here you will find earrings, rings, bracelets, pendants and pendants, brooches, as well as designer series of products supplied directly from the manufacturer.
What is more valuable than a diamond?
Diamonds are considered to be the most expensive known gems. But is it?
Emerald
The most expensive stone among gems. A pure, richly-cut emerald with a good cut can easily cost more than a cut diamond with similar characteristics.
Sapphire
Blue minerals are no less valuable. Heat treatment enhances the original shade of the crystal, but without it the cost of the stone will be similar to the price of a diamond.
After thermal exposure, the value of the stone decreases, although its attractiveness increases.
Ruby
A red mineral can compete with a diamond provided it has ideal transparency and color purity. Rubies of pink and crimson shades have a lower cost.
Like sapphires, rubies are heat treated. After such exposure, the cost of crystals decreases.
Platinum
The cost of the precious metal is higher than gold, but still cannot be compared with the price of diamonds.
Types and prices of the most expensive gems
Diamond
The diamond is considered the most valuable. It is also known by the name diamond. And when the question arises of what is more expensive: a diamond or an emerald, experienced jewelers will choose the second option.
The high cost is not only due to their prevalence. The main reason is the marketing of jewelry companies. Therefore, more attention is paid to the diamond. The rest get only a little attention. For example, these are sapphire, emerald, ruby.
But don't think that they are cheap. No, all stones are considered expensive and good. It’s just that the sum of some can reach incredible proportions.
Diamond (cut diamond): white, gold tint, blue and green tint, black
A diamond, or diamond, is a beautiful stone, respected by rich people. Among all gems, it stands out for its attractive shine and hardness, allowing the jewelry to be used in technology.
Diamond is considered a symbol of purity and hardness. It is often called the “man’s stone.” It is worth noting that among the available jewelry there are diamonds of extraterrestrial origin. These are valued more than others and are considered incredible finds.
The price of a diamond is determined by the relationship between color and clarity. The exception is colorless stones. The maximum price of gems can reach up to 15 thousand USD. for one carat.
Diamond
Features: dispersion and luminescence. If a ray of sunlight passes through a diamond, it will break up into a wide range of rays of different shades. Then you can see a rainbow on the surface of the diamond, even if the stone has not yet been cut. This is what makes it possible to discover a jewel among ordinary rocks.
Most diamonds are transparent. They have blue luminescence and a slight tint. A diamond is a diamond that has been processed and whose luminescence has a blue tint.
The traditional color of diamonds is white. They are highly valued by almost all jewelers and buyers. However, the following stone colors are also known:
- red;
- pink;
- blue;
- black;
- blue.
There are diamonds whose surface has green tints. In any case, this gem is considered the most expensive and unique. Rare specimens are black and red diamonds.
Ruby: red, pinkish, red with brown tints
Ruby is in the middle when it comes to ranking the most expensive gems in the world. Ruby is also called corundum, a relative of sapphire. Previously, both stones were called yakhonts, since in Ancient Rus' they were considered similar.
The existence of ruby became known in ancient Rome. He was also familiar to the Greeks and Indians. Today, the gem is mined on almost all continents, with the exception of Antarctica.
Ruby
Not all rubies are valued equally. The most valuable are jewelry mined in Asian countries. The price for such a stone can reach up to $15,000 per carat. The answer to the question of what is more expensive: a diamond or a ruby is obvious. The cost of a ruby will be several times cheaper than a diamond.
The color of a ruby is influenced by inclusions of chromium. The primary hues found in nature during mining range from hot pink to purplish red. Rubies with a predominant blood-red hue are valuable. These seem to be holy from the inside, representing the grace of cold beauty.
Young stones have a watery-light color. Sometimes there are samples of lilac shades. You can also find a completely transparent ruby. This means that there are no defects inside it.
The structure of the gemstone is one of the densest. The gem also has a shimmering shine, which suggests its resemblance to a diamond. Previously, ruby was mined only in India, but now it is mined almost everywhere.
It is worth noting that not everyone knows what is more expensive: an emerald or a ruby, because the answer will be ambiguous. Emerald is considered cheap, but there are examples that are more expensive than red gems.
Sapphire: blue and cyan, there is also violet, with a green tint, orange and yellow
What is more expensive: sapphire or diamond? The answer is simple - sapphire, used to create exquisite jewelry, is considered practically one of the cheapest. Therefore, products with sapphire inclusions are quite popular, as they are inexpensive.
Sapphire
Sapphire is considered a relative of ruby. The price of the gem reaches up to $6,000 per carat. The most popular colors of the mineral are:
- Blue or blue-green. A stone for attentive and caring people. The shade is considered popular, so jewelry of this color is relatively inexpensive.
- Yellow. Shades range from light yellow to amber. This also includes orange corundum. It is believed that the stone helps develop the talent of creative people.
- Blue. Such stones are called symbols of good luck.
- Black. A completely opaque gemstone.
It is worth noting that orange gems are rare. They are called padparadscha. Their prices can be incredible.
Among the amazing specimens of sapphires, the Millennium is celebrated. The size of the sapphire is 61 thousand carats. And on its surface there are carvings in the form of portraits of famous people of the last millennium. There are 134 portraits in total, and each one represents painstaking and responsible work.
An interesting representative is the star sapphire. Unusual iridescence is formed on its surface due to the titanium oxides included in its composition. Thus, the effect of asterism is achieved. Star sapphire stones are quite rare and are highly valued. In addition, they look attractive and attract the eye.
Below we will look at emerald in more detail. And the answer to the question of what is more expensive: sapphire or emerald is interesting. Both stones cost almost the same, so there is no difference in price between them.
Emerald: green, golden green
Emeralds can be called practically inexpensive and popular stones in the jewelry ranking. If a flawless representative of such a gem is found, its price can reach up to $8,000 per carat, but such specimens are extremely rare.
Green or golden-green emeralds are more highly valued than others, however, among them, compared to others, there are quite a few pure specimens. Most samples have various inclusions or impurities, due to which the cost is reduced.
Emerald
The chromium or vanadium content adds yellowish or bluish tints to emerald. If long gem crystals are encountered during mining, there will certainly be cracks or veins inside them, as well as inclusions of other minerals.
In terms of physical properties, emerald has a glassy luster and a fairly high hardness index. But it cannot be called strong; emerald is a rather fragile stone, so it is recommended to protect it from chips or impacts.
Jewelry is mined in Colombia, Zambia and Brazil. These three countries occupy the first places in the ranking of mining regions.
If we talk about the ranking of the most expensive precious stones, then this also includes amethyst, alexandrite, and tourmaline. Gold is one of the most expensive metals. Pearls can also be called a valuable mineral, used to create exquisite jewelry.
Diamond or gold
Often this dilemma arises for those who are planning not just to buy jewelry, but to invest in one or another precious material. Gold itself varies in purity, so prices will vary. Also, a lot depends on the product itself, which the gold material will be used for. The average price for one troy ounce today is one thousand two hundred eighty-nine dollars.
It is worth noting that gold is becoming more expensive every year, so investing in it will bring good profits to its owner. The exception is the period from two thousand twelve to two thousand thirteen, when the ounce fell in price from one thousand nine hundred to one thousand two hundred. But this decline is due to the crisis in the financial sector.
For one gram of gold, on average, they pay forty-one dollars - only rhodium, which is forty-eight dollars per gram, is more expensive among metals. A diamond costs from two and a half thousand dollars per carat (0.2 grams), and a gram will cost about twelve to fifteen thousand dollars. From this we can conclude that diamond samples are much more expensive than gold, if we take one weight. But investing in gold is still more profitable, since it is easier to sell, and it has a turnover in almost every country.
Black or white diamond
If you are choosing a stone to match the color of your evening dress, then pay special attention to a black diamond. It will look elegant on a woman's hand and will emphasize the beauty and grace of its owner. From a material point of view, a black gem is much cheaper than a white one, so this is another argument for purchasing it. But if you are a fan of traditional white gems, then choose a piece of jewelry with a small but beautiful diamond.
Surely you were interested in finding out comparative prices for different precious crystals. This information will help you the next time you buy jewelry for yourself. Add the article to your page on social networks so that your friends can find out about the prices of precious gems.
Team LyubiKamni
Remember
- Buying a diamond and having it made into a ring can cost significantly less than a finished piece of jewelry.
- A diamond is not just about size. The price also depends on the color, clarity, shape and quality of cut.
- Two 0.1 carat diamonds are worth less than one 0.2 carat diamond.
- Colored diamonds are rare and highly prized. But a black diamond is not (it is not a diamond at all).
- According to Russian laws, you can become the owner of a diamond only by purchasing a stone with a certificate or a ready-made piece of jewelry. Otherwise, you may face criminal penalties.
How I bought a diamond
In the ring that my friend liked in the store, the diamond weighed 0.23 carats, belonged to the third color group and the fifth clarity group. I needed to find and buy a gemstone with the same characteristics.
First, I calculated the market price of a diamond using Rapaport tables. To do this, I converted the diamond’s assessment according to Russian specifications into an assessment according to the 4C GIA system. The following characteristics were obtained: color group H, purity - VS2. From the price list it follows that the price of such a diamond in New York is $299 (RUR 19,713).
At first I thought of buying a stone from an American online store with delivery by mail to Russia. But to this it was necessary to add 50 $ (3296 RUR) for delivery and 10 $ (640 RUR) for insurance, without which I would not send the stone by mail. It turned out that a diamond from the USA cost me $359, or 24,771 rubles at the then exchange rate: in mid-September 2022, a dollar cost approximately 69 rubles.
After that, I decided to look for a similar diamond from Russian sellers and cutters. Unfortunately, there were no diamonds with the required parameters on the website with optimal prices. There were either slightly smaller ones with the same groups of color and purity, or the same weight, but worse.
The problem was solved simply. I contacted the seller directly, and it turned out that only a small part of the available range was displayed on the site. Therefore, according to my request, they added several necessary stones, one of which I bought.
I chose a diamond weighing 0.24 carats, color group - 2, clarity group - 5. The stone cost 23,820 rubles, its delivery from Smolensk to Omsk, where I live, was 1,286 rubles.
The diamond I bought arrived in special packaging
