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What
is a diamond made of?
A diamond is made entirely of carbon (just like the graphite in
a pencil). But, while graphite is very soft, the carbon atoms in
diamond form in such a way as to create the hardest known substance.
This special structure allows diamonds to take a superior polish
and project more brilliance than any other natural colorless gemstone.
Can
a diamond break or chip?
Even though diamonds are extremely hard, they can still be damaged
from abuse. Diamonds can scratch each other and all other gemstones,
such as sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and pearls. Store your diamonds
away from other gems in your jewelry box and don't wear any valuable
gemstones while doing hard work.
How
should I clean my diamond?
Anything that cuts grease will help remove the build-up of oil and
dirt from a diamond. Commercially prepared jewelry cleaner is perfectly
suited for this purpose as is dish detergent and a bit of ammonia.
Other gems may require different cleaning procedures, especially opals,
pearls, emeralds, turquoise, and other soft and porous stones. Ask
your retail jeweler the best way to clean any stone in question.
What is a "clarity enhanced" diamond?
Some diamonds with surface reaching factures are filled with a glass-like
compound to make them look better. Like cosmetics, this process merely
improves the appearance of the diamond compared to what it would look
like without the treatment; it doesn't improve the clarity of the
diamond. It's a legitimate process but jewelers are required by law
to disclose whether a particular diamond has been treated. EGL USA
and most other major gemological laboratories do not certify clarity-enhanced
or fracture-filled diamonds because the process is not proven to be
100% stable and may change during jewelry repair procedures.
What is "laser drilling"?
Laser drilling is used to improve the appearance of diamonds with
dark imperfections. The most common procedure uses a fine laser beam
to tunnel into a diamond and burn the existing inclusion, which is
further lightened with acid. As this process is stable, all labs will
grade lasered drilled diamonds and indicate the process on their report.
The Federal Trade Commission also requires disclosure of laser-drilled
diamonds to consumers at the point-of-sale.
What is a diamond certificate?
Diamond certificates, or grading reports, are independent documents
that provide extensive information about the quality of a diamond.
Along with carat weight, measurements, clarity grade, and color grade,
EGL USA diamond certificates contain detailed information about cut
quality. Click
here to see a sample certificate.
Where is the best place to buy a diamond?
Diamonds can be purchased from many sources and many different dealers,
but the key is to buy from a professional jeweler. Some people like
the experience of dealing with a traditional family jewelry, while
others want the convenience of shopping several jewelers located together
in a mall or jewelry exchange. Today, shoppers can even buy a diamond
from Internet websites.
Remember that a diamond certificate make the shopping process easier
by providing straightforward information that validates the quality
of the diamond you are considering. Before you buy your diamond, ask
about the return policy, and if your diamond does not come with a
certificate, ask the retailer how you can get one or send your diamond
directly to an EGL USA office.
What is fluorescence?
For reasons not entirely understood, certain diamonds emit a subtle
blue glow when exposed to ultraviolet rays. This interesting phenomenon
is called fluorescence. Many light sources including the sun, fluorescent
office lights, and "black" lights emit ultraviolet rays.
In normal lighting conditions, fluorescence cannot be seen.
EGL USA indicates the strength
of fluorescence on its diamond certificates for identification purposes.
The appearance of fluorescence in diamonds exposed to strong ultraviolet
lamps ranges from very faint (barely perceptible) to very strong (a
neon-blue glow). Some diamonds show no fluorescence at all.
A scientific industry study showed that, with few exceptions, fluorescence
in diamonds affects neither price nor appearance. There are two exceptions
to this rule. In a minute number of cases, diamonds with very strong
fluorescence and a special arrangement of clarity characteristics
may look slightly "cloudy," but consumers rarely encounter
such diamonds. Fluorescence may also have a slightly positive influence
on the appearance of certain off-colored diamonds, thereby making
them more desirable to own.
What is SI-3?
Diamonds graded as SI-3 ('slightly included") contain clarity
characteristics that are very easy to see under 10X magnification.
The SI-3 category lies between the SI-2 and the I-1 grade.
SI-3 was introduced to the diamond trade in 1992 to better serve the
changing needs of the marketplace. The following year the Rapaport
Diamond Report created an SI-3 price column, and the grade has gained
wider acceptance over the past decade.
While not all labs have adopted SI-3, EGL USA began using it on its
diamond grading reports in 1997. This step was validated by important
global industry organizations that officially recognize the grade,
among them the World Federation of Diamond Bourses and the International
Diamond Manufacturers Association.
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