Diamonds: the forever stone
Diamonds: the forever stone
The name ‘Diamond’ is derived from the ancient Greek world adámas, for ‘proper’, ‘unbreakable’, ‘unalterable’, ‘invincible’ or ‘untamed’, reflecting its unyielding quality and endurance. The diamond is perhaps the most explored gemstone in the world, with gemologists, miners, consumers and wearers studying its qualities to duplicate and enhance this natural wonder.
The diamond has long been associated with love, bonding, relationships, commitments and loyalty. A gemstone of lovers, the diamond has been used in the creation of exquisite engagement rings and jewellery since the times of old. This gemstone is believed to bestow balance, clarity and abundance on the wearer, as well as bring wealth, health and happiness to the home of its bearer.
South Africa is the highest exporter of diamonds followed by Australia, Thailand, China, Borneo, Russia, Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela.
The forever stone is the most precious gem in the world today. The diamond is measured in carats and its quality depends on four parameters: carat weight, color, clarity and cut. Depending on these factors, diamonds can range from a few thousand to a million dollars!
Choosing the right diamond engagement ring may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Golden Star
Jewellery, a family-run store located at Capilano Mall, can help. Before you get down on one knee, here are a few things to consider: Set a budget, Determine a specific price range to fit your budget. An engagement ring is a meaningful symbol of your love, but don’t get caught up in marketing suggesting you need to buy a ring you can’t afford.
Golden Star offers a financing program so you can choose your favorite ring, even with no down payment, and pay it off in 12 months or more.
Educate yourself on diamonds Before buying an engagement ring it’s important to first gain basic knowledge about diamonds. To start with, get familiar with the four Cs –colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. Each one influences the value of the diamond and adds to the overall appearance of the stone.
- Carat - The weighting unit of a diamond: 1 carat = 0.2 grams = 0.007 oz. Bigger diamonds are rarer, as such, the value per carat will also be higher. For example, the value of a 1-carat diamond would be much higher than the total of two 0.5-carat diamonds.
- Clarity - The quality of diamonds relating to the existence and visual appearance of internal characteristics called inclusions and surface defects called blemishes. The number, size, color, relative location, orientation, and visibility of inclusions can all affect the relative clarity of a diamond.
- Color - Color evaluation of most gem-quality diamonds is based on the absence of color. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water, and consequently, a higher value. GIA’s D-to-Z diamond colour-grading system measures the degree of colourlessness.
- Cut: Ratios and proportions of various diamond dimensions in relation to each other are what
impact the brilliance and scintillation of the stone most significantly. They determine how well and how much of the light is reflected inside the crystal and back to the surface through the diamond’s table. If the diamond is not certified by one of the gemological labs, then buying such a diamond is not advisable.
