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Diamond

Introduction

	"Diamonds are Forever", sang Shirley Bassey, while Marilyn insisted they were "A Girl's Best Friend".
	Celebrated in song, Diamond, April’s birthstone, has long reigned as the ultimate statement of ardor and affection.
Legends & Lore

We commonly associate with Diamonds with wealth, prosperity, social status, and love but they have also been connected to lightning, magic, healing, protection and poisoning.
 

Diamonds will always be the oldest item that anyone can own; from 50 million years old for the most recent deposits to 2.5 billion years for the oldest.
 

The world’s first known reference to this gemstone comes from an Indian Sanskrit manuscript, the Arthsastra (which translates as The Lesson of Profit) written by Kautiliya, a minister to Chandragupta of the Mauryan Dynasty (322 BC – 185 BC).
 

Roman literature makes its first distinct mention of Diamonds only in the first century AD, in reference to the alluvial Diamonds found in India and Borneo.
 

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed they were tears of the Gods and splinters from falling stars. Cupids' arrows were supposed to be tipped with Diamonds, having thus a magic that nothing else can equal.
 

The Hindus believed that they were created when bolts of lightning struck rocks. They even placed some in the eyes of some of their statues.
 

Jewish high priests turned to Diamonds to decide the innocence or guilt of the accused. A Diamond held before a guilty person was supposed to dull and darken, while a Diamond held before an innocent glowed with increasing brilliance.
 

The Romans wore Diamonds because these were thought to possess broad magical powers over life’s troubles, being able in particular to give to the wearer strength, invincibility, bravery and courage during battle.
 

Kings, in old days, led the battles on the battlefields wearing heavy leather breastplates studded with Diamonds and other precious gems because it was believed that Diamonds possessed God given magical qualities and powers far beyond the understanding of common man. Thus, warriors stayed clear of Kings and those who were fortunate enough to have the magical Diamonds in their breastplates.
 

An act of Louis IX of France (1214-1270) that established a sumptuary law reserving Diamonds for the King indicates the rarity of this gem and the value conferred on it at that time.
 

Until the 14th Century only Kings could wear Diamonds, because they stood for strength, courage and invincibility. Since then that this gem has acquired its present status as the ultimate gift of love.
 

Small numbers of Diamonds began appearing in the 14th Century in European regalia and Jewelry, set mainly as an accent point among pearls. But the possession of extraordinarily large and noble Diamonds was always the privilege of royal houses and particularly rich families. As an example, the imperial crown of the Russian czarina Catherine the Second (1729-1796) was mounted with 4,936 sparkling Diamonds.
 

In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, every ring set with a precious gem was not considered as much a piece of Jewelry, but more as an amulet that bestowed magical powers upon its wearer. When set in gold and worn on the left side, it was believed that Diamonds held the power to drive away nightmares, to ward off devils, phantoms and soothe savage beasts. A house or garden touched at each corner with a Diamond was supposed to be protected from lightning, storms and blight. Diamonds were also supposed to impart virtue, generosity, as well as to calm the mentally ill and even to determine lawsuits in the wearer's favor.
 

Not only was it commonly believed that Diamonds could bring luck and success, but also that they could counter the effects of astrological events.
 

The supreme beauty of Diamonds, their priceless rarity, purity and durability makes them the perfect symbol of a man’s love for his partner. Used for centuries as an expression of love and marriage, Diamonds are the ultimate gift.
 

Before presenting, you will need a basic understanding of the points to consider when buying a Diamond. This document simply defines the four C’s that Diamond professionals and connoisseurs the world over rely on - Cut, color, Clarity and Carat Weight.
 

Colorless and near-colorless Diamonds are rare, beautiful and highly prized amongst connoisseurs. To the untrained eye, most Diamonds look white. However, to the professional there are small differences in the degrees of whiteness seen.
 

With Round Brilliant Cut Diamonds accounting for over 80% of Diamond sales worldwide, ask a women “What shape is a Diamond?” and she’ll probably say round. Despite this figure, there are many other beautiful Diamond cuts that warrant serious consideration. The eight most popular Diamond cuts are Emerald Cut, Heart Cut, Marquise Cut, Oval Cut, Round Brilliant Cut, Pear Cut, Princes Cut and Radiant Cut.
 

Unlike colored Gemstones, Diamonds are cut, shaped and proportioned to a remarkably uniform ideal. In 1919, Marcel Tolkowsky published his opinions of what Diamond proportions result in the optimum balance of Brilliance and Fire. Diamond graders do take these proportions into account when evaluating the cut of a Diamond.
 

Diamond weight is measured in Carats. This unit of measurement originates from the traditional use of carob seeds to weigh Gemstones. Carob seed were used because of their consistent size and shape. One Carat is the equivalent of 0.20 Grams. Further divided into 100 smaller units known as Points, the term carats is often confused with “Karats”. “Karat” is a measurement of gold purity and has no relationship to the term Carats.
 

As mentioned above, unlike Gemstones, Diamonds are cut to a uniform ideal for maximum Brilliance, Sparkle and Fire. With this uniform cutting and proportions, we can very conveniently and accurately equate Diamond Carat Size with their millimeter weight.
 

As the weight of a Diamond increases, so does its price per Carat. Large diamonds are always rarer than smaller ones, so per Carat prices rise exponentially. A 3 Carat diamond is always worth far more than six 0.50 Carat Diamonds of the same quality.
 

Prices also increase in stair-like steps, not in a smooth curve. They jump in price at certain Carat weights, usually at the borders of whole number denominations (i.e. 1 Carat, 2 Carat etc.). Thus a 1.02 Carat Diamond is worth more per Carat than a 0.95 Carat Diamond. Diamond pricing is said to suffer a “Non Linear Scale of Increments”.
 

Inclusions are tiny natural features within the body of a Diamond. Nearly all Gemstones contain some inclusions, however many are microscopic and can only be glimpsed under magnification. If inclusions do not interfere with the Brilliance, Sparkle and Fire seen by the passage of light through the Gem, they do not affect the beauty or value.
 

Developed by the GIA, this system is now commonplace for the trading of Diamonds across the globe and consists of a Diamond Clarity Scale and a Diamond color Scale.
 

When using the GIA Diamond Grading System, Thaigem.com goes to great lengths to ensure that it is always accurately applied. While professionally traded Diamonds are typically sold using an accurate interpretation of the GIA Diamond Grading System, we don’t take any chances. Our experienced team of qualified gemologists carefully checks every Diamond to make sure its Clarity and color have been accurately assessed. For example, two of our Diamond graders, Ms. Sopa Jongprasanwong and Ms. Naruemon Gamchuen literally spend day after day carefully examining our Diamonds, verifying and where necessary, adjusting the application of the GIA Diamond Grading system. Ms. Jongprasanwong obtained her gemological qualification from the AIGS (Asian Institute Of Gemological Science) and Ms. Gamchuen obtained her gemological qualification from the GIA (Gemological Institute Of America). While they both have over four years practical experience in Diamond grading, they always play it safe. When a specific Diamond possesses a borderline grading, the lesser standard is always applied. This is just another way we always strive to exceed your expectations at Thaigem.com.
 

(FL) FLAWLESS: Shows no inclusions or blemishes of any sort under 10X magnification when observed by an experienced grader.
 

(IF) INTERNALLY FLAWLESS: Has no inclusions when examined by an experienced grader using 10X magnification, but will have some minor surface blemishes.
 

(VVS1 and VVS2) VERY VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED: Contains minute inclusions that are difficult even for experienced graders to see under 10X magnification.
 

(VS1 and VS2) VERY SLIGHTLY INCLUDED: Contains minute inclusions such as small crystals, clouds, or feathers when observed with effort under 10X magnification.
 

(SI1 and SI2) SLIGHTLY INCLUDED: Contains inclusions (clouds, included crystals, knots, cavities, and feathers) that are noticeable to an experienced grader under 10X magnification.
 

(I1, I2, I3) INCLUDED: Contains inclusions (possibly large feathers or large included crystals) that are obvious under 10X magnification.
 

Before this system was introduced, a variety of other symbols were loosely applied throughout the Diamond industry. Not only were A, B, and C used without clear definition, but some dealers, started grading their Diamonds double A (AA).
 

Other systems used numbers or words to describe the color of Diamonds. Some of these systems were extremely susceptible to misinterpretation.
 

The SI3 Diamond clarity grade was created because many in the Diamond industry felt that there was too wide a gap between SI2 and I1.

Pairs or Suites of Diamonds matched for color, Clarity and Cut are more highly valued per Carat or per Gem than single Diamonds of the same quality. Given the rarity of many Diamonds, a matching set is disproportionately hard to find and thus commands a higher per Carat price than if each of the Diamonds from the suite were sold separately.
 

A Conflict Diamond (also called a Blood Diamond) is a Diamond mined in a war zone and sold, usually clandestinely, in order to finance an insurgent or invading army's war efforts. Those mining Conflict Diamonds are also usually forced to do so (i.e. virtual slave labour). In order to prevent conflict Diamonds from being sold a Diamond embargo has enforced against several countries including Angola, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo.
 

The embargo does not apply to the DeBeer Mines in Zambia, South Africa and Namibia, the sole source of Thaigem.com Diamonds. Please be aware that DeBeers and the professional industry as a whole strictly certify the origin of Diamond rough to prevent Conflict Diamonds being sold to the mainstream industry.