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Diamond Education

Diamonds are believed to have been first recognised in India around the 4th century BC and remained the sole source of diamonds until 1725. In that year, diamonds were discovered in Brazil, followed by another discovery in South Africa in 1870. These findings significantly boosted the diamond industry. Diamonds are typically found around 93 miles (150 kilometres) beneath the Earth's surface, where temperatures reach approximately 1050°C (2000°F), contributing to the conditions necessary for their formation.    

 

Throughout history, natural diamonds have been regarded as a rare and meaningful gift for a loved one. Until the 15th century, leaders often wore diamonds, symbolising strength and power. Known for their exceptional durability, diamonds are considered one of the toughest substances on Earth.

While the classic white diamond remains the most popular, diamonds come in a variety of colours, including black, blue, green, pink, red, purple, orange, and yellow. Some of these colours are natural, while others result from treatments that alter the diamond's hue, though these processes carry certain risks. The colour-changing process is highly complex, involving superheated and pressurized carbon molecules deep within the Earth's core. By introducing specific minerals and elements—such as nitrogen, which creates a yellow hue, or boron, which produces blue—diamonds can take on a range of captivating colours.

Understanding

the 4 C's

The 4 C’s—colour, clarity, cut, and carat—are well-known in the jewellery industry as the key factors that determine a diamond's value and price. When purchasing a diamond, it's important to understand these attributes to make an informed decision.

Colour

Diamonds are available in a range of colours, including pink, green, and blue. However, in white diamonds, the presence of a yellow tint can reduce the diamond's value. The less colour a white diamond has, the higher its value. In some cases, the colour of a white diamond may not be noticeable without professional magnification. Diamond colour is measured on a standardised scale using letters, which is universally recognised in the jewellery industry.

At Dytham Jewellery Designers, we believe that the ideal diamond for an engagement ring falls between grades D and H. Below is our guide:

Diamong Grading System
Large diamond cluster earrings

Clarity

Most diamonds have flaws, these are called inclusions. The fewer inclusions a diamond has, the higher the clarity grade. To describe the different grades they use acronyms so if your looking for a diamond and see these, this is what it means:

 IF = Internally Flawless

VVSI = Very very slightly included

VSI = Very Slightly included

SI = Slightly included

I = Included

(Included can also be known as Pique - PK)

To maximise your budget we suggest you go for an 'eye clean' diamond, such as an SI or higher as you can only see the flaws under a microscope.

clarity of diamonds without magnification

             IF         VVS1 - VVS2    VS1 - VS2           SI1                  SI2              I1 - I3 

What you see without magnification
diamond clarity with 10x magnification

             IF         VVS1 - VVS2    VS1 - VS2           SI1                  SI2              I1 - I3 

What you see with 10x magnification

The Cut

The cut of the diamond is an important factor of the overall beauty, as this is what makes the stone sparkle. Diamonds have the unique ability to utilise light efficiently. The cut is focused on the proportions of the diamond in opposed to the actual shape, for example the shape of the diamond would be pear, princess emerald and so on, however in grading the cut it evaluates the skill and the polishing of the diamond facets to a level of accuracy. The facets are the sides and the angles on the diamond, which allows light to transmit through which will give the effect of sparkling. 

The Carat

Not to be confused with a Karat of gold (which refers to the gold’s purity). Carat is the physical weight of the diamond, though people may assume it to be the size of the diamond. It is weighed very precisely to the hundredth. The unit is metric carats. Out of all of the 4 C’s the carat weight is the most objective. One carat equals to 0.2 grams (1/5 gram) and this can be divided into 100 points.

Dytham Jewellery Designers Limited

15 Front St, Monkseaton, 

Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear, NE25 8AQ, UK

Tel: 0191 253 1043

© 2025 by Dytham Jewellery Designers Ltd

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