The Sunny Diamonds- Comprehensive Guide To Diamond Jewelry is an all in one directory, guiding prospective customers in choosing the perfect diamond in terms of it quality, value and price

1. Comprehensive Guide To
Diamond Jewelry
A diamond’s beauty lies in its intimate interaction with light.
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2. How to Choose a Diamond
The 4 C’s
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Cut
Color
Colored Diamonds
Clarity

3. Cut
The cut is the most important factor to consider when buying a diamond.
Diamonds are nothing without light, reflection and sparkle, and even a
high-quality diamond will appear dull if it is not cut properly.
When diamonds are cut ideally, the light that enters through the top of
the diamond will be reflected through the cut and be redirected up to the
eye, causing sparkle and luster. If a cut is too shallow, the light will escape
through the bottom of the diamond.
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4. If the cut is too deep, the light will escape out the side.
Therefore, making sure you have the best cut is essential to making sure
you have a breathtaking diamond that will glow for generations.
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5. After cut, the second most important factor in choosing a diamond is
color. The highest quality diamonds are completely colorless, while
lower-grade diamonds have a noticeable color, usually a pale yellow.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades diamonds on a scale
of D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). D-Z diamonds are all
known as white diamonds, even though the color may vary.
Color
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6. The somewhat odd scale (starting at D) comes from an old system of
rating diamond color as A, B, and C. There are six categories on the GIA
diamond chart, with color grades that range from absolutely clear to light
in color. D-rated diamonds are the rarest and have no noticeable color,
whereas G color and H color diamonds are nearly colorless, and since
they are priced lower they are an excellent value for buying on a budget.
The lower you move down the chart, the more apparent the yellow tint
becomes.
D-F diamonds are the rarest, perfectly white diamonds, while G-H has
no obviously detectable color and are the best budget items, as well as
I-J diamonds.
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7. Colored Diamonds
A very few diamonds have a strong color that is considered rare and
valuable. These diamonds, unlike white diamonds, are purchased for the
intensity and richness of their color. With these diamonds, clarity and cut
proportions are less important, because the sparkle of a perfectly white
clear diamond is not the goal.
The 4 Cs of colored diamonds are as follows:
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8. Color – Color intensity, the deepness or richness of color, is the most
important consideration when choosing a colored diamond. The more
intense the color, the rarer and more valuable the diamond will be.
Carat – After color grade, carat weight has the most impact on the price
of colored diamonds. As colored diamonds are rare, it’s even more
unusual to find one of large size. This makes large colored diamonds
more valuable. For this reason, diamond prices rise dramatically with
carat weight.
Clarity – Due to the nature of colored diamonds, clarity is less important
than a white diamond. This is because inclusions and blemishes are
masked by the diamond’s color.
Cut – Colored diamonds are primarily cut to emphasize their color. This
contrasts with colorless diamonds that are cut to maximize sparkle or
brilliance, which in some instances can detract from the natural color of
the colored diamond. While colored diamonds can still be lustrous, color
is the most important characteristic considered when they are being cut.
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10. Diamond clarity is the assessment of tiny microscopic imperfections on
the surface and interior of the diamond. The surface imperfections are
called blemishes and the interior problems are called inclusions.
Inclusions are common, as diamonds are imperfect minerals mined in
imperfect conditions.
Clarity
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11. Experts refer to inclusions by their “internal characteristics.”
Such characteristics include things like clouds, feathers, crystals or other
minerals, knots, cavities, cleavage, and internal graining.
Examples of blemishes include polish lines, scratches, nicks, pits, chips,
breaks, and dark or light spots. In 1953, the GIA established a diamond
grading system and clarity scale. There are six categories of clarity grading.
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12. Diamond clarity guide
FL – Flawless
Flawless diamonds make up only 1% of all diamonds and have no blemishes
or inclusions visible under 10x magnification.
IF – Internally Flawless
Internally Flawless diamonds have no inclusions visible under 10x
magnification but may have some small surface blemishes.
VVS – Very, Very Slightly Included
VVS Diamonds have tiny inclusions that are difficult to see even under 10x
magnification. A VVS 2 has slightly more inclusions than a VVS 1. Despite
being ranked third, these are still considered excellent diamonds.
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13. VS – Very Slightly Included
These are good, middle-of-the-road diamonds that have very minimal
inclusions (which are still only visible under 10x visibility). VS 1 is higher
quality than a VS 2, but both are inferior to VVS diamonds. Still, these are
a great budget diamond, as the inclusions are noticeable to the naked eye
and still maintain the diamond’s luster and brilliance.
SI – Slightly Included
Inclusions are noticeable at 10x magnification with SI diamonds. With SI1
diamonds the inclusions are sometimes visible to a perceptive eye without
magnification. SI2 diamonds have inclusions that are usually visible to the
naked eye.
I1 – Included
Inclusions are visible to the naked eye.
I2, I3 – Heavily Included
These diamonds have obvious inclusions. Most heavily included diamonds
are not used in large jewellery.
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14. Generally speaking, VS and SI diamonds are the most common, IF and
F diamonds are very rare and therefore more valuable. And, as most
inclusions are not visible except under magnification, this clarity issue
isn’t a major deterrent to most buyers.
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15. Diamond shape and size can affect clarity in different ways. Some diamond
shapes require a higher clarity than others. Emerald cuts, for example, are
designed with large rectangular faces that are designed to let you see far
down into the diamond, which makes inclusions more visible. For these
types of shapes, a VS1 or higher is recommended.
On the other hand, round, princess, oval, marquise, pear, and heart-shaped
diamonds may not require as high of a clarity grade. Cut with a facet pattern
where light reflects in many angles, these shapes naturally hide inclusions.
And when it comes to carat, the bigger the diamond and larger the facets,
the more likely it will be for inclusions to be visible.
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16. Diamond Grading Factors for Clarity
When diamonds are graded, they are magnified 10x. The clarity of the
diamond is based on the most notable inclusions, but any characteristics
that don’t get factored into the grade are still included on a diamond plot
chart.
The five-diamond clarity factors are:
Size
The size of the inclusion or blemish is the first thing looked at when grading
a diamond. The larger or more noticeable the characteristic, the lower the
grade.
Number
Next is the number of easily-seen characteristics (note: this is not necessarily
the total number of characteristics.) Having fewer characteristics leads to a
higher grade.
Position
The position of the characteristic is important. If it’s in a more noticeable
place, such as close to the surface, it will receive a lower grade. 16

17. Nature
This refers to whether the characteristic is internal or external. An internal
characteristic cannot be graded as F or IF.
Color and Relief
Color and relief is the measure of how easily seen the characteristic is, or
how much contrast there is between the characteristic and the surrounding
diamond.
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18. Carat is the most misunderstood of the Four Cs. It refers to the
diamond’s weight, not the size. (Note: “Carat” refers to diamond weight.
“Karat” refers to gold purity.)
When selecting a carat, there are two main factors to consider. First, the
diamond’s top diameter. It is this distance that you will see as the stone is
set into the ring. Second, the cut grade. A well-cut diamond that reflects
light well will appear bigger than a larger, poorly-cut diamond. Therefore,
a larger diameter and higher cut grade (Ideal to Excellent) will make
smaller carats appear larger, whereas a smaller diameter and lower cut
grade (Good, Fair, or Poor) will make a large-carat-weight diamond
appear smaller.
Carat
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19. Other things to keep in mind are that prices jump at full-carat and
half-carat weights, so when buying on a budget a 1.9 carat ring will be
substantially cheaper than a 2.0 carat ring, and the size difference will
hardly be noticeable.
Also, the size of the finger affects the appearance of the ring. A smaller
carat on a smaller finger may appear bigger than a larger carat on a larger
finger.
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20. Fluorescence
Fluorescence is the glow you sometimes see when a diamond emits visi-
ble light. Some diamonds fluoresce when in the presence of ultraviolet
light—they glow with bluish light, or more rarely, a yellow or orange light.
Not all diamonds fluoresce; only about 25% to 35% of diamonds emit
light like this.
The GIA considers fluorescence an identifying characteristic, like the 4
Cs. A diamond’s fluorescence is graded by its intensity (None, Faint,
Medium, Strong, and Very Strong).
While most fluorescence is noted under UV light, some Strong and Very
Strong diamonds can emit fluorescence under outdoor conditions,
making these highly rated diamonds more valuable. It is believed by some
that a yellow-tinted fluorescent diamond can look clearer and whiter
than yellow-colored non-fluorescent diamond.
But according to the GIA, “For the average observer, meant to represent
the jewelry buying public, no systematic effects of blue fluorescence on
the face-up appearance of the groups of diamonds were detected. Even
experienced observers did not consistently agree on the effects of
fluorescence from one stone to the next.”
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21. Shape
Since all diamond cut styles are very different, unique characteristics determine
quality for each shape.
Round-Cut Diamond
The round-cut diamond is easily the most popular and most common diamond
shape available today. For more than a thousand years, diamond cutters have been
using advanced theories of light behavior and precise mathematical calculations to
optimize the luster and luminescence in a round diamond. In addition to being the
most popular and historically common shape, round-cut diamonds will typically give
youmoreoptionsforbalancingcut,color,andclaritygradeswhilestillgettingthe
brillianceyoudesireinadiamond.
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22. Princess-Cut Diamond
The most popular non-round diamond is the princess cut. It’s unique cut and
beautiful plays with light makes it a favorite for engagement rings. The princess
has pointed corners and is traditionally square or rectangular in shape. When
choosing a color grade, be aware that lower color grades are more visible at the
square corners of a princess cut and a higher-quality color might be desired.
Also, princess-cut diamonds can vary greatly in how square or rectangular they
are.
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23. Emerald-Cut Diamond
Whatmakestheemeralddiamondshapedifferentisitspavilion,orthelowerhalf of
the diamond, which in some shapes is hidden by the setting. Due to its larger, open
table(theflatsurfaceatthetopof thediamond),thisshapehighlightstheclarityof a
diamond. You must, therefore, be careful selecting a lower clarity diamond, such as
anythingbelowanSI.Also,emerald-cutdiamondscanvarygreatlyinhowrectangular
they are. If you'd prefer an emerald cut with a squared outline, look for an
Asscher-cutdiamond.
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24. Asscher-Cut Diamond
This unique shape is nearly identical to the emerald-cut, except that it is square. The
Asscher-cut diamond shape has a pavilion that is cut with rectangular facets in the
samestyleastheemerald-cut.Thisshapehighlightstheclarityof thediamond,aswith
theemerald-cut,soahighly-gradedcleardiamondisanimportantconsideration.As
with the princess-cut, color grade is also important, as lower color grades will
becomeevidentinthecornersof thisgenerallysquarediamond.
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25. Marquise-Cut Diamond
The shape of a marquise diamond gives you a lot of diamond for your budget, as a
smaller-carat marquise gives you a much larger-looking diamond. This lustrous
diamond looks gorgeous set with round or pear-shaped side stones, and the length
of themarquisediamondgivesafingertheappearanceof beinglongandslender.
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26. Oval-Cut Diamond
An oval diamond combines the beautiful brilliance of a round diamond with the
carat-maximizing quality of a marquis. Oval diamonds are also very popular as
their length can accentuate long, slender fingers.
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27. Radiant-Cut Diamond
Clipped corners are the hallmark of this diamond, and they help make the
radiant-cut a common and versatile choice for rings. Radiant-cut diamonds
can vary in their degree of rectangularity.
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28. Pear-Shaped Diamond
Also called a teardrop, this glowing diamond features a single point and
rounded end. The unique look of the pear shape helps make it a popular
choice for a variety of diamond jewelry. As with the marquis and oval, this
has a slimming effect on the hand.
Heart-Shaped Diamond
This unique look helps make it a distinctive choice for a variety of diamond
jewelry. As with other specialty shapes, with sharp corners, color grade is an
important factor in a heart-shaped diamond. This shape comes in a variety
of styles, as hearts can be wide and flat of stretched and elongated.
Cushion-Cut Diamond
This more old-fashioned cut has been popular for over a century, and with
good reason. Cushion-cut diamonds (also known as "pillow-cut" diamonds)
have rounded corners and larger facets to increase their luster and glow.
These larger facets highlight the diamond's clarity, so be sure you select a
well-graded clear diamond. Cushion-cut diamonds are available in shapes
ranging from square to rectangular.
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A diamond is the hardest material on Earth and has long-since
been recognized for its beauty as a gemstone. Some 147 million
carats of diamonds were estimated to have been produced from
mines worldwide in 2018. Major producing countries include
Australia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, South
Africa, and Russia. Worldwide reserves are estimated to be some
1.2 billion carats. Russia has the largest reserves, estimated at
some 650 million carats. The global diamond mining industry is
largely dominated by a hand-full of companies. Alrosa from Russia,
De Beers from Luxembourg, and British-Australian Rio Tinto are
the largest three and account for more than 60 percent of global
diamond mine production. Mined diamonds are mostly processed
in and sold via the major global diamond centers: Antwerp, Dubai,
New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Tel-Aviv.
Where Do Diamonds Come From?

30. Diamonds increase drastically in value through processing from
production to retail. In 2017, for example, mined rough diamonds
had a production value of some 17.5 billion U.S. dollars. After
polishing, this figure increased to 25 billion U.S. dollars. In 2017,
the global diamond jewelry market value was approximately 82
billion U.S. dollars. Nearly half of the world's demand for polished
diamonds comes from the United States, with a 48 percent share
of global demand in 2017.
One hallmark of the trade of gem-quality diamonds is its remarkable
concentration: wholesale trade and diamond cutting are limited to
just a few locations. In 2003, 92% of the world’s diamonds were cut
and polished in Surat, India.
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31. The production and distribution of diamonds is largely consolidated
in the hands of a few key players, concentrated in traditional diamond
trading centers. The largest of these is in Antwerp, where 80% of all
rough diamonds, 50% of all cut diamonds, and more than 50% of all
industrial diamonds are handled. It is the home of the International
Gemological Institute. Another important city is New York City,
where 80% of the world’s diamonds are sold, including auction sales.
The DeBeers Company, the world’s largest diamond mining company,
holds a dominant position in the industry and has done so since 1888.
DeBeers is currently the largest operator of diamond mines and
distribution channels. But while they once controlled 80% of the world
diamond market, their market share is now estimated to be around 38%
in value. DeBeers is often credited for starting the worldwide diamond
market, with their earth shattering 1930s “diamonds are forever”
campaign, which made diamond rings synonymous with weddings. Prior
to that, rubies and emeralds were the most common wedding ring
stones, dating back to the fifteenth century.
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32. The World Federation of Diamond
Bourses acts as a medium for the
wholesale diamond exchange, trading
both polished and rough diamonds. In
2000,theWFDBandTheInternational
Diamond Manufacturers Association
established the WorldDiamondCouncil
to prevent the trading of conflict
diamonds.
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Diamond is the solid form of the element carbon with its atoms
arranged in a crystal structure called “diamond cubic.” It has
the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural
material. Because of the arrangement of the atoms, few types
of impurities can contaminate a diamond. Small impurities
create colored diamonds such as blue (boron), yellow (nitrogen),
brown (defects), green (radiation exposure), purple, pink,
orange, and red.
Most natural diamonds are between one to three-and-a-half
billion years old, and most were formed deep in the earth’s
mantle, between 100 and 150 miles below ground, and some
have come from as deep as 500 miles. These diamonds were
brought to the surface in volcanic eruptions and deposited in
igneous rocks such as kimberlites and lamproites.
Chemical Composition

34. It is a common misconception that diamonds are formed
from hardened coal. Coal is formed from prehistoric plants,
and most diamonds are far older than the earliest known land
plants. Although rare on Earth, diamonds are common in
space. In meteorites, about three percent of the carbon is
nanodiamonds. High pressure experiments predict that large
quantities of diamonds condense in methane into “diamond
rain” on the ice giant planets of Neptune and Uranus. It’s
hypothesized that some planets in other solar systems may
be entirely composed of diamonds.
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Mined rough diamonds are converted into gems through a process
called “cutting”. Diamonds are extremely hard, but also brittle and
can be split by a single blow. Therefore, diamond cutting is traditionally
considered as a delicate procedure requiring skills, scientific
knowledge, tools and experience. The final goal of cutting is to
produce a multi-faceted jewel where the specific edges and angles
of the facets optimize the stone’s luster.
The most time-consuming part of the process is the preliminary
analysis of the rough stone. It needs to address numerous issues,
bears much responsibility, and can therefore take years in the case
of unique diamonds. Things to consider when cutting are: the
hardness of the diamond and its ability to cleave in the optimal
cutting directions; the inclusions and flaws; and the proper tool to
use to perform the cutting (a diamond can be split with a single
strike, or it can be cut with a diamond saw.)
Diamond Cutting

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Industrial diamonds are valued for
their hardness and thermal conductivity,
making the gemological characteristics
of diamonds (the 4 Cs) irrelevant. 80%
of mined diamonds (approximately
135 million carats) are unsuitable
for use as gemstones and are used
industrially. In addition to mined
diamonds, synthetic diamonds
found use almost immediately after
they were invented, in the 1950s.
570 million carats of synthetic diamond
are produced annually, 90% coming
from China.
Diamonds are used in saws, drill
bits, and grinding tools, and diamond
powder is used as an abrasive. Aside
from hardness qualities, their thermal
conductivity makes them a good heat
sink in electronic integrated circuits.
Industrial-Grade Diamonds

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Also known as blood diamonds, war diamonds, or hot diamonds,
these are stones that are mined in a war zone and sold to finance an
insurgency, an invading army’s war efforts, or a warlord’s activities.
Diamonds mined in recent decades in Angola, Ivory Coast, Sierra
Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Guinea Bissau have all been given the
label. The United Nations addressed the issue in 1998 and again in
2000, leading to a Security Council resolution in which conflict diamonds
could be identified, the trade could be halted, and buyers could be
confident that their purchase did not contribute to violence. New
technology, including the use of a blockchain database, allows for the
tracking of diamonds from mines all the way to jewellery stores.
Conflict Diamonds

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Many diamonds have been world-record holders or have held prominent
places in modern and historical culture. Perhaps none is more famous
than the Hope Diamond. The stone, having originated in India, is a brilliant
blue due to boron content. It weighs over 45 carats and was first sold in
1666. After traveling through many owners, it now resides in the United
States National Museum of Natural History, where it is insured for $250
million.
In 2009, a 7.03 carat blue diamond drew the highest price-per-carat of
any diamond, selling for $9.5 million at the time. However, that record
was beaten later that year when a 5-carat bright pink diamond was sold
in China for $10.8 million.
Famous Diamonds

39. The largest ever diamond rough-cut diamond ever found was the Sergio,
a 3,167-carat diamond found in Brazil, the apparent remnant of a
meteorite. With too many inclusions to ever be a magnificent
piece, it was sold for in 1895 for $25,000 to be broken up and used in
industrial usages.
The largest gem-quality diamond ever found was the Cullinan Diamond,
weighing in at 3106 carats. It was cut into many smaller gems, the largest
of which is known as the Star of Africa, a 530-carat piece, the largest
clear-cut diamond in the world. It is mounted in the Sovereign’s Scepter
of the Cross, the British ornamental rod held by the monarch during the
coronation. It is kept with the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
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40. Famous Movies and Books Featuring Diamonds
As diamonds have an almost magnetic draw on the minds of the public,
there’s no surprise that diamonds have played a major role in major
books and movies.
Heart of the Ocean: This fictional blue diamond was featured in the
1997 film Titanic, playing a major role in the modern-day part of the
story, with treasure hunters eagerly seeking to find it in the wreckage. A
56-carat diamond, originally belonging to Louis XVI, was cut into an oval
shape after the French Revolution. It is considered by many to be based
on the real-life large blue diamond, the Hope Diamond.
The Pink Panther: Although much confusion was caused by the
eponymous cartoon cat, the Pink Panther was the name of the diamond
in the original movie of the same name. The diamond in the movie was
given to a princess by the Shah of Lugash and is believed to be based on
the Nur-Al-Ain, a 60-carat gem in the tiara worn by Empress Farah when
she married the Shah of Iran in 1958. To add to the confusion, another
real-life diamond, the Darya-i-Nur, a 186-carat diamond in the Iranian
Crown Jewels has been referred to as the Pink Panther and was sold in
2010 for a record $46 million.
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41. Sex and the City Wedding Ring: In the second Sex and the City
movie, Carrie is married to Mr. Big with a 5-carat black diamond. When
asked why it was black, Mr. Big says “Because you are not like anyone
else.”
The Fabulous Baseball Diamond: In the Great Muppet Caper,
the Muppets must save Lady Holiday’s (Diana Rigg) Baseball Diamond
“The biggest diamond in the world.” On display in the Mallory Gallery,
Kermit, Fozzie, Gonzo and friends hold off the thieves with a rousing
game of baseball, using the stone.
Diamonds Are Forever: In this, the last James Bond movie to
star Sean Connery, South African diamonds are being stockpiled
to depress diamond prices by “dumping” and Bond is put on the
case to uncover the smuggling ring. It turns out arch enemy
Blofeld was using the diamonds to construct a laser satellite
with the aim of destroying all nuclear weapons.
A Diamond as Big as The Ritz: F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote of a
diamond so big that if it was to be cut into small diamonds it
would flood the market and cause the entire price of diamonds
to collapse. The story is a cautionary tale, as the family tries
to keep the diamond a secret, but is ultimately undone by
greed, jealousy and fear.
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42. Bibliography:
How to choose a diamond:
Diamond Shape
Wikipedia:
Diamond Gemstones
Sunny Diamonds
Diamond Guide
Gemological Institute of America
Brilliant Earth
Blue Nile
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43. Where Did Diamonds Come From?
Statista
Wikipedia:
Diamond Geology
Wikipedia:
Diamond Modern History
Wikipedia:
DeBeers
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44. Chemical Composition
Wikipedia:
Diamond Material Properties
The Nature of Diamonds, Google Books
Wikipedia:
Diamond Color
Wikipedia:
Diamond Cutting
Diamondland Antwerp
Encyclopedia Brittanica:
Industrial Diamond
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45. Conflict Diamonds
Famous Diamonds
Cape Town Diamond Museum
Diamond Trade.com
Wikipedia:
Cullinan Diamond
CNN:
What are conflict diamonds?
Wikipedia:
Blood Diamond
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46. Fictional Diamonds
Heart of the Ocean
Sex and the City
The Fabulous Baseball Diamond
Diamonds Are Forever
A Diamond as Big As The Ritz
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