女人和钻石

女人爱钻石就好象男人爱权利。不管是否能及，爱总是存在的。
　　是谁赋予钻石“永恒”的使命，致使男人向女人承诺天长地久好象必须以钻石示之，好象玫瑰仅代表眼下的爱情，只有钻石述说着三生三世。但并不是每位男人都能赠心爱女人一颗绝美剔透的钻石，莫非物质时代爱情也成为一种奢侈？能够时常送女人钻石的恰恰是一些把爱情当礼物随意派送的男人，那个把铜指环戴上你指尖的男人才能与你生死与共。女人
都祈求永远，但当“永恒”必须以一种物质为载体来传达时，“永恒”只是两个挂在唇边的字，转瞬即逝，不要也罢。
　　并不是每位爱钻石的女人都必须拥有钻石，就好象并不是所有爱情都能够成就婚姻。象我这样一个分不清钻石、水晶和玻璃的无知女人，几句温柔的誓言即可以取代昂贵的付出。
　　我有一位女友，做着饰品销售，经她手的钻石足够她怀想一辈子，她坠入了钻石的诱惑，于是发誓要嫁一位能够把钻石戴满她十指的豪气男人。如愿以偿，当她终于不再将钻石恭敬地递给柜外的客人时，她嫁给了一个常来买钻石手饰的男人，她自负地认为是自己的美丽征服了男人和钻石。一年后，男人一如既往地买钻石，不过是送给另外的女人。她感觉自己成了那颗曾经亲手放入展示柜的钻石，冰冷孤独。
　　前年在北京，晚上和朋友出来逛赛特，因为无聊，把所有专柜都看了个遍，两人伏身饰品柜良久，发现一条所谓真理----就钻戒而言，大的代表财富，小的代表美丽。

生态陶瓷 钻石文化

严重供大于求的建陶市场呼唤产品更新换代，要求建陶企业从过去追求产量到追求技术创新，在提高产品的档次、品质上下功夫。佛陶集团钻石陶瓷公司在自主开发３Ｘ智控方程技术系统的基础上，把对市场潮流的超前发现，对应用科学技术的掌握，对企业文化的开拓，融汇在健康、环保、绿色的新产品开发中，最近推出“生态陶瓷”亮丽星之春天故事·西施系列、富丽星之敦煌古壁、清丽星之哑光抛光砖、仿石砖、智多星之清道夫·太空船洁具系列产品。使“生态陶瓷”各大系列精品，除拥有普通陶瓷的优点外，还具有抗污、抑菌、防臭、抗龟裂、零辐射等性能，与大自然生态环境相得益彰，极大地提高了建陶产品的使用价值和艺术价值。新产品开发贵在突出技术创新和健康环保的主题。钻石公司通过国际、国内质量体系认证，全面提高企业素质，发挥专业科研队伍的团队优势，提出“好品质在乎天长地久，以科技造钻石生态陶瓷”的品牌号召。几年来，扎扎实实地打造３Ｘ智控方程设计制造的技术系统，采取自主开发的高置信度正态分布生产技术、正交优选法选材配料、网络平台互动设计体系的三大核心技术，通过三重设计的特殊生产工艺，使“生态陶瓷”不仅性能卓越，而且花色品种集成化配套，成为一种生态资源，美化、净化千家万户的居住环境。　　具有深厚企业文化内涵的“生态陶瓷”，震响了低迷的陶瓷市场，唤起了新世纪陶瓷产品更新换代的新希望。以“沙洲绿廊”命名的釉面砖，图案线条柔和平滑，表面磨砂效果浑然天成，使人联想到遥远的西域边陲上，茁壮的白扬沿着风的足迹，向沙漠深处延伸的情景；“晨曦牧歌”、“绿意弘音”、“天谷幽香”、“春雷雨丝”、“藤蔓物语”、“春蚕织锦”、“阳春白雪”、“风摇柳影”、“碧波沉鱼”等春天故事系列产品都显示出如诗如画的艺术意境，使人如闻其声，如临其境，赏心悦目，美不胜收，陶醉在“生态陶瓷”一体化设计制造、个性化三维立体装饰的氛围中。

生态陶瓷 钻石文化

严重供大于求的建陶市场呼唤产品更新换代，要求建陶企业从过去追求产量到追求技术创新，在提高产品的档次、品质上下功夫。佛陶集团钻石陶瓷公司在自主开发３Ｘ智控方程技术系统的基础上，把对市场潮流的超前发现，对应用科学技术的掌握，对企业文化的开拓，融汇在健康、环保、绿色的新产品开发中，最近推出“生态陶瓷”亮丽星之春天故事·西施系列、富丽星之敦煌古壁、清丽星之哑光抛光砖、仿石砖、智多星之清道夫·太空船洁具系列产品。使“生态陶瓷”各大系列精品，除拥有普通陶瓷的优点外，还具有抗污、抑菌、防臭、抗龟裂、零辐射等性能，与大自然生态环境相得益彰，极大地提高了建陶产品的使用价值和艺术价值。新产品开发贵在突出技术创新和健康环保的主题。钻石公司通过国际、国内质量体系认证，全面提高企业素质，发挥专业科研队伍的团队优势，提出“好品质在乎天长地久，以科技造钻石生态陶瓷”的品牌号召。几年来，扎扎实实地打造３Ｘ智控方程设计制造的技术系统，采取自主开发的高置信度正态分布生产技术、正交优选法选材配料、网络平台互动设计体系的三大核心技术，通过三重设计的特殊生产工艺，使“生态陶瓷”不仅性能卓越，而且花色品种集成化配套，成为一种生态资源，美化、净化千家万户的居住环境。　　具有深厚企业文化内涵的“生态陶瓷”，震响了低迷的陶瓷市场，唤起了新世纪陶瓷产品更新换代的新希望。以“沙洲绿廊”命名的釉面砖，图案线条柔和平滑，表面磨砂效果浑然天成，使人联想到遥远的西域边陲上，茁壮的白扬沿着风的足迹，向沙漠深处延伸的情景；“晨曦牧歌”、“绿意弘音”、“天谷幽香”、“春雷雨丝”、“藤蔓物语”、“春蚕织锦”、“阳春白雪”、“风摇柳影”、“碧波沉鱼”等春天故事系列产品都显示出如诗如画的艺术意境，使人如闻其声，如临其境，赏心悦目，美不胜收，陶醉在“生态陶瓷”一体化设计制造、个性化三维立体装饰的氛围中。

钻石的文化及传说

自古以来，钻石对每个人来说都是一个梦，一种理想和一种形象。 然而由于钻石源自不同的区域、时代和文化背景，它对每一个人 来说又有某种特定的含义。钻石对某些人来讲代表权力、富贵、 地位、成就和安祥，而对某些人来却是爱情、永 恒、纯洁和忠实、勇敢、坚贞的象征。这些不同的形象交织着 宗教神话、古老的科学臆测、淘钻者的传说及商人的杜撰等等。虽然错综复杂，但却不抵触。这些形象都是为热爱钻石，不惜为之争斗，甚至为之死亡的人塑造的。在历史上，钻石的璀璨及光芒，曾照亮情人的眼睛，变成杀人的利刃；它曾是征服者的火炬，是下台暴君的惨淡的烛台。1．神话的魔力古希腊人相信钻石是陨落到地球上的星星碎片，甚至有人认为钻石是天神滴落的眼泪；人们也一度认为钻石是由天水或天露而来。在梵文中钻石一词即为雷电之意，借以表达钻石由闪电而生的信仰。直至今日现代科学的发展才告知人们钻石并不是由天而降，相反而是破地而出的。古人还相信钻石会生小钻石，连著名的科学家波义尔(R．Boyle，1627—1691)也相信此种说法。在17世纪，葡萄牙的探险家认为“钻石在接近地表处生长2—3年可长成”，并以矿工为何若干年后再返回老矿区仍可采到钻石为例证实这一观点。
2．以肉喂鸟，借鸟取钻之说一千零一夜故事中的主角辛巴达原本过着快乐的神仙生活。有一天他竞动了凡念，想一睹人间世界，于是他乘船随风飘向海中，任由风浪将他送到一座美丽茂盛的岛上。步上沙滩的辛巴达说到：“我鼓足勇气朝溪各走去，发现遍地钻石，山谷里守着成群的巨莽，一口可吞掉整只大象。山路狭窄难行，危机四伏。突然，前面掉下一块块被屠杀的羊肉，却不见人迹。惊异之下，我记起了很早以前，从商人和旅行者那听到的一个故事。钻石谷高山环绕，飞鸟难渡，但采钻人自有妙方……他们将羊宰杀后撕成块片，从山顶丢下谷 底，血腥的羊肉上便沾满了钻石。到了正午，秃鹰飞入山谷，以爪获起粘附了钻石的肉块，再飞回山顶。 这时等在山顶的采钻人大声咕喝，吓走秃鹰，取得钻石后，再将肉块留给鹰兽。”于是，辛巴达学着故事中的方法，将自己裹于肉块之中，秃鹰将裹有他的肉块抓起，飞到山顶，采钻者将他救下。此故事也讲明了钻石的亲油特性。3．蛇谷的故事在希腊，有这样一种传说，钻石遍市在山谷中，由巨蟒守护，凡人的眼睛只要看着巨蟒便会死在它的眼光里。只有机智坚忍的人，才能摆脱它们的守护获得钻石。在古罗马P1iny 有关钻石谷的文章中写到，亚历山大在公元前350年征战印度时，曾在钻石谷获取到钻石。他机智地命令士兵用镜子把蛇的目光反射给蛇自身，将蛇杀死。而后又将羊肉块丢向山谷的钻石，之后跟踪抓肉的秃鹰，将其杀死而获得钻石。4．钻石——金牛座的象征1278年西班牙学者通过对古代巴比伦文化的研究发现， 古代巴比伦人认为，钻石为双子星座的第三面目，也视其为 金牛座的第一象征。佩戴钻石者好猎，技艺精湛，受人敬重。 当土星行到这个位置，适时上升，与月亮成60。或120。时，佩 戴者身穿盔甲，肩背弓箭，神力倍增。5．宗教与钻石在中世纪末期，在一些有关宗教的书籍中，描写大祭师亚伦的胸牌和新耶路撒冷的基石因镶有钻石而具有神力。传说，在这神力的保护下，可使人竞技胜利，获得力量、勇气、权力、财富、永生，青春永驻，美梦成真，幸福和友谊等等。甚至说钻石可使人隐形，使死者复生。6．无名指佩戴钻戒之说按基督教的习俗，钻戒应戴在无名指上，据说是因为神父用戒指顺序轻触新人左手的三只手指，并说“奉圣父、圣子、圣灵之名”，最后正好落在无名指上。另一个更具浪漫色彩的传说是，埃及人认为，无名指的血脉是直接引进心房的爱情之脉，象征爱情永恒不变。7．钻石的医疗功效除了种种神话传说之外，钻石也被相信具有医疗功效，特别是对麻风病、神经错乱、膀胱炎和瘟疫有医疗作用。有人在书中写道：“钻石的医疗功效可由穷人易感染瘟疫，而富人因拥有钻石而免疫等来加以证明”。其它说法还讲，钻石可解毒，而又有人说钻石是剧毒物，据说，Frederic二世(1194—1250)就是因吃了由其儿子掺入钻石粉的食物而被毒死的。8．钻石名字的由来钻石的英文名称diamond，来源于希腊文金刚—— adams，意为“无可征服”，然而当时，此词用来指铁等坚硬的金属，之后又泛指硬度比铁大得多的蓝宝石。随着人们对宝 石的不断认识，才把diamond专指钻石。9．钻石魔力和宗教传说的淡化到l7—18世纪，随着人类科学、自然科学的不断发展和钻石的逐渐普及，关于钻石瘟疫和巫术的传说渐淡，人们对神力的崇拜也逐渐由传说中的感性转为理性的象征和心理 联想，这些都和钻石的性质紧密相关。净度：古人视钻石为最纯净之物，许多文明者认为唯有肉眼看不见内含物的钻石，才有价值，带有“瑕疵”者，代表厄运。颜色：无色透明的钻石代表纯洁。外形：完好的八面体原石是自然界中最完整的物体，它象征着秩序、祥和。亮度和火彩：无色透明，结晶良好的八面体钻石，即使不加切磨也可展露良好的亮度和火彩，因此钻石被视为明亮的象征。硬度：战士和魔术师认为钻石的坚硬是无法征服的象征，哲学家认为其意味着人类生命深不可测的奥秘。

漫谈钻石的历史文化

钻石号称"宝石之王"， 它与红宝石、蓝宝石、祖母绿和金绿猫眼石同被列为大自然赋予人类的五大名贵宝石，而其中钻石又居于五大宝石之首，是世界上公认的最珍贵的宝石。钻石是金刚石的宝石名称，所以又称金刚石、天宝石、夜光石，英文名称为DIAMOND，阿拉伯语是最硬的意思，希腊文称之为无敌于天下的"阿塔玛石"。 钻石的高折射率和高色散值导致钻石具有一种特殊的"火彩"，现代科学精确的计算出钻石的最佳折射角度和切磨方法，因此切工精致的钻石可以幻化出动人心魄的异彩，加上其坚硬永恒的特性，所以成为世人珍爱和追求的目标。 世界上首枚钻石大约是产于3000年前的古印度，是在印度的一条叫克里希纳的河谷内发现的。直到十八世纪之前，巨富的印度历代君王是世界上唯一的供应者。从公元前四世纪到公元十八世纪初，印度一共生产了约300万克拉的原钻。这也是钻石为什么以"克拉"作为计量单位的原因。古印度生长一种奇特的树， 这种树每颗树籽的重量基本相同，每粒正好是0.2克。 由于钻石稀世罕见、重量有限，聪明的印度人便用这种树的树籽"克拉"作为钻石的重量单位。钻石的重量计量单位是克拉（CT），1克拉=0.2克，1克拉=100分。 在13世纪的欧洲，钻石是皇室贵族的专利品，佩带钻石是皇后、公主们的特权。法国国王查理十七世的情妇爱丽丝·苏慧是第一位打破这种传统的女子，她从国王那里获赠一颗钻石，并在公共场合佩带，钻石从此进入民间。 15世纪是钻石与爱情结缘的里程碑。巴根地公爵查尔斯爱钻如命，喜好收集钻石，他女儿玛丽与奥地利大公订婚时获赠一枚钻戒，成为历史上第一枚订婚钻戒。其后，钻石便成美丽及永恒爱情的象征，也因此而俘获了无数女人的心。 16和17世纪，浪漫的法国人独领钻石新潮流。法国国王弗兰西斯一世的项链镶有11颗大钻石，他的王后嘉芙莲除喜欢钻石首饰外，还将钻石粉末掺入食物中将政敌毒死。欧洲历史上相传的"篡位粉"可能指的就是钻石粉末。钻石粉是否有毒仍未被考证，极有可能是古人故意编造谎言，以防矿工将钻石吞入体内行窃。路易十四执政期间，钻石在法国的流行达到顶锋。他的皇宫内摆满珠宝玉石，全身上下钻石闪闪。 据说他以国家名义购买了109颗重达10克拉以上的钻石、273颗重量为4至10克拉的钻石。最著名的要数从宝石巨商手中购回的44颗大钻石，其中包括一颗112克拉的法国蓝钻。 受法国影响，俄罗斯沙皇将钻石视为权力和财富的象征，彼得大帝1724年为皇后加冕时， 皇后冠上镶有2500颗钻石。 英国王室与钻石也有一段难解之缘。享利八世是钻石收藏家，1558年至1603年， 用钻石原石镶成的八角结晶体戒指时髦一时，顿成风尚。同时又掀起用钻石在玻璃窗上刻情书的热潮，钻戒一度被称为刻字戒指，甚至伊丽莎白一世本人也在一块玻璃上与沃尔特爵士咏诗谈心， 倾诉哀肠。1838年维多利亚女王登基，当时王室拥有2500颗钻石供她使用。 美国人对钻石的兴趣比欧洲人晚多了，直到19世纪末期，美国才时兴钻石首饰， 并将它作为爱的永恒信息。这一切完全是由钻石大王哈里·弗雷德里克·奥本海默创造的，他是把戴比尔斯公司从19世纪带到20世纪的欧内斯特·奥本海默爵士的儿子。美国人后来居上，其原因可以追溯到他发起的以"钻石是永恒的"这句广告语闻名于世的促销运动。据说钻石巨商布雷迪拥有2万颗钻石；出版业巨子普利策在一次法国皇室珠宝拍卖会上买到一条镶有222颗钻石的项链送给他的妻子； 著名影星玛丽莲·梦露、伊丽莎白·泰勒都与钻石有一段美丽的故事，而美国老百姓对钻石也是感情深厚，当世界名钻在纽约展出时，成千上万的观众在雨中排队，等候参观。 在日本，直到第二次世界大战时，佩戴婚戒的人还不到人口的1%，后来，戴比尔斯发起的一场朴实无华然而持之以恒的促销运动，使日本近70%的新娘佩戴了钻戒。 西德人是另一个容易受广告宣传影响的消费群体。1967年以前，西德的新娘大多喜欢佩戴由两个金环重合而成的婚戒，于是戴比尔斯推出了"三环钻戒"的新概念，即给"双环戒"增添一个镶钻石的第三环。这一新概念使西德变成世界上第三个最大的钻石消费国。 中国最早关于钻石的记载是西晋时的作品，「列子汤问篇」提到辊铬之剑，和汉代「十洲记」提到的切玉刀。这些刀剑都镶有钻石。 订了婚的女士们将戒指戴在左手无名指上的传统，可追溯到早期的埃及人，他们相信爱情之脉从心脏直接通到左手无名指的指尖。透过一只简单的单粒钻戒，钻石为世上无数男女传达了心中的情愫，散发出永恒的爱火。从结婚，到结婚周年纪念日，相爱的男女都用钻石来表达情意，一只镶满钻石的圆形戒指，说的是"我俩的爱情没有尽头"，代表永恒之爱（这个源自西方的传统亦为东方人所接纳)，时至今日，人们以钻戒作为爱的献礼已蔚然成风。人们还将结婚60周年或75周年称为钻石婚，也将钻石作为四月的生辰石。 数十亿年前即诞生在地壳深处的钻石，一直是无可比疑、不容超越的代表，并因为它的坚硬和美丽而价值不凡。钻石是经得起时代变迁的古老宝藏，几世纪以来早已成为永恒之爱的象征。传说中，邱比特的箭端镶了钻石，所以具有神奇的魔力！正因为它的光芒凌驾超越于任何宝石之上，古希腊人相信钻石是陨落到地球上的星星碎片，甚至有人认为钻石是天神滴落的眼泪；人们也一度认为钻石是由天水或天露而来。在梵文中钻石一词即为雷电之意，借以表达钻石由闪电而生的信仰。直至今日现代科学的发展才告知人们钻石并不是由天而降，相反而是破地而出的。古人还相信钻石会生小钻石，连著名的科学家波义尔(R．Boyle，1627-1691)也相信此种说法。在17世纪，葡萄牙的探险家认为"钻石在接近地表处生长2-3年可长成"，并以矿工为何若干年后再返回老矿区仍可采到钻石为例证实这一观点。

钻石婚配的选购

一颗精美的钻戒可以印证甜蜜的爱情。那么究竟送什么样的钻戒才合适呢？
　　30、40分的单颗美钻钻戒是通常的选择，既能表达爱意又能被一般收入阶层的人士接受。如果经济条件允许的话，选50分以上的钻饰更好，因为50分以上的钻石保值、增值能力更强。 　　
　　买钻饰时提醒您注意的是，既要注重钻石重量，也一定要注意钻石的色泽、净度、切工，即综合考虑 4c 标准。重量大、切工好（有着璀璨光芒的）、纯净瑕疵少、色泽优白的钻石才是好钻石。购买40分以上的钻石首饰，一定别忘要求商家出示国家级检测部门的鉴定证书。另外，建议您在购买钻戒时，最好能将与之相配套的耳钉、吊坠一并购买，以免新娘的首饰因搭配不当留下遗憾。
同样，新娘送给新郎一枚钻戒作为信物，也非常恰当。一般以镶钻的铂金戒指为宜，简洁、大方，既华美又不张扬，恰如其分地表明了拥有者不俗的品位。另外，选一款做工精美的手链送给老公也很不错，既华贵又实用。
当然，挑选诚信热情的商家也很重要，结婚饰物拥有无可比拟的纪念意义，值得一生珍藏。但钻石饰品在佩带过程中难免会发生因为佩带不当造成的一些小问题，比如镶脚松动等等，这时一个好的商家所提供的周到服务就会解决你的问题。

钻石的八大标志

文化是人类独特的标志。
钻石具有独特的标志意义。
钻石的八大标志是钻石文化的重要内涵。
1、兴旺发达的标志
钻石是世界公认的珍贵的宝石，是“宝石之王”。它具有特殊的金刚光泽和强烈的火彩，在阳光下光芒四射，给人以光彩夺目，灿烂辉煌的感觉，是兴旺发达的标志。它标志着顶级事业、顶级成就。
2、纯洁爱情的标志
钻石纯洁透明、经久不变，钻戒象情人炯炯有神的眼睛，深情地注视着你。它是纯洁爱情的标志，表示对爱情的永恒追求和忠贞。
3、高尚品质的标志
钻石晶莹剔透、高雅脱俗，象征着纯洁真实、忠诚勇敢、沉着冷静、安静自如、稳如泰山。人们把钻石看成是高尚品质的标志。高山仰止、景行行止，虽不能至，心向往之。
4、非凡能力的标志
钻石除其华贵的外观之外，内在的化学特性也十分稳定，它既不怕任何物质刻划，又不怕酸、碱、盐的腐蚀。钻石是硬度为10的标准石，其硬度是蓝宝石硬度（9级）的150倍，是水晶硬度（7级）的1000倍。钻石是宝石级金刚石，“金刚”的含义是：坚固、锐利、勇摧毁一切。钻石的英文名称diamond，来源于希腊文金刚adama,意为“无可征服”。
5、无穷财富的标志
钻石是唯一一种集最高硬度、强折射率和高色散于一体的宝石品种，是任何其他宝石都一可比拟的。这样的宝中之宝，理所当然地成为贵中之贵了。
6、无限权力的标志
历代帝王将名钻视为无限权力的标志，奉为至宝，深藏在宫中，世代相传。
7、艺术魅力的标志
钻石只有在琢磨良好的情况下，才能反射出内部的所有光线，并且因色散而闪现彩色光芒。当琢磨欠佳时，钻石的光亮程度用彩色闪光就大为逊色。钻石以其璀璨的光芒，成为地球上万众瞩目的艺术明星。
8、永恒存在的标志
在几千万年前，地下深处炽热的岩浆沿管子上冲，由于火山口经常被堵死，上升的岩浆在极巨大的压力下冷却。其中含的少量纯碳在这种高温的巨大压力下结晶成为金刚石。金刚石由于又硬又稳定，在漫长的地质岁月中，由“原生矿”到“残积砂矿”乃至“冲积砂矿”，本色毫无变化，且愈加璀璨。

现代钻石之父：达文尼(J．Tavernier)

达文尼1605年出生于巴黎，父亲为新教徒，他自幼喜爱地理和旅游，22岁时便游遍了欧洲大部分地区。在1631年至1633年短短三年时间，他曾六次东航至印度等地。他是最早观察记录印度这一古老钻石开发地的欧洲人，并记录下了他在航海途中所经历的惊险刺激及海盗与强盗的争战。在1676年他出版了“达文尼六航记”，其大部分内容都涉及钻石，备受欢迎，并先后译成了英文和德文及意大利文。 达文尼是历史上最早跨大洲经纪珠宝的商人，更重要的是他为全球认识钻石、开采钻石和传播钻石知识起到了先导作用，并打开了欧洲与印度的钻石贸易通道，因此，被称为现代钻石之父。

最大单粒钻石产地

1905年在南非普列米尔矿，发现重3106克拉巨型大钻，定名为“库利南”，1919年在该矿区又找到一块重1500克拉钻石，按它的形状，颜色、反复对比研究后确定它应该与“库利南”为同一晶体，所以没有命名，如果没有裂开成为二块的话，“库利南”重量至少在4606克拉以上。1980年在该矿区又发现第三颗大钻重599克拉。南非普列米尔矿为世界公认的巨形钻石的产地。

钻石怎样从地球深部到地表被人们发现的

当地球的外壳产生拉力，固体的岩块开始移动及破裂，这时发生地震，火山喷发。当火山熔岩从地球深部往地表上升时，将深部形成的钻石带到地球浅层及表面。经过熔岩冷却我们可以在冷却的岩石中找到钻石。当钻石富集并达到一定规模时，我们称为钻石原生矿。含有钻石的岩石在自然条件下风化，钻石残留在山坡、河流、海岸中并富集形成矿床，称为钻石次生矿。

怎样鉴别钻石

在10倍放大镜下，对钻石的鉴别有多种方法，综合各种方法得结果，来加以判断。区别是否钻石。 光学特征：金刚光泽是钻石特有的，大多数钻石仿制品多为玻璃光泽，与钻石有明显的不同。钻石的火彩也有一定的特点，有些人工合成仿钻宝石，如：立方氧化锆，合成红石、钛酸锶等，它们火彩比钻石强，感觉不舒服。 钻石表面和内部特征：钻石的切磨过程中为保证钻石的重量，往往在钻石腰部保留下钻石原生晶面，如：三角锥、台阶壮生长纹，这是判断钻石的最好标志。钻石内包裹体的种类和形态与合成仿钻宝石包裹体明显的不同，根据它们的特点，也可鉴别钻石。 透视试验：在白纸上划一条黑色细线，将钻石台面向下放在黑线上，从亭部观察钻石，当看不到纸之黑线时，则为钻石，否则为仿制品。 亲油性试验：用油性笔在钻石表面划线，如表面留下清晰的线条则是钻石，仿制品则出现线条间断现象。 钻石切磨特征：钻石加工后表面平整、光滑，面与面的交线平直锋锐，多面相交必为一点，冠部亭部刻面在腰部上下对齐，腰部未抛光为粗磨砂壮，抛光则为许多平面组合而成。

钻石怎样表示重量,一克拉等于多少克

钻石和所有珍贵宝石一样都用克拉来表示重量。“克拉”这一重量单位来源于古代印度的德拉维达族，当地人在称重时使用一种叫“角豆树”的种子，由于当地角豆树的种子重量有惊人的一致，它们的重量在195—205毫克之间。1911年以后世界各国逐渐统一克拉作为宝石的计量单位，并规定1克等于5克拉，1克拉等于0.2克，等于200毫克，等于100分

钻石：大自然的奇迹 摸得到的浪漫

如同大自然造就恢宏壮丽的名山大川一样，神奇的地球经过亿万年的地壳运动，为人类洞开了一扇异彩纷呈的“芝麻大门”。当我们的先人懂得用兽骨、象牙打造饰物来佩戴的时候，便预示着人类文明从此踏上漫长的征程。从公元前四千年的古巴比伦王国允许商人在市场上公开出售祖母绿宝石，到三千多年前的印度克里希纳河床发现第一颗钻石；从两千多年前满身珠光宝气的埃及艳后克列奥佩特拉，到号称世界上拥有珠宝最多的女人伊丽莎白女王；从象征王权的“非常之星”，到祈求平安的珠宝玉器……大自然的慷慨赐予，便是人类富有的最好诠释。

然而，当人类文明进入２１世纪，珠宝早已不再为王公贵族所独享。今天无论我们身处何地，珠宝正以前所未有的文化形态向我们走来，拥有珠宝、佩戴珠宝已成为一种文化、一种时尚、一种生活态度。
世界是多彩的，自然界的宝石更是天生丽质、璀璨无比。从奇缘天成的钻石到鲜红似火焰、清澈如海水的红、蓝宝；从青翠欲滴的祖母绿到斑斓多姿的金绿宝；从玉石之王翡翠到晶莹剔透的水晶石，凡是宝石，就有其美妙传神之处、就有其独特文化内涵。
　与宝石的差异一样，地域文化的差异和价值取向的不同，也使得人们在珠宝消费过程中形成的观念截然不同，有的人只偏爱珠宝艳丽的色泽和诱人的形态；有的人佩戴珠宝只为显示富贵的身价；有的人则不仅欣赏珠宝的华贵和璀璨，而且对珠宝文化具有超乎寻常的感悟，更将珠宝与陶冶性情、修身养性融为一体，或许这才算得上人、物相宜菜，境界不凡。
发现钻石之美
　　钻石之美，美在稀少。２５０吨矿石才能开采出１克拉钻石，而钻石矿藏在全球也只是很少的地区才有。能够用于首饰的钻石就更少了。
　钻石之美，美在传说。传说中钻石是天神的眼泪，爱神丘比特的箭因为镶了钻石才能够施展爱的魔法。多少年来，钻石成为人们爱的信物。
钻石之美，美在精神。钻石生成于极其恶劣的地质条件下，又经历几亿年的寂寞等待，才有机会来到人间。每一颗戴在你颈上或手上的小小钻石，都穿越了上亿年的时空，带着远古的气息，历经了漫长的岁月，所以，你与你拥有的那颗钻石的缘分从上古时代就已经开始。珍爱你所拥有的钻石，因为为了你，它已等待了太久太久。
　　钻石之美，美在永恒。自然界最坚硬的物质，风霜雪雨，飞沙走石，都丝毫不能改变它的一切。那５８个标准刻面无一不闪耀着生命的火光。钻石之光，只能用生命来形容，像火焰一样地跳动、喷射。它是顽石之中唯一具有生命特质的物体。宝石之王的美称也不能够表达它的全部。
　　钻石之美，美在性情。在它光彩夺目的外表下，是处女般安静的心。待字闺中，气定神闲。就像山中的清清溪流，绕石而过，随遇而安。

见证钻石的世界之旅

你是否想过，当一款精美的金利福钻饰呈现在你面前时，那上面的钻石已经经历了数千公里的长途旅行，经过几个国家工匠的打造，这也是它们具有如此高价值的原因之一。总要把机票钱赚回来吧！以下我们带你见证一下漫长的钻石之旅。
　　第一站：南非 任务：开采 世界上共有２７个国家和地区发现钻石矿床。其中最优质的无色透明钻石，主要来自南非、扎伊尔、俄罗斯、加纳等国家。澳大利亚钻石产量虽为世界第一，但钻石色质不够纯净，多数用于工业。而南非的钻石产量虽然只排世界第五，但钻石品质非常好，结晶大都为八面体或十二面体，其中大约有２５％可以作为宝石进行首饰加工，许多著名的钻石名品如“库利南”、“琼格尔”等均产自这里，这使得南非成为最重要的产钻国家。到今天钻矿的开采还在沿用最原始的方法，半裸的黑人挥汗如雨，拿着简陋的工具，寻找这世界上最贵的石头。
　
　　第二站：比利时 　　任务：切割 Ｄｉａｍｏｎｄ一词，最早来源于希腊语Ａｄａｍａｎｔ，其意为难以征服。１５５８年至１６０３年英国女王戴的钻石戒指，也只是一枚磨平了一个角的八面体金刚石而已。在１９０９年，波兰人塔克瓦斯基（Ｔｏｌｋｏｗｓｋｙ）根据金刚石的折射光率，按照全反射原理，设计出最佳反光效果的５８个刻面的标准钻石型，此后光芒灿烂的钻石便真正成为了宝石之王。比利时安特卫普从１７世纪开始就成了世界著名的钻石交易中心。该市８０％的居民从事钻石及相关行业，这里切磨的钻石，加工精美，造型准确，故而“安特卫普切工”又被称为“标准钻石切工”备受推崇。著名的“安特卫普钻石中心”除了经营未加工钻石贸易外，还专门为欧洲王室、达官贵人、全世界的富豪明星们订做各种钻石。钻石切磨要遵循三大原则：保留最大重量、消去瑕疵以及得到最佳的切磨形状。研磨之前技师要了解其结晶特征以便画线，再根据切线锯开钻石后打磨。
　　第三站：意大利 　　任务：镶嵌 意大利的传统手工艺制作历史可以上溯到古罗马时代，许多个世纪以来，意大利手工匠人薪火相传，其浪漫的民族性格使他们的作品极具创意和艺术气息。意大利珠宝因此饱含着丰厚的文化积淀，并始终走在时代前面。如今大部分的意大利珠宝产品仍是出自于平均只有６个工匠的小型工作室，很多都是家族式的企业，员工多为几代世袭的工匠，再著名的品牌也不会有太大的生产规模。意大利珠宝设计举世无双，制作注重细节，每一个细部加工均由手工完成。深厚的文化传承和精益求精的手工打造形成了意大利首饰的不可替代性。意大利在世界珠宝业的地位举足轻重，多年来，该国占有世界珠宝首饰贸易额的３７％，每年意大利向全世界出口金银首饰约２亿件。　
　　第四站：世界各地 　　任务：销售 在宝石贸易中，钻石营业额最大，占宝石总销售额的８０％。钻石作为订情的信物、四月的生辰石、结婚６０周年的贺品、保值的硬通货而流传于世。钻石价格昂贵，目前世界上统一的４Ｃ评价标准也是我们挑选钻石产品的最重要标准。即评价要素有四个：重量（Ｃａｒａｔ　ｗｅｉｇｈｔ）、颜色（Ｃｏｌｏｕｒ）、净度（Ｃｌａｒｉｔｙ）、切工（Ｃｕｔ）。因这四个要素的英文字都以Ｃ开头，所以简称四“Ｃ”因素。钻石的净度共分为如下六级：完全无瑕级（ＦＬ）、内部无瑕级（ＩＦ）、极微内部瑕疵级（ＶＶＳ）、微瑕级（ＶＳ）、瑕疵级（ＳＩ）、重瑕疵级（Ｉ）。
　钻石的色彩，由最珍贵的无色，罕见的浅蓝、粉红到常见的微黄不等。愈透明无色，白光就愈能穿透，经折射和色散后更是绚丽多彩。如果说钻石是上帝带给人类的珍贵礼物，那么采矿工人便是上帝的信使，而切磨技师的高超技艺唤醒了钻石的灵魂，珠宝设计师们的天赋赋予了钻石不同的叙事风格。现在，它需要的只剩下能够找到懂得它价值的人。

2007彩色宝石物语

万紫千红、花香四溢的春天里，色彩在大地恣意奔放。大自然对人类的慷慨放松，不止于鸟语花香对我们呼唤，一万年孕育而成的彩色宝石，是大地献给我们恒久的珍贵礼物。
春天是色彩的餐宴，珠宝世界杂志在这春暖花开春色荡漾的季节里，特别安排许多彩色宝石的专题介绍和读者一起细细品味，在珠宝的世界里尽情舒展内心的情感，让我们在春风里更加得意、自在。
水晶 水晶隶属于大石英家族的一类，大石英家族为宝石家族中成员繁多的一类，以二氧化矽(Sio2)为主要元素，由于结晶种类的不同，又大略分为水晶类、玉髓类、蛋白石等等，市面上常见的各色水晶、玛瑙、玉髓都属于这个家族。 数年前，彩色宝石尚未开始流行时，水晶最被强调的就是它的磁场，据称不同颜色的水晶可加强人体不同的磁场或运势，例如有粉晶招恋爱运、黄水晶招财等说话，台湾也有一阵子流行在家里摆个晶洞。 近年来，像是Pomellato等国际珠宝品牌，在设计中加入了水晶元素，颜色多彩且价格较平易近人，很受追求流行的年轻族群喜爱。

拓帕石 最初在台湾的珠宝市场，拓帕石一度被误翻译为[黄玉]，然而它不全是黄色，清澈透明的外观与所谓的[玉]也打不相同，因此后来便直接采用音译，称Topaz为拓帕石。 拓帕石家族中，身价最高的为红桔色的帝王拓帕石(Imperial Topaz)，数量十分稀少。而市场上最常见的则为黄色和蓝色的拓帕石。
琥珀
电影[侏罗纪公园]上映后，不但电影大大热卖，剧情里用以获得恐龙基因的琥珀，也因此引起更多人的兴趣。 琥珀属于有机宝石，为远古时期某些树木的树脂化石，而包裹有小虫或叶脉等的[异物]，非但不被当作讨厌的内含物，还被视为是珍贵且神秘的礼物。 琥珀亦称为佛教七宝之一，硬度非常低，所以在佩戴时要特别注意，也尽量不要与化学物质接触，以免遭到腐蚀。
珊瑚 从古罗马时代，珊瑚就被称为具有护身辟邪的功能，在中国文化中，珊瑚则被列为佛教七宝之一。台湾味全球珊瑚的重要产地，全盛时期时，台湾的珊瑚产量占全世界的80%，有着珊瑚王国的美誉。 珊瑚的化学成分主要为碳酸钙(CaCO3)，常见的有赤色、桃色、粉红和白色，今年来也常见到黑珊瑚于金珊瑚被用于流行饰品的设计。珊瑚与珍珠相同，都是需要细心照料的有机宝石，佩戴时要尽量避免化妆品、发胶等化学物品，并且在每次佩戴后都要仔细擦拭，以免灰尘、汗水的残留，侵蚀珊瑚的表面。

有色宝石保养

1.红蓝宝石是有色宝石中最易保护的宝石，这两种宝石硬度大，韧性中等，性质稳定，只要不猛烈碰撞和避免高温，就可长期佩戴。
2.祖母绿是性质较脆的宝石，加上天然祖母绿往往会有瑕疵，容易发生破裂，因此要避免强烈挤压和碰撞。浸油或入胶以掩饰其瑕疵裂纹是处理祖母绿常见的方法。这种饰品必须避免过热.
3.金绿宝石（包括变石和猫眼）是硬度及韧性均好的宝石，因而是一种很理想的男性宝石。佩戴过程中一般只需避免高温，特别在改制款式或维修时不要让火焰直对着宝石。
4.碧玺是一种光泽柔和的宝石，但缺点是硬度较低，脆性亦较强。因而佩戴碧玺做成的珠宝，应小心不要与别的宝石摩擦碰撞，以免划花。 碧玺具有热电性（故学名电气石），经过太阳照射或受热会产生静电而吸附一些微细的灰尘。因此，在风尘较大的环境工作的人，应注意经常用酒精等中性清洗液清洗宝石，以保持其光泽柔美。同时碧玺亦应避免过热，因为热有时可改变碧玺的颜色。
5.锆石、橄榄石不能与其他宝石放在一起。锆石、橄榄石是地下高温环境形成的宝石，性质较脆，硬度也较低，因而往往由于原料裂纹太多而难于做成大的宝石。宝石成品之间的互相摩擦也会磨花宝石的棱角而使宝石失去"锐气"。这两种宝石也不能遇热，遇热会增加其脆性。橄榄石还怕酸，与酸性物质长期接触会使宝石的表面受到腐蚀而减弱其光泽。
6.黄玉（托帕斯石）、月光宝石应避免碰撞，因为两者均有解理，碰撞后宝石易沿着一个方向裂开而使之全部或部分被破坏。
7.尖晶石、石榴石是硬度中等的宝石，一般只需注意不要互相碰撞即可。
8.水晶应避免与放射性物质接触，尽量避免接触热源。水晶在放射性照射（如从事X光透视的工作者）下会变色，而紫晶在加热时有可能出现颜色变淡的现象。

钻石仿冒品

钻石只有真(天然)与假(人工)之分，真的天然钻石品质分类非常精细严谨且复杂的。假的人工钻石并没有好坏差别。俗话说:真的假不了、假的真不了，市面上常见的人工钻石如下： 苏联钻(CZ)：是利用化学元素二氧化锆制成，价钱非常低廉，国外戏称之为〝白宝石〞有些消费者出国旅游经常付昂贵价钱买回，实在冤枉。而其最基本而简单的检视方法是〝比重〞比较二者重量，苏联钻会比天然钻石重很多，用同样的一克拉尺寸比较，苏联钻重达天然钻石的1.6倍左右。很多商家喜欢用热探针测试，假钻石则不会发出哔哔声音。且它不具亲油性并容易看穿透视至底部。由于苏联钻莫氏硬度只有8度，因此其切割线常有磨损，用10倍放大镜观看很容易检视出来。由于价钱低廉所以经常被镶造于黄金和假K金饰物上。
摩星石(莫桑石)：摩星石用热探针测试会发出哔哔声音，且火光也不差，可以说〝以假乱真〞，因此早期曾有不少银楼和当铺因而受骗上当损失不赀。其最简单的分辨方法是-摩星石的颜色大部份略带有很浅的微绿或微灰色，另一可明确判断方法是用10倍放大镜由桌面直视底部刻面的线条可以很轻易看到两条平行线的重影情形，这是摩星石最好鉴定方式。

钻石的前世今生

在各种名贵首饰中，钻石向来最得女士们青睐。然而,古代中国人研究珠宝器玩虽出神入化，但对“宝石之王”竟然有眼不识泰山，连被誉作“贵族生活百科全书”的《红楼梦》也对它不屑一提。这是何故? “火钻”缘出“火水”里 通过文字认识事物，最忌望文生义。比如钻石，其上品叫做“火钻”，你若凭那个“火”字而断言此类钻石红光闪烁，恐怕“人唔笑狗也要吠”。究其实，火钻颜色淡蓝，像煤油，在粤方言里煤油叫做“火水”，旧时的广州人便把该种抵得上一座东山小洋楼的钻石戏称为“火水钻”，简称“火钻”。 从印度兜转到荷兰 提起钻石，不免扯上“金刚”。 “金刚”一词是地道的“国货”，但其衍生词“金刚石”，却被《汉语外来词词典》判断为来自日语的外来词。个中缘由，须从金刚石之为物说起。 金刚石是碳的同素异形体，其特有的晶体结构，使它成为一切已知物质中最硬的一种。金刚石指的是未经加工的原石，经琢磨而成装饰物的叫做钻石。 世界头号钻石“库利南” 钻石被誉作“宝石之王”。英国王冠上镶的是印度名钻“光明之山”，王杖上镶的是南非名钻“非洲之星”。 在1870年于南非发现原生矿之前，金刚石被零星地偶然捡拾于砂砾之中。最早把这种非金属矿物视为稀世之宝的，是两千多年前即已生息于恒河流域的印度人。公元前4世纪，希腊的亚历山大大帝远征印度，金刚石遂为希腊人所知，他们借用一个现成的形容词对它作了正式命名———adamas。这个古希腊词的原义是天下无敌的，引申义为最坚硬之物。 古希腊人还厘定了秤衡adamas的重量单位———克拉。克拉，古希腊文为keras，是产于爱琴海沿岸的一种角豆树的种子，其特点是很小很轻而每颗重量严格相同。1克拉等于0.2克，世界头号钻石“库利南”重3106克拉，像拳头大；中国头号钻石“常林钻石”重158克拉，像核桃大。 相当长一段历史时期，人们无法对金刚石进行切割，在神庙里或在皇宫里被用作饰物的乃是原石。晚至1454年，方才由荷兰匠师发明了以金刚石琢磨金刚石的加工方法，方才有了跟原石形态的金刚石相对而言的“钻石”这个词。 就本文的题旨而论，“荷兰”是一个关键词。直至上世纪40年代，全世界最出彩的钻石加工场所，仍然集中在荷兰首都阿姆斯特丹。由于这一历史原因，古希腊词adamas逐渐形变为拉丁语系的荷兰词，最后定型为英语的diamond———它既指金刚石，亦指钻石。 此石因何谓之“钻” 金刚，是一个古老的中国词，作为五行家的术语，它被用于概称属“金”的西方刚坚之“气”。当“金刚”被中国佛教挪用之后，这个词在某些多少涉及五行的著述中仍会偶尔闪现，特指一种产自“西方”的“石”。 西晋著名方士郭璞在其志怪笔记《玄中记》中写道：“金刚出天竺（即印度）、大秦国（即罗马），一名削玉刀，削玉如铁刀削木，大者长尺许，小者如稻黍。”李时珍在《本草纲目》中写道：“金刚石，出西番天竺诸国；金刚钻，其砂可以钻玉补瓷，故谓之钻。” 诸如此类记述中的“金刚石”，本来正是最早被发现于印度而被希腊人郑重命名为adamas的那一物事。然而，这个古老的中国词却完全没有跟珍宝相关的内涵。例如，从李时珍的前述那段文字里尽管找得着“钻石”一词的典出，但这钻石只不过类同于打火的燧石，是一种寻常用具。 金刚石钩挂“兰学” 但在大海东边，相应于“李时珍时代”的日本学者从汉语中引进了“金刚石”这个词，让它跟西方文化相钩挂，钩挂的纽带，乃是荷兰！ 荷兰是第一个跟日本建立固定联系的欧洲国家，荷兰海军入侵台湾是在1624年，而早在1609年，荷属东印度公司已经在日本设立了永久性商馆。荷兰人给日本带去了大量近代西方学术知识，始自17世纪初，这种来自荷兰的知识就被日本学者统称为“兰学”。 1708年，早期兰学家西川如见在其调研中国、日本和包括印度、阿拉伯在内的“泛西方国家”的交互贸易的专著《华夷通商续考》中，提到了“金刚石”这种商品，中日两国所需的金刚石都来自“西方”。值得注意的是，该书中的“金刚石”虽然用的是汉字，但西川如见却给它注上了近似荷兰语“钻石”的读音，因而，这是一个打上了荷兰文化印记的日本产汉字词。 一个半世纪以后，值日本开始全方位向西方学习的1864年，晚期兰学家清水卯三郎编成日英词典《英米通语》。在这部词典中，日语“金刚石”的读音定型为diamond的转音daiyamondo。 近代中国人对于“金刚石”一词的理解，契合于《英米通语》之类而并非《玄中记》。《汉语外来词词典》把“金刚石”判断为外来词，历史文化依据相当充分。钻石与爱情：梦幻之爱 黄色钻石浪漫之爱 粉红、红色钻石理智之爱 蓝色钻石清澈之爱 绿色钻石

中国的钻石资源与产地

中国于1965年先后在贵州和山东找到了金伯利岩和钻石原生矿床。1971年辽宁瓦房店找到钻石原生矿床。目前仍在开采的两个钻石原生矿床分布于辽宁瓦房店和鲁中蒙阴地区。钻石砂矿则见于湖南沅江流域、西藏、广西以及跨苏皖两省的郯庐断裂等地。目前我国钻石主要产地有三个:辽宁瓦房店,山东蒙阴—临沭,湖南沅水流域.都是金伯利岩型,但湖南尚未找到原生矿.其中辽宁的质量好,山东的个头较大.目前我国现存发现的最大钻石为常林钻石，于1977年2月21日发现于山东，由常林大队魏振芳发现，故而得名“常林钻石”，现藏银行国库中。常林钻石重157.786克拉，呈八面体，质地洁净、透明，淡黄色。另据传，中国最大的钻石曾是金鸡钻石，也发现于该地区，重217.75克拉，但在二战期间被日军掠走，至今下落不明。

世界最著名的八大钻石

1、英王权仗1661年英王查理二世举行加冕典礼时制成。1910年，在权杖上端加镶了世界最大的钻石“非洲之星I”,它的形似水滴，重达530.2克拉。2、梨形的德勒斯坦钻石梨形的德勒斯坦钻石，是已知世界上最大的绿色钻石，重41克拉。3、柯伊诺尔钻石历史名钻“柯伊诺尔”又名“光明之山”，世界最古老的名钻，现重106克拉。4、世纪钻石世纪钻石 重273克拉，仅次于克利兰一号及二号。1980年在南非发现，原石重599克拉。经过专业切磨师耗用三年的时间，精心切割打磨，这颗毫无瑕疵的巨钻终于诞生了。5、英帝国王冠英帝国王冠上镶有著名的"黑王子红宝石"(王冠中部正中，红色)，世界第二大钻石"非洲之星第二(王冠下部正中，比黑王子红宝石大)"和圣爱德华蓝宝石(王冠顶部十字架中心)，王冠上共镶有4粒红宝石、11粒祖母绿、16粒宝石蓝、227粒珍珠和超过2800粒大大小小的钻石。6、世界上最大的有色钻石世界上最大的有色钻石。原石890克拉，切磨出407.48克拉的梨形钻，在1988年拍卖会中以1250万美元成交。7、金绿石猫眼金绿石猫眼。在1991年拍卖会中以六万五千美元成交。8、噩运之钻“希望”噩运之钻“希望”。重45.52克拉，深蓝色，世界著名珍宝。

【钻石产地、交易及相关的政治问题】

电影《血钻》的上映，将将钻研业推向风口浪尖 据知，李奥纳多将以这一部新片角逐奥斯卡金像奖影帝。《血钻》的背景是一九九O代末期的塞拉利昂共和国，当时，为了抢夺钻石矿的开采权和走私的管道，塞拉利昂爆发内战，光是一九九七年到二OOO，在战乱中死亡的就高达七万五千人。这一部电影印证了流传于黑暗非洲的一句警语：「如果你要活得久，钻石千万碰不得」（If you want long life，never touch the diamond！）　　其实，在非洲的主要钻石矿藏所在国家，如塞拉利昂、安哥拉、刚果民主共和国，战火绵延，炮弹与血肉齐飞：钻石的开采提供了打仗所需要的武器，买了武器又来抢夺钻石开采的权利。如此循环反复，哪一块钻石能不沾上黑钱与黑人红色的血迹？　　二OOO年七月五日，联合国通过1306号决议案，全面禁止塞拉利昂的钻石出口。彼时，塞拉利昂的内战已打了将近十年，政府军和反抗军的武器，主要都是靠卖钻石去换取。　　塞拉利昂共和国位于西非大西洋沿岸，一八O八年就成为英国的殖民地。早年有无数的原住民被英、美的奴隶贩子送上奴隶船，在美洲大陆成为任人宰割的黑奴。直到一七八七年，反黑奴的英国左翼团体集资买下沿海的土地，被林肯总统解放的黑奴才得以离开美国，回到塞拉利昂聚居。一九七一年的一场军事政变，使塞拉利昂脱离大英国协，成为独立的共和国。然而，英国在塞拉利昂仍拥有庞大的经济势力，在政治动荡期间，维护其既得利益乃是首要的考虑。因此，英国也正是联合国1306号决议案的提案人，希望透过禁运制约叛军的扩张。　　当然，为了强化禁运制裁的道德合理性，决议案内文也同时要求联合国秘书长授权组织专家小组，对钻石换武器的交易展开调查。当然，禁运的效果是有限的，透过利比里亚和几内亚等邻国，塞拉利昂的钻石走私还是可以找到交易的管道，只要黛比尔斯(De Beers)和蒂芙尼(Tiffany)等钻石商在媒体上持续大打广告创造奢华的需求，明晃晃的钻石不难找到属于它的黑市。　　事实上，塞拉利昂内战的背景既不是意识型态的斗争，也不是族群或地域的冲突，其根源完全是因为敌对的国际珠宝商对钻石矿藏的竞夺。钻石稀有而昂贵的特质更激发商人的贪婪与无情，他们不仅将商场视为战场，同时也将战场视为商场，在无数黑人战士的尸骨上累积他们的财富。　　跨国企业也将他们跨国经营的技巧运用到跨越国界的「犯罪经济」网络。从塞拉利昂走私出来的钻石，绝大多数在邻国的利比里亚交易，光是利比里亚首都门罗维亚（Monrovia）一个城市，每一年就至少有二亿美元的钻石买卖。钻石、武器、毒品和洗钱交织成整个黑市的结构。钻石大户戴比尔斯和拉札'卡普兰国际企业（Lazare Kaplan International）是这一宝石交易系统的最大获利者。因为，从战乱地区开采的原钻，透过走私管道运出，可以让钻石企业财团以最低廉的价钱购得成色最佳的商品，也因此可以控制国际钻石市场，保有最高的获利空间。　　塞拉利昂的反抗军固然靠出卖国家矿藏换取武器，政府军也好不到哪里去。总统和他的部长们只不过是一个披着合法外衣的强盗集团。塞拉利昂的公民未曾从政府获得任何福利或服务，然而它却是一个受到国际社会承认的合法政权，可以一笔一笔地与加拿大、美国、比利时、英国和南非的采矿公司签约。整个塞拉利昂「有价值的国土」，被一平方米、一平方米地切割出来做抵押，原钻、红宝石、黄金、铝土等矿藏就这样一点一滴地转让、贱卖。　　塞拉利昂每年有十亿美元的宝石流入国际珠宝市场，而其丰富的铝矿藏量也足以影响到国际市场的价格。因此，不仅两大钻石集团在此展开血腥的竞争，做为前殖民母国的英国也部署军力支持当权派，以维持矿藏开采的稳定。复杂无比的外来势力介入塞拉利昂内战，使得这个祖先被贩卖为黑奴的国家，几乎看不到任何和平的希望。　　由于连年战乱，死伤无数，为了补充兵员，许多孩子们小小的年纪就被迫武装，送上战场。每年的雨季过后，钻石在雨水冲刷下裸露出来，用很简单的器械就可以采拾，这时候，娃娃兵又成为最廉价的劳工。有多少美丽的钻石就这样沾染了孩子们的血水与泪水！　　一九九九年七月，在联合国的调停之下，塞拉利昂内战的双方终于在多哥首府洛梅（Lome）签订和约，维和部队蓝盔军也逐渐进驻。反抗军首领桑可（Foday Sankoh）也接受安排，以副总统暨国家矿藏资源委员会主席的名义，住进首都自由城的官邸。没想到桑可将妥协的礼遇位置当真，竟提出重新审定外国公司的采矿权利书，并要求展开新一轮的矿产控制权谈判。这样的提议当然不为利益纠葛的西方国家所接受，桑可的职权逐渐被架空，并与当时的联合国秘书长安南（Kofi Annan）爆发严重的口角。于是，当桑可发现联合国的一万三千名蓝盔军竟推进到他原先控制的钻石产地时，他重新带着游击队进入丛林，展开地盘保卫战。　　二OOO年五月初，桑可反扑，约五百名蓝盔军成为「联合革命战线」的俘虏。紧接着，英国派出八百名经过特种训练的伞兵，活生生逮捕了桑可。然而，塞拉利昂的战火并不因桑可的落网而终止。桑可不是乱源，钻石才是。美、英等强权主控的联合国，若只知将蓝盔军投入杀戮战场，而不思整治血腥的国际钻石市场，那么，在钻石商唯利是图的竞夺之下，每一颗埋在地底的钻石都将可能是星星之火，随时都可能点燃另一场战争！　　联合国对塞拉利昂施行禁运制裁的决议，固然是要断绝战乱钻石的货源，但是，如果钻石商不配合，一切都是徒然。国际特赦组织和「全球证人」（Global Witness，曾出版一份调查报告，指控 De Beers从「血腥钻石」获取巨利）等人权团体强烈要求钻石交易应担负道德责任，美丽高贵的宝石应附加基本的伦理行为法则。两千年七月十七日，国际钻石商协会在比利时的安维尔市（Anvers）举行，为了避免血腥污名破坏了钻石的市场和行情，会中决议要对出口的钻石采取国际认证制度，以确保每一颗钻石都可追溯到其原产地。然而，由于执行上困难重重，技术上也难以突破，这样的决议大概只能流于「道德的宣示」或「善良的愿望」。电影血钻 Sierra Leone，塞拉利昂是台湾地区的翻译，大陆译作塞拉利昂。地处西非，是有名的钻石出口国。也正是因为如此，塞拉利昂国内长年叛乱不断，目的都是为了能够控制国家的钻石出口，从中牟取高额的利润。 「钻石恒久远，一颗永流传」。钻石一直是坚贞浪漫的象征。但如果背后隐藏着鲜血，可就让浪漫变味了。在台湾上映的电影「血钻石」，在世界各国引起了热烈讨论，有人甚至因此舍钻石而选其它宝石，吓得钻石业者大作广告以昭清白。其实，现在非洲情势已不相同，只要购买经过认证的钻石，尽管可能伤荷包，倒并不违背良心。 电影以一九九O年代晚期西非塞拉利昂共和国为背景，叙述叛军「革命联合阵线」利用钻石交易壮大实力，跨国钻石公司助纣为虐，购买钻石的消费者无意间成了帮凶，让当地人民深陷无止境的战乱中。 由于钻石的美好形象已经受到严重冲击，钻石业者不惜斥资一千五百万美元进行公关与广告活动。而据《纽约邮报》报导，片中影射的业界龙头南非戴比尔斯集团（De Beers Group），曾要求导演艾德华兹维克在片尾加注「以上情节纯属杜撰」，但遭到拒绝。 对于钻石业有深入研究的美国记者尼古拉斯．史坦在《外交政策》双月刊网站撰文指出，电影「血钻石」虽然一针见血，但答案却不是那么黑白分明。不当的抵制或管制，势将严重冲击合法生产钻石的国家，南非、博茨瓦纳与纳米比亚的经济都将大受影响，这三国的钻石产量占全球四二％。 血钻石的正式说法是「冲突钻石」（conflict diamond），随着安哥拉、塞拉利昂、刚果民主共和国、利比里亚惨无人道的内战，九O年代末开始冲突钻石也跟着恶名昭彰。据联合国的定义，冲突钻石产于长期内战的国家，产地遭叛军控制，收益用于资助军事行动。 戴比尔斯集团原本在安哥拉、塞拉利昂与刚果民主共和国都设有据点，向当地黑市采购钻石原石。二OOO年七月，联合国安理会决议对塞拉利昂实施钻石禁运；戴比尔斯于是关闭了位于内战国家的采购处。 全球钻石业者也在二OOO年成立世界钻石协会，二OO二年十一月和各主要钻石生产国达成协议，制定「金伯利流程认证计划」，确保唯有「非冲突钻石」才能进入合法交易市场。 金伯利流程当然不可能滴水不漏，毕竟钻石极容易走私出境，而且一旦经过加工就无法判定产地。然而从统计数字来看，血钻石在极盛时期占全球产量约四％，但二OO四年迄今已不到一％，显见金伯利流程的确发挥了效用。 其实血钻石争议浮上台面时，塞拉利昂等国的内战已经接近尾声了。在这些满目疮痍的国家，钻石不再是内战的帮凶，而是重建的希望。对于非洲其它生产国的国计民生，重要性更是不在话下。以博茨瓦纳为例，钻石高占出口总额八O％，并使它成为近年经济成长最快的开发中国家之一。而且钻石恐也不是道德争议性最高的商品。电影「血钻石」中，一名塞拉利昂民众说：「还好我们不产石油，否则情况只会更惨。」好莱坞下一次开拍类似电影时，不妨取名「油浓于血」。

【有关钻石的误区 】

1、买钻石为了保值。　　错。钻石是用来看的，不是用来当金条储存的。买钻饰是为了漂亮，不是为了过两天把它卖了换钱。0．2克以下的钻石受市场因素影响大，保值功能不强，要保值，还得买克拉数大的钻石。 2、钻石的璀璨来自其色度。　　错。钻石的璀璨来自其切工。把几颗钻石放在一起，最亮的那一颗就是切工最好的。 3、买钻石一定要买VS高净度的。　　错。净度是专业人员在显微镜下，根据钻石内含物的多少确定的。珠宝店里大多数的钻石都是SI以上，即“肉眼下无瑕疵”。内含物是钻石形成过程中保留的天然印记，它不会影响钻石的美丽（SI以上的钻石，肉眼根本看不见内含物）和耐久度，反而会使钻石更具特点。即使是稍次一等的P级钻，把个头换大一点，也可在人前招摇，没有人会追着你用放大镜来确认那颗钻石的净度。 4、I色度的钻石最漂亮。　　错。色度是在实验室专门照明条件下，由专业人员进行分级。很难说I色度的钻石就比 J的钻石漂亮，还要看切工、克拉重量和净度。有些讲究个性的消费者宁愿买带有一点颜色的而克拉重量更大的钻石，因为钻石的天然色泽，在正常照明下很难分辨出。 钻石的颜色中D色最漂亮，等级最高，按照英文字母的排列顺序等级逐级下降：分别是D>E>F>G>H>I>J>K>L 品级较差的钻石甚至有最低到Z的评级。

【钻石究竟有多硬 】

钻石是自然界中最硬的物质，是摩氏硬度10级的唯一的矿物，所以被誉为“硬度之王”。它的抗摩硬度是刚玉的140倍，超过石英的1100倍，因而其无与伦比的硬度可想而知。 应当指出：这里说的钻石硬度特别大，是指它抵抗外力刻划的能力强；但它又具有脆性，怕重击，重击或跌撞后将会顺其解理破碎。所以尽管钻石是自然界中最硬的物质，但是用一把锤子也可能把它敲碎。因此，佩戴钻石首饰时，应特别注意保护。

【钻石的保养】

你需要知道如何保养钻石，使它永保光亮。一颗光洁的钻石不仅有更佳的反射光线效果，而且会比那些沾染了皮肤油脂、肥皂、化妆品及厨房油渍的钻石看来更大. 钻石对油脂有粘结性，因此每月须洗一次，以保持其光亮。 以下方法可以推荐使用： 　　清洁液洗净法 用一个小碗或茶杯盛装温水，在水中调合适量的中性清洁剂。将钻石浸在水中，用牙刷轻轻刷洗了再用一个网筛兜住，在水龙头下用温水冲洗（最后用一条柔软的无棉绒布拍乾即可。 　　冷水浸法 用一个小碗或茶杯，把适量的清水和家用亚摩尼亚水混合，将钻石 浸在水中约30分钟，然后用一个小刷子，在钻石前后左右轻轻刷洗 ，再在水中挥动一会，拿出来用纸巾拭乾即可。 　　快速清洗法 购买一瓶名牌的珠宝清洁液，连同附赠的容器，按照说明洗涤钻石。 　　其他护理钻石的秘诀： 还有一些秘诀，可以提供给你的顾客，协助他们护理钻石。做家务时，勿 让钻石首饰沾上含氯的漂白剂，它不会 损坏钻石，但会使镶托褪色或变色。 洗碗或做粗活时勿佩戴钻石，钻石 虽然坚硬，但是若依其纹理方向受到重 击，可能会有损。每年将你的钻石首饰 拿给珠宝商检查一次，查看镶托有否松 脱与磨损，重新给它固定和擦亮。 如何保养铂金钻石饰品 　　简洁、自然和装饰性，成了如今铂金饰品的主题风格和发展趋势。不论你是否想购买此类产品，你去市场上逛一逛，都可以发现一种现象：在美钻体现华贵与亮丽，恒久与纯洁，体现保值与增殖的观 念趋势下，铂金钻饰成了越来越多人指上腕间的宠爱 之物。 就在铂金钻饰走入寻常百姓家之间，它的保养就成了人们颇为关心的问题。 　　1.当你做家务时，不要让佩戴的钻时染上油污或漂白水，油污会影 响钻饰的光泽；漂白水会使金属产生斑点。 　　2.不宜佩戴钻饰做粗重工作，钻石虽然坚硬、耐磨，但如依其纹理 方向受到重击的话，也可能会受损。 　　3.切勿将钻饰与其它珠宝一起放在抽屉或首饰盒内，因钻石在摩擦 时会将其它珠宝刮伤。同时，铂金首饰也不宜和黄金首饰同时佩 戴，因黄金较软，若互相摩擦，不但会使黄金饰品受损，也会使 黄金染在铂金上，使之变黄，且很难去掉。 　　4.每年因将铂金饰品送到珠宝店检验一下，查看钻石与镶托是否有 松动与磨损，以便及时整修。 　　5.钻石对油脂有粘结性，粘上皮肤油脂、化妆品及厨房油脂的钻石 会失去光泽，因此应每月清洗一次。清洗方法是：将铂金首饰浸 入首饰清洗液中约5分钟，取出后用小牙刷轻刷钻石，再将其放入 滤网上用水冲洗，最后用软布吸干水分。

【钻石的简易鉴别方法】

钻石（Diamond），矿物名称为金刚石，是公认的宝石之王。其最大特点是硬度最高并且具有很强的折射率，在光线下光芒四射，耀眼夺目。但其表面与玻璃，水晶及人工钻石相似，较难辩别。准确的鉴别只有靠仪器测量，而简易鉴别可采用以下几种方法： 1、硬度检验 钻石是已知最硬的自然生成物质，没有什么东西可在钻石上划上痕迹，若能划上痕迹的则绝非钻石。2、导热性试验 在待辩钻石和其它相似物品上同时呼一口气，若是钻石则其表面凝聚的水雾应比其它物品上的水雾蒸发得快，这是因为钻石具有高导热性的原因。3、观察反射光 用放大镜可观察到钻石的腰围处呈现一种很细的磨砂状并有亮晶晶的反射光。钻石的这种特征是独一无二的。4、看生长点 在放大镜下观察，真品钻石的晶面上常有沟纹和三角形生长点，而赝品有三类：①加了氧化铝的普通玻璃，因折射率和色散提高， 容易误入，但硬度低。②用化学合成的蓝宝石和无色尖晶石仿制，硬度接近，但折射率低并有双折射现象，在放大镜下可见重影。③人造氧化锆仿制，硬度较高，折射好，但在转动时会反射较多的彩光，与真品在转动时只反射出微弱的黄、蓝色彩光相比，有明显的差别。

【钻石的评价与选购】

应从以下四个方面考虑(4C)：（1）颜色(Colour)：以无色为最好，色调越深，质量越差。在无色钻石的颜色分级里，顶级颜色是D色，依次往下排列到Z，我们在这里只说从D到J的颜色级别，D-J是无色级别，G-J是近无色级别，从K往下就基本没有收藏和佩戴意义了。因为从K往下钻石就会逐渐偏黄，我们选钻的时候，尽量选H 以上的颜色，I-J的级别虽然也在近无色的范畴，但多少也能察觉到一丝微黄．具有彩色的钻石，如：红、粉红、绿、蓝色等，又属于钻石中的珍品，价格昂贵。其中又以红钻最为名贵.（2）净度（Clarity)：净度分级的依据是内含物的位置，大小和数量的不同来划分的．净度级别由高到低详细可分为FL,IF,VVS1,VVS2,VS 1,VS2,SI1,SI2,SI3,P1,P2,P3.应在十倍显微镜下仔细观察钻石洁净程度，瑕疵越多，所在位置越明显，则质量越差，价格也相应地要降低。（3 克拉重量(Carat)：在其他三Ｃ相同的情况下，钻石的价格与重量的平方成正比，重量越大，价值越高。钻石的重量是以克拉为单位的。1克拉（ct）=0.2克(g)。把一克拉平均分成一百份，每一份是一分，商场价签上标的0.3ct，0.4ct就是我们说的30分40分．（4) 切工(Cut)：一颗钻石的原石，即使扔到大马路上也不会有人去注意，是切工赋予了它第二生命，让它有着绚丽的火彩．切工是指成品裸钻各种瓣面的几何形状及其排列的方式．切工分为切割比例，抛光，修饰度三项。每一项都有五个级别，由高到低依次是EXCELLENT,VERY GOOD,GOOD,FAIR,POOR.一般我们所见的都是标准圆钻型切工。顶级切工的石头，它对于光线的反射可以达到一个最接近完美的比例，也就是我们说的三项E X(EXCELLENT)切工，但是像这种切工的价钱也会稍微贵一些，因为它的出成率比较低，它会比不是三项EX切工的价钱高5%左右，但是三项EX的石头的火彩绝对是最绚丽的．

其他钻石

人类开采利用钻石的历史已有几千年了，但自古以来大于20克拉的宝石级金刚石颇为罕见。而大于100克拉的钻石被视着国宝。据称目前世界上发现的大于100克拉的特大金刚石有1900多粒，其中大于500克拉的有21粒，大于1000克拉的仅有2粒。迄今世界上最大的一颗钻石是1905年1月27日在南非扎伊尔伯里梅尔（Premier）发现的，该钻石取名“库里南”（Cullinan），重达3106克拉。长100mm，宽65mm，厚50mm。宝石界行家估计“库里南”的价值高达75亿美元。1907年，南非德兰士瓦地方政府将这粒巨钻赠送给了英王爱德华七世。英王把加工这颗巨钻的工程交给了著名的荷兰阿舍尔公司，这家公司曾经加工过“高贵无比”等大钻。该公司接下工程后对这颗巨钻研究了几个月1908年2月10日这颗巨钻被劈成几大块后加工出9颗大钻，98颗小钻，特意留下一块（重9.5克拉）原石未加工。加工出来的成品钻总量为1063.65克拉，加工出来最大的一颗钻石取名“库里南Ⅰ号”，也称为非洲之星，重达530.02克拉，是梨形刻面钻。“库里南Ⅱ号”是一颗切角的长方钻，重317.4克拉。“库里南Ⅲ号”为梨形钻，重95克拉，“库里南Ⅳ号”为方形钻，重64克拉，还有一棵心形钻重19克拉，两粒马眼钻，分别重l1.5克拉和8.8克拉，最后两粒分别为长方钻(重6.8克拉），和橄榄球形钻(重4克拉），其中的四粒钻石镶在英国王冠之上，这顶王冠现珍藏在伦敦韦克菲尔德塔的英王室宝库之中。 17世纪初，在印度戈尔康达的钻石砂矿中拾到一粒重309克拉的钻石坯，后取名为奥尔洛夫钻石。当时，根据沙赫哲汗的旨意，一位著名的钻石加工专家拟加工成“印度玫瑰”模样，但未能完全如愿，重量损失不少（仅磨出189.62克拉）。根据传说，这颗美妙绝伦、稀罕无暇的钻石，后来做了印度塞林伽神庙中一尊神像的眼珠。1739年德里被波斯国王纳吉尔攻占之后，这颗钻石被装饰在纳吉尔宝座之上，取名为“杰尔昂努尔”。之后钻石被盗，落入一位亚美尼亚人手中。1767年他把钻石存入了阿姆斯特丹一家银行，于1772年他把钻石卖给了御前珠宝匠伊万，伊万于1773年以40万卢布的价格又买给了奥尔洛夫伯爵。同年，奥尔洛夫把这颗钻石奉献给叶卡捷琳娜二世作为她命名日的礼物，尔后它被焊进一只雕花纯银座里，镶在了俄罗斯权杖的顶端。奥尔洛夫钻石洁净无暇，十分罕见，它略带一点淡蓝绿色，晶体中有几个极小的淡黄色包裹体。钻石厚22mm，宽31--32mm，长35mm。目前这颗钻石珍藏在前苏联钻石基金会，另一颗著名的钻石“沙赫”是1829年波斯王子米尔扎赠送给沙皇政府的，意在修好由于俄国使臣在波斯被害一事而恶化的两国关系。“沙赫”钻石重88.7克拉，浅黄褐色，无瑕，只是晶体深处有几条小裂纹。三个抛光面上都有用波斯文字刻上的铭文，意为“布尔罕一尼扎姆一沙赫二世，1000年（公元1591年）”。中印度为大莫卧尔占据之后，这颗钻石落入他们之手。第二段铭文意为“哲汉吉尔一沙赫之子哲罕—沙赫，1051年（公元1641年）”。第三段铬文意为“统治者卡德扎尔—法赫特一阿里一沙赫苏丹，1242年。（波斯国王、1842年）。这颗钻石被纳吉尔沙赫据为已有，大约是在1739年占领大莫卧尔时期，在什么地方采到这颗钻石无人知晓，据推断，它可能发现于戈尔康达砂矿。能在坚硬无比的“沙赫”钻石上刻上铭文，可见当时波斯艺人技术之精湛令人无法想象。铭文中提到的大莫卧尔帝国执政官沙赫—哲罕，从1627年执政到1666年，后来被儿了杰布夺位并让他在监牢中渡过余生。沙赫哲罕有极大的宝石癖，他拥有专门的工场，甚至亲自到那里去分选和琢磨宝石，他的儿子杰布不仅篡夺了王位，也夺取了父亲的珍宝。1665年，一位著名旅行家对大莫卧尔的宝座作了引人人胜的描绘，宝座以大量宝石点缀。朝晋谒者一面宝座的华盖上悬着一颗重80--90克拉的钻石，四周环绕很多祖母绿和红宝石。这可能就是“沙赫”，它悬在大莫卧尔与朝晋谒者之间作为护身宝物。还有一粒非常美丽的钻石，名叫“桑西”钻，重55克拉，传说这颗钻石曾镶在勇士卡尔头盔上，后在一次厮杀中丢失。 1589年“桑西”钻出现在葡萄牙国王安东的珍宝库中。后以10万旧法郎卖给法兰西珍宝库总管领主德、桑西。“桑西”钻很长时间一直是他家族的传家之宝。后馈赠给法兰西王耿利赫二世，并列入法兰西国宝库清单中，1792年这颗钻石被洗劫走了。1830年“桑西”被一位乌克兰工厂主的后裔杰米多夫买走，成交价50万法郎，法国政府就此事打了一场官司，五年之后钻石判给了杰米多夫。410克拉的“摄政王”钻石也有一段动人的故事，传说是一个印度奴隶1701年在著名的戈尔康达矿的矿井里拾到的，他想凭这颗钻石改变人生获得自由，于是他趁人不注意举起丁字镐向大腿猛击，血流如注。这位印度人忍巨痛把钻石藏在伤口深处，并用树叶作绷带把伤口包好，他找到一个英国海轮水手，准备换取自由，海员看到巨钻之后，恨不能立即把它搞到手，为此准备豁出一切。水手和奴隶很快谈妥了，水手瞒着船长，把印度人藏在船舱里的黄麻里。当海轮驶入公海后，水手夜晚送饭给奴隶吃，趁其吃饭之机用匕首将奴隶杀死并把受害者投入大海，船停靠在马德拉斯之后，水手以二万英镑把这粒钻石卖给了该城的英国总督彼得爵士。水手得到钱后，很快把钱挥霍一空，最后愧痛难当，自缢而死。1717年彼得以340万金法郎把钻石卖给法兰西摄政王奥尔列昂斯基公爵。公爵吩咐对钻石进行加工，于是才有了钻石“摄政王”，这颗钻石的诞生可谓历尽艰辛，琢磨抛光就花费了整整两年时间，加工后重量为140.5克拉，1722年留多维克十四世加冕时，钻石被镶在他的王冠上，法国大革命之初的1792年，它同王权的其他标志一起失落，辗转到了柏林。后被一个德国珠宝商卖给了拿破仑。18世纪90年代，它被拿破仑作为抵押担保发动远征的抵押物，1940年希特勒攻占巴黎时，钻石藏在沙姆博尔城大理石壁炉的护墙板中。目前这粒钻石陈列在卢浮宫中。钻石粒度为30 X 29 X 19mm，钻石为灿烂琢型，做工精美，光泽和“出火”都不同反响。 1762年，天才的宫廷珠宝匠波吉耶为叶卡捷琳娜二世加冕典礼制作的大王冠以其富丽精美赢得称赞，他创造了一个钻石灿烂琢型的新世界，王冠上总共镶嵌有2858克拉重的4936颗钻石，整个王冠重1907克，装饰王冠的“尖晶石”钻石重398.72克拉，被列为原苏联七大历史名钻之一。世上最古老的钻石——马果钻石 　　马果钻石重787.50克拉，是历史上最早发现的一颗巨型钻石原石，在1304年发现于印度的戈尔康地区。该区也是世界上最早发现金刚石矿床的地方。至今，其重量在钻石原石中名列第四位。该原石晶形不完整，但无色透明，火彩照人，极为珍贵。该原石几经周折，多次被盗，最后落入英国女王维多利亚手中。其后经精心设计，切割成若干块钻石。其中最有名的有两颗，一颗命名为科赫依尔(Kon-i-noor)，重108.93克拉，呈椭圆形，镶嵌在英国女王母后王冠上；另一颗称为奥尔洛夫(Orloff)，重189.60克拉，呈玫瑰形，现珍藏在莫斯科的克里姆林宫，奥尔洛夫钻石重量居成品钻石第九位。

世界最大的10颗钻石

1．“库利南”（Cullinan）。1905年1月21日发现于南非普列米尔矿山。它纯净透明，带有淡蓝色调，重量为3106克拉。后来被加工成9粒大钻石和96粒较小钻石。其中最大的一粒名叫“非洲之星第Ⅰ”，水滴形，镶在英国国王的权杖上。次大的一粒叫做“非洲之星第Ⅱ”，方形，64个面，重317.克拉，镶在英帝国王冠上。　　2．布拉岗扎（Braganza）。1725年发现，系巴西境内发现的最大钻石。它近乎无色，仅带有极轻微的黄色，重量为1680克拉。后来不知去向。有人怀疑，这颗钻石后来可能经更权威的鉴定，发现它并不是钻石，而是一颗黄玉。 　　3．一颗未予命名的大钻石。1919年，在普列米尔矿山找到一颗重达1500克拉的宝石金刚石，颜色也和库利南相似，因此有人认为它和库利南是同一个大晶体破裂而成的，故没有给这块金刚石专门命名。　　4．尤里卡（Eureke）。1893年，发现于南非奥兰治自由邦的贾格斯丰坦钻石矿。它光滑透明，呈蓝白色，光泽极佳，是一颗质量上乘的钻石。琢磨后最大的一颗重69.68克拉，被称作“高贵无比”。　　5．塞拉里昂之星（Star of Sierra Leone）。塞拉里昂的钻石以品质佳，颗粒大，有良好的八面体晶形而著称于世。塞拉里昂之星是1972年2月在扬格玛的钻石矿上发现的，重为968.9克拉，无色。　　6．科尔德曼．德迪奥斯。是巴西在发现“布拉岗扎”之后所发现的最大的钻石，重922.5克拉，具极佳的蓝白色。　　7．库稀努尔（Kohinur）是世界上已知最古老的钻石。相传早在13世纪时发现于印度著名的古钻石矿区——哥尔负达。原石重约800克拉，被称为“库稀努尔”。后被加工成椭圆形，重108.83克拉，无色（略带灰），并更名为“光明之山”。　　8．大莫卧儿（Great Mogul），也是世界著名的古钻石之一。大约1630—1650年间发现于印度的可拉矿区，原石重787.5旧克拉，被加工成玫瑰花型，后来去向不明。　　9．沃耶河（Weyie River），系1945年发现于塞拉里昂沃耶河谷砂矿中的大钻石。原石重770克拉，近于无色，品质甚佳，后被切割加工成30颗琢形钻石。最大者为31.35 克拉，被命名为“胜利钻石”。　　10．金色纪念币（Golden Jubilee），1986年发现于南非的普列米尔矿山。原石重755.50克拉，呈深金褐色，后来磨出了一颗545.67克拉的大钻。这是目前最大的一颗琢型钻石。该钻石现被镶嵌在泰王的权杖上。

【形成原因】

现代科学技术 、手段为探索钻石的形成提供了新思路和方法。钻石是世界上最坚硬的、成份最简单的宝石,它是由碳元素组成的、具立方结构的天然晶体。其成份与我们常见的煤、铅笔芯及糖的成份基本相同，碳元素在较高的温度、压力下，结晶形成石墨（黑色），而在高温、极高气压及还原环境（通常来说就是一种缺氧的环境）中则结晶为珍贵的钻石（白色）。为了便于理解钻石的起源，先看一看含有钻石的原岩。 自从钻石在印度被发现以来,我们不断听到人们在河边、河滩上捡到钻石的故事，这是由于位于河流上游某处含有钻石的原岩，被风化、破碎后，钻石随水流被带到下游地带，比重大的钻石被埋在沙砾中。钻石的原岩是什么？1870年人们在南非的一个农场的黄土中挖出了钻石，此后钻石的开掘由河床转移到黄土中，黄土下面就是坚硬的深蓝色岩石，它就是钻石原岩——金伯利岩(kimberlite)。什么是金伯利岩？金伯利岩是一种形成于地球深部、含有大量碳酸气等挥发性成份的偏碱性超基性火山岩，这种岩石中常常含有来自地球深部的橄榄岩、榴辉岩碎片，主要矿物成份包括橄榄石、金云母、碳酸盐、辉石、石榴石等。研究表明，金伯利岩浆形成于地球深部150公里以下。由于这种岩石首先在南非金伯利被发现，故以该地名来命名。 另一种含有钻石的原岩称钾镁煌斑岩（lamproite),它是一种过碱性镁质火山岩，主要由白榴石、火山玻璃形成，可含辉石、橄榄石等矿物，典型产地为澳大利亚西部阿盖尔（Argyle)。 科学家们经过对来自世界不同矿山钻石及其中原生包裹体矿物的研究发现，钻石的形成条件一般为压力在4.5-6.0Gpa(相当于150-200km的深度），温度为1100-1500摄氏度。虽然理论上说，钻石可形成于地球历史的各个时期/阶段，而目前所开采的矿山中，大部分钻石主要形成于33亿年前以及12-17亿年这两个时期。如南非的一些钻石年龄为45亿左右，表明这些钻石在地球诞生后不久便已开始在地球深部结晶，钻石是世界上最古老的宝石。钻石的形成需要一个漫长的历史过程，这从钻石主要出产于地球上古老的稳定大陆地区可以证实。另外，地外星体对地球的撞击，产生瞬间的高温、高压，也可形成钻石，如1988年前苏联科学院报道在陨石中发现了钻石，但这种作用形成的钻石并无经济价值。稀少的钻石主要出现于两类岩石中,一类是橄榄岩类,一类是榴辉岩类，但仅前者具有经济意义。含钻石的橄榄岩，目前为止发现有两种类型：金伯利岩（kimberlite)（名字源于南非得一地名——金伯利）和钾镁煌斑岩（lamproite),这两中岩石均是由火山爆发作用产生的，形成于地球深处的岩石由火山活动被带到地表或地球浅部，这种岩浆多以岩管状产出，因此俗称“管矿”（即原生矿）。含钻石的金伯利岩或钾镁煌斑岩出露在地表，经过风吹雨打等地球外营力作用而风化、破碎，在水流冲刷下，破碎的原岩连同钻是被带到河床，甚至海岸地带乘积下来，形成冲积砂矿床（或次生矿床）。

【化学成分】

钻石的化学成分是碳，这在宝石中是唯一由单一元素组成的。属等轴晶系。晶体形态多呈八面体、菱形十二面体、四面体及它们的聚形。纯净的钻石无色透明，由于微量元素的混入而呈现不同颜色。强金刚光泽。折光率2.417，色散中等，为0.044。均质体。热导率为0.35卡/厘米•秒•度。用热导仪测试，反应最为灵敏。硬度为10，是目前已知最硬的矿物，绝对硬度是石英的1000倍，刚玉的150倍，怕重击，重击后会顺其解理破碎。一组解理完全。密度3.52克/立方厘米。钻石具有发光性，日光照射后 ，夜晚能发出淡青色磷光。X射线照射，发出天蓝色荧光。钻石的化学性质很稳定，在常温下不容易溶于酸和碱，酸碱不会对其产生作用。 钻石与相似宝石、合成钻石的区别。宝石市场上常见的代用品或赝品有无色宝石、无色尖晶石、立方氧化锆、钛酸锶、钇铝榴石、钇镓榴石、人造金红石。合成钻石于1955年首先由日本研制成功，但未批量生产。因为合成钻石要比天然钻石费用高，所以市场上合成钻石很少见。钻石以其特有的硬度、密度、色散、折光率可以与其相似的宝石区别。如：仿钻立方氧化锆多无色，色散强（0.060）、光泽强、密度大，为5.8克/立方厘米，手掂重感明显。钇铝榴石色散柔和，肉眼很难将它与钻石区别开。

钻石

,钻石，就是经过打磨的金刚石，又称金刚钻，矿物名称为金刚石。英文为Diamond，源于古希腊语Adamant，意思是坚硬不可侵犯的物质。 ①通常指宝石级金刚石，尤指琢型宝石级金刚石，其实，钻石和金刚石在国外并无这种用词的区分，英文中均使用同一个词汇“diamond”，但国内则常把“金刚石”一词用于矿物学领域，钻石一词用于宝石学领域。但也不尽然，如“工业钻石”虽然不属于宝石学领域，只是人们已习惯于这样称呼，故在本词条中也采用之。 ②宝石级钻石以无色透明为上品，但常见的多为略带微黄色调者。黄色调或褐色调愈深，品级也愈低。有一种无色透明中带一点蓝色的被称作“水火色”，却是佳品。而带深蓝、深黑、深金黄和红色、绿色者，更是少见的珍品，被称为“艳钻”或“奇珍钻石”，同一矿区的钻石带有相似的“色素”特征，以致有经验的人常可凭此认出钻石的产地。最早发明标准圆形明亮式切割的是在1914年，比利时安特卫普的钻石切割师托考夫斯基发明。判别钻石的标准被称为4C，分别是净度、颜色、切工、克拉重量。其中净度是指钻石的内含物，而不应称为瑕疵。内含物的存在正说明了钻石的天然性。当然，我们还是希望这种包裹体状的内含物越少越好，所以就有了净度的分级。即：LC、VVS、VS、SI、P级。过去人们不会琢磨钻石，只能用钻石原石作为饰品，金刚石晶体真正成为钻石,变为首饰的时代，大约在1450年。当时琢磨钻石只有17个面,1558年--1603年当政的英国女王佩戴的钻石戒,只是一个八面体钻石晶体，磨掉了一个顶尖作为戒面的。直到1919年一位住在美国的波兰人名叫塔克瓦斯墓（Tolkowsky），设计出58个翻面的钻石切割工艺，至今仍在采用，这个切工是根据钻石的折光率系数等因素而精确计算出来的，不能任意改变，否则磨出的钻石将无光彩或漏光。

Diamond Body Color

It is interesting to note that diamonds actually come in the widest variety of colors of any gem material. Most gem quality diamonds however are desired for their lack of color. In fact, the closer a diamond is to colorless, the more rare and valuable it is. On the other hand, diamonds are also sought after by collectors in their extremely rare "fancy colors" including (from highest value), Reds (Pinks), Blues, Greens, and Fancy Intense Yellow. The GIA grades diamonds on a scale from D (Colorless) to Z (Light Yellow). When a diamond is graded darker than Z on the GIA scale it is referred to as "fancy yellow", and the more color and intensity it shows, the more valuable it will be. Most diamonds have a slight hint of yellow, though brown and gray are also common modifying colors. Of all the diamond colors available, most consumers select GIA grades from D to J color. D-E-F are the "colorless" grades, and G-H-I-J are "near colorless". The difference in each letter grade is very subtle, and color comparison diamonds of known grades are used under controlled lighting conditions. When viewed in the face-up position, the average person begins to see color in a diamond at about the I-J range. Therefore color is a rarity factor that does affect appearance, rarity and price, about 10-15% per color grade FluorescenceThis is a unique attribute of some diamonds that causes them to "glow" a typically bluish color when exposed to natural or man-made ultraviolet light (like a Black Light). About 50% of all diamonds fluoresce and of those about 10% fluoresce strongly. Most of the time, fluorescence is not a factor unless the intensity is Strong or Very Strong. In the very rare colors D, E, and F, Strong fluorescence is considered less desirable. However, in the less rare colors of such as J - K and below, Strong fluorescence may be desirable.
Blue-WhiteThis is a false and misleading term. According to the FTC a diamond must be blue/bluish or colorless. Fluorescence is also a factor. AGS prohibits use of the term.

How to Buy Jewelry

All That Glitters... How to Buy Jewelry
Buying jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store by catalog or online.
Gold
The word gold, used by itself, means all gold or 24 karat (24K) gold. Because 24K gold is soft, it's usually mixed with other metals to increase its hardness and durability. If a piece of jewelry is not 24 karat gold, the karat quality should accompany any claim that the item is gold.
The karat quality marking tells you what proportion of gold is mixed with the other metals. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. The higher the karat rating, the higher the proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry.
Most jewelry is marked with its karat quality, although marking is not required by law. Near the karat quality mark, you should see the name or the U.S. registered trademark of the company that will stand behind the mark. The trademark may be in the form of a name, symbol or initials. If you don't see a trademark accompanying a quality mark on a piece of jewelry, look for another piece.
Solid gold refers to an item made of any karat gold, if the inside of the item is not hollow. The proportion of gold in the piece of jewelry still is determined by the karat mark.
Jewelry can be plated with gold in a variety of ways. Gold plate refers to items that are either mechanically plated, electroplated, or plated by any other means with gold to a base metal. Eventually, gold plating wears away, but how soon will depend on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.
Gold-filled, gold overlay and rolled gold plate are terms used to describe jewelry that has a layer of at least 10 karat gold mechanically bonded to a base metal. If the jewelry is marked with one of these terms, the term or abbreviation should follow the karat quality of the gold used (for example, 14K Gold Overlay or 12K RGP). If the layer of karat gold is less than 1/20th of the total weight of the item, any marking must state the actual percentage of karat gold, such as 1/40 14K Gold Overlay.
Gold electroplate describes jewelry that has a layer (at least .175 microns thick) of a minimum of 10 karat gold deposited on a base metal by an electrolytic process. The terms gold flashed or gold washed describe products that have an extremely thin electroplating of gold (less than .175 microns thick). This will wear away more quickly than gold plate, gold-filled or gold electroplate.
Platinum, Silver and Other Metals
Platinum is a precious metal that costs more than gold. It usually is mixed with other similar metals, known as the platinum group metals: iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium and osmium.
Different markings are used on platinum jewelry as compared with gold jewelry, based on the amount of pure platinum in the piece. The quality markings for platinum are based on parts per thousand. For example, the marking 900 Platinum means that 900 parts out of 1000 are pure platinum, or in other words, the item is 90% platinum and 10% other metals. The abbreviations for platinum - Plat. or Pt. - also can be used in marking jewelry.
Items that contain at least 950 parts per thousand pure platinum can be marked simply platinum. Items that have at least 850 parts per thousand pure platinum can be marked with the amount of pure platinum and the word platinum or an abbreviation (for example, 950 platinum, 900 Plat. or 850 Pt.). Jewelry that contains less than 850 parts per thousand pure platinum, but has a total of 950 parts per thousand of platinum group metals (of which at least 500 parts is pure platinum), may be marked with both the amount of pure platinum and the amount of the other platinum group metals in the piece. For example, the marking 600 Plat. 350 Irid. means that the item has 600 parts per thousand (60%) platinum, and 350 parts per thousand (35%) iridium, totaling 950 parts per thousand of platinum group metals, and 50 parts per thousand (5%) other metals.
The words silver or sterling silver describe a product that contains 92.5% silver. Silver products sometimes may be marked 925 which means that 925 parts per thousand are pure silver. Some jewelry may be described as silverplate: a layer of silver is bonded to a base metal. The mark coin silver is used for compounds that contain 90% silver. According to the law, quality-marked silver also must bear the name or a U.S. registered trademark of the company or person that will stand behind the mark.
Vermeil (ver-may), a special type of gold plated product, consists of a base of sterling silver that is coated or plated with gold.
Pewter items may be described and marked as such if they contain at least 90% tin.
Gemstones
Natural gemstones are found in nature. Laboratory-created stones, as the name implies, are made in a laboratory. These stones, which also are referred to as laboratory-grown, [name of manufacturer]-created, or synthetic, have essentially the same chemical, physical and visual properties as natural gemstones. Laboratory- created stones do not have the rarity of naturally colored stones and they are less expensive than naturally mined stones. By contrast, imitation stones look like natural stones in appearance only, and may be glass, plastic, or less costly stones. Laboratory-created and imitation stones should be clearly identified as such.
Gemstones may be measured by weight, size, or both. The basic unit for weighing gemstones is the carat, which is equal to one-fifth (1/5th) of a gram. Carats are divided into 100 units, called points. For example, a half-carat gemstone would weigh .50 carats or 50 points. When gemstones are measured by dimensions, the size is expressed in millimeters (for example, 7x5 millimeters).
Gemstone treatments or enhancements refer to the way some gems are treated to improve their appearance or durability, or even change their color. Many gemstones are treated in some way. The effects of some treatments may lessen or change over time and some treated stones may require special care. Some enhancements also affect the value of a stone, when measured against a comparable untreated stone.
Jewelers should tell you whether the gemstone you're considering has been treated when: the treatment is not permanent; the treated stone requires special care; or the treatment significantly affects the value of the gemstone.
Some common treatments that you may be told about and their effects include:
Heating can lighten, darken or change the color of some gems, or improve a gemstone's clarity.
Irradiation can add more color to colored diamonds, certain other gemstones and pearls.
Impregnating some gems with colorless oils, wax or resins makes a variety of imperfections less visible and can improve the gemstones' clarity and appearance.
Fracture filling hides cracks or fractures in gems by injecting colorless plastic or glass into the cracks and improves the gemstones' appearance and durability.
Diffusion treatment adds color to the surface of colorless gems; the center of the stone remains colorless.
Dyeing adds color and improves color uniformity in some gemstones and pearls.
Bleaching lightens and whitens some gems, including jade and pearls.
Diamonds
A diamond's value is based on four criteria: color, cut, clarity, and carat. The clarity and color of a diamond usually are graded. However, scales are not uniform: a clarity grade of "slightly included" may represent a different grade on one grading system versus another, depending on the terms used in the scale. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color or clarity of the diamond you're considering. A diamond can be described as "flawless" only if it has no visible surface or internal imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.
As with other gems, diamond weight usually is stated in carats. Diamond weight may be described in decimal or fractional parts of a carat. If the weight is given in decimal parts of a carat, the figure should be accurate to the last decimal place. For example, ".30 carat" could represent a diamond that weighs between .295 - .304 carat. Some retailers describe diamond weight in fractions and use the fraction to represent a range of weights. For example, a diamond described as 1/2 carat could weigh between .47 - .54 carat. If diamond weight is stated as fractional parts of a carat, the retailer should disclose two things: that the weight is not exact, and the reasonable range of weight for each fraction or the weight tolerance being used.
Some diamonds may be treated to improve their appearance in similar ways as other gemstones. Since these treatments improve the clarity of the diamond, some jewelers refer to them as clarity enhancement. One type of treatment - fracture filling - conceals cracks in diamonds by filling them with a foreign substance. This filling may not be permanent and jewelers should tell you if the diamond you're considering has been fracture-filled.
Another treatment - lasering - involves the use of a laser beam to improve the appearance of diamonds that have black inclusions or spots. A laser beam is aimed at the inclusion. Acid is then forced through a tiny tunnel made by the laser beam to remove the inclusion. Lasering is permanent and a laser-drilled stone does not require special care.
While a laser-drilled diamond may appear as beautiful as a comparable untreated stone, it may not be as valuable. That's because an untreated stone of the same quality is rarer and therefore more valuable. Jewelers should tell you whether the diamond you're considering has been laser-drilled.
Imitation diamonds, such as cubic zirconia, resemble diamonds in appearance but are much less costly. Certain laboratory-created gemstones, such as lab-created moissanite, also resemble diamonds and may not be adequately detected by the instruments originally used to identify cubic zirconia. Ask your jeweler if he has the current testing equipment to distinguish between diamonds and other lab-created stones.
Pearls
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.
Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pearls. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which gives it luster. Jewelers should tell you if the pearls are cultured or imitation.
Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.
A Jewelry Shopper’s Checklist
When you're in the market for a piece of jewelry for yourself or someone you love, shop around. Compare quality, price, and service. If you're not familiar with any jewelers in your area, ask family members, friends, and co-workers for recommendations. You also should:
Ask for the store's refund and return policy before you buy.
Check for the appropriate markings on metal jewelry.
Ask whether the pearls are natural, cultured, or imitation.
Ask whether a gemstone is natural, laboratory-created, or imitation.
Ask whether the gemstone has been treated. Is the change permanent? Is special care required?
Make sure the jeweler writes on the sales receipt any information you relied on when making your purchase, such as the gem's weight or size. Some jewelers also may supply a grading report from a gemological laboratory.
In addition, these tips apply when you're shopping for jewelry online:
Shop with companies you know or do some homework before buying to make sure a company is legitimate before doing business with it.
Get the details about the product, as well as the merchant's refund and return policies, before you buy.
Look for an address to write to or a phone number to call if you have a question, a problem or need help.
For More Information
If you have a problem with the jewelry you purchased, first try to resolve it with the jeweler. If you are dissatisfied with the response, contact your local Better Business Bureau or local consumer protection agency. You also may contact the Jewelers Vigilance Committee's Alternative Dispute Resolution Service. This program assists consumers and businesses in resolving disputes about jewelry. The Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) is an independent, non-profit organization formed to advance ethical practices in the jewelry industry. You may contact the JVC by mail: 25 West 45th Street, Suite 400, New York, NY 10036-4902, or by phone: 212-997-2002.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

What is an appraisal?

An appraisal is an evaluation conducted by an independent firm to determine that the diamonds and precious metals are genuine and that the diamond matches the criteria listed in the Diamond Grading Report. The appraisal report consists of a description of the article and shows its estimated retail replacement value.
Although you will receive a Diamond Grading Report with every loose diamond purchased from Diamonds.com, we also recommend that you request an appraisal after you make your purchase.
Refer to the FAQs below to learn more about Appraisals.
Why do I need an appraisal?An appraisal is required to obtain insurance to cover the replacement cost of the item in the event of loss, theft or damage. The insurance companies use the appraisal to calculate your cost of insuring the items.
An appraisal will also put your mind at ease that the diamond you received is in fact the one that you bought. You never have to worry when making a purchase from Diamonds.com. We maintain the highest ethical standards and guarantee that that the diamond you purchased is the one you selected.

Do I still need an appraisal if I have a Diamond Grading Report?Yes. A Diamond Grading Report can be requested before making a purchase. It will certify the 4Cs-cut, color, clarity and carat-weight-and other characteristics of the diamond. However, it does not list an estimated retail replacement value. The appraisal is ordered after you make a purchase or at the time of purchase from Diamonds.com. It confirms the 4Cs, but also includes the estimated retail replacement value.

Does an appraisal expire?An appraisal is usually good for three to five years. Your insurance company will advise you if you require an updated appraisal.

How much does an appraisal cost?Costs vary according to total carat weight of the diamonds. Approximate fees are:
Under 1.50 carats $ 60.00 1.51 - 2.50 carats $ 75.00 2.51 - 3.50 carats $ 90.00 3.51 - 4.50 carats $100.00 Over 4.51 carats For a quote, please call 1-877-956-9600
Please contact us if you need an updated appraisal which we can expedite at a reduced fee.

Can I order an appraisal from Diamonds.com?Yes. You can request an appraisal when you make your purchase. Diamonds.com will submit your request to an independent laboratory that will appraise your jewelry based on established industry standards. You will receive one copy of the appraisal.
Diamonds.com, its appointees and agents are not responsible for possible dissimilarities and/or differences that could appear from repeated examinations or as a result of other methods applied. Diamonds.com presents these appraisals/evaluations to the client solely for his own use and shall not be held responsible for any claim whatsoever, which may be made on the basis of this evaluation.

Carat Weight diamond

Carat Weight
RarityOf the 4 C's, Carat Weight is probably one of the most important considerations with respect to rarity, value, and consumer preference. In fact, Carat Weight, or how much the diamond weighs is the most significant value factor in a diamond. Because diamonds by nature are rare, a 2 carat diamond is actually about 3 times more valuable than a comparable quality 1 carat size. Statistically a 1 carat is one in a million diamonds mined, and a 2 carat is one in five million diamonds mined. Therefore, all things considered a 2 carat diamond is really "value priced" based on the rarity factor.
Definitions/ConceptsTo assist in you in selecting the right size diamond here is a review of some key Carat Weight concepts. The term "Carat" is derived from the "Carob Seed", which is today used as a food flavoring. In ancient times this fairly consistent seed was used in "pan-balance" scales to determine the weight of precious items traded like gold, silver, and yes gemstones and diamonds! In the early 1900's the "Carat" was standardized to equals 1/5 of a gram or .20 gm. Therefore, 5 carats = 1.00 gram. The Carat is further broken down into "points". There are 100 points to a Carat, just like 100 pennies to a dollar. Common diamond Carat Weights sold typically range from 1/5 Carat (20 points) to 1 Carat (100 points) and larger! Diamonds smaller than 1/5 Carat are referred to as "melee" diamonds, and are quite often used to accent a center or feature diamond.
PricingLarger diamonds are much more rare, thus commanding a higher price/per/carat. Carat weight affects the value of a diamond by about 10-20% for each step in size difference. Also, "magic sizes" refer to major carat weight categories, for example exactly 1.00 carat, or larger, and can prompt "price premiums". To calculate the price of a diamond you multiply the carat weight by the price/per/carat. For example: if a 1.25 carat diamond was priced at $10,000 per/carat the diamond would be sold for $12,500.

Choosing The Right SizeIn the selection process, most women today aspire to owning an engagement diamond of at least 1 carat. Statistically, the average size sold for engagement is between a half and three-quarter carat. The carat weight however, doesn't necessarily reflect how the diamond appears. The most popular diamond shapes sold are the Round and Princess Cuts. The outer diameter of a 1 carat round diamond is about 6.5mm, however if the diamond is cut too "deep" it will be smaller in diameter, or if it's too "shallow" it will appear larger in diameter. When you review the section on "Cut Quality", bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. The final decision is always up to YOU, the consumer.
Back to selecting the right size.view and observe the examples of different carat weights for round diamonds and their corresponding sizes to determine what is right for you. Also, please note that the appearance of these sizes may be affected by your computer monitor screen. For an easy comparison of price and size, see the table below. Prices are approximate and based upon D Color, internally flawless clarity, and excellent cut quality.

Diamonds and Diamond Rings

Welcome to one of the best diamond buying guides on the web. Be glad that we got hold of you as much of the information found here comes direct from a very experienced diamond source.....the Antwerp diamond cutter.
Bookmark this page now, you'll need to refer back to it often as you surf/shop around for your diamond. In This Section:This guide will help you get the most from your visit to the jeweller. Everything you need to know to buy a diamond engagement ring, or a loose diamond, spotting a fake diamond, finding a good jeweller, appraising a diamond ring, grading diamonds. After reading this article, you'll know more about buying a diamond ring than anyone you know.You've then decided to buy her a diamond engagement ring but before running off with all that cash burning a hole in your pocket, let's get you educated on what you need to know in order to buy your girl the best diamond engagement ring that your hard earned cash can buy. "Diamonds Are Forever", but you don't want to be paying for that diamond forever. Buying precious gems is not easy and don't rely on the person selling you the gemstone to tell you what it's worth. You must be able to verify it with your own eyes in some instances, but in most cases you will not be able to. We'll warn you about common diamond ring sales tactics. We're not here to trash jewellers, but like any business, jewellers have a lot of expensive overheads they must meet. The biggest questions facing a man about to buy his girl a diamond ring are:1/ What size diamond should I get? 2/ What is an appropriate carat weight?The consensus among most ladies is that the goal appears to be one carat. Sure enough, diamond prices, per carat, jump upwards at 1 carat, and diamond cutters whose stones end up at .99 carat instead of the full 1.0 carat weight are reprimanded. So there seems to be a lot of interest in the 1.0 carat and above size. Some people argue it's better to get a 1.05 ct of lesser quality than a 0.95 carat. Of course not everyone has the money to buy the full 1ct size diamond engagement ring so a well cut smaller weight size would be a very good alternative. Everyone has a formula for how much to spend on a diamond engagement ring. A female salesperson(in particular) may even try to make you feel guilty if you spend less, or don't get a diamond of a certain size. This is my idea: Your love for your fiancée has absolutely nothing to do with the price of the diamond. They are mutually exclusive. Any salesperson making you think otherwise is simply trying to get the most out of you, and remind them of that. Treat it like the business deal that it is and negotiate a good price. The fact that you are asking her to spend the rest of her life with you is the only gauge of your love. Don't let any salesperson make you think differently.
"How do I find out my fiancée's ring size without her finding out?"You can try to get one of her rings when she's not looking and have it sized, or trace the interior diameter. Keep in mind that a jeweller can easily resize the ring later, that's what they do for a living. "Is it safe to buy diamond on the internet?" Yes, it is safe to buy a diamond on the Internet. By the nature of the commodity itself, it is probably the best regulated commodity in the world, not everyone is able to get their hands on them, in quantity, as one would need to be known within the trade, so if you take your precautions and check the suppliers credentials, there should not be a problem. I have not come across a fraudulent supplier online yet, there are many internet suppliers who do not know their diamonds from their luxury fountain pens or watches, but outright crooks, definitely not.
"How can I buy a diamond on the internet if I can't see it? "There are a number of professional honest online diamond ring retailers. I can assure you most of the crime is with crooks trying to buy diamonds with fraudulently obtained cards. The online stores will not rip you off.
Find a supplier who you can trust, allow them to earn your trust by asking a multitude of relevant questions, ie:a) What are the 4C's ( Colour, Clarity, Carat, Cut) and which is most important to the eye?b) What is a better metal for the ring, platinum or 18ct white gold and WHY?c) What is the so called 'Ideal' cut and what are its differences with the so called 'Antwerp' cut?d) Is there a 'best' certificate and if so WHY is it the best?e) What are the technical parameters of a diamond and WHY are they important?f) Can one determine from a certificate the true beauty of a diamond and if so, HOW?g) Is the carat weight a guarantee as to the true visual size of a diamond, if YES, then WHY?h) Is diamond grading an exact science and if YES, then WHY?i) Can diamonds be 'enhanced' in order to look better? If YES then HOW?j) Which are the major diamond exchanges in the world and are you a member of one? if YES, WHICH one?
A couple of these questions are easy to answer but many are not and will present a problem in order to reply correctly. Bookmark this website and refer back to it for the correct answers which will be given to you upon request if you cannot find them on our webpages and compare them to what your potential supplier has told you.Once you are happy with the level of expertise and experience of your supplier then you can give them your trust and custom. I can assure you that the majority of jewellers, online or not, will not be able to answer all these questions fully and correctly, most will give you only part of the answer or part of the full picture.Watch out for synthetic Moissanite diamonds.Synthetic Moissanite diamonds (silicon carbide) gained widespread use in 1999. These fakes are so good that standard thermal conduction testers used by jewellers cannot detect them! Making things worse, they sell for nearly as much as real diamonds, further confusing the issue for diamond buyers. When you look through a 10x loupe, if you see double facets or a doubled table reflection, it is a Moissanite synthetic diamond.
Furthermore a Moissanite stone will have a greater density than diamond and will weigh more for a comparable size to a diamond.Always remember that the most important factor in the purchase of your diamond and ring, besides the price, is the 5th 'C' that of Confidence in your supplier, make them earn your trust and your custom only then will you be absolutely secure in the thought that your diamond or diamond ring has been wisely selected from a reputable and experienced source at real value for money.
Always happy to answer any further questions you may have.

Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?

The diamond invention—the creation of the idea that diamonds are rare and valuable, and are essential signs of esteem—is a relatively recent development in the history of the diamond trade. Until the late nineteenth century, diamonds were found only in a few riverbeds in India and in the jungles of Brazil, and the entire world production of gem diamonds amounted to a few pounds a year. In 1870, however, huge diamond mines were discovered near the Orange River, in South Africa, where diamonds were soon being scooped out by the ton. Suddenly, the market was deluged with diamonds. The British financiers who had organized the South African mines quickly realized that their investment was endangered; diamonds had little intrinsic value—and their price depended almost entirely on their scarcity. The financiers feared that when new mines were developed in South Africa, diamonds would become at best only semiprecious gems.
The major investors in the diamond mines realized that they had no alternative but to merge their interests into a single entity that would be powerful enough to control production and perpetuate the illusion of scarcity of diamonds. The instrument they created, in 1888, was called De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., incorporated in South Africa. As De Beers took control of all aspects of the world diamond trade, it assumed many forms. In London, it operated under the innocuous name of the Diamond Trading Company. In Israel, it was known as "The Syndicate." In Europe, it was called the "C.S.O." -- initials referring to the Central Selling Organization, which was an arm of the Diamond Trading Company. And in black Africa, it disguised its South African origins under subsidiaries with names like Diamond Development Corporation and Mining Services, Inc. At its height -- for most of this century -- it not only either directly owned or controlled all the diamond mines in southern Africa but also owned diamond trading companies in England, Portugal, Israel, Belgium, Holland, and Switzerland.
De Beers proved to be the most successful cartel arrangement in the annals of modern commerce. While other commodities, such as gold, silver, copper, rubber, and grains, fluctuated wildly in response to economic conditions, diamonds have continued, with few exceptions, to advance upward in price every year since the Depression. Indeed, the cartel seemed so superbly in control of prices -- and unassailable -- that, in the late 1970s, even speculators began buying diamonds as a guard against the vagaries of inflation and recession.
The diamond invention is far more than a monopoly for fixing diamond prices; it is a mechanism for converting tiny crystals of carbon into universally recognized tokens of wealth, power, and romance. To achieve this goal, De Beers had to control demand as well as supply. Both women and men had to be made to perceive diamonds not as marketable precious stones but as an inseparable part of courtship and married life. To stabilize the market, De Beers had to endow these stones with a sentiment that would inhibit the public from ever reselling them. The illusion had to be created that diamonds were forever -- "forever" in the sense that they should never be resold.
In September of 1938, Harry Oppenheimer, son of the founder of De Beers and then twenty-nine, traveled from Johannesburg to New York City, to meet with Gerold M. Lauck, the president of N. W. Ayer, a leading advertising agency in the United States. Lauck and N. W. Ayer had been recommended to Oppenheimer by the Morgan Bank, which had helped his father consolidate the De Beers financial empire. His bankers were concerned about the price of diamonds, which had declined worldwide.
In Europe, where diamond prices had collapsed during the Depression, there seemed little possibility of restoring public confidence in diamonds. In Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain, the notion of giving a diamond ring to commemorate an engagement had never taken hold. In England and France, diamonds were still presumed to be jewels for aristocrats rather than the masses. Furthermore, Europe was on the verge of war, and there seemed little possibility of expanding diamond sales. This left the United States as the only real market for De Beers's diamonds. In fact, in 1938 some three quarters of all the cartel's diamonds were sold for engagement rings in the United States. Most of these stones, however, were smaller and of poorer quality than those bought in Europe, and had an average price of $80 apiece. Oppenheimer and the bankers believed that an advertising campaign could persuade Americans to buy more expensive diamonds.
Oppenheimer suggested to Lauck that his agency prepare a plan for creating a new image for diamonds among Americans. He assured Lauck that De Beers had not called on any other American advertising agency with this proposal, and that if the plan met with his father's approval, N. W. Ayer would be the exclusive agents for the placement of newspaper and radio advertisements in the United States. Oppenheimer agreed to underwrite the costs of the research necessary for developing the campaign. Lauck instantly accepted the offer.
In their subsequent investigation of the American diamond market, the staff of N. W. Ayer found that since the end of World War I, in 1919, the total amount of diamonds sold in America, measured in carats, had declined by 50 percent; at the same time, the quality of the diamonds, measured in dollar value, had declined by nearly 100 percent. An Ayer memo concluded that the depressed state of the market for diamonds was "the result of the economy, changes in social attitudes and the promotion of competitive luxuries."
Although it could do little about the state of the economy, N. W. Ayer suggested that through a well-orchestrated advertising and public-relations campaign it could have a significant impact on the "social attitudes of the public at large and thereby channel American spending toward larger and more expensive diamonds instead of "competitive luxuries." Specifically, the Ayer study stressed the need to strengthen the association in the public's mind of diamonds with romance. Since "young men buy over 90% of all engagement rings" it would be crucial to inculcate in them the idea that diamonds were a gift of love: the larger and finer the diamond, the greater the expression of love. Similarly, young women had to be encouraged to view diamonds as an integral part of any romantic courtship.
Since the Ayer plan to romanticize diamonds required subtly altering the public's picture of the way a man courts -- and wins -- a woman, the advertising agency strongly suggested exploiting the relatively new medium of motion pictures. Movie idols, the paragons of romance for the mass audience, would be given diamonds to use as their symbols of indestructible love. In addition, the agency suggested offering stories and society photographs to selected magazines and newspapers which would reinforce the link between diamonds and romance. Stories would stress the size of diamonds that celebrities presented to their loved ones, and photographs would conspicuously show the glittering stone on the hand of a well-known woman. Fashion designers would talk on radio programs about the "trend towards diamonds" that Ayer planned to start. The Ayer plan also envisioned using the British royal family to help foster the romantic allure of diamonds. An Ayer memo said, "Since Great Britain has such an important interest in the diamond industry, the royal couple could be of tremendous assistance to this British industry by wearing diamonds rather than other jewels." Queen Elizabeth later went on a well-publicized trip to several South African diamond mines, and she accepted a diamond from Oppenheimer.
In addition to putting these plans into action, N. W. Ayer placed a series of lush four-color advertisements in magazines that were presumed to mold elite opinion, featuring reproductions of famous paintings by such artists as Picasso, Derain, Dali, and Dufy. The advertisements were intended to convey the idea that diamonds, like paintings, were unique works of art.　

Can we know where a diamond has come from?

Lets look at the evidence we have so far. We know that diamonds contain small amounts of other substances, known as impurities, which can give them color. Special optical techniques can be used to determine what the impurities are. These impurities give a possible start to tracing diamonds. For example, it is thought that Sierra Leone has a distinctive profile of sulfides (sulfur-containing molecules). Unfortunately, these tests have not been carried out routinely by all of the diamond producing countries of the world. To get this sort of information a lot of research would have to be done by testing diamonds from every mine. One of the major pitfalls of this type of identification is that all diamond is formed in the molten rock of the mantel. Rather like a pan of water being heated, the mantel has very slow convection currents that keep it flowing and mixed up. Due to these currents, the chemical content of the mantel is thought to be similar everywhere around the globe. It is therefore likely that, even though diamonds are mined at many different parts of the earth's surface, the impurities in them will be very similar. In fact it has been found that is virtually impossible to distinguish between rough diamonds from conflict zones and those mined legitimately in countries such as Botswana, the biggest rough diamond producer in the world.
So are there other methods of identification? Scientists have looked at uncut unpolished diamonds from different regions of the world and they have found that their size, shape and surface roughness can be a key to where they come from. However, when lots of diamonds are mixed together from a number of different sources it is still very difficult to separate them out in to their different regions, because the differences between them are too small. It becomes even harder once they are cut and polished, as all these original features are removed.
Rain may be the key to identifying the origins of rough diamonds. When it soaks in to the ground it comes into contact with the diamonds. It can leave hydrogen atoms or isotopes on the surface of the gems that are unique to the rain water in that region. These atoms or isotopes are held very strongly on the surface so are not easily removed.
All of these techniques seem straightforward, but they do not work all of the time, so at present, all countries that produce diamonds legally have signed an agreement that they will not buy conflict diamonds and that they will keep records of each diamond that comes out of every mine. Every stone is marked and cataloged through out its life and its documents (or 'certificate of origin') travel with it. Using techniques such as branding this should be possible, but wouldn't it be much easier if a technique could be developed like the one James's scientist had in the film. Well, maybe it has! In June 2002, a company reported that it had developed such a machine that can be used on rough and cut diamond. It is not yet in operation but hopefully will be soon. The manufacturers say that it is like a photocopying machine - put a rough diamond in to it and it identifies all its unique characteristics, its origin and its value, then forms a blueprint of the diamond and keeps it on record, then it brands the diamond. The cost of this machine is thought to be about $1 million - not very much if you compare it to the profits made every year by the diamond industry.

Where In The World Does This Diamond Come From?

Eight billion US dollars worth of diamonds are produced every year, from mines all over the world. So why is it important to know where diamonds come from? In the film, James was suspicious because the diamonds were supposed to have come from a mine in Iceland - a place where diamonds had never been discovered before. If you look at the map below you can see all the areas of the world (white blotches) where diamond has been found. Does Iceland have a white blotch over it? No. So James was right to be suspicious. He sent the diamonds to be tested. The laboratory found that they were typical of 'conflict' diamonds from Africa, and not from Iceland where Gustav was supposed to have mined them.
Why was Gustav lying about the source of the diamonds and what are 'conflict' diamonds? After a lot of searching, I found the answer. Conflict diamonds come from countries in the world where there is civil war. Rebel armies, which fight against the governments of the countries, mine diamonds and sell them illegally. They use the money to buy weapons, which allows the fighting and the bloodshed to continue. This has happened in many countries, including Sierra Leone, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Conflict diamonds are estimated to account for only about four per cent of the world's production per year. This might not sound like a lot, but it is thought that in the last six years, an Angolan rebel group called UNITA has raised $3.7 billion from selling conflict diamonds. The proceeds from diamonds is thought to be the only source of funds for some of these rebel groups, so the rest of the world has decided not to buy any diamonds from these countries.
Stopping people buying conflict diamonds is not simple, as they can be smuggled out in to neighboring countries such as Liberia where they are sold as legitimate diamonds. How do people know this is happening? Geologists can estimate how many diamonds a region should have in its volcanoes and rivers and how much it will produce in a year. Some countries appear to be selling more diamonds than physically possible, so they must be getting them from somewhere else, such as smuggling them from countries where diamond selling is banned. The diamond companies are worried that if the public were to think that that there is a chance that the diamonds they are considering buying are funding wars where people are dying, they may not buy them, which would result in the collapse of the diamond market.
So how did James's colleagues know from the laboratory report that they were conflict diamonds? The lab test showed that the signatures of the diamonds were typical of conflict diamonds? There was something about the diamonds - some evidence within their structure that gave clues about the region of the world where they were mined.

Writing On Diamonds

In the film, after James had found the diamonds, he looks at them very carefully under a microscope. He sees that the name Gustav Graves is inscribed on them in tiny letters. I checked this out and in fact this can be done. It is a technique called ion beam writing. Ions are very tiny charged particles. When fired at a surface of diamond they convert the diamond into graphite in patterns or writing only 1/40th of the thickness of a human hair. Graphite is gray in color and so contrasts against the transparent diamond. Even tiny diamond crystals can be written on. Some companies inscribe each diamond coming out of a mine so it can be identified at a later stage as coming from that particular mine. Wouldn't you think this would take a lot of time and effort to write on each one? Well, there are now special machines that can automatically engrave each crystal in less than a second. When diamonds come out of the ground they are rough, they have a crystalline shape but they are scratched and have rough surfaces. To make them sparkling and beautiful like the ones we see in rings, and necklaces, they have to be cut and polished. The inscribing technique can also be used on cut and polished diamonds, the name of the jeweler or the company supplying the diamond to the jeweler can be put on them.

What Are Diamonds Made Of?

Actually the same stuff that coal and your pencil lead is made of - carbon, the atoms are just arranged in a way that make the bonds very strong.
The bonds are formed when carbon is at very high temperatures and under very high pressures. Natural diamonds are made deep down in the earth, about 180km below the surface, where high temperatures and pressures exist naturally. Under the earths crust is the mantel, which is made up of molten rock, metals and other materials. The temperature is very high at this depth - between 1100oC and 1400oC. The high pressures are produced by the weight of 180 km of rocks pressing down on it. Besides carbon, there are very small amounts of other substances, such as nitrogen and sulfur that can become trapped in the crystal when it is formed in the mantel. These impurities can give color to the diamond. One of the most rare is pink diamonds. The engagement ring that Ben Afleck gave to Jennifer Lopez is a pink diamond, making the ring worth $3 million dollars

Where does the carbon come from to make diamonds? Most diamonds are made of carbon that was in the mantle since the earth was formed, but some are made of carbon from the bodies and shells of microorganisms like algae in ancient oceans. This organic carbon was buried in rocks that were dragged down into the mantle because of plate tectonics and continental drift. All living things on earth are based on carbon. If you or I were to somehow fall into an ocean trench at the edge of a tectonic plate where rocks are being dragged underneath a continent, we might reappear millions of years later as diamonds!

What is an appraisal?(diamond)

An appraisal is an evaluation conducted by an independent firm to determine that the diamonds and precious metals are genuine and that the diamond matches the criteria listed in the Diamond Grading Report. The appraisal report consists of a description of the article and shows its estimated retail replacement value.
Although you will receive a Diamond Grading Report with every loose diamond purchased from Diamonds.com, we also recommend that you request an appraisal after you make your purchase.
Refer to the FAQs below to learn more about Appraisals.
Why do I need an appraisal?An appraisal is required to obtain insurance to cover the replacement cost of the item in the event of loss, theft or damage. The insurance companies use the appraisal to calculate your cost of insuring the items.
An appraisal will also put your mind at ease that the diamond you received is in fact the one that you bought. You never have to worry when making a purchase from Diamonds.com. We maintain the highest ethical standards and guarantee that that the diamond you purchased is the one you selected.

Do I still need an appraisal if I have a Diamond Grading Report?Yes. A Diamond Grading Report can be requested before making a purchase. It will certify the 4Cs-cut, color, clarity and carat-weight-and other characteristics of the diamond. However, it does not list an estimated retail replacement value. The appraisal is ordered after you make a purchase or at the time of purchase from Diamonds.com. It confirms the 4Cs, but also includes the estimated retail replacement value.

Does an appraisal expire?An appraisal is usually good for three to five years. Your insurance company will advise you if you require an updated appraisal.

How much does an appraisal cost?Costs vary according to total carat weight of the diamonds. Approximate fees are:
Under 1.50 carats $ 60.00 1.51 - 2.50 carats $ 75.00 2.51 - 3.50 carats $ 90.00 3.51 - 4.50 carats $100.00 Over 4.51 carats For a quote, please call 1-877-956-9600
Please contact us if you need an updated appraisal which we can expedite at a reduced fee.

Can I order an appraisal from Diamonds?Yes. You can request an appraisal when you make your purchase. Diamonds.com will submit your request to an independent laboratory that will appraise your jewelry based on established industry standards. You will receive one copy of the appraisal.
Diamonds.com, its appointees and agents are not responsible for possible dissimilarities and/or differences that could appear from repeated examinations or as a result of other methods applied. Diamonds.com presents these appraisals/evaluations to the client solely for his own use and shall not be held responsible for any claim whatsoever, which may be made on the basis of this evaluation.

Where do I find the Diamond Grading Report?

Where do I find the Diamond Grading Report?When you are selecting your diamond from the Diamonds Details page, click on the "View Report" link for that stone.



What is the difference between an appraisal and a Diamond Grading Report?A Diamond Grading Report can be requested before making a purchase. However, it does not list the estimated retail replacement value. The appraisal is ordered after you make a purchase. It confirms the 4Cs, but also includes the estimated retail replacement value.

What if I lose my original Diamond Grading Report?The number assigned to the Diamond Grading Report is on file with the grading institution that produced the report. Additional copies can be requested for a nominal fee.

What is a Diamond Grading Report?A Diamond Grading Report documents the diamond's unique characteristics. Performed by an independent gemological laboratory, the report examines and identifies the 4C's -cut, color, clarity, carat weight-plus finish, fluorescence and symmetry. The gemologist may add comments for further identification.

How do I know that I am getting the same diamond I selected?Each Diamond Grading Report is assigned a unique number that corresponds to the stone and certifies its characteristics. To ensure proper identification, the Diamond Grading Report will have a diagram that shows all the inclusions unique to the stone, or in some cases, the diamond will be laser-inscribed with the number of the Diamond Grading Report.

Who issues Diamond Grading Reports?To ensure your peace of mind, we offer diamond grading reports issued only by the two leading independent gemological laboratories, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the American Gem Society (AGS). Both have received international recognition for their high standards and ethics and are respected worldwide as premier research, education, and gemological grading institutes.
The GIA produces a full Diamond Grading Report, with a diagram of inclusions, for diamonds over 99 points. A Diamond Dossier® is an abbreviated version of the Diamond Grading Report that does not contain a diagram of the stone. However, the report number is laser-inscribed on the girdle of the diamond for identification.

Diamonds Color & Fluorescence

Diamonds color is the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. Diamonds are graded on a color scale from D (most “colorless”) to Z (maximum amount of body color for “colorless” diamonds). Attention to tricks on color that are performed in order to deceive the buyer. Fluorescence: it is advisable to seek for faint blue fluorescence or none when choosing the diamond for the engagement ring. Color Speaking of diamonds color is referring to the presence or absence of color in white diamonds. With diamonds, the best color is no color. Diamonds are not all truly colorless, but the standard for judging all shades is the colorless/white diamond. The less color in a diamond, the more colorful the fire. Diamonds allow light to be reflected and dispersed as a rainbow of color. This light dispersion, or color flash, has no effect on the technical grading of color. The absolute finest colorless stone has a D rating, descending through each letter of the alphabet to Z, designating a diamond of light yellow, brown, or gray. Color in a diamond will act as a filter, and will diminish the spectrum of color emitted. If the color is more intense than Z, it is considered fancy. A fancy yellow diamond fetches a higher price than a light yellow diamond. Color is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time. It may be caused by the presence of minute trace elements, such as nitrogen, within the atomic framework of the carbon crystal, scientifically measured in ppm (parts per million). As the body color becomes more intense, the grade for color descends the scale. The gradations are very precise. Discerning a single grade under less than ideal laboratory conditions is extremely difficult even for an expert. For accurate color grade it is always best to compare diamonds graded by either the GIA or the AGS. It would be advisable to select a diamond with at least a K color grade. It is also true that while most people strive to buy the most colorless diamond they can afford, there are many people who actually prefer the warmer glow of lower-color diamonds. Dazzling Black and White Diamond Jewelry From JewelryImpressions.com! Save Hundreds Now!! Grading Grading is performed in laboratories and only for diamonds which are unmounted — loose diamonds, and they do so under special light. Mounting can very much influence the perception of color. Even a trained professional cannot always tell the difference between, say a D color and an E or F color diamond on a mounted ring .