Diamondology

CARAT WEIGHT

The carat is the standard unit of weight for diamonds and other gemstones. As round diamonds are predominantly cut to specific millimeter sizes our chart below can help to give you an idea of how large certain stones actually are. As diamonds are natural stones and cut differently there can always be slight variations.

Color

Diamond color evaluation is actually based on the absence of color. A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue. For many people the color differences are very difficult to notice but these distinctions make a difference in terms of diamond quality, value and price. At the Carbon Culture we only use colorless and near colorless diamonds.

Clarity

FL (Flawless)No inclusions or visible blemishes under 10x magnification.

IF (Internally Flawless)No inclusions, but barely visible blemish under 10x magnification.

VVS1 (Very, Very Slightly Included 1)Inclusions are extremely hard to see using 10x magnification.

VVS2 (Very, Very Slightly Included 2)Inclusions are difficult to see using 10x magnification.

VS1 (Very Slightly Included 1)Inclusions are slightly visible using 10x magnification.

VS2 (Very Slightly Included 2)Inclusions will not affect the beauty of a diamond but can be detected using 10x magnification.

SI1 (Slightly Included 1)Inclusions are slightly visible using 10x magnification.

SI2 (Slightly Included 2)Inclusions are noticeable using 10x magnification and most will be visible to the naked eye.

I1, I2, and I3 (Included)Inclusions are very obvious using 10× magnification and to the naked eye.

Cut

Diamond cut is very important as it impacts the overall look and value of a stone. The cut of a particular stone is rated based on how successfully a stone interacts with light to create the following effects.

At The Carbon Culture the GIA certified diamonds we sell are only rated as excellent or very good.

Brightness Internal and external white light reflected from a diamond

Fire The scattering of white light into all the colors of the rainbow

Scintillation The amount of sparkle a diamond produces, and the pattern of light and dark areas caused by reflections within the diamond.

Shapes

Diamonds can be cut into virtually any shape. However the diamond shape is typically decided by the diamond cutter depending on the rough stone. A Sarin machine is used to analyze and mark the rough stone for the optimal shape that will yield the largest stone with the least amount of cutting waste. At The Carbon Culture we like to have fun with our jewelry and create special pieces with unique shapes.

Gold

Gold is a preferred metal for jewelry since it does not corrode, tarnish or rust. It is also malleable when heated which allows jewelry makers to craft and shape the metal to their individual specifications.
Gold is measured in purity. The most pure form would be 24kt gold. However, 24kt gold is too soft for use in jewelry so other metals are mixed in for strength and color. The more metal that is mixed in with the gold, the lower the kt weight becomes. We prefer 14kt gold for its superior durability so that our jewelry can be comfortably worn on a daily basis.
At The Carbon Culture we manufacture all of our jewelry in 14kt gold but 18kt gold is available for special order.

Carbon

Diamonds are the only gems that are made of a single element. Carbon!
A diamond is typically made up of 99.5% carbon while the remaining 5% are trace elements independent of a diamonds essential chemistry. These trace elements may influence color or crystal shape.
Diamonds can only form under high pressure and temperature conditions at a depth of approximately 100 miles beneath the earth's surface.
Carbon has several allotropes, or different forms in which it can exist. These allotropes include graphite and diamond, which have very different properties.
Carbon allotropes have very different physical properties: diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance, while graphite is one of the softest known substances.
Diamond is transparent, the ultimate abrasive, and can be an electrical insulator and thermal conductor.
Graphite is opaque, a very good lubricant, a good conductor of electricity, and a thermal insulator.

Source: www.gia.edu