Diamond was discovered in 500 B.C. in India. The name "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas" which means unconquerable-suggesting the eternity of love. Since ancient Greece diamonds have been the traditional symbol of love. The ancients believed they were hardened dew drops, splinters from the stars or crystallized lightening.

A diamond - the hardest substance known to man is a crystallized carbon which has unique powers of light reflection. Because it is composed of a single element - a diamond is the purest of all gemstones. Diamond is a colorless stone. Some other occasional colors are, blue, yellow, amber, red, green, pink.

Diamonds are graded by four characteristics: cut, carat (weight), clarity, and color. All four of these properties determine how much a diamond is worth.

• Cut

Classic Shapes

• Carat - How big is the diamond? Larger diamonds often cost more per carat due to their size. There are 100 points to a carat. Hence a 50 point diamond is 1/2 a carat. (There are 5 carats to a gram.) Always get the actual point size of a diamond rather than a fractional weight. Sometimes jewellers will try to sell a .90 diamond as a 1 carat diamond. A .90 diamond should be substantially less expensive.

Standard measure of a diamond's size is carat(ct) weight.
Size alone is almost meaningless unless you consider cut, clarity and color. A large stone is not very valuable if it lacks brilliance, purity and high-grade color . For the reason that large stones are harder to find than small ones, size does increase the value of a good diamond.

• Clarity - How clear is the stone? Clarity ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). Here is a chart:

  Internally Flawless No internal blemishes are visible under 10x magnification	Very very slightly included No internal blemishes are visible under 10x magnification	Very slightly included Blemishes and inclusions difficult to locate under 10x magnification
  Slightly included Blemishes and inclusions easy to locate under 10x magnification	Imperfect Blemishes and inclusions easy to locate under 10x magnification and naked eye	Imperfect Blemishes and inclusions easy to locate witn naked eye

• Color: Diamond colors generally range from D - X for white and yellow diamonds. D is the whitest. Around S they become "Fancy" yellow Diamonds. One can also find green, pink, red, blue and brown diamonds - though these are usually irradiated.

   

How to Examine a Diamond

• Microscope/Loop: To examine inclusions, one uses either a microscope or a 10x magnifying glass called a jeweller's loop. This enables one to see inclusions in stones.

• Diamond Tester: A diamond tester uses light to verify that the stone you are examining is really a diamond. It does not guarantee quality -- just the type of stone. Most testers will still work when the stone is mounted.

How Diamonds are Treated

• Filled for clarity: Diamonds with inclusions are sometimes filled with glass to make them appear clearer. Yehuda Diamonds have undergone this treatment. Filler can be damaged by heat, ultrasonic cleaning, and by re-tipping. The filling does not repair the inclusion, it just makes it less visible.

  If you look at a filled diamond closely, rotate it under light, you should be able to notice a bluish flash. Yehuda will usually refill your diamond for free if it is ever damaged. Check for guarantees before buying such a diamond.

• Irradiated for color: Can be affected by heat.

• Painted for color: Can be painted to offset a yellow tinge. The paint wears off rather quickly.

• Ask if the diamond you are considering buying is treated. Getting a notarized statement from your jeweler saying that your diamond in not treated is recommended. This is like having the jeweler swear under oath that to his/her knowledge that the diamond is not treated. Several states have disclosure acts requiring dealers to tell you about these treatments.

How to Care for your Diamonds

• Diamonds are brittle: If you hit a diamond hard, they WILL crack or chip if mishandled. Don't wear your diamond when doing rough work.

• Storage: Store diamonds separately. When stored with other jewellery, diamonds may scratch other jewelry (or each other).

• Cleaning: The best method for cleaning is a jeweler's polishing cloth. Most jewellers will clean your diamond ring for free if you are making another purchase in the store.