Diamond

In this section learn just what a diamond is and what makes a cut diamond a "Super Ideal" and how not all Ideals are the same. Understand proportion and symmetry and what's currently viewed as "Ideal". Discover Hearts & Arrows — the good and the bad, and how they can be seen in the very best ideal cut diamonds. And finally, learn just what makes a diamond special.

Diamond is the crystallized form of carbon. Carbon crystalises in a cubinc system which is the strongest and most symmetrical known on Earth, and is born hundreds of miles below the Earth's surface. Diamonds were formed more than 70 million years ago when diamond-bearing ore was brought to the surface through volcanic eruption. After the magma cooled, it solidified into blue ground, or kimberlite, where the precious rough is found today

The durability of a gem depends on both its hardness and toughness. Diamond, although highest on the scale of hardness (rated 10 on the Mohs scale), is not as tough as some gems because of its good cleavage. (Cleavage is the tendency of a diamond to split in certain directions where the carbon atoms are furthest apart.) Diamonds have a very high degree of transparency, refractivity and dispersion or 'fire' which gives rise in cut diamonds to a high degree of brilliancy and a display of prismatic colors. A diamond's fiery brilliance makes it cherished above all other gemstones by the majority of people. Diamonds occupy a position of incomparable demand.