Breaking Down Loose Diamonds: Why Are They so Expensive?

Everyone loves those gorgeous loose diamonds they see in their local jewelry store. There is just something about them that drives women crazy and makes men shudder all at the same time. It is hard to believe these tiny, little stones are worth so much money, but they are! Here are the reasons why:

Loose diamonds are given their values based on four categories. These four categories are known as the four Cs of diamonds: Cut, color, clarity and carat weight. Since diamonds are naturally created by the earth, it makes sense that they are all very different in each of these categories. The cut of certified loose diamonds is determined by a professional diamond cutter. After the stones have been harvested and polished, they are cut into a specific shape.

The color of loose diamonds is strictly determined by the earth. Even white diamonds have varying degrees of white, but if a stone has blue tints, then it was exposed to boron during its formation deep within the earth. The clarity of a diamond is also determined by the earth. This category deals with the number of imperfections the diamond contains. The carat weight of loose diamonds is determined by the earth and the diamond cutter because carat weight refers to the sheer size of the stone.

Where Do Loose Diamonds Come From?

Do you actually know what people mean when they use the term loose diamonds? Most people would think they are referring to the lovely stones they see in jewelry stores. They would be right in this assumption, but there are so much more to these certified loose diamonds than one may think. It takes so long to form these stones and they are made naturally within the earth! Of course there is a manmade version of these stones and they are called cubic zirconias. Both are very stunning, but only one comes from deep inside of the earth.

Loose diamonds are made right underneath our feet. Over one hundred miles beneath the earth's surface exists carbon atoms, blistering heat and extreme pressure. These conditions need to be exactly perfect for diamonds to commence their formation process. When carbon atoms are exposed to such conditions, they band together to form very cohesive and almost indestructible lattice like bonds. These specific bonds are what make them the hardest material naturally created in the entire earth. To say they are indestructible would not be an accurate statement at all, but they are harder than anything else the earth has created without a doubt. This makes them great and practical for uses other than aesthetics like dentistry or commercial drilling. Since they are so hard, you can use them to easily cut through a number of substances, including human teeth!

Loose diamonds at smyth jewelers are very pretty and shiny. We all know that! What gives them their brilliant sparkle and shine, though? The answer is complex, but can be attributed to the facets cut into the stones. When a professional diamond cutter makes his perfect incisions into the diamond, he creates these facets that allow the light to beautifully bounce off the stone. Facets are the little lines within the stone that not only give the diamond its shape, but also reflect light. People think that the cut of a diamond is solely the overall shape of the stone, but there is obviously much more to it than that. There are three other categories of diamonds that also contribute to the value of a diamond. They are color, clarity and carat weight. All four categories must work together in order to form an accurate dollar amount for each individual stone. One would be meaningless without the others. The next time you spot a diamond ring, make sure you think about exactly where it came from.