What’s the difference between a diamond and a diamond

Are diamond and diamond synonymous? Or are there differences between them? Chemically speaking – both are allotropic modifications of carbon. The only difference is that a diamond is a mineral that has only been extracted from a rock, while a diamond is a diamond that has also been cut.

Most diamonds have the shape of an octahedron (a polyhedron with eight facets) or dodecahedron (a polyhedron with 12 facets). They look nothing like the diamonds we are used to: they are cloudy crystals without much luster. In order to make a diamond out of an unsightly diamond, it must be cut.

How a diamond turns into a brilliant

Turning a diamond into a brilliant is a multi-step process.

1. Planning. A specialist examines the crystal and plans further processing. Sometimes stones are x-rayed to determine the presence of cracks and inclusions. Stones with pronounced defects are sifted out.
2. Sawing. A marking is applied to the stone. Sawing itself is carried out with the help of a laser or circular saw with diamond spraying.
3. Deburring. Diamonds obtained after sawing are processed on a special lathe: at this stage the stone has a shape and future facets. This stage is one of the most important: it determines how much weight the stone will lose.
4. Faceting. The facets are applied to the stone at a certain angle relative to each other. Grinding is done with a grinding disk and special pastes.
5. Grinding and polishing. Necessary to make the diamond especially smooth and the facets precise.
6. Washing. Before going to the buyer, a diamond is washed in various liquids – distilled water, alcohol and even sulfuric acid. Such treatment is necessary to completely remove traces of oils, diamond grit and other substances that get on the stone during processing.

Creating a diamond from a diamond takes from several days to several months. If a large crystal needs to be cut, it may take a month or two just to find the most optimal shape and cut pattern.

Why a diamond is more expensive than a rough diamond

Not every diamond can become a diamond: only 20% of the mined ones are selected for the jewelry industry. This is due to the size, clarity characteristics and the presence of structural defects in the rough. But even if a stone has passed the entire selection process, it will lose a significant amount of weight. During the cutting process, the stone inevitably loses weight: the loss can exceed 50%! Finally, to the cost of a diamond is added the price for its treatment: it is a painstaking process that is performed manually on specialized equipment. All this leads to a significant difference in price.

Thus, the average cost of a diamond is $500 for 1 carat, and 1 carat of a diamond – $8000-9000. At the same time, it should be noted that diamond pricing is not linear. A 1-carat diamond will cost much more than two 0.5 carats. And especially large stones have their own pricing: samples above 6 carats are sold only at auctions.