An Overview of Diamonds
The word "diamond' comes from the Latin adamnas which means "unyielding." While diamonds have not always been the gem of preference for engagement rings, one rarely, if ever, sees any other type of gem given on such occasions today. Diamond engagement rings have become the norm in Western society and not something many wedded couples oppose.
Diamonds are the hardest natural material known to man, as such, they have come to be considered as the ultimate symbol of love and commitment. The endurance of diamonds symbolizes the union between two people that is thought to be unbreakable.
Diamonds come in a wide variety of shapes, or cuts including Round, Princess, Emerald, Cushion, Pear, Marquise, Oval, Radiant, and Asscher, Trilion, and Baguette. Each cut has a different number of facets, or faces. The more facets, the more sparkle. The number of facets in any given cut can vary, but there are some cuts that usually have more facets than others.
While colorless diamonds are the most popular, especially for engagement rings. However, diamonds come in almost every color imaginable.
There are two types of imperfections that affect a diamond’s clarity: blemishes and inclusions. Blemishes are marks on a diamond’s surface, and inclusions are internal flaws. While these imperfections affect the diamond’s price, they do not affect the diamond’s appearance; even under a microscope the imperfections are hard to see.
Obviously, the more carats a diamond weighs, the more it is worth, but this number does not increase consistently. Meaning, a smaller diamond and a larger diamond will not have the same cost per carat.