Q: WHAT IS USED TO CUT A DIAMOND? WHERE DO THE
LEFTOVERS GO?
A: Diamond is by far the hardest substance
known, and as such the only thing that can cut or polish a diamond is
diamond. Diamond saws and diamond wheels are impregnated with diamond
dust. The leftovers of the diamonds being cut are "recycled" and used in
this manner. The larger leftovers are cut into smaller diamonds, or used
for industrial purposes.
Q: HOW DO YOU TELL
A REAL DIAMOND FROM A FAKE?
A: Identifying a real diamond
from a true synthetic diamond is truly difficult and takes a gemologist,
with specialized equipment, to make a proper identification.
Synthetic diamonds are currently being marketed in jewelry qualities. Identifying a diamond from
any other imitations is a matter of training. There are many substitutes
available on the market, and each one has certain characteristics that
diamonds do not have, to help Gemologists identify them.
Q: WHEN LOOKING AT A
DIAMOND WITH A LOUPE, HOW DOES A FLAW SHOW UP?
A: Flaws or
imperfections are anything that may be found in a diamond. Flaws come in
all shapes, sizes and colors. Flaws can be black, white or even blue and
orange. A flaw can also be any size or shape. Common flaws are "feathers",
which look like a wisp, or curved line and are usually white. Carbon can
be geometric or look like lint, and black. Included crystals can be a
perfectly formed square or hexagonal shape.
Q: ROUGHLY HOW LARGE ARE
DIAMONDS BEFORE THEY ARE CUT AND POLISHED?
A: Diamond rough is
mostly found in smaller sizes. The amount of rough lost in the cutting is
approximately 1/2 the original crystal. So if the rough crystal is 1/2
carat, the finished, polished diamond will be about 1/4 carat.
Q: WHAT ARE THE
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF TRAVELING TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO BUY
DIAMONDS.
A: The most obvious advantage is the joy of
traveling. The most obvious disadvantage, is the high cost of traveling.
The prices of diamonds are really standardized throughout the world. The
major dealers and sight holders have sales representatives that travel to
all the jewelers.
Q: CAN DIAMONDS
BREAK?
A: Yes. Diamonds can chip and break if they are hit the
right way, with a sharp enough blow. Diamonds have a "Grain", like wood
has a grain, and can splinter in the same manner. We can repair chipped
and broken diamonds. Surprisingly, little weight is lost from the
stone.
Q: PLEASE EXPLAIN THE
DIFFERENT DIAMOND CUTS, I.E., MARQUISE, BAGUETTE, ETC.
A: The
cut of the diamond, refers to the outside shape or perimeter. Most common
are round diamonds. A marquise is a Canoe shape; long with both ends
pointed. A Pear shape has one end pointed and one end rounded. Baguettes
come in tapered or straight. Straight baguettes are rectangle shape,
tapered are a trapezoid shape. Diamond cutters are always creating new
shapes. A beautiful new cut is the Radiant, also called the Princess or
Quadrillion. There are patents on these names, although the cut is
similar. The outside diameter is a square shape, with or without beveled
corners. They differ from the Emerald cut by the faceting on the bottom of
the stone, which is similar to the round brilliant.
Q: CAN DIAMONDS BE
REPAIRED OR RECUT?
A: Yes. Diamonds can chip and break if they
are hit the right way, with a sharp enough blow. Diamonds have a "grain",
like wood has a grain, and can "splinter" in the same manner. Chipped and
broken diamonds can sometimes be repaired. Surprisingly little weight is lost from
the stone if the chip is small. Sometimes it makes sense to re-cut an older style cut to modern
proportions if the brilliance is "dull".
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