Diamond Type: One of Many Diamond Choices & Why It’s Important
A diamond is a rare and precious gem; truly one of nature’s most cherished gifts. Perhaps this is why we reserve diamonds for the most treasured people and occasions in our life.
When you are looking for your first (or next) diamond, you have many choices to consider. Many people are familiar with the 4C diamond options: cut, color, clarity and carat. (You can learn more about those here.) In this article, I want to introduce you to an option you should consider before you jump into those details; this factor will provide a helpful starting point for you to get on the best path for finding a diamond that fits your preferences and budget.
At the beginning of your search for the perfect diamond, take a moment to think about which type of diamond you want. You have two options: natural and clarity-enhanced.
Natural Diamonds
As the name suggests, natural diamonds are created in the earth. They are formed under extreme pressure within 85-135 miles of the earth’s mantle, over the course of 1-3 billion years. They then travel to the earth’s surface on streams of molten rock. Natural diamonds are the rarest and precious. If you go this route, you will know that no one else has a diamond that looks like yours; no two natural diamonds are identical.
The biggest benefit – apart from owning a rare, unique gemstone – is knowing that no treatments were used or required to maintain your diamond. These factors make this type of diamond the highest cost option.
Clarity-Enhanced Diamond
This diamond option alters natural diamonds via an array of special treatments to improve color or clarity. These treatments aim to enhance the natural flaws of diamonds. These treatments can affect durability, which is why jewelers are required to disclose what treatment is used on your gem. Here a few of the common treatments used:
-
Surface coating is used to change the color of a diamond. The new surface isn’t as durable as a natural diamond, so it is susceptible to scratching.
-
Fracture/cavity filling is done to improve clarity by concealing the presence of cracks, holes, and voids. Air pressure changes, certain chemicals, and intense heat can affect the fillings used, so you’ll want to avoid these circumstances when wearing your diamond.
-
A high-pressure heat temperature treatment is used to affect the natural color of the diamond, removing yellow or brownish tints. This is very common treatment and doesn’t require any additional care to maintain.
-
Laser drilling is used to perfect deep, dark inclusions in natural diamonds. This is typically followed by a chemical treatment to further remove color and improve the overall clarity.
Because the natural gem has been altered (which causes a reduction in value of the gem), you can get a diamond for a slightly lower cost than a natural diamond.
We Do Diamonds Differently
Unlike most jewelers, we don't pre-purchase our diamonds. We maintain strong relationships with many fantastic diamond cutters around the world who allow us to keep their best diamonds in our store.
You’ll often hear about our gemologists traveling around the world to hand-select only the best diamonds to bring back to our showroom in St. Cloud. So, when you come to shop for a diamond, we can show you a plethora of options that align with your preferences and budget.