DIAMOND GUIDE

NATURAL DIAMOND GUIDE

What Are Natural Diamonds?

Natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth’s mantle over billions of years, under extreme heat and pressure. They are created entirely by nature, making each stone a rare and unique geological wonder.

Their rarity, history, and natural beauty make them one of the most treasured gemstones in the world.

Natural Diamonds vs. Lab-Grown Diamonds

  • Appearance: Both look identical to the naked eye and offer exceptional brilliance and sparkle.
  • Physical Properties: Both share the same hardness (10 on Mohs scale) and durability.
  • Main Difference – Origin: Natural diamonds form over billions of years; lab-grown are created in weeks using technology.

How to Identify a Natural Diamond

  • Visual Inspection: Natural diamonds appear identical to lab-grown diamonds.
  • Gemological Testing: Advanced tools detect growth patterns & inclusions unique to natural diamonds.
  • Certification: GIA or IGI certificates clearly mention whether a diamond is natural.

Understanding the 4Cs of Natural Diamonds

Diamond Cut: The Key to Brilliance

The cut determines how well a diamond reflects light. A beautifully cut diamond sparkles intensely; a poorly cut one appears dull.

  • A well-cut diamond gives exceptional sparkle.
  • A poor cut reduces brilliance, even with high clarity or color.
Cut Grades
  • Excellent: Ideal proportions, maximum brilliance.
  • Very Good: Strong brilliance with minor variations.
  • Good: Balanced sparkle and value.
  • Fair: Noticeable loss of brilliance.
  • Poor: Significant light leakage, looks dull.
Diamond Clarity Explained

Clarity refers to natural inclusions formed over billions of years. The fewer the inclusions, the higher the clarity grade.

Clarity Grades
  • FL: Flawless — no inclusions even at 10x magnification.
  • IF: Internally Flawless — extremely rare.
  • VVS1–VVS2: Very, very slight inclusions.
  • VS1–VS2: Minor inclusions, not visible to the naked eye.
  • SI1–SI2: Slight inclusions; sometimes visible.
  • I1–I3: Noticeable inclusions; may affect durability.
Diamond Color Explained

Color ranges from colorless to light yellow/brown. Less color = higher value.

Color Grades
  • D–F: Colorless — highest quality.
  • G–H: Near colorless — excellent balance of value & beauty.
  • I–J: Slight tint — still appears white in most settings.
  • K–Z: Noticeable yellow/brown tint.
Diamond Carat Weight Explained

Carat refers to weight (1 carat = 200 mg). Larger diamonds are more valuable, but cut quality influences beauty more than size.