September 25, 2009
Why Would a 1 Carat Diamond Appear Smaller Than Another?
Samantha recently remarked that her friend’s diamond looked smaller than hers even though it was a 1 carat diamond like hers.
What most consumers may not understand is that carat weight is a weight designation not one that describes the physical size. A one carat diamond if it is cut deep will appear smaller because the weight is more vertical than a one carat diamond that is cut shallower and more horizontal.
This brings up an important associated subject, the importance of cut. An ideal cut diamond having the right proportions will return the most light and have the most brilliance and sparkle. A diamond that is cut too deep or too shallow will appear smaller or larger than the ideal cut diamond of the same weight and will not have as much sparkle or brilliance. Diamonds that are cut too deep or shallow will also have a lower value than an ideal cut.
The following diagram will illustrate light return in the different cut proportions of a diamond.
More than just size the cut is the most important aspect in defining brilliance and sparkle. What would you rather have?
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
September 21, 2009
What is Moissanite?
Randy just heard about moissanite and asked to know more about it.
Moissanite is a lab created gemstone. It is made in the laboratory from carbon and silicon using heat and pressure.
It is commonly used as a diamond simulant, meaning that it is a diamond substitute but is not a diamond. It may be the simulant that looks the closest to a diamond.
It is carbon based like a diamond and its thermal conductivity is similar to a diamond. It will fool conventional thermal diamond testers and will register as a diamond. You would need a moissanite tester to confirm that it is not a diamond.
It has a refractive index is also similar to a diamonds and will appear as brilliant. Unlike a diamond it is double refractive whereas a diamond is single refractive. A moissanite has more “fire” (dispersion) than a diamond. It also appears a little darker in the J-L color range with a tinge of yellow to green.
It has a hardness of 9.5 on the Mohs scale so it it very durable. Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs scale.
As a lab created gemstone it is not a diamond and is therefore not as valuable as a diamond. It is approximately one-twentieth the value of diamonds.
Moissanites because its properties are similar to a diamond it can be considered a “fabulous fake” and it may be just the right fit for some people.
Russell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
September 15, 2009
Sapphires, Aren’t They Blue?
Sara recently commented when she came in recently that a friend had told her she just bought a pink sapphire. But isn’t a sapphire blue she exclaimed.
Actually sapphires come in blue, pink, purple, orange, yellow, green, gray, black and even clear colors. There are even some sapphires that appear to have one color in natural outdoor lighting and a different color in artificial lighting.
Rubies and sapphires are made of the same mineral, called corundum. When a piece of corundum is red then it is called a ruby. All the other colors of corundum are called sapphires.
Sapphires that are pink-orange are known as padparadscha.
The range of colors of sapphires make for an interesting choice especially for those born in September for which sapphire is the birthstone of that month.
Rusell Oshita, the diamonddude
The Diamond Specialists Inc.
Diamonds Hawaii
