The Long, Laborious Process Of Making A Diamond.
It’s no secret that Diamond Making Process are one of the world’s most popular gemstones, with clear, fiery brilliance that reflects light and colour throughout a room when set in jewellery. But what many people don’t know is that the process of getting Diamond Making Process from the ground to their settings in rings and earrings isn’t quite as simple as scooping them up with a pan or carving them out of boulders with mining equipment. Diamond Making Process are an extremely rare natural resource, and they take years to develop, even if they’re in an easily accessible location.
Step 1: Diamond Mining
It’s estimated that more than 100 million carats of diamonds are mined from beneath Earth’s surface every year. Diamond Making Process occur in nature in kimberlite and lamproite volcanic pipes formed deep below ground. Not all mines in these regions produce gem-quality Diamond Making Process however. In addition to exploration costs (sometimes as high as $20 million), mining is an expensive and dangerous undertaking for workers; it also causes widespread environmental damage. To avoid contributing to these problems, consider buying vintage or ethically sourced stones instead—look for independent certifications like Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) or non-profit groups like Global Witness when you’re researching your options. The Peace Diamond Making Process Initiative works with conflict-free mines to track rough stones all along their supply chain.
Step 2: Mining And Rough Cutting
Diamonds are found in over 100 countries on all continents except Antarctica. In 2013, De Beers listed Botswana as its biggest source of Diamond Making Process by volume—accounting for 30% of global output. South Africa and Russia follow behind. The Kimberley Process is a system designed to ensure that conflict Diamond Making Process do not enter world markets. Rough diamonds are mined from underground or open-pit mines; they’re then cut into gemstones at specialized cutting factories. At every stage of production, workers must be careful to protect their health and safety; they also must adhere to environmental regulations. For example, they must take care not to release any toxic chemicals into rivers or soil while extracting minerals from their natural state.
Step 3: Grading And Shaping
On average, it takes about nine months for De Beers to cut and polish a rough diamond. Some Diamond Making Process need only one trip through the polishing wheel; others can be polished over 100 times before they’re ready to go. After polishing, every stone is carefully examined under magnification for colour and clarity as well as graded on its suitability for different types of jewellery. A gemologist then assigns it an International Gemological Institute (IGI) certificate number—the first step in quality control—as well as a serial number that becomes part of its permanent record. It’s also at this point that stones are sorted by size: Smaller stones are used for earrings or rings, while larger ones are reserved for necklaces. The sorting process is so precise that not even a single carat goes unused.
Step 4: Polishing And Final Cut
You can’t make a stone out of rough. You need to cut and polish it first. Diamond Making Process cutters use either water- or oil-based solutions (depending on what kind of stone they are cutting) and work with pieces ranging from smaller than your pinky nail to weighing more than 150 pounds. It takes years to master cutting Diamond Making Process only 5% of gemologists are skilled enough for advanced training in diamond cutting. Mastering even one shape takes about three years; there are about twenty different shapes that stones can be cut into when using traditional techniques like sawing and grinding. When you buy a diamond scanner at De Beers, you’re buying from their stock of these already-cut stones. When you buy a loose stone from an independent jeweller, though, you have to have it cut specifically for your piece. Because each piece is unique, no two diamonds will ever look exactly alike after being cut. This is why most people who buy loose gems get them set as soon as possible: so that their finished piece has uniform sparkle and shine.
Step 5: Packaging And Setting
A gemologist examines each rough stone and uses specialized instruments to examine its clarity and colour. Next comes faceted cutting—the creation of facets (flat surfaces) that make up each polished facet on a gemstone. The cutter chooses which facets will be exposed once it is set in jewellery; these final touches can add significant value to a piece. (Some are cut for aesthetics, others for strength.) Then stones are carefully selected based on their shape, colour and size (so they fit into settings). Once set in jewellery or other products like pendants or necklaces, gems may be polished again if necessary to remove visible surface marks or reflections that detract from their beauty.
