It's that good quality ones are :) Industrial-grade diamonds are much more common than jewellery-grade, and then when we are talking excellent cut, excellent color, excellent clarity? Yes, those are very rare.
Just to clear up that little misunderstanding I often see posted in threads on somewhat related topics... without derailing those threads :)
Yeah but DeBeers has countless millions of carats of gem quality diamonds stockpiled in their vaults in order to create a false rarity on the market. They release little batches of them when need be.
The cartel was broken a few years ago, and there was a class-action for those who overpaid due to the cartel, as well. The monopoly and those practices haven't existed for some time now. See wikipedia: DeBeers diamond cartel.
@joya_aspera: Yes, and colored diamonds (natural) are one in 10,000 <3 diamonds <3
People can hate on diamonds all they want. Personally I have always loved and will continue to love diamonds.
I'm not that knowledgable about diamond rarity, but the other day I got to see three large natural alexandrites with exceptional blue-to-red color change quality. I was informed that they'll probably be the *only* natural ones of the that quality I'll ever see in my lifetime. Now that is really rare!
@MrsVanilla: My favorite stone! The good ones are way too expensive for me to own though.
@joya_aspera: All it says it that DeBeers paid them off, but admitted no fault. It doesn't say anything about the monopoly or cartels being broken, nor that their stock piles have been released.
Investment quality are rare, these are like 20 carat and flawless and people do not wear them.
jewelry quality are still fairly common, just think of all the supplies at all the jewelry stores around.
Why do people always feel the need to come on here and "educate" others about the rarity or lack thereof of diamonds. Really, does anyone even care?
If you don't care, then don't read a thread about the rarity of diamonds. Obviously enough people do care to have a conversation about it.
@Hasellyn: Yes but those are almost all SI H or below. And stock moves slowly (not including melee sized). Many women will own only one non-melee diamond in their lifetime. Many men will not own any. So even those are not exactly "common". And I'm just talking about the people in the richest countries in the world here, as well. Most people don't ever own any diamonds whatsoever. BTW, diamonds do not have to be anywhere near 20 carat D flawless to be "investment-grade", but that certainly would qualify.
Although I wanted to correct this misunderstanding about rarity I keep seeing on the bee threads (without derailing the threads I saw that on), rarity actually isn't a big factor in what I personally love about diamonds. I love the unique lightplay of a high-quality one... I find it has a very unique dazzle, but on a pure "feeling" level, I love that they are billions of years old, formed naturally by pressures in our planet, and each one unique. It's like having a little bit of earth's history in(or on) your hand. That fascinates me. It's humbling to think of their age. In comparison, we are just here for a mere moment in time. This is a factor all grades of diamonds have. A last point I'll make is that I actually love many natural stones, for similar reasons, and many of them capture my heart with their beautiful natural colors.
@MrsVanilla: Yes, natural alexandrite with good colour change is rare. Alexandrite in general is rare because of the way it is formed. There must be beryllium and chromium (which very rarely occur together due to opposing natures) and a complete lack of silica (second most common element on the planet)...so the odds are against it and that is why there are only a handful of places in the world where it has been found.
I love my 1 carat natural alexandrite ering. It is rated with excellent colour change. We could have bought a much bigger stone if we had chosen something else but I just love the colour and the vibrance in my stone.
If you want to see a few amazing stones, check this out (especially the one on the bottom $300000+ Yikes!):
http://phoenixgems.com/alexandrite.html
@MrsVanilla: I have the original sapphire upstairs for my ring. It is an alexandrite color change stone. Very very rare. Alexandrites are beautiful :). I saw a diamond with this shift once too never saw another.
@Hasellyn: I have a moissanite in my e-ring....but ooooh how I would love to have a 20ct. flawless diamond....just to put on a turntable in a glass case and stare at....Alas.....
@GoldfishPie: They have, as the practices were deemed illegal. They(DeBeers/Oppenheimer) no longer monopolize the diamond market. They will also no longer be making ads for the whole industry. They will focus on "branding" by putting a watermark (???!) on the table of their diamonds and co-branding with Louis Vuitton.
@MsCarabiner: Ever go to the Smithsonian? I just sit in the jewelry section of it all day and stare at Marie Antoinette's jewels.
Colored diamonds are rare. Diamonds in general are not rare. Alaska is a big fat diamond, coal, and oil field as is much of Siberia. You want a crystal clean white as snow diamond on the cheap? Go to Russia Debeers doesnt control the market there.
@Luayne: WOW, those are some beauties! Your ring must be so beautiful! Alexandrites are awesome.
I actually saw the three on a tour of a colored gemstone dealer-- in particular, he said the fact that all three matched by size and color made them super duper rare, in that they could be used for a set. I'm not sure of the carat size, but the color change was SOO striking and GORGEOUS! He showed how it changes in daylight and flashlight. Does yours do that as well?
Anyway, not to derail too much from the original topic, I'll add that I think diamonds are cool because they're soooo hard. I use diamond tipped tools all the time, and I'm so grateful for them. I know they don't use the rare ones for tools, but I still think that it's incredible, how compressed they are and how they're so strong, and how they can be so sparkly. :)
@dewingedpixie: WOW, you lucky duck! Are you going to set it into another piece? Sounds so pretty!
@Luayne: You love alexandrites? Check this out: http://www.wildfishgems.com/inc/sdetail/12743/15959
That is the rarest color change for a sapphire on earth. They come from Tanzania the mine is pretty much dried up now.
I have a 2 carat round like that upstairs. We couldnt set it in the setting i have due to a fracture. The 2.4 carat on my hand shifts between purple, violet, olive, and sometimes burghundy! Not quite the 2 carat or that 6 carat but similair.
Of course diamonds are beautiful, especially the colored ones. But I agree with the Debeers comments. Nothing new here. If you want rarity, get a natural alexandrite or a paraiba tourmaline.
@MrsVanilla: Yes we couldnt set it because it had a fracture in it and my setting is high tension. The purple you love in my ring actually shifts too between purple, violet, olive, and burghundy. It stays purple most of the time but that might be because im inside most of the time :)
@dewingedpixie: Russia's mines have mostly industrial-grade and melee diamonds (though not all, they have some beauties too). Prices are similar. The industry is pretty centralized.
I am a graduate gemologist. There are only a few diamonds I have seen in the 30 years I have been a gemologist, having nothing to do with size, or color, clarity, etc. It is really a combination of undefinable nature comes together to make a diamond breathtaking. I have purchased 2 of these and people literally stop me to ask about them. I have bigger for sure!! And better clarity and color. So really it isn't about rare IMO. Rare is a red diamond. OR an intense Paraiba Tourmaline. Or an insane darly saturated large padparasha sapphire. Those are rare. My daughter has an amazing antique cushion cut diamond. Yes it is big but it is the way it was cut that makes prisoms across the wall.
Just wanted to add some of the most breathtaking diamonds I have seen have been SI-1 clarity!!!!
@KatyElle: I haven't been yet, and I didn't know her jewels were there. I'll put that room at the top of my Smithsonian list :)
@SeaIsland: Have you seen a green to red shift diamond? I kick myself everyday for not purchasing the one I saw. I love chameleon diamonds they are rediculously amazing. I think I'm really just obsessed with color change be it sapphire, diamond, or alexandrite.
@dewingedpixie: Yes, the stone in your ring is breath taking!! It's too bad about the fracture in the other stone. Perhaps one day you'll meet a master goldsmith who'll know exactly how to set it so that it stays whole and gorgeous.
@MrsVanilla: We talked to the gemologist from the place that set my ring. They said a traditional prong setting would be the best in a pendant or something. My setting as you've seen is a basket half bezel with 4 large prongs it creates a tremendous ammount of pressure on the stone. They were honest that just setting the other stone could have broken it. We will eventually have it set but it will be something with less wear and tear than my e-ring. I've actually got a few other stones that need setting too. One of my favorites is the cobalt heart cut spinel I got for a steal!
@dewingedpixie: That's a beautiful stone!
@MrsVanilla: Yes, mine changes from pale aquamarine to blue (sapphire) to a dark green/grey to purple. Every different level of light or light combination gives it a different colour. I was in a jewelry store the other day and the woman at the counter shrieked at just about the top of her lungs when she saw it! She cleaned it for me and then spent about 15 minutes oogling until I finally said I had to go. lol It was pretty funny.
Oh and I forgot to add to the rare diamond topic...
i absolutely love the green diamond that someone on here has for their ering...can't remember who it is. It's gorgeous!
The Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada produces 8 million carats of diamonds annually. Diamonds (as a whole) are far from rare.
@MrsBlueSeptember: Yes, well that conveys slightly less information than my original post that started this thread, but I guess you felt repetition of that fact out of context to underemphasize their rarity was important to do. Thanks for that contribution.
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