What Makes a Diamond Shine

Diamonds shine because their special cut creates a state called "total internal reflection." That means that the light entering from the top will reflect off two facets before returning back out the top. This special effect is created by skillful diamond cutting and is based on diamond's high refractive index. This high refractive index means that the direction of light bends a lot as it travels from air to diamond or from diamond to air. Because of this bend, when light travelling through the crystal lattice meets a face at an oblique angle, it will bounce off rather than penetrate through it to the outside. Generally light that enters a properly cut diamond from the top will bounce off two faces before returning to exit out the top. At this point the light is heading straight into a top facet (head on) and will emerge rather than bounce off of it as it did when it met the earlier facets. The process is so delicate because if the diamond's pavilion is cut too deep, the light will leave through one of the lower facets. If the pavilion is cut too shallow, the light will exit through a side facet. Light can enter and leave the crystal in so many ways and bounce around in so many different directions that getting the best effect is a special art. For this reason, only the most experienced diamond cutters are called upon to cut the largest and most expensive stones. ********************************************************** The refractive index of diamond is pretty high (2.417) and is also dispersive (coefficient is 0.044). Due to this fact, diamond is an important application in optics. Consider an ideal cut diamond. I explain according to the figure below. When the light is incident at an angle 1, it refracts inside and travels through the lattice. At the surface which separates air & diamond media, the incident angle 2 is very well above the critical angle (ca) and simultaneously (3 & 4) the reflection takes place at different surfaces of the diamond. Finally, the light refracts out. But diamond on the other hand has a really high refractive index (≈2.4) and because of that the critical angle for total internal reflection to occur is much smaller. So a greater percentage of the incident light gets internally reflected several times before it emerges from the diamond, making the diamond look really shiny

Popular Engagement Ring Trends

While round brilliant cut solitary diamonds sitting on a gold ring are still the most popular choice for an engagement ring, newer styles are gaining in popularity. Here are some of the most popular new trends. Rose gold - Many couples are opting for a stunning rose gold color for their band. Floral hued diamonds – Some of the most valuable diamonds in the word are naturally colored and many couples are choosing a romantic pink, yellow, or other colored diamond for their central stone. Split band (also called split shanks). More and more couples are abandoning the single band in favor of one that splits in two as it approaches the central stone from each side. The double segments may be plain, woven, one metal and one pave, or woven and decorated with accent diamonds so as to resemble natural themes including vines, leaves, and buds. Changing trends in diamond shape – While most couples still favor the circular, brilliant cut diamond, increasingly brides and grooms are going for other distinctive shapes such as oval, pear shaped, square cushion, marquise, or emerald. Vintage look – A number of modern couples are selecting an engagement ring with a vintage look. Popular trends include Art deco, Victorian, and Edwardian. Claw prongs – Claw prongs narrow to a point. They use less metal to secure the central stone and consequently show off more of the diamond's luster. Double prongs are another popular choice for many couples. Halos – Modern engagement rings often enhance the central diamond with one or more halos, circular arrangements of accent diamonds that surround the central stone. Other – Other popular trends include accent diamonds set in a scalloped instead of channel or rail setting, bands made of mixed metal gold, and accent diamonds with a baguette shape (rectangular shaped with large rectangular facets).

How to Care for your Diamond Ring

A diamond engagement ring is an irreplaceable possession, so be sure to care for it properly. Follow the suggestions listed below for best diamond ring care. 1. Get the ring insured. While you could never replace the sentimental value of the original one, getting it insured will facilitate purchasing a replacement.

Furthermore, many policies offer add on benefits such as prong and clasp repair, stone tightening, and more. 2. Remove the ring when engaging in activities that might harm it. These include playing sports, lifting weights, swimming, washing dishes, doing laundry or other household tasks, cooking certain foods (making meatballs, rolling dough, marinating meat, etc.). In general you should remove the ring whenever undertaking a task that might expose it to excessive stress or abrasive chemicals. 3. Clean and inspect the ring periodically. You can clean it yourself with a liquid soap such as Dawn detergent; however, most jewelers will clean and inspect it free of charge. 4. Never use your ring finger hand to punch something or engage in an activity that will place sudden stress on the diamond and its settings. 5. Store the ring in a clean dry place such as a fabric lined jewelry case. 6. Do not resize the ring more than once in its lifetime. During pregnancy your fingers will swell making it impossible to fit the band on your finger; however, your fingers will return to their normal size after the pregnancy. ************************************** Have It Insured This is your number one must-do item. While nothing can replace the sentimental value of your engagement ring, if you have it properly appraised and insured for its full replacement value, you'll at least be covered if it's ever lost, stolen or damaged. Some insurance companies offer more than others, so it's worth doing a little homework. For example, Jewelers Mutual's repair or replacement policy includes coverage for several preventive repairs. "That includes repair of broken prongs, clasp replacement, stone tightening and more," says Tyler Krowiorz, consumer Cleaning and inspection twice a year, most jewelers will clean for free Take it off sometimes: Working out at the gym, play sports, lift weights, or go swimming, washing dishes, cooking (making meatballs, rolling cookie dough, or marinating meat )laundry and other household tasks will put stress on your ring, from stretching the band to loosening the delicate settings to exposure to abrasive chemicals. carrying heavy luggage is a surefire way to break or bend prongs." Don’t let ring get dirty, but also don’t hold it over sink while cleaning Never use your ring hand for punching or activities that will expose the ring to sudden stress using a mixture of a few drops of Dawn dish detergent in warm—not hot—water. Let your ring soak in the solution for a few minutes, then gently scrub with a new, soft baby toothbrush. To rinse, place it in a new dish of lukewarm water and then dry it with a soft cloth, being careful not to snag the prongs. "Keep it in a clean, dry place such as a fabric-lined jewelry case, or in a box with compartments and dividers to prevent pieces from scratching each other," Krowiorz says Fingers will swell during pregnancy but resist the temptation to resize the ring. All together don't resize more than once.

Where do Diamonds Come From?

Almost all commercial diamonds are formed deep in the Earth's mantle in a slow process stretching over nearly 1 to 3.3 billion years. 87 to 118 miles under the Earth's continental crust, temperatures of 1,650 and 2,370 °F combine with pressures forty-five thousand to sixty thousand times atmospheric pressure to create zones that are just right for turning carbon into diamonds. Most diamonds are formed from carbon that was trapped in the planet's interior at the time of its formation. Some, however, are formed from organic material that was naturally pushed down from the Earth's surface to the depths suitable for diamond formation. Diamonds that are formed at this great depth exist within rocks called xenoliths. But something else must happen to bring the xenoliths to the surface where they can be mined. Deep volcanic eruptions, more than three times deeper than average, bring the xenoliths to the surface. In doing so, they create deep but thin craters called volcanic pipes. The diamonds containing xenoliths are then trapped in the volcanoes' ignaceous rock as it cools. Natural processes such as wind and erosion scatter some of the surface diamond containing rocks to surrounding areas. Not all volcanic pipes contain diamonds and not all that do have enough precious stone to be profitable for mining. Prospectors look for pipes that have a large supply of marketable diamonds that will make their work profitable. ********************************************************* The formation of natural diamonds requires very high temperatures and pressures. These conditions occur in limited zones of Earth's mantle about 90 miles (150 kilometers) below the surface where temperatures are at least 2000 degrees Fahrenheit (1050 degrees Celsius) primarily in the mantle beneath the stable interiors of continental plates Diamonds formed and stored in these "diamond stability zones" are delivered to Earth's surface during deep-source volcanic eruptions. These eruptions tear out pieces of the mantle and carry them rapidly to the surface The carbon source for these mantle diamonds is most likely carbon trapped in Earth's interior at the time of the planet's formation. chunks of diamond-containing rocks called xenoliths. These eruptions create pipes in the upper layers of Earth’s crust called kimberlite pipes. diamond has to be created in a “diamond stability zone”, located in the upper mantle of Earth. In order for diamonds to form, a temperature of over 1000 degrees Celsius and very high pressure is required. In the natural environment, these conditions are only found deep beneath the surface (est~ 150km below the Earth’s crust). Most natural diamonds are formed at high temperature and pressure at depths of 140 to 190 kilometers (87 to 118 mi) in the Earth's mantle. Carbon-containing minerals provide the carbon source, and the growth occurs over periods from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years (25% to 75% of the age of the Earth). Diamonds are brought close to the Earth's surface through deep volcanic eruptions by magma, which cools into igneous rocks known as kimberlites and lamproites. conditions for diamond formation to happen in the lithospheric mantle occur at considerable depth The correct combination of temperature and pressure is only found in the thick, ancient, and stable parts of continental plates where regions of lithosphere known as cratons exist Some diamonds, known as harzburgitic, are formed from inorganic carbon originally found deep in the Earth's mantle. In contrast, eclogitic diamonds contain organic carbon from organic detritus that has been pushed down from the surface of the Earth's crust through subduction Diamonds that have come to the Earth's surface are generally quite old, ranging from under 1 billion to 3.3 billion years old. Diamond-bearing rock is carried from the mantle to the Earth's surface by deep-origin volcanic eruptions. The magma for such a volcano must originate at a depth where diamonds can be formed[13]—150 km (93 mi) or more (three times or more the depth of source magma for most volcanoes). This is a relatively rare occurrence. These typically small surface volcanic craters extend downward in formations known as volcanic pipes.[13] The pipes contain material that was transported toward the surface by volcanic action, but was not ejected before the volcanic activity ceased. During eruption these pipes are open to the surface, resulting in open circulation; many xenoliths of surface rock and even wood and fossils are found in volcanic pipes. Diamond-bearing volcanic pipes are closely related to the oldest, coolest regions of continental crust (cratons). This is because cratons are very thick, and their lithospheric mantle extends to great enough depth that diamonds are stable

How Much Should I Spend on an Engagement Ring?

According to a report in Brides magazine, the proper groom should spend three months salary when purchasing an engagement ring. A one month salary guideline was established nearly 100 years ago by De Beers. If three months seems like a stretch but one month seems skimpy, you can choose a figure somewhere in between. Another approach is to spend the average amount most grooms spent on purchasing their engagement ring. According to a report by Jewelers of America, in 2013 the average couple spent $4,000 on their engagement ring. A report authored by the Department of Economics at Emory University in Atlanta determined that the average amount a couple is currently spending for an engagement ring is around $2,500. A third approach is to determine a price you can pay but which will not crimp your essential spending. Would paying a particular sum for a ring force you to change your day to day spending habits? Obviously you don't want to start your marriage short on cash because that could make day to day life for your new bride unpleasant. No matter how much you spend, be sure that the diamond you ultimately buy is GIA certified. And consider the four diamond characteristics, clarity, cut, color, and caret. If your fiancé wants a diamond with stunning fire, you can invest your money in a smaller diamond that has the color she loves. Or if she is most desirous of a diamond with clarity and brilliance, you can likewise find a smaller diamond that was cut well and has brilliance. Finally, don't rush into the purchase. Take your time shopping and visit more than one diamond store. If you find a diamond you love, but it's over your budget, talk with the owners. They might have another diamond with the same dimensions and sparkle but at a slightly lower caret weight.

Naturally Colored Diamonds

 

Naturally colored diamonds are both rare and expensive. While brides often prize colorless brilliant stones, many of the world's most famous diamonds are colored. For example the Tiffany diamond is yellow and the Hope diamond is blue. Diamonds pick up color during their formation deep in the Earth's crust or shortly thereafter. Brown, pink, and red diamonds absorb green light because of a distortion in their lattice, which takes place when they are still buried deep in the Earth's mantle layer and subjected to great pressure and heat. Grey and blue diamonds contain boron that binds to their lattice and subsequently absorbs yellow, red, and green light. Green diamonds have absorbed intense radiation just before exiting the Earth's crust. Yellow and orange diamonds contain nitrogen that has assembled in a way that absorbs blue light. Purple and violet diamonds have lattice distortion and also may have hydrogen within their structure, which gives the stone a violet or purplish hue. Nowadays, scientists have developed artificial ways of creating colored diamonds by exposing them to intense radiation followed by intense heat. The coloration process is considered permanent; however, may revert when the stones are exposed to high heat during the repair process. Since naturally as opposed to artificially colored diamonds are so expensive (the price of a natural blue diamond has risen from $5,000 – 2 million dollars in the last forty years), you should request to see a certificate from a trusted grading lab before buying one. ****************************************************************************************** TREAT LESS DESIRABLE DIAMONDS WITH IRRDIATION THEN INTENSE HEAT. BORWN YELLOWISH DIAMONDS INTO GREENS, BKLUES, YELLOWS, REDS, PURPLES, AND OTHER COLORS considered permanent but possibly could change if exposed to high het during repairs, Most naturally colored diamonds are rare natural colored diamonds get color from trace elements such as nitrogen which creates a yellowish stone, also if stones were exposed to radiation during creation, green diamonds were affected by radiation, inclusions give diamonds unique tones and brilliant flashes of color, Stones being sold as natural colored need a certificate from a trusted grading lab, Fancy - naturally colored red, green, purple, violet, orange, blue and pink faint to intense Most famous diamonds are colored Tiffany diamond – yellow Hope diamond – blue, colored diamonds raise in value blue and pink diamonds double every year in a strong economy, Grey and Blue – boron which binds to the lattice and absords yellow red and green, Brown pink, red – distortion of lattice due to intense heat and pressure when still embedded deep in earth’s crust, causing it to absorb a particular band of green, green – just before exiting the earth's last layer of crust they absorb intense radiation yellow-orange – nitrogen within the diamond assembled in a way that absorbs blue light purple violet – lattice distortion and some absorption of hydrogen