Shaping A Diamond

Looking at diamond engagement rings on people’s fingers, or in pictures, it may seem like they are ‘born’ (i.e., mined) in those perfect, lovely shapes. However, as you might expect, this is not true. In fact, the process of taking a diamond from the mine to a bride-to-be’s finger is long and complex.

When ‘in the wild’ most diamonds are about as rough as an average rock, albeit usually smaller. Mining a diamond is far from the easiest thing in the world given that most of these stones are buried below the Earth’s surface. To get to them, miners must dig through several layers of stone and dirt, blasting here and there in the hopes of spotting that telltale glimmer.

Even if they do come across a precious gemstone in the course of their efforts, it is still not guaranteed that that particular diamond will be useable. Only as few as 20% of all mined diamonds end up in diamond engagement rings or as other pieces of jewellery; the rest, for one reason or another, never make it to the cutting and polishing stage. Instead they are sold for industrial purposes.

When a suitable diamond is found, it is sent to the Central Selling Organization, the organization responsible for analysing, evaluating, grading and pricing diamonds worldwide. Buyers who feel their diamond engagement rings have perhaps been a touch too expensive have the CSO to blame! Once the Organization has suitably graded the diamond according to one of their nearly 5000 categories, the stone is sold to manufacturers or private buyers, at one of their 10 events held each year.

The diamond is now close to its final stage, where it will be cut, polished, and used to adorn diamond engagement rings or other pieces of jewellery. This may take place at any of the five cutting centres worldwide, located in New York, Israel, Mumbai, Antwerp and Johannesburg. Before being cut, the rough diamond is carefully appraised in order to determine which cut will give it the most perfect shape and fetch the highest value. Only then is it handed over to any number of cutters, who will cut and polish it into the perfectly-shaped, glittering type of jewel seen sparkling on top of diamond engagement rings and then release it into the consumer market.

As you can see, then, the process of getting a diamond from the mine to your ring finger is anything but (pardon the pun) cut and dried!

Laura L Bolick is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From diamond engagement rings to princess cuts and engraved bands, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.