Birthstones are limiting. We’re breaking out of the box and inviting you to explore the wide world of gemstones!
In honor of our new JCK 2021 Design Awards, we're rebooting a timeless favorite… diamond!
Here are our top three reasons to love diamonds:
- A True Feat of Nature
- 4Cs & 2Vs
- Perfect Fit for Any Occasion
1. A True Feat of Nature
Diamond forms under high temperature and pressure conditions that exist only about 100 miles beneath the earth’s surface and the average yield in most diamond mines is one part diamond to every one million parts host rock. They are literally one in a million, which is why they’re valued so highly and used for very meaningful traditions, like engagement rings and notable wedding anniversaries.
Each diamond goes through a lot before it reaches the jeweler’s display case. It forms deep in the earth under extreme heat and pressure before being ejected violently upward until it arrives at or near the earth’s surface. It is then forced from its hiding place, either by nature or by man. Finally, it’s cleaved, cut, and polished until its natural beauty shines through. Each cut diamond is one of a kind and has been on its own journey.
Diamond is the only gemstone that is made of just one element: carbon. Its crystal structure is isometric, which means the carbon atoms are bonded in essentially the same way in all directions. The combination of this chemical makeup and crystal structure makes diamonds extraordinary. When it comes to brightness, sparkle, and fire there is simply no other gem that can compare.
2. 4Cs & 2Vs
The 4Cs of diamond grading give us 2 important Vs for customers: versatility and variability!
Diamonds are variable by definition; they are “able or apt to vary” and “characterized by variations.” Carat weight, color grade, clarity grade, and cut grade are the variables, which give diamonds quite a wide range when it comes to quality and price.
Versatility is the diamond’s ability to be adapted to many different functions or activities. It is the hardest gemstone which allows it to be used for everyday wear in any type of piece. The lack of color also makes diamonds adaptable to any color palette you’re wearing for the day, and they look great in yellow, rose, or white gold.
These 2Vs come into play when you’re looking to purchase a diamond for something special, whether it’s an engagement ring or a mother’s day gift. Most people picture a perfectly clear and blemish-free diamond just by the mention of its name, which of course comes at a high price, but the variables of the 4Cs give you true versatility.
For example, you can get a much more affordable diamond if you go with a slightly occluded and slightly yellow option. When paired with yellow gold, it will look nearly colorless to the naked eye and admirers will be none the wiser. Different cuts also range in price and of course the size will also impact the total bill. Another affordable option is to go with a lab created diamond, which is chemically the same as a natural diamond but has microscopic inclusions created by the growing process.
No matter where you land on the diamond’s variables, it is wonderful to have options available.
3. Perfect Fit for Any Occasion
We’ve established that diamonds are rare, beautiful, and versatile, all of which makes them the perfect choice for celebrating any special occasion. The obvious occasions already associated with diamonds are proposals and big anniversaries, but we don’t like limiting ourselves at Geralyn Sheridan Designs.
You deserve to celebrate your own accomplishments rather than waiting for someone to gift you a diamond for some fabulous occasion. A princess-cut diamond on a right-hand ring is a gorgeous daily reminder of any milestone. A beautiful pair of diamond studs with earring jackets is a fitting reward for your recent promotion. A striking gold and diamond pendant is a great way to commemorate pulling off that huge event you planned and managed. But if that’s out of your price range, small diamonds can add a little extra sparkle and prestige to any piece of jewelry.
Let’s return to the standard association our society makes with diamonds: marriage. Sparkle and durability are not the only reasons diamond is used in engagement rings. Because of its rarity and beauty, the diamond has been a symbol of purity, love, and fidelity for centuries. Thus, it is natural to associate it with engagement and marriage.
Even so, there is so much more meaning tied into diamonds. It is also known as the “stone of invincibility” because of its hardness and is said to bring victory, strength, and courage to its wearer. Diamond is a symbol of wealth and manifesting abundance in one’s life and is recognized by many as an amplifier of energies, goals, and intent. Hence, get yourself a diamond after that big promotion or after you’ve come out on the other side of adversity.
The depth of meaning for a diamond is truly unrivaled by any other gemstone, which makes it perfect for any occasion that is important to you.
Want to learn more about other gems and gemology in general? Check out our Gemology page!
