No joke. Diamond mining takes a major toll on our natural resources. And it's not just land! Mined diamonds produce more than 125 pounds of carbon for every single carat, whereas lab created diamonds produce just under 10 pounds.
Mining is not sustainable and is creating extreme amounts of waste for a small amount of stones on top of destroying biodiversity in the areas that are mined. If that wasn't bad enough, they are also releasing extensive amounts of carbon emissions into the air from diamond exploration and mining.
By choosing a high-quality diamond, your diamond will be worth more now and in the future. If you want a less expensive alternative, consider a lab-created diamond. You won't reap any resale value, but your initial price point will be less.
The different processes used in mining diamonds have proven to be devastating for the environment. Diamond mining causes air and water pollution and is a major producer of greenhouse gases.
A diamond is a depreciating asset masquerading as an investment. There is a common misconception that jewelry and precious metals are assets that can store value, appreciate, and hedge against inflation. That's not wholly untrue. Diamonds, however, are not an investment.
This means that diamond jewelry is often imitated and sold as a real diamond. If you have been sold a fake diamond it is most likely to be CZ (Cubic Zirconia), an imitation created in a lab. While some choose to knowingly buy and sell CZ gems, others attempt to exploit the industry and sell them as real diamonds.
The way that diamonds reflect light is unique: the inside of a real diamond should sparkle gray and white while the outside should reflect a rainbow of colors onto other surfaces. A fake diamond, on the other hand, will have rainbow colors that you can see inside the diamond as well.
Diamonds are more than just one of the world's most precious gemstones; they're also one of the world's most reliable investment opportunities. That's because diamonds have increased in value since their first discovery thousands of years ago.
Zodiac Signs and the Diamond
If your zodiac sign is Aries, Pisces or Scorpio, you should not wear the diamond because according to astrology, diamonds can bring disharmony to your life. Diamond is the gemstone for those who are born under Virgo and Libra as it bestows good luck and prosperity.
A diamond with a poor clarity grade has multiple inclusions, which directly affects sparkle. Because inclusions hinder the refraction and return of light, the lower the clarity grade, the cloudier the diamond will appear.
Incredibly, 95% of all diamonds will look just as good in 50 or 100 years as they do the day they were purchased. That is one reason people say, “Diamonds are forever”. This is also why diamonds are one of the few items we ever purchase that are passed down from generation to generation.
Professional jewelers and gemologists cannot tell the difference between a lab created diamond and a natural one just by looking at it with the naked eye. They will have to use a microscope to look for the tiny differences in its inclusions that indicate how it was formed.
Gold is often regarded the better investment option over diamonds, as this precious metal is more easily traded and is often viewed as a currency with a stable, increasing value over the long term. Diamonds are often more volatile as their value relies purely on their weight, cut, clarity, and colour.
Natural Diamonds Aren't High on the Priority List. Millennials would rather spend their money on experiences rather than material things. They would rather take a vacation in another part of the world than to buy expensive jewelry, for example.
Moissanite. Currently, the most sought-after fake diamond stone name in the industry is the moissanite.
Diamonds typically lose between 25 and 50 per cent of their actual worth upon resale due to market fluctuations, the markup on your ring, and the decline in diamond prices. A portion is also taken out for insurance.
Because of the Kimberley Process, 99.8% of diamonds are now certified conflict-free and there is much greater accountability and transparency in the diamond industry. Unfortunately, just because a diamond has been certified by the Kimberly Process does not necessarily mean it is ethical or even conflict-free.
Much like the often emotional purchase of an automobile, a diamond ring's value can depreciate quickly after the initial purchase. That said, if you purchase a high-quality engagement ring and take good care of it, the piece will keep a relatively consistent value that could go up over time.
The Hope Diamond
Arguably the most famous and most cursed precious gemstone in history, this 45.52-carat sparkler has a long and storied past. The Hope Diamond has been blamed for a laundry list of tragedies, including but not limited to: beatings, stabbings, murder, insanity, and suicide.
Beyond being a perfect size (big, but not too clunky on your finger), the 1-carat diamond ring is a popular choice because it allows the wearer to adorn a ring with side stones, like a 3-stone ring, leaving room for extra diamonds to accentuate the center stone without overcrowding or overwhelming it.
Since there are few overheads and low staff costs, the prices are much lower than what you will find at physical stores. Note that there are other costs involved when buying diamonds in Dubai. While as a tourist, you may not be liable to paying tax and this may create the illusion that the diamond prices are cheap.
According to a well known diamond trade organization the ideal diamond for investment is a Round Brilliant from 1.01 to 1.49 carat, D-H in color and from IF (internally flawless) to VS2 (very slightly included) clarity.
This water test is easy if you have a loose diamond: Get a glass and fill it with water (it doesn't matter what type of water you use). Drop the diamond into the glass of water. Due to the high density of diamonds, when dropped into the water a real diamond will sink.
Using cold water is a much simpler and safer way to test the validity of a diamond. If you place the stone into water, a real diamond will sink to the bottom due to the density. Fake diamonds are far more likely to float or bobble around.
You cannot spot a synthetic diamond by looking at it through a loupe. The only way to tell is by laboratory testing. Myth: A real diamond will have sharp edges, a “fake” diamond will not. Fact: This is only true for imitations that are made in a mold, like plastic (and some glass).