The facts
What diamond actually is
The species behind diamond is diamond, C; it forms in the cubic system.
Nitrogen for yellow, boron for blue, plastic deformation for pink is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 2.417 and a specific gravity of about 3.50–3.53, with perfect, four directions cleavage.
Where diamond comes from
Commercial material comes from Botswana, Russia, Canada, South Africa and Australia (Argyle, closed 2020).
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How diamond is treated
HPHT, irradiation, laser drilling and fracture filling all exist. Laboratory-grown diamond is chemically identical and must be disclosed.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What diamond is confused with
Watch for Laboratory-grown diamond, Moissanite, Cubic zirconia and White sapphire — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.417 and specific gravity 3.50–3.53 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What diamond is used for
The trades that buy diamond are jewellery, abrasives, technical and precision components, optics and electronics. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the tonne or by the piece.
Durability and care
Diamond is 10 on the Mohs scale, with perfect, four directions cleavage.
Hardness is not the whole story. Perfect cleavage means the stone can split cleanly if struck along the wrong plane, whatever its Mohs number, so a protective setting matters more here than the hardness suggests.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What diamond costs
Expect roughly $300–50,000/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is diamond treated, and how?
HPHT, irradiation, laser drilling and fracture filling all exist. Laboratory-grown diamond is chemically identical and must be disclosed.
Where does diamond come from?
Botswana, Russia, Canada, South Africa and Australia (Argyle, closed 2020). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is diamond hard enough to wear every day?
With care. It is 10 on the Mohs scale, which is hard enough, but perfect, four directions cleavage means it can split if struck at the wrong angle. Use a protective setting and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.
How much does diamond cost?
Indicatively $300–50,000/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is diamond confused with?
Most often Laboratory-grown diamond, Moissanite, Cubic zirconia and White sapphire. A refractive index of 2.417 and a specific gravity near 3.50–3.53 separate it quickly.
What is diamond used for besides jewellery?
abrasives, technical and precision components, optics and electronics. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for diamond?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about diamond