What are varieties of a diamond?

Answer 1

Varieties and diverse attributes/ characteristics of the mineral diamond are innumerable.

About 80% of all diamonds mined are industrial diamonds, with a myriad of varieties including size of the raw stones.

The remaining 20% of gemstone quality stones vary in size, colour and type of the raw stone.

• Review the link, below, for 'normal colour' varieties, graded as white D-Z
• Coloured diamonds have a wide range of named options: see Diamond colour, below.
• Diamonds also have type -- again, see Type below.

Type of diamond can sometimes determine its value, with some types being more rare and valuable than other types.

With type and colour identified, the diamond cutter can now plan and cut the raw stone. There are popular shapes for cutting diamonds, including round brilliant, emerald cut and so forth. Some larger raw stones are cut using unique plans, in an effort to minimize the carat weight loss -- generally about 60% of the raw stone -- during this process.

The diamond cutter decides via the plan, how to accommodate flaws in the natural stone, if they exist. Another link, below, explains how flaws effect grading diamond clarity. Some diamonds are cut to maximize a clarity rating of Internally Flawless or Flawless.

Finally, there is excellence of the cut, loosely defined as the precision of angles cut and polished on the raw stone so as to maximize sparkle. Often, this is a branded characteristic.

Any diamond weighing over one carat deserves a certified gemologist's document that identifies all of these characteristics, all of which determine the value of a diamond. Every diamond is unique.