How do you process a raw diamond to a finished diamond?

Answer 1

Raw stones are mined from the earth, separated from the surrounding material, sorted/ graded and then sold/ brokered to diamond buyers.

(Seventy-five percent of diamonds mined are employed in industry; only about 25% of mined diamonds are of gem quality.)

Diamond buyers/ brokers then move the gem-quality stones to cutting operations, where the raw stones are evaluated for colour and clarity. Plans are developed to highlight the colour and clarity of each individual stone while preserving the highest carat weight.

(About 60% of a raw stone's weight is lost in the cutting process.)

Then the stones are cut and polished, and sold to brokers/jewelers who mount the finished diamonds into jewelry.

Answer 2

To process a raw diamond into a finished one, the following steps are typically involved: 1) Sawing or cleaving to split the diamond into smaller pieces, 2) Cutting to shape the diamond into a desired form, 3) Grinding to create facets and smooth the diamond's surface, and 4) Polishing to enhance its brilliance and shine. The finished diamond is then inspected for quality and can be set into jewelry or sold as loose stones.