Diamonds

Diamond is a naturally occurring mineral composed of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure. It is classified as a form of the element carbon, rather than a stone in the traditional sense like quartz or granite.

Using a diamond sharpening stone is a straightforward process that involves several steps to sharpen your knives effectively. Here's a general guide on how to use a diamond sharpening stone:

Prepare the Stone: Place the diamond sharpening stone on a stable surface such as a countertop or workbench. Some diamond stones come with a non-slip base or rubber feet to prevent sliding during use. Ensure the stone is clean and free from any debris or contaminants.

Choose the Grit: Diamond sharpening stones come in various grit sizes, ranging from coarse to fine. Select the appropriate grit based on the condition of your knife's edge and your sharpening preferences. Coarse grits (e.g., 200-400) are used for repairing or reshaping dull or damaged edges, while finer grits (e.g., 600-1200) are used for refining and polishing the edge.

Lubricate the Stone (Optional): Some diamond sharpening stones can be used dry, while others may benefit from a lubricant such as water or honing oil to facilitate sharpening and prevent clogging. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding lubrication for your specific stone.

Hold the Knife Properly: Hold the knife firmly with your dominant hand, ensuring a secure grip on the handle. Place your index finger on the spine of the blade to stabilize it, and grip the handle with your other fingers.

Set the Angle: Maintain a consistent sharpening angle throughout the sharpening process. The recommended sharpening angle for most knives is around 15-20 degrees per side, but this may vary depending on the type and style of the knife. You can use a sharpening guide or visually estimate the angle based on the knife's bevel.

Sharpening Motion: Start at the heel of the blade and move the knife in a sweeping motion across the diamond sharpening stone towards the tip. Apply gentle pressure and maintain a consistent angle throughout the stroke. Repeat this motion several times on one side of the blade, then switch to the other side and repeat.

Alternate Sides: To ensure even sharpening and maintain symmetry, alternate between sharpening each side of the blade. Aim for an equal number of strokes on each side.

Check for Burr: As you sharpen, you'll feel a burr, or raised edge, forming along the opposite side of the blade. This indicates that the edge is being sharpened properly. Continue sharpening until you achieve a consistent burr along the entire edge.

Refine the Edge (Optional): Once you've sharpened both sides of the blade, you can switch to a higher grit diamond stone to refine the edge further and remove any remaining burrs.

Clean and Dry the Knife: After sharpening, wipe the blade with a damp cloth to remove any metal particles or debris. Dry the knife thoroughly to prevent rusting.

By following these steps, you can effectively use a diamond sharpening stone to sharpen your knives and maintain their sharpness for precise and effortless cutting. Remember to practice caution and patience, as sharpening requires skill and attention to detail.

No, diamonds do not rust. Rusting is a process that occurs in metals when they come into contact with oxygen and moisture, causing them to corrode. Diamonds are made of carbon, and they are highly resistant to rust or corrosion.

Your answer depends on the quality of the diamond you're buying/ selling.

Carbon alone forms the familiar substances graphite and diamond. Both graphite and diamond are made only of carbon atoms. Graphite is very soft and slippery. Diamond is the hardest substance known to man. If both are made only of carbon what gives them different properties?

The answer lies in the way the carbon atoms form bonds with each other.

On the other hand, in diamond each carbon atom is the same distance to each of its neighboring carbon atoms. In this rigid network atoms cannot move. This explains why diomands are so hard and have such a high melting point.

The value of a diamond depends on its cut, its clarity, its colour and its carat weight. A local jeweler can give you the answer you want.

No, breathing on a diamond will not reveal its authenticity. The fog test, which involves breathing on a gemstone to see if it fogs up, is not a reliable method to determine if a diamond is real or fake. Other tests such as using a diamond tester or consulting a professional jeweler are more accurate ways to verify a diamond's authenticity.

Diamonds were first discovered in India around the 4th century BC. They were mined primarily in the Golconda region, which is present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. India remained the world's sole source of diamonds until the 18th century when diamond deposits were discovered in Brazil.

The value of a "chocolate diamond" is determined by several factors, including its carat weight, cut, color, and clarity. The more carats a diamond has, the higher its value. The cut refers to the way the diamond is shaped and faceted, with well-cut diamonds being more valuable. The color of a chocolate diamond, which is a brown variety of diamond, can range from light to deep brown, with darker and more intense colors being more valuable. Lastly, clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal or external flaws, with diamonds that have fewer flaws being more valuable.

A diamond is an insulator because it has a full valence band and a large band gap between the valence and conduction bands. This means that it does not have any free electrons available for electrical conduction. Additionally, the carbon atoms in diamond are tightly bonded to each other through covalent bonds, making it difficult for electrons to move freely within the crystal structure.

Jewelers use a combination of methods to determine if a diamond is real. They typically examine the diamond under specialized lighting conditions to check for certain physical properties such as light reflection and refraction. They may also use magnification tools to examine the diamond for inclusions or other identifying characteristics. Additionally, some jewelers may use electronic diamond testers that measure thermal conductivity to quickly confirm the authenticity of a diamond.

From the Web site, below:

"Magic Size - People tend to prefer certain sizes over others. These Magic sizes also greatly affect the loose diamonds price. For example, a 1.00 carat stone is considered to be a magic size. If a loose diamond weighs .99 carats the price per carat will be much cheaper than one of the same color and clarity that weighs 1.00 carats. In this case it is not the rarity of the stone but people's preference that dictates the diamonds price. Not even the most experienced diamond dealer could tell the difference between a .99 carat diamond and a 1.00 carat diamond yet the price is significantly different."

When a natural -- not man-made diamond -- is radiated, the crystals containing trace amounts of minerals other than carbon, the natural, latent colour of the stone is enhanced.

Whenever a diamond is radiated, it is imperative that this process be documented, so that any potential buyer understands where the diamond 'got its colour'. A gemologist can determine whether or not a diamond has been irradiated and its colour, therefore, enhanced.

Intensely coloured diamonds are generally more valuable than diamonds with less prominent colours. As well, naturally coloured diamonds are more valuable than diamonds that have been enhanced.

Blood diamonds are not a specific color. The term "blood diamond" refers to diamonds that are mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflict against governments. The term highlights the unethical and often violent nature of the diamond trade in these regions.

Most of the world's gold comes from mines in China, Australia, Russia, and the United States. On the other hand, the majority of the world's diamonds are sourced from countries such as Russia, Botswana, Canada, and Australia.

Both "canary" and "yellow" are words that can be used to describe a yellow colored diamond, althoguh keep in mind that a true, natural yellow diamond is NOT graded on the same scale as a white diamond that has a lot of yellow in it .

That would be the Amarillo Starlight.

Read more about it, below.

Natural pearls are extremely rare.

Dogs will eat most anything.

If your dog has ingested a diamond ring, it will be a good idea to monitor its excrement for a period, until the ring passes through its body. This process may take a day or two.

Diamonds are found everywhere on earth except in Europe and on the Antarctic continent.

Conflict diamonds are found and traded out for money that supports conflict, wars, civil unrest and possibly terrorism.

Conflict-free diamonds are found and traded out by companies that subscribe to the Kimberly Process (read more about it, below), and who certify that diamonds in their shipments are conflict-free.

That is 226 gm.