Engagement ring diamonds come in a wide variety of cuts and shapes. There are two basic types of diamond cuts, which produce two basic kinds of diamond shapes. These are the step diamond cut, which utilizes gradual incisions that create a “step” pattern on the surface of the stone, generally producing a rectangular (or emerald) diamond; and the brilliant cut, which utilizes angled cuts designed to create maximum internal light refraction, producing a round-shaped diamond. When these two basic cuts are combined, they produce a variety of mixed cuts that result in various shapes with varying degrees of sharpness and brilliance. The type of diamond cut you choose for your engagement ring depends entirely on personal taste. For your consideration however, here are 5 of the most popular engagement ring diamond cuts today.

1. The Round Diamond

The round or brilliant cut diamond has been the diamond of choice for couples for many years, and it accounts for about 75% of total worldwide diamond sales today. The reason for this is that the round cut is specially designed to produce maximum light refraction, the quality that gives a diamond its sparkle. The most popular of the round, brilliant cut diamonds is the Ideal Cut diamond, which has 58-facets divided between its top, girdle and base. The higher-quality, and far more expensive, Leo Diamond has a patented 66 facets.

2. The Radiant Cut Diamond

The step cut or emerald diamond has an elegant, classic rectangular shape that appeals to many couples. However, the step cut incisions lack the sparkle of the brilliant cut diamond. For those who want the elegance of the rectangular emerald shape along with the brilliance of the round cut diamond, the radiant diamond provides an excellent choice. It combines step and brilliant cuts to produce a brilliant, 70-facet, rectangular-shaped diamond with rounded edges.  

3. The Marquise Diamond

Commissioned by King Louis XIV of France, and purportedly inspired by the smile of the Marquise de Pompadour, the marquise diamond has an elongated shape that comes to a sharp point on both ends. Rather than a combination of step and brilliant cuts, this diamond is essentially an adaptation of the round, brilliant cut diamond. It, like the round diamond, has 58 facets. The crown of the marquise diamond is sometimes cut in a way that eliminates the top point of the stone, or the bezel facet. The marquise diamond is popular in ring designs that make use of smaller decorative diamonds.

4. The Oval Diamond

Like the marquis diamond, the oval diamond is a modified brilliant cut diamond. It was invented in the 1960s by jeweler Lazare Kaplan. Like the standard brilliant cut round diamond, the oval cut diamond has 58 facets. Its shape provides an even, elongated symmetrical design that has the effect of making shorter fingers look longer and more graceful. Because of its growing popularity amongst consumers, the oval diamond has grown to be quite expensive. Nevertheless it continues to be one of the diamond cuts of choice for engagement rings and anniversary jewelry.

5. The Princess Cut Diamond

The princess cut diamond is one of the most popular fancy shaped diamonds today. It is relatively new and is in the shape of a square oblong, rather than a rectangle or emerald. However it is not a modification of the step cut diamond, but of the brilliant cut. Thus, it matches other round-cut diamonds in brilliance while providing a sharp and unique shape. Princess diamonds provide the most brilliance you can get out of a square shaped stone.

Diamonds are made up of carbon atoms, the same atoms contained in coal and graphite. The difference between pencil led and a diamond, however, is that a diamond’s carbon atoms are bonded in a tetrahedral structure. Diamonds are basically the crystallized form of carbon. The pressure required to create a diamond occurs in two places: deep within the earth’s lithospheric mantle and at the site of a meteor crash. Meteor crashes being relatively rare, most diamonds we see today originate from deep inside the earth’s core. These diamonds emerge when volcanic eruptions carry magma that comes from a depth of at least 150 km up towards the surface of the planet. This is a rare occurrence, and even though diamond deposits can be found in many different countries, only a few are large enough to make diamond mining economically worthwhile.

One of the first countries to manufacture and produce diamonds as gemstones was India. The use of diamonds as religious icons in the south-Asian subcontinent dates back thousands of years. In ancient times, India had a wealth of alluvial diamond deposits, but these depleted over the centuries. Most diamonds today come from mines in the African, Russia, Australia, and more recently Canada.

Africa

Before diamonds were discovered in South Africa in the 1860s, diamonds were extremely rare and reserved for nobility. But the discovery of diamonds in Africa precipitated the emergence of a global diamond industry that made the precious stones available to anyone who could afford them. The famous Kimberly mine in the North Cape province of South Africa became ground zero for the booming diamond industry. Roughly 49% of the world’s diamonds come from central and southern Africa.

The Republic of Botswana in southern Africa is the largest producer of diamonds in the world. A British protectorate until it achieved independence in 1966, Botswana has produced more than 74 kimberlites to date, approximately 20% of the world’s diamonds. Diamond mining in Botswana is conducted by the company Debswana, a 50-50 joint venture between the government of Botswana and the global diamond industry giant De Beers, that employs about 2% of the nation’s total workforce. Botswana’s Jwaneng mine is the richest diamond mine in the world.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has also been a longtime major producer of diamonds, exporting just over 8% of the world’s diamonds today. A lot of international controversy has surrounded the diamond industry in the Congo, due to the fact that diamond production has been used in the region to fund local warlords in their ongoing military struggles. Diamond production in the Congo has come at the expense of much exploitation and violence. De Beers’ famous Millennium Star diamond was discovered in the Congo and sold to the diamond industry giant during the height of the Civil War that occurred in there during the mid-nineties.

In 2009, Congo’s diamond industry is seeing a rough decline. Earlier in the year De Beers announced that it would be stopping diamond exploration in the region. As the recent economic recession has resulted in a worldwide decline in the demand for precious gems and luxury items, Congo’s mining sector is on the brink.

Russia

In recent years, Russia has risen as a major player in the worldwide diamond industry. The worldwide diamond trade has long been a closed-knit, interdependent community, dominated by industry giant De Beers, and many insiders feared that the influx of Russian diamonds would destabilize the market.

But even though Russia remains among the top two diamond producers in the world (next to Botswana), its diamond trade has also suffered due to the economic recession and the decrease in demand for luxury goods. Russia’s rough diamond exports in 2008 were valued at $1.607 billion, down significantly from 2007’s figure of $2.023 billion.

Australia

Australia’s Argyle diamond mine is famous for being one of the biggest producers of colored diamonds in the world, including the rare pink diamond. Construction of the Argyle diamond mine began in 1983 and was completed in 1985. Productions reached peak levels of 42 metric tons per year in the 1990s.

Canada

The first major diamond discoveries in Canada were made in the 1980s. When in 1991 large diamond deposits were found in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Canada became the location a massive new diamond rush. Ekati was Canada’s first diamond mine in 1998. De Beers Canada owns the diamond mines in Yellowknife and the James Bay Coast.

Today, Canada is one of the world’s top diamond producers, just behind Russia and southern Africa. But like all the other diamond producing regions, Canada’s diamond industry has taken a sizeable economic blow due to the recent recession and worldwide decline in discretionary spending. In December of 2008 De Beers announced it would be scaling back its diamond production activities in Canada by 10 percent.

Diamonds, the crystallized form of carbon, occur rarely in nature. Their creation is only possible in the extreme pressures found deep within the Earth’s mantle. It takes many years for diamonds to form underground and many more for them to reach the Earth’s surface. But strangely enough, diamonds can also be found at the site of a meteor impact. The conditions that forge diamonds over a vast period of time underground occur in a single instant when meteors collide with Earth.

Their rarity has made diamonds incredibly valuable. Today, diamond mining takes place in every continent with the exceptions of Europe and Antarctica. Over 25 countries host diamond mining operations, most run by large corporations that extract diamonds from primary deposits. But diamonds are also extracted by small-scale miners using simple, artisanal mining methods in secondary alluvial deposits. The following is a brief description of the common diamond mining methods used today.

Open Pit Mining

Also called “open-cast mining” or “strip mining”, open pit mining is a method of extracting precious rocks and minerals near the surface of the earth by their removal from an open pit or burrow. This mining technique is used when the diamonds are imbedded in a structurally unstable kind of earth, like sand or gravel, which makes it dangerous or impossible to use tunneling methods. Oftentimes, pit lakes tend to form at the bottom of open-pit mining sites due to groundwater intrusion.

Because open pit mining requires large amounts of land displacement, it is often a source of controversy. Many environmentalist groups object to large open pit mining due to the permanent damage it can cause to surrounding ecosystems.

Hard-Rock Mining

Hard-rock mining encompasses different mining techniques that all involve tunneling underground. A hard-rock mine involves drilling vertical tunnels, or shafts, deep into the earth to access precious stone deposits. Horizontal tunnels connect different underground “rooms” or “stopes”, which are supported by timber pillars. Horizontal excavations, called “adits”, can also be made into the side of a hill or a mountain to access deposits.

Now, high-tech machinery and new tunneling techniques have decreased the safety risks of hard-rock mining. But it is still one of the most dangerous types of mining, and in the past the death rate of miners working in hard-rock mines was very high.

Placer Mining

Placer mining is the mining of alluvial, or secondary, deposits. Diamonds usually come from geologic rock formations called Kiberlites. Rivers and streams can sometimes erode these formations over time and deposit the diamonds into sediments further downstream from their original source. The excavation of diamonds from these secondary deposits is sometimes accomplished through hydraulic mining (which uses water pressure to extract the diamonds) or through the use of mechanized surface excavation equipment.

Artisanal diamond mining is also common in alluvial diamond deposits. It involves very simple techniques, such as digging and sifting through mud or sand in streams using shovels and sieves.

Marine Diamond Mining

Marine mining is a more recently developed mining technique. Due to the high cost of the technology involved, it did not become commercially practicable until the beginning of the 1990s. Marine mining employs vertical and horizontal drilling methods to access diamond deposits in the ocean floor. Expensive underwater mining vehicles that crawl along the seabed are also used to excavate minerals from the sea floor.

People generally view diamonds in stores, when the diamonds have already been cut, polished, and faceted into small pieces for diamond engagement rings, necklaces, bracelets, and more. However, the beautiful faceted gemstones were cut and polished from much larger diamonds, which I’m sure any woman would love to get their hands on. Let’s take a look at the world’s five largest diamonds. Please note there is a difference between the largest rough diamond and the largest faceted diamond. The following list contains the world’s five largest rough diamonds, listed from smallest to largest, while noting any resulting large faceted diamonds.

1. The Spirit of de Grisogono - The Spirit of de Grisogono first weighed in at 587 carats. It was discovered several decades ago in west central Africa. This massive diamond resulted in the world’s largest cut black diamond, weighing 312.24 carats.

2. The Golden Jubilee – First weighing in at 755 carats, this magnificent brownish-gold rough diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1985. The resulting faceted diamond weighs 545.67 carats, which is currently the largest faceted diamond in the world.

3. The Incomparable – At 890 carats, this rough diamond was a hit when discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire). It was studied and cut, ultimately resulting in a beautiful 407.48 carat faceted diamond.

4. Cullinan Diamond(s) – For several decades and until just recently, this rough diamond was the largest in the world, weighing in at a whopping 3,106 carats. It was discovered in Africa. The cutting of this rough diamond resulted in 105 gems, including two famous diamonds: the Cullinan I (or Star of Africa) and the Cullinan II.

• Star of Africa - At 530.20 carats, this pear shaped diamond measures at 53mm x 44mm x 29mm. Its estimated value is over $400 million. It was the largest faceted diamond in the world until the 1985 discovery of the Golden Jubilee diamond.
• Cullinan II - This 317.40 carat diamond is now part of the British crown jewels. It forms a part of the Imperial State Crown.

5. Unnamed Diamond – In 2007, a rough diamond surpassing the massive Cullinan was discovered in the North-West Province of South Africa. The find electrified diamond communities around the world. This rough diamond is believed to at least double the weight of the Cullinan, which means it may weigh almost 7000 carats! While there is still much studying and cutting to be accomplished, this diamond will surely result in a faceted diamond that will exceed the Golden Jubilee as the largest faceted diamond in the world.

A diamond, the most sought-after stone in the world, doesn’t just appear in luminous, perfect form ready for use in jewelry. Diamonds actually take quite a journey in order to become elegant, dazzling engagement rings, sparkling necklaces, and other jewelry. Read below for an interesting overview of the journey of a diamond.

The Diamond Industry

First, the diamond industry can be broken down into two categories: the industrial diamond industry and the gem diamond industry. Each industry actually operates much differently from the other. In fact, the typical gemological characteristics sought after in the gem industry are irrelevant in the industrial counterpart - characteristics such as the four C’s, including cut, clarity, color, and carat. While these characteristics are extremely important in the gem category of the diamond industry, other characteristics such as hardness and heat conductivity are more important for the industrial side. Because of this - cover your eyes ladies - 80% of mined diamonds are considered unsuitable for use as gemstones and are utilized on the industrial side. Industrial use of diamonds can include embedding them in drill tips or saw blades, or grinding them into a powder for use in grinding and polishing applications. Other industrial applications of diamonds include use in laboratories as containment for high-pressure experiments, high-performance bearings, and limited use in specialized windows.

Enough of that - let’s get back to the gem industry, since that is what is most appealing. The production and distribution of diamond gems is largely consolidated in the hands of a few key players. In other words, the diamond supply chain is controlled by a limited number of powerful businesses and is highly concentrated in a small number of locations around the world. The biggest and most widely recognized player is Antwerp, where 80% of all rough diamonds and 50% of all cut diamonds are handled. Because of this, Antwerp is considered the world diamond capital. Historically diamonds were known to be found only in and around southern India. However, now diamonds are all over the world, including South Africa, Australia, Russia, Angola, Brazil, and many other countries. Diamonds can even be found right here on United States soil, in states such as Arkansas, Colorado, and Montana. In general, diamonds are mined, sorted, then sent away for production, distribution, and supply.

Rough Diamond Production

When diamonds are mined, they are referred to as rough diamonds. Rough diamonds that will be used for gemstones must go through a process involving cutting, cleaning, polishing, and shaping the diamond for suitable gem uses. This process is difficult. It is both an art and a science. It involves careful study and examination of each individual diamond and there are several considerations when preparing a diamond for use as a gem. The choice of cut, for example round, princess, or square, is considered. The choice of cut is often decided by the original shape of the rough stone, the location of inclusions and flaws that are to be eliminated, the preservation of the weight, the popularity of certain shapes amongst consumers, and many other considerations. The choice of cut is just one consideration. The process from mine to ring actually entails several different steps, including marking, sawing, cleaving, girdling, faceting, and polishing the diamond. Faceting and polishing a diamond involves blocking, cross-working, and brillianteering.

Once a diamond has been through the entire tedious process, it is ready for use as a gemstone. Currently, gem production totals nearly 30 million carats (6,000 kg) of cut and polished stones annually. These cut and polished stones are sold individually and are made into beautiful diamond engagement rings, sparkling pendants, elegant bracelets, stylish necklaces, and other jewelry. You can find outstanding diamond jewelry here at David & Sons Jewelers. We offer an outstanding collection of the finest high-quality diamonds, excellent customer service, beautiful custom-designed San Diego engagement rings, and various diamond jewelry services. Feel free to stop by any of our San Diego jewelry stores or contact one of representatives for more information.