Decoding Diamond Varieties: Essential Tips for Smart Shopping

The term “diamond type” holds different meanings for jewelers and customers. For example, to a gemologist, “cut” could refer to the diamond’s actual cut or the number of facets, such as the brilliant cut. Customers often perceive it as the diamond’s shape — like round, emerald, or pear. We’ll clarify both these perspectives here.

What Are Diamond Types to Gemologists?

Understanding diamond type can be tricky since a single diamond can belong to more than one type according to gemologists.

Think of a diamond’s type as something elemental.

Literally elemental. Every diamond forms from a base of carbon. But as it grows, atoms of other elements — mostly nitrogen — get incorporated. (If you’re curious, here’s how diamonds are formed — and it’s not from coal as many believe.) Though invisible to the naked eye, these atoms can cluster and affect the final diamond’s color and appearance.

A diamond’s type will be evaluated by an expert and recorded on its GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certificate.

The Different Diamond Types, Explained

When it comes to diamond types, here’s what’s essential: This information won’t greatly impact your online diamond purchase process, as some types are exceedingly rare. Others are predominantly seen in fancy-colored diamonds, which aren’t typical for engagement rings. Here’s the necessary knowledge to avoid unnecessary complications, as you have a proposal to consider.

Type IA Diamonds

Type Ia diamonds are the most common. They exhibit a yellow tone caused by large nitrogen atom clusters within the crystal lattice. Nitrogen atoms absorb light in the blue spectrum range, leading to their yellow/orange coloration. Type Ia diamonds are also known for their unique fluorescence and absorption of infrared and ultraviolet light.

This type further divides into Type IaA and Type IaB, but this distinction primarily concerns gemologists.

Type IIA Diamonds

Type IIa diamonds comprise only 1 percent of all diamonds. These are what many envision when thinking of diamonds. They contain almost no nitrogen, resulting in no visible light absorption and no yellow or brown tint. Formed under extreme pressure, they display varying fluorescence levels. Fancy-colored diamonds of this type can appear pink, gray, yellow, brown, light blue, or light green. Many of the world’s renowned diamonds belong to this type.

Type IB Diamonds

Type Ib diamonds constitute less than 0.1 percent of natural diamonds. Here, nitrogen atoms are dispersed as single atoms rather than clusters within the crystal lattice. They absorb much light from the blue spectrum, resulting in a strong yellow hue. True canary diamonds are Ib’s.

Type IIB Diamonds

Type IIb diamonds lack nitrogen but contain boron, which absorbs light at the red spectrum end, giving these diamonds a blue or bluish-grey hue. These are exceedingly valuable, representing only 0.1 percent of natural diamonds.

What Are Diamond Types to Customers?

For customers, a diamond’s “type” is less about technicalities and more about general categories. For instance, it may refer to:

• Natural diamonds that grow within the earth and are mined.
• Treated or enhanced diamonds with clarity improved using advanced technology like lasers.
• Lab-created diamonds also known as man-made or cultivated diamonds. These are genuine diamonds grown under laboratory conditions mimicking natural processes, making them chemically identical to natural diamonds.
• Natural fancy color diamonds, among the rarest diamonds, occurring naturally in colors like blue, green, pink, or red.

Importance of Diamond Certification

Now that you’ve learned about the C’s and diamond types, it’s crucial to understand the importance of diamond certification. Whether purchasing a lab-grown or natural diamond, proof of quality is essential. A diamond certificate offers comprehensive details about the diamond, especially about the esteemed C’s we discussed. It’s a detailed biography of the diamond, helping you verify that the piece you’re considering is the accurate one.

Certified diamonds usually carry higher value, making certification a wise investment.

We recommend GIA (Gemological Institute Of America) certification for natural diamonds due to its reputation for consistency and strict evaluation standards, alleviating the stress of purchasing a diamond. GIA evaluates diamonds based on several qualities, including carat weight, table, depth, symmetry, polish grade, and proportion.

For lab-grown diamonds, an IGI (International Gemological Institute) certification is advisable as it adheres to stringent international standards. An IGI certificate provides detailed insights into the diamond, covering critical parameters like cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

At Artful Bracelets, we offer both certifications to ensure a smooth and hassle-free shopping experience.

If you have any further questions about the diamond type you’re considering, feel free to reach out! Our expert gemologists are ready to assist with any inquiries or clarify Artful Bracelets’s diamond policies. Remember, we provide GIA-certified natural diamonds and IGI-certified lab diamonds.