Choosing a Diamond

Craftsmanship

Home > Craftsmanship > Jewellery Expertise > Choosing a Diamond backup

What is a diamond?

A diamond, the world's most exquisite gemstone, is millions of years old. Consisting of virtually pure carbon it is the only gemstone composed of a single element. Diamonds are therefore not only the hardest natural substance known to man, but also the purest of the earth’s treasures. What makes this stone so beautiful is that when skillfully cut, it has a unique ability to reflect light back in an explosion of sparkle and fire. Browns quality diamonds are also exceedingly rare. Only 1 in 1 million carats of diamonds mined are gem-quality and approximately 5 million carats must be mined to get a single 2 carat gem-quality diamond. Over and above this only a tiny fraction of these gem-quality diamonds meet the Browns quality standards. It is this combination of antiquity, purity, endurance, beauty and rarity that have captivated people for so long and which continue to make diamonds so desired and sought after.

What makes a Browns Diamond?

Over the years we have developed our own proprietary grading system to ensure that only the best most brilliant diamonds become Browns diamonds. We employ some of the country’s most qualified gemologists with over 20 years cumulative diamond and precious stone grading experience. Every single diamond set in our workshop is individually selected, graded and approved as having met the stringent qualities of a Browns Diamond. Only diamonds which have qualified as a Browns Diamond can be certified and will be considered for setting in one of our fine pieces of diamond jewellery.

We only select diamonds that have been cut to proper proportions, based on the Tolkowsky ideal. A Browns diamond must be rated colour “H” or better with a clarity rating of “SI” or better. The exact parameters of a Browns diamond are one of our best kept secrets. They are based on the traditional 4 C’s but also include a 5th “C” – Combination and “2T’s” – Transparency and Treatment. It is the perfect balance between all of these characteristics that result in the exceptional brilliance demanded of a Browns diamond.

The “4C’s”

Traditionally diamonds have been graded according to the “4C’s”- Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carrats. However, at Browns we believe that this is an oversimplified means of evaluating diamond quality. We have therefore incorporated a 5th “C” – Combination and “2T’s” – Transparency and Treatment.

Cut

The cut refers to the faceting proportions on the surface of a diamond. A diamond cutter must place each of the stone's facets and angles, which act as light dispersing mirrors, in exact geometric relation to one another. More than any other factor, the precision of these facets determines the brilliance of the diamond. On a classic round, brilliant cut diamond, for instance, fifty-seven facets must be precisely aligned. Browns The Diamond Store uses the most skilled and experienced diamond cutters to ensure that our diamonds are precisely proportioned to reflect light and maximize brilliance. Most other diamonds are cut to maximize weight, resulting in a loss of brilliance and fire.

Adding or subtracting facets does not equal greater brilliance. We make no compromises in this crucial area. Our clients are offered only those diamonds cut to proper proportions, so that the extraordinary brilliance and scintillation is noticed, even in a crowded room.

Colour

Colour quality is critical because usually the more colourless the diamond, the greater it's rarity and value. A single increase in colour grade can boost a diamond's value by thousands of dollars, depending on the stone's size. Although many diamonds may appear colourless to the untrained eye, the majority contain very slight traces of yellow, brown of grey.

Browns The Diamond Store diamonds are colour-graded by an independent registered laboratory and certified as such in the certificate that accompanies every diamond engagement ring sold. It should be noted that diamonds also occur by rare accidents of nature in shades and intensities of yellow, pink, blue, green and red.
In order to become a Browns Diamond the colour must be an “H” or better.

Clarity

Virtually all diamonds have imperfections called inclusions or blemishes. A diamond is said to be "flawless" if no inclusions or superficial blemishes can be seen under a standard 10-power jeweller’s loupe, truly flawless diamonds are extremely rare and priced accordingly.

Browns holds high standards in that each and every stone over .25ct goes through a stringent gemological grading in an independent laboratory. Only a small percentage of the diamonds examined are accepted.
In order to become a Browns Diamond the clarity must be “SI” or better.

Carat

A "carat" is the gemologist's standard measure of diamond's weight. It is important to note that the size alone is almost meaningless unless you consider cut, clarity and colour. A large stone holds little value if it lacks brilliance, purity and high-grade colour. However, size does increase the value of a good quality diamond for the simple reason that large stones are rarer than small ones.

Combination

No two diamonds are exactly alike. It is essential that all of the characteristics of each diamond are perfectly balanced. Ultimately it is this unique combination which results in a diamond of exceptional brilliance, a diamond which meets the stringent demands of a Browns diamond.

Transparency

Some diamonds contain within them “milky clouds” which are not always visible to the untrained eye but which result in dull looking diamonds. At Browns we scrupulously check all of our diamonds for this clouding and all milky diamonds are immediately rejected.

Treatment

All Browns diamonds are natural and have not been treated or enhanced in any way.