The Diamond Story

JTV Live Now・2 minutes read

Diamonds are prized for their beauty and symbol of wealth, with Harry Winston's jewelry exemplifying their value. The process of diamond formation, mining at the Argyle mine in Western Australia, and factors influencing diamond value and quality, such as the four Cs and cutting techniques, are essential to understand the diamond industry.

Insights

  • The value and allure of diamonds stem from their beauty, symbolism of wealth and power, and the intricate process of formation deep within the Earth, making them a highly sought-after commodity globally.
  • The diamond industry, from mining to cutting and grading, is a complex ecosystem heavily influenced by factors like the four Cs (carat weight, clarity, color, and cut), technological advancements, and market preferences, shaping the way diamonds are perceived, traded, and valued in today's world.

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Recent questions

  • What are diamonds composed of?

    Carbon

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Summary

00:00

The allure and science of diamonds

  • Diamonds are highly valued for their beauty, timelessness, and mystique, symbolizing wealth and power.
  • Harry Winston's stunning necklace and diamond engagement rings are examples of highly valuable diamond pieces.
  • Modern technology has made diamonds more accessible, transforming them from exclusive to widely desired.
  • New York's diamond district on 47th Street is a bustling hub where millions of dollars worth of diamonds are traded, cut, and set into jewelry daily.
  • Diamond cutting in New York is cost-effective due to skilled lapidaries, often Hasidic Jews, using traditional techniques.
  • Cutting diamonds requires precision and expertise to avoid damaging the stone's value or structure.
  • Diamonds are primarily composed of carbon, with impurities like boron or nitrogen giving them various colors.
  • The molecular structure of diamonds, with strong shared electron bonds, makes them the hardest natural substance.
  • Diamonds form deep within the Earth under extreme pressure and temperature, brought to the surface by ancient volcanic pipes like kimberlite.
  • Historically, diamonds were first discovered in India, treasured for their rarity and believed to possess magical qualities.

19:57

Argyle Mine: World's Largest Diamond Producer

  • Western Australia's Argyle mine is the world's largest producer of diamonds, generating about 35 million carats annually from a massive open pit operation spanning 100 acres.
  • The mine was discovered by CRA in the late 1970s after prospectors found alluvial diamonds in Australia in the late 19th century, leading to the systematic search for the diamond source.
  • Mining operations at Argyle began in 1983, starting with the diamond-rich topsoil surrounding the main pipe before moving to the main pipe itself in 1985.
  • The mine employs state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to efficiently extract diamonds, with 170-ton trucks delivering ore at a rate of approximately 1,900 tons per hour.
  • As the open pit mine nears depletion, plans are in place to transition to underground mining, requiring a significant investment in infrastructure and tunneling to access the pipe safely.
  • The ore extracted is processed through crushers and high-pressure machines to liberate the diamonds, with a focus on efficiency and recovering 99.6% of all diamonds down to one millimeter in size.
  • Gem-quality diamonds are sent to Perth for sorting and grading, while the majority of diamonds mined are used for industrial purposes due to flaws or size.
  • The market value of diamonds is determined by the four Cs: carat weight, clarity, color, and cut, with each factor impacting the stone's beauty, rarity, and price.
  • Clarity grades range from flawless to included, with flawless diamonds being extremely rare and highly valuable, while included diamonds are priced lower based on the level of inclusions.
  • The cut of a diamond is crucial in enhancing its value, with well-proportioned cuts maximizing brilliance and desirability, while fancy cuts and trends in diamond shapes influence market preferences over time.

37:58

"Modern diamond facets enhance sparkle and fire"

  • The 58 facets of a modern brilliant cut diamond are meticulously calculated to enhance its inner sparkle and fire, influenced by factors like top and bottom proportioning, girdle thickness, and table size in relation to the stone's diameter.
  • After being cut and polished, diamonds are typically sold through leading wholesale centers in London, Antwerp, or Manhattan, with the finest stones often directly marketed to consumers through exclusive sales events like those held by the Argyle mine.
  • When shopping for diamonds, the four C's - cut, clarity, color, and carat weight - play a crucial role in determining a stone's desirability and affordability, with personal preferences dictating whether brilliance, color, or size takes precedence.
  • Proper care is essential to maintain a diamond's value and beauty for generations, involving regular cleaning with mild detergents or ammonia solutions, storage in fabric-lined jewel cases, and periodic checks and tightening of prongs and settings by a jeweler.
  • Synthetic diamonds, chemically identical to natural ones, are increasingly produced in labs and factories, with cubic zirconia emerging as a popular diamond simulant due to its similar light transmission properties and higher specific gravity.
  • Technological advancements, such as computer-controlled lasers for cutting and polishing, high pressure and temperature treatments for altering color, and radiation for enhancing tint, are revolutionizing the diamond industry, offering consumers a wider range of options at varying price points.
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