Why are Yakut diamonds expensive?

Diamonds. They are talked about with aspiration, they are looked at with envy and admiration, they are the embodied status of their owner or owner. And it’s not even about beauty. Although, honestly, in her too. Cut diamonds have become synonymous with noble luxury and exclusivity. They are so difficult to obtain and desirable that, perhaps, they have already acquired their own egregor. And it’s no joke about egregor: once upon a time, a diamond was considered a stone endowed with magical properties.

Rice. 1. A scattering of diamonds

Why are diamonds so expensive and why are they valuable? It may seem that the cost here obeys the general laws of economics: the rarer the product is, the more scarce it is, the more expensive it is. But is it? No not like this. The diamond from which diamonds are made is a relatively common mineral. Judge for yourself. The same emeralds are found in nature 20 times less often than diamonds. Moreover, 99% of emeralds have foreign inclusions. Sapphires (a type of corundum) are also found much less frequently than diamonds. The same applies to rubies (another variety of corundum). Large specimens are especially rare: for every 300 diamonds weighing about 40 carats, there are only a dozen rubies of the same weight. So it’s not a rarity? Then what?

Why are diamonds so expensive?

In fact, the myth about the rarity of diamonds is not really a myth. Once upon a time it was like that. But once upon a time the Earth was also represented as a disk. They say that a couple of those who disagreed with this were even burned at the stake. In general, things are a thing of the past. Diamonds have been known to mankind for about 6 thousand years. And it only learned that they could be turned into luxurious diamonds in the XNUMXth century. We admired it a little and. forgot for a couple of centuries. This is not to say that there were no reasons for this: people believed that processing deprived the stone of its “magical” qualities. In 1454, the jeweler Louis de Bernel polished and cut the diamond for the then Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold, who admired the stone so much that he decorated his armor with it. With the light hand of the crowned lady, the popularity of cut diamonds began to grow and expand. However, it could not have happened without a woman. The first lady who began to appear in diamond sets was Agnes Sorel, recognized as the most beautiful woman of the XNUMXth century, the favorite of Charles VII. But let’s return to diamonds. Until recently, they were indeed rare and were mined mainly in Indonesia and India. The mines there still exist, but over time they have become rather impoverished. Everything changed in the second half of the 19th century with the discovery of deposits in Africa. And then came the discovery of large reserves in Russia: in the Urals, Yakutia and the Arkhangelsk region. Today, millions of carats of diamonds are mined around the world. And even though only a third of this amount is suitable for the jewelry industry, this is still enough for any woman to be able to afford a diamond ring literally from her monthly spending on pins. So why are diamonds so expensive to this day?

Diamonds and Marketing

In the 95th century, diamonds ceased to be a rarity – European markets were flooded with stones from South African mines. Something had to be done about this. And then marketing and the De Beers company entered the scene – an American monopolist in the diamond market, which once controlled XNUMX% of diamond production and processing. However, even now the concern remains a leader: it accounts for about a third of global production. In the 1940s, De Beers launched an exemplary marketing campaign that became one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history. It was called Diamonds are forever, which translated from English sounds like “Diamonds are forever.” It really was brilliant. In the 30-40s of the XNUMXth century, the popularity (and price) of diamonds began to fall throughout the world. And then the marketers hired by De Beers from the American agency NW Ayer managed to convince first the whole of America, and then the whole world, that a diamond is the most romantic and most valuable stone in the world. Initially, the idea of the value and exclusivity of diamonds was promoted through advertising campaigns in the media. Celebrities and movie stars became her guides and agents. Diamonds were talked about on the radio, discussed in interviews, and lectures were given about them at universities. At photo shoots, movie screens, and social events, actresses and other stars shone with diamond sets. At some point, the idea arose to involve even the British royal family in the campaign. But it was the engagement rings that really started it all. The tradition of engagement rings is quite old. Moreover, the stones in them could be anything. For example, Queen Victoria received an emerald ring from Albert in 1840. But with the help of De Beers and NW Ayer, engagement rings began to be associated only with diamonds.

Rice. 2. An engagement ring on a girl’s finger

“A girl cannot consider herself engaged until she has a diamond ring on her finger”—men who proposed marriage were supposed to obey this logic. And the larger the stone, the stronger and more successful the marriage will be. Before 1947, only one American girl in ten received a proposal that included a diamond ring. Since 1947 there have been eight such girls. Subsequently, the tradition began to be promoted throughout the world. And it worked.

The value of diamonds

As we have already found out, the high cost of diamonds is half the merit of brilliant marketers. But what does the other half depend on? Why are diamonds expensive and what affects their value? A number of characteristics are used to evaluate a stone.

The weight

The larger, the more expensive. The weight of diamonds is measured in carats; a carat corresponds to 0,2 grams. Diamonds are divided into 3 groups. Those weighing up to 0,29 carats are considered small, those weighing up to 0,99 are considered medium, and if the stone weighs 1 carat or more, it is classified as large.

Color

The less intensely colored the stone, the more expensive it is. In international practice, the shade of diamonds is assessed on a scale from D to Z, in domestic practice – from one to nine, where one is assigned to a completely colorless diamond, and nine to a brown one. Diamonds that are absolutely colorless are considered the most valuable and highest quality. The exception is stones of fancy shades, of which the rarest and most expensive are pink and red. Black diamonds stand apart. We discussed this characteristic of diamonds in detail in the article “Diamond Color”.

Cleanliness

The vast majority of stones have impurities and defects (interspersed with other minerals, cracks) – this is due to their physical origin. The more impurities and imperfections, the less light the stone transmits and the lower its price. In international practice, the purity of stones is assessed on the GIA scale, and in domestic practice – on a multi-level scale, where one corresponds to stones of the purest water. The characteristics of purity are covered in detail in the material “Diamond Purity”.

Cut shape

Round. A classic of the genre that most fully reveals the potential of the stone. It is no coincidence that 75% of diamonds have this shape. The cut includes varieties with 85, 57 or a “modest” 17 facets. The larger the stone, the more facets it is given.
Oval. Another classic and popular shape. Oval stones have 57 facets.
Marquis. Oval shape with pointed ends, has 55 edges.
Princess. Rectangular stone with 65 facets.
Emerald. An elongated octagon with beveled corners and 65 edges.
Asher. A stepped square with trapezoidal pavilion edges and chamfers forming a diagonal cross.
Pear. Drop cut with 56 facets. Most often used for stones intended for earrings or pendants.
Radiant. A square or rectangular stone with 61 to 89 facets. The Radiant cut combines all the advantages of the Emerald and Asscher shapes.
Triangle (Trilliant). Triangular wedge cut.

The most popular is the round cut. It is the most expensive, because it demonstrates the richest play of light and all the splendor of the sparkle of a diamond. Other types of cuts are considered less valuable, although there are exceptions to every rule. In addition, do not forget that the cost of jewelry consists of several characteristics in their totality. Therefore, when choosing a cut, be guided primarily by your own taste preferences.

You can read more about this characteristic of cut diamonds in the article “Shapes of Diamond Cuts”.

Where to buy quality diamonds

If you are fascinated by the sparkle of diamonds, if you dream of adding these stunning stones to your jewelry collection, congratulations – you have come to the right place. In our catalog you will find jewelry for every taste and budget. Rings, luxurious pendants and earrings with diamonds, as well as single stones, for which you can choose the setting yourself based on your desires. All diamonds are certified by the independent gemological center of Moscow State University, and when selling products with them, a stone certificate is issued. Choose!

The birth of diamond and diamond. Why are Yakut diamonds valued?

The birth of a diamond
Diamond is a rare mineral that is a cubic allotropic form of carbon, the sixth element in Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev’s periodic table. For example, other allotropic modifications of this element include coal, activated carbon, graphite and a number of other forms.

The Mir pipe in Yakutia, which gave its name to the city of Mirny
Why are diamond crystals and diamonds cut from them valued, besides first-class marketing? Let’s try to understand this issue together with the readers of the Aurora Siberica blog with expert support and with the help of useful life hacks from diamantaire Evgeniy Vasiliev. The name of this profession comes from the French word diamantaire and means a specialist in rough and polished diamonds.

Yakut diamonds and brilliants – forever!
Are diamonds and diamonds really forever? Yes – they are practically eternal, although there is still no consensus among scientists about their exact age and origin. The age of the crystals of this mineral is estimated from hundreds of millions to billions of years. When compared with the time of human existence, this period can truly be called eternity. In addition, diamond is the hardest known material. The mineral has excellent optical properties, consisting of specific abilities to reflect, refract and split light.

Eternal love rings from Aurora Siberica
There is a concept of eternal love rings. These are classic engagement rings with a row of diamonds evenly spaced across the entire diameter of the jewelry or in part of it. The Aurora Siberica catalog contains beautiful rings of eternal love from the Polar Classic collection with Yakut diamonds in white, yellow and red gold, associated with eternity in the history of the origin of the diamond.

View of winter Yakutsk – the capital of the Republic of Sakha, on whose territory the majority of diamond deposits in Russia are located
The history of the birth of diamond crystals is fascinating. There are many scientific hypotheses on this issue. Among most researchers, the most popular theories are of origin in the magma and mantle of the Earth, where carbon atoms under enormous pressure and temperature at a depth of several hundred kilometers are formed into a diamond crystal lattice.

Natural diamonds in kimberlite rock
The mineral is then carried to the surface by volcanic magma in pipes, which are commonly called kimberlite pipes because of the name of the characteristic greenish-colored accompanying rock. In Russia, most of these pipes are concentrated in the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

A modern view of the first major diamond mine near Kimberley in South Africa
The greenish kimberlite rock gets its name from the town of Kimberley in South Africa, near which the now abandoned first mine-quarry for industrial diamond mining, called the “Big Hole,” was dug almost by hand.

Some diamonds are of cosmic origin
There are known diamonds of extraterrestrial origin, also called meteorite, whose age may be older than the Sun. There are scientifically confirmed facts of the formation of diamonds when meteorites fall on our planet.

Yakut diamonds are valued for their exceptional beauty and the “game” of light
Yakut diamonds are a special type of cut diamonds that were mined in the territory of Yakutia and then cut. Currently, Russia is the leader in the extraction of raw materials for diamond production. Yakut diamonds are highly valued all over the world due to their characteristics.

Evgeniy Vasiliev assessing rough diamonds
Cutting diamonds mined in the Republic of Sakha creates Yakut diamonds. The process consists of several key steps. First, precious crystals arriving at the cutting plant undergo a technological operation of production research and marking. It becomes known what kind of diamonds will be obtained from the original raw materials. Then the crystals are processed for sawing or grinding (depending on their structure). After this comes the stage of roughing, during which the outlines of the diamond are set. The precious stone acquires a girdle, which experts call a girdle. Then the semi-finished product is sent to the cutting operation to apply edges and polish the surfaces. The co-founder of the Aurora Siberica brand, Evgeny Vasiliev, began his career in Yakutsk as a diamond cutter in the late 1990s. He thoroughly understands the intricacies of production and uses his knowledge both in the selection of precious stones for serial jewelry and in executing individual orders for VIP clients.

The birth of a diamond in the hands of a master. Evgeniy Vasiliev at the cutting machine
The basis of modern diamond valuation is the now famous 4C “formula”. It is widely used almost all over the world. Its components represent Cut (English – cut), Carat (English – mass), Color (English – color) and Clarity (English – cleanliness). These categories are divided into corresponding gradations that affect the value of a particular cut diamond. The 4C system is used by most recognized international organizations, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). In our blog we will talk in detail about both the characteristics of 4C and other properties of diamonds.

The most popular rating system in the international market is GIA
The modern world has become global. People travel, shop at various online stores, and our readers will be interested in information about the various diamond grading systems. Russia has its own numerical rating scale, slightly different from the international one. Color groups in the Russian system are described by numbers from 1 to 9, with additional gradation of some groups into subgroups. The construction of the Russian purity scale is similar. In the international classification, colors are determined by letters of the Latin alphabet from D to Z. And purity in the international system is described by abbreviations of letters. For example, IF (English Internal Flawless – without internal inclusions visible to the eye) or VVS (English Very Very Small – very, very small inclusions barely perceptible to the eye).

Russian laboratories and enterprises use their own assessment system. Logo of the Yakut Gemological Center, with which it works Aurora Siberica

So, in Russia a numeric system for valuing diamonds has been adopted, which is regulated by GOST (state standards) and TU (technical conditions) of the enterprise. In international markets, the most popular system is the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which is used in most countries. There are also the CIBJO/IDC Diamond Grading System and the Scandinavian Grading System. According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, product tags must indicate the characteristics of the national rating system. Foreign systems may be advisory in nature. How can an inexperienced buyer of diamond jewelry understand these subtleties? The answer is simple. You need to find a jeweler you can trust.

Advertising shooting Aurora Siberica in the “Kingdom of Permafrost” complex in Yakutsk
The Russian diamond grading system is used to evaluate Aurora Siberica jewelry. When executing individual orders, options for certified diamonds with certificates from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and other laboratories are possible. At the same time, we always provide detailed information and advice on transferring from one system to another.
How to make the right choice? Opinion of diamantaire Evgeniy Vasilyev.
The requirements of Aurora Siberica clients for diamonds can be divided into three main groups. The first ones are looking for something fundamentally special, cut diamonds with the highest levels of color and clarity. Even if the diamond itself is small in size, for example, so that the color and clarity are not lower than 2 or even 1. Representatives of the second group prefer the largest possible visually large gemstones. Color and purity do not play a fundamental role; they may be of poor quality; for such clients, the weight of the stone comes first. Still others opt for the so-called “golden mean” between color, clarity, weight and price of the diamond. This category is the most extensive and almost all of our jewelry has diamonds from the “golden mean” category as inserts. We primarily use diamonds with color 3 (which is a light color with no tints) and clarity 6 (with minor imperfections that are not noticeable to the naked eye). This way, our clients receive light, moderately clear diamonds with the highest possible weight. Also, we are always happy to satisfy the requirements of the first and second groups of clients, fulfilling their wishes individually.