Green Diamond : The Dresden Green Diamond

In the rough, greenish diamonds tend to occur as one of three types: a stone, often a crystal shape, possessing a light tinge rather like the color of water in a swimming pool; a stone with a dark green skin; a yellowish-green stone characterized by a degree if lubricity. After being cut and polished, diamonds of the first and second types usually lose their greenish color to become white gems or, alternatively, light yellow stones known as "silvery capes". The few truly green faceted diamonds therefore originate from the third type. The famous collection of De Beers Fancy Colored Diamonds, which has been displayed throughtout the world includes some beautiful examples of green diamonds.

Since this is the story of a truly rare gem, a scientific explanation for the phenomenom of green diamonds is needed. The green color is usually caused by the crystal's coming into contact with a radioactive source at some point during its lifetime, and in geological terms, this is measured in millions of years. The most common form of irradiation diamonds chance into is through bombardment by alpha particles which are present in uranium compounds or percolating groundwater. Long exposure to these particles forms a green spot on the surface of the diamond, or sometimes produces a thin green coating which is only skin deep and can easily be removed during the faceting process. But bombardment by beta and gamma rays well as neutrons will color the stone to a greater depth and in some cases turn the whole stone's interior green.

Heating the stone might sometimes improve the color but care must be taken to keep the temperature below 600°C, because at this temperature the green color is likely to turn to a light yellow or brown. The change in color is caused by the change in the crystal's lattice structure. Before bombardment by radioactive particles the crystal's lattice was stable but the initial radioactive shock was sufficient to disturb the equilibrium and produce a green coloration. Tempering will distort the lattice further abd produce another change of color. This phenomena is analogous to a piece of elastic that has been overstretched; it will stretch back so far, but never returns to its original length. Similarly, after a treatment the diamond's lattice remains permanently distorted.

Research has disclosed that green or irradiated diamonds are more common from alluvial deposits, although they are found in primary sources, usually in the upper part of the diamond-bearing volanic pipe, but green diamonds of any size are rare. The Dresden Green, which probably weighed over 100 (old) carats in its rough form, is unique amoung world famous diamonds. It was originally probably an elongated unbroken stone since greenish diamonds rarely occur as cleavages.

The Dresden Green gets its name from the capitol of Saxony where it has been on display for more than 200 years. The earliest known reference to its existence occurs in The Post Boy, a London new-sheet of the 1700's. The issue dated October 25th - 27th, 1722 included this article:

"On Tuesday last, in the afternoon, one Mr. Marcus Moses, lately arrived from India, had the honor to wait on his Majesty [King George I (ruled 1714-27)] with his large diamond, which is of a fine emerald green colour, and was with his Majesty near an hour. His Majesty was very much pleased with the sight thereof. It is said there never was seen the like in Europe before, being free from any defect in the world; and he has shown his Majesty several other fine large diamonds, the like of which 'tis said were never brought from India before. He was also, the 25th, to wait on their Royal Highnesses with his large diamond; and they were surprised to see one of such largeness, and of such a fine emerald color without the help of a foil under it. We hear the gentlemen values it at £10,000."

The World's Most Beautiful Diamond

J.C. Sipe Jewelers has entered into a strategic partnership with Industry leader Lazare Kaplan Diamonds, creator of "The World's Most Beautiful Diamond"! As a DeBeers "Supplier of Choice", Lazare Kaplan provides you access, through an exclusive relationship with J.C. Sipe, to the finest diamonds the world has to offer!

During our recent spring buying trip to the world's largest jewelry trade fair, J.C. Sipe Jewelers had the good fortune to establish a partnership agreement with the world's largest and most influential diamontaire. Lazare Kaplan Diamonds (www.lazarediamonds.com) has been the leader in and the innovator of "Ideal Cut" diamonds since 1903. Lazare Kaplan (yes, there really was a Mr. Kaplan) was a cousin of Marcel Tolkowsky, the renowned scientist who provided the research in optics and physics that lead to the understanding and creation of the "Modern Ideal Cut Diamond". In fact, the most recent sudies show the amazing accuracy of Mr. Tolkowsky's work has not been outdated, even by modern scientific study!

Because Lazare Kaplan is a concered global citizen, they operate with care and respect in every market, practicing a level of involvement and participation in re-benification that is the model of the diamond industry. You can know, that we know, that Lazare Kaplan knows....Your diamond will be presented to you with the utmost assurance that the requirements of the Kimberly Process are being met...you will be proud to be wearing "The World's Most Beautiful Diamond"!

The Millenium Star

The Millenium Star, shown here, is the world's second biggest flaweless diamond, weighing 203 carats. The newly-discovered stone could produce an even larger gem

Brillanten Diamond

How do you find your perfect diamond? The 4Cs – cut, carat, colour and clarity – enable the comparison and the valuation of diamonds.

But the fascination of a diamond is based on far more than this classification: its individual history of origin; its special colour or shape; above all the sentiments it evokes with its beauty.

As diamonds require specific geological conditions to form, they are only found in a few places around the world.

And we directly buy our diamonds in major international trading centres – Tel Aviv, Bombay, Antwerp
or New York.

Black Diamond Heart Ring

Black Diamond of Fawaz Gruosi

Upon creating amazing black diamond jewelry for his luxury jewelry house de Grisogono, chairman and founder Fawaz Gruosi enjoys a special place in diamond history: he is credited with popularizing the fascination with black diamonds in 1996 - a fascination that continues today.

He also had a rare opportunity - a rare opportunity even for a grand jeweler like himself: he got to name a diamond. Naming a diamond is something reserved only for original buyers of a rough diamond. The de Grisogono founder chose the name "The Gruosi" for the incredible 115.34-carat black diamond. In fact, Fawaz Gruosi has actually been involved in naming two diamonds - the other being the 312.24-carat "The Spirit of Grisogono," also a black diamond with the famous Swiss jeweler Mr. de Grisogono. These two black diamonds are the two largest black diamonds in the world.

"The Gruosi" is now part of this stunning necklace that features 378 white diamonds, 14.10-carats of tsavorite garnets and the center, faceted, heart-shaped 58.77-carat black diamond, set in white gold. Discovered in India in 1998, the original rough black diamond weighed a shocking 300.12-carats. Mr. Gruosi and Mr. de Grisogono had planned to cut the rough diamond into an oval shape; however, the cutting process proved to be very difficult due to its fragility, a trait common to black diamonds. The pair decided to proceed in a direction with their black diamond choosing a heart shape. They cut the diamond into its current heart shape despite the incredible loss of carat weight it would suffer; the now heart-shaped black diamond of "The Gruosi" is less 184.78 carats. Mr. de Grisogono had the honors of cutting of "The Gruosi" black diamond which took a patience-building three years to complete.

The Black Diamond

The black diamond was once considered worthless and flawed but today, it is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after gems because of its unique and exquisite quality. However, not all gems are equal. That is why; interested buyers have to study more on its characteristics before finally making a purchase.What is a Black Diamond?

Compared with some most coloured diamonds that characterize their dazzling hues because of chemical

impurities that grow right within its crystal lattice, a black diamond provides smoky colourations from its mineral inclusions. These minerals are usually sulphide compounds, hematite, and magnetite. Higher concentrations of these inclusions generally cloud the stone, thus turning it into a rich or black colour.

Since this tinting is typically caused by the inclusions instead of some impurities, a black diamond is usually opaque, although semi-transparent and translucent specimens are considered as extremely valuable. A natural black diamond has been located in Australia, Venezuela, Africa and Brazil, and more of these are believed to have been shaped by meteor impacts.

Carbonados are a specific type of a black diamond that holds very little value in the whole of the jewelry industry. They are commonly large but are very much porous, unlike the crystalline structure of diamonds used in jewelry. Although less valuable, carbonados are used as abrasives to cut and shape other diamonds. Additionally, they are more common than those gem-quality stones.

Synthetic Black Diamond

Since a black diamond is starting to gain its popularity, different treatments have been developed just to meet the growing demand. It may be synthetically grown in a laboratory, while inferior diamonds may be irradiated to attain a smoky black coloration.

Also, annealing, or commonly called heat treatment, can also be used on low-quality gems. Stones are generally exposed at higher temperature until a graphite residue appears in the crystal, providing it with a gray or a black tint. Another method to create a gray or black diamond is injecting carbon dioxide into plasma. This will result into crystals that normally have a black hue.

When you buy a black diamond, always make it a point to carefully investigate whether that stone is synthetically enhanced or not. If it is treated, the stone normally requires a special care to refrain from damaging the treatment.

A black diamond is very luxurious and rare. If you wish to be unique with your pieces of jewelry, try considering it to exude a powerful and a dramatic statement.