Mother Nature's Dirty Kitchen and Diamond Impurities
Impurities in Diamond
No two diamonds are alike. Each one has a unique fingerprint, from VVS qualities to our favourite misfit salt and pepper diamonds. What makes these diamonds so distinctive are their eye-visible imperfections within each stone. So what is the cause of thier beautiful imperfections? The truth is simple, Mother Nature cooks in a dirty kitchen, and she is one talented chef.
Inclusions in diamonds are one of the ways we set them apart. Although purer diamonds have traditionally been considered of higher value, there is almost a generic element to consider since they all look relatively the same to the naked eye. No magnification is required to appreciate Mother Nature’s artistry in these alternative diamonds, and their individuality is easily recognizable. The spectrum of variation that rustic diamonds offer provides mystery and fascination to gem geeks and casual consumers alike.
Previously, we broke down these Misfits into colour palettes (see our 50 Shades of Misfits blog). But let’s pull the curtain back on the cause of magic in each of these categories.
Icy & Opalescent Diamond
These shimmery diamonds contain cloud-like inclusions, which are a cluster of pinpoints or crystals in close proximity to one another. This type of inclusion can cause a hazy, almost opalescent appearance affecting light transmission, and in abundance, can produce an opaque milky white stone. Truly opaque milky white diamonds are exceptionally rare and collected by aficionados.
Grey Diamond
Diamonds obtain a grey appearance when interacting with hydrogen or boron during their formation process, and of course, the abundance or lack thereof will affect their colour saturation. These stones can range from a light silver tint, right through to charcoal greys. Some diamonds will show grey due to their inclusions alone.
Salt & Pepper Diamond
Perfectly seasoned to suit your taste, salt and pepper diamonds, also referred to as ‘galaxy diamonds’, are made up of graphite and colourless inclusions sprinkled throughout providing their distinctive celestial beauty.
Champagne Salt & Pepper Diamond
The cause for champagne colour is due to traces of nitrogen. The salt and pepper appearance in champagne diamonds can include but is not limited to inclusions of graphite, garnet, peridot, or colourless crystals. These diamonds can range from light warm brown to earthy greens.
Not Just a Pretty Face
These unique imperfections aren’t just eye candy - they can even reveal secrets regarding their origin and age. For instance, trace elements may determine the amount of time a diamond spent in the earth’s mantle and the environment they were formed. For gem geeks wanting a deeper dive into this subject, find an interesting read on the GIA’s website here.
More precious than snowflakes, but equally as rare, we leave you with a link to our collection of flavourful misfit diamonds.
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