Diamond Facts
The word diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas,” which means?
“invincible” and “indomitable.”
What are the 4 C's of a colorless diamond? Are all diamonds evaluated according to this criteria?
The quality of a colorless diamond is defined by 4 criteria called the “4 Cs,” which stand for carat, cut, color, and clarity.
This is a quality standard recognized throughout the world. Colorless diamonds are the only types evaluated according to this criteria.
A carat is a unit of mass used for precious stones. 1 carat = ?
0.2 grams
The Maison selects diamonds of atleast:
0.30 carats
Weighing 910 carats, the _____ is the biggest rough diamond ever unearthed from the Letšeng Mine, and the ____ largest gem-quality diamond ever recovered.
Lesotho Legend, 5th
Diamonds crystallize deep within the Earth’s crust at high temperatures and pressure levels. They are the only stone to form in these extreme conditions. True or False?
True
What are Fancy Diamonds?
Colored diamonds
What is the most common cut? What is it also know as?
The most common cut is the “round” cut, also known as the “brilliant cut.”
What is VCA's 5th C?
Van Cleef & Arpels selects diamonds that convey emotion: diamonds with “character.”
How many Mystery Set Jewels were created from the Lesotho Diamond?
25
What are diamonds composed of?
They are almost entirely composed of crystallized carbon.
Name 3 diamond shapes?
brilliant, oval, marquise, pear-shaped, heart-shaped, emerald, princess and cushion cuts.
Colorless to slightly colored diamonds are assigned a color grade according to the prominence of the shade they display. The color scale ranges from?
D to Z, from “colorless” to “light color.”
What is the Maison's selection criteria of diamonds
The Maison only uses natural, untreated diamonds. There are man-made synthetic diamonds as well as diamonds that are treated to improve their color and clarity.
How many diamonds were born out of the Lesotho Legend? How many scenarios have been studied before choosing the final combination providing the stones of the collection ?
67.
Around 250 to 300 different cutting scenarios have been studied before choosing a combination of cut stones that matched the Maison criteria, both in shape and size.
What is the hardness of a diamond on the Mohs scale? What does "The hardest" mean?
Diamonds have a hardness of 10/10 on the Mohs scale, which makes them the hardest stone. “The hardest” means that a diamond can scratch any material but can only be polished or scratched by another diamond.
A diamond is considered clear if no flaw can be seen under ___ magnification
10x
What does the clarity of a diamond determine?
The clarity of a diamond determines the number, size, and location of the inclusions. Degrees of clarity are classified according to recognized standards.
From the beginning, celebrated stones and legendary gems have played a major role in the history of Van Cleef & Arpels. In 1923, the High Jewelry Maison gave pride of place to the spectacular __________ that weighed _____ carats
“Prince Edward of York Diamond,” a pear-shaped diamond weighing over 60 carats, mounted in a pendant.
What color is the Lesotho Legend?
D
Diamonds crystallize at very high levels of?
Diamonds crystallize within the Earth’s crust at high temperatures and pressure levels.
What does a diamond symbolize?
The diamond symbolizes eternal love and commitment.
Colored diamonds are easily found. They have high carats and the main selection criteria is the cut. True or False?
False
Colored diamonds are extremely rare and their carats are usually low. The main selection criteria is the color: it ranges from Fancy Light to Fancy Vivid on the color scale.
What cut, color and clarity does VCA select?
Cut: only the ideal cut (“excellent” or “very good” on the cut scale)
Color: only D and E for central stones and D to F for paving
Clarity: FL to VVS2
What is the chemical composition of the Lesotho Legend rough ?