DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
"Diamonds are forever," sang Shirley Bassey, and that's one of the major appeals of diamonds. The star of precious stones is formed in the heart of the Earth's mantle under high temperatures and pressures. Its unique creation context makes natural diamonds a remarkable gemstone. Diamonds are accumulators of light. When cut in good proportions, light reflects inside the gem and dances from one facet to another, maximizing its property of high refraction.
What makes diamonds eternal is also their strong chemical and physical resistance. Diamonds are resistant to almost all acids. While we are most accustomed to seeing white diamonds, there are also colored diamonds known as fancy diamonds. The colored hues of these diamonds are due to the association of boron or nitrogen atoms during the diamond's genesis. The rarity of fancy diamonds makes them even more desirable.
A precious stone with appreciated characteristics The quality of a diamond is defined by four main criteria, called the 4Cs and established since 1950 by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America).
These are the Cs of:
- Carat: the weight of the stone is expressed in carats (1 carat = 0.20 grams).
- Color: the color of the diamond is classified according to a scale from D to Z.
- Clarity: the purity of a diamond is important; it involves identifying the inclusions present in the stone, more or less visible and numerous.
- Cut: the work of cutting the diamond is also evaluated regarding the proportions, the symmetry of the facets, and the polishing of the stone.
These criteria, crucial for the diamond's value, are assessed by the eye of the jewelry expert with the collaboration of a gemological laboratory. At Aguttes, the jewelry department team led by Philippine Dupré la Tour has diamonds analyzed by the French Gemmological Laboratory, the oldest laboratory in the world, which are then provided with a certificate confirming their characteristics.
BOUCHERON "Diamond" Ring Brilliant cut diamond and princess cut diamonds Platinum (950), 18k white gold (750)
Diamond, the Star of Auctions
Jewelry and precious stone auctions performed very well in 2021, and we observe that diamonds maintain their strong position in the market, with a price increase towards the end of the year. Aguttes has sold numerous diamonds, with the finest fetching prices ranging from €20,000 to €150,000 depending on their characteristics. Whether set in a bracelet or earrings, as a pendant or in a ring, the diamond remains the undefeated favorite at auctions.
Contact
Philippine Dupré la Tour
duprelatour@aguttes.com
+33 1 41 92 06 42