Diamond Education

Diamonds have long been perceived as the epitome of luxury and elegance, and are among the most sought-after and valuable gemstones in the world. Comprised of pure carbon, they boast an unmatched level of hardness, with a Mohs scale rating of 10, making them the hardest naturally occurring mineral on Earth. Their exceptional refractive index also lends to their brilliance and fiery sparkle, making them the most dazzling of all precious stones.

Formed deep within the Earth's crust under intense pressure and heat, diamonds are brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions and mined in various locations around the world, including Africa, Russia, and Australia.

The "Four Cs" - carat weight, cut, color, and clarity - are the industry standard for evaluating a diamond's quality and value. Carat weight refers to the weight of the diamond, with one carat equal to 0.2 grams, larger diamonds being more valuable. Cut refers to the angles and proportions of a diamond and how they interact with light; a well-cut diamond will have a higher level of brilliance and sparkle. Color refers to the presence of any color in a diamond, with colorless diamonds (ranging from D to F) being the most valuable, while diamonds with a yellow or brown tint (ranging from S to Z) are less valuable. Clarity refers to the presence of any internal or external flaws in a diamond, known as inclusions and blemishes; flawless diamonds (F) are the most valuable, while diamonds with many inclusions or blemishes are less valuable and are used for industrial purposes.

Diamonds have been a popular choice for special occasions, particularly engagement rings, for many years, mainly due to De Beers' now-famous marketing campaign "Diamond is Forever". However, the diamond industry has faced criticism in recent years due to issues with blood diamonds and environmental degradation caused by diamond mining. At Magdalene Pivoine, we only use ethically sourced diamonds from known mines that support artisanal miners and communities, have verifiable origins and traceability, commitment to environmental, health and safety regulations, and are SCS certified and lab diamonds.