No two diamonds are alike. In fact, this uniqueness of diamonds is one of the main factors that add to its overall value. Usually, people classify diamonds on the basis of its cut, color, carat weight, clarity, and shape. Apart from this, diamond classification can be done taking its chemical and physical properties into account as well. Note that there are two ways to classify the diamonds: the consumer’s way and the professional’s way. Having thorough knowledge about the former is important in order to choose the right option.
Diamonds can be classified in multiple ways, and one of the most prominent ones is the type of origin. Based on this, diamonds are classified into four types: natural, treated, manmade, and natural fancy colored diamonds.
Natural Diamonds
Needless to say, these are the rough diamonds that are mined from the Earth’s crust. Natural diamonds usually come colorless with a tint of yellow color. When compared to the other three options, natural diamonds will be more expensive since it is the rarest option. Usually, natural gemstones will be flawed because of the immense pressure and temperature it goes through during the formation process. In fact, finding a completely flawless natural diamond is considered a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
Treated Diamonds
Treated diamonds are also natural diamonds, but their attributes will be manipulated in order to enhance their overall appeal. These will be more affordable when compared to the natural counterparts. Some of the common treatment methods used to enhance the quality of natural diamonds include inclusion filling, color enhancement, etc. This type of gemstones will be ideal for all the people who prefer purchasing cheap loose diamonds but of high quality.
Manmade Diamonds
As the name indicates, manmade diamonds are created in a lab under the supervision of expert gemologists. These diamonds are cultured in the lab by applying the same temperature and pressure as that experienced by natural diamonds. Hence, the structural, physical, and chemical properties of manmade diamonds will be the same as that of Earth-mined diamonds. However, these gemstones are 30% to 40% cheaper than the latter counterparts. Unsurprisingly, consumers who look for inexpensive loose diamonds often go for this option.
Colored Diamonds
These are the most popular and appealing type of diamonds. Note that colored diamonds are available in all the rainbow colors. The reason behind the unique color of different diamonds is the presence of certain minerals and the irradiation process. Because of their rarity and captivating appeal, natural fancy colored diamonds are way more expensive than their colorless counterparts. Note that only one out of every 10,000 diamonds produced will be colored. Out of all the colored diamonds, red and black diamonds of vivid hues are the rarest options.