Rough Diamonds

Diamonds are beautiful, mysterious and rare. Formed billions of years ago, they have survived an incredible journey to reach us, transcending the forces of nature, and of time itself.

Each and every diamond is totally unique, with no two stones identical.

With their name derived from the Greek word 'adamas' meaning 'unbreakable' - diamonds are the hardest natural substance known to man, and only a diamond can scratch another diamond. It is 58 times harder than the next hardest mineral on earth.

The formation of natural diamonds requires very specific conditions. Firstly, it requires the exposure of carbon-bearing materials to high pressure but at a comparatively low temperature. These conditions are known to be met in two places on earth - in the lithospheric mantle below relatively stable continental plates, and at the sites of meteoric strikes. Having been formed deep beneath the earth's crust, there they remained, keeping their previous secrets, until powerful forces carried them upward within volcanic lava, only to be concealed again by falling ash and rock. Over millions of years, the wrath of nature in the form of winds, water, heat and cold would rework the landscape time and time again. But awaiting discovery, the stones remained below the earth's surface, their beauty concealed by the very processes that created them.

Today, around 50% of all diamonds originate from central and southern Africa. Other notable deposits are also found in Canada, India, Australia and Russia.

Rough diamonds are typically found the forms below, with the most desirable being a nicely rounded octahedron or a dodecahedron which will actually provide the best yield with least wastage.


SAWABLE ONE - This represents a nicely rounded octahedron or dodecahedron that will yield two polished diamonds, which will give a yield weight of 50% or more.


SAWABLE TWO - This is a slightly irregular octahedron (sharp edged), or a dodecahedron (long), or a glassy octahedron, or a normal shaped octahedron with a sport next to the side which can normally be polished out, and will yield two polished diamonds, which will give a yield weight of 46% or more, but less than 50%.


MAKEABLE ONE - This represents an irregular octa/dodecahedron (slightly flattened stone) that has formed a natural table (two or three point), or a broken octahedron/dodecahedron that will yield one polished diamond with a yield weight of 40% or more.

MAKEABLE TWO - This represents a cleavage (broken piece) or a longish stone of less determinable shape that will yield one polished diamond with a yield weight of 35% or more, but less than 40%.


FLATS - These represent macles (a flatish triangular stone with a 'twinning' seam around the edge), chips (broken pieces) and flat stones which have sufficient depth to yield one polished diamond with a yield weight of 28% or more, but less than 35%.


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