The black diamond is one of the most mysterious and enigmatic stones, about which, until recently, no one had heard. Some believe it consists of cosmic matter, while others refuse to recognize it as a gemstone. But be that as it may, many are eager to get an unusual diamond in their collection. We tell you where the first black diamonds were found, why scientists believe they are a cosmic product, and who cut the largest black diamond in the world.
A BIT OF HISTORY
The first black diamonds were discovered in Brazil in 1840. The Brazilians called the stone “Carbonado,” from the word “carbo,” which means “coal. Surprisingly, unlike other diamonds, it was not buried deep underground but closer to the surface. Scientists are still arguing about the origin of black diamonds. In 2006, American scientists performed a study and concluded that the diamonds were of extraterrestrial origin, which does not seem mystical when you look at the facts.
Unlike colored diamonds, black diamonds are not found in kimberlite pipes but in alluvial ones. But here is something interesting: the deposits of black diamonds are located very far from the deposits of colored diamonds, most of which were discovered in Brazil and Africa. According to the assumptions of the scientific team, a billion years ago, when the territory of South America and Africa was not divided by the ocean, a huge asteroid fell on this territory and was scattered for hundreds of kilometers. It was this asteroid, according to American researchers, that became the matter that is now called black diamonds.
The carbonado found by the Brazilians had a polycrystalline structure; to put it simply, it was porous but very strong. Because of this, the diamond could not be cut and was not suitable for jewelry production.
As it turned out, there is not only one kind but three. For jewelry making, they started to use dark-colored and single-crystalline “piqué” diamonds with lots of inclusions.
We are used to the fantastic brilliance of diamonds, which indicates the clarity and quality of the stones. You will be surprised, but black diamonds are utterly impervious to light and do not give the traditional refraction in the facets, and their brilliance comes only from the surface. It happens because the stone contains many inclusions. In addition, the surface of a diamond is semi-matte, which also affects its reflective properties.
A BLACK DIAMOND COMES OUT INTO THE LIGHT
Diamonds with inclusions were not in demand on the jewelry market until they were noticed by the Italian jeweler Fawaz Gruosi. At that time, a black diamond had no significant value and was so cheap that the jeweler could purchase the entire batch of stones. Among them was a 587-carat black diamond mined in Central Africa. Gruosi worked on the stone for a year. As a result, in 2002, in the History Museum in Paris, the ring with a black diamond, “Spirit de GRISOGONO” (after cutting, it was 312.24 carats), became the symbol of the jewelry house.
Fawaz Gruosi was the first jeweler who paid attention to the black diamond.
The ring was inlaid with 702 transparent diamonds, which served as a luxurious setting for the largest black diamond in the world. Look at the picture – you can hardly imagine an even bigger stone, can you? Thanks to the jeweler, the price of diamonds increased 20-fold and black diamonds began to appear in the collections of famous jewelry houses everywhere.
HOW MUCH IS A BLACK DIAMOND WORTH?
The price of unique engagement rings with a black diamond depends on three factors: color, weight, and cut. A natural “Picquet” with GIA certification is valued at $1,000 to $1,500 per carat. At the same time, the cost of world-famous stones will be even higher. An uncertified diamond with similar parameters can be purchased at a lower price.
Stones made from regular diamonds with an altered color will cost $150 per carat, and tiny stones cost $10-$20 per carat.