| Below is a gallery of my natural diamond crystals for use in jewelry
. These uncut rough diamonds are crystals with natural sparkle making them
perfect for use in jewlery without faceting. These are real diamonds that
gemstones are made from - not Herkimer Diamonds that are common quartz.
Using rough diamonds in jewelry is a major trend in jewelry today. Of course
the practice of using raw diamonds dates back at least to Roman times when
they were commonly found in men's rins. But recently major diamond jewelry
companies have created their own lines. DeBeers introduced their line called
Talisman in 2006.
A new company Diamond in the Rough
introduced a large 305 carat rough diamond necklace was prominantly feateued
in Neiman Marcus 2007 Christmas Book for $1 million.
The success of these top teir jewelry companies marketing rough diamond jewelry
has created demand from independent jewelry designers that are interested
in the lower overhead cost possible because the expense to have each diamond
faceted by a mester diamond cutter has been eliminated.
If you are considering buying a diamond for use in jewelry,
here are some following suggestions:
-
In general, add 50% to the carat weight for an uncut diamond because they
are more bulky than faceted diamonds. A 1.00 carat brilliant-cut faceted
diamond is 6.4 mm in diameter around the girdle. A similar sized 6.5 mm uncut
diamond will be in the 1.5 carat range.
-
The exception to rule number 1 above is a macle diamond.
These are triangular diamond crystals that are the result of crystal twinning
and they resemble triangular trillion-cut faceted diamonds. Because they
are shallower than comparable uncut diamonds of equal weight, they appear
much larger for a given carat weight. A 6 mm (on each of the triangular edges)
macle diamond will weigh approximately 1.00 carat.
-
Look for a diamond crystal with natural sparkle - lots of
small reflections of light caused by the crystal faces bouncing light internally
throughout the crystal. Some diamonds have flat, planar faces (glassies)
and look dull. Other diamonds have a satin-like surface luster that is often
attractive, but kills the internal sparkle. The best crystals for natural
diamond jewelry will have complicated crystal faces with striations, trigons,
or simply a unique shape that gives them an internal sparkle.
All diamonds on this page were selected for their
natural sparkle.
-
Consider the the color of the surrounding setting when selecting
the color of the diamond. It is best to contrast yellow or brown diamonds
with a white metal such as platinum, titanium or white gold. Yellow gold
settings look best with green, red, white diamonds.
-
Work with your jewelry designer when designing the final setting to determine
the best orientation for the crystal. Rough diamonds are asymmetric and
appearance can vary greatly depending on which faces you are looking through.
Identify the best faces and then design the setting accordingly. Be orienting
the diamond properly you can hide inclusions/flaws, enhance the color, and
get maximum sparkle.
|
To place an order, go to the online
order form.
#46531, Diamond (0.87 gem-grade yellow elongated
dodecahedral crystal), Diavik Mine, Canada (t) $585 |
#46859, Diamond (1.46 carat gem-grade pale-gray
dodecahedral crystal), Koffiefontein Mine, South Africa (t) $1315 |
#46515, Diamond (0.51 carat fancy-yellow complex
crystal), South Africa (t) $505 |
#42354, Diamond (1.13 carat gem-grade yellow-gray
elongated complex crystal), Ippy, Central African Republic
(t) $1225 |
#46536, Diamond (1.28 gem-grade yellow octahedral
crystal), Ippy, Central African Republic (t) $1155 |
#30191, Diamond (0.67 carat yellow-green octahedral
crystal), Orapa Mine, Botswana (t) $425 |
#39400, Diamond (9.72 carat brown macle twinned
crystal), Guinea (t) $4200 |
#42933, Diamond (1.76 carat cuttable gem-grade
yellow octahedral crystal), Brazil (t) $3875 |
#46256, Diamond (1.03 carat yellow dodecahedral
crystal), Venetia Mine, South Africa (t) $895 |
#46540, Diamond (1.06 gem-grade pale-yellow
tetrahexahedral crystal), Namibia (t) $585 |
#46258, Diamond (1.46 carat pale-gray octahedral
crystal), Venetia Mine, South Africa (t) $1125 |
#42932, Diamond (1.91 carat cuttable gem-grade
yellow complex crystal), Brazil (t) $4200 |
#46508, Diamond (2.49 carat gem-grade green
tetrahexahedral crystal), Aredor Mine, Guinea (t) $4980 |
#46858, Diamond (1.22 carat gem-grade pale-yellow
dodecahedral crystal), Koffiefontein Mine, South Africa (t) $1100 |
#35675, Diamond (0.90 carat yellow dodecahedral
crystal), Diamantino, Brazil (t) $495 |
#46262, Diamond (1.24 carat gem-grade yellow-gray
flattened dodecahedral crystal), Ippy, Central African Republic
(t) $820 |
#30916, Diamond (1.31 carat yellow complex
crystal), South Africa (t) $825 |
#46537, Diamond (1.27 gem-grade yellow dodecahedral
crystal), Ippy, Central African Republic (t) $1145 |
#45525, Diamond (0.86 carat yellow complex
crystal), Catoca Mine, Angola (t) $665 |
#45524, Diamond (0.97 carat pale-yellow elongated
crystal), Catoca Mine, Angola (t) $745 |
#42941, Diamond (1.99 carat cuttable gem-grade
yellow complex crystal), Brazil (t) $4375 |
#48701, Diamond (0.88 carat pale-gray complex
crystal), Damtshaa Mine, Botswana (t) $580 |
#45523, Diamond (1.03 carat yellow-gray dodecahedral
crystal), Venetia Mine, South Africa (t) $1135 |
#37251, Diamond (0.79 carat pale yellow dodecahedral
crystal), Orapa Mine, Botswana (t) $525 |
#30191, Diamond (0.67 carat yellow-green octahedral
crystal), Orapa Mine, Botswana (t) $425 |
#38949, Diamond (2.12 carat gem-grade pale-yellow
octahedral crystal), Premier Mine, South Africa (t) $3950 |
#39336, Diamond (2.11 carat gem-grade yellow
octahedral crystal), Premier Mine, South Africa (t) $4995 |
#48695, Diamond (1.37 carat fancy-yellow macle,
twinned crystal), Premier Mine, South Africa (t) $2090 |
#45518, Diamond (1.37 carat yellow-green octahedral
crystal), Venetia Mine, South Africa (t) $1495 |
#45519, Diamond (1.45 carat orange dodecahedral
crystal), Venetia Mine, South Africa (t) $1595 |
#39513, Diamond (0.88 carat yellow flattened
crystal), Mirny, Russia (t) $400 |
#45522, Diamond (0.62 carat fancy yellow-green
dodecahedral crystal), Venetia Mine, South Africa (t) $685 |
#39867, Diamond (0.89 carat green-yellow flattened
crystal), Premier Mine, South Africa (t) $650 |
#46857, Diamond (1.40 carat gem-grade yellow-gray
octahedral crystal), Koffiefontein Mine, South Africa (t) $1265 |
#40792, Diamond (0.91 carat pinkish-gray dodecahedral
crystal), Baken Mine, South Africa (t) $500 |
#38789, Diamond (2.13 carat gem-grade pale-yellow
octahedral crystal), Premier Mine, South Africa (t) $3975 |
#44939, Diamond (2.05 carat gem-grade white complex
crystal), Argyle Mine, Australia (t) $6500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Many people have inquired about buying uncut diamond crystals
and having them cut into faceted gemstones. I always advise that the potential
savings are not worth the risk. It is possible to save lots of money -- if
you know what you are doing and you have an experienced diamond cutter. But
an ordinary lapidary, familiar with cutting gemstones from other precious
gem materials, is not skilled enough and does not have the equipment to cut
diamonds. Additionally, an inexperienced diamond cutter can ruin a gemstone.
-
A bad cut can magnify internal flaws. A good cut will conceal flaws.
-
A bad cut can exaggerate bad color. A good cut will enhance internal color.
-
A bad cut can enlarge internal flaws, or possibly split the stone.
If you want a cut diamond, then I advise that you buy a cut diamond. Learn
how to use a 10x or 16x loupe and scrutinize each cut diamond. You need to
evaluate the cost-per-carat against the flaws and imperfections in the cut
diamond. After you have narrowed your choice down to a single gemstone you
should take precautions that you actually receive the stone selected, and
that a lesser stone was not swapped in it's place when you were not looking
or when it was being set.
|
Online order form
Visit our other galleries with the links below:
New Listings1A
New Listings1B
New Listings2
New Listings3
New Listings4
Featured Galleries
My Best Minerals
Classic Minerals
Gem Minerals
Natural Diamonds
Historic & Pedigreed
Opal from Ethiopia
Crystal Oddities
Overlooked Treasures
Large Decorator-Sized
Books & Magazines
Mineral/Locality-Index
Boxed Mineral Sets
Locality Galleries
New England States
New York & New Jersey
Mid-Atlantic States
Midwest States
Arizona & New Mexico
Rocky Mountain States
Western States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil & South America
Britain & North Atlantic
Europe
Russia & former USSR
India, Pakistan & Afghanistan
China, Japan & Pacific Rim
Africa
Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
Minerals from Type Localities
Mineral Categories
Apatite & Phosphates
Barite, Celestine & Sulfates
Calcite
Azurite, Malachite & Carbonates
Fluorite & Halides
Garnets
Gold, Silver & Elements
Magnetite, Hematite & Oxides
Quartz
Silicates
Galena, Pyrite & Sulfides/Sulfosalts
Tourmalines
Zeolites and Associated
Wulfenite & Molbdates, Arsenates,
Vanadates
Fluorescent Minerals
Pseudomorphs
Liddicoatite Tourmaline
Tanzanite
Laguna Agates
Uncut Diamond Crystals
Diamonds $1-$199
Diamonds $200-$399
Diamonds $400-$999
Diamonds $1000+
Diamonds under 1 carat
Diamonds 1-2 carats
Diamonds 2-5 carats
Diamonds over 5 carats
Diamond Crystal Clusters
Gem-grade Diamonds
Diamonds for Jewelry
Sorted Lists of all Minerals on this site
Sorted by Price
Sorted by Size
Sorted by Species
Sorted by Number
My Best Minerals
Minerals $100-$199
Minerals $200-$399
Minerals $400-$999
Minerals $1000 and up |
