Rough Diamonds – Fascinating even before Faceting

Everyone is familiar with the iconic sparkling diamond. But not everyone realizes what rough diamonds look like in their raw state before they are crafted into brilliant faceted gems. And many may not know that rough diamonds can glow different colors when exposed to ultra violet light.

This entertaining video gives an inside look at the processing stage where rough diamonds are sorted and evaluated and made ready for distribution to the cutters. The array of different shapes that diamond can crystalize into is remarkable, and there are some very rare and interesting forms that make mineral collectors salivate. Imagine a rough diamond that looks just like a soccer ball, or a hollow diamond that looks like a skull!

In addition to the different sizes, shapes, colors and clarities that diamonds come in, the range of potential photoluminescence (fluorescence) is fascinating. How about a pink diamond that changes to blue under a black light! Sit back and prepare to be amazed….

Understanding more about how rough diamonds are formed, how they are brought to the surface of the Earth, and how diamonds are graded, helps us to appreciate even more the King of Gems. The video gives you a sense of how much work and care is involved in the grading and sorting of the rough. Each diamond crystal, even the tiniest ones, are individually graded by hand under a microscope and sorted into literally thousands of distinct grades by highly trained specialists.

Imagine being able to literally wash your hands in a millions of dollars’ worth of small diamond crystals that feel like metal bits because of diamond’s exceptional heat conductivity. The entertaining and somewhat eccentric host of this video does exactly that. You have to see it to believe it!