Diamond life cycle: from the earth to the finished product
Since the dawn of time, the diamond is a very rare gem and highly sought after. It has its own history, its own myths and legends. After thousands of years, it is still today the most famous of precious stones.
To know how to buy it, you need to know its history: extraction, rough trade, polishing or diamond cutting, certification and setting. What about Celinni diamonds?
To understand the life cycle of a diamond, see the table below:
NO MIDDLEMAN - EXCELLENT QUALITY / PRICE RATIO GUARANTEED
Brief History of Diamond through the Centuries
Ancient civilizations admired the diamond. And today, it continues to enchant with its natural beauty and symbolism. In all languages, the word diamond means the same thing, namely power, strength, and courage. Who doesn't dream of a stone with such meanings?
The diamond is also the hardest ore ever known, which makes its meaning of strength legitimate. It is the symbol of love and fidelity through its legendary role for engagement rings. Diamonds are made of crystallized carbon, a fundamental element of all living matter. Once we know this, its meaning can only be stronger.
Did you know that the diamond was created at the same time as the Earth? Yes, you are indeed wearing a diamond that is billions of years old.
What is the history of the diamond?
Everything started in India 4,000 years ago. It was said that the diamond had protective powers against evil spirits. Warriors wore this gem for good luck. It should be noted that at that time, the diamond was not used in the form we know today. Nowadays, this stone is cut whereas before elle was worn and used raw. (Fun fact: often used as a talisman, the diamond should not be cut or "arranged" otherwise it lost its talismanic power)
Because it is the first known and exploited source, India was the only source of diamonds in the world. The "diamonds of Golconda" (name of the historic mine in India) are renowned and known for their stories. It is said that these diamonds are the purest and finest of all stones. It was only from the beginning of the 18th century that other diamond deposits were discovered and then exploited.
For another people, the ancient Greeks, diamonds were the tears of the gods or even shards of stars fallen to earth. They had a knack for finding beautiful metaphors and making the most beautiful stone in the world poetic.
Today, the Golconda deposit is no longer exploited but its reputation still speaks of it and its splendid diamonds. Alexander the Great is said to be the man who brought diamonds to Europe, thus opening trade between Europe and the East in 327 BC. The diamond is a witness to a historic trade: that of the Silk Road. Indeed, this stone has traveled from India to Europe. The diamonds arrived in Rome before the second part of the Middle Ages. Then it was Venice's turn to take this role in the 17th or 18th century. Venice was the first capital of the diamond trade and in the 14th century Venetian diamond cutters began to develop the polishing of diamond facets.
It was then in Paris and Bruges that polishing developed and in the 15th century Antwerp in turn became the capital of the diamond industry. At this time, many royal jewels were set with diamonds.
This diamond rush from India caused a depletion of the exploitation of the Golconda deposit. But the discovery of new deposits allows to satisfy the demand today.
The extraction of diamonds
Most of our diamonds come from the Kimberley mines in South Africa, Botswana or Namibia where they are extracted in open pits.
We also work with diamonds that come from Canadian mines. The quality of the rough diamond there is excellent.
Diamonds are extracted using specialized machines called "desert giants". These dig holes about 12 meters deep and 12 meters wide. They can extract up to 250 tons of ore per day, containing about 100 carats of diamonds.
We only work with transparent and responsible producers in accordance with our diamond values.
One in two rough diamonds is marketed in Antwerp, Belgium.
Rough diamonds are exported from mines located all over the world, and most of them pass through Antwerp in Belgium. This is where the diamonds are sorted, evaluated, and marketed. Over 50% of the world's rough diamonds are traded in Antwerp.
The city of Antwerp has been known for centuries for its trade in precious stones. Flemish diamond dealers have developed a unique expertise in the processing of diamonds. Most of the diamond dealers in Antwerp are members of the diamond exchange, an institution that guarantees the transparency and ethics of the precious stone trade.
International buyers come to Antwerp to do business directly with precious stone traders. This allows them to buy the best rough diamonds at the best rate.
The size and polishing of diamonds
Once the diamonds are extracted, they are transported to sorting centers where they are carefully selected based on their quality. The most precious diamonds are then sent to cutting and polishing workshops.
The cutting and polishing process is very long and delicate. It is carried out by hand by experienced craftsmen who must adhere to strict standards in order to obtain a perfectly
This method is used when diamond deposits are located near the surface.
Open-pit extraction involves the use of heavy machinery to remove the surface layer of rock.
Then, the miners sift through all the rock debris to locate the diamonds.
12 out of 15 diamonds are cut in Surat, India.
Rough diamonds are exported to Surat, the world's leading diamond cutting center. Surat has nearly 10,000 workshops within a specialized industrial zone. Rough diamonds are sold to cutters at prices set by merchants. Surat's annual production is estimated at about 450 million carats, which is almost 3/4 of the world's production.
The diamond cutting process is long and laborious. It takes about a day to cut a single diamond. Most diamonds are cut into an octahedron shape, that is, into eight equal faces. Craftsmen must demonstrate great skill and precision to create these perfect gems.
The majority of diamonds cut in India are exported to the rest of the world, where they will be set in jewelry or used as collectibles.
How are diamonds cut?
Once cut, the diamonds are certified by an international laboratory.
Once they are extracted from the earth, diamonds must be cut and polished before being sold. Most cut diamonds are certified by an international laboratory such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This process ensures that the diamonds are of good quality and have the characteristics that buyers are looking for.
The diamond certificate acts as a trusted third party between the seller and the buyer.
Once certified, the diamond is ready to be used in Jewelry.
Why is the diamond still so famous?
We know that the diamond has been famous since its discovery. It is a highly prized mineral, it was considered to come from a divine source. One might have thought that the discovery of diamonds and the craze around these stones could have been ephemeral while it has become eternal.
The craze around the diamond is still as strong. The diamond is the symbol of love par excellence. It symbolizes a union between two soul mates bound for life. The evolution of stone cutting and polishing techniques have also allowed it to be declined in different forms. Is the round cut too common for you? That's okay, you have a multitude of other shapes that you can discover in our article on diamond shapes.
Diamonds are also known for their price... Sometimes we think we have to save for months to buy a diamond. At Celinni it's something else.
Why are the diamonds from the Celinni cheaper, for the same quality?
The Celinni guarantees its customers direct priced diamonds without any intermediary margin. This is possible because as a Diamond Dealer and Member of the Rough Diamond Exchange in Antwerp, our diamonds do not pass through the hands of others.
Thus, Celinni diamonds are up to 60% cheaper than traditional jewelers of equal quality. Celinni is the right compromise. We offer more than 150,000 diamonds at lower prices for equal, if not superior quality to the standards of the major Houses of Place Vendôme.
The Celinni fulfills wishes. Do you want a pear-shaped diamond, 0.80 carat on a platinum ring? It's possible at Celinni. We have a very efficient system that informs us in real time of the availability of each stone around the world.
You can only find your happiness among all our diamonds. Our House offers you the widest and cheapest diamond offer on the market.
CELINNI DIAMONDS ARE CERTIFIED:
- Either by independent laboratories such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America), HRD and IGI. The top 3 in the world, known and recognized worldwide for their expertise and the seriousness of their expertise.
- Or by our House because we are authorized to issue reports of expertise approved by insurance companies.
If these last lines have not convinced you, here are 4 other reasons why we are cheaper:
- We have very little advertising costs compared to other brands that spend significant amounts on communication and marketing.
- We have total control over the entire creation process. From the production of the diamond to the finished jewel that we make in our workshops in the purest tradition of Parisian jewelry. We deliver to your home or one of our showrooms for free.
- Our fixed costs are much less expensive than traditional jewelry stores and distribution networks. Indeed, despite the prestige of our addresses, our rents are much cheaper than those of street-facing jewelry stores. We do not have a business fund and little stock, which allows us to offer our customers the best prices on the market.
- As the number one online diamond dealer for over 15 years, our large volumes allow us to practice low margins for our customers.
Why entrust us with the manufacturing of your diamond jewelry?
The Celinni also offers the manufacture of custom-made jewelry. You can now entrust us with this task by contacting us.
- We have little stock and we consider that each piece of jewelry is unique which is why each order requires hand-made custom manufacturing guaranteeing a high level of quality and a low price.
- We internalize the 3D modeling of your jewelry which allows us to be flexible and reactive on your creation.
- We specialize in the manufacture of 950/1000 platinum jewelry.
- The Celinni graciously offers you the first drawing of your custom-made jewelry, as well as the presentation of a wax before production if you feel it necessary to project yourself and have certainty about the rendering of the final proof.
- Celinni jewelry is guaranteed for life.
- Engraving and sizing are offered.
- You can meet us in one of our showrooms to see all of our flagship collections or to decide to create your custom-made jewelry with us. We are located in Paris, Nice, Lyon, Montpellier, Casablanca, Marrakech, Lausanne, Lille and Bordeaux.
The Celinni contributes to keeping the diamond and its history alive.
What is the philosophy of the Celinni?
At Celinni, diamonds are first and foremost a matter of rigor, know-how and tradition. It's a story that links a man to the most precious jewel in the world. At Celinni, we want diamonds to be accessible.
The Celinni is:
THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF LUXURY:
We put a point of honor on this aspect. Our business model has ensured for 15 years that we can guarantee a stone and a production qualitatively equal or superior to the big Jewelry Houses at prices up to 60% cheaper. We have found that we are on average 20 to 30% cheaper than our colleagues on the Internet while maintaining our custom manufacturing process type "High Jewelry". The ethic of the Celinni is to be able to offer diamonds to anyone dreaming of this stone.
A FAMILY STRUCTURE:
Our sales, production and administrative team knows each of the files and the motto of our House is to go out of our way to satisfy you. You can reach us by all means on large time ranges and meet us 6 days / 7 continuously, all day. We feel immense gratitude for our customers who allow us to improve every day and offer you the best diamond and jewelry services. At Celinni our role is to satisfy you.
THE HAPPINESS OF OUR CUSTOMERS ABOVE ALL:
We strive daily to make the world of jewelry transparent and understandable, far from the barriers imposed by the traditional world of jewelry, in order to give you a unique and personalized experience. Customer reviews speak for themselves with a satisfaction rate of 98%.
STRONG COMMITMENTS:
The guarantee of quality and low price
Lifetime warranty
Secure payment
Free and insured delivery
Insurance approved authenticity certificate
Satisfied or refunded 30 days
Confidentiality commitment
The history of the diamond continues at Celinni thanks to you.
1) In the 19th century, a child picked up a pretty stone, different from the others, near the Orange River, in Cape Colony. This fortunate find turned out to be a fabulous diamond of nearly 21 carats, which was named "Eureka".
2) In 1867, an exceptional stone weighing 83.5 carats was found. This diamond is called "The Star of South Africa".
3) Botswana is the leading diamond-producing country in Africa with nearly 24 million carats of annual production in 2019.
DON'T HESITATE TO CONSULT OUR OTHER GUIDES:
