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There are two major parts in a diamond's productions: Evaluating and Cutting. (Diamond manufacturers and diamond cutters are involved in this process).
Diamond Evaluating
when buying rough diamonds for production, we examine the diamonds one by one, according to the following: Carat, Color, Clarity and Shape.
Carat, Clarity and Shape
Some of rough diamonds are not transparent, making its examination very difficult and complicated. In such, we examine the stone through a loupe; a small magnifying glass (X10), searching for a spot on the stone's surface. The rough can be slightly polished in order to see through inside the stone.
This spot is called a "window" and according to what we see through this window, we can determine what will be the diamond's clarity once we cut it. When trying to determine the diamond's clarity, we look for inclusions, which are traces of minerals trapped inside the stone.
Additionally rough diamonds come in many shapes, and we need to determine what shape will be best to cut from this particular stone. The size and position of inclusions inside the rough diamond also effect the decision for its final shape and size outcome. Once examining and determining the best way to cut the rough diamond, we are faced with two options: to saw the rough diamond reaching to parts of rough diamonds, followed by polishing the diamonds, or begin polishing the diamond, therefore getting only one polished diamond. This decision is extremely critical and makes the difference between profit and loss.
Color
We evaluate the diamond's final color when buying the rough diamond. The diamond color is very critical when valuing the rough diamond and the polished one. It is difficult to predict the final color once the rough is cut into a polished diamond.
It can change one or two levels up or down in the color scale, affecting its final price dramatically.
Diamond Cutting
At the first phase we polish the rough diamond towards its final shape, simultaneously examining the stone's clarity, seeking for options to reduce and eliminate the inclusions scattered inside the stone (by polishing the inclusion out).
At the second phase we determine the stone's proportions. It is important to be very accurate at this phase, because here there can be no mistakes and there is no way back to fix the stone.
At the third and final phase we submit the stone to its finish which effect's the stone's sparkle (at this phase the polish and symmetry of the stone are determined).
After the rough has been polished into a beautiful diamond, we soak it in special liquids and boil it to extremely high temperature, cleaning it from all the dirt that has been accumulated during the cutting process.
When the stone is finished, we send it to a known independent gemological laboratory, which grade the stone and issuing us a certificate for it (also called a diamond grading report). This certificate resembles a diamond’s identity card that contains all of its characteristics.
Now, finally we can know if our first estimate of the diamond's outcome is correct, making the difference between profit and loss.
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