Diamond Museum Amsterdam | A sparkling experience | I want to buy a diamond – what should I pay attention to? https://www.diamondmuseum.com A journey from 300 miles below the earth to the ring on your finger Wed, 31 Aug 2022 09:46:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/cropped-WhatsApp-Image-2021-08-09-at-14.09.05-32x32.jpeg Diamond Museum Amsterdam | A sparkling experience | I want to buy a diamond – what should I pay attention to? https://www.diamondmuseum.com 32 32 I want to buy a diamond – what should I pay attention to? https://www.diamondmuseum.com/i-want-to-buy-a-diamond-what-should-i-pay-attention-to/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/i-want-to-buy-a-diamond-what-should-i-pay-attention-to/#respond Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:34:43 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=6854

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, which makes it the perfect time to buy your loved one a unique piece of diamond jewellery. But before you rush to the first jeweller, it’s wise to do some homework. Of course, you don’t buy just any diamond without first finding out what to look for and what jeweller you can go to. It’s not for nothing that most people take their time to choose the perfect diamond. In this blog, we will give you some tips and tricks that can help you.

The jeweler’s choice

For a perfect experience, it is ten times better to shop at a reputable jeweller. They are known for their reliability, knowledge, craftsmanship and quality. Because of this, they can personally advise you on the purchase of a piece of jewellery and explain what to look out for. You can be sure that you have found a reputable and reliable jeweller if this one:

  • Is a member of the
  • Diamond Exchange
  • Has the right certificates: HRD, GIA, IGI and diamond certificates
  • Offers a lifetime guarantee
  • Can offer an upgrade service
  • Has a rich history


Once you have found a good and reputable jeweller, you will be faced with the following choice. What kind of diamond should I choose and what characteristics should it have? The jeweller can certainly advise you on this, but below you will find a few points that you should consider

Cut, colour, carat and clarity

The value of a diamond is determined by 4 quality factors and is known as the 4 C’s system, after the words Carat, Colour, Clarity and Cut. The larger the diamond and the finer the colour, the higher the value. The greater the clarity, the more beautiful and the better the cut, the more perfect it is. 

The cut

When choosing a piece of jewellery, the cut of the diamond is very important. The facets that are applied determine the brilliance of the diamond. There are several shapes you can choose from: brilliant, emerald, princess, marquise, pear, heart, oval, cushion, Asscher and baguette. The chosen cut is a personal choice and also depends on the jewel in which the diamond is set. In the blog Cut by our partner Royal Coster Diamonds you will discover all about the different cuts and what to look for when buying a diamond.

The colour

The choice of the diamond colour is very personal. What is your loved one’s favourite colour? Which colour fits the personality? Which diamond colour matches the rest of the wardrobe? The more colourless the stone, the higher its value, but only a small part of all diamonds are completely colourless. Most diamonds show a slight discolouration from yellow to brown. There are also brightly coloured diamonds, the so-called ‘Fancy’ colours. Red is the rarest colour and therefore the most precious. In the blog Colour of our partner Royal Coster Diamonds you can read more about the different colours of diamonds.

Moussaieff Red

Carat

Depending on your budget and taste, you can also choose the size of the diamond. This is expressed in carat. 1 carat equals 0.2 grams. The size of the stone determines the price of a diamond. The larger the diamond, the rarer it is and the higher its price. Diamonds up to half a carat (50 points) are the most commonly found and are relatively ‘common’. Diamonds of more than 0.5 carat are rarer and diamonds of more than two carats are extremely rare. In the blog Carat of our partner Royal Coster Diamonds you can read more about the different colours of diamonds.

The clarity

Diamond specialists measure the clarity of a diamond by the number of inclusions or imperfections the stone has during the crystallisation process. A diamond that is free of inclusions is also called loupe pure and is the most expensive. However, 99.9 percent of diamonds are not loupe clean. The more or the larger the inclusion, the lower the value. The different degrees of clarity indicate the visibility of internal and external imperfections. In the blog Clarity of our partner Royal Coster Diamonds you can read more about the clarity of diamonds and get tips on what to look for when buying a diamond.

Zuiverheid

We hope that after reading this blog you are well prepared to buy a beautiful piece of jewellery for your loved one. On behalf of the Amsterdam Diamond Museum, we wish you a wonderful and romantic Valentine’s Day!

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/i-want-to-buy-a-diamond-what-should-i-pay-attention-to/feed/ 0 The Ashberg Diamond: one of the most famous amber-colored diamonds https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-ashberg-diamond-one-of-the-most-famous-amber-colored-diamonds/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-ashberg-diamond-one-of-the-most-famous-amber-colored-diamonds/#respond Sat, 01 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=2839

The dark brownish-yellow diamond with cushion shape belongs to one of the most famous diamonds worldwide. The diamond is named after Mr Ashberg, a Stockholm banker who bought it in 1934 from the Russian Trade Delegation. At the moment the stone is owned by the auction house Christie’s.

The four C’s of the Ashberg diamond

The sum of the characteristics makes the diamond unique and very attractive:

Colour:
Amber or brownish yellow with a glance of orange (type Ib). Nitrogen atoms are scattered over the crystal and absorb visible light in the blue region of the spectrum. This causes the complementary yellow color. The plastic distortion causes the brown color in some places.

Cut-shape:
cushion-shaped

Carat weight: 
102.48 carats – this is exceptional for a yellow diamond.

Clarity: 
The exact clarity grade is unfortunately not known.

History of the Ashberg Diamond

The diamond is one of the first diamonds discovered in South Africa in the mid-1860s and used to be part of the Russian Crown Jewels, a collection that started in 1719. After the 1920s, the Crown Jewels were transferred to the Kremlin Diamond Fund. In 1934 a Russian trade delegation visited Sweden and sold the Ashberg Diamond to Mr Ashberg. The gem was mounted to a diamond necklace and displayed at an Amsterdam Exhibition a few years later. In 1959 it was put up for sale, however, the buyer remains unknown. In the ’80s the stone was failed again to reach its reserve at the auction. 

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-ashberg-diamond-one-of-the-most-famous-amber-colored-diamonds/feed/ 0 The Spirit of de Grisogono | Largest black diamond ring https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-spirit-of-de-grisogono-largest-black-diamond-ring/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-spirit-of-de-grisogono-largest-black-diamond-ring/#respond Sat, 24 Apr 2021 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=4421

Black diamonds are very rare. Natural black diamonds have a unique composition that makes them stand out from other colored diamonds. That’s why black diamonds often go under a different name: carbonado. Of all black diamonds, the Spirit of de Grisogono was the largest rough black diamond ever found. 

Unique diamond cutting technique

Its size was emphasized by the Mogul diamond cutting technique. This cutting method was developed in India several centuries ago and can be seen in a number of historic diamonds. The Mogul cut is suited well for black diamonds as it has little regard for symmetry and brilliance, which for a black diamond are far less important than for colorless and fancy colored diamonds.

The Spirit of de Grisogono ring

The Spirit of de Grisogono is now a 312.24 carat diamond which makes it the 5th largest cut diamond in the world. This black diamond is set into a white gold ring surrounded by 702 white diamonds weighing 36.69 carat.

Visit us 

To this day, we still attach great importance to diamonds. Today diamonds symbolize the eternal love between two people. It is believed that if you put an engagement ring on your loved one’s finger, this person will instinctively know if you are the one. There is only one way to find out! Who knows, maybe diamonds still have special powers?

Visit us from visit 27 May and be enchanted by the diamonds of the Diamond Museum.

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-spirit-of-de-grisogono-largest-black-diamond-ring/feed/ 0 3 carat diamonds | The power and beauty of large diamonds! https://www.diamondmuseum.com/3-carat-diamonds-the-power-and-beauty-of-large-diamonds/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/3-carat-diamonds-the-power-and-beauty-of-large-diamonds/#respond Sat, 17 Apr 2021 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=3167

When it comes to diamonds a 1.5-carat diamond is close to average, a 2-carat diamond is amazing in its own right but a 3-carat diamond is nothing less than breathtaking. Partly due to its price tag such a stone symbolizes power, luxury and eternity. Large diamonds are available in all shapes and cuts and can be set in a ring or a necklace. 

What is a large diamond?

The weight and value of a diamond are estimated in carats. One carat equals 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. Most common diamonds are 1 carat or less. For example, a solitary ring is usually between 0,5 and 1 carat. Large diamonds are considered to be 3 carats and more. A 3-carat diamond is rare and valuable which makes it a good investment as well as an outstanding gift.

The biggest diamond in the world is the famous Cullinan Diamond. At 3106,75 carats this diamond is the largest rough gem-quality diamond ever found. The Cullinan Diamond was cut into 105 diamonds and is now part of King Edward’s sceptre in the Tower of London.

The price of a 3-carat diamond

The larger the diamond the rarer it is. As the carat size of a diamond increases the diamond price increases exponentially. Fewer than one in a million rough stones are large enough to produce a finished 1-carat diamond. So, as carat weight increases you will typically pay more not only in total but on a price-per-carat basis as well.

Visit Us

To this day, we still attach great value to diamonds. Nowadays diamonds symbolize the undying love between two people. It is believed if you place an engagement ring on your loved one’s finger, this person will instinctively know if you are the one. There is only one way to find out! Who knows, maybe diamonds still have special powers?

Come visit us at and become enchanted by the diamonds of The Diamond Museum.

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/3-carat-diamonds-the-power-and-beauty-of-large-diamonds/feed/ 0 The Taylor-Burton diamond https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-taylor-burton-diamond/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-taylor-burton-diamond/#respond Mon, 22 Mar 2021 08:42:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=4468

Elizabeth Taylor was a remarkable woman both on the big screen and in her personal life. While we won’t venture too deep in the latter, we can’t ignore her impressive jewellery collection. The two most impressive pieces of this collection are the Krupp diamond and the Taylor-Burton diamond. 

Taylor-Burton diamond

The Taylor-Burton is named after both Elizabeth Taylor herself and her husband Richard Burton who purchased this precious stone in 1969. The original rough diamond was discovered three years earlier in South-Africa weighing an impressive 241 carats.

Shortly after being found, the diamond received a pear-shaped cut resulting in a diamond of 69,42 carats. It was first sold to Harriet Annenberg Ames. She found the diamond too large to be worn as a necklace or ring, fearing to walk the streets with such a precious piece of jewellery. She decided to part with the diamond, because leaving it in a vault would be too much of a waste.

The buyer was the luxury brand Cartier. They named it the Cartier diamond and placed it in a necklace. Shortly afterwards it was already sold to Richard Burton who gifted it to his wife Elizabeth Taylor. It was first known as the Cartier-Burton diamond before receiving its final name: the Taylor-Burton diamond

The auction of the Taylor-Burton

After the second divorce of the Taylor-Burton couple, Elizabeth Taylor auctioned off the diamond in 1978. It went for the impressive value of $5.000.000. The proceeds of this auction were donated to the construction of a hospital in Botswana.

The diamond’s current owner is Robert Mouawad; he found the diamond to have a few rough edges. That’s why he had it recut resulting in a renewed Taylor-Burton diamond weighing 68 carats.

Elizabeth Taylor’s jewellery collection

While 5 million dollar is a lot of money, definitely in the 70’s, it’s still just a small portion of Elizabeth Taylor’s complete jewellery collection. Her collection was estimated at $150 million upon her death. It contained impressive names such as the La Peregrina Pearl which once belonged to Queen Mary I of England.

Visit us

To this day, we still attach great importance to diamonds. Today diamonds symbolize the eternal love between two people. It is believed that if you put an engagement ring on your loved one’s finger, this person will instinctively know if you are the one. There is only one way to find out! Who knows, maybe diamonds still have special powers?

Visit us and be enchanted by the diamonds of the Diamond Museum.

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-taylor-burton-diamond/feed/ 0 Princie Diamond sold for record value of $39,3 million https://www.diamondmuseum.com/princie-diamond-sold-for-record-value-of-393-million/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/princie-diamond-sold-for-record-value-of-393-million/#respond Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:14:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=3033

Famous diamonds will always attract both collectors and investors. The Christie’s auction of the 300 year old Princie Diamond was no exception. This fancy intense pink diamond weighs 34.65 carats and has a clarity grade of VS2.

Characteristics of the Princie Diamond

What is most impressive about the diamond is its fluorescence. Only 40 diamonds graded by the GIA have the same orange-red fluorescence that makes the Princie Diamond so special. Of these 40 diamonds, the Princie is the largest.

These characteristics make the Princie Diamond one of the most impressive diamonds in the world. It ranks among the five best pink diamonds in both size and value. Only legendary names like the Koh-I-Noor can best it. This attracted a lot of interested parties leading to the 39,3 million an anonymous buyer bid for it.

Origin of the Princie Diamond

It is no wonder that such an amazing diamond was long kept in a royal vault. The Princie Diamond likely originated from the Golconda area. The Golconda mines are in fact known for the amazing diamonds that are found there. The largest and most radiant pink diamonds usually trace their origins back to this particular area.

The most perfect diamonds discovered in the Golconda mines were always reserved for kings, queens and princes. For a long time the gem was the property of the Nizam of Hyderabad –  one of the wealthiest monarchs of India prior to the founding of the Republic of India.

Why is it called the Princie Diamond?

You might wonder where the gem got its name. The diamond remained hidden from the public for hundreds of years until Van Cleef & Arpels bought it at a Sotheby’s auction in 1960. At a party celebrating the purchase, the diamond was named after one of the guests of honor: the 14-year old Sayajiran Gaekwad – the son of Sita Devi – who was also known as Princie.

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/princie-diamond-sold-for-record-value-of-393-million/feed/ 0 Unusual diamond colours for unique diamond jewelry https://www.diamondmuseum.com/unusual-diamond-colors-for-unique-diamond-jewelry/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/unusual-diamond-colors-for-unique-diamond-jewelry/#respond Mon, 01 Mar 2021 09:29:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=2825

Only absolutely perfect diamonds are flawless, but that doesn’t mean they’re the most valuable. Some diamonds have a very intense colouring that makes them far more unique than an ‘ordinary’ diamond.

Diamond colours have a wide range from light blue to dark red. Of all the diamond colours, red is the rarest and therefore also the most expensive kind. On the other hand, you have light yellow and light brown that are common ‘flaws’ for white diamonds and are therefore seen as less valuable.

Pink diamonds as a fashion statement

Some diamond colours get more valuable based on fashion trends. For example, pink diamonds saw their demand skyrocket after Jennifer Lopez received a pink diamond engagement ring. Of course, that’s not the only reason, pink diamonds are simply fabulous. 

Green diamonds for radiating beauty

Green diamonds get their colour from radiation. The intensity of the colour depends on the kind, quantity and intensity of the radiation. Don’t worry though; they’re quite safe when they’re close enough to the surface to be dug up.

Black diamonds

Sometimes an outfit just won’t match well with a bright piece of jewelry. Black diamonds are a perfect option then. Although they don’t have the same dazzling look, they do have more mystery and draw extra attention to the diamond cut. Just make sure you buy a good quality diamond, otherwise, a black diamond won’t sparkle at all which might be a bit dull.

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/unusual-diamond-colors-for-unique-diamond-jewelry/feed/ 0 The Biggest Cut emerald in the world https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-biggest-cut-emerald-in-the-world/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-biggest-cut-emerald-in-the-world/#respond Mon, 22 Feb 2021 08:22:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=2813

Some people have almost everything, but only one person in the world has the world’s largest cut emerald. This enormous gemstone named Theodora – God’s gift – weighs 57,500 carats, which is equivalent to 25 pounds or 11.5 kilograms.

The origin of the emerald is a bit of a mystery, but we are told that it was mined in Brazil and cut in India. The company that mined the emerald is as yet unknown. It is said to be a smaller mining company.

Fifth largest emerald ever found

The Theodora is the fifth-largest emerald ever found. Since the emerald is opaque instead of translucent, the owner decided to cut the emerald as a whole. An opaque emerald isn’t ideal for emerald jewelry, but the largest cut emerald does have plenty of bragging rights.

Theodora up for auction

The Theodora was auctioned in Canada; prices started at 1,15 million dollars but the hopes of the seller soar much higher than that. He expected at least 2 million and believed 2,5 million was reasonable. We haven’t found any further information about the auction and how it went down.

The authenticity of huge emeralds is often questionable

There’s some concern over the authenticity of the stone. Some miners aren’t trustworthy and make claims of enormous emeralds that are in fact just smaller emeralds combined. This emerald has undergone many tests though and has been proven to be genuine. The sheer size and weight of this emerald are definitely impressive. 

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/the-biggest-cut-emerald-in-the-world/feed/ 0 Diamond fluorescence https://www.diamondmuseum.com/diamond-fluorescence/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/diamond-fluorescence/#respond Mon, 15 Feb 2021 08:23:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=2801

Diamond fluorescence refers to the diamond tendency to disperse a soft bluish glow when exposed to ultraviolet light.  “A diamond should not have strong fluorescence.” That’s what is often claimed by many diamond experts. However, we have got to be careful with this statement: faint or moderate fluorescence does not affect the diamond’s look, which is proved by a GIA study. Moreover, some customers even prefer a faint fluorescence, because it balances the yellow color of some of the less expensive stones.

What is diamond fluorescence?

Diamonds have many properties and characteristics. The natural blue fluorescence is one of them. When gem-grade diamonds are exposed to ultraviolet light, electrons in the diamond crystal excite and a bluish glow can be visible. This phenomenon occurs in a third of all gem-grade diamonds.
The fluorescence is only visible under the black light while recent (GIA) studies have proved that it doesn’t influence the appearance of the diamond. In earlier times people didn’t even want to buy diamonds with fluorescence. While they were a trend in the fifties under the name “blue-white diamonds”, demand dropped in the seventies.

Diamonds with fluorescence can change the diamond color sometimes because the UV radiation is also a component of daylight and is present in the fluorescent place. Note that the blue shine is often desirable – it makes yellow diamonds whiter.

The effect on the diamond value

You can find the ‘fluorescence indication’ – inert, faint, negligible, medium – on different diamond reports such as the GIA diamond reports. Diamonds with a strong fluorescence are priced lower than diamonds without fluorescence.
In general, diamonds with colorless grades (D-E-F) or near-colorless grades (G-H-I-J) are cheaper when they disperse fluorescence. Faint yellow grades (K-L-M) are higher in price when exhibiting fluorescence.

However, it is often said that fluorescence has a negative impact on colorless diamonds and a positive impact on faint yellow diamonds, you don’t have to influence your choice too much based on this information.

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/diamond-fluorescence/feed/ 0 A rare blue diamond: The Heart of Eternity https://www.diamondmuseum.com/a-rare-blue-diamond-the-heart-of-eternity/ https://www.diamondmuseum.com/a-rare-blue-diamond-the-heart-of-eternity/#respond Mon, 08 Feb 2021 08:04:00 +0000 https://www.diamondmuseum.com/?p=2785

Perfect blue diamonds are very rare. Most of the time they have some sort of imperfection like a white side or gray and/or black undertones. One of the most well known perfect blue diamonds is the Heart of Eternity. Its perfection granted it a place in the De Beers Millennium Jewels collection, which featured 10 of the most exquisite blue diamonds in the world.

Heart of Eternity diamond features:

The origin of the Heart of Eternity

The Heart of Eternity was found in the South African Premier Diamond Mine, which is the largest supplier of blue diamonds in the world. Don’t be fooled though, only 0.1% of their total production consists of blue diamonds which equals about one blue diamond each year.

The honour of cutting this diamond into its current form befell the Steinmetz Group. They owned this precious blue diamond before selling it to the De Beers Group. The Heart of Eternity was first unveiled to the public in January 2000 as part of the aforementioned De Beers Millennium Jewels collection. 

The current owner of the Heart of Eternity

Millions of people were able to admire the diamond at the exhibition and later in the Smithsonian Museum. During its stay at the Smithsonian, it was noted to be on loan from a private collector. This of course fuels speculation that it was sold during the De Beers exhibition in the Millennium Dome in London.

Blue diamonds take six spots in the top ten most expensive coloured diamonds. Values are as high as 550.000 USD to 580.000 USD per carat, likely making the Heart of Eternity one of the most expensive diamonds ever sold.

]]> https://www.diamondmuseum.com/a-rare-blue-diamond-the-heart-of-eternity/feed/ 0