gem indentification

Cecil Rhodes was the founder of DeBeers and he started simply by renting water pumps during the rush of 1871. Then an 83.5 carat diamond was discovered in the Kimberly Mine in South Africa. He used the proceeds to buy small mining operations and started his own. To fund his new mining operations, he was able to get capital from the Rothschild family. DeBeers was founded in 1888 and, at...

A Comprehensive Guide Gemstones are beautiful and valuable, but their beauty is often enhanced by how they are cut and shaped. In this guide, we will explore the different types of gemstone cuts and shapes and how they affect the appearance and value of the gemstones. Types of Gem Cuts: Gemstones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and one of the most important factors in determining their value...

Clarity enhancements are treatments to a natural diamond that improves clarity. I will be writing about laser drilling to remove inclusions and sealants to fill cracks. Laser Drilling Laser drilling which has occurred since the 1980’s is used to laser into a diamond to create access to a diamond’s inclusion. The laser drills a small hole through the diamond to an inclusion. It is then placed in sulfuric acid to...

On March 11, 1988, the Centenary celebration of the DeBeers Company was being held in Kimberly Western Australia, to commemorate the closing of the “Big Hole”, the Kimberly Mine. A speech was given to celebrate the day and to announce, surprisingly, the find of a 599 carat diamond of top color having been found in the Premier Mine in South Africa. Dignitaries and representatives from national governments and the diamond...