Have you ever strolled past a glittering jewelry store and wondered about those dazzling stones looking back at you? If you have, you might be familiar with the stunning beauty of diamonds. But not all diamonds glow with the same brilliance, and there is a whole category of them that you may not have heard about. So, what are low quality diamonds called?
Understanding Diamond Quality
Before diving into what low-quality diamonds are called, it’s essential to understand what makes a diamond valuable or, shall we say, less than spectacular. Diamond quality is primarily assessed based on four key factors, often referred to as the 4 Cs: Carat weight, Cut, Color, and Clarity. These attributes come together to determine the intrinsic and market value of a diamond.
The Four Cs of Diamonds
Carat Weight: This is perhaps the most familiar aspect of diamond quality. It measures the size or weight of the diamond. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams.
Cut: This refers to how well the diamond has been shaped or faceted. A good cut can enhance a stone’s sparkle, while a poor cut can make it appear dull.
Color: Diamonds come in a range of colors, from utterly colorless (the rarest and most valuable) to shades of yellow or brown. The less color a diamond exhibits, the higher its quality.
Clarity: This assesses the presence of internal or external imperfections, known respectively as inclusions and blemishes. The fewer the imperfections, the higher the clarity rating.
Each of these elements plays a role in defining a diamond’s overall appearance and value, which begs the question: what happens if a diamond scores low on one or more of these scales?
What Are Low Quality Diamonds Called?
Low-quality diamonds, often referred to as “industrial diamonds” or “bort” in the industry, are stones that do not meet the standard for jewelry-grade diamonds. They tend to have significant flaws, weak color, or poor cut quality, making them unsuitable for use in fine jewelry.
Industrial Diamonds
Industrial diamonds aren’t glamorous, but they have an essential role outside the world of luxury accessories. These diamonds are typically used for industrial purposes, such as cutting, drilling, grinding, and polishing. Thanks to their hardness—the hardest known natural material—diamonds are perfect for heavy-duty tasks even if they lack the sparkle we admire in engagement rings.
Bort: A Subcategory
“Bort” is a term specifically used for very low-quality diamonds, especially those that are unsuitable even for use in standard industrial applications. These diamonds are unmistakable in their lack of clarity and quality. While their sparkle might not light up a room, they still are valuable for some very niche industrial processes.
The Process of Sorting
Every diamond undergoes a rigorous sorting process to determine its quality. Once mined, diamonds are sent to laboratories where experts use a variety of tools and techniques to assign a grade to each of the 4 Cs.
Grading Clarity
Clarity is evaluated using a grading scale developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This scale ranges from flawless (no imperfections visible under 10x magnification) to included (diamonds with visible flaws). Low-quality diamonds will often fall at the lower end of this scale.
Evaluating Color
The level of a diamond’s color is assessed on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (light color). Diamonds ranked towards the lower end of this scale are considered of lower quality, as even the human eye can detect a hint of yellow or brown.
Cut and Its Impact
Poorly cut diamonds might not reflect light internally and externally as they should, leading to a less than impressive appearance. Low-quality cuts can make even a diamond with decent color and clarity look bland.
Pricing and Market Placement
After the thorough grading process, diamonds that don’t make the cut (pun intended) as jewelry-grade are categorized as inexpensive or low-budget options.
Price Ranges
The pricing of low-quality diamonds is significantly lower than their high-quality counterparts. While jewelry-grade diamonds could sell for thousands—or even millions—per carat, industrial diamonds or bort are much more affordable.
Table: Average Price Per Carat
| Diamond Type | Average Price Per Carat |
|---|---|
| High-Quality Gem | $5,000 – $30,000 |
| Industrial | $2 – $20 |
| Bort | Typically even less |
Market Dynamics
While not brilliant enough for your average jewelry piece, low-quality diamonds fit snugly into the industrial sector. Companies specializing in equipment that requires diamond-tipped instruments value these stones for their practical application.
Ethical and Environmental Considerations
The mining, grading, and usage of diamonds, no matter the quality, touch on significant ethical and environmental issues. Low-quality diamonds are no exception to this concern.
Conflict Diamonds
A significant ethical issue arises with conflict or “blood diamonds,” which are mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflict against governments. Due diligence is necessary within the industry to ensure consumers aren’t inadvertently funding violence through their purchases.
Environmental Impact
Mining, whether for high-quality diamonds or low-quality ones, often involves detrimental effects on the environment, including the displacement of wildlife and heavy resource consumption. Many companies are shifting toward sustainable practices to minimize these impacts.
Alternatives to Natural Diamonds
For those uncomfortable with the intricacies or ethical concerns surrounding natural diamonds, including those of the industrial sort, several alternatives offer similar, if not identical, benefits.
Synthetic Diamonds
Technology has stepped in to offer a shiny new option—synthetic diamonds, also known as lab-grown diamonds. These stones are optical and chemically identical to natural diamonds but don’t come with the baggage of harmful mining practices.
Simulants
Your cubic zirconias and moissanites, often mistaken for diamonds, are diamond simulants. Though not the real deal, these minerals can mimic the appearance of diamonds at a fraction of the cost and without ethical dilemmas.
Final Thoughts on Low Quality Diamonds
So, there you have it. Low-quality diamonds aren’t the glitzy stones that leap off jewelry racks, but they certainly have their place in the world. While they might not be destined to wow on a gemstone-studded necklace, their utility in industrial applications speaks to their unique value.
When pondering your next sparkling purchase, consider all the factors involved—quality, ethical sourcing, and environmental impact. Whether you fancy the idea of owning a diamond with impeccable credentials or simply appreciate the practicality of industrial diamonds, there’s something genuinely fascinating in their stories.
Remember, every diamond—whether an exquisite gem or a humble piece of bort—has its own journey and purpose. The choice of which to embrace is, ultimately, in your hands.
