Do you know what that means? Well, the definition of a diamond wiper is nowhere to be found. Additionally, no diamond wiper can be found at De Beers. Andrew Coxon President of De Beers Institute of diamonds explains why.
A diamond seminar at the De Beers London offices is similar to a journey in heaven for jewel and stone lovers … who all of a sudden turn 4 years-old again. The sight of a newly acquired Barbie Doll has now been replaced by X-Carat diamonds worth X-Millions.
White diamonds on the side, Andrew Coxon who has been the President of De Beers Institute of diamonds since De Beers started retailing jewelry back in 2002 opening the first store on Bond St, in Mayfair London.
Coxon started the diamond seminar by explaining the time diamonds take to make an appearance on Earth and how time varies according to the volcanic activity that surrounded the stones to eventually bring them to the surface. The youngest diamonds are estimatied to be 900 million years old and the oldest are 3.4 Billion years of age, almost as old as the earth itself .
« Being considered a diamond expert, » humbly claims Coxon, « is just about how many diamonds you have looked at in your life. » And he has, more than anyone. Andrew Coxon emphasizes on how the natural transparency of a diamond is what makes the difference. With equal GIA certificate a stone can look more beautiful than the other. One of the reasons explains that the way the facets are cut is an important factor. If a diamond is cut for the weight rather than beauty, it is not good !
But one may wonder, how can two diamonds be the completly the same on the paper but different to the eye ? Andrew Coxon takes a simple example : tap water and mineral water, both are drinkable, both are pure yet both are different to your taste.
Francois Delage, CEO of De Beers explains that one of the reasons their diamond choosing « policy » became very popular with Chinese is because they understood very well the process as they can draw a parrallel with the Jade stone. Next to one another, jade stones look very different, rare or cheap … They have a similar way of thinking.
A diamond seminar at the De Beers London offices is similar to a journey in heaven for jewel and stone lovers … who all of a sudden turn 4 years-old again. The sight of a newly acquired Barbie Doll has now been replaced by X-Carat diamonds worth X-Millions.
White diamonds on the side, Andrew Coxon who has been the President of De Beers Institute of diamonds since De Beers started retailing jewelry back in 2002 opening the first store on Bond St, in Mayfair London.
Coxon started the diamond seminar by explaining the time diamonds take to make an appearance on Earth and how time varies according to the volcanic activity that surrounded the stones to eventually bring them to the surface. The youngest diamonds are estimatied to be 900 million years old and the oldest are 3.4 Billion years of age, almost as old as the earth itself .
A brilliant cut diamond has 57 facets where the light changes according to how the facets are cut. « When the right eye agrees with the left eye (both eyes don’t see the same thing) then it’s « coup de foudre » says Andrew Coxon, « but you can cheat on the angles just to keep the weight, and 50% of the carat weight gets lost into polishing no matter what ! »
And that is a wiper !
The best diamond is the best that sparkles which is why they imagined a sparkling machine. The goal is to illuminate each set of facets at the same time in order to show and translate the dead angles that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Unrivalled expertise if you ask… « Seing is believing, » claims Delage. Therefore, remember to never choose a diamond on paper, use your eyes. Bare in mind the 4C’s but pay close attention to the fire, the life and the brillance… for your own diamond safety !
