WEARING A RAW DIAMOND A DAY KEEPS THE BLUES AWAY 

A rough diamond is a perfect accessory to rock in the New Year. But what makes rough diamonds so special and how do you decide on what raw diamond ring is right for you?

Not to fear, Olivia Ewing Jewelry is here, and we've broken it all down for you. So keep reading and you'll be blinging and ringing the entire year long!

WHAT IS A ROUGH DIAMOND?

Rough diamonds are just what they sound like: diamonds that have not yet been cut or polished. They're also called raw diamonds.

These natural stones are a favorite among those who want their jewelry to be unique and one-of-a-kind. They're also perfect for anyone who loves the beauty of nature as the diamond crystal is able to shine without any extra treatments as nature intended.

All diamonds begin as a raw diamond crystal, deep within the crust of the earth. There, immense pressure and extreme heat combine to transform the carbon-based crystals into one of Earth's most precious and beautiful minerals.

From there, an uncut diamond will either be sold to jewelers in its raw state or shipped to diamond cutters who expertly create different diamond shapes and polish it until it becomes brilliant.

WHAT ARE THE PROS OF ROUGH DIAMONDS

Rough diamonds are beloved not just because of their raw, unfiltered, beauty, and tendency to be conflict-free. Below, we've highlighted the qualities that make rough diamonds a smart and beautiful choice for the discerning and stylish bride-to-be.

rough diamonds are completely unique

If you've ever tried to buy a diamond, you know that it can be hard to find one that's exactly what you want. Sure, at its heart every diamond is unique, but with many popular diamond shapes and preferences, it can get more and more hard for the common man to suss out just what makes each stone so unique.

This is where rough diamonds come in. Rough diamonds are typically not cut or polished before they are sold, so they retain all of their natural imperfections and rugged beauty. Even though they aren’t as flashy as their cut counterparts, they still hold all of the same beauty that makes them so special in the first place.

Rough natural diamonds are less expensive than faceted and polished diamonds

Rough natural diamonds are less expensive than polished natural diamonds because they have not been cut, polished, and faceted.

In order to be cut, shined, and faceted, a diamond must be removed from its original rough form and placed in a machine called the "rotary table." This machine then cuts the rough diamond into smaller pieces that can be further shined and faceted.

This process takes many hours of work by a skilled diamond cutter. Because of this time-consuming and expensive process, cut diamonds are priced higher than rough diamonds to cover labor and equipment costs.

And this works out in your favor!

At Olivia Ewing Jewelry, a 6mm uncut diamond stone starts at $6,000 while a natural cut diamond will set you back $9,400. And while both types of diamonds are truly out-of-this-world beautiful, you can't go wrong with savings of up to 36%.

raw diamonds add extra meaning to your engagement ring

Like an uncut diamond, every relationship is unique. You and your partner met the other in a raw state, choosing to invest in each other rather than rushing to polish or refine. You are both still learning about one another, and each day you discover something new about your lover's personality or their past.

As your relationship continues to grow, you will find that it takes on its own unique shape: a reflection of all the experiences that have brought you together and all the things that make up who you are as individuals.

RAW DIAMONDS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ETHICAL

Last, but certainly not least, is the fact that a natural raw diamond is more likely to be completely ethical.

The fact is that diamonds are mined in war-torn countries where children are often forced to work in dangerous conditions. These diamonds are called "blood diamonds." The Kimberley Process was created to ensure that conflict diamonds do not enter the market. However, this process has been criticized for being ineffective at preventing child labor and human rights violations which often occur at the refining stage when a diamond undergoes polishing and cutting procedures.

WHAT ARE THE CONS OF ROUGH DIAMONDS

As with everything, there are cons that come with choosing a raw diamond and when purchasing a diamond ring it's important to carefully take all of the pros and cons into consideration.

a raw diamond won't sparkle as much as a polished diamonD

Let's get the primary concern many people have around raw diamonds out of the way: it's true, raw diamond rings simply won't sparkle as much as cut diamond rings. That's because a cut diamond has been specially designed to reflect light in such a way that it creates more sparkle. So if you do want to prioritize brilliance, a raw diamond may not be right for you.

A RAW DIAMOND WILL NOT BE AS VALUABLE AS A CUT DiaMOND

Much of a diamonds value is determined by the quality of the rough diamond. Color is color, after all, and you can't simply buff colors away. However, A rough diamond that's been left in its natural state will be far less valuable than a cut diamond of the same quality.

This is because the process of cutting and polishing a rough diamond is takes an incredibly skilled hand and is an expensive procedure. And while not undergoing this process is what makes uncut diamonds affordable - it also affects their resale value.

Of course, this only matters if you are planning to one day sell your ring and if you're looking for a ring that you'll wear the rest of your life you won't need to worry about this.

HOW TO CHOOSE A ROUGH DIAMOND

Looking to rock a rough rock? Keep the following things in mind while shopping!

THE 4C'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE: BUT NOT EVERY C IS EQUAL

Although an uncut diamond is not held to the same standards as a cut diamond, you'll still need to consider the 4C's when on the search for your stone.

The 4C's are: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat Weight. These attributes help you make sure that you're getting a quality stone that will last you a lifetime.

carat weight

The carat of your diamond is a characteristic that holds true regardless if you are looking to purchase a raw or refined stone. In general, the higher the diamond weight the more expensive the diamond will be.

Unsure of what size stone may be right for you? Check out our how-to for figuring out what size is right for you!

color

Like carat, color is another attribute of the diamond that is the same across the board. Polishing a blue diamond won't turn it green. However, cut diamonds can be manipulated to minimize color by distracting the eye with sparkling shine.

If you want as colorless as possible you have two options: seek out only colorless diamonds or find a diamond between K and D on the grading scale and pair any tinted diamonds with a white gold, platinum, or silver band to cancel out its warm tones.

clarity and cut

Clarity followed immediately by the cut is probably the least important C's to consider when shopping for raw diamonds.

Raw diamonds appear naturally more cloudy than polished diamonds, and this cloudy-like quality helps hide any imperfections within your stone. Of course, finding a raw flawless stone is possible but will require some research on your part and cost quite a bit more.

STYLE MATTERS SO ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU VALUE

At the end of the day, the most important thing to consider when browsing diamond rings is buy the ring that you like. Ask yourself what your personal style is, do you prefer a bold center stone surrounded by polished diamonds or a delicate solitaire? The options are endless!

Olivia Ewing Jewelry has a fantastic selection of breathtaking raw diamonds in a variety of stunning styles. So whether you're looking for a stylish ring to rock every day of the new year or one to whip out only on special occasions...you're sure to find it at Olivia Ewing Jewelry.

Shop Our Rough Diamonds Now

Meet the Author: Olivia Ewing