Knowledge Hub
The World of
Diamonds
From billion-year-old geological marvels to the science of laboratory-grown brilliance — your complete guide to understanding diamonds.
Chapter 1
Natural Diamonds — A History
Forged over billions of years, 150km beneath the Earth's surface, under immense heat and pressure.
Geological Formation
Natural diamonds form in the Earth's mantle — the layer of rock between the crust and the core — at depths of 150 to 200 kilometres. Temperatures here exceed 1,000°C and pressures reach 45 to 60 kilobars (roughly 1.3 million times atmospheric pressure).
Pure carbon atoms crystallise into diamond's distinctive cubic lattice structure over periods ranging from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years. The oldest known diamonds formed when the Earth was just 1.2 billion years old — older than complex multicellular life.
These diamond-bearing rocks are brought to the surface by volcanic eruptions of a rare magma called kimberlite, which forms deep, narrow pipe-shaped intrusions. Kimberlite pipes have been found on every continent, though most diamonds come from Africa, Russia, Australia, and Canada.
Historical Significance
Diamonds were first recognised and mined in India as early as the 4th century BC, mentioned in Sanskrit texts as vajra — the same word that gives Vajra Box its name. For over 2,000 years, India was the world's sole source of diamonds, with stones from the Golconda region famed for their purity.
Famous stones like the Hope Diamond (45.52 carats, deep blue, currently in the Smithsonian), the Cullinan Diamond (3,106 carats, the largest gem-quality diamond ever found), and the Koh-i-Noor (now in the British Crown Jewels) originate from Indian mines.
The modern diamond trade was shaped by the 1869 discovery of diamonds in South Africa, followed by the establishment of De Beers Consolidated Mines in 1888 by Cecil Rhodes. The 20th century's "A Diamond is Forever" campaign by De Beers — launched 1947 — is considered one of the most successful advertising slogans in history.
Hope Diamond
45.52ct · Deep Blue
Housed at the Smithsonian Institution since 1958.
Origin: India → France → USA
Cullinan Diamond
3,106ct (rough) · Colourless
Cut into 9 major stones, including those in the British Crown Jewels.
Origin: South Africa
Koh-i-Noor
105.6ct (cut) · Colourless
One of the oldest and most famous diamonds in the world. British Crown Jewels.
Origin: India (Golconda)
Chapter 2
The 4Cs Explained
Cut, Colour, Clarity, and Carat are the four universal standards used to evaluate every diamond on Earth.
Cut
The cut of a diamond refers to how well its facets interact with light. It is widely considered the most important of the 4Cs because even a diamond with perfect colour and clarity will appear dull if cut poorly.
A well-cut diamond will exhibit three qualities: Brilliance (the total light reflected from the diamond), Fire (the dispersion of light into spectral colours), and Scintillation (the sparkle when the diamond or light moves).
The GIA grades round brilliant diamonds as Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor. At Vajra Box, we primarily offer Ideal and Excellent cut stones — representing the top 3% of all diamonds graded for cut quality.
Cut Quality Comparison
Colour
The GIA colour grading scale for white diamonds ranges from D (completely colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Diamonds graded D, E, and F are considered "colourless" — the most rare and valuable. Grades G through J are "near colourless" and represent the best value for quality.
Most colour differences are invisible to the untrained eye. The difference between a D and an F is undetectable to most people without comparison stones — yet the price difference can be substantial. Many clients find G or H colour to be the sweet spot: visually indistinguishable from colourless, significantly more affordable.
Beyond the D-Z scale exist Fancy Coloured Diamonds — pink, blue, yellow, green, red. These are graded on a separate scale and can be extraordinarily valuable. The Hope Diamond's deep blue and the Pink Star's vivid pink are legendary examples.
Colour Grade Chart
Clarity
Clarity refers to the absence of inclusions (internal characteristics) and blemishes (surface irregularities). Formed under intense geological pressure, virtually all diamonds contain some inclusions — minerals trapped during crystallisation, fractures, or growth anomalies.
The GIA clarity scale has 11 grades. At the top end, FL (Flawless) diamonds show no inclusions or blemishes under 10x magnification — these account for less than 1% of diamonds. At VS1-VS2, inclusions are minor and not visible to the naked eye. The eye-clean threshold — where inclusions aren't visible without magnification — is generally considered to fall at VS2 or SI1.
Clarity Scale
Flawless
No inclusions or blemishes visible under 10x magnification. Extremely rare.
Internally Flawless
No inclusions visible under 10x magnification. Minor surface blemishes only.
Very Very Slightly Included
Inclusions difficult for skilled grader to see under 10x. Excellent eye-clean grade.
Very Very Slightly Included
Inclusions very difficult to see under 10x. Excellent eye-clean stone.
Very Slightly Included
Minor inclusions visible under 10x, not typically visible to naked eye.
Very Slightly Included
Minor inclusions visible under 10x, rarely visible to unaided eye.
Slightly Included
Inclusions noticeable under 10x, usually not visible to naked eye.
Slightly Included
Inclusions easily noticeable under 10x, may be visible to the naked eye.
Carat
Carat is a unit of weight, not size. One carat equals 200 milligrams (0.2 grams). Diamond weight is often expressed to two decimal places — a 0.90ct stone has subtly different dimensions from a 1.00ct stone.
Carat weight and physical size are not the same thing. The cut of a diamond affects how its weight is distributed. Two 1.0ct diamonds can have noticeably different face-up sizes depending on cut proportions. A well-cut stone can appear larger than a poorly cut stone of the same carat weight.
Price per carat increases disproportionately at key benchmarks (0.50ct, 0.75ct, 1.00ct, 1.50ct, 2.00ct) because larger stones are increasingly rare. A 2.00ct stone can cost three to four times as much as two 1.00ct stones of equal quality.
Carat Size Comparison
0.5ct
5.2mm
0.75ct
5.9mm
1.0ct
6.5mm
1.5ct
7.4mm
2.0ct
8.2mm
3.0ct
9.4mm
Approximate face-up diameter for round brilliant cut diamonds.
Chapter 3
Diamond Shapes
Shape determines a diamond's silhouette and personality. Each cut interacts with light differently — choose the shape that speaks to you.
The Timeless Classic
Round Brilliant
With 57–58 precisely angled facets, the round brilliant maximises light return for unmatched brilliance and fire. It accounts for over 75% of all diamonds sold worldwide.
Best for: Solitaire & halo engagement rings
The Elegant Elongator
Oval
An elongated variant of the round brilliant. The stretched silhouette creates the illusion of greater size and makes fingers appear longer and more slender.
Best for: Halo rings, east-west settings
The Romantic Vintage
Cushion
A square or rectangular shape with softly rounded corners. Larger facets enhance fire and give a warm, vintage character. Popular for over 200 years.
Best for: Halo rings, antique-style settings
The Modern Square
Princess
The most popular square shape. Sharp corners and a modified brilliant facet pattern deliver impressive sparkle — second only to round in global popularity.
Best for: Solitaire rings, channel-set bands
The Brilliant Rectangle
Radiant
A rectangular shape with trimmed corners and brilliant-cut facets. Combines the sparkle of the round with the elegance of the emerald cut for a fiery, lively stone.
Best for: Three-stone rings, halo settings
The Art Deco Icon
Asscher
A square step-cut with dramatic open facets producing a distinctive 'windmill' optical pattern. Created in 1902 by the Asscher brothers — Art Deco at its finest.
Best for: Vintage & Art Deco settings
The Ultimate Romance
Heart
The most romantic shape. Perfect symmetry is critical — an off-centre cleft or uneven lobes are immediately visible. A masterclass for any cutter.
Best for: Pendants, anniversary rings
The Hall of Mirrors
Emerald
A rectangular step-cut whose large open facets create a dramatic 'hall of mirrors' effect. Prioritises clarity over brilliance — inclusions are more visible.
Best for: Bezel settings, east-west rings
The Teardrop
Pear
A hybrid of the round and marquise — a single point at one end, rounded at the other. Worn point-down to elongate the finger. Also called the teardrop cut.
Best for: Pendants, drop earrings, rings
The Boat Shape
Marquise
An elongated shape with pointed tips at both ends, inspired by the smile of the Marquise de Pompadour. Maximises carat appearance and elongates the finger.
Best for: Cocktail rings, lengthwise settings
The Bold Triangle
Trillion
A triangular shape with sharp or softly rounded corners. Bold and modern, increasingly popular as a centre stone or as dramatic side stones in three-stone rings.
Best for: Side stones, bold solitaires
The Step-Cut Classic
Baguette
A small, elongated rectangle with parallel step-cut facets. Named after the French bread for its narrow shape — understated elegance at its most refined.
Best for: Side accents, tennis bracelets
Chapter 3
Lab-Grown Diamonds — The Science
The same carbon atoms. The same crystal structure. The same optical properties. Just a different origin story.
What Is a Lab-Grown Diamond?
A lab-grown diamond is a real diamond — not a simulant like cubic zirconia or moissanite. It shares the same chemical composition (pure carbon), the same crystal structure (cubic), the same optical properties, and the same hardness (10 on the Mohs scale) as a natural diamond.
The only difference is origin: natural diamonds form over billions of years in the Earth's mantle; lab-grown diamonds are produced in weeks or months using advanced technology that replicates the same conditions of heat and pressure, or builds diamond carbon-by-carbon from gas.
Leading gemological laboratories — GIA and IGI — certify lab-grown diamonds using the same standards as natural diamonds. The grading report is identical in structure. Only an experienced gemologist with specialised equipment can distinguish a lab-grown diamond from a natural one of the same grade.
Property Comparison
Growth Method 1
Chemical Vapour Deposition
CVD
In CVD, a thin diamond seed crystal is placed in a sealed chamber. A carbon-rich gas mixture (methane and hydrogen) is introduced and energised by microwave power into a plasma state, breaking molecular bonds.
Carbon atoms then precipitate onto the seed crystal, building up diamond layer by layer — atom by atom — over several weeks. CVD produces Type IIa diamonds, the purest form, with exceptional colour and clarity potential.
Growth rate: ~0.5mm per day · Temperature: ~800–1000°C
Growth Method 2
High Pressure High Temperature
HPHT
HPHT mimics the natural conditions of diamond formation. A small diamond seed is placed within a growth cell containing a carbon source (graphite) and a metal catalyst (iron, nickel, or cobalt) that lowers the melting point of carbon.
The cell is subjected to enormous pressure (~60,000 atmospheres) and temperatures around 1,400°C. Carbon from the graphite dissolves into the molten catalyst, then recrystallises onto the seed as diamond, growing outward over several days.
Growth rate: ~2–4mm per day · Pressure: ~870,000 psi
International Gemological Institute
Founded 1975 · Antwerp, Belgium
The world's largest independent gem certification and appraisal institute. IGI has been at the forefront of lab-grown diamond grading, issuing detailed reports on all 4Cs for both natural and lab-grown stones.
Gemological Institute of America
Founded 1931 · Carlsbad, California
The creator of the 4Cs and the world's foremost authority in gemology. GIA's grading is considered the global gold standard. GIA has expanded its lab-grown grading services with full 4C reports.
Chapter 4
Why Choose Lab Grown?
The environmental and economic case for lab-grown diamonds is compelling. Here is the data.
| Category | Mined Diamond | Lab-Grown Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon emissions (per carat) | 57kg CO₂ | ~0.028kg CO₂ (renewable energy) |
| Water use | 480 litres / carat | ~70 litres / carat |
| Land disruption | 100+ sq ft soil / carat | Essentially zero |
| Conflict risk | Possible | None |
| Price (1ct D/VS1) | $8,000–$15,000 | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Certificate | GIA / IGI | GIA / IGI (same) |
| Visual appearance | Beautiful | Identical |
| Hardness | 10 (Mohs) | 10 (Mohs) |
Sources: Diamond Producers Association, MIT Study on Diamond Origin (2022), IGI Technical Report.
Chapter 5
Surat — Diamond Capital of the World
The city that shapes the world's diamonds — and the home of Vajra Box.
Surat, located in the state of Gujarat on India's west coast, is the undisputed global centre of diamond cutting and polishing. Over 90% of the world's diamonds — both natural and lab-grown — are cut and polished here by an estimated 800,000 skilled artisans.
The diamond industry has been present in Surat for centuries, but its modern dominance began in the 20th century when Belgian master cutters trained Surat's craftspeople in European polishing techniques. Today, Surat's artisans are considered the world's finest — their skill passed down across generations.
The Surat Diamond Bourse, which opened in 2021, is the world's largest diamond trading centre — larger than New York's Diamond District and Antwerp's Diamondkwartier combined. The 35-storey complex houses 4,500 offices and spans 6.7 million square feet, establishing Surat as the unquestioned global epicentre of the diamond trade.
It is in this milieu — surrounded by generations of diamond heritage, master craftspeople, and cutting-edge laboratory facilities — that Vajra Box was born. We are proud to call Surat home and to carry its legacy into the sustainable diamond future.
Ready to choose your diamond?
Browse our certified collection, or speak with a specialist to find your perfect stone.