Diamonds: our selection process

Each diamond is unique, within it there are specific qualities that determine the value of each individual stone.
These are the so-called 4C, from the English Carat, Color, Clarity and Cut, respectively, carat, color, purity and cut. The international classification system uses this method to describe a diamond and determine its value.

Carat

To express the weight of the diamond, the carat is used as the unit of measurement. One carat (ct) is equal to 1/5 of a gram (0.200 grams); a 5-carat diamond, therefore, will weigh 1 gram.

Color

Many think that diamonds are only colorless stones, but in reality this is not the case. Each of them has a different shade of color given by its chemical composition. Colorless diamonds are recognized as rarer and more valuable. The international classification system orders the color and consequent quality of diamonds on a progressive scale that goes from the letter D (colorless) to the letter Z (light yellow), in which the D represents the total absence of color and therefore the diamond of greater merit.

Clarity

Purity, that is the quality of a stone to be "inclusions" free, is a further parameter for the price of a diamond. Depending on the number, color, size and position of these internal characteristics, the degree of purity of the diamond is determined according to a descending scale between I.F. (Internally Flawless - no defects visible at 10x) and the I. (Included - inclusions evident to the naked eye).

Cut

The most important feature for us is the cut, that is the process of faceting, polishing and carving of the rough stone in order to maximize the reflection and refraction of light. The secret of a diamond's beauty lies in the complex interaction between stone and light: in the way in which light meets the surface of the stone; in the quantity of it that manages to enter the diamond; and in the way in which and in what form it returns to the eyes of the observer.
The result is a magnificent display of three optical attributes: brilliance, that is the combination of reflections of white light coming from the surface and inside of a diamond; fire, a term that refers to the "flashes" of color emitted by a diamond; and the sparkle, consisting of flashes of light visible when the diamond, the light source or the observer move.

Roberto Callegari's diamonds selection process is defined by the use of gems with the following characteristics: Color (from D to G), Clarity (from VS to SI) and Cut (from Excellent to Very Good).

4Cs_image_caratweight 4Cs_image_color 4Cs_image_clarity 4Cs_image_cut

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The Emerald

One of the gems that has most characterized the tradition and design of Roberto Callegari's creations is certainly the emerald.

The name of this magnificent stone comes from the greek smaragdos which means “green gem”. In ancient times, all green colored gems were called emeralds and it is only in more modern times, with the progress of analysis, that it was possible to distinguish the various species.

Emerald is part of the beryl mineral family, also known as "the mother of gems" due to its highly prized varieties. It owes its color to chromium, vanadium and iron, the various concentrations of which result in an extraordinary range of greens. According to experts, the most precious emerald shade is the one that combines an intense green with the highest transparency.

"There is really no other stone whose color gives joy and refreshment to the eye like this one, since there is no more intense green than its color".

Plinio il Vecchio - Naturalis Historia

The main fields are found in Colombia, Zambia, Brazil, Zimbabwe.

This stone is traditionally linked to prosperity, youth and immortality and is the birthstone of May. The vibrant intensity of its color together with the positive symbolism that characterizes it, have made the emerald a source of inspiration and magical beauty.

Emeralds, like all gems, have numerous internal characteristics. These peculiarities represent the details of their history, as rare as the material from which they derive. Each stone, like every jewel, is a unique creation that comes to life not only thanks to nature, but also through the gem cutter who shaped it, the jeweler who gave it new shape and the setter who made it possible.

A wonderful story hidden in every little detail.

25 February 2022