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Introducing...
The beautifully imperfect world of diamond inclusions...
Diamonds are natural occurrences, formed under intense heat and pressure over billions of years, approximately 100 miles beneath the earth's surface. Each little miracle is one of a kind. Inevitably, most diamonds are marked in some way. Granted, some stones are more blemished than others; but very few are deemed FL (flawless).
Inclusions are small ‘birthmarks’ that develop throughout the process of diamond formation. Some inclusions are foreign matter that has worked its way into the diamond's fabric during the formation process; others are structural discrepancies caused by heat and pressure.
Though inclusions are usually black or white, they can occur in several different colours, as well as infinite shapes and sizes. A salt and pepper diamond is a diamond that boasts a particularly high volume of black and white inclusions in the form of spots, feathers, cracks, clouds or chips.
According to the 4Cs grading system, salt and pepper diamonds - much like champagne diamonds - are 'imperfect'. In our eyes, it's these 'flaws' that make them special.
When compared to the rarity of colourless stones, the commercial abundance of salt and pepper diamonds goes hand in hand with their high volume of inclusions to make them a much cheaper option. This affordability kicks open the doors of possibility when it comes to stone size and cut, making a salt and pepper diamond fun for the cost-conscious couple to work with – without sacrificing the diamond guarantee of durability.
It could be argued that the salt and pepper diamond is the white diamond’s more sustainable sister. Whilst tonnes and tonnes of earth must be shifted to extract a small handful of gem-quality diamonds, salt and pepper diamonds are more readily available. Naturally, their extraction still has an impact on the Earth – like any material that must be mined from the ground – but the journey to a beautiful salt and pepper stone is far shorter, gentler and less consuming than the endeavour to land upon a high-grade one.
Unfortunately, however, we're still yet to find a supplier of salt and pepper diamonds that can offer the ethical credentials and level of traceability that we seek. We don't stumble upon these one-in-a-million wonders all that often, but we're always ready to try our best!
With diamonds valued by the 'perfection' of their cut, clarity and colour, salt and pepper diamonds tend to be cheaper than their lesser-included counterparts. The price of any salt and pepper diamond depends on its size, quality and provenance, but salt and pepper diamonds generally compare to sapphires of equal clarity and carat weight; costing as much as 75% less than transparent diamonds.
BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
Today and for hundreds of years before this point, the diamonds of the highest value - in every sense of the word - are those that are colourless, symmetrical and lacking defects. If there's any such thing as 'perfect' then diamonds of this calibre are it.
But, at Lebrusan Studio, we believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just like our salt and pepper friends, grey diamonds and old-cut diamonds are characterful and unrepeatable. Unique and bursting with personality, they're a fantastic choice for a symbolic 'forever' jewel.
