Mineral collectors welcome to another post where a very interesting guide on gray diamond is provided. Here you will learn about its properties, characteristics, meaning, origin, formation and the uses that the precious stone has.
What is the gray diamond?
Gray diamonds are 100% carbon minerals and owe their hue to small inclusions of graphite in their crystalline lattice that has been deformed during the ascent toward the crust from its point of origin in the Earth’s mantle. Gray colored diamonds are very rare in nature and their properties are almost similar to black diamonds.
How are gray diamonds formed?
The gray diamonds Like all types of diamonds, they originate from the so-called diamond stable zone in the upper mantle of the earth at a depth of about 200 kilometers. Initially, their theoretical color is transparent, that is to say that they are transparent diamonds, however, the geological processes that serve for their ascent towards the cortex deform the crystal in such a way that it allows the inclusion of small amounts of graphite that give it the characteristic gray hue.. It is very similar to what happens with black diamonds.
Gray vs black diamond
You will have already noticed that a gray diamond is shaped similar to a black diamond, that is to say that in both precious gems its color is due to small amounts of graphite that are included in the crystalline network of the mineral that do not allow the passage of light completely. However, in a gray diamond the percentage of graphite will be lower compared to the percentage of graphite in the black diamond which will be much higher.
Meaning of the gray diamond stone
Gray diamonds are very beautiful and are highly valued worldwide. People throughout history claim that it is one of the most beneficial precious gems, for example, it is said to generate calm, mental balance, wisdom, peace of mind and self-esteem. Also in western cultures they affirm that it achieves combat sadness, insecurity and that provides wisdom and intelligence. In addition, it is widely used in engagement rings because it is believed strengthen and care for love.
Properties of the gray diamond gem
The gray diamonds are stones and minerals They share most of the properties and characteristics that a natural diamond has. They are precious gems that have a hardness on the Mohs scale of 10, that is to say they are extremely resistant to wear and chemically stable minerals, in addition, they are characterized by having an intense and beautiful shine. In mineralogy, the gray diamond belongs to the group of minerals or native elements because it is composed only of carbon.
| gray diamond | Physical properties and characteristics |
|---|---|
| chemical classification | Mineral, native element – Carbon (C) |
| Color | Light grey, dark grey, gray |
| Stripe | Does not have |
| luster, shine | Adamantine: The highest level of brilliance for a non-metallic mineral. |
| diaphanousness | transparent, translucent |
| Mohs hardness | Hardness 10. |
| Density or specific weight | 3.4 to 3.6 g/cm3 |
| Chemical composition | C (elemental carbon) |
| crystalline system | isometric |
What are the gray diamonds for?
For engagement rings
Within the world of luxury jewelry the gray diamonds They are an excellent choice for creating engagement rings because they are very beautiful and resistant gemstones that will last a lifetime. Worldwide they are a symbol of pure love, metal peace and balance, in addition, it is said that they will always attract prosperity and abundance to your home.
For luxury jewelry
It is clear that the gray diamonds They are part of the group of the most valuable precious stones in the world, for this reason, they are used in luxury jewelry accessories. Before we mentioned that they are mainly used for engagement rings, however, they are also used mainly for necklaces, pendants and earrings.
As a collectible gem and precious stone
The gray diamonds They are quite rare precious minerals and gems in nature due to their rather peculiar origin. This makes them valued as collector’s stones, which is how mineral collectors come to pay over $1,000 for gray diamond specimens. Let’s remember that this type of minerals and crystals generally appear related to rocks known as diamondiferous kimberlites.