You are about to buy a Russian diamond, or you already have one, but you are not sure if its purported origin is what you’ve been told. How can you tell if that stone is a real Russian diamond? Let’s see what Russian diamonds are and whether there is a way to check their origin.
What Is a Russian Diamond?
Russian diamonds are stones that were mined in Russia. They are no different from other diamonds, so the name Russian diamond implies only a place of origin.
Russia also produces a lot of lab-grown diamonds, which are sometimes referred to as Russian synthetic diamonds.
How to Tell the Origin of a Russian Diamond
It is not possible to tell where a diamond was mined just by looking at the stone, unless it is a unique diamond that is famous for some reason.
Contrary to what some people believe, it is not possible to pinpoint the origin of regular diamonds by inspecting their chemical composition.
Some diamonds come with a document that provides information on their place of origin, so this is one way of identifying where a certain stone came from.
Such a certificate, which could even show the mine a diamond comes from, is your best bet to verify whether a stone is really a Russian diamond.
Not all diamond retailers provide documents of origin for their diamonds, however, so depending on where you buy your stone from, you might not be able to tell if it really was mined in Russia.
Related: If you’re looking for a loose diamond, check out this diamond selection, in which you can see each diamond from all sides in a 360-degree video.
Can a Diamond Certificate Tell You Where a Stone Came From?
Diamond certificates do not usually show a stone’s place of origin.
A diamond certificate contains information on the quality characteristics of a particular diamond. (Another name for this document is a diamond grading report.)
Diamond certificates are issued by diamond grading labs, whose job is to assess only the physical characteristics of the inspected stones.
The graders cannot certify a diamond’s origin, however, and that’s why such reports cannot tell you where the diamond came from.
Some diamond vendors can choose to provide origin information, if they have it, along with a diamond grading report, but third-party grading labs do not include such information in their certificates.
What Information Does a Diamond Certificate Contain?
The typical diamond certificate can tell you what grades the stone has been assigned for color, clarity, and cut, as well as how much the stone weighs in carats.
These certificates also usually provide information on the dimensions and proportions of the diamond, its polish, and the symmetry of its facets.
Some grading reports provide additional information on how the stone returns light to the eye of the observer, how symmetrical the light reflection pattern is, among other useful data points.
Generally, diamond certificates evaluate physical characteristics that affect the way a diamond looks. These documents are meant to serve as independent verification of the vendor’s claims regarding the quality of a particular diamond.
Buying a Real Russian Diamond
To make sure that the stone you purchase is a real Russian diamond, it is best to buy from distributors of such stones.
There are jewelry retailers that sell diamonds from Russia and guarantee that this is really where their stones come from.
If place of origin is important to you, make sure that the diamond you buy is accompanied by a document that verifies that it is Russian.
Where to Buy Diamond Jewelry?
We recommend James Allen (read review) because you can see a 360-degree video for any diamond before buying it.
Blue Nile is another reputable diamond retailer we recommend.