How do diamonds get to be the symetrical shape that they are?

Question

Do they come out of the ground like that?

If they're cut that shape then what happens to all the offcuts from the diamond? Isn't that cutting money away?

Answer 1

I think you have already got what you wanted as answer. I can only add that diamond naturally comes as octahedron crystals usually. There are 32 crystal classes belonging to 7 crystal systems, each having its own elements of symmetry. These crystals actually represent an imperfect magnification of their molecular lattice structures. Diamond crystallises in Cubic or Isometric system, which has a very high amounts of symmetry. Due to the presence of twinning or imperfect development of crystal, natural diamond cannot be used directly as a gemstone.
Therefore, one has to cut the diamond to give it a particular shape, so that the total internal reflection of light entering the gem along any angle and through any face of the gem is maximum. This is to impart the gem with maximum sparkle - a true adamantine lustre. It is true that a substantial part of the gem is lost due to this cutting, but without that sparkling effect, the value of the gem will be very low. That is why this is a job of an expert cutter, who can balance between quantity of the gem lost and amount of reflectivity gained.

Answer 2

If you mean the shapes that you see in a diamond ring, no they don't come out of the ground like that. They are cut to those shapes. Since diamonds are valuable, I'm sure the parts that are cut off are used for other things like diamond-blade saws and such.

Due to imperfect conditions and impurities, etc, most diamonds found don't show it, but diamonds do naturally have a symmetrical shape. If you grew a diamond in a lab so that the conditions were right it would be an octahedron http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octahedron which is symmetrical, pointy, and (from the side) diamond-shaped. :-)

Diamonds get their natural symmetrical shape because while they are forming the carbon atoms that they are made of want to be a certain distance from each other... as the atoms join to one another the shape that builds in order to maintain these distances is an octahedron. That's the simple version that I understand, it's all quite complicated. There are people who study nothing but the chemistry, physics, and geology behind crystal formation and they still don't completely understand it. (One of the professors at my university is a crystallographer.)

Answer 3

They are crystaline and tend to shatter along predetermined surfaces.

The "offcuts" can be cut into smaller diamonds, right down to using the smallest as abrasive powder.

Answer 4

"Diamonds do not show all of their beauty as rough stones; instead, they must be cut and polished to exhibit the characteristic fire and brilliance that diamond gemstones are known for. Diamonds are cut into a variety of shapes that are generally designed to accentuate these features."

Answer 5

no, they dont come out of the ground like that!! Jewelers cut the diamonds into whatever shape they want, for example; square, pear shaped, circle, etc.

Answer 6

£250

Answer 7

They are shaped that away and polished . That is why they are so easy to detect . They are so hard if u drop in the sand for 10 years it will still be polished.

Answer 8

i think that they get their shape by the way that the earth made them, the ground structure that they are formed in is super hot so it can make carbon very flexible. After a long time it gets formed in to its shape thanks to the ground and then it is pulled up and reshaped and sold.

Answer 9

A professional diamond cutter does all the work.

Answer 10

No they don't come out of the ground looking gorgeous.They have to be cut by a gem cutter who will have been G.I.A trained.