Why Anthony Alan?

As you might imagine, selling your diamonds can be risky business.

You certainly don’t want to take a chance with a classified ad site, too many things can go wrong.

When dealing in high value items security is of utmost importance.

With Anthony Alan your diamonds will be assessed in a safe surrounding by experienced professionals.

There’s a reason we are Cape Towns most reputable diamond buyer, so put us to the test and start by getting your free quote today.

Where should I sell my diamonds?

The best place to sell your diamonds is to a certified diamond dealer, someone you can trust who has a long standing reputation in the community and who will give you a fair market price. 

Anthony Alan has these certifications and more together with a 5-star diamond dealer reputation in Cape Town. 

How much can I sell my diamonds for?

The price you can sell your diamonds for will primarily be determined by the 4Cs of diamond quality. 

• Colour
• Clarity
• Cut
• Carat Weight

The condition of your diamond will be assessed and current market prices for diamonds taken into consideration. 

The easiest way to get the best price for your diamonds is to contact us for a free quote. 

Is selling my diamond safe?

Selling your diamonds in Cape Town can be a tricky task if you’re working with someone off Gumtree for example. 

The last you want is some shady individual asking to meet you in an unknown location or even at your home. 

At Anthony Alan you can sell your diamonds with confidence at our secure office location at The Studios on Loop Street. 

We are certified and reputable diamond dealers able to give you a best-in-market price with instant payment. 

How can I get paid for my diamonds?

You can get an instant EFT payment to any local South African bank with the funds in your account before you leave our secure premises. 

We’ve provided fast and efficient transactions for Diamond purchases in Cape Town for years and as part of the Diamond Association of South Africa, you have the peace of mind that dealing with a professional business offers. 

For more information on selling your diamonds in Cape Town, contact us today and schedule a free quote.

History of Diamonds

The diamond is more than just aesthetically beautiful—it’s an enduring symbol of love, romance, and commitment. The stone’s name is derived from the Greek word adamas, which translates to “unconquerable.”

This symbolic meaning lends itself well to the diamond’s historic commemoration of eternal love.

Diamond History

The earliest diamonds were found in India in 4th century BC, although the youngest of these deposits were formed 900 million years ago.

A majority of these early stones were transported along the network of trade routes that connected India and China, commonly known as the Silk Road.

At the time of their discovery, diamonds were valued because of their strength and brilliance, and for their ability to refract light and engrave metal.

Diamonds were worn as adornments, used as cutting tools, served as a talisman to ward off evil, and were believed to provide protection in battle. In the Dark Ages, diamonds were also used as a medical aid and were thought to cure illness and heal wounds when ingested.

Surprisingly, diamonds share some common characteristics with coal. Both are composed of the most common substance on earth: carbon.

What makes diamonds different from coal is the way the carbon atoms are arranged and how the carbon is formed.

Diamonds are created when carbon is subjected to the extremely high pressures and temperatures found at the earth’s lithosphere, which lies approximately 90-240 miles below the earth’s surface.

Until the 18th century, India was thought to be the only source of diamonds.

When the Indian diamond mines were depleted, the quest for alternate sources began.

Although a small deposit was found in Brazil in 1725, the supply was not enough to meet world demands.

In 1866, 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs was exploring the banks of the Orange River when he came across what he thought was an ordinary pebble, but turned out to be a 21.25-carat diamond.

In 1871, a colossal 83.50-carat deposit was unearthed on a shallow hill called Colesberg Kopje.

These findings sparked a rush of thousands of diamond prospectors to the region and led to the opening of the first large-scale mining operation which came to be known as the Kimberly Mine.

This newly discovered diamond source increased the world’s diamond supply substantially, resulting in a significant decrease in their value.

The elite no longer considered the diamond a rarity, and began to replace this “common” stone with coloured gemstones.

Emeralds, rubies, and sapphires became more popular choices for engagement ring stones among the upper class.

In 1880, Englishman Cecil John Rhodes formed De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd in an effort to control the diamond supply.

Although DeBeers was successful in their efforts to control the supply of diamonds, demand for the stone was weak.

By 1919, diamonds were devalued by nearly 50%.

Diamond Engagement Ring History

The use of rings as a symbol of commitment dates back to ancient history, specifically to the betrothal (truth) rings of the Romans.

These early rings, often formed from twisted copper or braided hair, were worn on the third finger of the left hand.

The placement of the ring was significant, as Romans believed that a vein in the third finger (vena amorous) ran directly to the heart.

For Romans, betrothal rings were given as a sign of affection or friendship, and did not always represent the rite of marriage.

The history of the engagement ring began in 1215, when Pope Innocent III, one of the most powerful popes of the Middle Ages, declared a waiting period between a betrothal and the marriage ceremony.

The rings were used to signify the couple’s commitment in the interim. It was around this same time that rings were introduced as a major component of the wedding ceremony, and it was mandated by the Roman government that all marriage ceremonies be held in a church.

In addition to serving as symbols of an intention to marry, these early rings also represented social rank; only the elite were permitted to wear ornate rings or rings with jewels.

The first recorded presentation of a diamond engagement ring was in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria proposed marriage to Mary of Burgundy.

Although engagement rings were common at this time, diamonds were a rarity and were reserved for royalty and the upper elite class.

A Modern-Day Resurgence

In 1947, DeBeers commissioned the services of leading advertising agency N.W. Ayer, and the slogan “A diamond is forever” was coined.

The premise of this large-scale marketing campaign was the suggestion that diamonds should be the only choice for engagement rings.

The DeBeers advertising campaign was wildly successful, and was a contributing factor to today’s widespread embracing of the tradition of diamond engagement rings.

In today’s fine jewellery market, more than 78% of engagement rings sold contain diamonds.

With the surge in popularity of the precious stone, many companies and organisations began campaigns to educate jewellers and consumers about what to look for when selecting a diamond.

As jewellers experimented with ways to enhance the diamond’s visual appeal and presentation, new cutting techniques were adopted to help increase the stone’s brilliance.

Over time, several prominent shapes emerged as the most popular varieties, including round, oval, marquise, square (princess), and rectangular (emerald).

Today, the world’s diamond deposits are slowly becoming depleted.

Less than 20% of the diamonds mined are of gem quality; less than 2% are considered “investment diamonds.”

75-80% of mined diamonds are used for industrial applications, such as grinding, sawing, and drilling.

Typically, more than 250 tons of ore must be mined in order to produce a one-carat, gem-quality stone.

The diamond’s rarity, beauty, and strength make it a fitting symbol of the resilience and longevity of marriage.

In addition to engagement rings, diamonds are traditionally given as gifts to commemorate the milestone of the sixtieth anniversary.

With their rich history, sense of permanence, and lustrous brilliance, diamonds are a natural choice to signify a lasting union.

Transforming Rough Diamonds into Polished Diamonds

Created in nature .. cut and polished by us.  There is only one quality of a diamond which we control, diamond cut.  Don’t confuse diamond cut with diamond shape, for example a round brilliant cut diamond.  The cut refers to how well the stone is cut, the qualities of the diamond – how well the cut unlocks the diamond’s fire and brilliance.  It all comes down to the skill of the diamond cutter. The process of transforming rough diamonds into polished diamonds is amazing.  Taking a “rock” and making it into a thing of beauty involves tremendous experience and precision.  The process takes place in several stages: planning, cleaving or sawing, bruting, polishing and final inspection.  At each stage a diamond cutter or jeweler uses specific tools to bring out the unique diamond waiting within.  Let’s go through the process.

Planning

Analyzing the diamond to determine how it will be cut.  Computer-generated 3D images of the uncut diamond are generally used in the evaluating process.  Using these 3D models diamond manufacturers are able to assess the best angle for getting the best color, as well as for cutting and faceting the diamond.  The diamond facets are the windows of your diamond.  If cut properly, the light that enters will reflect back to your eye resulting in superb brilliance.  As you can understand, some raw diamonds are better suited for a round brilliant cut diamond while others would best be used for a longer diamond shape, like an oval shaped diamond, a pear shaped diamond or a marquise shaped diamond.  Even before the cutting process begins this is a crucial decision to be made.  For the manufacturer, it’s a question of getting the most out of a stone and being able therefore to get the most money.  For a consumer, it’s a question of whether the diamond is cut with the correct proportions to allow for maximum brilliance.

Cleaving/sawing

Some raw diamonds are used for a single stone while others are made into several separate diamonds.  This decision is made in the planning stage and will be finalized in the bruting stage.  For now we are concerned about the rough cutting down of the stone.  Cutting tools such as blades, saws and lasers are used in separating a rough diamond into smaller pieces.  The blades and saws generally utilize diamond dust or industrial diamonds in order to cut the diamond to the desired shape.

Bruting

This term is also known as girdling and is an important part of the process.  Here the rough diamond begins to take real shape.  It is rounded into a conical shape which will then be worked on further.  The main tools used in bruting are the lathe that rotates one diamond and a dop that rotates another diamond.  Some diamond cutters use digital imaging in the bruting process to analyze the desired dimensions and determine the speed of rotation.  At this stage a diamond loupe is often used to determine how best to show off the stone’s best attributes as we prepare for polishing.

Polishing 

Both cutting the facets of the diamond and the final polishing are included in the polishing process.  For the faceting process, a diamond cutter creates each facet using a dop to hold the diamond at the correct angle, grinding the diamond against a blade while spinning it with diamond powder and a lubrication like oil or lanolin.  This process is repeated for each facet of the diamond.  A polishing wheel and polishing pads are used to polish faceted diamonds and is a time consuming process.  This stage is for removing any coarse marks left from faceting the diamond and for ultra-fine polishing to bring out all the light-reflecting properties of the diamond.

Final Inspection

After the long polishing process each diamond is carefully evaluated.  If an external flaw is found it can be sent back for further polishing.  In some cases manufacturers choose to use enhancement techniques that fill in cracks for example.  Mazal Diamond has a strict policy regarding these diamond enhancements.  Absolutely no color adjustments are made and the use of heat treatments are completely forbidden.  In additional, all diamond jewelry from Mazal comes with a non-refurbished guarantee.

At this point, once the final inspection is complete, the polished stones are ready for diamond certification.  In terms of cut grade, a polished diamond is assessed and given a cut rating of: excellent, very good, good fair or poor.  Some stones are not certified, which we strong advise against.  There is no other way to insure that you are getting what you paid for.

How Diamonds Are Graded

Diamonds are submitted for GIA certification by the diamond’s current owner (usually the diamond cutter or dealer, but often a retailer or sometimes even the end consumer). The grading process begins when the diamond arrives at the GIA lab. It might be delivered from anywhere in the world by courier or submitted in person by the owner. A member of the GIA client services staff accepts hand-delivered submissions through a secure booth.The submitted diamond may not include any company names, initials, logos, or other information that would allow GIA personnel to identify the owner during the grading process. This allows GIA to avoid the appearance of favoritism, and insures an objective grade. The submitted diamond is assigned its own internal tracking number and placed into a transparent storage case. The tracking number identifies the diamond as it makes its way through the grading process.

Carat Weight and Proportions

The first step in the certification process is for the diamond to be weighed and measured. An electronic micro-balance captures the carat weight, while an optical scanning device is used to determine the diamond’s precise measurements, proportions and facet angels. These devices are more accurate than the manual gauges you might see in a jewelry store or appraiser’s office.

An additional review is done to determine whether the submitted gem is a synthetic diamond or a simulant, or if the diamond’s color is lab induced rather than natural. If necessary, the gem may be sent for further testing to determine is chemical composition and origin of color.

Clarity and Finish

The diamond’s clarity and finish are graded under magnification using standard viewing conditions, and multiple graders. The first grader examines the diamond to locate any clarity and finish characteristics as well as evidence of treatments such as fracture filling or laser drilling. At the same time, the grader verifies all weight and measurement data captured in the prior step.

The grader then assigns an opinion of the diamond’s clarity, polish and symmetry. If the diamond is to receive a full grading report (as opposed to a dossier), a diamond plot is also created, mapping the diamond’s interior and exterior flaws. In it, the grader indicates the size, position, and nature of each clarity characteristic. Finally, the diamond’s culet size and girdle thickness are also assessed.

A second grader then takes the diamond through the same process, once again identifying each clarity characteristic, evaluating the polish, symmetry, culet, and girdle, and checking for the presence of any treatments. This grader then submits a second independent opinion of the diamond. Depending on the diamond’s carat weight, quality, and the degree of agreement between graders, a senior gemologist may review the previous grading information and render a third opinion. Grading results are finalized once there is sufficient agreement on grades.

Color and Fluorescence

Next, the diamond’s color is compared to a set of master stones. The master stone set is a row of stones laid out from D to Z, representing the standard for each color grade. Each stone represents the least amount of color in its range. By moving the submitted diamond step by step down the line of master stones, the grader is able to determine where the submitted diamond falls in the color grade spectrum. The grader next observes the diamond under special UV lighting to see if the diamond exhibits signs of fluorescence; and if so, to what degree.

Every diamond is judged by several graders to insure that accurate color and fluorescence grades are assigned. Each grader is unaware of the opinions of the other graders. Only when there is sufficient agreement between individual graders is a color grade assigned. Since light source and background can have a significant impact on the appearance of color within a diamond, the grading environment is kept to a neutral gray and white.

Cut

For round brilliant diamonds, a cut grade is assigned once the color and clarity grading process is complete. The diamond’s brightness, fire, and scintillation are assessed and incorporated into the cut grade. The diamond’s measurements, proportions, facet angles, polish, and symmetry are also factored into the final cut grade.

Monitoring and Security

As diamonds move through the grading process, they are monitored by a central tracking department using electronic surveillance equipment which can pinpoint the diamond’s exact location at any time. Upon completion of each grading step, diamonds return to the inventory control department before being sent to the next step. This insures that the distribution of diamonds to graders is completely random.

Every diamond receiving a diamond dossier certificate is laser inscribed with the GIA certificate number. Diamonds receiving a full grading report can also be laser inscribed at the owner’s request. Any laser inscription is noted on the certificate itself.

Once the grading process is complete, GIA issues the diamond’s certification. The report is printed with micro print lines, a hologram, and other security components before being laminated. This helps to prevent tampering while preserving the certificate over time. The final report is then placed in a protective sleeve and delivered to the owner, along with the originally submitted diamond.