Type lla and Type llb Diamonds

[xxxxxx]

Dear Pricescopers,

Unfortunately I won’t in the near future have the possibility to examine a type 2a diamond against a type 2b diamond. I know the main difference is that the type 2a diamond has only carbon atoms connected to each other and the type 2b diamond has a few boron atoms (impurities) thrown in the mix.

If the type 2b diamond only has a Blue Nuance (not a lot of boron atoms) is it still less transparent than a type 2a diamond? Are type 2a diamond so beautifully transparent that a IF type 2b diamond still could be visually less liquidy transparent than a type 2a diamond?
Or have I totally misunderstood the concept of diamond types?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[John P]

Cool question.

I'll start with the disclaimer you probably expect: Every diamond is different from the next, even within the most rare and unique types.

That said, your use of "liquid" provides a perfect point of reference. Golcondas were first distinguished that way; as having "the finest water." There's a great book by Richard Wise about Tavernier's travels to Persia and India, and his experience with Type 2a and 2b diamonds - including the most famous Type 2b in history, the Hope (aka Tavernier/French Blue).

Running with that description, the type 2a diamonds I've played with can have subtly different levels of liquid magic. I'll resist droning on and on about the importance of cut-quality, but it does make a difference in the resulting water dance. And there's at least one HPHT grower producing what I call super-Ds. Some we might call C-color. Some we might even say B. So there's a subtle but present sliding scale among different 2a specimens. You might say the situation is fluid (see what I did there?).

I've had less exposure to extraordinary type 2b diamonds but, based on experience with Golcondas and HPHT I presume there's a sliding scale among those specimens as well, so the boron balance you postulate could exist. I have not seen it personally, though.

Looking forward to other comments.

 

[xxxxxx]

@John Pollard Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Are you allowed to disclose this super D grower? Why wouldn’t CBI cut diamonds like that?
I always thought that all HPHT diamonds are Type 2b. I must have been wrong!
When you talk about C or B color how can we consumers picture these colors? Are these diamonds going into the blue scale or are they even more colorless than a D?


I have read of J colored Type 2a diamonds. Does the diamonds color correlate with its fluidity? : )

 

[John P]

@John Pollard Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Are you allowed to disclose this super D grower?

I’m prevented by NDA. I did provide more technical info in a prior thread.

Why wouldn’t CBI cut diamonds like that? I always thought that all HPHT diamonds are Type 2b. I must have been wrong! When you talk about C or B color how can we consumers picture these colors? Are these diamonds going into the blue scale or are they even more colorless than a D? I have read of J colored Type 2a diamonds. Does the diamonds color correlate with its fluidity? : )

I love this stuff and so do my colleagues. Brand new inclusion-types, unique growth directions, super-Ds. All kinds of groovy aspects, fresh and new. But the value forecast doesn't fit our brand premise. Even if it did, we'd have to clone our workspaces, equipment and cutting team - but pay them 40% less. So for now we're only engaged in consulting and study (which is a gas).

I'll try to describe super-D. When you picture that C or B level, it's all about an increase in the pure glasslike, watery transparency. But yes. Imagine a very very subtle impression of blue. It's there. But that impression only hovers, like vermouth hovers about a proper dry martini...you feel like it's there, while also questioning whether it exists.