Apollo® diamonds are identical to mined diamonds. An Apollo® diamond is a diamond - chemically, physically and optically identical to a diamond found in nature. Apollo® is the only company in the world currently producing and selling colorless cultured diamond.
An interesting fact to note is that there is a huge variety in diamonds that are mined in the earth. For example, diamonds that are pulled out of the ground in Russia are very different from those pulled out of the ground in Africa, Australia, or Canada. Each mine produces diamonds unique to their location. Apollo® diamonds do not posses such characteristic differences. An Apollo® is an Apollo®.
Apollo® Diamond Growth: Apollo® grows diamonds through a technique derived from the process known as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). Apollo® uses a growth chamber and meticulously places seeds roughly the size of a shirt button into that chamber. Once the seeds are in place we rain carbon onto the seeds, and new diamond grows one carbon atom at a time, on top of the seed. The diamond is then separated from the seed, inspected to ensure that it meets the high standards held by Apollo®, and certified before being sold.
Cutting: Apollo® diamonds, just as mined diamonds, must be cut by highly skilled artisans that have been trained in the art of diamond cutting for years. There is no difference whatsoever in the way that Apollo® diamonds are cut and the way that mined diamonds are cut. Diamond cutting is one of the few processes that have changed very little in the past one hundred years. All cutters must prove that they have trained and apprenticed for years before they begin to cut diamonds for Apollo®. We hold cutters to the highest standards of quality and perfection such that all Apollo® diamonds achieve their true brilliance before they are qualified to be set into jewelry and sold directly to consumers.
How to Choose an Apollo® Diamond
Choosing a diamond can be a difficult, sometimes daunting, process. With a countless number of combinations to choose from, deciding on the perfect cut, color, clarity and carat weight requires research, education and sometimes luck. Apollo® has made your hunt for a perfect diamond easy.
CARAT: Apollo® diamonds are available in sizes ranging from .20 carats to .60 carats. Larger and smaller sizes will be available in the future.
CUT: Apollo® diamond cut grade is 'very good' or better.
CLARITY: Just as every mined diamond is unique, Apollo's® diamonds follow a similar pattern. Apollo® diamonds will be available in clarities ranging from IF - SI. This range will ensure that only high quality diamonds reach our consumers.
COLOR: Apollo® diamonds range in colors from D to M (colorless, near colorless and faint). Additional fancy colors including blue, pink, mocha and yellow may become available in the future as well.
CERTIFICATION:
Each Apollo® diamond will be certified by Apollo® Diamond, Inc. as being 100% diamond. Because Apollo® Diamond is committed to selling each diamond with full disclosure, each diamond over .25 carats will be laser inscribed with a unique serial number and will be delivered with an Apollo® Diamond Certificate Of Authenticity identifying it as a diamond cultured by Apollo® Diamond, Inc.
Apollo® Diamond, Inc. was founded in 1990 with a vision of growing large diamond crystals for semiconductor applications. With that vision and the talents and perseverance of Apollo® Diamond's creative scientists the goal of growing diamonds has been realized so successfully that Apollo® diamonds are now used for jewelry as well as for semiconductor applications.
Dr. Robert Linares, an expert in the field of crystal growth technologies, was the primary driving force behind Apollo® Diamond. After establishing the company in 1990, Dr. Linares, along with co-founder Patrick Doering, led Apollo's® creative scientific team in growing the first ever cultured colorless diamond. In 2003, Apollo® publicly introduced its company and product to the world.
In 2006, after 15 years of research and development, Apollo® released its first edition of diamonds to the public on a very limited basis. This first edition was called the Inventors Edition and each diamond was laser marked on the girdle with an inscription that reads: AD-IE1 followed by a unique seven digit serial number (Apollo® Diamond - Inventors Edition 1). There may be a few of these still available for public sale. Now each diamond is laser marked on the girdle with an inscription that reads: AD followed by a unique seven digit serial number and accompanied with a an AD-IE1 certificate that includes detailed information on the diamond including the inscription, edition, diamond color and clarity grading, dimensions and a rendering of the diamond. carat weight, color and clarity.
To learn more about Apollo® and Apollo® diamonds, visit our corporate website: www.Apollo®diamond.com
APOLLOMARKTM APOLLO MIND DIAMONDTM Apollo Green DiamondTM and Apollo, The Intelligent DiamondTM are all trademarks of Apollo Diamond, Inc..
