Key Concepts Diamonds and Diamond
Grading Exam Questions with Correct
Answers
DDG 1 - Diamond grades provide a consistent, standardized way of communicating and
comparing diamond quality - Answer-DDG 1 - Diamond grades are only part of the
determination of diamond market value
DDG 1 - The listed wholesale prices of diamonds depend on the market conditions that
exist when the lists are published - Answer-DDG 1 - Large, high-quality diamonds are
graded much more thoroughly than small, low-quality ones
DDG 1 - Diamond's specific formation conditions are directly responsible for its
hardness and durability as a gem - Answer-DDG 1 - The unique physical properties of
gem-quality diamonds allow them to survive environmental forces better than any other
gemstone
DDG 1 - The huge financial costs involved in locating, developing, and operating
diamond mines are factors affecting diamond value - Answer-End of DDG 1
DDG 2 - Abundant South African diamond sources appeared appeared in the late
1800s, just as diamond demand broadened - Answer-DDG 2 - The diamond rush began
with the discovery of the Star of South Africa in 1869
DDG 2 - Early South African diamond fields contained hundreds of small, individually
owned and operated claims - Answer-DDG 2 - Cecil Rhodes wanted to stabilize
diamond prices, so he stared by trying to control production
DDG 2 - Cecil Rhodes established De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. in 1888 to direct
mining operations - Answer-DDG 2 - When it couldn't own every mine, De Beers began
buying rough from other producers to safeguard diamond prices and ensure market
stability
DDG 2 - Military needs during World War II heightened demand for industrial diamond
rough - Answer-DDG 2 - De Beers had full or partial ownership of many mines, and
bought rough from others through purchasing contracts
DDG 2 - Rough is sorted into categories based on size, shape, clarity, and color -
Answer-DDG 2 - At a sight, the CSO (Central Selling Organization) presented a
customized selection of diamonds to each sightholder for acceptance
DDG 2 - The early 21st century brought dynamic changes to the global diamond market
- Answer-End of DDG 2
, DDG 3 - The CSO controlled diamond prices by buying and holding supplies until
demand increased - Answer-DDG 3 - A finished piece of diamond jewelry has much
greater value than a rough diamond crystal
DDG 3 - The low-wage Indian cutting industry allowed Argyle's small, lower-quality
stones to be processed for the jewelry market - Answer-DDG 3 - Beneficiation helps
countries exercise greater control over their natural mineral resources
DDG 3 - New diamond supplies combined with major political and economic events led
De Beers to institute dramatic changes - Answer-DDG 3 - SOC (Suppliers of Choice)
Sightholders had to demonstrate the ability to sell diamonds and to ass value to those
diamonds in some way
DDG 3 - De Beers' efforts at reinvention proved to be an evolving process - Answer-
DDG 3 - De Beers' advocacy of corporate responsibility had a more profound impact on
the diamond market than its advocacy of branding.
DDG 3 - India's diamond manufacturing industry makes it a major force in the new multi-
channel market - Answer-DDG 3 - Electronic retailing showed an ability to sell a huge
volume of diamonds without relying on the "personal touch"
DDG 3 - The future of the diamond market in manufacturing and consumption may be in
Asia, especially China and India - Answer-End of DDG 3
DDG 4 - Diamond and graphite are both made of carbon - Answer-DDG 4 - Diamonds
form under cratons, which are located only under continental landmasses
DDG 4 - The carbon needed for diamond formation is always present - Answer-DDG 4 -
Diamonds might wait hundreds of millions of years before they're carried to the surface
DDG 4 - Diamonds that exist today were delivered to the surface between 2.5 billion
and 20 million years ago - Answer-DDG 4 - Kimberlites and lamproites transport
diamonds to the surface, but diamonds don't form in them
DDG 4 - Very few kimberlites actually contain diamonds - Answer-End of DDG 4
DDG 5 - Growing diamond demand helps motivate the search for new diamond sources
- Answer-DDG 5 - It takes many years and millions of dollars to develop a diamond
mine
DDG 5 - Modern diamond exploration involves careful planning and sophisticated
equipment - Answer-DDG 5 - For a mine to be successful, the projected value of its
diamonds must be more than the cost of mining them
Grading Exam Questions with Correct
Answers
DDG 1 - Diamond grades provide a consistent, standardized way of communicating and
comparing diamond quality - Answer-DDG 1 - Diamond grades are only part of the
determination of diamond market value
DDG 1 - The listed wholesale prices of diamonds depend on the market conditions that
exist when the lists are published - Answer-DDG 1 - Large, high-quality diamonds are
graded much more thoroughly than small, low-quality ones
DDG 1 - Diamond's specific formation conditions are directly responsible for its
hardness and durability as a gem - Answer-DDG 1 - The unique physical properties of
gem-quality diamonds allow them to survive environmental forces better than any other
gemstone
DDG 1 - The huge financial costs involved in locating, developing, and operating
diamond mines are factors affecting diamond value - Answer-End of DDG 1
DDG 2 - Abundant South African diamond sources appeared appeared in the late
1800s, just as diamond demand broadened - Answer-DDG 2 - The diamond rush began
with the discovery of the Star of South Africa in 1869
DDG 2 - Early South African diamond fields contained hundreds of small, individually
owned and operated claims - Answer-DDG 2 - Cecil Rhodes wanted to stabilize
diamond prices, so he stared by trying to control production
DDG 2 - Cecil Rhodes established De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. in 1888 to direct
mining operations - Answer-DDG 2 - When it couldn't own every mine, De Beers began
buying rough from other producers to safeguard diamond prices and ensure market
stability
DDG 2 - Military needs during World War II heightened demand for industrial diamond
rough - Answer-DDG 2 - De Beers had full or partial ownership of many mines, and
bought rough from others through purchasing contracts
DDG 2 - Rough is sorted into categories based on size, shape, clarity, and color -
Answer-DDG 2 - At a sight, the CSO (Central Selling Organization) presented a
customized selection of diamonds to each sightholder for acceptance
DDG 2 - The early 21st century brought dynamic changes to the global diamond market
- Answer-End of DDG 2
, DDG 3 - The CSO controlled diamond prices by buying and holding supplies until
demand increased - Answer-DDG 3 - A finished piece of diamond jewelry has much
greater value than a rough diamond crystal
DDG 3 - The low-wage Indian cutting industry allowed Argyle's small, lower-quality
stones to be processed for the jewelry market - Answer-DDG 3 - Beneficiation helps
countries exercise greater control over their natural mineral resources
DDG 3 - New diamond supplies combined with major political and economic events led
De Beers to institute dramatic changes - Answer-DDG 3 - SOC (Suppliers of Choice)
Sightholders had to demonstrate the ability to sell diamonds and to ass value to those
diamonds in some way
DDG 3 - De Beers' efforts at reinvention proved to be an evolving process - Answer-
DDG 3 - De Beers' advocacy of corporate responsibility had a more profound impact on
the diamond market than its advocacy of branding.
DDG 3 - India's diamond manufacturing industry makes it a major force in the new multi-
channel market - Answer-DDG 3 - Electronic retailing showed an ability to sell a huge
volume of diamonds without relying on the "personal touch"
DDG 3 - The future of the diamond market in manufacturing and consumption may be in
Asia, especially China and India - Answer-End of DDG 3
DDG 4 - Diamond and graphite are both made of carbon - Answer-DDG 4 - Diamonds
form under cratons, which are located only under continental landmasses
DDG 4 - The carbon needed for diamond formation is always present - Answer-DDG 4 -
Diamonds might wait hundreds of millions of years before they're carried to the surface
DDG 4 - Diamonds that exist today were delivered to the surface between 2.5 billion
and 20 million years ago - Answer-DDG 4 - Kimberlites and lamproites transport
diamonds to the surface, but diamonds don't form in them
DDG 4 - Very few kimberlites actually contain diamonds - Answer-End of DDG 4
DDG 5 - Growing diamond demand helps motivate the search for new diamond sources
- Answer-DDG 5 - It takes many years and millions of dollars to develop a diamond
mine
DDG 5 - Modern diamond exploration involves careful planning and sophisticated
equipment - Answer-DDG 5 - For a mine to be successful, the projected value of its
diamonds must be more than the cost of mining them
