Skip to content
Add a LINE friend and receive a ¥3,000 OFF coupon!
Add a LINE friend and receive a ¥3,000 OFF coupon!

What is the difference between Type 2a diamond and Type 2B diamond? Professional answers to 10 questions about choosing loose diamonds

DIAMOND EXPERT GUIDE

type 2a diamond and
Type 2B DiamondWhat is the difference?
diamond loose selection
Professional answers to 10 questions

Diamonds in Okachimachi for 10 questions often seen in ChiebukuroSelby, who sells Dru Ruth, will answer from a professional perspective.

Recently, the decline in diamond prices has become a hot topic, and it is not affected by market trends.Continuing to maintain rarity and valueThe reason is that there are extremely few impurities."Type 2a Diamond"and"Type 2B Diamond"It is.

In this article, we will answer 10 questions that often come up on Chiebukuro and explain how to sell loose diamonds in Okachimachi.selbywill answer from a professional perspective.

diamond loose

Compare carefully selected diamonds loosely

Diamonds differ not only in the 4Cs, but also in type and clarity. At Selby, you can compare various loose diamonds and find one that matches your quality and budget.

Compare loosely
Choose by quality
Check details
Search for loose diamonds
Q1

First of all, what is the "type classification" of diamonds?

Diamond type classification refers to impurities within the crystal structure (mainlynitrogenandboron) is a scientific classification method based on the presence or absence and condition of SpecificallyType 1a, Type 1b, Type 2a, Type 2BIt is roughly divided into four types.

▼ 4 types of diamond classification
TYPE 1a
type 1a
Contains a collection of nitrogen atoms. most common type
Approximately 98% of natural diamonds
TYPE 1b
type 1b
Nitrogen atoms are individually dispersed. Often dark yellow
rare in nature
TYPE 2a
type 2a
Extremely pure diamond containing almost no nitrogen
Approximately 1-2% of the total
TYPE 2b
Type 2B
Contains boron but does not contain nitrogen. The true identity of Blue Diamond
Approximately 0.01% of the total
By type
Composition ratio
Type 1 series (approx. 98%)
Type 2 series (approx. 1-2%)

In other wordsType 2 diamonds account for only 1-2% of all diamonds.It is a rare quality that only exists. It can be said to be a more scientific indicator of "identity" that is different from the general 4Cs (color, clarity, cut, carat).

Q2

What kind of diamond is a type 2a diamond?

Type 2a diamonds are diamonds that contain almost no impurities such as nitrogen or boron.High purity natural diamondIt means. Of the world's natural diamond productionOnly less than 1-2%It is said that there are only"Miracle Diamond"Also called.

💎 Type 2a diamond characteristics

・Extremely high transparencyColorless (colorless) highest grade D colorappears frequently
・Excellent light penetration, clear and deep shine
・High convertibility into cash from the perspective of asset value,Gemstones suitable for long-term ownership

Cullinan
The largest rough stone in history (3,106ct)
British royal treasure
Koh Yi Noor
Also known as "Mountain of Light"
105.6ct, excavated from India

The historically famous "Cullinan" and "Koh-i-Noor" are also classified as type 2a, and have a prestigious lineage that has been loved by royalty and the wealthy.

Even when viewed as a loose diamond, the difference is obvious. From the perspective of asset value, it is highly convertible into cash and is attracting attention as a gemstone suitable for long-term holding.

Q3

What kind of diamond is Type 2B diamond?

Type 2B diamonds contain almost no nitrogen and instead contain trace amounts of nitrogen.boronA diamond that contains Natural due to the action of boronblue (blue)exhibits,Electrical conductivity as a semiconductorIt has unique properties that other diamonds do not have.

💎 Characteristics of Type 2B Diamond

・Among the entire Type 2 seriesApproximately 0.01%The super rare occurrence rate
・Almost all natural fancy blue diamonds belong to this type.
・At auctionBillions of yenThe rarest species that can fetch a price of

hope diamond
Typical example of 45.52ct/Type 2B
Collection of Smithsonian Institution
Estimated value $2-350 million

It is a gemstone that is highly valued not only as jewelry but also as a collection item and asset.

Q4

What is the difference between type 2a and 2B? Can you tell at a glance?

The difference between Type 2a diamond and Type 2B diamond is"Does it contain boron?"It boils down to one point. This greatly changes the appearance, properties, and uses.

Comparison items type 2a Type 2B
impurities Almost no nitrogen or boron Contains trace amounts of boron
color Colorless (mostly D to F) Blue (fancy blue)
Appearance rate Approximately 1-2% of all diamonds Approximately 0.01% of all diamonds
electrical conductivity insulator semiconductor (conducts electricity)
Typical example Cullinan, Koh I Noor hope diamond
type 2a
ultimate transparency
Colorless, pure shine
VS
Type 2B
mysterious blue
The rare property of conducting electricity

In appearance,Type 2a is "ultimate transparency", type 2B is "mysterious blue"can be identified as However, accurate determination is required by a specialized organization.Spectroscopic analysis (FTIR inspection)is required, and is proven by being clearly marked on the GIA or CGL certificate.

Q5

Why are Type 2a/2B diamonds so rare and expensive?

The reason for the scarcity is that it is formed undergroundseverity of conditionsIt is located in Type 2 diamonds are found in deeper locations (Deep in the mantle, over 400km underground), it is said to be formed in a purer carbon environment, and the probability of its formation in nature is extremely low.

▼ Diamond formation depth image
🌍 surface of the earth
0km
Underground 150-200km
Normal diamond (type 1) production area
✦ Over 400km underground (deep in the mantle)
Type 2a/Type 2B Diamond production area
Requires extremely pure carbon environment

In addition, in recent years the followingmarket factorssupports the price:

CLOSED
Argyle mine closed
Blue color supply is severely limited
Sanctions
russian economic sanctions
Alrosa's distribution decreased
Rising scarcity premium
In contrast to the sharp drop in synthetic diamond prices

Now that synthetic diamonds have fallen to less than 1/10th the price of natural diamonds,"Genuine natural and rare quality"The relative value of Type 2A diamonds and Type 2B diamonds is actually increasing.

Q6

Will Type 2a/2B be listed on the certificate of authenticity (grading report)?

Yes,GIA(Gemological Institute of America)CGL(Central Gem Research Institute) allows you to add type determination to the certificate. In the case of GIA, a supplementary report (Type Classification Report) can be issued that clearly states "Type IIa" or "Type IIb."

Gemological Institute of America
"Type IIa" "Type IIb"
It is possible to issue a supplementary report stating that
Central Gem Research Institute
One of the largest appraisal institutions in Japan
Supports type determination
⚠️ Attention:It is not automatically included in regular grading reports. If you wish to determine the type,Order additional testsis required.

As a general rule, Type 2a diamonds and Type 2B diamonds handled by Selby areType confirmed by two institutions: GIA + CGLWe offer the following.

A "Certificate of Identification" (certifying the type of gemstone) and a "Certificate of Authenticity (Grading Report)" are two different things, so be sure to check the latter when purchasing.

Q7

What are the advantages of buying diamonds loose?

The biggest advantages of purchasing loose diamonds are:threeIt is.

360° quality confirmation
Since it is a bare stone, you can check the quality with your own eyes from all directions.
¥
No setting fee required
It can be purchased cheaper than jewelry because the frame fee is not included.
free design
You can customize it later with your favorite frame and design.

Especially like type 2a diamonds.“Transparency itself” is the core of valueThe golden rule when appreciating and purchasing stones is to observe them loosely and directly under the light, rather than while they are set in jewelry. Professionals always check for shine that is above grade at the loose stage.

📋 Basics of selecting loose diamonds

① Carat (size) ② Clarity (transparency) ③ Cut grade ④ Appraisal agency
which of these fourtop priorityDeciding what to do is the first step.

Q8

What is a first hand (virgin) diamond? Is it different from normal diamonds?

First-hand diamonds (formerly known as virgin diamonds/this name is no longer used) areA brand new diamond that has never been in the hands of another person (general consumer)refers to

NEW
first hand
Brand new product that has not been handed over to general consumers after polishing.
Clean handling history
reused diamond
Sold once in the past and recirculated through the second-hand market
Difficult to distinguish visually

In the second-hand market, there are a large number of "reused diamonds" that were once sold as jewelry and then recirculated through recycling companies. These are visually indistinguishable, butHandling history, fingerprints, and presence of minute wear.The value changes.

Selby leverages its long-standing overseas trading network,Direct import from polishing factory/local dealer = Direct salesOne of the few stores that does this. Because there is no intermediate margin, we are able to achieve top-class sales volume and price competitiveness in Okachimachi, even though we are first-hand diamonds.

Q9

Where can I buy Type 2a/2B diamonds cheaply?

In conclusion,"Specialty store with direct import route"Purchasing at is the most cost advantageous. Type 2a diamonds and type 2B diamonds tend to be expensive due to their rarity.The shorter the distribution channel, the lower the final price。

▼ Comparison of distribution channels
General distribution (with intermediaries)
overseas mines → polishing → Overseas wholesale → Domestic importer → Domestic wholesale → retail store → consumer
Selby distribution (direct import)
overseas mines → polishing → Selby direct import → consumer
▲ This difference can amount to 20-40% of the final selling price.

Furthermore, Selby“Reverse distribution power to overseas buyers”--In other words, because we are able to conduct two-way transactions like a trading company, we are able to obtain purchasing prices that are commercially viable.

In recent years, we have received an increasing number of inquiries from SNS users and rare stone enthusiasts, and the influx of customers via SNS is boosting sales.

Q10

Why is it recommended to search for loose and rare stones in Okachimachi?

Okachimachi is known as Japan's largest jewelry wholesaler district, and is home to a large collection of loose and rare stones. Compare stones of the same qualityLarge number of stores, transparent prices, and a culture where you can purchase like a wholesaler--No other city has all of these things.

💎 Three reasons to choose Okachimachi
In-kind comparison
Compare actual items at multiple stores on the same day
¥
price transparency
Fair prices for a wholesale feel unique to a wholesale district
Accumulation of specialty stores
Japan's largest loose specialty area

Ginza has high land rents, and department stores have high fees, so the diamonds themselves tend to be expensive. However, there are many concerns about not having a store or using social media.There is a tendency for Okachimachi to be chosen as a solution to this problem.It seems that there is.

For those who are seriously looking for loose diamonds, Okachimachi is the place to go.A rare city where you can compare items and compare prices on the same day. If you're looking for the highest quality, such as Type 2a diamonds, it's especially worth comparing multiple diamonds on-site.

Summary

Type 2a diamonds and type 2B diamonds are different due to scientific differences in the presence or absence of boron."Ultimate transparency"and"Mysterious Blue"This is the rarest class of diamonds that exudes individuality.

It has both rarity and asset quality that are unaffected by price trends in the market as a whole, making it a gem that should be selected by customers who prefer authenticity.

When choosing loose diamonds, please consider the following:3 pointsPlease be aware of this. Selby is a specialty store in Okachimachi that confidently responds to all of your needs.

1
Distribution channel
2
Appraisal agency
3
Type classification
diamond loose

Compare carefully selected diamonds loosely

Diamonds differ not only in the 4Cs, but also in type and clarity. At Selby, you can compare various loose diamonds and find one that matches your quality and budget.

Compare loosely
Choose by quality
Check details
Search for loose diamonds

Written by: Kozo Saito (EC/SNS/Ruth/Production Department Manager)

© SELBY All Rights Reserved.

Previous article What is Carletonite? A thorough explanation of the “mysterious blue mineral” that can only be found in one place in the world