What is a rough, uncut diamond? Serious buyers start there.
Updated
SHORT ANSWER
A rough, uncut diamond is a natural diamond crystal that has not been sawn, shaped or polished. Buyers value its potential polished yield through carat weight, crystal shape, colour and clarity. Every international shipment also requires a valid Kimberley Process certificate.
Key takeaways
- Rough, uncut and raw describe the same unpolished crystal.
- Value depends on expected polished yield, not surface sparkle.
- Every cross-border parcel needs a Kimberley Process certificate.
Rough, uncut, raw: one stone, three names
A rough diamond has not been sawn, bruted or polished. Its octahedral, dodecahedral or irregular shape, frosted skin and natural surface marks are the original evidence of how it grew under heat and pressure deep in the mantle.
How rough is valued
Value hinges on what can be cut from the crystal: carat weight, shape (model), colour, clarity and the expected polished yield. Inclusions near the surface may be removed in cutting; deep ones may decide the whole plan.
Why provenance matters more than sparkle
International trade in rough diamonds requires a Kimberley Process certificate per shipment. At Souq Ore, parcels are sealed, reconciled with documents and released only to vetted buyers across the GCC, Jordan, the United States and Asia.
Questions buyers ask next
- Is a rough diamond cheaper than a polished one?
- Per carat, usually yes, because cutting removes weight and adds labour and risk. The fair price depends on the yield a cutter can expect from the crystal.
- How do I know a rough diamond is natural?
- Through independent gemmological testing of the parcel and an unbroken custody record from the Kimberley Process certificate to delivery.
- Can Souq Ore deliver rough diamonds to the GCC?
- Yes, to qualified buyers after KYC, by an insured secure carrier appointed per contract, into KWI, MCT, BAH, DOH, RUH, JED, DXB or AMM.