# First water

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Quality rating of diamonds

For the evolutionary history concerning the first water on Earth, see [Origin of water on Earth](/source/Origin_of_water_on_Earth).

Look up ***[first water](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/first_water)*** in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

In the [gemstone](/source/Gemstone) trade, **first water** means "highest quality".[1] The [clarity of diamonds](/source/Diamond_clarity) is assessed by their [translucence](/source/Translucence); the more like [water](/source/Water), the higher the quality. The 1753 edition of *[Chambers's Encyclopaedia](/source/Chambers's_Encyclopaedia)* states "The first water in Diamonds means the greatest purity and perfection of their complexion, which ought to be that of the clearest drop of water. When Diamonds fall short of this perfection, they are said to be of the second or third water, &c. till the stone may be properly called a coloured one." The phrase *first water* is also used more generally to refer to the highest quality or most extreme example of a person or thing, not just gemstones.[1]

The comparison of diamonds with water dates back to at least the early 17th century, and [Shakespeare](/source/William_Shakespeare) alludes to it in *[Pericles](/source/Pericles%2C_Prince_of_Tyre)*, 1607.[2]

... heavenly jewels which Pericles hath lost— ... The diamonds of a most praisèd water doth appear to make the world twice rich.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Collins_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Collins_1-1) ["Definition of first water"](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/first-water). *[Collins English Dictionary](/source/Collins_English_Dictionary)*. Retrieved 7 December 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Pericles* 3.2/113–117](https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/pericles/read/3/2/#line-3.2.113), [Folger Shakespeare Library](/source/Folger_Shakespeare_Library)

v t e William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre Characters John Gower Diana Sources Confessio Amantis (1390) The Pattern of Painful Adventures (1576) Adaptations Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1984; TV) Related George Wilkins Shakespeare's late romances Shakespeare apocrypha Apollonius of Tyre The Pattern of Painful Adventures (2008; radio) First water The Porpoise

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