Diamonds are created through a
complex process ... a rare and beautiful occurrence that has been around for
billions of years.
That's why here giving you a bit
of it all. There are fun facts, there are legends and myths, and there is
endless scientific and technical information. So take a look through and learn
all there is know about the world of diamonds…
The
History of Diamonds
800-1000 BC: Diamonds are believed to have been first
discovered in India , approximately
3000 years ago.
327 BC: Alexander the Great, King of the ancient Greek state
Macedon, brings the first diamonds from India
to Europe .
1074: The first instance of diamonds being used for jewelry
occurs when a Hungarian queen’s crown
is decorated with diamonds.
1375: The Point Cut is developed. The Point Cut follows the
natural shape of a diamond, reducing
diamond waste in the cutting process. Before this development, the only diamonds used were well formed ones; poorly
formed diamonds were discarded because
no one knew how to cut and shape them yet.
1477: The first diamond engagement ring is given to Mary of
Burgundy by the Archduke Maximilian
of Austria, beginning the tradition of a man proposing to his intended with a diamond ring.
1520: The Rose Cut is created to resemble an opening
rosebud.
1681: The Peruzzi Cut is created by a Venetian diamond
polisher. Compared to previous popular
cuts, the Peruzzi Cut nearly doubles the number of crown facets from 17 to 33, significantly increasing a
diamond’s brilliance.
1902: The Cullinan Diamond, which is the largest rough
quality gemstone in the world, was
discovered in a mine in South Africa .
Check out our section ‘World’s Most Famous
Diamonds’ to learn more about the Cullinan.
What
diamond really is?
Technically, a diamond is an
allotrope, or a form, of the element carbon (a diamond is actually carbon in
its most concentrated form). Within a diamond, the carbon atoms are arranged in
a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond
lattice. This arrangement of carbon atoms essentially means that the diamond
expands outward at the same rate in all directions during its initial growth.
 |
| Diamond Structure |
A diamond is the hardest
naturally occurring material on Earth and is much rarer than gold. About
175,000 tons of gold have been mined in all of human history, while only around
500 tons of diamonds have been mined in the same amount of time.
Where
and how is a diamond formed
As the hardest naturally forming
material on Earth, a diamond gets its name from the ancient Greek word adámas,
which means “unbreakable.”
The formation of a diamond
actually requires very specific conditions – conditions that are met in only
two places on Earth. The first is in the
Earth's crust, in the lithospheric mantle below relatively stable continental
plates. The second is at the site of a meteor strike.
The lithospheric mantle
constitutes the Earth's crust and uppermost mantle, which makes up the hard and
rigid outer layer of our planet. This is where the most common formation of a
diamond occurs, as diamonds begin to form deep inside the great depths of this
mantle, about 87 to 190 miles down.
However, the temperature of the Earth varies significantly depending
upon location and depth, and diamonds require a specific temperature and
pressure to form. Therefore, the necessary temperature and pressure to form a
diamond is found only at certain depths in the ancient, thick, and stable parts
of continental plates. In addition, the longer a diamond lies deep down in a
stable part of a continental plate, the larger it grows.
These precious gems are carried
within rocks from the mantle to the surface by deep-origin volcanic eruptions.
Because the volcanic shift must occur deep enough to carry the diamond up from
where it has been forming, such eruptions are a relatively rare occurrence.
Once a diamond has been carried up to the Earth's surface by a volcanic
eruption, it may erode out of the rock that carried it up so that it can be discovered
and shaped into The World's Most Perfectly Cut Diamond.
Not
all of the diamonds found on Earth originate here. A type of diamond known as
carbonado, found primarily in Africa and South
America , is believed to have been deposited on the Earth through
an asteroid impact about three billion years ago. There is no scientific
consensus on how carbonado diamonds originated, but many believe these diamonds
formed in outer space before crashing to Earth. Diamonds can also occur in the
high-pressure conditions of a crater left behind by a meteorite impact.
Facts
about Diamond
The word "Diamond" comes
from the Greek word "Adamas" and means "unconquerable and
indestructible"-
The diamond is the hardest natural
substance found on the Earth
-
Diamonds have very high melting
point of 3820K (3547' C/ 6420' F) and a boiling point of 5100K (4827' C/ 8720'
F)
-
The diamond is a birthstone for
people born in the month of April
-
Most diamonds found in nature are
between one to three billion years old
-
The Earth is estimated at 4.5
billion years old. The oldest diamonds are believed to have been crystallized
around 3.3 Billion years ago
-
Diamonds were first discovered in
-
Diamonds were originally found and
mined in India, Brazil, South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Congo;
however today, diamonds also come from Guinea, Lesotho, Siera Leone, China,
Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Guyana, Central African Republic, Canada, and Australia
-
The top three diamonds mines in
the world are:
-
80% of diamonds go toward
industrial uses
-
To produce a single one-carat
diamond, 250 tons of earth will be mined
-
The earliest record of man giving
diamond to a woman was in 1477 when the Archduke of Austria gave a diamond to
Mary of Burgundy. On average, each stone will lose 50% of its original weight
during cutting and polishing
-
Diamonds form 90 – 120 miles
beneath the surface of the earth and are carried to the surface by volcanic
eruptions
-
The
-
There are white dwarf stars in
space that have a diamond core. The biggest diamond known in universe weights 2.27
thousand trillion tons which is 10 billion trillion carats, or a 1 followed by 34
zeros
-
The largest diamond ever found was
the Cullinan at 3106 carats
-
80% of the world's diamonds are
not suitable for jewelry
-
Diamonds worn in ancient times
were believed to promote strength, invincibility and courage
-
Color of diamond is usually pale
yellow to colorless, but can also be brown, blue, green, orange, red, pink and
black
-
The ancient Greeks believed that
diamonds were splinters of stars fallen on the earth
-
Romans believed that diamonds had
the power to ward off evil and wore them as talismans. They inherited this
belief from Indian mythology
-
A law in Thirteenth-century
Every year, approximately 130,000,000
carats (57,320 pounds) of diamonds are mined, with a total value of nearly $9
billion USD. Diamond mines are concentrated in a small number of locations
around the world, and the diamond supply chain is controlled by a few powerful
businesses. Roughly 49% of those diamonds are found in Central and Southern
Africa , although significant diamond sources have been discovered
in other areas throughout the world, including India ,
Canada , Brazil ,
Russia , and Australia .
Diamonds are first located within
the mines through the use of X-ray fluorescent lights and are then sorted out
by hand. Before X-ray fluorescent lights were commonly used, the separation of
diamonds from the earth was done with grease belts as diamonds have a tendency
to stick to grease more strongly than the other minerals surrounding them in
the dirt do.
The five countries with the
highest producing diamond mines are Botswana ,
Russia ,
Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa ,
and Canada . These
countries account for more than 75% of total diamond production by weight. The
diamond mine that produces the most diamonds in the world is Jwaneng, which is
located in Botswana
and produced 11.5 million carats of diamonds in 2009.
Unusual
uses of diamonds
Speaker Domes
Diamonds are believed to actually
enhance the performance of high quality speakers. Because diamonds are a very
stiff material, they can vibrate rapidly when made into a thin dome without the
deformation that can degrade sound quality.
Antidote for Poison/Disease
While there is no scientific
evidence backing this usage, diamonds are often used as antidotes in various
places for poisons or diseases. The belief that swallowing diamonds would ward
off illness stems from the days of the plague. The lower classes felt the
deadly effects of the plague before the upper classes did, a result of their
inferior health care and dirtier living conditions. However, many poor people
came to the conclusion that it was the diamonds that the wealthy people were
swallowing that were keeping them healthy.
Windows
Diamond windows are made from
very thin diamond membranes. These thin diamond membranes are used to cover
openings in things like lasers, vacuum chambers, and x-ray machines. Diamond
membranes are durable, resistant to heat, and transparent, making them highly
useful.
Abrasives
Because diamonds are so hard and
durable, they are ideal for grinding, cutting, drilling, and polishing. When
used as an abrasive, very small pieces of diamond are embedded into grinding
wheels, saw blades, or drill bits.
Heat Sinks
A heat sink is a passive
component in an electronic system that cools a device by dissipating heat into
the surrounding air. Diamonds have very high thermal conductivity, which means
they are excellent heat conductors. Because of this, diamonds are used as a
material for heat sinks.
Engraving
Diamonds are used for the
engraving of stones made of granite, quartz, and other very hard materials. Because
diamonds will not break or even scratch against the surfaces of other tough
stones, using them for engraving is quite practical as the work can be
completed without having to worry about replacing the engraving bit.
Potential Future Uses
In the future, diamonds may be
used for surgical tools, medical devices, and prosthetic human joints. Research
is being conducted into whether or not the Earth's hardest naturally occurring
substance could be of any use to the medical community.
Diamond certification
Diamond grading covers numerous
aspects of each individual diamond's qualities, but there are four grades which
are critical to understand in the process: cut clarity, color, and carat weight
(otherwise known as the 4 Cs). There are additional ratings and measurements
noted on a diamond certificate, but they generally fall under the diamond's
grade in one of the 4 Cs.
The tricky part begins when you
determine which lab grading system to trust over another. Many diamond grading labs have different
grading standards and produce their own grading reports (including EGL), and,
therefore, some labs will be more lenient with their standards than others. However,
GIA or AGS certified diamonds have earned high reputations for consistently
demonstrating their commitment to high standards and stricter guidelines across
the board.
For example, each GIA diamond is
carefully evaluated by at least four expert gemologists who are chosen at
random to guarantee an unbiased evaluation, while EGL’s grading standards are
more lenient and vary among the EGL locations. As a general rule, an EGL
certified diamond will compare equally in quality to a GIA certified diamond
that is graded two color grades and one clarity grade lower.
The most important thing to
remember? Not all diamond certificates are created equal. If you do opt to buy
non GIA or AGS certified diamonds, always ask for credentials of the certifying
lab. Brilliance and value should always be your key priorities when selecting a
diamond and even the GIA makes no comment on these two most important
considerations
Diamond
Folktales
Judge of Innocence and Guilt
At one time, Jewish high priests
used diamonds to determine the innocence or guilt of someone accused of a crime.
Their belief was that a diamond held before a guilty person would dull and
darken, while a diamond held before an innocent person would glow with
increased brilliance. The more truthful someone was, the more the diamond
placed before them would sparkle.
Healing Agent
The diamond, originally thought
to have exceptional healing abilities, was considered by some in past
millenniums to be a “miracle stone.” A large variety of healing properties have
been attributed to the diamond, including the ability to cure stomachaches,
memory loss, depression, physical tiredness, infections, mental illnesses,
nightmares, skin diseases, and many other head and heart ailments.
Tears of the Gods, Falling Stars
and Cupid’s Arrows
The ancient Romans and Greeks had
a lot of powerful beliefs about diamonds, including ideas that diamonds were
the tears of the gods or possibly even splinters that had broken off of falling
stars. Roman literature, which first made mention of diamonds in the first
century AD, also stated that Cupid’s irresistible arrows were tipped with
diamonds. Classical Greek philosopher Plato went even further to write about
diamonds as living beings that embodied celestial spirits.
Lightning Bolt Fragments
The Hindus, who were known to use
diamonds in the eyes of their statues, believed that diamonds were created when
bolts of lightning struck rocks. Diamonds were also believed to attract
lightning bolts.
Satan’s Temptation
In Persian culture, there exists
a myth that God had no need for diamonds, gold, or any other precious metals or
gems when he created the world. Satan, however, took notice that Eve loved the
brightly colored flowers in the Garden of Eden and thus created gemstones in
the same hues to tempt humans.
Warfare Protection
In ancient times, Kings were
known to lead wars on the battlefield wearing heavy leather breastplates
studded with diamonds. It was believed that diamonds possessed God-given
magical qualities and superpowers far beyond the understanding of ordinary
humans.
World
most famous Diamonds
The Cullinan Diamond
The
Cullinan, 3,106.75 carats (about 1.4 pounds), is the largest rough gem-quality
diamond ever discovered. The Cullinan was found by miner Thomas Evan Powell on January 26, 1905 in a mine in South
Africa and was named after Sir Thomas
Cullinan, the owner of the mine.
The massive diamond was bought by
the South African government and presented to British King Edward VII on his
birthday; however, a security problem was posed when the Cullinan was to be
transported from South Africa
to England . Detectives
from London were placed on a
steamboat headed for Europe with a fake stone, which was
rumored to be the Cullinan. This was a divisionary tactic, intended to attract
thieves who might be interested in stealing the massive diamond. The actual
Cullinan diamond was safely shipped to England
in the standard mailing system via parcel post.
The Cullinan has since been cut
into nine smaller stones, with the biggest of them known as the Great Star of
Africa.
The Centenary Diamond
The Centenary Diamond, which was
discovered at the Premier Mine in South Africa
in 1986, was 599 carats (almost 1/3 of a pound!) and was considered internally
and externally flawless with its rating of color grade D, the highest grade of
colorless diamond.
This diamond was to be cut into a
smaller stone; however, the cutting of such an immense and valuable diamond was
a significant process. Once an expert was selected to lead a team of diamond
cutters, a group of engineers, electricians, and security guards were specially
picked to assist in the process. Thirteen different potential designs were
presented to the diamond company that owned the Centenary diamond, with a
strong recommendation for what would become the eventual modified heart-shaped
design.
The final cutting of the
Centenary diamond was completed in February of 1991, five years after its
discovery, and the diamond was then insured for $100 million USD.
The Hope Diamond
Formed in the depths of the Earth
more than 1.1 billion years ago, the Hope Diamond is
a 45.52 carat diamond that has
made history for many reasons. One of those reasons is
the curse that is rumored to have
attached itself to this $250 million gem.
The Hope Diamond, also known as
Le Bijou du Roi ("the King's Jewel"), Le bleu de
France ("the Blue of France"),
and the Tavernier Blue, is a large, 45.52-carat
(9.104 g),
(9.104 g),
deep-blue diamond, and now housed
in the National Gem and Mineral collection at the
The Regent Diamond
The Regent diamond, a 410 carat
stone (about 1/5 of a pound), was discovered in 1698 by a slave in the Golkonda
mine in India . The
slave, who recognized the potential value of the Regent diamond, stole the
precious stone and hid it inside of a large wound in his leg; however, an
English sea captain witnessed this and subsequently stole the diamond from the
slave. The Englishman then sold the diamond to an Indian merchant, who in turn
sold it to Governor Thomas Pitt for what today would be almost $6 million USD.
The Regent diamond, sometimes
referred to as the Pitt diamond, belonged to French royalty for many years,
even serving as an adornment in the hat of Marie Antoinette. This diamond is
now on display in the French Royal Treasury at the Louvre
Museum Paris .
The Orlov (Orloff) Diamond
The Orlov diamond is part of the
collection of the Diamond Fund of the Moscow Kremlin and can be traced back to
the 18th century Sri Ranganathaswamy Hindu temple, in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India
where it once served as the eye of the presiding deity.
Described as having the shape and
proportions of half a hen's egg, the Orlov is a rarity among historic diamonds,
for it retains its original Indian rose-style cut. Its color is widely stated
as white with a faint bluish-green tinge and is estimated to weigh 189.62
carats.
This diamond should not be
confused with the "Black Orlov diamond", called the Eye of Brahma,
which according to legend was stolen from a Temple
near Pondicherry .
The Kōh-i Nūr Diamond
The Kōh-i Nūr Diamond, meaning "Mountain
of Light India
together with its double, the Darya-ye Noor (meaning the "Sea
of Light Victoria
was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877.
Diamond
Exports by Country
In 2014, the overall value of
diamond exports by country amounted to US$144.5 billion.
That figure represents a 17.7%
improvement in unset diamond export sales over the five-year period starting in
2010 but down 3.5%.
The 4-digit Harmonized Tariff
System code prefix for unset diamonds is 7102.
World wide Diamond Exports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that
exported the highest dollar value worth of diamonds during 2014:
Country
|
Dollar Value
|
%of total diamond exports
|
$24.1 billion
|
16.7%
|
|
$21.3 billion
|
14.8%
|
|
$20.6 billion
|
14.2%
|
|
$20.5 billion
|
14.2%
|
|
$16.1 billion
|
11.1%
|
|
$9.2 billion
|
6.4%
|
|
$6.7 billion
|
4.7%
|
|
$5.1 billion
|
3.5%
|
|
$2.8 billion
|
1.9%
|
|
$2.4 billion
|
1.7%
|
|
$2.2 billion
|
1.6%
|
|
$2 billion
|
1.4%
|
|
$2 billion
|
1.4%
|
|
$1.9 billion
|
1.3%
|
|
$1.85 billion
|
1.3%
|
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