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Diamond Facts
There are many diamond facts that are based more in myth and
legend than pure scientific fact. Diamonds have been seen as
a status symbol throughout history with origins dating back
to the pre Christian era. Diamonds throughout history have
symbolized purity and invincibility, as evidenced by the
origin of the word diamond from the Greek name, adamas,
meaning invincibility. Ultimately, however, these properties
come from the physical properties of diamond. Even before
science was able to fully analyze the properties of this
gemstone, ancient people recognized it for its rarity and
incredible toughness. For thousands of years people have
recognized that the properties of this rare mineral are
exceptional. By reviewing diamond facts one can understand
why this gem is so valued and so common for use in jewelry,
decoration, and everywhere else to symbolize longevity and
wealth.
Extensive diamond mining first began in India.
Over 75% of the mined diamonds go to industry each year,
with such applications from windows to
phonograph needles and just 25% are of gem quality.
Diamonds are available in all colors and shades of rainbow.
Diamonds colored to saturation are called Fancy Colored.
Colored diamonds are extremely rare and therefore very
expensive.
Twinkling in the sky is a diamond star of 10
billion-trillion-trillion carats, astronomers have
discovered. The cosmic diamond is a chunk of crystallized
carbon, 4,000 km across, some 50 light-years from the Earth
in the constellation Centaurs. It's the compressed heart of
an old star that was once bright like our Sun but has since
faded and shrunk. Astronomers have decided to call the star
"Lucy" after the Beatles song, Lucy in the Sky with
Diamonds. – BBC News
Diamond is the hardest known substance. A diamond can be
scratched and cut only by another diamond. There are only
two substances known to be harder than diamond, Aggregated
diamond Nan rods and Ultrahard Fullerite.
Diamond’s thermal conductivity is higher than other
colorless gemstones, and four times higher than copper!
The world’s Biggest Hole is actually a diamond mine in
Eastern Siberia near the town Mirna in Russia. It is 525
meters deep and 1.25 km in diameter. Flying of helicopters
and other planes over the hole has proved to be risky due to
the suction produced by its depth!
While exploring diamonds, good indicators of its presence
are olivine and red garnet.
Extensive diamond mining first began in India.
Diamonds were formed 3 billion years ago under the earth’s
surface in High pressure and temperature conditions from
primeval carbon.
An emerald cut diamond is the cheapest cut.
Bigger Diamonds are not necessarily better than smaller
diamonds which may be of far better quality.
Diamond is a mineral composed of pure carbon.
Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring known substance
on earth.
Diamonds are 75% lighter than a cubic zirconium, and can
easily be told apart.
Diamonds are a good investment. Only if you know very well
what you are doing, and have very good insurance.
Diamonds are ground to shape, not chipped.
Diamonds are in fact quite common.
Diamonds are not the most expensive gemstones. A best
quality ruby gemstone can be over 30,000 dollars per carat!
Diamonds though the hardest, are not the toughest substance
and can therefore break, chip and fracture.
The Centenary Diamond - 273.85 Carats - Weighing almost 600
Carats in the rough, a master-cutter took 3 years to
transform the stone into the largest modern-cut flawless
diamond. Also a part of the British Crown Jewels, it was
first presented at the Tower of London in 1991.
The Great Star of Africa - 530.20 Carats - The largest
polished diamond in the world, this gem which is among the
British Crown Jewels has 74 facets
Diamonds were formed 3.3 billion years ago.
Most diamonds were formed more than 100 miles below the
surface of the Earth, some from 400 miles down.
Diamonds are carried to the surface by volcanic eruptions
through a magma conduit known as a kimberlite pipe or
diamond pipe. The most recent kimberlite volcano eruption
was approximately 53 million years ago.
Diamond is the hardest natural substance on earth.
To produce a single one-carat diamond, 250 tons of earth
will be mined.
Only 20 percent of the diamonds mined in the world are of
gem quality diamonds.
Australia accounts for producing the most diamonds in
volume.
America buys more than half of the world’s total gem quality
diamonds, accounting for the world’s largest diamond market.
Diamonds come in a spectrum of color. Colored diamonds are
called “fancies". Blue and pick diamonds are among the
rarest, yellow and brown are among the most common.
The most recent diamond discoveries were made in North
America in the Northwest Territories of Canada and in
Colorado.
The largest rough diamond ever found was the Cullinan, 3,106
carats, discovered in January 26, 1905 in the Premier mine
of South Africa. It was cut into 9 major stones, including
the largest gem diamond, the Cullinan I, or the Star of
Africa, 550.20 carats. This is mounted in the British Royal
Scepter and housed in the Tower of London.
The largest diamond ever found in the US was discovered in
1924 in The Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas – the
“Uncle Sam Diamond" that weights 40.23 carats.
The most publicized romantic diamond gifts in modern times
have been the jewels given by Richard Burton to Elizabeth
Taylor. These include a 33 carat diamond worth over $14
million and the pear shaped 69 carat Taylor-Burton diamond.
To produce a single one-carat diamond, 250 tons of earth
will be mined.
Gem-quality diamonds are made up from less than 20 percent
of the diamonds mined worldwide.
In their purest state, diamonds are brilliant and entirely
colorless.
Diamonds are found in a variety of colors. Blue and pink
diamonds are among the rarest, and yellow and brown as among
the most common.
Although the U.S. accounts for less than one-percent of
total global gemstone productions, America buys more than
half of the world's total gem quality diamonds accounting
for the world's largest diamond market.
Today, the top seven diamond-producing countries, accounting
for 80 percent of the world’s rough diamond supply, are
Botswana, Russia, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Australia
and Zaire. (From DTC website www.adiamondisforever.com)
Learn about Diamond
History, Diamond Trade, Buying Tips and more...
The Romans believed that
diamonds brought courage and bravery during battle. Jewish high priests
used diamonds to decide the innocence or guilt of the accused: A stone
held before a guilty person dulled and darkened; a stone held before an
innocent person glowed with increased brilliance. The Hindus believed
that this brilliant gem was created when....
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