Diamond is one of the most recognizable and valuable gemstones available in the world today. Diamonds are durable, rare, and have delicately formed in the Earth’s mantle over billions of years. While they originally gained popularity in jewelleryin the 15th century, scientists believe India began trading them as early as the 4th century BCE. Today, diamonds are still considered one of the world’s most treasured commodities, and most beloved gifts.
Where Do We Find Diamond?
While Africa has been a popular source of diamonds, they are found all over the world. In fact, Canada, Russia, and Australia are all major producers of diamonds today. India was once a key distributor of the stone, but today its mines are left with only small, limited sources. Diamonds are found deep within the Earth. They form over the course of millions of years due to intense heat and pressure forming a crystalline structure almost entirely out of carbon. Its chemical structure is simply called “C” for carbon, due to its purity.
Why Should You Wear Diamonds?
Although they are extremely beautiful, diamonds are valuable for another reason. They are one of the hardest substances known to man. They are 58 times harder than anything else in nature. On the Moh’s scale, which evaluates a gems hardness and durability, they score a 10, which is the highest score that is given.
This means diamonds can literally last a lifetime, and beyond, making them perfect family heirlooms. Unlike other gemstones, diamonds can be worn daily, which makes them ideal for engagement rings and wedding sets. Diamonds let us own a piece of history, which can be handed to future generations.
It is easy to measure the value of a diamond too. Diamonds come with a universal language and no matter where you go on the globe, they are understood in the same terms: cut, clarity, colour, and carat. These four properties determine the diamonds worth.
Cut
Cut defines the diamond’s proportions and symmetry, as well as its ability to reflect light.The better the cut, the more brilliance the diamond will have.
Clarity
Clarity refers to the amount and position of the gemstone’s inclusions. Inclusions are natural blemishes that developed in or on the stone during its formation. Flawless diamonds, which are very rare, have no visible inclusions.
Colour
The colour grade of a diamond is determined by how much yellow is present in the stone. The less yellow a stone has, the higher its grade will be. The scale is presented from “D” to “Z”. Stones with a grade of “D” are colourless, while those that are“Z” have a deep yellow tone.
Carat
Carat refers to the size of the stone. Diamonds increase dramatically in price ‘per carat’, the larger the stone becomes.
The higher a diamond scores in terms of cut, clarity, colour, or carat, the more expensive and rare it is. This intricate grading process offers a lot of options when it comes to purchasing. For example, if your priority is having a large stone, you can consider one lower in colour orclarity, which allows most of your stones value to be placed on size. However, if you are looking for a colourless or flawless stone, you may opt to choose a smaller carat, basing your stones value on quality,to fit within your budget.
Did You Know?
There is astar, fifty light years from earth, that is actually a 10 billion-trillion-trillion carat diamond.
Diamonds are carbon, which is the same substance that makes up graphite.
Diamond is the birthstone for the month of April.
Diamond is also the stone for the 60th wedding anniversary.
On a rare occasion in nature, we find diamonds that exist in pink, purple, green and blue hues.
The first diamond engagement ring was given by Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.
