A Closer Look At Diamonds

Diamond is the hardest known natural material and one of the two best known forms (or allotropes) of carbon, whose hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry. Diamonds are specifically renowned as a mineral with superlative physical qualities — they make excellent abrasives because they can be scratched only by other diamonds, Borazon, ultrahard fullerite, or aggregated diamond nanorods, which also means they hold a polish extremely well and retain luster.

Diamonds are one the most precious treasures in the world. These wonderful gemstones vary in color, but the most valuable are pure-white and clear as crystal. However, their beauty becomes evident only after they have been skillfully cut, chiseled and polished. Most though, about 80 percent, are used as drill bits and will never become a beautiful gem in someone's jewelry box.

Diamonds show the deepest element on Earth. The name diamond comes from the Greek adamas ('impossible to tame'). Diamonds have been treasured as precious ever since they began being used as religious icons in India 2500 years ago. Their use as a tool is also from way back. They are famous for their hardness, which is given the top grading in gemology with Hardness 10. Lasers are now used to cut gem quality diamonds but the only substance capable of cutting a diamond is a diamond. Being the hardest known natural substance it is tested upon glass or any other material for cutting.

One unusual ancient superstition was held in relation to diamonds: that they were "poisonous" and yet were believed to have the power as an antidote to poison if dipped in water or wine!

The First Diamond

It is interesting that diamonds were first found in India near Hyderabad about 2300 years ago but they were never cut because of the belief that the stone had magical properties that would be destroyed by cutting. However, melting diamonds and other stones through alchemical processes is known in the ancient Ayurvedic science, which still survives. In Ayurveda, diamond is a cardiac tonic and when added to other medicines, enhances therapy. The best of the elixirs prescribed to cure TB, obstinate urinary diseases, diabetes, anemia, edema and impotence also contain diamond. Diamonds had their place as one of the twelve in the sacred mala of the Brahmins.

The British eagerly appropriated the Indian diamond mines in the early days of the Empire. Diamonds were found in 1725 in Brazil and South Africa and later, Borneo. Although diamonds are found in some measure in many countries, including Australia, there has never been a diamond found in Japan. Most true diamonds come from Africa, although they can be found at practically any volcanic area in the world. Synthetic diamonds are made in a laboratory, but they almost never can compare to natural ones. They are mostly used for industry; rarely do they have quality good enough for jewelry making. The major company that deals with diamonds is DeBeers.

The largest diamond ever found was the Cullinan in 1905 in the Transvaal, South Africa. It weighed 3,106 carats. In 1908 it was cut into 9 large and 96 lesser stones. Two of the largest are in the British Crown Jewels.

At one time only royals had the means to wear such luxury. One king, Louis IX of France, instituted a law that no commoner could wear diamonds. Agnes Sorel was the first commoner in France who had the privilege to wear them. As mistress of King Charles VII, she received them as a gift from the king.

Diamonds never come cut and clean from the rough. They are usually odd shaped and it is usually difficult to detect a diamond without it having been cut. Diamond cutting is a very complex art because it requires great molecular knowledge of the crystal structure and great mathematical knowledge. Cutting can be measured by the way the light refracts in the diamond.

How are Diamonds valued?

They are valued by the four features – carat weight, color, clarity and cut (referred to as “the 4 “C’s” by jewelers). Carat-weights generally range from 0.25 up to and above 3.00 carats. The larger the stone the more valuable it is. However, we cannot forget about color and clarity in determining value. If a large stone has major flaws and is discolored, a smaller one that is clear and flawless is far more valuable.

The perfect diamond is pure-white like crystals. Most, though, have some color. One way to see the true color is to look at the stone through its side using a white background. However, from a collector's point of view the colored variety is very desirable. Some are pink, green, blue and even blood red. These collector's items called "fancies" are rare and can be very expensive. Diamonds with no imperfections are very rare. This is because most have at least minor imperfections. These imperfections are called "inclusions". Lines, bubbles, or spots in a diamond are considered flaws. Most true diamonds fluoresce in ultraviolet light.

Are Diamonds Really Rare?

When we walk into a jewelry store and see all the diamonds in all of the various settings that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that diamonds are indeed rare. Most people dont even stop to consider how that diamond came to be sitting in that jewelers case! There is quite a bit of work that is done before a diamond is ready to sell to the general public!
For every one million diamonds that are mined, only one will be found that is a quality one caret diamond. In order to find a two caret diamond, about five million diamonds must be mined. More than two hundred tons of ore must be mined to find one small diamond, and even then, more than 80% of the diamonds that are mined are only good for industrial use, such as diamond drill bits.
So, the next time you visit your local jewelry store, ask to see the one carat diamonds. You should look at this diamond with new appreciation knowing that it truly is one in a million!

Diamonds - Shining Stars On Earth

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Marilyn Monroe expressed exactly what many women fear to admit: - you are what you wear. If you have a diamond on, you are considered to be a beautiful and classy woman, as you without a doubt are. The harder and more resistant the diamond, the tougher and more resilient you are. Each diamond has its personality; each one has its soul. As each woman is, each gem is. Diamonds are a girl's best friend because we look up to them. They are the way we wish we could be, they are our models.

It is one of the hardest substances on Earth, therefore highly valued as jewelry and as an industrial tool. The other substance that comes from carbon is graphite. It's strange to believe that graphite and diamonds are just different molecular formats of the same element. This can be a natural allegory for social differences.