The story of the diamond a long TALE…. It is the oldest item anyone can own, dating back three billion years, and is a strategic and high-tech super material for our technological society, formed deep within the earth and shot to the surface by extraordinary volcanoes.
It is carbon in its purest form, composed entirely of carbon – the chemical element essential to all life. It’s also very pure, with only trace amounts of boron and nitrogen.
“Diamond” is derived from the Greek adamas, which means “I tame” or “I subdue.” The term “adamas” was coined to describe the hardest substance known, and it eventually became synonymous with diamond. Thousands, millions and maybe even billions of years ago, extreme heat and pressure turned pure carbon into colorless diamond crystals 100 miles or more below the Earth’s surface.
Diamonds are the only gemstone made of only one element: carbon. Eventually, volcanic activity brought diamonds closer to the Earth’s surface. Volcanic pipes — known as kimberlite pipes — push diamonds to the surface, cooling them along the way. Today, diamonds are mined in areas that have experienced volcanic activity in the past, as well as in gravel beds and ocean floors.
Thousands, millions and maybe even billions of years ago, extreme heat and pressure turned pure carbon into colorless diamond crystals 100 miles or more below the Earth’s surface.
In the 13th century, small numbers of diamonds began to appear in European regalia and jewelry, set as an accent point among pearls in magnificent wrought gold. By the 16th century, the diamond had grown larger and more prominent as a result of the development of diamond faceting, which increased its brilliance and fire.
By the 17th and 18th centuries, the diamond presided as the ultimate symbol of wealth, prestige, and power. Diamonds appeared in royal jewelry for both men and women within a century.
Diamonds are known for their extreme hardness, unmatched brilliance, and rich sentimental value. They are made of nearly 100% carbon atoms and are so durable that the only other mineral that can scratch a diamond’s surface is another diamond. In the symbolism of gemstones, the diamond represents steadfast love and is the birthstone for April.
Diamonds are nearly as old as the Earth and are becoming increasingly rare as they form over billions of years. The formation begins deep within the Earth, and very few of these carbon crystals make it to the Earth’s surface, where they are mined.
From the diamonds that are being mined today, only about 50 percent are thought to be high enough quality to be sold on the diamond market.
Diamond stones are weighed in carats. Carat is the unit of measurement for the physical weight of diamonds. One carat equals 0.200 grams or 1/5 gram and is subdivided into 100 points. In addition to gem-quality stones, several varieties of industrial diamonds occur, and lab grown diamonds have been produced on a commercial scale.
Knowing the stone’s proportions in relation to the weight will help you estimate how big a stone will appear in reality.
While all diamonds are mined from the Earth, not all diamonds are created equal. Over the years, diamonds have both mesmerized gemologists and continued to shatter price records. We have put together a list of the top 10 most rare diamonds to date. Formed at 500km below the Earth’s crust, often over 3 billion years old, diamonds are created when carbon is subjected to both huge pressure and heat. The rarest diamonds are those exceptionally large in size, or with remarkable color and clarity.
Diamonds are the most luxurious item in the market, with some of the rarest and most exclusive gems particularly expensive.
The 3 types of real diamonds that exist are mined diamonds, lab grown diamonds and fancy colored diamonds. Each type offers different benefits, qualities, prices and properties.
Mined diamonds are exactly what the name suggests. Mined diamonds were formed by Mother Nature around three billion years ago. First, carbon atoms were subjected to intense heat and pressure deep within the earth, creating hard, transparent crystals, known as diamonds.
Later, volcanic forces pushed these crystals closer to the Earth’s surface through what geologists call kimberlite pipes.
Shop Mined DiamondsSome people incorrectly assume that lab grown diamonds are not real diamonds. This is not so. Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds, just like mined diamonds.
Consisting of carbon atoms in a lattice crystal structure, they look the same, and they’re just as hard, beautiful and sparkly. Only their origin is different. Instead of forming underneath the Earth’s crust, they are created in a laboratory today.
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Fancy colored diamonds can be natural or lab-grown. Natural diamonds are mined and display inherent colors, while lab-grown diamonds are created under controlled conditions to exhibit vivid colors. Both types come in shades like pink, blue, yellow, brown, and black, differing from transparent white diamonds in their color intensity.
Similarly, colored gemstones, whether natural or synthetic, exhibit a range of rich colors due to their unique formation processes. Like fancy colored diamonds, gemstones are also valued for their intense hues and rarity, making them prized additions to any jewelry collection.
Shop Fancy Lab Colored Diamonds Shop GemstonesWhen you think of diamonds, you might picture the classic round diamond shape, which is by far the most popular. But if you’re looking for something different, there are plenty of other shapes available to match your distinct style and taste. Since each diamond shape is cut to different specifications, they reflect light differently, giving each shape its own fire and brilliance.
To buy a diamond that will accentuate the wearer’s beauty, it is crucial to understand different diamond shapes and cuts and how they unlock the stone’s aesthetic attributes.
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