Diamonds form between 75 and 120 miles below the Earth’s surface and are delivered to the surface through volcanic eruptions. The stones are then recovered from mines, rivers and beaches. No diamonds have been brought to the surface within the last 40 million years–as far as we know.
Diamonds are the hardest substance on earth, but because they have grain, they can be chipped if struck.
Only about a quarter of the diamonds mined every year are used in jewelry. The rest are used for industrial purposes.
Even the most efficiently cut gem remains only about 40 to 50 percent of its rough weight.
Almost all modern birthstone lists include diamond, popularly recognized today as the stone for April. Diamond is also the symbol for 60th and 75th anniversaries.
Two kinds of impurity atoms that can act as coloring agents, nitrogen and boron, are both similar to carbon in atomic size and are thus able to penetrate a diamond’s tight atomic crystal lattice and disperse through it.
According to Bottom Line Personal magazine, in the last twenty years, only two categories of collectibles have stayed ahead of inflation. Stamps, at an average return of 9.1% and diamonds, at 7.9% per year!
The average diamond sold in the United States has cracks, breaks, or carbon that you can see with your own eyes.
If we define a good diamond in general terms as a diamond that is big, white, clean, sparkly, and will appreciate in value over time; less than 25 out of every 1,000 diamonds (2.5%) sold in the United States would classify as good.
The Greek root word for diamond means unconquerable.
Diamonds are triboelectic; they become electrically charged when rubbed.
In 1860, Henry Morse opened the first US diamond cutting factory in Boston. His cutting design is now widely known as the American ideal cut (brilliant round).
Diamond is the best conductor of heat and has the highest melting point of any natural substance.
As early as the fifteenth century, the diamond, although only available to a very few, was prized above all others as the gem for betrothal. It was acknowledged as the ultimate symbol because of its unique properties, especially is ability to resist destructive forces.
Diamonds have been found in India for at least 3000 years.
India was the only known source of diamonds before the sixth century and the predominant source for over 2,000 years, until the mid-eighteenth century.
A law in thirteenth-century France decreed that only the King could wear diamonds.
Every copper wire in your computer, television and house has been shaped with a die (device that squeezes wire to the desired diameter) made from diamond.
Diamond scalpels are particularly effective because their sharp, hard edges never dull. Because diamond’s hydrophobic surface (its resistance to being wetted) ensures that wet tissue does not adhere to the blade.
Only a diamond cuts another diamond.
Diamond is the hardest known mineral registering 10 on the Moh’s Scale (The stable form of carbon at earth’s surface, graphite, is the softest known mineral on the Moh’s Scale).
Microscopic diamonds are fairly common in space, where they may be the result of exploding stars or supernovas.
Before a diamond is placed on a woman’s hand, it will probably touch at least five continents and involve the skills of many craftsmen, making it a truly international gem.
70% of all brides receive a diamond engagement ring; over 75% of all first-time brides receive one. 50% of all couples choose a diamond engagement ring together.
250 tons of earth must be mined to produce a single one carat diamond.
Only one polished diamond out of a thousand weighs more then one carat.
The world’s only diamond mine open to the public is the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. It is a dig-for-fee operation for tourists and rock hounds.