All About Diamonds

• Diamonds are the hardest substance on Earth and can only be scratched by another diamond.
• They are impervious to strong acids.
• Light passing through a diamond travels at one-third its normal speed due to its density.
• Diamonds are a mineral form of carbon.
• Extreme heat and pressure are necessary for carbon to crystallize into a diamond.
• Diamonds are likely formed deep in the Earth within molten rock and then forced upward.
• In its natural state, a diamond can look like a lusterless, opaque gray or black stone, or even a nondescript piece of glass.

Diamond Cutting

• Transforming a diamond into a gem relies on the cutter's skill in cutting, sawing, and polishing.
• Historically, cutters would cleave diamonds with a precise blow, which was risky.
• Modern diamond cutting uses thin, metal disk saws.
• Polishing utilizes a revolving iron wheel to create facets.
• Facets are flat surfaces that reflect light, giving the diamond its sparkle.
• Diamond cutting can reduce a stone's size by up to 50%, but enhances its allure and value.

Diamond History and Origins

• Diamonds have been valued since antiquity.
• Originally, diamonds were thought to come only from India.
• In the 1700s, they were discovered in Brazil.
• In the 1800s, South Africa became a major source.
• Diamonds are now also found in Africa, Australia, and the United States.
• The Cullinan, discovered in South Africa in 1905, weighed 3,106 carats (over one and one-third pounds).
• The Cullinan was cut into nine large and ninety-six smaller gems.
• The largest of these is the Star of Africa, weighing 530.2 carats, presented to the King of Great Britain.
• The Star of Africa is the second-largest cut diamond in the world and is kept in the Tower of London in the British crown jewels.
• An 890-carat rough diamond found in South Africa in the early 1980s sparked excitement.
• It was cut to over 545 carats.
• The diamond was appraised at between four and twelve million dollars.

Synthetic Diamonds

• Attempts to create synthetic diamonds began in the 1890s.
• The challenge was replicating the extreme conditions of diamond formation.
• Scientists succeeded in the 1950s by producing pressures of 1.5 million pounds per square inch.
• This allowed them to transmute graphite into industrial-quality diamonds.
• These synthetic diamonds are used for cutting and drilling.
• Today, greater pressure produces artificial diamonds of gem-like quality up to one carat.
• Imitation diamonds can be made from zircon, which gains brilliance when exposed to high temperatures.

Diamond Value

• The value of a diamond depends on the "four Cs": cut, clarity, carats, and color.
• A first-quality diamond can cost as much as fifty thousand dollars.
• White diamonds are highly regarded, while yellow or brown tints are less desirable.
• Green and blue diamonds are very rare.
• Pink diamonds can sell for as much as a million dollars a carat.
• Diamonds depreciate substantially in value after purchase, making them a poor investment for the average buyer.