There are many gems in the world of astounding beauty, from the glorious deep blue of a star sapphire to the amazing depths of an emerald. While the number of gems is huge, only diamonds hold that singular place in our hearts (and on our fingers). Diamonds have been mined and shaped for thousands of years, but the trend of diamonds worn by the average person is a recent thing. The diamond industry has also helped to reshape many parts of the world. There are some surprising facts about these valuable, beautiful stones.
For instance, over 40% of Namibia’s export earning comes from the diamond industry. In Botswana, every child can receive a free education until they turn 13 years old, thanks to diamond mining revenues and exports. While these results are certainly localized to the continent of Africa, diamond mining benefits are experienced around the world, where ever a diamond mining operation exists. Additionally, diamonds have revolutionized industry.
Industrial uses for diamonds (yes, there are uses other than wearing them) are varied and include uses for drilling, cutting and sanding. Additionally, diamonds can be found in a number of other industrial processes. Were it not for the presence of these stones, many of our products and processes would be of inferior quality or not possible at all. While there are many more industrial grade diamonds mined than there are jewelry quality diamonds (80% of diamonds are industrial grade), that does not mean that they are in limitless supply, thus the relatively high price commanded by these stones.
Many consumers are also not aware that diamonds come in different colors. These colors can be formed naturally, or they can be induced by technological processes. Natural colored diamonds of jewelry quality are substantially rarer than colorless diamonds and are not frequently marketed by the large diamond corporations because of this scarcity. Blue, red, brown, yellow, gray, green and black are all colors that can be found in diamonds, though yellow is the most common. The colors found are caused by different elements present when the diamond is formed. For instance, yellow is caused by the presence of nitrogen in the carbon molecules during formation.
The search for diamond alternatives has been around as long as man has known of these stones. Their scarcity, beauty, hardness and other qualities make this one of the most perfect gems for a variety of uses. The search for a diamond alternative has led to many failures, though it has produced results. There are, and have always been, diamond simulations on the market, but synthetic diamonds are something else entirely. True synthetic diamonds are real diamonds, but are not natural in their formation. Synthetic simulations (cubic zirconia) are not diamonds, though they can appear as such without the aid of instruments. The easiest way to tell the difference is to weigh the stones. Lab created diamonds (real but not natural), are heavily used in several industries because they are cheaper to produce than natural diamonds.
There are a number of other fascinating facts surrounding diamonds, as well: Almost everyone is aware that diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance on earth. The largest diamond ever found was over 3,000 carats and now resides in the Tower of London, as part of the Crown Jewels. Today, over 60% of the world’s diamonds come from the African continent, though there are exploratory diamond mining operations making headway in Canada and Australia.
You may have heard of the 4 C’s, as well. When consumers purchase diamonds, it is highly recommended that the 4 C’s are taken into account. These are Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat. A highly priced diamond should be almost colorless. In addition, the cut of the diamond is important because almost all of a diamond’s beauty comes from the type of cut it receives. The Princess cut is one of the most popular cuts and provides some of the best brilliance and scintillation. Clarity refers to how clear the stone is; this applies to occultation within the stone, or impurities. Carat is the size and weight of the stone. Relatively speaking, the larger and heavier the stone is, the more it will be worth. However, the cut a diamond receives will also affect its price to a large extent.
A highly reputable jeweler will ensure that their clients understand the rules of diamond buying, even allowing them to use tools to see the differences in color, cut, clarity and carat better. While many consumers are under the impression that the bigger the diamond, the better, this is not the best approach to purchasing a high quality diamond that will adorn the hand of a loved one. Knowledge about diamonds is essential to getting the best stone for the best price.
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