There are a lot of misconceptions about diamonds floating around. Most of the time, it’s harmless to have fun with the various diamond myths that everyone knows. However, if you’re looking to purchase a diamond, you may want to get these facts straight.
1. Diamonds have always been part of engagement proposals and wedding ceremonies.
Everyone tends to associate love and marriage with diamonds. However, the origins of diamonds as well as of engagement and marriage ceremonies are entirely different. The idea of the engagement ceremony is derived from the ancient Egyptian civilization. These people believed that a special “love vein” ran from the fourth finger directly to an individual’s heart. For wedding rings, it is believed that the original concept of the ring was to symbolize husbandly ownership as well as a debt owed to the family of the bride. This trend peaked in Roman times though there’s evidence of it even in the B.C. era. On the other hand, diamonds were never really associated with matrimony until modern times. The earliest diamonds were discovered in India and used for holy decoration and valued for their ability to refract light. In Medieval times they were also used as a medical aid. It wasn’t until the 20th century when a certain diamond industry giant ran a much publicized marketing campaign that the diamond truly became a marriage symbol.
2. Diamonds are indestructible and last forever.
Not exactly. The idea of a diamond lasting “forever” is the result of the same marketing campaign that sold the idea of a diamond ring as a marriage token. A diamond can certainly last for multiple generations–in fact, most diamonds found today are over one billion years old. However, to say that a diamond is forever would imply that it is an indestructible object. Diamonds are naturally hard substances and are able to withstand various forms of scratching. However, hardness is slightly different than toughness and a diamond is not the strongest form of material known to man. Though the hardest naturally occurring mineral, diamonds are still rivaled by aggregated diamond nanorods, cubic boron nitride, rhenium diboride and ultrahard fullerite. Furthermore, a diamond can still be chipped, broken or damaged if it is treated in a haphazard way.
3. Diamonds are the most expensive form of jewelry.
Not only have there been some famous cases of very expensive non-diamond jewels like emeralds and rubies, but even generally speaking, not all diamonds are insanely expensive. Diamonds are made expensive when they have a brilliant cut, a high carat weight, flawless color and clarity. A loose diamond can actually be purchased for as little as $250.
4. The bigger the diamond the better.
Not necessarily. Large diamonds are initially impressive, and if the size of a diamond is what appeals to you or your loved one then you have made the right purchase. However, big diamonds do not always mean big price. Again, cut, clarity, color and carat must all be considered in deciding the diamond’s market worth.
5. The more facets the better.
The function of facets is to increase the refractive index of the diamond you hold. The number of facets is not the most important factor in determining brilliance. What really matters is how skillfully the creator cuts the facets.
6. It is virtually impossible to tell a fake diamond from a real diamond.
This is a definite misconception, as most people who work with diamonds can easily tell a real from a fake. Giveaways as to fake diamonds might include inferior quality nuances found in the color, cut, carat and clarity of the stone, a low-quality setting, signs of minor damage to the stone (unlikely, if it’s the real thing), and the reflection color (which should be gray instead of rainbow-like). Other ways of detecting fakes include transparency testing, fog testing and facet examination with a loupe. It is probably true that people who don’t know much about diamonds will probably never know the difference between a genuine stone and a simulation. However, even common sense prevails in some cases. Perfectly shaped diamonds if genuine are very expensive, and someone who probably couldn’t afford a perfect diamond under normal circumstances probably wouldn’t be able to surprise a loved one with the real deal. There’s nothing wrong with buying fake diamonds, but in most cases the buyer is not fooling anyone.
Diamonds play a big role in American culture. They have come to embody the perfect romance and are often the primary or indirect subject in memorable movies, sentimental songs and bestselling books. Everyone wants to own a diamond or give away a diamond for that feeling of accomplishment and glory. Though misconceptions may abound, no one denies that diamonds are eternally beautiful.
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