Diamonds are much-loved for having a characteristic of timelessness. These gems are formed over millions of years of heat and pressure and represent the hardest natural substance known. Their fame, in the case of some very significant diamonds, seems to be equally timeless. Diamonds often carry the names of their most famous owners, contemporary and historical, and represent a great deal of history in and of themselves.
Consider the Centenary Diamond. This diamond was mined in the late 1980s and was finally finished being cut in 1991. The gem weighs in at a whipping 273.85 carats and is rated as flawless. This diamond, impressive as it is, is only a newcomer on the scene. Older diamonds carry with them not only the weight of their carats, but the weight of their history.
The Darya-e-noor is a diamond that currently finds itself among the Iranian crown jewels. This diamond, however, has a long and rich history. It’s journey began in India where many diamonds are still found today. In the early 1700’s, Iran invaded India and managed to bring the diamond back to Iran where it had remains to this day. The diamond was worn in various settings by Iranian royalty throughout the years. In the 1960’s, Canadian researchers theorized that the Darya-e-noor is possibly a gem that was used as a decoration in the throne of an emperor as early as 1642. Diamonds, are enduring, indeed.
The Hope Diamond is perhaps ironically named. The diamond is the subject of a legend that holds it to be cursed and to be to blame for several different tragedies, including the beheadings of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The diamond can be found at the Smithsonian Institute today and, in reality, the stories of it being cursed are largely founded on a great deal of assumption, false information and plain superstition, as is the case with all such tales.
Antique diamonds of noteworthy size or history are those most often associated with myths and legends. However, given how they form in the Earth, there are really no “new” diamonds. Any diamond you own is really a little piece of geological history. You may be holding in your hand an item that was formed anywhere from tens of millions to billions of years ago. While diamonds are commercially separated by criteria such as cut and clarity, considering how many eras the diamond in your engagement ring has been around before you bought it. It’s easy to forget how much history can be worn on a finger or around a neck!
Human interest in diamonds comes rather recently in history. They aren’t mentioned until the 3rd Century BC in any written text. The Romans and Greeks had legends about diamonds that seem oddly relevant to the traditions for which diamonds are most well known today. Getting shot with Cupid’s arrow, which the Greeks believed caused one to fall in a love that could not be broken, meant being shot with a diamond-tipped projectile. Certainly not as gentle or endearing as our present day ritual of presenting the bride to be with a diamond ring, but a testament to the human tendency to associate beautiful things with love, nonetheless.
Given their incredible ability to bend and shape light, it’s no surprise that diamonds were thought to possess magical properties or to have had magical origins by many cultures. The Romans believed that they were the tears of gods and that wearing them provided protection against many types of magic. Some of the magical properties of diamonds were strength, wisdom and bravery.
Today, many celebrities wear diamonds as a symbol of status and wealth. This is not, by any means, a new tradition nor is it one that has always been restricted to the pageantry of awards shows and royal courts. In fact, diamonds were sometimes the best armor one could wear.
Kings who rode into battle alongside their men would sometimes wear armor decorated with diamonds. These diamonds, believed to have magical properties that would protect their wearer, were charged with preserving the life of the king. Oftentimes, they did just that. Enemies who would see an approaching warrior with such extravagant armor were certainly aware that he was no mere swordsman and would steer well clear of him on the field of battle. Today, some of the most attractive women in the world wear diamonds to attract attention; in the past, some of the most powerful men in the world wore them to intimidate their rivals.
Diamonds and their use by humans is certain to change over the years. While one of our generations lasts 100 years in the best case scenario, a single diamond can endure for billions. It’s something of a shame that they can’t speak!
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