Diamonds - What's to Know?

Diamond is unique material by its crystal structure, it consists of carbon. It is very resistant to scratching.

Diamonds are considered to be the kings of precious stones. Amazing properties of diamonds have become the source for numerous legends.

The first historic evidences about colorless transparent stones of striking hardness came from India.

Ancient Greeks very precisely noticed the unique properties of a diamond and called it an adamant (indestructible) stone.

At the beginning people did not use diamonds to create jewelry pieces because in natural look the stones seemed dull, crude and completely unattractive.

Later that unique stone has become a privilege of the few. A diamond was considered to be the stone of winners and was talismanic for Julius Caesar and Napoleon. But it gained its status as a precious stone not so long ago.

Diamonds were so rare that only the representatives of aristocracy could afford wearing them. They believed that a diamond made its owner invincible. This fact made French kings enact a law according to which only royal family members had the right to wear diamonds.

For a historian those crystals are a symbol of great overturns and achievements, an attribute of royal power.

The diamond is resistant to high temperatures and all acids.

The Formation of Diamonds

It takes millions of years for diamonds to be formed under very high temperature and pressure deep inside the earth.

There are a lot of diamond beds in many parts of the world. But the biggest industrial fields are concentrated in Australia, Russia, Angola, Botswana, Republic of South Africa and Zaire where 80 per cent of all world diamonds are mined.

Until XVII the main diamond source was India. Namely in India the famous Kohinoor Diamond, also called Mountain of Light, was found. Nowadays it is a part of English crown jewel.

There are also other world known diamonds originated from India. The largest diamond ever found is called the Cullinan Diamond. It was found in South Africa in 1905. The Cullinan Diamond was cut into nine large stones and almost 100 small ones.

The Four C's Diamond Quality

There are four main characteristics that define the price and value of diamonds. These are:

The cut means the shape of a diamond after jeweler finishes it. The better the proportions are the more is the sparkling of the diamond.

The clarity means how pure a diamond is. It depends on the inclusions a diamond has. Those tiny inclusions are not discernible to the naked eye.

Carat means the weight of a diamond. One carat equals 1/5 gram. Diamonds that have more than 15 carats weight are considered very rare.

Color means the color of a diamond. Sometimes namely color of a stone plays the leading role. The best diamonds are colorless or with a slight blue tint.

Traditions, Superstitions and Believes

Traditionally in oriental countries a diamond was considered to be men's stone. Women could begin wearing diamonds only after 30-35. They believed that girls and young women shouldn't wear diamonds because those stones could be the cause of difficult delivery.

A diamond with green tint, however, gave fertility to a woman, protected her unborn child and helped in delivery, making it easier.

A diamond was not good for nervous and impulsive people. In such cases a stone and its owner came to antagonism with each other.

In ancient India they believed that diamonds were made of five nature beginnings - earth, water, air, sky and energy. A diamond was deified. They believed that it cured all diseases, protected from evil spirits, enemies, injuries, malefice. They were certain that a diamond gave clairvoyance and ability to predict future. Diamond helped a good and kind owner to fight with enemies.

Nowadays a diamond means love and chastity that is why if you decide to present somebody with a diamond you should remember that you pledge to be faithful. The same thing is with the receiver of the diamond.

Keep in mind that a diamond should be of perfect quality, without cracks and spots otherwise it can bring misfortunes.

Diamonds as well as finger prints are unique - there are not two completely identical diamonds in the world.

A diamond has no rivals - it is the king of gems. Diamonds are absolute favorites in the jewelry world.

Diamonds Need Care

Surely diamonds can look good on anyone but if you want your precious stone to serve you for a long period of time then try to take several steps and read the precautions below.

You really shouldn't wear your diamond while playing extreme sports or doing active physical work. It is important that your diamond does not come in contact with household cleansers. This will not damage the stone but it will definitely have a strong negative impact on the mounting.

Due to the fact that diamond is the hardest stone on the planet, keeping it in the same case as other jewelry is not recommended. Diamonds are able to scratch other jewelry as well as scratch each other. You can place your diamonds in a small plastic bag or you can also wrap them in tissue paper for safety.

It is important to visit a professional jeweler at least once a year. The jeweler will check your diamond for loose prongs as well as solve some other issues that can occur. Also a professional is able to polish your stone till it gets a lustrous look. This is the best way to take care of the diamond.