10 Surprising Facts You Didn’t Know About Diamonds
Diamonds have mesmerized humanity for centuries with their beauty, sparkle, strength and overall diamond value. Many of us associate them with luxury and the symbolism of romance, love, and commitment. These brilliant gems are packed with surprising stories and scientific facts that go way beyond the jewelry box. Here are some interesting and little-known facts about these remarkable gemstones.
1. Diamonds Were Once Tools and Talismans
Before becoming luxury symbols, diamonds were used as tools and spiritual talismans. Ancient cultures believed diamonds held mystical powers for protection and healing. Indian texts mention diamonds being used as religious icons, decorative jewelry, and even tools for cutting.
Diamonds were thought to bring good fortune in Buddhists texts. The Romans believed diamonds had magical and healing powers. In early China diamonds were used primarily for cutting tools.
2. Amazing Origins of Diamonds
Diamonds Can Come From Outer Space
Some diamonds are literally out of this world. Scientists have discovered tiny diamonds in meteorites that originated from ancient stars. These extraterrestrial diamonds are believed to have formed during supernova explosions.
Natural Diamonds On Earth
Diamonds form under high pressure and heat about 100 miles beneath the earth’s surface. Diamonds stay buried unless something powerful brings them to the surface like rare and very violent volcanic eruptions. Deep-rooted volcanic pipes called kimberlite pipes are created during these eruptions and bring the diamonds from the earth’s mantle to the surface.
The first recorded diamonds were found in riverbeds in India. Some of the most legendary diamonds came from the Golconda Mines in India. After India’s diamond supply declined, diamonds were discovered in Brazil which then became a world leading diamond supplier for over a century.
In 1867, a young boy discovered a shiny stone near the Orange River which led to the discovery of the Kimberley Diamond fields. This sparked the diamond mining rush and the rise of De Beers, which would dominate the diamond market. The diamonds found in South Africa were originally found in Kimberlite pipes.
The discovery of the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia in the 1980’s made it one of the leading producers of pink and brown diamonds. Today diamonds are mined in many countries, including Russia, Canada, Botswana, and Angola.
3. Diamonds are the Hardest Natural Substance on Earth
The word diamond comes from the Greek adamas meaning unconquerable or invincible. Adamas was used in ancient times to describe the hardest substances known.
The Mohs hardness scale for gemstones is rated 1-10. On the Mohs scale, diamonds score a perfect 10. This makes them ideal for cutting, grinding, and drilling–even through other hard materials. Their incredible hardness is due to their tightly bonded carbon atoms, arranged in a super-strong lattice.
While diamonds are the hardest known natural substance that can resist scratches, they can slowly degrade into graphite over an extended timeline. Radiation exposure can also alter a diamond’s crystal structure over time.
4. Diamonds Can Burn
While diamonds are the hardest natural material, they are not indestructible. A sharp impact can crack or shatter diamonds. Diamonds are made of pure carbon, and they can ignite at very high temperatures and burn, turning into carbon dioxide.
5. Not All Diamonds are Clear
Most people think natural diamonds are clear and colorless, but these gemstones also come in a stunning range of colors–pink, blue, yellow, green, and even rare reds. These fancy colored diamonds get their hues from trace elements or structural defects.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has a diamond color grade scale rated from D to Z, with D being absolutely colorless (most rare and valuable) to Z which have a noticeable yellow or brown tint. Diamonds with higher color grade, good clarity, and an excellent diamond cut are considered a higher quality diamond.
Colored Diamonds are graded on their presence and intensity of color. They are rated by hue (actual color like blue, pink, yellow diamonds), tone (light to dark), and saturation (strength/intensity of color). The more vivid and intense the color, the more valuable the diamond is.
6. Famous Diamonds in History
Here are a few famous natural diamonds known for their color, carat weight, and gem quality:
The Hope Diamond is a 45.52 carat diamond. It was originally from India and passed through royal hands before ending up in the Smithsonian Museum. The Hope Diamond is a famous deep blue diamond color and is world-famous for its alleged curse. The Hope Diamond has been displayed in many settings including as a stunning diamond necklace.
Image by Smithsonian
The largest diamond, the Cullinan Diamond was discovered in South Africa. This rough diamond (3,106 carats) was cut into multiple diamond shapes in nine major gemstones, including the Great Star of Africa (Cullinan I, 530.2 carats)
Picture by Royal Collection Trust
The Kimberley Diamond (70 carats) was discovered in the Kimberley mines of South Africa. The rough cut diamond was 490 carats. It is the world’s largest octahedral diamond.
Picture by American Gem Society
The Regent Diamond is 140.64 carats and was once embedded in Napoleon Bonaparte’s sword handle and also in French royalty crowns. This diamond is now located in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Dresden Green Diamond is one of the largest (41 carats) and most famous green diamonds in the world. It has exceptional clarity with a GIA grade of VS1 (Very Slightly Included under 10x magnification). The green color is the result of natural radiation exposure.
Photo by GIA
The Pink Star Diamond is 59.60 carats and is an internally flawless fancy pink diamond. An internally flawless diamond is rare as it has no visual inclusions under magnification. In 2017 it was the most expensive diamond ever sold at auction.
Photo by Natural Diamonds
The Koh-I-Noor Diamond weighs 105.6 carats, although it was originally much larger in carat weight before it was cut. This diamond originated from India and became part of the British Crown Jewels.
Image by Britannica
The Moussaieff Red Diamond is the largest known fancy red diamond at 5.11 carats, and features a modern version of a triangular brilliant cut.
Photo by Langerman
7. Most Diamonds Aren’t Worn on Fingers
Surprisingly, over 80% of diamonds are mined for industrial purposes–not jewelry. They’re essential in construction, manufacturing, medical tools, and precious cutting tools thanks to their unbeatable hardness.
Common industrial uses are diamond-tipped saws, drills, and abrasives. In construction they are used for cutting stone, concrete and metals. Mining and oil drilling will use diamond drill bits. They are even used in precision machining for aerospace and electronics.
8. Diamonds Are Used in Technology
Beyond beauty, diamonds have unique thermal, electrical and optical properties that make them useful in advanced technologies. Diamonds are used in high-tech fields like quantum computing, semiconductors, and medical imaging and lasers. Diamonds conduct heat better than any other material, making them ideal for next-gen electronics.
9. Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Real Diamonds
Synthetic diamonds are not fake, they are a real type of diamond. These diamonds are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds. The difference is synthetic diamonds are grown in controlled environments using high-tech methods like Chemical Vapor Deposition or High Pressure, High Temperature.
The Chemical Vapor Deposition method has carbon gas heated in a vacuum chamber. The gas breaks down and carbon atoms slowly deposit onto a diamond seed layer. This method allows fine control of purity and structure, often producing high-clarity diamonds giving them higher clarity grades.
The High Pressure, High Temperature method is where carbon is subjected to high pressure and temperature in a press. Diamond crystals will form around a small seed. Being lab-created diamonds are mass produced, they are more affordable and eco-conscious.
Resale value is much lower for lab-grown diamonds because they are mass-produced and more affordable to create. A natural diamond will hold more value due to their rarity and historical significance.
10. The Engagement Ring Tradition is Surprisingly Modern
While diamonds have been valued for centuries, their popularity as diamond engagement rings only skyrocketed in the 20th century. It was the DeBeers’ 1947 advertising campaign that coined the iconic slogan: “A Diamond is Forever” that turned diamonds into a global symbol of love and commitment. Before that time, diamonds were not the standard for engagement rings.
Conclusion
From cosmic origins to cutting-edge science, diamonds are far more than just a pretty birthstone (April) or gemstone. They are natural wonders with ancient roots, scientific potential, and surprising stories. When you look at a diamond, you’re looking at a piece of history, mystery, and innovation all in one.
The jewelers at The Estate Watch and Jewelry Company are happy to show you our jewelry collection of diamond engagement rings, necklaces, earrings and more. Our qualified professionals can talk to you about gem quality and what to look for when buying diamond jewelry or creating your own custom piece.