Diamonds have been known to be the hardest and most valuable of all stones. From the Greek word "Adamas" which means invincible, unconquerable, or untamed, diamonds are one of the prized possessions of both men and women since the early human history. They were known to be treasured as gemstones in religious cults and even carving stones in the primitive eras. But it was in the early 19th Century when diamonds have become popular with the masses. Diamonds are judged according to the 4C's which is carat, clarity, cut, and color.
Diamonds are made up of carbon, one of the earth's most basic element. The formation of diamonds happens when intense pressure and temperature converge along with the said element. As the earth cools off, diamonds begin to crystallize and are either excavated by men or by natural occurrences such as volcanic eruption or soil erosion. The atomic structure of diamonds makes it the hardest substance on the planet in second to corundum which is the substance in sapphires and rubies but it doesn't make it unbreakable as believed by common people. It has a hardness of 10 according to Mohs scale of mineral hardness with hardness defined as the mineral's resistance to scratching. And diamonds are on top of the scale. Diamonds can only be scratched by other diamonds and is resistant to wear and tear of natural occurrence which is probably the reason why it is the popular choice for wedding or engagement rings as it is most suitable for such event and as it is often worn everyday.
Mining of diamonds has existed since ancient times. India led in diamond production up until the late 18th century when Brazil overshadowed India. It was then later found out that South Africa has another diamond deposit waiting to be excavated and mined. Not long after, several deposits started to appear, Canada, Russia, Angola, and Zimbabwe just to name a few.
Diamonds are turning into a scarce resource of the earth and people would take desperate measures to acquire such value. With little supply and a very high demand, diamonds will never run out of fashion or value.
Diamonds are made up of carbon, one of the earth's most basic element. The formation of diamonds happens when intense pressure and temperature converge along with the said element. As the earth cools off, diamonds begin to crystallize and are either excavated by men or by natural occurrences such as volcanic eruption or soil erosion. The atomic structure of diamonds makes it the hardest substance on the planet in second to corundum which is the substance in sapphires and rubies but it doesn't make it unbreakable as believed by common people. It has a hardness of 10 according to Mohs scale of mineral hardness with hardness defined as the mineral's resistance to scratching. And diamonds are on top of the scale. Diamonds can only be scratched by other diamonds and is resistant to wear and tear of natural occurrence which is probably the reason why it is the popular choice for wedding or engagement rings as it is most suitable for such event and as it is often worn everyday.
Mining of diamonds has existed since ancient times. India led in diamond production up until the late 18th century when Brazil overshadowed India. It was then later found out that South Africa has another diamond deposit waiting to be excavated and mined. Not long after, several deposits started to appear, Canada, Russia, Angola, and Zimbabwe just to name a few.
Diamonds are turning into a scarce resource of the earth and people would take desperate measures to acquire such value. With little supply and a very high demand, diamonds will never run out of fashion or value.
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