Diamond Information
Diamond Education

What is a Diamond?

A diamond is truly one of nature's most beautiful and compelling creations. Each diamond is formed when carbon precisely crystallizes under intense heat and pressure. Over twenty million years ago, this incredible transformation occurred under the most exacting conditions, in a relatively thin layer of our planet between 75-125 miles below the surface of the earth.

So how does a diamond find its way from many miles deep inside the earth to you? Over the millennia, the diamonds worked their way toward the surface through a series of cataclysmic geologic events. Eventually, man discovered diamond deposits both underground and near sources of water. These sources yield diamonds of industrial as well as cuttable quality (gem quality), with the majority of diamonds mined being industrial quality.

An uncut diamond resembles a pebble that most people would pass by without a second glance. It is the skill of the expert diamond cutter that unlocks the fiery beauty that lies within. For centuries, only kings wore diamonds as a symbol of strength, courage, and invincibility. In fact, the word diamond comes from the Latin adamas, which means unconquerable. Over the centuries the diamond has acquired the status as the ultimate gift of love.

Diamond Rarity

Diamonds were first discovered in India 3,000 years ago and for 2,900 of those years, every diamond was mined by hand. Eventually, all of the diamond mines in India were mined out.

Gem quality diamonds are found in very few places: Africa, Russia, Australia, and Canada.

Only 20% of mined diamonds are gem quality, the rest are used for industrial purposes.

Over 250 tons of the Earth's crust must be removed to find a gem quality 1 carat diamond.

Miners will unearth one million diamonds before a gem quality 2 carat stone is found! There is nothing for sale that is older than a diamond. Diamonds are carbon-dated at 3.4 billion years old.

Diamond is about 140% harder than the next hardest substance known to man. 90% of all diamonds are cut to retain weight, sacrificing brilliance and beauty. Only 10% are cut to fine make criteria and only 1% of those are cut to ideal standards.

Find a custom jeweler in Springfield, or internet jeweler.