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Diamond is named from the Greek ‘adamas’, meaning unconquerable, an early recognitionon that it is the hardest of  all natural minerals. This supreme hardness is combined with exceptional luster and dispersion, giving diamond the lasting fiery brilliance for which it is prized.

It is perhaps difficult to believe that diamond, like graphite and charcoal, is as form of carbon. Diamond crystallizes in the cubic system, at enormous pressures and high temperatures. Its exceptional properties arise from the crystal structure, in which the bonding between the carbon atoms is immensely strong and uniform.Much diamond occurs as well – formed crystals ,most commonly as octahedral. Graphite, which has a hardness of  1 to 2 on Mohs’ scale, consists of weakly bonded sheets of carbon atoms. Charcoal is non – crystalline.

Diamond is the most intensively mined and carefully graded of all gem minerals.The quality of a gem diamond is assessed by a system known as the ‘ Four Cs’ : colour, clarity, cut and carat weight. Diamond varies from colourless, through a range of yellows and browns, to green, blue, pink and a very rare red. Colourless diamonds or fancy coloured diamonds (those strong or unusual colour) are considered the most valuable. Truly colourless stones are rare as most diamonds are tinged with yellow or brown, by impurities. The most common impurity is nitrogen, which given rise to brown, yellow, green and black diamonds, depending on the amount present and its distribution in the crystal structure. Blue diamonds contain minute traces of boron.

Clarity is judged on the extent of mineral inclusions and flaws, such as cleavages, visible at X 10 magnification. Inclusions can affect the commercial value of gemstones either by reducing clarity or by providing valuable information about the origin of a gem.

Studies of  some garnet and pyroxene inclusions, coupled with a knowledge of the conditions needed to synthesize diamond, reveal that many diamonds formed at depths greater than 150 Km underground.

The cut is of  supreme importance in displaying the full beauty of a diamond. Although diamonds were known in India 2300 years ago, crystals were not cut for many centuries because it was believed that diamond had magical properties and that there would be lost if  the diamond was cut.In Europe, the polishing of  simple point and table cuts from octahedral crystals, and rose cuts from cleavage fragments, began sometime 1300. The popularity of diamond has grown with the development of  the brilliant cuts, which best display the fire in diamond.

Although early versions appeared in the 17 th century, the modern form of this cut was set in 1991, when Marcel Tolkowsky published ‘  ideal dimensions’ for a brilliant  - cut diamond.

Today lasers are used to cut diamond, but the only mineral that can cut a diamond is diamond and grinding and polishing are carried out by a lapidary using powdered diamond.

This is only possible because diamond is less hard in certain crystal directions. Diamond also cleaves relatively easily, in four directions parallel to the octahedral crystal faces, so cleaving is sometimes used to divide large crystals and to trim away flawed material.

For over 2000 years, diamonds were found only as eroded crystals in river gravels. Until 1725 India was the major source of  diamonds, with much smaller amounts mined in Kalimantan (Borneo).Diamonds were then discovered in Brazil, which became the leading suppliers as Indian production waned. South African diamonds were found first in 1867, in gravels near the Orange River.

Further exploration in the Kimberley region of South Africa revealed volcanic pipes filled with a hitherto unknown rock type which contained diamonds. The rock, a variety of  peridotite, was named kimberlite  and was recognized as the diamond source  of rock. This discovery formed the basis of   the huge modern diamond industry. Many similar pipes  have since been found in other African countries, in Siberia, China and more recently in the Northweste Territories of  Canada. A closely related rock type , lamproite,is the source of  Western Australian diamonds.

Diamond possesses many interesting properties in addition to its supreme hardness, luster and fire. Diamond’s attraction to grease and its blue fluorescence under X – rays is exploited in recovering diamond from the host rock. Many diamonds also fluoresce in ultraviolet light, and the variable nature of  this fluorescence provides an interesting means of  identifying jewellery set with diamonds.

This is only possible because diamond is less hard in certain crystal directions. Diamond also cleaves relatively easily, in four directions parallel to the octahedral crystal faces, so cleaving is sometimes used to divide large crystals and to trim away flawed material.

For over 2000 years, diamonds were found only as eroded crystals in river gravels. Until 1725 India was the major source of  diamonds, with much smaller amounts mined in Kalimantan (Borneo).Diamonds were then discovered in Brazil, which became the leading suppliers as Indian production waned. South African diamonds were found first in 1867, in gravels near the Orange River.

Further exploration in the Kimberley region of South Africa revealed volcanic pipes filled with a hitherto unknown rock type which contained diamonds. The rock, a variety of  peridotite, was named kimberlite  and was recognized as the diamond source  of rock. This discovery formed the basis of   the huge modern diamond industry. Many similar pipes  have since been found in other African countries, in Siberia, China and more recently in the Northweste Territories of  Canada. A closely related rock type , lamproite,is the source of  Western Australian diamonds.

Diamond possesses many interesting properties in addition to its supreme hardness, luster and fire. Diamond’s attraction to grease and its blue fluorescence under X – rays is exploited in recovering diamond from the host rock. Many diamonds also fluoresce in ultraviolet light, and the variable nature of  this fluorescence provides an interesting means of  identifying jewellery set with diamonds.

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 Diamond Stocks 

SOURCES FOR THIS GEMSTONE

Brazil, Zambia,Tanzania, U.S., Canada, India, Sri Lanka and Madagascar.

TREATMENTS

CARE

It is usually safe to clean Amethyst jewelry in an Ultrasonic cleaner, but risky to use a steamer.  We recommend ionic cleaners and/or warm, soapy water and a soft brush as the best way to clean your gemstone jewelry.