Why Are Diamonds Forever?
Many people may ask themselves what is it about diamonds? and why it has been fascinated by men and women of all ages, over the world. Why it becomes a symbolic of love and value the most. So what is it really in diamond?
Diamond is a mineral made of pure carbon that is crystallized in an isometric arrangement. Diamond's chemical composition is essentially carbon ( C ). And diamond is the only gem made of a single element, while all other gems are made of two or more chemical composition. And this is why it become a great symbolic of love.
Diamonds form very deep inside the earth, between 120 to 200 kilometers (75-120 miles) below the earth's surface where the high pressure and temperature condition exist.
From time to time, diamonds were delivered to the surface by a special kind of volcanic eruption. Millions of years later of erosion washed countless others into streams and rivers, creating alluvial deposits.
Diamonds were probably discovered in India before 500BC, and recently major depostis have been discovered in Botswana, Russia, Australia, and China.
From the mine to finished jewelry, diamonds have to go through many steps before they become a finished piece. Because diamond is such a high value mineral, to buy and sell diamonds, we need precise standards of grading where the 4'c comes - carat weight, color, clarity, and cut.
Carat is the unit of measurement used for diamonds (and other gems) in metric system, which one carat is equal to 0.200 grams. One ounce will consist of 142 carats of diamonds.
Color, there are two meanings in the diamond industry. Usually, it refers to an absence of color. On the other hand, we use the term fancy color to describe naturally colored diamonds as well.
Clarity refers to the presence of internal features and inclusions, for example breaks or foreign substance for both internal and external imperfections.
Cut, generally mean facet design, shape, or both. In modern day, cut also means the proportions and finish of a diamond. The term proportions refers to the relationships between size, shape, symmetry, weight distribution, and cutting angles. And finish refers to the details of facet shape, placement, and polish.
Over the centuries, people have associated certain gems with certain times of the year. And diamond is one of the first gem on the list. These associations evolved into the idea of birthstones, which became popular in Europe in the eighteenth century.