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10 Secrets You Didn't Know About Diamonds
For literally thousands of years, diamonds have been seen as a luxurious, somewhat mystical item that represents wealth and power. In medieval times, Kings and Queens believed that putting diamonds on their armour would protect them in battle. Ancient Greeks even believed they were tears that had fallen from the Gods. In 2018, diamonds are more commonly used in high-quality audio equipment and fine jewellery. From their historic background to their countless weird-and-wonderful uses, there really is more to diamonds than what meets the eye. Many of you may know about the “4 C’s” of diamonds; cut, colour, clarity and carat. But what about some of the less well-known facts about diamonds? We take a look at ten secrets that you probably didn’t know about diamonds.1.The word ‘Diamond’ comes from the Greek word ‘Adamas’, which means invincible or indestructible.2.The largest diamond ever discovered weighed in at a whopping 3,106 carats. Discovered back in 1905 in South Africa, the Cullinan diamond was eventually cut into nine large diamonds and 100 smaller ones, with three of the largest ones on display at the Tower of London as part of The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.3.Natural diamonds are billions of years old – in some cases over three billion years old! Almost all of them form somewhere between 87 to 118 miles underground and are carried to the earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions. 4.The tradition of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth finger of the left hand (the ‘ring finger’) is taken from the ancient Egyptian belief that the vein of love runs directly from the heart to the top of that finger.5.Diamonds have long been considered the hardest substance known to man. In recent years, this belief has been widely debated between academics, with several newly-discovered materials such as Lonsdaleite and Graphene reportedly being stronger. One list actually puts diamonds at a mere seventh! Regardless, there’s no arguing that diamonds are the strongest gemstone on the market so it’s always smart to keep them separate from your other jewellery.6.It’s estimated that less than 1% of women in the world will ever get to wear a diamond that weighs 1 carat or more. Are you lucky enough to be part of that 1%?7.Although diamond engagement rings only rose to prominence following De Beers’ advertising campaigns throughout the 1940s, they were being used for hundreds of years before this. The first diamond engagement ring was actually given to Mary of Burgundy by the Archduke Maxmillian of Austria back in 1447.8.The first diamond ever to be discovered was found in India sometime around 2500 BC, near the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari.9.Almost 80% of all diamonds on the market are sold in New York City.10.Scientists recently discovered a star that is believed to essentially be a diamond weighing ten billion trillion trillion carats (no, that wasn’t a typo). They aptly name the star ‘Lucy’ after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.In our eyes, diamonds are one of the most fascinating objects on earth. Even without their rich history and heavy price tag, the April gemstone is simply beautiful. What outfit couldn’t be made better with the addition of some sparkling diamond jewellery?
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For literally thousands of years, diamonds have been seen as a luxurious, somewhat mystical item that represents wealth and power. In medieval times, Kings and Queens believed that putting diamonds on their armour would protect them in battle. Ancient Greeks even believed they were tears that had fallen from the Gods. In 2018, diamonds are more commonly used in high-quality audio equipment and fine jewellery.
From their historic background to their countless weird-and-wonderful uses, there really is more to diamonds than what meets the eye. Many of you may know about the “4 C’s” of diamonds; cut, colour, clarity and carat. But what about some of the less well-known facts about diamonds?
We take a look at ten secrets that you probably didn’t know about diamonds.
1.
The word ‘Diamond’ comes from the Greek word ‘Adamas’, which means invincible or indestructible.
2.
The largest diamond ever discovered weighed in at a whopping 3,106 carats. Discovered back in 1905 in South Africa, the Cullinan diamond was eventually cut into nine large diamonds and 100 smaller ones, with three of the largest ones on display at the Tower of London as part of The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
3.
Natural diamonds are billions of years old – in some cases over three billion years old! Almost all of them form somewhere between 87 to 118 miles underground and are carried to the earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions.
4.
The tradition of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth finger of the left hand (the ‘ring finger’) is taken from the ancient Egyptian belief that the vein of love runs directly from the heart to the top of that finger.
5.
Diamonds have long been considered the hardest substance known to man. In recent years, this belief has been widely debated between academics, with several newly-discovered materials such as Lonsdaleite and Graphene reportedly being stronger. One list actually puts diamonds at a mere seventh! Regardless, there’s no arguing that diamonds are the strongest gemstone on the market so it’s always smart to keep them separate from your other jewellery.
6.
It’s estimated that less than 1% of women in the world will ever get to wear a diamond that weighs 1 carat or more. Are you lucky enough to be part of that 1%?
7.
Although diamond engagement rings only rose to prominence following De Beers’ advertising campaigns throughout the 1940s, they were being used for hundreds of years before this. The first diamond engagement ring was actually given to Mary of Burgundy by the Archduke Maxmillian of Austria back in 1447.
8.
The first diamond ever to be discovered was found in India sometime around 2500 BC, near the rivers Penner, Krishna and Godavari.
9.
Almost 80% of all diamonds on the market are sold in New York City.
10.
Scientists recently discovered a star that is believed to essentially be a diamond weighing ten billion trillion trillion carats (no, that wasn’t a typo). They aptly name the star ‘Lucy’ after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.
In our eyes, diamonds are one of the most fascinating objects on earth. Even without their rich history and heavy price tag, the April gemstone is simply beautiful. What outfit couldn’t be made better with the addition of some sparkling diamond jewellery?