“Fire in ice” -the diamond

The name “diamond” comes from the Greek word “adamas” which means “unconquerable.” Indeed, the diamond is today the pre-eminent gemstone of choice especially as the symbol of love. The first recorded diamond engagement ring was presented by Maximilian of Austria to his bride to be in 1477. Until the 19th century, men wore diamonds more than women but when Agnes Sorel, the mistress of King Charles VII of France began wearing diamonds, it became fashionable for women also. The diamond has been known and sought after for thousands of years and was believed to possess the power to prevent nightmares and protect the wearer from insanity and poisons. In its natural state, diamond is found in “pyramid type” shapes and cubed shapes. The lapidary (stone cutter) has developed the wide range of familiar diamond cuts we see today such as the round brilliant, princess, marquise, oval, emerald cut, pear, and heart shape. Today’s diamonds are spectacular due to the cutting and polishing processes perfected through the years. India was one of the first major sources of fine diamonds prior to Brazil, which was a leading producer in the 1700 – 1800’s. Today Africa is the largest producer. There has been a major find of diamond material in Canada in recent years but it is not yet producing due to governmental and environmental regulations. The diamond is formed from pure carbon. This is the same element that is foundational to human life. We are “carbon-based life forms.” Sometimes diamonds are found on the surface of the earth, but most are found deep in the earth and must be mined. Rather than searching for the diamond rough, most mines are discovered by the presence of a rock called kimberlite. This is almost always a sure indication that diamonds are present. Typically, one carat of diamond will be found in every 5 tons of rock, and then only about 20% of that will be “gem quality” suited for fine jewelry. The rest is used for various industrial applications. The annual world production of diamond runs as much as 50 million carats. There are also “fancy” diamonds, which range in color from blue, green, and yellow to pink and red. These colors are due to traces of nitrogen which seeps into the carbon as it undergoes extreme heat and pressure over thousands of years. The best-known blue diamond is the Hope Diamond, which weighs 44.5 carats and is on display in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. These fancy diamonds are rare and costly, as are the extremely white, clean ones. There is so much to take into consideration when shopping for a diamond that the industry introduced the concept of the “ Four C’s” of diamonds: Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. This was designed to provide a foundation for the comparison of diamonds, but unfortunately there persists a lot of confusion among the buying public. I recommend you find a reputable jeweler and let them teach you “ buying savvy” before you purchase a large or “fancy” diamond. Diamond is the Birthstone for April and it is also the designated stone for the 10th and the 60th anniversary. The gift of a diamond is always a good choice for any special occasion or “just because.”