Diamonds are fascinating objects of desire that have a long history as
beautiful and valuable gemstones. Here are some facts about the history of
diamonds that you might find interesting,
In article's
The earliest diamonds were found in India
in 4th century BC, although the youngest of these deposits were formed 900
million years ago. A majority of these early stones were transported along the
network of trade routes that connected India and China, commonly known as the
Silk Road.
Some historians estimate that India was trading in diamonds as early as the
fourth century BC2.
The country’s resources yielded limited quantities for an equally limited
market: India’s very wealthy classes.
By the 1400s,
diamonds were becoming fashionable accessories for Europe’s elite. In the 13th
Century, Louis IX of France established a law reserving diamonds for the
king3. This bespeaks the rarity of diamonds and the value conferred on them at
that time.
In the early 1700s, as India’s diamond supplies began to decline, Brazil
emerged as an important source.
Diamonds were discovered in the pans of gold miners as they sifted through the
gravels of local rivers.
The story of the modern diamond market really begins on the African continent,
with the 1866 discovery of diamonds in Kimberley, South Africa.
Entrepreneur Cecil Rhodes established De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited 22
years later, in 18882. By 1900, De Beers, through its mines in South Africa,
controlled an estimated 90 percent of the world’s production of rough
diamonds.
Diamonds have also been found in space, as tiny crystals on meteorites or as
giant stars called white dwarfs. Scientists have also created synthetic
diamonds in laboratories by mimicking the high-pressure and high-temperature
conditions of nature.
What is the most expensive diamond in history?
The most expensive diamond in history is not easy to determine, as some
diamonds are considered priceless due to their historical and cultural
significance. However, based on the available information, here are some
possible candidates for the most expensive diamond in history,
The Kohinoor is a legendary
diamond
that weighs 105.6 carats and has a long and controversial history. It was
mined in India and passed through the hands of various rulers and invaders,
until it was taken by the British in 1849 and became part of the British Crown
Jewels. The diamond is considered priceless and its ownership is disputed by
several countries, including India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found,
weighing 3,106.75 carats. It was discovered in South Africa in 1905 and was
presented to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom as a birthday gift. The
diamond was cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller ones, the largest of
which is the Cullinan I or the Great Star of Africa, weighing 530.4 carats and
valued at $400 million.
The Cullinan I and II are part of the British Crown Jewels, while the other
stones are owned by various members of the British royal family.
The Hope Diamond is a famous blue diamond that weighs 45.52 carats and has a
rare phosphorescence property that makes it glow red under ultraviolet light.
The diamond was discovered in India in the 17th century and was owned by
several prominent figures, including King Louis XIV of France, Marie
Antoinette, and Henry Philip Hope.
The diamond is also notorious for being cursed, as many of its owners suffered
misfortunes or tragedies. The diamond is currently on display at the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and is valued at up to $350
million.
These are just some of the most expensive diamonds in history, but there are
many more that are remarkable for their size, color, quality, or story.
Diamonds are truly fascinating gems that have captivated humans for centuries.
How are diamonds graded and valued?
Diamonds are graded and valued based on a system of four criteria, commonly
known as the 4 Cs: cut, color, clarity, and carat. These factors describe the
quality and appearance of a diamond and affect its price and demand.
Cut refers to the proportions, symmetry, and polish of a diamond, which
determine how well it reflects and refracts light. A well-cut diamond will
have more brilliance, fire, and scintillation than a poorly cut one. Cut
is often considered the most important factor in grading a diamond, as it has
the greatest impact on its beauty.
Color refers to the presence or absence of hue in a diamond, which is
caused by impurities or structural defects. Most diamonds range from colorless
to light yellow or brown, but some rare diamonds have fancy colors such as
pink, blue, or green.
Colorless diamonds are the most valuable in the normal color range, as they
are the most rare and pure. Fancy colored diamonds are also highly valued
for their rarity and intensity.
Clarity refers to the amount and visibility of internal characteristics
called inclusions and external characteristics called blemishes. Inclusions
are tiny crystals, feathers, clouds, or cavities within a diamond, while
blemishes are scratches, chips, pits, or nicks on the surface.
Clarity is graded on a scale from flawless (FL) to included (I), based on the
number, size, position, nature, and relief of the imperfections. The
fewer and less noticeable the imperfections, the higher the clarity grade and
value of a diamond.
Carat refers to the weight of a diamond, measured in metric carats. One
carat is equal to 0.2 grams or 0.007 ounces. Carat is often confused with
size, but it is actually a measure of mass. Two diamonds of the same carat
weight can have different sizes depending on their cut proportions.
Carat is also related to rarity, as larger diamonds are more scarce than
smaller ones. Therefore, the price per carat of a diamond increases
exponentially as its weight increases.
These are the main factors that determine how diamonds are graded and
valued. However, there are other aspects that can influence the price and
demand of a diamond, such as fluorescence, shape, certification, origin, and
market conditions. If you want to buy or sell a diamond, it is important to
understand how these factors affect its quality and worth.
Where are diamonds mined in the world?
Diamonds are mined in many countries around the world, but some of the largest
producers are Russia, Botswana, Canada, Angola, and South Africa. Here are
some details about these countries and their diamond mining activities:
Russia is the world’s top diamond producer by volume, with an estimated 18
million carats of gem-quality diamonds mined in 2021. Russia has long been
known as one of the largest diamond producers in the world, with deposits in
Siberia, Yakutia, and the Ural Mountains.
The country’s main diamond company is ALROSA, which accounts for about 95% of
Russia’s production and 25% of the global supply.
Botswana is the world’s second-largest diamond producer by volume, with an
estimated 12 million carats of gem-quality diamonds mined in 2021. Botswana
has a long history of diamond mining,
dating back to the discovery of diamonds in Kimberley, South Africa, in 1866.
The country’s main diamond company is Debswana, a joint venture between the
government of Botswana and De Beers Group, which operates four mines: Orapa,
Letlhakane, Jwaneng, and Damtshaa.
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Canada is the world’s third-largest diamond producer by volume,
with an estimated 13 million carats of gem-quality diamonds mined in 2021.
Canada is a relatively new player in the diamond industry, with the first
commercial production starting in 1998 at the Ekati mine in the Northwest
Territories2. Since then, Canada has become a major source of high-quality
diamonds, with mines in Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.
The country’s main diamond companies include Dominion Diamond Mines, Rio
Tinto, De Beers Canada, and Stornoway Diamond Corporation.
Angola is the world’s fourth-largest diamond producer by volume, with an
estimated 7.1 million carats of gem-quality diamonds mined in 2021. Angola has
a rich and diverse diamond potential, with deposits in the Lunda Norte and
Lunda Sul provinces in the northeast of the country.
The country’s main diamond company is Endiama, a state-owned enterprise that
holds exclusive rights to prospecting, mining, trading, and polishing of
diamonds in Angola.
South Africa is the world’s fifth-largest diamond producer by volume,
with an estimated 6.9 million carats of gem-quality diamonds mined in 2021.
South Africa is where the modern diamond industry began, with the discovery of
diamonds in Kimberley in 1866.
The country has a long and illustrious history of diamond mining and trading,
with famous mines such as Cullinan, Finsch, Venetia, and Koffiefontein. The
country’s main diamond companies include Petra Diamonds, De Beers Group, Trans
Hex Group, and Rockwell Diamonds.
These are some of the countries where diamonds are mined in the world.
However, there are many other countries that also produce diamonds, such as
Congo (Kinshasa), Namibia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Australia, and
others. Diamonds are truly a global commodity that can be found on almost
every continent.
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