5 curiosities about Diamonds

The diamond, gem among gems, has always been a great symbol of beauty and worth. Such a precious jewel cannot but hide some legends, curiosities, and peculiarities. Today, therefore, we will discover together 5 curiosities about diamonds, the most prized among jewels!

The name

The term diamond derives from the Greek adamas, meaning unconquerable. This meaning seems to refer to the fact that the diamond is indeed a precious stone of extreme hardness which, according to the ancient Greeks, was generated by fragments of stars fallen to earth. The Hindus, instead, called this jewel vajira, a term that also means lightning: they also gave it the epithet "fragment of eternity".

Magical powers

In the past, this very rare precious stone was attributed considerable magical powers. To mention a few, the use of the diamond was said to be able to neutralize any poison, restore sanity to the mad, drive away nightmares, tame wild beasts, grant wealth, and keep the devil at bay. At the same time, it was believed to be able to regenerate the energies of its owner, in a sort of boomerang effect: negative thoughts would bring back negative events. In short, a precious stone bearing both positive and negative powers, as only a rare object can do.

Material properties

Although the origin of diamonds is shrouded in mystery, according to scientists and geologists, this precious stone is the hardest gem known to man. Its composition is actually very simple: carbon (like the graphite in a pencil!), but with a melting point of 6900 degrees Fahrenheit, exactly two and a half times higher than steel. The most notable characteristics of diamonds are extreme hardness, high thermal conductivity, and very high melting point. In short, we could define a diamond as a transparent crystal made up of carbon atoms in a tetrahedral structure. The parameters considered in the appraisal of a cut diamond are indicated by the overall term “4 Cs”, from the initials of the English words: Carat, Colour, Clarity, Cut.

Production

Billions of years ago, some elemental forces such as heat and pressure miraculously transformed simple carbon into diamond, inside a volcanic mass. This mass, having risen to the surface, then cooled forming kimberlite craters (from Kimberly, a place in the South African Republic where some specimens were found). It is precisely in these craters that diamonds can still be found today. Currently, the countries producing rough diamonds are Australia, Zaire, Botswana, Russia, then South Africa, followed by Namibia, Angola, Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Central African Republic, Tanzania, China, Indonesia, and India. Of the diamonds extracted today, only 50% are destined for jewellery.

Symbolism: love

An ancient legend tells that the arrows of Cupid, the Greek god of love, had a tip made of diamond, a stone with unmatched magical power. The very Greek etymology, unconquerable, would refer to the sense of eternity of love. The Greeks also believed that the fire of the diamond (that is, the set of vivid coloured reflections emitted by the gem) reflected the constant flame of eternal love. Coming to more modern times, the diamond in the engagement ring became a tradition in 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy. A tradition that shows no sign of ending even today, when the diamond is still considered the precious stone dedicated to love more than any other. And it could not be otherwise, for such a rare jewel! I hope this little article pleased you and that it made you discover some more curiosities about the world of precious stones! See you here again, very soon Olga

---

By Olga Navarin https://www.ferrogioielli.com https://www.facebook.com/FerroGioielli [views]