What Makes Diamonds So Special?

Diamonds are truly a marvel of nature! Here are 10 facts that show just how special they are.

1. The word “diamond” comes from the Greek word “adamas,” which means indestructible or invincible. Though diamonds are incredibly strong, the truth is they are not indestructible. If you hit a diamond with a hammer, it’s a guarantee that the hammer will win.
2. Determining the age of a diamond is tricky and can only be done by carbon-dating the diamond’s inclusions. Today, the generally accepted scientific theory is all diamonds are between one and three billion years old, with the oldest diamonds being about 3.3 billion years old.
3. Diamonds form between about 90 and 120 miles beneath the earth’s surface and are carried to the surface by volcanic eruptions.
4. Less than 1% of the total global diamond production comes from the U.S., but Americans buy more than half of the world’s quality diamonds.
5. A diamond found in nature is called a rough diamond and it will lose approximately 50% of its weight during the cutting and polishing process. The excess diamond fragments are cut into smaller diamonds and used for industrial purposes.
6. An estimated 80% of diamonds go to industrial uses. The rest are used in jewelry, and only about 2% of those are flawless diamonds.
7. The largest rough diamond was found in 1905 in South Africa and named “Cullinan.” It weighs in at an impressive 3,106 carats, which is 1.37 pounds.
8. A rough diamond looks very similar to a piece of glass that has been in the ocean for many years. Most people who find a rough diamond have no idea what it is.
9. A diamond is the hardest natural mineral, rating a 10 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale. It is four times harder than corundum, the next hardest mineral, which is a 9 out of 10. Corundum is better known as rubies and sapphires.
10. The more yellow a diamond is, the less rare it is, dropping its color grade and value. However, fancy yellow diamonds or canary yellow diamonds are actually rarer and have a higher price tag than colorless diamonds.

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