Diamond Lore And Info:

What it is, what kinds of cuts are common in the industry, lore, facts, Diamond localities, Diamond pictures, and history.

Diamonds are usually colourless. However, brown, yellow, green, blue, pink, red, grey and black variations are also found depending on the impurities present.  Most diamonds are over 3 billion years old. Even the youngest were formed more than 70 million years ago. Diamonds are made of pure carbon, and is similar to the graphite used in a 'lead' pencil. In diamonds, however, intense heat and pressure, more than 1 000° Celcius and 40 kilobars (400 000 times normal atmospheric pressure) -- crystallised the carbon. Diamonds are carried to the earth's crust through volcanic eruption, and most are found in 'pipes' of kimberlite, named after Kimberley, where it was first found.

The most recent kimberlite volcanic eruption occurred approximately 55 million years ago. The melting point of a diamond is 1878° C, two and a half times higher than that of steel. A natural diamond crystal has a distinctive appearance and comes in regular and identifiable crystal forms. The yellow colour found in many diamonds is caused by residual nitrogen. In clear diamonds, the nitrogen has leached out over millions of years. Although diamond is the hardest natural substance, is possible to crush a diamond with a hammer. Diamonds were known in the Indian subcontinent over three thousand years ago. India, and later Borneo, were the primary source of diamonds until they were discovered in Brazil in 1723. The first diamond price list was issued in the twelfth century, by an Arab, Teifaschius. Now the generally-accepted price list is the Rapaport list, or the 'Rap Sheet', published by Martin Rapaport in New York.

Reputable dealers will not use the following misleading terms when discussing diamonds.

  "Alaska diamond", "Alencon diamond", "Arkansas diamond", "Bohemian diamond", "Bristol diamond", "Cornish diamond", "Irish diamond", "Isle of Wight diamonds", "Marmora diamond", "Mexican diamond" and "Vallum diamond" are really rock crystal (quartz) and NOT real diamond.

"Ceylon diamond" and "mature diamond" designate colourless zircon. "Jourado diamond" is an imitation colourless stone."Killiecrankie diamond" and "Saxony diamond" designate colourless topaz. "Radium diamond" is really smoky quartz."Alaska black diamond" is really hematite. "Nevada diamond" and "Nevada black diamond" designate obsidian.

Where Diamonds are mined:

Diamonds are mostly found in Australia, Ghana, Zaire, the former USSR, USA, Canada and Brazil.

Famous Diamonds:

KOH-I-NOOR ("Mountain of Light")

First mentioned in 1304, it weighed 186 carats and was an oval cut stone. It is believed to have once been set in the famous peacock throne of Shah Jehan as one of the peacock's eyes. Recut in the reign of Queen Victoria, it is among the British Crown Jewels and now weighs 108.93 carats

The Cullinan:

The largest diamond ever found was 3,106 carats in the rough and originally weighed just under one and a half pounds. The Cullinan was cut into 9 major stones and 96 smaller stones.

The Star Of Africa:

The largest stone cut from the Cullinan and now among the British Crown Jewels. It weighs 530.20 carats and has 74 facets and is still the largest cut diamond in the world.

The Excelsior:

The second largest stone ever found is the Excelsior, which was 995.2 carats in the rough. Some claim that the Braganza is the second largest stone ever found, but there are no records of its existence, and many believe it is mythical -- or not even a diamond.

The Great Mogul:

The Great Mogul was discovered in the 17th century. The stone was named after Shah Jehan who built the Taj Mahal. The rough is said to have weighed 793 carats. It has now disappeared.

The Orloff:

The Orloff is thought to have weighed about 300 carats when it was found. At one time it was confused with the Great Mogul, and is now held in the Diamond Treasury of the former Soviet Union in Moscow. One tale told is that the Orloff was set as the eye of a god in the temple of Sri Rangen and was stolen by a French soldier disguised as a Hindu.

The Idols Eye:

A flattened pear shaped stone the size of a bantam's egg, its polished size is 70.20 carats. This is another famous diamond that was once set in the eye of an idol before it was stolen. Legend also has it that it was given as a ransom for Princess Rasheetah by the Sheik of Kashmir to the Sultan of Turkey who had abducted her.

The Regent:

A truly historic diamond discovered in 1701 by an Indian slave near Golconda, it weighed 410 carats in the rough. Once owned by William Pitt, the English Prime Minister, it was cut into a cushion shaped brilliant of 140.50 carats and, until it was sold to the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France when Louis XV was a boy in 1717, was called The Pitt. It was then renamed The Regent and set in the crown Louis XV wore at his coronation. After the French revolution, it was owned by Napoleon Bonaparte who set it in the hilt of his sword. It is now on display in the Louvre.

The Blue Hope:

More notorious than any other diamond, the Hope was once owned by Louis XIV and was officially designated "the blue diamond of the crown." Stolen during the French Revolution, it turned up in London in 1830 and was bought by Henry Philip Hope, after whom it is currently named. It was while the diamond was in the possession of the Hope family that it acquired its gruesome reputation for bad luck. All his family died in poverty. A similar misfortune befell a later owner, Mr. Edward McLean. It is now in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

More Diamond Lore:

Diamonds are called the "king" of all precious gems. It represents omnipotent power, purity and strength. Being comprised of carbon, the foundation of all life, the diamond assists the wearer in the transformational process towards perfection. The diamond is the emblem of fearlessness and invincibility.The first river-bed (alluvial) diamonds were probably discovered around 800 B.C. The Hindus believed that a flawed diamond, or one containing spots or specks was so unlucky that it could even deprive the God Indra of his highest heaven. Diamond is the US State Gemstone of Arkansas. Diamond is said to be the Winter Gemstone of the Season

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