8 DIAMOND FUN FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
August 19, 2021
Diamonds are one of the most precious gemstones in the world. In fact, more than 70% of engagement rings have diamonds embedded in them. And there’s a reason for this; after all, it is a fetching gem to see on your hand. Any person would love to have diamond rings and jewellery in their wardrobe to wear on special occasions. Unfortunately, beyond the sparkle and looks of the diamond, not many people actually know much about it. As such, before you purchase a diamond as an investment or a diamond engagement ring to propose to your beloved with, it’s strongly recommended that you learn a few things about this gemstone first.
In this article, the master jewellers of Vella Diamonds discusses eight fun facts about diamonds that everyone should know about.
They’re More Than a Billion Years Old
– Every mineral in the world has more than a million years behind it. However, diamonds are said to be more than a billion years old. In fact, the oldest diamonds in the world were said to have been crystallized around 3.3 billion years ago in India. This makes diamonds one of the oldest types of gemstones in the world.
The Journey to the Surface of the Earth
– Diamonds are formed deep within the Earth’s surface, 120 miles beneath it in fact, and as such, some people wonder just how they got to the point where miners can extract them and use them for diamond rings. The answer is simple: volcanic eruptions. Thanks to the eruption of volcanoes, diamonds are propelled upwards and carried into the surface of the Earth enough for them to be extracted for use. Without the aid of volcanic eruptions, it’s highly unlikely that we would’ve been able to discover diamonds and their beauty.
They’re the World’s Hardest Natural Substance
– According to master jewellers, it’s nearly impossible to break a diamond. This is because they are incredibly hard and it is said that the only thing that can actually damage a diamond is another diamond.
Diamonds are Made of a Single Element
– Unlike other gemstones, diamonds are made of a single element and a single element only: carbon. This is due to the immense heat and pressure that can only be found deep below the surface of the Earth, which in turn causes carbon atoms to bond in such a unique way that it results in the beautiful and rare crystalline structures that make up a diamond.
Diamonds Were Valued by Ancient Cultures
– Diamonds have been a very popular gemstone for a long time now. Believe it or not, many ancient cultures actually valued diamonds and in fact, they were the ones that started the trend of wearing diamond rings and jewellery. For instance, Ancient Hindus tended to wear diamonds because they believed that it could protect its wearer from danger as well as providing strength and courage in battle. They believed in this notion so much that even ancient kings wore diamond on their armor as they rode into battle. During the Middle Ages, meanwhile, diamonds saw value once again as it was thought that they had healing properties for ailments such as fatigue and mental illness.
The First Diamond Engagement Ring
– Diamond rings didn’t see prominence as an engagement ring until recently. Surprisingly enough, however, there was a recorded instance centuries ago when a diamond ring was first used to propose to someone. This event occurred in 1477, when the young Archduke Maximillian of Austria asked his betrothed, Duchess Mary of Burgundy, for her hand in marriage. This ring was said to consist of a small number of oblong shaped diamonds (most likely Marquis or Pear Cut diamonds) that spelled out the letter “M” for the Duchess Mary’s name.
They Can Be Burned
– As stated before, diamonds aren’t easy to break. But again, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s impossible seeing as how another diamond can actually damage another diamond. And believe it or not, diamonds can also be burned despite their incredibly high melting and boiling points. To melt a diamond, it has to be heated between 1290-1650 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperature that house fires and jeweller torches sometimes reach.
The Largest Diamond Ever Discovered
– In 1905, the largest rough diamond was discovered in South Africa. This diamond, now known as the Cullinan Diamond, weighed at 3,106 carats and eventually, the South African leaders decided to give the diamond to King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Eventually cut into nine large diamonds and 100 smaller ones, two of the larger pieces remain in the Tower of London to this very day as part of the Crown Jewels. The rest, on the other hand, became part of private collections with eight of them being part of Queen Elizabeth II’s (Edward’s great-granddaughter) private collection.
Make your search for the best diamond rings much easier by turning to Vella Diamonds, the number one experts to turn to when it comes to bespoke jewellery. We are more than committed to helping you find the right piece for your loved ones and you can rely on us. You may visit our website to see our extensive collection of wedding and engagement rings or to learn more about diamonds and gemstones.