Diamonds are surely the most famous name in gemstones, noted for their fantastic brilliance, remarkable fire and exceptional durability - rated a perfect 10 on Mohs Hardness Scale. They got their name from the Greek, 'Adamas', meaning invincible which sums up the diamond's power at the top of the gemstone world.
Diamond Colors
If you picture a diamond in your mind, it would most likely be white or clear as well as dazzling and flawless, but in reality most diamonds are yellow or brown and can be found in pink, red, orange, blue and green colors, too. There are even some gray or black versions and a diamond with black and white inclusions known as a salt and pepper diamond!
Classic white diamonds are valued on their lack of color - their grading starts with a D which means the diamond is totally colorless and works its way to Z which would be a light yellow or brown color.
Colored Diamonds are not graded as specifically as white diamonds but any genuine diamond with what is called a 'fancy' color, red, blue, orange, etc, is a very valuable object indeed.
Read more about gemstone colors here
Diamond Species
Diamonds are made of pure carbon although it is a myth that they are formed from coal. They begin life 140km below the earth's surface in the boiling magma and form through heat and pressure over a period of anything from 1 to 3 billion years.
They reach the earth's surface through volcanic eruptions or movements of the continental plates.
An interesting alternative theory has it that diamonds can be created by meteors crashing into earth creating enough pressure and heat to do the job.
What are the spiritual benefits of Diamond?
Diamonds have been called 'Master Healers' for their emotional and spiritual blessings. Kings and warriors would wear them into battle as the 'Stone of Invincibility' to ensure victory and survival.
Other assets include:
- Creativity, Imagination and Innovation
- Leadership
- Clear Headedness
- Anger Management
See our detailed article on Diamond meaning and uses
Diamonds and the Chakras
The Chakras are vital energy points located about the body which can have an influence on our physical and emotional well-being. Every now and then these points can be blocked and need to be realigned - often a gemstone can help.
White Diamonds are connected to the Crown Chakra so some meditation and visualization with a diamond placed on the forehead could help unblock this chakra.
Other colors assist with other Chakras, for example brown Diamond will help the Root Chakra and a yellow diamond would be more useful for the Solar Plexus Chakra.
Find more details on Chakra gemstones here
Diamond Price
As we mentioned earlier, the popular white or clear Diamonds are more expensive when they are colorless than they are when showing tinges of yellow or brown.
The grading system is complicated in itself with more than 20 color grades from colorless to lightly colored. On top of that we have the cut and the clarity to consider before we can begin to determine a price per carat.
As a little tip, unless you are an experienced expert it can be very difficult to tell the difference between say a G grade Diamond and a J grade Diamond but the difference in cost can be substantial.
Then we have fancy colored diamonds which are possibly the most expensive gemstones in the world - a flawless red Diamond can cost at least $1m per carat!
Carat Weight
Once the color, clarity and cut have been established the final pricing will come down to carat weight. Not only will there be more carat weight to consider but also Diamonds get rarer and rarer as they get bigger so the price per carat will quickly rise.
A medium quality clear 1 carat diamond will be a minimum of $2500 per carat while a similar quality stone at 2 carats will probably be $4200 per carat. This is a very rough price guide.
Diamonds described as champagne, cognac and golden can be a little cheaper but will still be upwards of $1500 per carat for smaller stones and this rises quickly as the gemstones get bigger.
For more details please refer to our full Diamond Info page here
Treatments
There are some well known treatments to improve the clarity or alter the color of a Diamond. Tiny internal flaws can be removed by laser drilling, fractures can be filled with leaded glass, high heat and high pressure can remove light colors and produce clear Diamonds while irradiation can create various fancy colors.
However many Diamonds are completely natural apart from the skilled cutting and polishing to produce a beautiful gemstone. If any of our Diamonds receive treatments it will be clearly stated on our product pages.
Diamond History
The earliest source of Diamonds was India and from there they were sold and traded along the famed Silk Road to reach the rich and powerful empires of Egypt, Rome and China.
At that time they were called Vajra, meaning thunderbolt or lightning as it was believed that they were created by lightning hitting rocks.
In the early 1800s, Diamonds were discovered in Brazil and later in the century massive deposits were found in South Africa. These new finds could have put a dent in the profits for investors until De Beers came up with the idea of regulating world supply and launching the concept of diamond engagement rings.
Where are Diamonds found?
The top Diamond producing countries in the world include Botswana, Russia, Australia, Canada and Angola.
What jewelry is Diamond suitable for?
Diamonds score a perfect 10 on Mohs hardness scale. This hardness means that Diamonds can be used for all types of jewelry, including of course engagement rings, and can be worn everyday without any fears of being chipped, scratched or broken.
Birthstones and Anniversaries
The Diamond is the birthstone of April so makes a perfect gift for anyone born in this month.
The Diamond is the traditional gemstone gift for the 60th wedding anniversary.
