Why do people, the world over revere diamonds? What is it about diamonds that have fascinated men and women or all ages, from every walk of life? How did diamonds, one of nature’s most precious and beautiful creations come to symbolise the ideals of love, romance, sophistication and power?
The word diamond comes from the Greek word ‘Adamas’ meaning unconquerable or invincible. Even from early days we have heard stories and myths about diamonds. The Egyptians believed in their ability to absorb negative energy that comes to the body, calming the brain and taking away nightmares. The Romans used them as talismans to protect them during war and the Greeks believed they were splinters from the stars that had fallen down to earth. Whatever the belief diamonds are truly the ultimate gemstone, captivating our imagination with mystery, myth and magic.
Diamonds were created before life on our planet under severe conditions about 150km below the earth’s surface. This is the only place where the necessary temperatures and pressures exist for carbon to transform into diamond crystals. They form in an isometric arrangement, making them the hardest substance known to man. Diamonds are estimated to be between 1 and 4 billion years old. They have survived an incredible journey to reach us, transcending the forces of nature and delivered to the earth’s surface by volcanic eruption. The movement of continents, glaciers and water have transported diamonds thousands of kilometres from their origins. It is understood that diamonds were first discovered in the riverbeds of India around 900BC. For centuries people extracted diamonds from various riverbeds known as alluvial deposits, in 1870 the great diamond discoveries in South African soil saw the age of dry digging deep into kimberlite pipes. Diamonds have subsequently been found and mined on beaches and ocean floors where they have settled after being carried by streams and rivers for centuries. Diamonds are very difficult to find and on average 25 tonnes of earth must be processed to extract a single carat of diamond. Furthermore, only around 15% of these diamonds mined are of gem quality fit for jewellery.
The biggest diamond ever found was the Cullinan diamond, found in the Cullinan Mine of South Africa in 1905 and weighed 3106.75 carats. But it was the Eureka diamond that was discovered in 1866 followed by the Star of Africa in 1869 which prompted the great South African diamond rush, and to this day South Africa remains one of the most important sources of gem quality diamonds.