Diamond
from the Antique Jewelry University
Diamonds are valued for their incredible brilliance, modest fire and extreme hardness. Diamonds are chemically pure carbon, differing from the graphite used for pencils by their crystal structure. A diamonds' hardness is the result of extremely strong chemical bonds between the carbon atoms. Most people think of diamonds as being colorless, but they occur in every color. Colors like canary yellow, green, pink, blue, purple and rare reds are termed "fancy" colors. Some colors can be artificially produced by treatment with combinations of irradiation and heat. Diamonds are very stable under normal conditions.
From as early as 800 BC, diamonds were treasured as talimans and for over 2,500 years the only diamond supplier was India. In first century BC Rome uncut diamonds set in gold rings were awarded by the Emperor as a talisman to the happy few. Louis IX King of France (1214-1270) issued regulations, forbidding all women to wear diamonds as they were only suited for kings. Agnès Sorel, mistress of King Charles VII of France (1403-1461), challenged this law about 200 years later by appearing in public wearing a diamond set necklace and her statement made diamonds accessable to ladies again. In 1477 Maximilian I gave the first known diamond engagement ring in history to Mary of Burgundy. A nice trivia is that it has long been believed that diamonds had gender, Francois Ruet described two diamonds having offspring in 1566[1].
After the depletion of the diamond mines in India - in the 1700's - a new deposit was discover in 1725 in Brazil, the country becoming the largest supplier of diamonds until the South African mines were discovered in 1866. De Beer's Consolidated Mines LTD was formed in 1888 and for over 100 years De Beers had a monopoly on the diamond trade, with a market control of over 80%. Today their market share is less than 50%.
Diamond is the birthstone for the month April and commemorates the 10th and 60th - 65th in some countries - anniversary.
Naturally occuring diamond octahedrons of exceptional clarity, that exhibited fire, were thought to be a most powerful talisman. Wealth, power, good fortune and everlasting youth were brought to the owner of such a diamond. Flawed or included stones could have quite the opposite effect.
Diamond is considered to be a master healer and it bonds relationships and enhances love. It is considered to. Diamonds foster longevity, particularly with regards to relationships. Diamonds can increase clarity, balance, stability and abundance.
Diamond is the stone of the crown chakra.
| Gemological information for diamond | |
|---|---|
| Color | All colors |
| Crystal structure | Cubic |
| Refractive index | 2.417 |
| Durability | Excellent |
| Hardness | 10 |
| Similar stones | Diamonds can be confused with a large variety of colorless gemstones and synthetic gemstone as zircon, cubic zirconia, moissanite, YAG, strontium titanate. Leaded glass, rhinestone and synthetic Rutile |
| Treatments | Heating, radiation, fracture filling |
| Country of origin | Diamond deposits are found all around the world. The most notable being Africa, Australia, India and more recently Canada |
| Diamond care | |
| Ultrasonic cleaning | Safe unless the stone is fractured |
| Steam cleaning | Safe unless the stone is fractured |
| Warm soapy water | Safe |
| Chemical attact | No reaction |
| Light sensitivity | None |
| Heat sensitivity | Diamond is an excellent conductor |
Notes
- ↑ reference needed