History Of Synthetic Diamonds

As the name implies synthetic diamonds look like real diamonds but do not have the same properties as real diamonds. The ability to determine the differences between chemical compusosition, hardness, weight, and some of the light handling characteristics of real diamonds and synthetic diamonds with the naked eye is extremely difficult. Man-made diamonds are not considered synthetic diamonds because they do have the same properties as real or mined diamonds.

Cut Glass was probably the first material used to simulate a diamond. It is readily available, easy to cut and polish and when seen from a distance, looks good. With all of the information available to today's consumer trying to pass cut glass off as a diamond rarely works. Cut glass is still seen in costume jewelry and in the movies today because of its extremely low cost. The use of cut glass has widely been replaced by the most popular diamond alternative, cubic zirconium.

Since 1976 cubic zirconium has been the most widely used material for synthetic diamonds. Its low cost, durability and light handling characteristics have made it extremely attractive in producing low cost jewelry. Cubic zirconium light handling characteristics is so close to that of a diamond that only a trained eye can tell the difference between the two. The annual global production had reached 50 million carats by 1980. Cubic zirconium will weigh about 1.7 times more that a diamond. The hardness rating of cubic zirconium is between 8.5 and 9 whereas diamonds have a hardness rating of 10.

Moissanite or silicon carbide was named after Henri Moissan after he discovered the new mineral in fragments of a meteor found near Diablo Canyon in Arizona 1893. Henri Moissan is also credited as the first person to have created a man-made diamond in a libratory in 1892. Moissanite is a naturally occurring mineral that is slightly softer than diamonds with a hardness rating of 9.25 but has almost all of the other properties of a mined diamond. Charles and Colvard introduced gem-quality moissanite jewelry in 1998. The thermal conductivity test use to distinguish diamond from other artificial stones was rendered useless because moissanite has almost the same thermal conductivity as a diamond. It requires highly specialized equipment to determine if a gemstone is moissanite or a diamond.... Synthetic Diamonds continue

Diamonds – Its Birth And History

About 2-3 billion years ago, carbon bearing rock about 100 miles below the earth's surface was put under immense pressure and heated up to 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. The carbon atoms were forced to rearrange themselves in a crystalline structure and became diamonds. Various elements found their way into these new forms of carbon and created the different diamonds known today: pink, ruby red, yellow and blue. All the diamonds were transported to the surface in molten rock. Mines were dug near the kimberlite structures from where the diamonds emerged.

Diamonds were first mined in India. The Sanskrit word for diamond is vajra, meaning thunderbolt, and indrayudha, meaning Indra's weapon. The Hindus believed that diamonds represented the power of Indra and put them in the eyes of some of their statues. The earliest evidence of the use of diamonds as drills in India dates back to 400 BC.

In Greece, Plato described diamonds as living creatures, impersonating divine spirits. The Greek word for diamond comes from the words adamas, meaning invincible, and diaphanes, meaning transparent. The Greeks believed that diamonds came from the Valley of Diamonds in Central Asia. The diamonds were protected by snakes. Alexander the Great slew the snakes and brought the diamonds back to Greece.

The diamond was mentioned in the writings of Pliny the Elder in Rome prior to the first century AD. He wrote about the qualities of diamonds and their use on chisels to cut through all materials. The Roman poet Plautus wrote of the diamond as a token of love.

The rise of Christianity resulted in the decline of the diamond in Europe for nearly 1000 years. It was not until the Middle Ages that diamonds became acceptable again. Medieval treatises, lapidaries, described it as a medicine and antidote for poison. Marbode, Bishop of Rennes (1061-1081), wrote De gemmarum. He noted the spiritual and medicinal attributes of gems. He described the diamond as capable of bestowing indomitable virtues on the bearer, enabling him to strike hard against his enemies if they were set in silver, armored in gold, and fastened to the left arm.

It was during this time that people began to believe that diamonds could attract luck and success and defy astrological events. Many wealthy people used them as jewels on their clothing to increase their sexual power and capacity to attract others.

In the 13th Century diamonds began to reappear in numbers in Europe. King Louis IX of France (1214-1270) passed a law decreeing that only kings could possess diamonds because they were a symbol of courage, power and invincibility. The earliest centre of the diamond trade in Europe was located in Venice. Techniques for diamond cutting were developed around 1330. Later, the diamond trade advanced to Paris, Bruges and Antwerp.

By the 16th Century, faceted diamonds were admired for their brilliance and fire. It was during this period that the settings of diamonds became important. The diamond broach was replaced by the pendent. Diamonds came to dominate smaller jewels during the 17th Century and the traditional gold settings are replaced by silver to avoid casting yellow over the diamond's brillance.

In the 18th Century, diamonds started being mined in South America. New faceted designed were developed. Women began wearing diamonds more than men. The matching set of jewelry became more prized than a collection of stones in different sizes. Wearing of diamonds was limited to the night hours because they were considered too flashy in the daylight.

In 1866, diamonds were discovered in South Africa. The Kimberley mines established a new era in diamond mining and trade. Now there were enough diamonds for anybody who wanted them. Diamond settings changed again with the introduction of platinum.

Diamonds In The Rough - history of the African American Trek on the Golf Course - Brief Article

The History of the African American Trek on the Golf Course

For more than 100 years, African Americans have been avid participants in the game of golf. But while public golf coupes have enabled blacks to enjoy game for more than a century, with the exception of a few, including senior PGA player Charlie Sifford and young Masters champion Tiger Woods, there are still noticeably only a handful of blacks among the ranks of professional golfers. Yet, in every decade since the 1960s, an African American has made their mark on green. Organizations such as the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association and the National Minority Golf Foundation have also done their part by exposing minority youth to the game and the business of golf.

Now, the recently foxed Minority Golf Coalition has set out on a course across cultural barriers to improve access to opportunities for current and yet-to-be discovered jewels at the tee.

1896-1949

1896 - The first African American professional golfer is John Shippen. Not only does he qualify for the U.S. Open, he comes in fifth.

1899 - George F. Grant, a prominent black dentist and an avid golfer, is granted a patent for the golf tee.

1916 - Cobb's Creek, one of the first public golf courses, opens in Philadelphia's Fairmont Park.

1926 - The United Golf Association (UGA) is founded by Robert Hawkins in Massachusetts. For nearly four decades the UGA serves the black golf community. It also sponsors the annual Negro Open.

1939 - Langston Golf Course opens. It symbolizes the development and desegregation of public golf and recreational facilities in the Washington, D.C., area.

1946 - Bill Powell designs and opens Clearview Golf Course in Bayside, New York.

1948 - Theodore "Rags" Rhodes, Bill Spiller and Madison Gunther file a civil lawsuit against the PGA for civil fights violations. Their action causes the PGA to amend its constitution to allow black golfers to play as nonmembers.

Diamonds are Ancient History!

Diamonds are the hardest substance known on Earth and they make sparkling jewelry as well as saw blades that can cut through pretty much anything. They form deep within the Earth's mantle layer (about 200 km deep) when atoms of the element carbon arrange themselves into a lattice under huge amounts of pressure from the load of rocks above.

Recently, geologists studying diamonds have identified the ages of thousands of diamonds from Southern Africa, where the mineral is most abundant. Their research found that there were only three times in Earth’s history when diamonds were made and that Earth no longer makes diamonds like it used to. “Something was different then. Perhaps the planet was hotter on the inside, or the composition of the rocks was subtly different. Whatever it was it has changed now,” stated Steve Shirey, of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C., one of the project researchers.

The oldest diamonds were made 3.3 billion years ago when Earth was relatively young. The second time diamonds formed was 2.9 billion years ago. Small bits of rock within those diamonds, called impurities, indicate that they probably formed from rocks laid down in a shallow sea suggesting that the carbon that made the diamonds probably came from the remains of ancient sea life. The youngest diamonds on Earth are 1.2 billion years old although a few smaller diamonds are about 100 million years old.

Some people like diamonds because they are pretty, rare, or expensive but Dr. Steve Shirey has a different perspective. “I think of diamonds,” he said, “as being tiny time capsules that encase a little piece of rock protecting it for billions of years and providing us with a unique window on ancient times.”

A Brief History of Cut Diamonds

Diamonds, known for over 3000 years, were probably first found in India as loose stones associated with the sand and gravel of riverbeds (alluvial deposits). For centuries they were thought to posses magical powers, no doubt because of their hardness and luster, and were kept, uncut, as sacred objects or important treasures of state by the religious and political leaders of the day. Being regarded as talismans, it was thought that they would lose their powers if they were altered in any way.

It wasn't until the 11th century that diamonds were first worn, in their uncut form, as adornments. However, with the use of diamonds in jewelry, sometime in the 13th century it became known that a diamond's appearance could be enhanced by grinding and polishing [later by cleavage (below)] along the four octahedral faces (below) of the rough crystal. This was achieved by polishing with diamond dust at angles varying slightly from those of the original octahedral faces to form a point cut (below). (It had been discovered early on that the planes parallel to these faces are the hardest and can't be polished.) Point cuts were seen from the Middle Ages until the Renaissance period.

Diamond (gemstone)

The diamond (from the ancient Greek adámas, meaning "proper" or "unalterable") is one of the best-known and most sought-after gemstones. Diamonds have been known to humankind and used as decorative items since ancient times; some of the earliest references can be traced to India. Diamond's hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry. One of the characteristics of diamonds that make them so desirable as jewelry is their tendency to disperse white light into its component colors, giving the diamond its characteristic "fire". Diamonds are such a highly traded commodity that multiple organizations have been created for grading and certifying diamonds based on the four Cs which are carat, cut, color, and clarity. Other characteristics, such as shape and presence or lack of fluorescence also affect the desirability and thus the value of a diamond used for jewelry. Perhaps the most famous use of a diamond in jewelry is in engagement rings, which became popular in the early to mid 1900s due to an advertisement campaign by the De Beers company, though diamond rings were used to symbolize engagements since at least the 15th century. The diamond's high value has also been the driving force behind dictators and revolutionary entities, especially in Africa, using slave and child labor to mine blood diamonds to fund conflicts.

Natural History Of Diamond - How Diamond Is Formed

Diamonds were formed billions of years ago under intense heat and pressure when diamond-bearing ore was brought to the surface through volcanic eruption. After the magma cooled, it solidified into blue ground, or kimberlite, where precious rough diamonds are still found today.

Natural diamond is formed where carbon has crystallized under exposure to high pressure and temperature. the pressure must be between 45 and 60 kilobars and the temperature between 900 and 1300 °C.

These conditions occur naturally only in the lithospheric mantle, below the continental plates, and at meteorite strike sites.

In the lithospheric mantle, the proper temperature and pressure are usually found in depths of 140-190 kilometers. The correct combination of temperature and pressure is only found in the thick, ancient, and stable parts of continental plates where regions of lithosphere known as cratons exist. Presence in the cratonic lithosphere for long periods of time allows diamond crystals to grow larger.

The slightly misshapen octahedral shape of rough diamond crystal in matrix is typical of the mineral. Its lustrous faces also indicate that this crystal is from a primary deposit.

Through studies of carbon isotope ratios (similar to the methodology used in carbon dating, except with the stable isotopes C-12 and C-13), it has been shown that the carbon found in diamonds comes from both inorganic and organic sources. Some diamonds, known as harzburgitic, are formed from inorganic carbon originally found deep in the Earth's mantle. In contrast, eclogitic diamonds contain organic carbon from organic detritus that has been pushed down from the surface of the Earth's crust through subduction before transforming into diamond. These two different source carbons have measurably different 13C:12C ratios. Diamonds that have come to the Earth's surface are generally very old, ranging from under 1 billion to 3.3 billion years old.

The high pressure and temperature required for diamond formation also occur during meteorite impact. Tiny diamonds, known as microdiamonds or nanodiamonds, have been found in meteorite impact craters. These can be used as one indicator of ancient impact craters.

Diamonds formed in extraterrestrial space, then deposited on earth by meteorites, have been found in South America and Africa.

Diamonds are usually brought to the Earth's surface or closer to it by volcanic action and dispersed in an area by water erosion or the action of glaciers. The latter are usually not in high enough concentrations to make them commercially viable sources of diamonds.

Volcanic pipes that reach 150 km or more are relatively rare, but they are the ancient conduits of magma that transported diamonds closer to the surface, where they can be mined.

Certain minirals which are formed and transported from the depths in the same conditions as diamonds, are used as indicators by prospectors looking for sources of diamonds. The most common ones are chromian garnets (usually bright red Cr-pyrope, and occasionally green ugrandite-series garnets), eclogitic garnets, orange Ti-pyrope, red high-Cr spinels, dark chromite, bright green Cr-diopside, glassy green olivine, black picroilmenite, and magnetite.

Every natural diamond is immensely old, formed long before dinosaurs roamed the earth. The youngest diamond is 900 million years old, and the oldest is 3.2 billion years old.

The Black Orlov joins Diamonds

A 'cursed' black diamond is to go on display in the UK for the first time, at the Natural History Museum's Diamonds exhibition, from Wednesday 21 September.

Known as the Black Orlov or The Eye of Brahma, the jewel's curse allegedly began when it was removed from a Hindu shrine in southern India and then claimed to be responsible for the violent deaths of two Russian princesses.

Legend tells of a monk removing the original rough 195-carat diamond from the eye of the Idol of Brahma at a shrine near Pondicherry, India. This sacrilege allegedly cursed all future owners of the precious stone to a violent death.

In 1947 Princess Nadia Vyegin-Orlov and Princess Leonila Galitsine-Bariatinsky - both former owners of the Black Orlov - leapt to their deaths in apparent suicides. Fifteen years earlier, J.W. Paris, the diamond dealer who imported the stone to the USA, had jumped to his death from one of New York's tallest buildings shortly after concluding the sale of the jewel.

In an attempt to break the curse, the diamond was re-cut into three separate gems and has since been owned by a succession of private owners, all of whom seem to have escaped the curse. The 67.5-carat Black Orlov is set in a 108-diamond brooch suspended from a 124-diamond necklace.

''The intriguing legend of the Black Orlov highlights the powerful way that diamonds have captured human imagination for thousands of years,' said Alan Hart, exhibition curator. 'This jewel's beauty and apparent infamy make it a fitting addition to the world's biggest diamond exhibition'.

What black diamonds are made of
True black diamonds are incredibly rare. Only one in 10,000 diamonds mined are coloured. Most coloured diamonds get their colour from chemical impurities or defects in the stone itself. Black diamonds are different: their colour comes from the presence of tiny mineral inclusions.

Recent studies have shown that these inclusions are predominantly the iron oxide minerals magnetite and haematite along with native iron itself. When these iron-rich inclusions occur in a high enough proportion they can even make diamonds magnetic.

Popular Diamonds From History

Large diamonds are exceptionally rare and only about 80% of all harvested diamonds are gemstone quality. Most of the well-known diamonds that have been deemed famous are not always the highest quality or the most beautiful. The most famous diamonds are also famous because of the story behind the diamond.

The Great Star of Africa is listed as the largest cut diamond ever. It is pear shaped and weighs in at a whopping 530.20 carats. It is part of the royal scepter and is kept along with the other crown jewels in the Tower of London. It was cut from the Cullian, a 3,106 carat diamond crystal that was used to create 96 smaller diamonds. The legend of this diamond suggests that there may have been another half of the Cullian which would have been one impressive sized diamond crystal.

The Orloff diamond is bluish green in color and is an exceptionally pure gem that has an interesting history. The legend goes that the stone started out being a diamond eye of a Hindu idol. It was later stolen by a thief who only took one eye because of his fear of the repercussions. It was passed on to the Russian Count Grigori Orloff. It is currently held in the Diamond Treasury of Russia in Moscow.

The Centenary Diamond was first seen by the world in 1986 and it contains 247 facets and weighs in at 273.85 carats. It is the world’s largest, most modern cut and flawless diamond in existence today. This diamond was crafted over three years. The diamond was unveiled at the Tower of London in 1991. It has never been appraised but is believed to be worth over $100 million dollars.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond was first discovered in the Premier Mine in South Africa in 1966. It was 240.80 carats and was cut into a pear shaped 69.42 diamond. This stone is beyond price because of the famous celebrity who owned it. Richard Burton, the famed actor, bought the diamond for this wife at the time, Elizabeth Taylor. It is said he paid over a million dollars for it. After the death of Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor donated the sale of the stone to charity for $2.8 million dollars and allowed the diamond to go to a museum.

The Regent Diamond is considered one of the most beautiful diamonds ever seen. It was first discovered in 1698 in India. It was finally sold to Philippe II, a French prince, in 1717. The diamond was used in the royal crown and also as an adornment in the hat of Marie Antoinette. It was stolen during the revolution but recovered a short time later. The diamond could be found on Napoleon Bonaparte’s sword until his death. Now you can find it at the Louvre, in the French Royal Treasry.

Diamonds always seem to hold great mystery and mystic. Throughout time, people have desired and cherished this most-precious of all gems. Diamonds and their legends will live on until eternity. Articls by DanforthDiamond.com, your engagement ring experts.

Diamonds have unique history befitting their heralded place in society

Diamonds are beautiful, but there is more than glitter and beauty behind this rare gem.

Diamonds are the strongest raw mineral on earth, and they only can be cut with a laser or another diamond. While white (colorless) diamonds are the most popular and well-known, the pink diamond is the most expensive because it is so rare.


The biggest diamond ever discovered is the Cullinan Diamond, which was unearthed in 1907 in South Africa. It weighed 3,106 carats, and was cut into 105 smaller diamonds. The largest weighs 530 carats and is known as the Great Star of Africa. Currently it is set in the Sovereign’s Royal Sceptre and is displayed in the Tower of London.


Other famous diamonds include the Koh-I-Noor, which is a 105-carat whit diamond that is supposed to have a history going back 5,000 years. The diamond is supposed to bring bad luck to men, but good luck and power to women.

The Hope diamond is a deep blue, 45-carat diamond that is on display in the U.S. in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It is supposed to bring bad luck to anyone who owns it. People who have owned it frequently came to a bad end, including King Louis XIV, who was beheaded in France.

Belgian Culture- Belgium & Diamonds

Antwerp has been very prominent in diamond cutting for five hundred years—the first written mention of diamond cutting is in Antwerp in 1550. Located in the Flemish section of the country, Antwerp is on the northwest coast of Belgium. In the very early years of European development, Antwerp was over-shadowed by Brugge in terms of international trading, but became the absolute center of Belgian trading when Brugge was struck by the plague.

Diamonds arrived in Antwerp when the Portugese discovered a direct route to India (the prime diamond producer in the world at those times). Diamonds had been taken to Venice by way of Aden, Ethiopia and Egypt or Arabia, Persia, Armenia and Turkey, but with the advent of the direct route to India, Antwerp was ideally situated to receive vast quantities of diamond from Lisbon and Venice.

In 1585, however, the Spanish attacked Antwerp. The arrival of the Spanish conquerors sent the diamond cutters scuttling to Amsterdam, whose liberal civil policies also accepted Jewish diamond-cutters fleeing religious prosecution. Thus, Antwerp was forced to become a non-player in the world diamond market. This was only a fleeting exodus, though, because when the Spanish pulled out of Antwerp, the diamond-cutters floated back in.

Today, Antwerp is the diamond capital of the world. More diamonds pass through Antwerp than any other city in the world, and the world’s most highly-regarded cutters reside in Antwerp. Antwerp holds a 60% part in the world diamond trade, and employs 27,000 people in the diamond business alone. What Antwerp specializes in is the cutting and polishing of high-quality diamonds. The examples of the most common cuts are below.

The History of Royal Asscher

1854
Joseph Isaac Asscher, already a famed artisan in the diamond industry, establishes the I.J Asscher
diamond company, named for his son Isaac Joseph Asscher.

Isaac Joseph enters the diamond industry and in turn he passes down his expertise to his two sons, Joseph and Abraham, who become two of the 20th century’s most prodigious diamond experts. The company is known as the Asscher Diamond Company.

1902
Joseph Asscher, upholds his Father’s reputation for skill, innovation and excellence and designs the original
Asscher Cut. This emblematic cut is instantly internationally desirable; the company subsequently patents the design.

1903
Abraham Asscher, Joseph’s brother, is charged with cleaving the Excelsior diamond. At 997 carats, it is the
largest diamond ever found. The Excelsior requires expert handling; inclusions within the rough diamond prevent it from being polished as a single stone. It is thus carved into ten diamonds which are primarily sold to anonymous purchasers. Eventually Tiffany & Co. bought three stones of the Excelsior diamonds

1907
The Cullinan diamond is discovered. At 3,106 carats it is a legendary find, which achieves instant notoriety
across the globe. The diamond is presented to Great Britain’s King Edward VII, and he invites the Asscher
brothers to London to discuss cleaving the diamond. It is decided that Joseph Asscher will cut the Cullinan
into three parts, necessary because of inclusions within the rough diamond.

1908
On a cold February day a notable audience gathers to watch Joseph Asscher cleave the natural wonder.
He needs to hit the Cullinan in exactly the right place… he strikes the diamond, but the blade breaks,
not the stone. He dismisses all present and remarks that the largest diamond ever found seems to require
significantly larger tools!

The following week, armed with new tools Joseph Asscher resumes his work, allowing nobody but the notary
public in the room. Although later, urban legend recounts that Joseph Asscher faints after striking the Cullinan diamond with a tremendous blow, in truth he remains entirely focused, demonstrating
unprecedented expert force as he hits the Cullinan in exactly the right place, the stone is cleft according
to his original calculations. He pauses, crouches to examine his work, then rushes into the next room and
lets out a relieved cheer; the champagne corks pop. Later, the Cullinan diamonds are polished, ready to take
pride of place in Great Britain’s Crown Jewels.

World War II
The Nazis enter the Asscher Diamond Company’s Amsterdam headquarters and seize the company’s diamonds.
The Asscher family is deported from the Netherlands and interned in concentration camps, along with nearly all
of their polishers.

1945 The war ends, but only ten Asscher family members, and fifteen of the five hundred polishers survive.
There is no company to return to. Although it was once the World’s diamond polishing capital, the Amsterdam
diamond industry is all but destroyed.

1946 Joop and Louis Asscher are invited to utilize their expertise and start a new company in New York. But Amsterdam was their home, so they remained, and began to rebuild the Asscher Diamond Company,
determined to restore the company to its former glory.

1980
Welcome to the Royal class… Her Majesty Queen Juliana of Holland grants the Asscher Diamond Company
a royal title in tribute to both the company and family’s leading, century-old role in the diamond industry.
The Asscher Diamond Company, proudly receives the Royal title and becomes the Royal Asscher Diamond
Company.

1999
Edward and Joop Asscher, Louis Asscher’s sons, continue the family legacy and begin researching
the possibility of enhancing Joseph Asscher’s original Asscher Cut, they work tirelessly, absorbed in their
family’s time honored passion for diamonds.

2001
Almost 100 years after Joseph Asscher patented the original Asscher Cut, Edward and Joop
introduce the Royal Asscher Cut, the design is protected by an international patent, so the Royal Asscher Cut’s
beauty can not be imitated.

2008
154 years of heritage in motion… the fifth and sixth generation of the Asscher family are at the helm of an international company, the reigning president is Edward Asscher, co-creator of the Royal Asscher Cut,
his daughter Lita is President of Royal Asscher of America, his son Mike is in charge of the Far East business.
The Asscher’s inherent love of diamonds and reputation for excellence shows no sign of ceasing in the
21st century.

Royal Asscher is still proudly headquartered in its original 1854 Amsterdam home.

Rich in diamonds and history

The Belgian city of Antwerp is known as the "world's leading diamond city" but there is more to this place than diamond trading.

Guy Coolen, director of theatre company, Muziektheater Transparant and artistic director of Operadays Rotterdam, says Antwerp is a relatively small town with 500,000 residents.



Guy coolen, director of theatre company, Muziektheater Transparant and artistic director of Operadays Rotterdam.

The city is home to several theatre and musical groups and hosts concerts and shows throughout the year.

Coolen, 42, will be presenting RUHE (Silence) at the Singapore Arts Festival in May. This is a theatrical production based on interviews with Belgians, who collaborated with the Nazi invaders during World War II.

Through songs, monologues and videos, it explores issues of beauty and brutality and is a reminder that evil is never far away.

Coolen may travel around the world with his productions but he says Antwerp will always be home.

"Antwerp is peaceful, it is quiet, yet it is lively enough for me," he says. Here are his tips to make the most of your visit there.

MARKET SQUARE

The market square has a fabulous renaissance town hall and a 15th-century cathedral.

The cathedral has one of the tallest towers in Belgium and is one of the most refined Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe.

It also displays several paintings by renowned Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens.

ARTISTIC STOP

Rubens House-Museum (Wapper 9-11, 2000 Antwerpen, e-mail: info.rubenshuis@cs.antwerpen.be), where the artist lived and died in 1640, is a must visit, says Coolen.

It was here that Rubens' splendid Baroque paintings were created. After his death, the house was sold. In 1937, the severely damaged house was bought by the city, which then restored it and turned it into the museum.

Now, you can see some of the artist's works as well as works created by his contemporaries.

To fully appreciate the beauty of this place, Coolen suggests setting aside at least half a day to explore it fully.

THE ROYAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

Another must-see for art lovers is the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Antwerp (Leopold De Waelplaats, B-2000 Antwerp, web: www.kmska.be).

Founded in 1810, this museum houses a fabulous collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 14th to the 20th century. This collection is representative of the artistic production and taste of art enthusiasts in Belgium and the Netherlands since the 15th century.

GO WITH THE FLOW

Antwerp has a great mix of buildings dating back to the Middle Ages as well as recent ones. You can find bars housed in 16th-century buildings or small museums with remarkable art collections.

The mediaeval part of the city is full of small cafes and restaurants. Towards the south of the city, you can find a 19thcentury area full of beautiful art nouveau-style houses, some of which have been converted into trendy bars and restaurants.

The best way to see them is by walking through the town and taking breaks at the restaurants and bars.

"One of the main attractions for me is the Cogels-Osylei. Several artists live in this area and they have made this a very colourful and vibrant part of town.

"Walking in this area and looking at the bright houses is really a feast for the eyes," says Coolen.

SHOPPING

The shopping areas are located in the cultural and historic sections of the city and shopping here means strolling around the pedestrian streets, past historic houses and modern shopping centres.

Depending on your taste, you can choose to go antique-hunting in Kloosterstraat or look out for designer clothes.

For over 20 years, Antwerp has been a major attraction for fashion followers. Famous designers who retail here include Dries van Noten, who dressed a very pregnant Cate Blanchett for the 2008 Academy Awards.

He trained in Antwerp and helped to turn this Belgian city into the unlikely epicentre of fashion, says Coolen.

FOOD

Coolen recommends Sir Anthony van Dijck (Vlaeykensgang, Oude Koornmarkt 16, Oude Stad).

Diamond History

Diamond history transcends numerous cultures and localities. It is the oldest item that anyone can own. It is three billion years in age, a strategic and high tech super material that is formed in the earth's interior and shot to the surface by extraordinary volcanoes. It is carbon in its most concentrated form, the chemical element fundamental to all life, thus it is a native element. It is also extremely pure, containing only trace amounts of boron and nitrogen. The diamond's nearest relatives are mineral graphite and amorphous carbon.

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed diamonds were tears of the Gods and splinters from falling stars. The Hindus attributed so much power to these precious stones they went so far as to place diamonds in the eyes of some of their statues.

DIAMOND HISTORY

Diamonds were formed under immense heat and pressure hundreds of miles below the sea level. Volcanic explosions forced them upwards after nearly 100 million years of formation. The diamonds were formed more than 70 million years ago when volcanic explosions brought this diamond bearing ore to the surface. After the cooling of the magma, it solidified into a blue mass, or kimberlite, where the precious rough diamonds are still found today. Rated 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness, diamonds are the hardest substances on earth, but their appeal goes far beyond durability.

Approximately 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed in order to produce a single, one-carat, polished, gem-quality diamond. This is what makes them so valuable and unique. The first diamond mining endeavors were undertaken nearly 4000 years ago in ancient India . Modern mining started in the 19 th century in South Africa . Botswana , Russia , South Africa , Angola , Namibia , Australia and Zaire are among the top diamond producing nations, accounting for nearly 80% of the world's rough diamond supply.

History of Colored Diamonds

The mystique of diamonds has fascinated mankind since these precious stones were first discovered, probably as early as 3000 B.C.

Collected, treasured, and sought-after even to the point of malice, they became symbols of power and wealth. Their beauty and glamour is desired more than any other gemstone. Much has been written about diamonds, designers of diamond jewelry, and prominent owners of such beautiful objects of desire. Most of this literature focuses on colorless diamonds (often referred to as white diamonds), by far the most abundant variety of this precious stone; in fact, when most people say 'diamond,' they mean colorless diamond. Far less known because they are the rarer, colored diamonds and have remained in the shadow of their colorless siblings until relatively recent times.

The popularity of colored diamonds is a relatively recent phenomenon. Yet there is a rich lore of colored diamonds embedded into the overall history of precious stones. Understanding this historical perspective can give us a valuable context for appreciating the rarity and value of the Aurora Pyramid of Hope.
More.


"Nature has given birth to many beautiful creations. Among the rarest are natural colored diamonds. Like pieces of a rainbow frozen in time for eternity, they are hypnotic to the gaze. A natural colored diamond captivates you with its brilliance, fire and color.

It Ain't de Diamonds, it's de Beers

The leader of the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone, Foday Sankoh, was captured on Wednesday, 17 May 2000. In a tradition all too neglected in recent centuries, the captured leader was stripped naked and paraded through town. For those of you too interested in the NBA playoffs to notice, Sankoh and his merry men have been trying to topple Sierra Leone's democratically-elected president for the better part of eight years.[1] Sierra Leone is a diamond-producing West African nation; residents in search of quick riches have been known to dig up roads and unseat the foundations of government buildings. Not being stupid, the RUF itself has been occupying some of Sierra Leone's more diamond-rich towns and plundering them.

Among the more interesting revelations surrounding Sankoh's capture is the discovery of documents suggesting the RUF was trying to negotiate, or maybe had already negotiated, an exchange of cash or arms for diamonds with several "well-known" international companies. This is likely to make those certain "well-known" companies look bad, mostly because the RUF's modus operandi is to chop off the hands and poke out the eyes of people who have nothing to do whatever with the government. We're not professional insurgents or anything, but we figure the cause might be helped by leaning on the people who might actually affect policy.

A Brief Natural History Of Diamonds: How Diamonds are Formed

As you may already be aware, diamonds are formed from carbon, primarily being subjected to enormous pressure. Over thousands of years materials such as the long dead leaves of prehistoric plants firstly decayed to peaty humus, then gradually break down into other organic materials including carbon. These ancient carbon deposits were exposed to high temperatures and incredible geological pressure for many millennia eventually being transformed into completely different compounds altogether - probably most prized amongst these being diamonds.

History of Man Made Diamonds

Diamonds are nature’s hardest substance, valued for their brilliance, luster, and durability, but are rare and expensive to mine. Man made diamonds provide a cheaper, more readily available solution. Recent breakthroughs have produced methods to mass produce synthetic gems, for both the jewelry industry and for technology, but the history of man made diamonds is over a hundred years old.

Science-fiction writer H. G. Wells described the concept of synthetic diamonds in his short story "The Diamond Maker," published in 1911. In his book Capital, Karl Marx commented, "If we could succeed, at a small expenditure of labor, in converting carbon into diamonds, their value might fall below that of bricks.”

In the real world, man made diamonds come in two types: synthetics which possess the same chemical composition and structure, and simulants, which are of different materials, but appear diamond-like and posses some of a diamond’s characteristics such as hardness and refractive capabilities.

Diamond History (cont.)

Diamonds are Forever" –The title song of a Sean Connery film – 1971.

The word 'diamond' is from the Greek 'adamas'. This translates as 'unconquerable' or 'indestructible' – and it nearly is; the only thing that can cut a diamond is another diamond. The English word 'adamant' has the same root. Romantically, the Greeks at one time thought diamonds to be "splinters of stars" or "teardrops of the Gods". From this etymology, it is easy to see why the diamond came to be emblematic of indestructible, eternal love and devotion.

Initially, diamonds were for the exclusive use of royalty. Not only was it thought that their durability would protect the warrior-king who wore them, but also the stones were said to possess magical powers to bring harm to an enemy. Into the middle ages, diamonds were thought to have healing powers and were often worn as a protection against poisoning.

History of Diamonds

For more than three decades, Master Jewelers have painstakingly worked on the creation and fashioning of fine jewelry in the Korloff workshops of Lyon. Gems are carefully selected through rigorous protocol and procedure - pinpointing quality and color, where each jewel is exclusively clothed in 18 carat gold and stamped with the talismanic back-to-back “K” signature, a guarantee of Korloff authenticity. As an innovator in this field, Korloff introduced mother-of-pearl and then colored lacquers into its creations. Today, Korloff is renowned for crafting and integrating some of the world's most beautiful colored lacquers into its fine jewelry.

The Mystery Of The Famous Pigot Diamond

One of the greatest mysteries of jewelry history is what really happened to the beautiful, oval, 49 carat Pigot diamond.

This historic gem got its name from Sir George Pigot (pronounced like “Pickett”) who owned the gem when he was the British Governor and Commander-In-Chief of the Indian province of Madras from 1755 to 1763.

Sir George PigotPigot is supposed to have been partly responsible for the Black Hole of Calcutta, the prison cell in which 64 foreigners were jammed after an army led by an illiterate 18-year-old Indian prince had seized all English property in the city.Three quarters of the prisoners died during the night because Pigot had dithered about sending help.

After Pigot’s death in 1777, the diamond had several owners until it was purchased in 1822 by Ali Pasha, ruler of Albania. That same year, Ali Pasha was mortally wounded by an assassin in his own palace. As he lay dying, he ordered his aide-de-camp, Captain D’Anglas to destroy his two most precious possessions. His beautiful wife Vasilika was to be poisoned and his large diamond, which he always wore in a green silk purse attached to his belt, was to be crushed under the Captain’s heel. The Captain obeyed. But Ali Pasha died before Vasilika could be executed.

Was the diamond really destroyed? Diamonds are very hard and it would have taken a hammer blow to pulverize this one. The only thing known for certain is that neither Vasilika nor D’Anglas had any financial problems afterward. And according to one story, the Pigot diamond is now in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul.

History of Diamonds

Discover an extraordinary array of diamonds in a stunning range of colours at Kimberley Fine Diamonds.

Our friendly staff will help you to select a stone with expert guidance and our jewellers can then design a setting especially for you. Across 3.3 billion years and four continents... to a woman's hand.

The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to the earth. It was even said by some that they were the tears of the Gods. Another legend has it that there was an inaccessible valley in Central Asia carpeted with diamonds, 'patrolled by birds of prey in the air and guarded by snakes of murderous gaze on the ground'. However, the truth is that the exact origin of diamonds is still something of a mystery, even to scientists and geologists.

Even though the diamond is the hardest of all gemstones known to man, it is the simplest in composition. It is common carbon, like the graphite in a lead pencil, yet has a melting point of approximately 4,000 degrees centigrade, which is two and a half times greater than the melting point of steel.

Billions of years ago, the elemental forces of heat and pressure miraculously transformed the carbon into diamond in the cauldron of boiling magma that lay deep below the surface of the earth. The volcanic mass in which this crystallization took place, then thrust upwards and broke through the earth's surface to cool in kimberlite or lamproite pipes. It is in these pipes that most diamonds are found today.

Natural History Museum's Diamonds Cited As Most Sparkling Jewel Exhibition Ever

Posted on: Monday, 18 July 2005, 12:00 CDT

A must-see for this summer's travellers, London's Natural History Museum opened Diamonds 8 July, now cited as the biggest ever assemblage of truly noteworthy diamonds. Brought together under one roof with the help of The Diamond Trading Company (DTC), this dazzling event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see most of the world's seriously important diamonds in one place.

Jonathan Chippindale, Marketing Director, DTC Gulf Market said. "It is difficult to imagine a more spectacular or beautiful collection of diamonds. Each of these unique treasures was created over a billion years ago, well before dinosaurs roamed the earth. So by looking into the heart of a diamond such as the De Beers Millennium Star, at 203 carats the largest flawless pear-shaped diamond in the world, you are literally looking at a piece of eternity."

The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) is the sales and marketing arm of the De Beers Group, one of the world's largest sources of rough diamonds handling approximately half of the world's supply. Additional support from DTC has provided the Natural History Museum with key pieces, from impressive single stones to stunning jewellery. DTC has also helped the Natural History Museum to create exhibits on the diamond industry.

Diamonds will feature many of the world's most impressive single stones, explain the fascinating facts of a diamond's facets and give insight into the billion year story of diamonds, from their ancient creation deep in the Earth to their sparkling reveal on the red carpet.

Notes for editors Diamonds is at the Natural History Museum from 8 July 2005 to 26 February 2006. Winner of the 2004 Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award, the Natural History Museum is also a world-leading science research centre. Through its collections and scientific expertise, the Museum is helping to conserve the extraordinary richness and diversity of the natural world with groundbreaking projects in 68 countries. The Museum is committed to encouraging public engagement with science. This has been greatly enhanced by the Darwin Centre, a major new initiative, which offers visitors unique access behind the scenes of the Museum. Phase One of the project opened to the public in 2002 and Phase Two is scheduled to open in 2008. With seven decades of expertise in the diamond industry, Steinmetz has interests ranging from cutting, polishing and manufacturing, jewellery and e-tail. Known for its unique approach to marketing, the group has promoted the glamour of diamonds at various events such as the Oscars, the Baftas, the Smithsonian Institute of Natural History and the Monaco Grand Prix. Steinmetz has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, with offices around the world. Two of the most famous diamonds created by Steinmetz are the 203.04-carat, internally flawless De Beers Millennium Star and the Steinmetz Pink a 59.60-carat, flawless fancy vivid pink diamond. www.steinmetz-group.com The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) is the sales and marketing arm of the De Beers Group, and the world's largest source of rough diamonds handling approximately half the world's supply. Recognised around the world by its famous advertising promise 'A Diamond is Forever', the DTC has a passion and commitment to diamonds and to consumers. As part of the De Beers Group, the DTC is involved in the life of a diamond from the moment it is discovered in the earth. It uses its 115 years of diamond expertise and marketing knowledge to help consumers feel more confident when making their diamond purchase. In addition, the DTC has developed significant initiatives to improve the diamond industry's standards of operation ensuring ethical and professional practices are upheld at all times, and that there is a lasting contribution to the communities in which they operate.

Diamond History....

We shall probably never know when the first diamonds were discovered, but we do know that, from ancient times until the eighteenth century, all the world's diamonds came from India. From the time of the Roman Empire until the arrival of the first Europeans in India at the beginning of the sixteenth century, trade relations flourished between Europe and Eastern Asia. One of the two principal diamond trade routes passed through Venice. The city became the most important mercantile republic in the western world. It enjoyed a monopoly of the diamond trade on its way to the main towns of southern Germany up to its final destination in Bruges. Lying as it did at the far end of the trade route, Bruges gradually developed into a flourishing diamond-cutting center and the city's reputation in this field steadily increased with time. Although Bruges maintained its pre-eminent position up to the end of the fourteenth century, within fifty years it began to decline because of the silting of the Zwin. The diamond trade, along with Bruge's many other economic activities, gradually shifted to the city of Antwerp which offered newer and better facilities for communications and exchange.

Antwerp was in the sixteenth century an expanding and flourishing city. By this time Antwerp already played a determining role in the development of diamond-working techniques . It is significant, for example, that Francois I did not call on the diamond cutters of Paris but placed his orders instead with the craftsmen of Antwerp.

Antwerp was at that time the commercial heart of Europe; approximately 40 % of the world trade passed through its port. Naturally the diamond occupied a favoured place. However the northern Netherlands's growing proportion on its business was acquired by Amsterdam. Antwerp's decline did not occur overnight and despite internal struggles such as the conflict between the New Guild of Diamond Cutters and the rich merchants, the city's prestige remained apparently intact up to the middle of the seventeenth century and the diamond trade itself continued to flourish .

At the end of the seventeenth century, Amsterdam came to the fore. It was a privileged city that offered religious and civil liberty and, up to the eighteenth century, it came to exercise a near monopoly not only on the diamond industry but also on the trade in diamonds. From then on Amsterdam supplied Antwerp in rough diamonds and, since the Dutch city kept the best stones for its own diamond cutters, Antwerp was obliged to make do with diamonds of inferior quality. Far from being discouraged, the Antwerp craftsmen took advantage of these rather difficult years and managed to transform small and mediocre stones into finely worked gems.

In 1866 the first diamond was discovered in South Africa. This discovery, followed a few years later by that of the Kimberley deposits and the fabulous Kimberley era and the rise of the now-famous De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd. resulted in large-scale prospecting and mining activities which brought Europe massive supplies of rough diamonds. This massive influx of rough stones following the discoveries in South Africa was instrumental in contributing to the city's status of Antwerp as the world's leading diamond centre. Within a few months, this massive influx provided work for thousands of craftsmen , and the swift revival of diamond cutting in Antwerp was further stimulated by an ever-growing demand for gemstones.

The depression of the 1930s hit the diamond trade hard. The cutting shops were sometimes shut down completely for several weeks at a time. The situation remained difficult until the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1939 many Jewish businessmen fled the country and went to the United States, Portugal or England, where more than 500 diamond dealers from Antwerp, continued to meet and to do business. In an attempt to save as much of the existing diamond stocks as possible from the Germans, the 500 dealers in England transferred the diamonds there. In agreement with the British government, an organisation known as the Correspondence Office for the Diamond Industry was set up to register the diamonds and keep them for the duration of the war. Thanks to this organisation large quantities of diamonds were returned to their owners after the city was liberated and the Antwerp diamond industry got off to a promising start when the war was ended.

So it is a tradition that dates back several centuries that gives incomparable experience to the Antwerp diamond dealers. Yet, for Antwerp to maintain its reputation it became necessary to create a central administration that would be responsible for what each dealer found indispensable; no individual could do this on his own. This last step was taken with the creation of the "Hoge Raad voor Diamant", or the Diamond High Council.

History of Pearls and Diamonds...

Pearl History;As soon as the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the Western Hemisphere they discovered that around the islands of Cubagua and Margarita, some 200 km north of the Venezuelan coast, was the most exquisit bed of pearls they had seen. One of them, the Peregrina, was offered to the Spanish queens, the same pearl, an elongated one, that became very famous when Richard Burton purchased it and gave it to his wife Elizabeth Taylor. Margarita pearls are extremely difficult to find today, they have an exquisite yellowish color and are certainly unique and far better than others. The most famous Margarita necklace that any one can see today is the one that then Venezuelan President Romulo Betancourt gave as a gift to Jaqueline Kennedy when she and her husband, President John F. Kennedy paid an official visit to Venezuela.

Before the beginning of the 20th Century, pearl hunting was the most common way of harvesting pearls. Divers manually pulled oysters from ocean floors and river bottoms and checked them individually for pearls. Not all natural oysters produce pearls. In a haul of three tons, only three or four oysters will produce perfect pearls[citation needed] .
However, almost all pearls used for jewelry are cultured by planting a core or nucleus into pearl oysters. The pearls are usually harvested after one year for Akoya, and 2-4 years for Tahitian and South Sea, and 2-7 years for freshwater. This mariculture process was first developed by Tatsuhei Mise and Tokichi Nishikawa in Japan. The nucleus is generally a polished bead made from freshwater mussel shell. Along with a small piece of mantle tissue from another mollusk to serve as a catalyst for the pearl sac, it is surgically implanted into the gonad (reproductive organ) of a saltwater mollusk. In freshwater perliculture online the piece if tissue is used in most cases, and is inserted into the fleshy mantle of the host mussel. South Sea and Tahitian pearl oysters, also known as Pinctada margaritifera and Pinctada maxima, which survive the subsequent surgery to remove the finished pearl are often implanted with a new, larger nucleus as part of the same procedure and then returned to the water for another 2-3 years of growth. Despite the common misperception, Mikimoto did not patent the process of pearl culture. The accepted process of pearl culture was developed by a team of scientists at Tokyo University between 1907 and 1916. The team was headed by Tokichi Nishikawa and Tatsuhei Mise. Nishikawa was granted the patent in 1916, and married the daughter of Mikimoto. Mikimoto was able to use the technology after the patent expired in 1935. After the patent was granted in 1916, the technology was immediately commercially applied to akoya pearl oysters in Japan in 1916. Mise's brother was the first to produce a commercial crop of pearls in the akoya oyster. Mitsubishi's Baron Iwasaki immediately applied the technology to the south sea pearl oyster in 1917 in the Philippines, and later in Buton, and Palau. Mitsubish was the first to produce a cultured south sea pearl - although it was not until 1931 that the first small commercial crop of pearls was successfully produced.
The original Japanese cultured pearls, known as akoya pearls, are produced by a species of small oysters, Pinctada fucata martensii, no bigger than 6 to 7 cm in size, hence akoya pearls larger than 10 mm in diameter are extremely rare and highly prized. Today a hybrid mollusk is used in both Japan and China in the production of akoya pearls. It is a cross between the original Japanese shell, and Pinctada chemnitzii of China.[7]
China has recently overtaken Japan in akoya pearl production. Japan has all but ceased its production of akoya pearls smaller than 8mm. Japan maintains its status as a pearl processing center, however, and imports the majority of Chinese akoya pearl production. These pearls are then processed (often simply matched and sorted), relabled as product of Japan, and exported.[8]
In the past couple of decades, cultured pearls have been produced with larger oysters in the south Pacific and Indian Ocean. One of the largest pearl-bearing oysters is the [[Pinctada maxima]], which is roughly the size of a dinner plate. South Sea pearls are characterized by their large size and silvery color. Sizes up to 14 mm in diameter are not uncommon. Australia is one of the most important sources of South Sea pearls. Mitsubishi commenced pearl culture with the south sea pearl oyster in 1916 as soon as the technology patent was commercialised. By 1931 this project was showing signs of success, but was upset by the death of Tatsuhei. Although the project was recommenced after Tatsuhei's death, the project was discontinued at the beginning of WWII before significant productions of pearls were achieved. After WWII, new south sea pearl projects were commenced in the early 1950s in Burma and Kuri Bay and Port Essington in Australia. Japanese companies were involved in all projects using technicians from the original Mitsubishi south sea pre-war projects. Despite often being described as black south sea pearls, Tahitian pearls are not south sea pearls. The correct definition of a south sea pearl is "the pearl produced by the Pinctada maxima pearl oyster."
In 1914, pearl farmers began culturing freshwater pearls using the pearl mussels native to Lake Biwa. This lake, the largest and most ancient in Japan, lies near the city of Kyoto. The extensive and successful use of the Biwa Pearl Mussel is reflected in the name Biwa pearls, a phrase which was at one time nearly synonymous with freshwater pearls in general. Since the time of peak production in 1971, when Biwa pearl farmers produced six tons of cultured pearls, pollution and overharvesting have caused the virtual extinction of this animal. Japanese pearl farmers recently cultured a hybrid pearl mussel — a cross between the last remaining Biwa Pearl Mussels and a closely related species from China, the Cristaria plicata — in lake Kasumigaura. This industry closed in 2006 due to lake pollution.

In the 1990s, Japanese pearl producers also invested in producing cultured pearls with freshwater mussels in the region of Shanghai, China, and in Fiji. Freshwater pearls are characterized by the reflection of rainbow colors in the luster. Cultured pearls are also produced using abalone.

History of Diamonds Diamond Jewellery, A Brief History

The diamond has been considered the ultimate symbol of love since 1447 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring as a promise of marriage. However, this influential tradition can be traced back to the Middle Ages and even Roman times. The Romans valued the diamond for its supernatural powers and later Italians believed that the diamond could maintain good relations between a married couple so they recommended it as the stone to be set in wedding rings.
Hollywood glamour and Royal power

Beyond marriage ceremonies, diamonds have always been sought after by the world's most wealthy and powerful people. The word diamond comes from 'adamas' which is the Greek word for 'invincible' and Monarchs have used them as symbols of power by wearing them in their swords, scabbards and as status symbols in their clothing and crowns. The Koh-I-Noor diamond, for example, has been worn in the crown jewels of British Monarchs since 1877. From royal families to Hollywood royalty, the diamond has always been the ultimate symbol of power and glamour.

A History of Diamonds

Diamonds have a long and fascinating history. They have been sought after for centuries because of their beauty, brilliance, and hardness. Diamonds, of course, have been around for millions of years. They are formed far below the surface of the earth, and emerge via volcanic activity to be mined. Purposeful mining did not begin until about 4000 years ago in India at the Golconda mines. Indian successes in this area later sparked interest in other countries.

South Africa, one of the major modern sources of diamonds, began mining in earnest in the 1800's. (Diamonds were discovered there in 1866.) Other regions later found diamond mining profitable as well, the Congo, Canada, Botswana, Russia, and Australia. In total, there are about 25 countries that currently have profitable mining operations. Diamond trading is centered around Amsterdam, New York, and Israel.

There are many legends about diamonds. Some people believe that wearing a diamond will protect them from harm. Others believe that wearing a diamond will grant good luck unless the diamond is a very large one. Diamonds have long been a symbol of fortune and strength. Diamonds are associated with the month of April as a birthstone. In western society a diamond ring is given by a man and accepted by a woman to indicate intention to marry. Much tradition surrounds the manner in which a ring is offered in different societies.

History of Diamonds

Celebrated in song, diamonds, and more particularly, white diamond jewelry, has long reigned as the ultimate statement of ardor and affection. The name "Diamond" is derived from the Greek word "Adamas" meaning unconquerable and indestructible. The hardest, rarest, densest natural substance known to man, diamonds have been a source of fascination (and misinformation) since 800 BC when they were first presented to royalty in India. In those days the Indians believed that diamonds were created when lightning struck rock. Amazingly, the sub-continent was the only producer of diamonds for an astounding 2,500 years. Dwindling Indian supplies probably spurred the exploration that led to the discovery of diamonds in Brazil, which became the next important diamond source. Beginning in l866, South Africa's massive diamond deposits were discovered, and a world-wide diamond rush was on. The South African diamond output was unrivaled until major deposits were found in Siberian permafrost in l954. And currently Western Canada is the site of the world's newest diamond rush.

As bewitching as diamonds are they have produced more than their fair share of myths over the centuries. They've been attributed with increasing potency, preventing lechery, driving away nightmares, counteracting poison, warding off evil, protection from wild beasts, healing sickness and (naturally) attracting good fortune. It was believed that diamonds were fragments of stars and the teardrops of the Gods.

Despite these fanciful ideas some of the amazingly real attributes of diamonds include: their age - the first diamond deposits were brought to the surface of the earth approximately 2.5 billion years ago while the most recent deposits are roughly 50 million years old; their hardness - diamonds are so hard they can only be polished by other diamonds; rarity - more than 250 tons of ore need to be blasted, crushed and processed to yield one carat of rough diamond and of that rough, only 20% is suitable for gem cutting; density - diamond is so dense that it actually slows down light to less than half its normal speed - 80,000 miles per second; fluorescence - if you're in a nightclub and someone's ears or fingers start to glow then diamonds are most likely the culprit, 30-40% of diamonds glow blue when exposed to ultraviolet light and some will even glow green, yellow, white or (extremely rare) red.

While Africa is known as the Diamond continent, it is actually in Australia that the largest reserves are to be found - including the very rare and highly valued pink and red fancy colored diamonds.

Diamonds are made of pure carbon atoms that exist deep in the ground, and these are then exposed to intense heat and pressure over billions of years. Over time, this pressure builds up and forces the diamonds and rocks up toward the surface in a volcanic-like explosion. The explosion creates a very deep, wide hole called a "kimberlite pipe" into which most of the diamonds settle. These "pipes" resemble gigantic carrots encrusted with diamonds. It can take years to fully excavate an entire pipe.

Only about one-fifth of all mined diamonds could be considered of gem quality. From 40 to 250 tons of gravel and sand must be processed today to recover one rough diamond from the world's thinning diamond deposits. Most diamonds, some 75-80% of all those mined, are used for such industrial applications as drilling, grinding, or sawing. The remainder is used for jewelry or investment. Less than 2% are of such high quality that they may be considered investment quality.

Royalty diamonds history

When did diamonds first become recognized as precious stones and used for jewelry? The earliest reference to them has been found in a Sanskrit document dated around 300 BCE. They were associated with the gods and were used to decorate religious icons and statues. In India, only kings, the highest caste, were allowed to own them.

Although diamonds were traded east and west of India, they were still prized in their natural crystal state, or polished to increase the shine and luster of them. The first guild of diamond cutters was established in 1375, and it was then that the practice of cutting the stones and faceting them was developed.

From the earliest times, diamonds were the province of kings and queens. In fact, in the 13th century, Louis IX of France decreed that only royalty could own diamonds, a dictate which faded away about 100 years later. By the late 15th century, they were used as wedding rings.

The largest diamond ever found was a 3106-carat diamond discovered in 1905 in a mine owned by Thomas Cullinan, for whom the stone was made. It was cut into smaller stones, the largest being made into the 530-carat Great Star of Africa diamond, cut by the Asscher Brothers, a famous diamond firm to this day. It’s also called the Cullinan I diamond, and is set in the Scepter of the Cross of the United Kingdom. A smaller stone cut from the Cullinan diamond is called the Lesser Star of Africa. It weighs 317 carats and is part of the Imperial State Crown. Both gems can be seen as part of the British Crown Jewels which are displayed in the Tower of London. The rest of the Cullinan diamond was cut into 11 smaller-weight stones and a number of fragments.

While the Cullinan diamond is the largest diamond ever found, there is a rumor that the man who discovered the diamond actually broke off part of the diamond before presenting it to the mine’s owner. This diamond, if the rumor is true, would have been 5,000 carats!
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The History of Diamonds : Diamond History

What do you know about the history of diamonds?

How did diamonds enter into the mainstream? How did they become the beloved jewels that so many people value today? When were they first placed on engagement rings? Well, it didn't happen overnight.

The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas" which means unconquerable. A diamond is composed of pure carbon and is the hardest natural substance known to man, hence the origin of the phrase "diamonds are forever." Deep deposits of carbon evolve under extreme heat and pressure to form what will be the most precious stone on earth - the diamond. The first riverbed (alluvial) diamonds were probably discovered in India, in around 800 B.C. It is thought that the volcanic source of these diamonds was never discovered but the alluvial deposits were rich enough to supply most of the world's diamonds until the eighteenth century, when Indian supplies were dwindling. It probably spurred the exploration that led to the discovery of diamonds in Brazil which became the next important diamond source.

The first known engagement ring was given by Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477. Those who knew the Archduke described him as quite the character. The wife to be, Mary, wore it on the third finger of her left hand, now known as the ring finger. This was done so that the ring touched a vein believed to go directly to the heart. In those days, people's belief systems saw no bounds. Today, more than 200,000 diamond engagement rings are happily placed on ring fingers every year.

The History of Diamonds

Throughout history, diamonds have captured the interest of mankind with its brilliant sparkle and its durability and hardness. There are ancient myths and beliefs about diamonds, from it being the tears of gods to pieces of stars fallen from the sky.

One legend even tells of a valley of diamonds in Central Asia protected by murderous snakes and birds of prey.

The earliest accounting of diamonds date back some 3000 years ago in India, where it was first mined. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, the word diamond is taken from vajra, meaning thunderbolt, and indrayudha, meaning the weapon of Indra, who is warrior god from Vedic scriptures. No diamonds have actually been found in ancient Indian sites, but instead history leaves us with diamond "footprints", cylindrical holes in ancient beads, with noticeable grooves left by a twin-diamond drill.

These diamond drill holes are not similar to any other kind of drilling technique and are unique to diamond drilling technology. In India, the diamond had a multi-purpose use, one for its decorative properties, and another to ward off evil and to serve as a talisman during battle. It was likely that it was first highly priced in ancient India due to its light reflecting properties.

Diamonds began appearing again in history in the 13th century as part of European royalty, sharing settings with gold and pearls. Instead of its popularity due to mythical powers, as diamonds were once also used in the Dark Ages as a medical aid, diamonds were featured prominently in jewelry and royal regalia, especially by the 17th and 18th century.

Saint Louis IX of France established a sumptuary law that mandated reserving diamonds for the king, emphasizing its worth and value. Kings wore diamonds to symbolize strength, invincibility and courage. Over time, the European aristocracy and even the wealthy merchant class, both men and women, also began wearing diamond jewels.

Because of the worth and value of this precious mineral, diamonds have also become a source of conflict. Today, diamonds mines in Central and West Africa have come under the control of revolutionary groups. These profits from the sales of these "blood diamonds" have been used to finance their operations.

But the common household might know more about diamonds from a De Beers commercial than from news of conflict diamonds. De Beers is a well-known diamond store and its "A diamond is forever" advertising campaign is one the most successful and innovative campaigns in marketing history.

And that is why the diamond has in history, also become a symbol of love. In 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave an everlasting symbol of his affection to Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring that has started the tradition of diamond engagement rings. Since then, women have been dreaming of wearing their own diamond engagement ring on their hand before getting married.

Throughout history, diamonds have been known for its excellent physical properties and even its ties to spiritual and seemingly mystical powers. Its value and worth have only increased during the centuries and will endure on, as diamonds are forever.

Daniel Joines is the owner Polished Diamonds. For High Quality Diamond Rings at 1/2 retail shop available at: Polished Diamonds.co.nz - The Diamond Ring Specialist in New Zealand.

History of Diamonds, Engagement Rings and Things

The tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring as a promise for marriage began in 1477 with Archduke Maximilian of Austria presenting a gold ring set with a diamond as a token of his love to Mary of Burgundy.

During that era, diamonds were viewed as charms that could enhance the love of a husband for his wife. Even Cupid's arrows were said to be tipped with diamonds and thus an unequaled magical power.

The root of the word diamond is "Adamas," the Greek word meaning unconquerable and indestructible.

Wearing a diamond ring on the fourth finger of the left hand dates far back to ancient Egypt, where it was believed that the vena amoris (the vein of love) ran from that finger directly to the heart.

Diamonds have been sought the world over, fought over, worshipped and used to cast love spells from the earliest of times. It actually wasn't until the discovery of diamond mines on the African continent in 1870 that diamonds became accessible to a wider public, increasing demand and influencing design.

The History Of Diamonds

The images and symbols abound with just the mention of this mineral, a natural crystalline substance that exemplifies wealth, prosperity, status, and everlasting love. Even lightning, magic, healing, protection and poisoning have been associated with this gem.

The story of the diamond transcends numerous cultures and localities. It is the oldest item that anyone can own - it's three billion years in age, a strategic and high tech super material that is formed in the earth's interior and shot to the surface by extraordinary volcanoes. It is carbon in its most concentrated form, the chemical element fundamental to all life, thus it is a native element. It is also extremely pure, containing only trace amounts of boron and nitrogen. The diamond's nearest relatives are mineral graphite and amorphous carbon.

It should come as no surprise that our culture was not the first to be lured by the hypnotic spell the diamond casts. The cultures that played a role in bringing the diamond into prominence are numerous. They are Greek, Indian, Old English, French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Arabic, Polish, Japanese, American, African, Korean, and Chinese. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed diamonds were tears of the Gods and splinters from falling stars. The Hindus attributed so much power to these precious stones they went so far as to place diamonds in the eyes of some of their statues. In unraveling the history and associations of diamonds, we also need to know the history of the words attached to it: did the words spoken by the Indians and Greeks signify the same things they do today, or something very different? These cultures associated tremendous value with these stones and clues as to why may be found in the language associated with them. "Diamond" comes from the Greek adamao, transliterated as "adamao," "I tame" or "I subdue." The adjective "adamas" was used to describe the hardest substance known, and eventually became synonymous with diamond.

Knowledge of diamond origin starts in India where it was first mined. The first known reference to diamond is a Sanskrit manuscript, the Arthsastra ("The Lesson of Profit") by Kautiliya, a minister to Chandragupta of the Mauryan dynasty (322 BC - 185 BC) in northern India.

Small numbers of diamonds began appearing in European regalia and jewelry in the 13th century, set as an accent point among pearls in splendid wrought gold. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, every ring that was set with a precious stone was not considered as much a piece of jewelry, as an amulet that bestowed magical powers like fearlessness and invincibility upon the wearer. Not only was it believed that diamonds could bring luck and success, but also that they could counter the effects of astrological events. There were many that wore diamonds as charms believing in their ability to heighten sexual prowess and attract others. Plato even wrote about diamonds as living beings, embodying celestial spirits. These myths laid the groundwork for monarchs to begin wearing diamonds as symbols of power.

An act of Louis IX of France (1214-1270) that established a sumptuary law reserving diamonds for the king bespeaks of the rarity of diamonds and the value conferred on them at that time. Within 100 years diamonds appeared in royal jewelry of both men and women, then among the greater European aristocracy.

The earliest diamond-cutting industry is believed to have been in Venice, a trade capital, starting sometime after 1330. In 1456 Louis de Berqueur discovered how to cut facets of a diamond By the 16th century the diamond became larger and more prominent as the result of the development of diamond faceting which enhances brilliance and fire.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the diamond presided as the ultimate in representing all that was wealth, prestige and power, and the huge import of diamonds during this period was nothing short of revolutionary.

Until the 18th century India was the only known source of the stones, believed to be found only in the fabled mines of Golconda, though Golconda was in fact only the market city of the diamond trade and gems sold there came from a number of mines. Brazil then became the main producer after diamonds were found there in 1726. It was not until the 1867 discovery of diamonds near Hopetown, south of Kimberley in South Africa, that the modern diamond industry was born. The 1870s and 1880s in the Northern Cape saw a frenzied rush to the newly discovered diamond fields.

The world's largest gem quality diamond, the Cullinan, was found in South Africa in 1905. Uncut, it weighed 3025 carats. The Centenary, found in 1986, was polished from a 599 carat gem. The rough diamond was cut into various stones, the largest of which bears the name Centenary and, at 273 carats, is the largest modern cut, top colour, flawless diamond in the world.
Diamond Wedding Tradition

The custom of exchanging wedding rings dates back as far as the comic Roman poet Plautus in the 2nd century BCE. Wedding rings were then valued because of interior inscriptions recording the marriage contracts signed in the presence of the Emperor's image. The custom was continued and mostly Christianized by the 4th century by St. Augustine. Byzantine wedding rings are thick gold bands with round or oval bezels depicting the couple face to face, or receiving Christ's blessing of their union. The tradition of giving rings in the engagement and marriage ceremony as tokens of everlasting love has taken the diamond into its present-day popularity.

Today as throughout the centuries, the diamond continues to embody deep human expression of purity, strength, solarity and eternal love.

Bushmen slam Natural History Museum’s Diamonds exhibition – Survival to protest

Kalahari Bushmen have condemned the 'Diamonds' exhibition opening this week at London's Natural History Museum with De Beers sponsorship. The museum has refused the Bushmen's request for the issue of their eviction from their land – which many believe was to make way for future diamond mining by De Beers – to be included in the exhibition.

Bushman supporters are protesting outside the exhibition's celebrity opening party on Wednesday evening, 6 July. Celebrities invited to the opening are reported to include Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johannson.

Supermodel Iman famously 'quit as the face of De Beers … after letters she received from the charity Survival International.' British supermodel Erin O'Connor similarly distanced herself from De Beers stating 'I don't think that doing a job like (being the face of De Beers) would in any way add to my life or make me happy. I would make that stand, and say no.' Survival is now urging the new face of De Beers, British model Lily Cole, to quit.

Last month Survival and pioneering American feminist Gloria Steinem picketed the opening of De Beers's first US store in New York. Survival supporters urged US celebrities Teri Hatcher and Lindsay Lohan not to cross the picket line.

History Of Diamond

Introduction
A diamond is a gesture so unique, that once you have presented it to someone, it holds on to the heart for all eternity.

The History
Every diamond has an interesting story to tell. Each is the result of a remarkable natural voyage which has turned an ancient element into the world's most desired jewel. The journey began billions of years ago when they were crystallized at tremendously high temperatures, deep beneath the earth's crust.

Discoveries
After years, the fury of nature in the form of winds, water, heat and cold reworked landscapes while these gems stayed intact and hidden, awaiting for their radiance to sparkle to the world unknown.

Just a few managed to survive, out of which a small amount with an appropriate size and good quality were cut and polished to be renowned as some of the finest pieces of jewelry. Diamonds are rare and are found only in a few secluded sites, spread among the oldest parts of the continents. For years, the only source known to man was one remote area in India, where diamonds were first appreciated for their capacity to disperse light.

New discoveries were made in Borneo in the 7th century and in Brazil in the 18th century. Despite its insignificant size, the Brazilian finding was so popular that the ruling Portuguese marked the occasion with great joy. Festivals were staged in Lisbon, with special masses said and messages of congratulations were sent by the Pope and European monarchs.

More celebrations came in 1866 when, at last, a truly significant source of diamonds was discovered in South Africa. Strangely, it owed nothing to the art or energy of the world's eager prospectors. A farmers' child was playing with some brightly colored stones found beside a river, one of which was recognized as a diamond.

The gem cut from it was appropriately named "Eureka" and it marked the start of a remarkable new episode in the story of the emergence of diamonds.

At present, in spite of modern technologies, diamonds are still difficult to discover. Geologists search relentlessly for these precious gems, usually in very remote places, like the frozen tundra of Siberia and Canada to the parched deserts and ocean floors of Africa.

Love and Diamonds
Diamonds have been sought after the world over. They have preserved a special magic and a sense of belonging which captured royal families since ages. It was believed that diamonds were fragments of stars and the teardrops of the Gods. Until the 15th century only Kings wore diamonds as a symbol of strength, courage and invincibility.

Since their creation, they were associated with romance and legend. Later they gained the character of the ultimate gift of love. It was even believed that cupid's arrows were tipped with diamonds. The Greeks thought that the fire in the diamond reflected the constant flame of love.

It wasn't until 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, that the diamond engagement ring was introduced. Placing the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand dates back to the early Egyptian belief that the Vena Amors, vein of love, runs directly from the heart to the tip of the fourth finger.

In the 19th century, Napoleon gave his wife Marie Louise an exquisite diamond necklace on the birth of their son and more recently, producer / director Bruce Paltrow confirmed his pride in daughter Gwyneth when, after winning the Best Actress award at the 1999 Oscars, he bought her the stunning 40 carat diamond necklace she had borrowed to wear at the ceremony.
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How the African Diamond Trade Works

History of Diamonds in Africa

Diamonds in Africa were formed somewhere between 600 million and 3 billion years ago when titanic-force pressure and heat caused carbon 1,200 miles (1,931 km) below the Earth's surface to crystallize. As recently as a million years ago, erupting molten rock brought the diamonds closer to the Earth's surfaceSince then, they have brought joy into the hearts of those who receive them and stress into the hearts of those who can't afford them. The irony of diamond desire is that it centers around the idea that diamonds are precious and rare. While diamonds may be precious gems, they aren't even a little bit rare. Mines in Africa, Canada and other countries abound with the stones, which are mined, cut and then marked way up to result in a huge profit.

However, De Beers, the powerhouse that controls about 60 percent of the diamond industry, has spent the last decades waging a stunning marketing campaign that continues to gain momentum. Desire for diamonds has never been greater and the industry continues to grow despite rising costs and concern over legitimacy. Despite the company's seeming monopoly on the world's diamonds, De Beers insists that their diamonds are 100 percent conflict-free [source: De Beers].

The World Diamond Council, formed in 2000 to combat illegal diamond trading in Africa, maintains that diamonds benefit the world in many ways other than just looking pretty. For example, roughly 10 million people worldwide are supported by the diamond industry. Also, revenue from the diamond industry is integral to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

The History of Diamonds

Diamonds have been traded and sold for thousands of years but not too many people know how and where they got their start in the jewelry trade. Diamonds are not only found in wedding rings, necklaces and earrings, but now they're placed on cellphones, cars and even clothing! It didn't take long before this gem from the east spread around the world and then became discovered in all parts of the world.

Some of the earliest references to diamonds came from India from their Sanskrit texts which mentioned the budgeoning diamond trade. Buddhist works dating from the late 3rd century, but mostly the 4th, mentioned the use of diamonds as precious stones. They also recognized not only their beauty, but the strength in which they had to mark tough metals of all kinds. India remained the primary source for diamonds for quite some time which led to a very prosperous trade economy throughout the east.

Diamonds eventually spread all over the world, especially in gifts for royalty and very wealthy people. It took many centuries before India dried up its main resources for diamonds which led to exploration around the world for more mines. This exploration brought on major diamond mine discoveries in both Brazil and South Africa. Since then South Africa has become the largest producer of diamonds in the world. Unfortunately we all have heard about the troubles this trade has brought to the people of Africa, but no matter what it continues onward.

Sometime in the later years of the 15th century, Belgium jewelers, specifically Antwerp, made a name for themselves for developing a new technique to polish and shape the gems was created. Since then Belgium has become the diamond center of the world with more than 12,000 expert cutters and polishers at work. You'll find today that 85% of the worlds rough diamonds, 50% of cut diamonds, and 40% of industrial diamonds are traded in Antwerp year round.

History of Diamonds

History of Diamonds
The history of diamonds. Before the Medieval era Diamonds were worn rough, or cut and polished only on their upper surfaces. It was in this form that diamonds used to ornament temples, goblets, reliquaries, and crowns. The history of cutting Diamonds dates back to the beginning of the 1400's in Paris. Diamonds became popular in jewelry and from this time the history of diamonds accelerated and many famous diamonds were cut. The following history timeline of diamonds details important dates relating to famous diamonds and the history of diamonds.

A Brief History of Diamonds

Diamonds, from the Greek, adàmas, (archaic root word of adamant) meaning unbreakable, are the hardest substance of carbon allotropes. It was discovered roughly around 3000 years ago, in Central Asia. A lot of experts, however, surmise that it could have been used as early as 6000 years ago. Recent finds indicate that the Chinese have been using them around 2500 BCE or later, although no sufficient evidence is enough to rewrite the decreed historical data.

Official records state that, around 800 BCE, Indians had made one of the most important discoveries of the ancient world. It was the discovery of the diamond. Although used largely for decorative purposes, and was somewhat spiritual by nature, the diamond has been known to be useful for polishing stone axes for burial rites and even as a tool to help with fine-tuning and polishing weapons, due to its hardness.

It was only during the Greco-Roman era that diamonds became a sort of rare medium for trade and gradually became one of the many symbols for luxury in that era aside from its supposed magical properties. There is a legend that Alexander the Great and his army were the first Europeans to arrive at the mythical Valley of Diamonds in Northern India and painstakingly imported them to Europe. Rumors surrounding the area were numerous regarding the myth of the Valley and the substance it produced. It is said that the Valley imbued the diamonds with talismanic powers and rewarded the bearers of the diamond strength and protection from evil spirits and the like. It is also said that the diamonds were used to help women in the birthing process. These parturition stones, as they were also called, were instrumental to the baby’s development helping them grow healthy and strong.

The myth concerning the importation of diamonds into Europe may have some truth embedded into it. The Greeks were certainly the first Europeans to praise the substance for its indestructible quality and laud it for its multiple applications.

The myth of the diamonds as having supernatural qualities survived well through the passage of years, after the fall of The Western Roman Empire and through to the Byzantine era. However, it was only during these times, in the dark years of the Middle Ages, that the diamond began to have a reputation for having evil effects. Miners, who were well aware of the myths of vitality-imbued characteristics of the gemstone, began stealing the jewels by swallowing them in small amounts. This led to the rumor injected by mining owners to discourage the theft of the valuables. They disseminated the rumor that the diamonds were poisonous and required spiritual guidance and almost divine intervention to reverse the side effects.

As the years passed and into the renaissance period, the mining consortiums of India began to experience a salient decline in its production of diamonds as demand began to increase. Even other mining syndicates around the world could not keep up with the ever-increasing need for diamonds. It was only when in South Africa, during the proto-industrial age, large deposits of the precious commodity were discovered, that the world’s largest diamond rush began.

It was also in these years that mining companies began to multiply as substantial deposits of diamonds began to appear and thus contend with the ever-growing demand for the gems.

Today diamonds are most commonly used in industry and for jewelry. They are used in engagement rings as a symbol of lasting love, in 14k diamond pendant for their brilliance and beauty and as adornment for watches as well as many other things.

History Of Diamonds

It was over 4,000 years ago that the first diamonds were mined in India, in alluvial deposits of the stone along the rivers Krishna, Penner and Godavari.

Diamonds were known in ancient Greece and the Roman empire. Consider the ancient Greeks and Romans who believed diamonds were tears of the Gods and splinters from falling stars.

The Hindus attributed so much power to them that they even placed them in the eyes of the statues of deities.

Not only was it believed that diamonds could bring luck and success, but also that they could counter the effects of astrological events. There were many that wore diamonds as charms believing in their ability to heighten sexual prowess and attract others. Plato even wrote about diamonds as living beings, embodying celestial spirits.

Their rarity, durability and beauty made them popular among midieval royalty.

Today, diamonds continue to hold a deep fascination as the world’s ultimate symbol of wealth.

Modern diamond mining as we know it today began in South Africa in the late 19th century.

The top seven diamond-producing countries, accounting for 80 percent of the world’s rough diamond supply, are Botswana, Russia, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Australia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.