ALL-Jewelry
    1-865-436-8776

 

Diamond Facts 
Many believe diamonds are expensive because they are so rare.  Not true.  There are enough diamonds for every person in the world to own a handful.  They are expensive because strict controls are placed on the quality o diamonds produced worldwide.

It takes 100 million years to make a diamond.  They are formed under immense heat and pressure hundreds of miles below sea level.  After 100 million years of formation, volcanic explosions forced the upwards.  Most diamonds found in nature are one to three billion years old.

Eighty percent of the world's diamonds come from only seven countries: Botswana, Russia, South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Australia and Zaire account for four-fifths of the world's diamond supplies.  The major diamond cutting centers are New York, Antwerp, Tel Aviv and Bombay.

Contrary to popular belief the Hope Diamond is not the larges diamond ever found.  The largest diamond is the Cullinan diamond, discovered in South Africa in 1905 and presented to England's King Edward VII.  It weighed 3,106 carats (1.37 pounds) before cutting.  It was cut into 105 gems weighing 1,063 carats in all.  The largest is the Star of Africa, a drop-shaped stone weighing 530.2 carats, the largest cut diamond in the world.  The Star of Africa is set in the British royal scepter.

While diamonds are a very hard substance they are not indestructible.  They withstanding scratching but they can be broken or split.

Home   Selecting a Diamond  Why a Diamond  Diamond Facts  Jewelry Care