| The meaning of the word Diamond - very hard | | | | surface. |
| native crystalline carbon valued as a gem, not a | | | | Often said to be a girl's best friend. You can |
| very glamorous description of something so | | | | understand why, they have adorned kings, |
| beautiful. | | | | queens, and movie stars, dazzled us all by their |
| The word "diamond" comes from the Greek | | | | beauty and when fashioned into an engagement |
| word "Adams," meaning unconquerable. Diamonds | | | | or eternity ring the diamond becomes a symbol |
| are the hardest known substances on earth being | | | | of love, romance and commitment. Although |
| one hundred and forty times harder then its | | | | diamonds are perceived as a white colourless |
| nearest equal., which is how they earned their | | | | gem, they actually come in a spectrum of colour, |
| name. Because of their strength, they were | | | | these are called "fancies". |
| initially used for such purposes as engraving other | | | | Diamonds are measured in Carat-weight. The |
| gems, such as sapphire, cameos, and for drilling | | | | standard measurement for diamond size is equal |
| holes in hard stone beads. In France in the | | | | to 200 milligrams. A good one-carat diamond is |
| thirteenth century only the king could wear | | | | one in a million. It takes 250 tons of ore to |
| diamonds. They were not used as jewellery in | | | | retrieve a 1ct diamond (cut weight), awesome |
| Europe until the late 13th century. | | | | statistics that is why it takes several years of |
| They were born about 3.4 billion years ago and | | | | training before an apprentice is authorised to cut |
| only became available to man through volcanic | | | | 1ct diamonds. Cutting diamonds, as you would |
| eruption about 70 million years ago. Not all | | | | imagine is a highly skilled and specialised occupation. |
| diamonds mined are of gem quality, only about | | | | Unlike gold diamonds don't carry a hallmark and |
| 50%. | | | | that is why in order to guarantee quality you can |
| Even fewer are large enough to be polished into | | | | buy a certified diamond. |
| diamonds that are much bigger than the head of | | | | Being certified by an independent laboratory the |
| a match. | | | | quality and characteristics of your diamond are |
| Before the sixth century India was the only | | | | guaranteed. The report should confirm that: |
| known source of diamond and the predominant | | | | - The stone is a natural diamond |
| source for over 2,000 years, until the mid | | | | - The carat weight of the stone |
| eighteenth century. Romans inherited the belief | | | | - It's colour |
| from Indian mythology. that diamonds had the | | | | - It's clarity |
| power to ward off evil and wore talismans. | | | | - The cut of the diamond |
| In Greek mythology diamond were said to be | | | | Diamonds are for eternity. A sign of wealth they |
| tears of the Gods. Whatever the meaning the | | | | can be passed from generation to generation |
| evolution of this dazzling jewellery is awesome. | | | | growing in value never losing their appeal and |
| Who would believe that one of the softest | | | | bonding the link between past and future. Who |
| materials on earth, carbon, changes into a | | | | wouldn't want to be the proud owner of such a |
| beautiful sparkling diamond? Mind you this happens | | | | formidable piece of dazzling beauty? |
| between 75 to 120 miles below the earth's | | | | |