 |
|
|
|
Diamond
Education
 Diamond,
the hardest known material is pure carbon, crystallized under a
very high pressure and temperature. In nature, such an
environment exists only at depths of 150 to 200 km below the
surface of the earth. Volcanic eruptions drive the diamond
bearing rocks called "Kimberlite" and
"Lamproite" to the surface of the earth where the
diamonds can be extracted.
What happens next? |
|
Interesting
Diamond Facts |
|
|
What
is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
The Diamond. |
|
|
Is
a Diamond Indestructible?
No. The fact that Diamonds are a hard substance refers to
their ability to withstand scratching. But that is
different than toughness, which refers to the ability to
withstand breaking or cleavage. |
|
|
How
old are most diamonds which are found in nature?
1 billion to 3 billion years, by most accounts. |
|
|
80%
of the world's diamonds are not suitable for Jewelry. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
diamonds are mined by numerous and very diverse methods,
depending on how the diamonds are presented at the earth's
surface. Some diamonds are freed by erosion and carried along by
rivers. Riverbeds are dug away and the river silt is sieved.
Another approach is to dredge the sandy coastal strata.
Finding
diamonds is typically the result of large industrial operations,
but occasionally can be found with small-scale methods, or even
manual labor.
Diamonds
are rare. It is usual that 250 tons of rock, sand and gravel
must be processed to yield one carat of diamond. The
saying goes, "Five billion truckloads of earth for ONE
truckload of diamonds." |
|
Once
the diamonds are found and removed from the earth, they need to
be transformed from rough crystals to polished gems. A
rough diamond obtains its final shape and brilliance by a
succession of manufacturing processes : cleaving, sawing, and
polishing.
Finally, the quality of the diamond must be defined. The
quality of a diamond is determined by the four C's. Carat , Color,
Clarity and Cut. A
diamond is graded for quality in a certificates laboratory such
as the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL). |
Now
for some information on the best kept secret. Colored, or
"fancy" diamonds are the MOST rare and priceless
diamonds available. |
|
Most
people have never even heard of colored diamonds. Almost
all of the publicity and advertising for diamonds is slanted
towards convincing consumers that white, or more accurately colorless,
is the only desirable color for diamonds. Fortunately, an
educated public makes a wiser consumer.
Diamonds occur in a
wide variety of colors. Many of these colors are very attractive
and the diamonds, due to their rarity, are even more
desirable than colorless ones. This is especially true
of intensely colored diamonds. You may wonder why, if colored
diamonds are so fabulous, why don't you hear more about them?
|
Probably
the main reason why colored diamonds are hardly ever promoted is
the very fact that they are so rare. Why bother to promote
something with a very limited supply that you can't get enough
of? Intense, or "canary" yellow is the most
common, with only a handful of natural blues and reds even known to
exist. The prices for these natural colored diamonds can
easily top $100,000 per carat, with some reaching well over $1,000,000. Take a look for yourself -
here
or here.
|
This
is why we are so excited to not only provide you with the most exquisite
and timeless memorial of your loved one, but also the chance to
own the equivalent of one of natures most prized possessions. |
|
|
For additional questions
or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us at (866)543-3436 or send us an
email. |
|
ã
2003 LifeGem - All rights reserved. Terms
of Use Privacy
Statement
