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The world's hardest element, diamond comes from the Greek word for “invincible”.
Diamonds are one of the toughest gemstones and when found naturally, are very rare. On top of its strength on the outside, it is believed to give those who wear the stone strength on the inside as well. The gemstone of commitment, diamonds symbolize love, making them the perfect choice for an engagement ring.
Click to read our Diamond Guide
Antique vs. Modern
Antique diamonds are hand cut which makes them look chunkier, giving them more depth. This allows light to interact with the stone differently, creating a soft sparkle. Most antique diamonds appear almost yellow, and this warm tone makes them look romantic. Old Mine Cut Diamonds and Trans/Old European Diamonds are favored antique cuts today. However, modern diamonds appear more glossy, smooth, and geometric since they are cut with lasers which give a precise cut. They have more of a white light and are still considered rare. The modern round cut is not only the most popular, but the most expensive, and sparkles greater than any other diamond or gemstone.
Click to learn more about antique & modern diamonds.
The 4Cs
A diamonds quality is graded by the 4Cs: carat weight, clarity, color, and cut. The higher a diamond is graded in each of these categories, the rarer and more costly it becomes. A carat is a unit of mass used to measure diamonds, and one carat is the equivalent to 0.2 grams. Clarity refers to how visible any blemishes or inclusions are under magnification. Color is graded on a scale from colorless to light meaning that there is no color visible to shades of brown or yellow visible. Cut refers to how the facets are positioned on the diamond which ultimately determines its sparkle.
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Diamond Planet
Scientists suggest that an exoplanet about twice the size of Earth, 55 Cancri e, could be a carbon-rich planet made up of one-third diamonds! Its distance to Earth is 40 light years and was discovered in 2004. Researchers have stated that the surface of this planet is very likely covered by both diamonds and graphite. This is the first diamond planet to be discovered and recognized. 55 Cancri e is a super-Earth with a mass much greater than Earths and is so close to its star that there could never possibly be life on this planet due to its high temperature.
De Beers
The De Beers Group is a corporation that was founded in 1888 that specializes in both the mining and trading of diamonds internationally. They were considered a monopoly for much of their time in operation as they had almost complete control over the diamond market until competition grew in recent years. The De Beers group was very successful with their marketing efforts and established the connection between a diamond and love, creating the famous slogan, “A Diamond is Forever”. They had many successful campaigns that captured the deeper meanings of their rings, such as their creation of the eternity ring meant to symbolize eternal love.
Hardness
Diamonds are a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale and are the hardest natural element in the world. This high ranking on the scale explains that diamonds are excellent at resisting scratches. This precious stone is so hard that it can only be scratched by other diamonds. Its resistance to scratches makes it the perfect gem to be placed on jewelry for everyday wear, particularly engagement rings. Diamonds are perfectly acceptable for everyday jewelry wear without the risk of scratches caused by daily activities. Unlike softer stones, diamonds can be worn on any occasion and don’t have to be worn with as much caution.
