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    Diamonds 101

    Diamonds 101 is a collection of educational articles, historical background and shopping information on natural diamonds, curated to guide your purchase of diamond jewelry and answer frequently asked questions about the world’s most beloved gem. 

    • Diamonds By Distinction
    • Diamonds Today
    • Nature’s Difference
    • The 4 C’s
    • All Diamonds 101 Articles

    Diamonds By Distinction

    What makes a diamond?

    Diamonds come from the Earth.

    A natural diamond’s creation began around 100 miles below the Earth’s surface. Each natural diamond is made of pure carbon, compressed by Earth’s pressure over time, and is the hardest substance on earth that exists naturally.

    Today, there are many synthetic and laboratory-grown diamonds on the market. These are also made of carbon, but without the Earthly origins of real diamonds, they lack the unique diamond qualities infused by nature.

    Diamonds are the oldest thing you’ll ever touch.

    The first diamond was discovered in an Indian cave nearly 4,000 years ago. But the diamond journey? That began billions of years before. The stones you see in diamond jewelry today began forming from one to three billion years ago, making a natural diamond the oldest thing you’ll ever touch. A natural diamond’s markings and inclusions are symbols of their age, and can be considered small time capsules that tell stories of the Earth’s formation.

    Diamonds are extremely rare.

    Diamonds are becoming rarer every day because only one significant deposit has been found in decades. Now, there are so few one carat diamonds being recovered each year, the total number would fill only one exercise ball. Therefore, are diamonds rare? Yes, and they are becoming increasingly more valuable each day.

    To keep up with the demand while resources diminish, scientists have started creating many replicas—from lab grown diamonds to simulated diamonds made of glass. However, even when a laboratory-grown diamond has the same chemical makeup as a natural diamond, their mass-produced origins are easily detected and prevent them from maintaining any real value.

    Diamonds are a symbol of love.

    The name “diamond” stems from the Greek word adamas, meaning unbreakable. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria wanted to orchestrate a wedding proposal for his love, Mary of Burgundy. To ensure she knew how he felt, he commissioned an engagement ring to be made with a diamond—a resilient stone as beautiful and enduring as his love. That day, the diamond engagement ring was born, a symbol of everlasting love.

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    Only Natural Diamonds, brought to you by the Natural Diamond Council, is the definitive destination for all things natural diamonds. We provide inspiration, insights and information on the world of real, natural diamonds recovered from the earth, including a behind-the-scenes look into the natural diamond industry, as well as the latest trends in diamond jewelry design to education and tips about how to buy the perfect engagement ring and other diamond jewelry.
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