| ACROSS 3.3 BILLION YEARS AND 4 CONTINENTS TO A WOMAN'S HAND
The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were splinters of stars fallen to the earth. It was even said by some that they were the tears of the Gods. Another legend has it that there was an inaccessible valley in Central Asia carpeted with diamonds. It was said to be patrolled by birds of prey in the air and guarded by snakes of murderous gaze on the ground. The truth is, however that the exact origin of diamonds is still something of a mystery, even to scientists and geologists. Even though the diamond is the hardest of all gemstones known to man, it is the simplest in composition. It is common carbon, like the graphite in a lead pencil, yet has a melting point of 6,900 degrees Fahrenheit, which is two and a half times greater than the melting point of steel. Billions of years ago, the elemental forces of heat and pressure miraculously transformed the carbon into diamond in the cauldron of boiling magma that lay deep below the surface of the earth. The volcanic mass in which this crystallization took place then thrust upwards and broke through the earth's surface to cool in Kimberlite pipes. It is in these Kimberlite pipes that most diamonds are found today.
WHY DIAMONDS ARE SO VALUABLE
Anything extremely rare is also precious. Diamonds, formed billions of years ago are rare in that only a few survived the hazardous journey from the depths of the earth to reach the earth's surface. Indeed, you may be surprised to learn that even though diamond production has increased in recent years, it is estimated that as little as 350 tons have ever been mined in recorded history to date. Of diamonds mined today, only about 50% are judged to be of gem quality. Even fewer are large enough to be cut into diamonds that are much bigger than the head of a match.
To recover the relatively small amount of both gem quality and industrial diamonds is not easy, even with today's technology. Approximately 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed from the average Kimberlite pipe in order to produce a one carat polished diamond of gem quality.
THE DIAMOND - ENDURING SYMBOL OF LOVE
Until the 15th century only kings wore diamonds as a symbol of strength, courage and invincibility. Over the centuries, however, the diamond acquired its unique status as the ultimate gift of love. Indeed, it was said that Cupid's arrows were tipped with diamonds which have a magic that nothing else can ever quite equal. Since the very beginning, diamonds have always been associated with romance and legend. The very word 'diamond' comes from Greek 'adamas' meaning unconquerable, suggesting the eternity of love. The Greeks also believed the fire in the diamond reflected the constant flame of love. But it wasn't until 1477,when Archduke Maximilian of Austris gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy, that the tradition of diamond engagement rings began. Even the reason a woman wears it on the third finger of her left hand dates back to the early Egyptian belief that the vena amoris ( vein of love ) ran directly from the heart to the top lf the third finger, left hand.
HOW A DIAMOND'S BEAUTY IS REVEALED
An uncut diamond so resembles a pebble that most people would pass it by without a glance. It is the skill of the diamond cutter that unlocks the fiery beauty that lies within. the knowledge required for this incredibly demanding art has been passed down over the centuries from generation to generation, and an art it is for the diamond cutter cannot afford to make a mistake. At risk is not just the diamond itself, but anywhere from several hours to several months of work, for that is what is required in the cutting and polishing of each stone. During this time consuming process it is also interesting to learn that, on average, each stone will lose 50% of its original weight. The beauty of a diamond depends on the way it reflects light, and the cutter must shape the stone in such a way as to admit light through the top of the stone, so it will bounce around inside and come back out at the top. In this way, the maximum amount of light is reflected, and the diamond sparkles with fire, brilliance and scintillation. The places where diamonds are found and where these skilled craftsmen are found may lie thousands of miles apart, for the diamond industry is truly international. Diamonds are cut in many places around the world, however, the most significant centers are New York, Antwerp, Tel Aviv and Bombay. Indeed the diamond market is very important to these countries. For example, some 400,000 cutters are employed in the cutting industry in India alone. In Israel, 12,000 cutters are employed in a trade that generates about 25% of Israel's total export earning.
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