Diamonds are known for their extreme hardness, unmatched brilliance, and rich sentimental value. They are made of nearly 100% carbon atoms and are so durable that the only other mineral that can scratch a diamond's surface is another diamond.
Remarkable facts: All diamonds are at least 990,000,000 years old. Many are 3,200,000,000 years old (3.2 billion years)!!! How do we know this?
The youngest diamond is 900 million years old, and the oldest is 3.2 billion years old.
As you can see, a diamond's color is determined by its atomic structure. This structure is produced by a series of complex chemical reactions that happen deep within the earth. And since it's impossible to change a diamond's chemical makeup, it can't change color over time.
Mined diamonds usually have tiny, natural imperfections which indicate the diamond is real. Next, check to see if there are small flecks of minerals or slight color changes. If there are signs of slight color changes and flecks, then the diamond is more than likely real.
Why Do Diamonds Glow? The phenomenon that causes a diamond to glow under black light is called fluorescence. Around 35% of diamonds grown naturally have this component in them, and 95% of them glow a bluish color when exposed to a black light.
First discovered in India
Early descriptions of diamond date back to the 4th century BC, by when diamonds were a valuable material already. The earliest known mention of a diamond was found in a Sanskrit manuscript by a minister in a northern Indian dynasty, dated from 320-296 BCE.
So, yes, diamonds can break. This comes with good news and bad news. The bad news is that no diamond is impervious to breaking, but the good news is that it is an extremely rare occurrence.
Diamonds are exceptionally delicate, and thus, they require the utmost care. Harsh chemicals like acetone, chlorine, bleach and other abrasive substances like baking powder and toothpaste will damage your diamond beyond repair.
Even though a colourless diamond is considered extremely rare, natural fancy colour diamonds are in a category of its own. A red diamond is considered extremely rare and valuable. In fact, a red diamond is so rare, only 20 to 30 gem-quality red diamonds exist in the world.
The oldest dated examples, the 3.5–3.3 billion-year-old Diavik and Ekati diamonds, were forming prior to the rise of oxygen in the earth's atmosphere (2.5 to 2.3 billion years ago). All diamonds that have been dated so far were formed even before the dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago.
Diamonds will burn at about 1562°F (850°C). House fires and jewelers' torches can reach that temperature. A house fire caused the white, cloudy appearance of this diamond (left).
A real diamond has no limits on its shelf life. A lab grown diamond made in the Diamond Foundry may look the same as a real one, but has zero resale value. The brilliance of the relationship may be gone, but the stone will shine forever. It won't lose its luster and it doesn't get worn out with time.
Carbonados, sometimes called "black diamonds," are a distinct and unusual polycrystalline diamond material.
The way that diamonds reflect light is unique: the inside of a real diamond should sparkle gray and white while the outside should reflect a rainbow of colors onto other surfaces. A fake diamond, on the other hand, will have rainbow colors that you can see inside the diamond as well.
Hold it in the light to see how it sparkles.
A fake diamond will have rainbow colors that you can see inside the diamond. “People have a misconception that diamonds sparkle like a rainbow, but they don't,” Hirsch said. “They do sparkle, but it's more of a gray color.
There is nothing that can scratch a diamond except another diamond. A mineral like talc, on the other hand, is a 1 on the scale. You could scratch it with any hard material, even your fingernail. Natural talc is one of the softest minerals in the world.
Artificial diamonds are chemically and optically the same as diamonds that are found under the earth, which were formed billions of years ago. Thus, they are not any easier to scratch than other diamonds. These diamonds are visually indistinguishable from real diamonds.
Simulated diamonds are also known as diamond simulants and include things like cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, and YAG. They can also include some natural clear gemstones like white sapphire, white zircon or even clear quartz.
But though diamonds are one of the most durable substances on earth, they're not impervious to getting dirty. Over time and with regular wear, all diamonds will get coated in oil (from our skin) or dirt (from the outside world).
Diamonds do not fade, tarnish or wear out like most materials. The secret to keeping a diamond's sparkle is keeping it clean. Diamonds are the hardest natural material. Only a diamond can scratch a diamond.
Traditional white diamonds can have a “yellowish” hue, which is generally considered to be a negative quality, especially the more apparent it becomes.