Ten Fascinating Facts About Diamonds
Diamonds are the most popular gemstone in the world, but most of the science and history behind them is hidden behind marketing slogans. Here are ten facts about diamonds that go beyond the usual 4Cs introduction — useful whether you are about to buy your first diamond or just curious about the stone itself.
In short: Diamonds are pure carbon formed 90-150 miles deep at 2,000°F+, are Mohs 10 (the hardest natural mineral), date to roughly 1-3 billion years old, and the largest ever found (the Cullinan) weighed 3,106 carats rough. Lab-grown diamonds replicate this geology in 2-4 weeks at 60-80% lower cost. A 1.50ct G/VS1 lab-grown round in 14k white gold runs $2,000-$3,500.
1. Diamonds are the hardest natural mineral on earth
Diamond scores 10 on the Mohs hardness scale — the maximum. Nothing in nature scratches a diamond except another diamond. This is why diamond-cutting wheels use diamond powder embedded in metal; nothing else is hard enough to shape one. Hardness is also what makes diamond ideal for daily wear: a well-set diamond engagement ring lasts a lifetime with only routine cleaning.
2. Most diamonds are around a billion years old
Natural diamonds form roughly 150 kilometres below the earth's surface under intense pressure and temperature. Most diamonds being sold today are between 1 and 3.5 billion years old. They reach the surface through deep-source volcanic eruptions called kimberlite pipes, which last erupted on this planet around 70 million years ago — so every mined diamond is essentially being recovered, not actively produced.
