An introduction to diamonds and a brief history

Diamonds are carbon in its most concentrated form. Except from trace impurities like boron and nitrogen, diamonds are composed solely of carbon, the chemical element that is fundamental to all life. They are the hardest known natural material. Their hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewellery.





Diamonds are the hardest substance known to man, they can only be scratched by other diamonds and a few ultra hard substances like Borazon, which means they hold a polish extremely well and retain their luster. Diamonds are not fragile or even prone to breaking however all substances can fracture or shatter. Because of their particular crystal structure, diamonds have certain planes of weakness along which they can be split.





Today diamonds are mined in about 25 countries, on every continent excluding Europe and Antarctica. Around half of all diamonds originate from central and southern African, although significant sources of the mineral have been discovered in Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia.





For many people, a diamond is the most important purchase of their life. At Diamond Manufacturers we aim to make this process perfect by providing expert advice and personal service, creating a customer experience that instills confidence and helps you make informed purchasing decisions.





"Diamond" comes from the Greek adamao, transliterated as "adamao", "I tame" or "I subdue". The adjective "adamas" was used to describe the hardest substance known, and eventually became synonymous with diamond. It is difficult to determine at what point in history the hardest known substance became diamond.











Experiments and the high density of diamonds tell us that they crystallize at very high pressures. In nature this means that diamonds are created by geologic processes at great depth within Earth, generally more than 100 miles down, in a region beneath the crust known as the mantle.











Diamonds ascend to the Earth's surface by molten rock, or magma, that originates at great depths. Carrying diamonds and other samples from Earth's mantle, this magma rises and erupts in small but violent volcanoes. Underneath those volcanoes is a carrot- shaped "pipe" filled with volcanic rock, mantle fragments, and some embedded diamonds. The rock is called kimberlite after the city of Kimberley, South Africa, where the pipes were first discovered in the 1870s.





The volcano that carries diamond to the surface emanates from deep cracks and fissures called dikes. It develops its carrot shape near the surface, when gases separate from the magma, perhaps accompanied by the boiling of ground water, and a violent supersonic eruption follows. Magmas are the elevators that bring diamonds to Earth’s surface.





Knowledge of diamond and the origin of its many connations starts in India, where it was first mined. Diamonds begin appearing in European regalia and jewellery in the 13th and 14th centuries. The early diamond trading capital was Venice, where diamond cutting probably originated sometime after 1330. By the late 14th century, the diamond trade route went to Bruges and Paris, and later to Antwerp.





By the 16th century the diamonds became larger and more prominent, in response to the development of diamond faceting, which enhances their brilliance and fire. Diamonds come to dominate small jewels during the 17th century and large ones by the 18th century. They ultimately supplant the gold settings in visual impact, so gold is replaced with the more sympathetically colored metal, silver, and, later, platinum. Today diamonds symbolize wealth, durability, status, and peerless quality.





Diamond Manufacturers provides value on engagement rings, diamonds and stud earrings, in addition to offering a Loose Diamond Comparison List, and a Guidance Centre with everything you need to know about diamonds and jewellery.