Diamond Buyer’s Guide
Find out where diamonds come from and how they are made.
Diamonds were formed from pure carbon that crystallised under immense heat and pressure hundreds of miles below sea level. 100 million years later, volcanic explosions forced them upwards to the earth's surface, exposing their beauty to the world.
Diamonds are rare because only a few survived the journey to the surface. Only about half of diamonds mined today are of gem quality and even fewer are large enough to be polished into a stone that is bigger than a match head. Since nature never repeats itself, each diamond is unique.
Women are drawn to diamonds not only for their natural beauty, but also because of the history and magic associated with them. There is no gem as indestructible, rare, precious, beautiful or magical. It is these qualities that have made the diamond the ultimate symbol of love.
Did you know...
- in ancient times, the diamond was considered a symbol of power.
- in India, diamonds were set in the eyes of Hindu statues.
- monarchs decorated their swards and scabbards with diamonds.
- they also sewed them into clothing as symbols of status.
- ancient Greeks thought diamonds were the tears of gods.
- Romans believed that diamonds were splinters from falling stars.
- diamonds were said to protect from harm.
- they were also thought to bring luck and success.
- diamonds were considered the ultimate symbol of love as far back as the fifteenth century.
- Cupid's arrow was said to be tipped with diamonds.