10 Facts About Diamonds You Had No Idea About!
The bigger the diamond, the deeper the feelings! It is widely believed that diamonds serve as a symbol of love and commitment. If you’re curious to learn more about these precious gemstones, continue reading for additional facts that may surprise you. We recommend keeping an eye out for fact number 10 – it is particularly intriguing.
Fact #1: World’s largest diamond is about the size of a grapefruit
The largest diamond ever discovered was about 10.1 x 6.35 x 5.9 cm just the size of a grapefruit. Known as the Cullinan diamond, this incredible gemstone weighed a whopping 1.33 pounds and was discovered in South Africa in 1905. The diamond was eventually cut into nine large diamonds and 100 smaller ones, with the three largest on display in the Tower of London as part of the crown jewels. Talk about royal bling!
Fact #2: Mythology says cupid’s arrows are dipped in diamond
If you’ve ever been struck by Cupid’s arrow, you might be interested to know that ancient Romans and Greeks believed that diamonds were tears cried by the gods or splinters from falling stars. Romans also believed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds, which is perhaps the earliest association between diamonds and romantic love.
Fact #3: ‘Diamond’ means ‘Invincible’/ Diamond have “invincible” power
The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Greek word ‘adamas’, meaning invincible or indestructible. Diamonds are the hardest subtance on earth – they are 58 times harder than any other mineral on earth.
Diamonds have long been considered a symbol of love, luxury, and power. But did you know that diamonds are also known as the “invincible” gemstone? In fact, the word “diamond” is derived from the Greek word “adamas,” which means invincible or indestructible.
What makes diamonds so unique is their incredible hardness. They are the hardest substance on Earth (58 times harder than any other mineral on earth) and can only be scratched by another diamond. This is because diamonds are made of pure carbon that has been compressed and heated deep within the Earth’s mantle over billions of years.
Fact #4: Diamonds lose half their weight when cut and polished
Cutting and polishing a rough diamond is a lot of work and can make it lose up to 50% of its original weight. But it’s worth it because a perfectly cut diamond display the ultimate combination of fire, brilliance, and scintillation. So, when you admire a diamond’s beauty, just remember the effort that went into bringing out its full potential.
Fact #5: Your diamond can glow like a star
Have you noticed bluish fluorescence when you place a diamond under ultraviolet light? Two-thirds of naturally mined diamonds do that! Most people go “WOW!” when they come to discover this feature. Leverage this feature for testing the authenticity of your diamond. And if your stone fluoresces, it’s a good indicator of authenticity when checked alongside its lab report.
Fact #6: Diamonds signified strength
In many ancient civilizations, diamonds were believed to give the wearer impossible strength and protect them in battle. Warriors would go to great lengths to get their hands on a diamond for protection, while ancient kings would even adorn their Armor with this precious stone.
Fact #7: You can get diamonds without mining
You might think diamonds can only be found in the depths of a mine, but lab-grown diamonds are just as stunning as mined diamonds. These diamonds are created using cutting-edge technology that simulates the natural process of diamond formation to ensure it retains all properties as mined diamonds. Even better, lab diamonds are sustainable and have a minimal environmental impact.
Fact #8: The first diamond ring engagement happened 546 years back
When it comes to engagement rings, nothing says “I love you” quite like a sparkling diamond. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave his beloved Mary of Burgundy a gold ring adorned with diamonds in the shape of an M.
Fact #9: Your candlelit dinner could be hiding a surprise – tiny diamonds!
Candles have long been a symbol of romance, but did you know that they could be hiding a secret treasure? According to chemistry professor Wuzong Zhou, the flame of a candle contains a whopping 1.5 million diamond nanoparticles! Proposing by candlelight is romantic, but even more magical when you realize the flame is made up of tiny diamonds.
Fact #10: Diamonds aren’t just for Earth – they exist in space too!
Diamonds may be a symbol of love on Earth, but they’re also out of this world! Scientists have discovered an incredible planet called “55 Cancri e” that’s one-third pure diamond. And if that’s not enough, they’ve also found a star that’s essentially a diamond of ten billion trillion carats. They even named the star after the iconic Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
The Bottom Line
While diamonds are undeniably beautiful, their mining practices have too often been linked to conflict and environmental harm. At JEWELBOX, we believe that diamonds should bring joy. Explore and shop our selection of mesmerizing diamond jewellery today!
