Photo By Petronella Photography
Did you know that your diamond has secrets? Diamonds have a rich history of myth and lore, along with more practical, but still interesting facts. Here are a few things to pique your interest.
THE PRACTICAL
Diamonds are made of carbon, which crystalize deep in the earth from extreme pressure. They were carried closer to the surface by ancient volcanic activity. It can take up to one ton of rock to get one carat of diamond. Speaking of carats, carob seeds were originally used as the standard comparison for weighing diamonds and other precious stones, which is how we got the word “carat.”
An “Ideal Cut” diamond is one whose facets are perfectly symmetrical. When all the angles line up that way, more light is reflected by the diamond, and it sparkles even more. Diamonds are the hardest gem stone, and can only be cut by another diamond, or polished by diamond powder.
THE LORE
Diamonds are majestic stones, with a long history of belief in their powers. Ancient Greeks and ancient Romans believed that diamonds were divine. The Greeks believed that diamonds were tears of Gods, while the Romans thought they were stars fallen to the earth. Kings believed that wearing a diamond into battle could protect them from harm. It is no surprise that people wanted to extend diamond’s magical powers to love as well. Ancient Egyptians believed that a “vein of love” ran from the heart to the fourth finger, and they began the tradition of placing a diamond ring on the finger of a loved one. Later, in the fifteenth century, Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring to celebrate their engagement, beginning the tradition of using a diamond ring as a promise of marriage.
There is so much more to learn about your diamond. Let this blog be just the beginning of your research about it.
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Kristina Gibbs-Ruby