a history..

Every diamond is immensely old. The youngest diamond is 900

million years old and the oldest is 3.2 billion years old.
Every diamond is unique like fingerprint, no two are alike.
Diamonds were crystallized beneath the earth’s surface at
tremendously high temperature and pressure.
Powerful forces carried them upwards within volcanic molten
lava, only to be concealed by falling ash and rock.
Over millions of years, the warmth of nature in the form of wind,
water, heat and cold would rework the landscape time and time
again.
But Diamonds remained below the earth’s surface awaiting
discovery.
Only a small number of diamonds managed to survive this
journey.
It takes about one ton of rock to recover less than half a carat of
diamond, making it one of the rarest and most desired
gemstones in the world.
In 1477 AD, Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented a diamond
ring to Mary of Burgundy as a sign of their engagement. He put it
on the third finger of her left hand, the finger believed by ancient
Egyptians to have a vein that led directly to the heart. She
accepted his proposal and the diamond engagement ring was
born.
 Diamonds were first mined in India more than 2800 years ago
and for thousands of years that one remote area in India was the
only known source of diamonds to mankind.
A truly significant source of diamonds was found in South Africa
in 1866 by a farmer’s child besides a river. The gem cut from it
was named “Eureka”

In earlier times diamonds were left uncut, set deep within their
mounts. They appeared dark and mysterious. It wasn’t until 14th
century that craftsman began exploring complex techniques of
cutting and polishing a diamond to unleash its true sparkle.

Small numbers of diamonds began appearing in European regalia

and jewellery in the 13th century, set as an accent point among
pearls in splendid wrought gold. By the 16th century the diamond
became larger and more prominent in response to the
development of diamond faceting which enhances it brilliance
and fire, and in the 17th and 18th centuries the diamond
presided as the last word in representing all that was wealth,
prestige and power. Within 100 years diamonds appeared in royal
jewelry of both men and women, then among the greater
European aristocracy.

Tradition of giving rings in the engagement and marriage

ceremony as tokens of everlasting love has taken the diamond
into its present-day popularity.

Diamonds are beautiful, mysterious and rare, no wonder they

are..

nature’s unique gift

What is a

A Diamond is a carbon in its most

concentrated form, composed solely of
carbon -- the chemical element
fundamental to all life, thus it is a
native element. It is also extremely
pure, containing only trace amounts of
boron and nitrogen. Most diamonds are
formed at depths deeper than 150
kilometers below the surface of the
earth, and at temperatures in the
thousands of degree centigrade. At this
depth and temperature the carbon
atoms are forced together to the point
that they join to make molecules that
are the original formation of diamond
crystals. In their pure state these
crystals form white or colorless
diamonds.

A diamond is also and excellent

thermal conductor and it also has a
high refractive index of 2.5 which is
why it has a superb luster.

On the Moh’s scale of hardness

diamonds measure 10, making them
the hardest natural substance known to
mankind. In other words only a
diamond can scratch a diamond. It is
this characteristic of the diamond
which justifies that..
Why

are so valuable

A house full of rock or soil is sifted and washed to find every single
diamond. Yet 80% of all diamonds found are not suitable for jewellery.
Only 5% of the 20% gem quality diamonds are larger than one carat.
On the top of it every diamond losses about half of its original weight
after cutting and polishing

Today, despite modern methods, diamonds are still difficult to find.

Geologists search relentlessly for nature’s most precious bounty and
usually in very remote and inhospitable places- from frozen tundra of
Siberia and Canada to the parched deserts and ocean floors of Africa.

Diamonds were formed 3 billion years ago 150 kilometers beneath

earth’s surface. They have survived an incredible journey to reach us,
transcending the forces of nature, and of time itself.

From the earliest civilizations diamonds have been priced possessions.

For the Greeks they were tears of the Gods, while Romans believed
they were shards from the stars, for the Indians they were good-luck
charms warding off illness, thieves and forces of evil. And to others
they were stones that would heal and bestow knowledge. Diamonds
are enchanting treasures that have fascinated mankind throughout
centuries. Regarded by many as “magical” they became eagerly sough
after by world’s most wealthy and powerful. Their rarity and immense
skill required to release the extraordinary brilliance, makes them unlike
any other jewel. Worn by people as potent symbols- of love, devotion,
wealth and power-they convey a lexicon of meaning.

A diamond is a testament of endurance and strength- and not

surprisingly...

the ultimate symbol of love

 facts

♦ Only a diamond can cut a diamond

♦ The youngest diamond is 900 million years old
♦ Diamonds exists in all colors, red being the rarest
♦ The word ‘Diamonds” comes from the Greek term ‘adamas’
meaning unconquerable
♦ The word ‘Carat” comes from the carob tree whose seed was
used for centuries as the standard of weighing precious stones
♦ If you were to gather all the diamonds ever polished since the
beginning of time, they would fill only one double-decker bus
♦ Diamond is a hardest natural substance known to mankind. It is
58 times harder than the next hardest mineral on earth.
♦ The highest price paid per carat at an auction for a diamond is
US$ 1 million for a 0.95 carat purplish-red diamond.
♦ The famous slogan, ‘A diamond is forever’ was created in 1947. It
was voted the best slogan of the 20th century by Advertising age
♦ World’s largest diamond, ‘The Cullinan’ was found in South Africa
in 1905. Uncut it weighed 3106 carats, approximately the size of
an ostrich egg.