Diamonds are basically compressed carbon but not just any carbon; it takes millions of years, extreme temperatures and high heat to form a quality diamond, which is why they are so rare. It is believed these gemstones were first discovered in Indian river tributaries in the 4th century BC and soon they became known in other parts of the world. The Silk Road became the route for diamonds and other gemstones to find themselves in Europe in the 14th century; it was Archduke Maximillian of Austria who, in 1477, presented Mary of Burgundy with a diamond engagement ring, which started a tradition that is still with us today.
Long and Colourful History of Diamonds
19th century
While a few gemstones were in circulation, it wasn’t until the 19th century when diamonds were discovered in South Africa. In Kimberley in 1869, diamonds were found and that was the start of the modern market for these stunning gemstones. The elite began to procure large diamonds during the next century; fast forward to today and you can acquire stunning hearts on fire diamond jewellery from a leading Australian jeweller.
De Beers
The diamond mogul De Beers created an advertising campaign that is believed to be the most successful ad campaign ever; in the 1950s, we were told that diamonds are forever and they are a girl’s best friend and the rest is history. The African continent produces more diamonds than any other region of the world; diamonds are found in Russia, South America, India and, of course, the famous Argyle Mine in Western Australia. Although the Argyle Mine no longer produces diamonds, the best pink diamonds were found here and they are still available when you make contact with a leading Australian custom jeweller.
Conflict-free diamonds
As you would expect with such high value items, diamonds have been used to fund armed conflicts, which resulted in the formation of the Kimberley Process. In the year 2,000, the UN supported the start of a process for an international diamond registration system to ensure that diamonds were procured in an ethical way. All nations that signed onto this accord promise that all raw diamonds are ethically procured and that groups would not financially benefit from the sale of gemstones. Click here to find out about jewellery with invisible settings.
Diamond grading
Diamonds are graded according to the 4C method; Colour, Clarity, Cut & Carat. There are several organisations that grade diamonds, such as the Gem Institue of America and every stone is issued with a certificate based on the 4C methodology. We would never recommend buying diamonds that do not have certificates; when you buy from a reputable jeweller, expect every single diamond to come with a certificate, which is an accurate evaluation of the stone’s properties.
Good long-term investment
Acquiring diamonds is generally regarded as a safe long-term investment; indeed, many private investors have a few diamonds in their portfolio; of course, most of these investment stones are part of jewellery, which means you can wear your assets.
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