A Brief History Of Diamonds
Diamonds have always had an impeccable history and a story behind them. According to Roman naturalist Pliny “A Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in the world.” The story of how a Diamond transforms into a work of beauty is quite remarkable. It is formed deep in the earth under extreme heat and pressure and then is pushed out to the earth’s surface. It is then found by humans and cut and polished, making it a true work of art.
Due to its amazing transformation process, quite often we use the journey of a Diamond in order to paint a similar picture about life’s pressures and the positive’s which can be taken out of it.
The inception of Diamonds, dates all the way back to the 4th Century BC along the rivers and streams of India. Once found the Diamonds began their journey to the world through the “Silk Road” which was the trade route that connected India and China.
From its humble journey of only being found in India, Diamonds were discovered in most parts of the world. With the increasing quantity of the once considered rarity, Diamonds value began to decrease. The elite in the world then began to see the stone no longer as a rarity which led to a dip in its demand. Due to the dip in the demand of the stone, mining companies incurred costs due to the mining process being quite time consuming. However, over the last 100 years mining companies have sourced newer more efficient techniques leading to lower production costs.
Since then, countries such as Botswana saw a drastic increase in its production due to the discovery of its most prolific mine the “Jwaneng”. This discovery saw Botswana increase in Diamond production and sign an agreement with “De Beers” which led to the country starting its own Diamond cutting industry. Similar countries which undertook the industry were Australia and Russia.
Today, the world’s diamond deposits are depleting. Less than 20% of the diamonds mined are of gem quality; about 2% are considered “investment diamonds.” 75-80% of mined diamonds are used for industrial applications, such as grinding, sawing, and drilling. Typically, more than 250 tons of ore must be mined in order to produce a one-carat, gem-quality stone.
With its rich history, Diamonds have become a stone of significance. Ideally a diamond is given as a token of resilience and longevity. The stones quite easily transform into a family heirloom and are carried down for years and generations with each passing year increasing its sentimental and emotional value.
Owning a Diamond is not only prestigious but also a beacon of an individual’s journey through life.