If your birthday is in April, you know you have one of the most coveted birthstones there is — diamonds. At Twery’s, our appraisers are fascinated by diamonds. In fact, our director of diamond sales has been in the industry for nearly 35 years.
We’d like to share some facts about diamonds that we think make them among the most unique and interesting things on Earth. We think you’ll agree:
- Some diamonds are believed to be 3.3 billion years old. That’s more than two-thirds as old as the estimated age of the Earth.
- The word “diamond” comes from the Greek word “adamas,” which means indestructible or unconquerable. That’s fitting because diamonds are the hardest natural substance on Earth. The adage that the only way to scratch a diamond is with another diamond is true. They’re made completely of carbon.
- Diamonds are formed some 90 to 120 miles under the earth’s surface where their carbon atoms bond to create the beautiful diamonds we know and admire.
- The association between diamonds and romance goes back thousands of years. Ancient Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows were diamond-tipped. The first known diamond engagement ring was the one that Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. It contained diamonds in the form of the letter “M.”
- The ancient Greeks believed that diamonds were actually splinters of stars that had fallen to Earth.
- Many cultures believed that diamonds provided strength, courage and invincibility. Kings were known to put diamonds on their battle armor. In fact, in 13th-century France, by law, kings were the only ones allowed to wear diamonds.
- Diamonds were discovered and first mined in India, Brazil and parts of the African continent. Botswana still has one of the top three diamond mines. However, that’s followed by Russia and Canada.
- The largest diamond known to man was discovered in South Africa in 1905. Named Cullinan, it weighed 1.33 pounds or 3106 carats. The diamond was given to King Edward and eventually cut into smaller stones. The largest three are in the collection of crown jewels in the Tower of London.
- A planet and star have been discovered that are believe to be composed at least in part of diamonds. A planet named 55 Cancri e is believed to be about one-third diamond. A star was discovered that is believed to be 10 billion trillion carats. The star was named Lucy after the Beatles classic “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
- The value of diamonds was recognized early on. There’s a quote attributed to first-century Roman naturalist Pliny that says, “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones but of all things in this world.”
If you have a diamond that you’d like to sell, you don’t want to take it just anywhere. You need to take it to a reputable dealer like Twery’s that knows the value of diamonds. For more information, call us, contact us online or visit our convenient location in Greenacres.