Top 20 amazing facts about diamonds!

Diamonds are the sparkling gemstones that are loved by every woman of every age group. Especially for the April born ladies as it is their birthstone also. Most of you might have heard about the various diamond cuts, shapes and of course the 4C’s of diamonds, but here are 20 other really interesting facts about diamonds that will amaze you.

1. Diamonds are billion years old and in some cases, it may be more than three billion years old.
2. Diamonds form about 100 miles below ground and have been carried to the earth’s surface by deep volcanic eruptions.
3. Diamonds are made of a single element—they’re nearly 100% carbon.
4. The word diamond derives from the Greek word “Adamas,” which means invincible or indestructible.
5. Diamonds are the very hardest natural substance. The only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond.
6. Ancient Hindus used diamonds in the eyes of devotional statues and believed that a diamond could protect its wearer from danger.
7. India was the world’s original source of diamonds, beginning in the 1400s when Indian diamonds began to be sold in Venice and other European trade centers.
8. In the 1700s India’s diamond supplies declined and Brazil became the world’s major source of diamonds, until the late 1800s when a huge diamond reserve was discovered in South Africa.
9. The largest diamond ever discovered was called the Cullinan diamond and weighed in at an amazing 3106 carats, or 1.33 pounds. Discovered in 1905 in South Africa.
10. The Cullinan was eventually cut into nine large diamonds and 100 smaller ones, and the three largest of these are on display in the Tower of London as part of the crown jewels.
11. The first known use of a diamond engagement ring took place in 1477 when Archduke Maximillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a gold ring featuring an M spelled out in diamonds.
12. Scientists have discovered a planet that they believe is composed mostly of carbon, and is a one-third pure diamond!  Discovered in 2004, the planet orbits a nearby star in the Milky Way, and is named “55 Cancri e”.
13. A diamond can only be scratched by another diamond and they are the hardest natural substance ever known.
14. Back in the days, the Romans and Greeks believed that the diamonds were either tear that came from the cry of the deity or some pieces that fell from stars.
15. Round cut diamonds only have 57 facets.
16. D, E, and F are colorless diamonds. Since there is no color found in them, there is no difference in color. The only difference in these diamonds is transparency. D is more transparent that E, E is more transparent than F.
17. On average a diamond will lose about 50% of its original weight when it is cut and polished.
18. Plato wrote about diamonds as living beings, embodying celestial spirits.
19. A diamond is four times harder than the next hardest material on the scale – Sapphires, Corundum, and Rubies.
20.  It is estimated that less than one percent of women, in the world, will ever wear a diamond of one carat or more.