The story of diamonds is either a sordid tale of monopolistic politics and power, or an iconic marketing origin story of genius branding and demographic analysis, depending on whom is telling the story.
While we all know that diamonds are neither stores-of-value nor fungible, it cannot be argued that diamonds are beautiful. Over a thousand years of love for the gemstone proves it, and wars have been fought with single diamonds as the centerpiece of escalation.
What I’ve collected below are 15 interesting facts about diamonds that you can use at parties to alienate your friends:
- 1.5 million diamond nanoparticles can be found in a candle’s flame.
- Ancient-era Greeks believed that diamonds were the tears of the Gods.
- Plato wrote about diamonds as living beings that embodied celestial spirits.
- The word diamond derives from the Greek word “adamas,” which means invincible or indestructible.
- Diamonds are the hardest natural substance. The only thing that can scratch a diamond is another diamond, and diamonds are four times harder than Sapphires or Rubies.
- Pliny is quoted as having said, “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.”
- The Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds.
- 1477: Archduke Maxmillian of Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a gold ring featuring an M spelled out in diamonds in the first known use of a diamond engagement ring.
- Round cut diamonds only have 57 facets. In the 16th century, the process of diamond faceting was developed.
- The largest diamond ever discovered is the Cullinan Diamond, with a weight of 3106 carats, or 1.33 pounds.
- Nearly 80% of all diamonds sales happen in New York City. While being the largest consumer of diamonds globally, the United States only has one operating diamond mine, and it is in a state park where tourists can mine for diamonds and keep what they find.
- Diamonds are almost 100% carbon. (Interesting Fact: Similar to diamonds, graphite used in pencils is also 100% carbon.)
- 80% of all diamonds are used for industrial purposes and are not suitable for jewelry, with only 2% of all gem-quality diamonds rated “flawless”.
- Only one diamond in a million weighs one carat or more, and producing a single one-carat diamond requires mining 250 tons of earth.
- It’s now possible to compress your loved one’s ashes into a man-made diamond.