Introduction

Diamond -Noun- A very hard, highly refractive, colorless or white crystalline allotrope of carbon, used when pure as a gemstone and otherwise chiefly in abrasives.

-Webster's dictionary

The diamond is nature's hardest substance, resistant to both fire and steel, This invincible strength, and its rarity, have made it an extremely coveted material, symbolic of wealth, power, magic, and love. The word diamond stems from the latin diamas, meaning the unconquerable.

Diamonds were first dicovered in India where they were valued more for their magical powers than for their beauty. The first recorded account of a diamond used in a wedding ring was in 1477 by the Archduke Maximillian of Austria in his proposal to Mary of Burgundy. This began the tradition that remains with us today.

The discovery of a large mine in Africa in 1870, lead to the availability of the diamond on a much larger scale. The gem that was exclusively worn by kings and noblemen became accesible to the general public. This resulted in greater experimentation in the cutting and polishing of diamonds that allowed a diamond's truly unique beauty to shine above all other gems.

Diamonds in the Rough

A diamond's journey starts at the mine, and travels to many places and through many hands before it reaches the person who finally wears it. Diamond are mined in various places around the world including, Australia, Zaire, Botswana, Russia, Namibia, Brazil, and South Africa.

Diamonds in their rough form look like dirty pebbles and do not resemble the cut and polished gems we are accustomed to. It is the skill of the diamond cutter that unleashes the fiery brilliance that is the beauty of a diamond. The skill of diamond cutting is passed from generation to generation through apprenticeship and rigorous training. There are four diamond centers internationallly, Antwerp, Tel Aviv, New York, and Bombay.

Once the diamond has been cut and polished, it is placed in a setting that complements its natural beauty. Setting designs are as varied as the individuals who wear them.