Why The Fuss About Diamonds?
by Arsne Bergkamp
The hardest substance on earth, diamonds are universally admired for their clarity and sophistication. If you want to crack her heart open to you, you could do worse than diamond jewelry.
When it comes to jewelry, diamonds are symbols for all the important dates in the life of a couple. The initial commitment is always represented by the diamond engagement ring. Then later in the relationship, diamond necklaces, earrings and such are given to signify anniversaries and so on.
But why do we have these symbolic images associated with diamonds? The answer lies in the nature of the diamond itself. To better understand the fuss about diamonds, we need to focus on how they come to be.
If you are looking for symbol of something nearly unbreakable, it is the diamond. Formed solely form carbon, the average diamond is one of the hardest substances in the world.
To understand diamonds, you have to first understand carbon. It is the building block of practically everything on the planet. In its pure form, it is not clear or hard.
Diamonds are created when carbon is battered by certain forces. These include heat and pressure. Given enough time, the carbon evolves into a hard, clear substance ? a diamond.
As often occurs, the Greeks were Johnny on the spot when it came to naming this clear substance. Given the difficulty in breaking or cutting it, the name came from the Greek word for unconquerable. Adamas is the specific word and fits nicely.
We find diamonds in areas that were geographically active. The pressure and heating happens deep in the earth. The only way we can find them is when they are pushed up through the crust during volcanic activity.
Diamonds are exceedingly old. The heating and pressure process can take millions of years. Most diamonds used in jewelry are between one and three billion years old.
Not all diamonds are created equally. Of the total diamonds mined each year, most cannot be used for jewelry. In fact, only 20 percent are, which makes them precious.
On the human scale, diamonds have not been used as jewelry for as long as you might think. Although royalty is noted to have diamond encrusted things, the first diamond ring on record was only given in 1477. Given their age, that isn't long ago.
The nature of a diamond is the very thing that makes it so valued. It is nearly unbreakable. It is the very definition of a time commitment, taking millions of years to form. What better symbols could there every be for jewelry?
Arsne Bergkamp is with JewelryStoresforYou.com - providing a list of jewelry stores across the nation. Don't reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.
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