Diamond tears of the gods: what is the true price of a diamond?
“Fragments of fallen stars” - the ancient Romans and Greeks spoke so poetically and so precisely about diamonds 3000 years ago BC. e. In those days they were hardly even processed, believing that after polishing the stones lost their magical properties. But at the same time they were valued exorbitantly, because how can “tears of the gods” be cheap? This origin of minerals of unearthly beauty seemed the most logical and correct.
A view from the depths of the earth: the origin of diamond
It is difficult to determine when and where diamonds were first found and began to be perceived by people as jewelry. Scientists, however, are unanimous that all of them, from ancient times to the 18th century, appeared in Europe and Asia from India. It was in this country between the 4th and 3rd centuries. BC e. the first treatise on precious stones and their properties was written, including a description of the diamond. In the 4th century. BC. Aristotle wrote about them in his book on precious stones. However, most information about the characteristics of this mineral can be found in the works of Pliny the Elder. Diamond is also mentioned in the Talmud.
Precious stones appear when carbon is exposed to high pressure (more than 40 thousand atmospheres) and temperature formed by volcanic magma at a depth of more than 150 km.
To obtain 1 carat of minerals, it is necessary to process over 250 tons of diamond ore! And during the cutting process, the nugget loses about half its weight. However, only 20% of the mined minerals can become diamonds.
Basically, all diamonds mined today appeared in the bowels of the planet about 3 billion years ago. The largest deposits are located in South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zaire, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Borneo, India, Brazil, Russia, Australia, and the USA.
Gold earrings SUNLIGHT “Diamonds of Yakutia” (go to the SUNLIGHT catalogue)
Antoine Lavoisier was the first to conduct a unique experiment: he burned a gemstone using a solar ray enhanced by a glass lens. Thus it was proven that diamond is pure carbon.
By the way, in the USA there is the Crater of Diamonds National Park, open to tourists. If you are lucky enough to find a valuable stone there, you can take it with you.
Physics versus myths
Until the eighteenth century, diamonds were mined only in India.
If you place a piece of glass in water that has the same refractive index, it will literally disappear and merge with the water. Selecting glass and water with the same refractive indices is quite simple, especially considering that glass can be different. In a diamond, this characteristic is constant and constant, and it differs from the standard refractive index of pure water. Therefore, the diamond does not completely disappear in it, but becomes much less noticeable.
But even this does not apply to all diamonds; if the stone is at least slightly colored, it will be much more noticeable in water. The color of the stone is affected by impurities of elements other than carbon. A colored diamond is significantly inferior in transparency to an uncolored one. A diamond with an uneven, “natural” texture is very visible in water, regardless of the degree of coloring.
Source
Applications of diamonds
The very remaining 80% of diamonds that were rejected by jewelers are used in technical fields: radio electronics, electrical engineering, space, medical industries, etc.
Remember that diamond is harder than any metal? The ancient Chinese knew about this, 4000 years ago they used it to polish ceremonial axes.
The “indestructible” mineral is now often used for cutting glass. With a 1 carat stone you can cut glass 2500 km long!
How diamonds become diamonds
The cut is what makes a diamond a diamond. And the more complex it is, the more expensive the decoration. The stone is processed according to the carbon structure to produce sparkling reflections within the piece.
The brightest light “plays” with the edges with a round cut. Ideally, these are 57 planes, which reveal the entire essence of the precious product with incredibly deep reflections. But there is much more waste from this processing than from other cutting options. And therefore the cost of such diamonds is much higher. In other words, the buyer pays for the shine.
Diamond of pure water
This is what they call crystal clear stones. Perhaps you have heard that if such a diamond is placed in water, it will become invisible? And this is pure myth! Any mineral, even the most transparent, is clearly visible in any liquid.
Most often, yellowish diamonds with various shades are found in mines.
A brown diamond is formed when a little iron is mixed with carbon. Therefore, the more iron, the darker the stone will be. The black stone contains a small amount of graphite. Diamonds of this color were not previously considered precious. Because the stone is opaque, light does not pass through it. However, today they are more valuable than ordinary transparent, colorless diamonds due to the fact that they are rarely found in nature.
But there are truly rare examples of “fancy” colors: blue, pink, ruby red, emerald green, purple and black jewelry diamonds. Their price is also...unique. For example, an 8.41-carat violet-pink diamond was sold in 2014 for almost $18 million!
Low quality diamonds (with defects)
Authentication Tips
Some more useful information for those who decide to test a rough diamond on their own:
- You can verify the authenticity of the purchased stone in this way: lubricate its surface with vegetable fat and glue it to a window or other glass surface. A real diamond will not fall off, but an artificial one will immediately fall down. The described method is applicable only to unmounted minerals. If the diamond is in a ring or earrings, it will not stay on the glass and will fall under the weight of the metal.
- There is a common myth among people that a high-quality natural diamond is invisible in water. It is not true. No matter how transparent a diamond is, it will still be visible because its density is higher than that of water. But the dive test is still not useless. By lowering the stone into a glass of water, you can check its integrity. If it is glued together from two stones, then the border of the joint will be visible.
- A magnet will help you distinguish a synthetic diamond from a natural one. 90% of artificial crystals are attracted to it.
Only an independent gemologist can accurately distinguish a real diamond from a cheap synthetic fake and support his conclusions with a certificate. This examination is carried out in a special gemological laboratory. If we are talking about a stone weighing 1 carat or more, then it is better not to take risks and turn to professionals.
Modern imitation diamonds copy diamonds so accurately that an ordinary person without special training and expensive equipment will never detect a fake. There are different ways to find out whether a stone actually is an expensive diamond or an ordinary piece of glass, but most of these methods do not provide a 100% guarantee.
Is a diamond a good investment?
The value of diamonds has been constantly increasing for several centuries, making their purchase an excellent investment with high returns. Round-shaped pieces are extremely popular among investors and jewelers. Their price is always higher. However, before you decide to purchase these jewelry, you need to know what factors influence the market value of precious stones:
- When people talk about carats (Ct), they mean the weight of the stone. 1 carat is 0.2 grams. Investment diamonds typically range in weight from 0.1 to 4 carats. When purchasing them, you should definitely obtain a special homology certificate from the seller, which guarantees the quality of the stone.
- Color is also important. Designated by letters from D to Z: from colorless, crystal clear stones to brown with a rich yellow tint.
- When they talk about the purity of a stone, they mean the presence of defects or inclusions. The purer the stone, the more expensive it is. Purity is determined on a scale: one is the highest degree, letters: “FL, IF, Air Force, VS, SI, I” indicate a lower one.
- Cut. Thanks to her, the diamond gets its beautiful shape. Proportion, symmetry and the quality of the hard polish are extremely important in this case. Even the most beautiful stone can be ruined by an unsuccessful cut. Jewelers evaluate the quality of the treatment by the play of light, turning the diamond slightly. Facets that are too small prevent the stone from shining because light escapes through the bottom of the diamond and the surface remains dull. Grinding the edges too deeply leads to the fact that the reflection of light is directed to the sides, while the stone itself remains too dark. The main cut shapes are round, heart, oval, princess, pear, marquise, emerald, asscher and trilliant. The round one is the most durable. Types of cuts: step, brilliant, modified brilliant, mixed.
Gold earrings SL “Diamonds of Yakutia” (go to the SUNLIGHT catalog)
How to distinguish a real diamond from a fake?
They often try to pass off cubic zirconias as diamonds, which have a similar structure, brilliance and radiance. We look at the edges: a real product has clear outlines, while in fakes the edges are often slightly rounded and blurred. If you examine the stone under 12x magnification, you will notice how the fake has double edges. This does not happen in a real cut diamond.
What can a diamond be confused with?
The most common diamond doubles are cubic zirconia and moissanite. Artificially created, they can mislead inexperienced jewelry connoisseurs:
- Moissanite is the only mineral that was created in the laboratory before it was found in nature. They are extremely rare in their natural form. Moissanite is determined with a high degree of certainty using an X-ray, microscope or dichroscope.
- Cubic zirconia is a stone of synthetic origin. The refractive index, crystal lattice structure and external data are similar to the characteristics of its expensive brother, so visual differences are difficult to notice.
Leucosapphire, a colorless mineral of the corundum group, and colorless topaz have a certain resemblance to cut natural diamonds.
No one is making any attempts to pass off glass as precious stones anymore, but some sellers are trying to present rock crystal as a real diamond. Imitations made of crystal are so different from the original that a fake is detected almost immediately.
Diamond Magic
It is believed that diamonds influence both the physical and psychological spheres of a person. Diamonds help overcome anxiety, feelings of inferiority, and difficulty concentrating. When contacting him, the true truth, the essence of things, and clarity of consciousness are revealed.
Ancient Indian medicine recommended diamond ash as a cure for diseases such as leprosy, anemia, and tuberculosis. Preventive intake of diamond ash affects the condition of the skin, gives strength, energy, longevity and even sharpens the senses. A person begins to experience the feeling of beauty especially acutely. However, this happens provided that the purest diamond powder was used. If this powder contains impurities, it can cause many diseases or even death.
In the ancient Indian treatise "Ratna-pariksha", which was written in the 5th century. n. e., the magical properties of a diamond are described as follows: “... Those who wear diamonds should not fear anything, because they protect against snakes, poisons or diseases, theft, fire, water and evil spirits.” Thus, the mineral has always been considered not only a jewel, but also a talisman of great power.
Magic is still attributed to the diamond. Today, esotericists and even some psychologists believe that diamonds have an impact on the physical and mental sphere of a person. They primarily affect the brain and alleviate symptoms of the following diseases:
- encephalitis;
- cerebral hematoma;
- a brain tumor;
- autism;
- epilepsy;
- dizziness;
- visual impairment;
- poisoning.
Mentally, diamonds help overcome anxiety, feelings of inferiority, and difficulty concentrating. In addition, they can sometimes have mild aphrodisiac qualities.
Diamond is a stone of greatness. Therefore, it is best suited for fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. It enhances their most beautiful traits: courage, bravery, fearlessness. A diamond will help Capricorn achieve success in his career, but you need to choose the right one: to do this, hold the stone in your palm and listen to your inner feelings. But astrologers categorically do not advise Pisces to wear diamonds. It is believed that the “fire” of the stone is “extinguished” by the water element.
Bracelets with diamonds (go to the SUNLIGHT catalogue)
Where can I find out what kind of stone is in a ring?
Examine the stone in the light, turning its front side towards you. If it is natural, then the back edges, like mirrors, will reflect the light, so you will see only one luminous point. The fake will transmit light well. Try to breathe on the mineral.
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How to wear diamonds
Diamond rings are not recommended to be worn on the ring finger. This is only permissible if there are no other jewelry on your hands. The exception is a diamond engagement ring. However, putting a regular wedding ring without a stone and a ring with a diamond on one ring finger at the same time is considered bad manners. It is also worth remembering that a diamond ring is suitable for married women and mature people.
Earrings with diamonds are a special precious thing that should not be “lost” against the backdrop of a too “bright” hairstyle. Therefore, caution must be exercised here. It is necessary that the jewelry is in harmony with your appearance and does not overshadow the beauty of a woman, but only emphasizes it. Therefore, those with a beautiful long neck can wear earrings with elongated stones. And if you want to visually make your neck longer, wear earrings with round adamants.
According to the rules of etiquette, a diamond bracelet is worn on the right hand. The decoration can be either loose or tightly covering the wrist. If the design of the bracelet is a special composition, then it is necessary to put it on so that the design is clearly visible, and fasten it motionlessly on the hand.
Diamond necklaces, chokers and pendants should be worn with an evening dress. It is preferable to choose a style with bare shoulders. However, a closed dress with a high stand-up collar is also perfect. Necklaces are usually worn with solid colored dresses. An exception may be a special design decision, when a couturier or stylist specifically selects a pattern or embroidery on a dress to match the decoration, creating a single composition.
Stud earrings with diamonds (go to the SUNLIGHT catalogue)
It is preferable to pin brooches with diamonds to the left shoulder at a distance of 10 cm from the shoulder seam. Sometimes it is permissible to pin an airy silk monochromatic scarf with a brooch and emphasize a thin waist by attaching it to a wide belt. Moreover, the simpler the style and fewer details, the more advantageous the brooch will look.
Jewelers usually offer wonderful combinations by pairing multiple pieces of diamond jewelry. Compositions made according to the principle: necklace, earrings, ring are good. This set can be used for different occasions, wearing jewelry in pairs or separately, rather than the entire set at once.
Agrafima.ru
As a young specialist, I applied for the “Professional Debut” competition. Participants were asked to write an essay “Problems of modern school education and ways to solve them.” As a teacher, I am very concerned about this topic, so I was glad to express my personal opinion on this matter. And this is what came out of it.
Diary of a Chemistry Teacher.
“Problems of modern school education and ways to solve them”
There is not a person in our country who, to one degree or another, is not concerned about the problems of modern school education. After all, each of us is a past, present or future student, graduate, parent, teacher. And the future of the state depends on how successfully the tasks facing schools today are solved.
The most important thing in school is the teacher. I encountered problems in school education while still at university. At the Faculty of Chemistry there were both young Mendeleevs and those who came to get at least some kind of higher education. The first semester immediately began with colloquiums, seminars, laboratory work, and I spent all night teaching lectures, filling out reports and preparing reports. Yes, studying in a higher educational institution is difficult! But why? The answer must be sought in secondary education: many teachers do not teach the most important thing - to think. From school I remember only endless dates in history, memorized tables in biology and a dusty geographical map. Of course, there were also teachers from God, maybe that’s why I chose chemistry as the science of my life.
Are metals made up of iron? I graduated from university with the firm confidence of teaching children. At my first school they refused to give me a job. Without thinking twice, I got a job at a law school. She taught natural science subjects to students from different cities, towns, and villages of the region. In the first semester, the children shocked me. It turns out that all metals are made of iron, atoms are made of molecules, and there are only three planets in the solar system - the Earth, the Moon and the Sun. I tried to solve this problem on a scale of 60 people. Exploring the world anew, in my lessons the children sat with their mouths open, as if I was retelling the movie “Avatar” to them.
Electronic school. Finally I got to school. Clean classrooms, beautiful posters, friendly director, smart children. I thought I was in heaven. I immediately started mastering the interactive whiteboard. How much she can do is simply a miracle! Other teachers use the board as a monitor, or even worse: a stand for gluing posters. In addition, many educational workers do not know how to run this or that program on a computer, and there are not enough computer science teachers for everyone. Therefore, a storm of indignation was caused by the transfer of school computers to free Linux software. This all speaks to the lack of information technology specialists in schools, whose responsibilities would include training teachers.
The parent is the first educator, and the teacher is the second. Meetings with parents of schoolchildren are always exciting. Mothers often tell teachers: “We don’t need your subject, we won’t take an exam in it.” The question arises: who needs school then, if not children? Teachers? Sometimes dads come and promise to spank the child for bad behavior or a bad grade, which is also wrong. Parents do not understand their role in raising and educating their children. Just as teachers improve their qualifications, parents must take certain courses on how to properly motivate students to study the world. Of course, adequate fathers and mothers who are worried about the future of their children are encouraging.
All roads lead to finance. No matter how many problems of school education I remember - the permissive attitude of teachers towards teaching, and the lack of experience of school staff working with computers, and the insufficiently developed material base of the educational institution, and the reluctance of young specialists to work in school - everything leads to the main problem: insufficient funding. Here, alas, neither the director nor the teachers can do anything...
And yet, during the time spent at school, my students and I became a real family, and together we will overcome any problems!
Diamonds and men
How to wear diamonds for men? Today, men's diamonds include not only cufflinks and rings, but also watches, diamond-studded chains, tie clips and even small additions used as trim for clothing - shirts and tuxedos.
Jeweled gadgets are all the rage these days. For example, the iPad 2 Gold History Edition of Stuart Hughes, owner of the famous Perth football team, was decorated with twelve 16.5-carat diamonds and one 8.5-carat stone that made up the Apple logo on the back of the case.
And his iPhone 4 was the most expensive in the world, since the body of this gadget was made of rose gold and sparkled with 500 diamonds. This rather immodest phone costs £5 million.
What is the most expensive diamond in the world?
The most expensive colorless diamond in the world is the Centenary (owned by De Beers), weighing 274 carats and worth $100 million. The most expensive Russian diamond was the pink “Phantom of the Rose” at 14.8 carats. In 2022, Alrosa sold it at Sotheby’s auction for $26.6 million (almost 2 billion rubles).
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