Meet the Diamond: Gem of Love and Strength | CHURINGA Gage Diamonds

You love your partner to the moon and back,and you’re ready to place a very special ring on her finger. But when shouldyou propose? Over the holidays? During a romantic summer getaway? Why wait? Doit now! Diamond is April’s birthstone, so this is a perfect month, especiallyif your love has an upcoming birthday. Learn more about this spectacular,precious gem!

Whatare Diamonds?

Natural diamonds are one-of-a-kind stones thatwere formed billions of years ago between 90 and 120 miles below the Earth’s surface,according to the GemologicalInstitute of America (GIA). They’re composed of 99% carbon, makingthem the only gemstones to have just one element in their chemical structure.Diamonds are also special because they’re extremely durable. They score aperfect 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale – a scale that ranks the durability of diamonds,gemstones and other minerals.

Alreadysold on the idea of a natural diamond? It might be difficult to get your handson one, as these stones are pretty rare. But diamonds are sustainably createdin laboratories too! The main procedure for generating lab-grown diamonds actually replicates the highpressure and high temperature conditions that formed the natural versionsbeneath the Earth’s surface. As a result, lab-grown stones have the samecomposition, durability and sparkle as natural gems, and they cost 30-40% less!

Bothnatural and lab-grown diamonds go through a strict grading process beforemaking their way to stunning engagement rings. Eachstone is evaluated on color, cut, clarity and carat weight(aka the 4 C’s). When shopping fora diamond, you’ll want to pay attention to all of these aspects, but thestone’s cut – or how well a diamond’s flat surfaces interact with light – issaid to be the most important characteristic.

You’ll find diamonds in a variety of shapes and colors.Most are given a D-Z color rating on GIA’s color grading scale. To put it simply,D represents colorless stones and Z represents those with a light yellow hue.Diamonds with less color appear purer and are more valuable. But if you’respecifically looking for fancy color diamonds, such asblue or pink, these fall outside of the standard color grading scale.Therefore, stones with more intense color make great choices.

The best part? Diamonds are known torepresent love, strength, clarity and marriage. So, they’re the perfect giftfor your special someone!

History of Diamonds

Given their durability, diamonds appropriately get theirname from a Greek word meaning “unbreakable.” Several ancient cultures believedthese gems were created by lightning strikes and could protect against manyills, such as brain disease, the plague and toxins in the blood.

According to historians, diamonds were first seen in Indiaaround the fourth century BCE – where they were found in nearby rivers, tradedand reserved for elite members of society. The stones eventually traveled toWestern Europe. And by the end of the Middle Ages, diamonds were considered afashion statement among Europe’s wealthy citizens. A few centuries later,India’s diamond resources began to wane, and Brazil emerged as an importantsupplier for the next 150 years.

But the modern diamond market didn’t truly take shapeuntil the late 1800s, when diamonds were unearthed in Kimberley, South Africa.Politician and businessman Cecil Rhodes founded De Beers Consolidated MinesLimited in 1888. Just 12 years later, De Beers and its SouthAfrican mines produced about 90% of the world’s rough diamond supply.

During the 20th century, diamond production soared. Whenthe 1920s arrived, about 3 million carats were generated annually, but thatnumber exceeded 100 million annual carats in the 1990s! Around this time, majorrough diamond producers included South Africa, the Democratic Republic of theCongo (previously known as Zaire) and the former Soviet Union. New depositswere also discovered in Australia and northern Canada.

Today, nearly one-third of the world’srough diamond supply comes from Russia, making the country the largest diamondproducer by volume. Similarly, Botswana is another top supplier, as 40% ofinternational rough gems are sorted and valued there.

Diamond Fun Facts

  • Diamonds are the official stones for celebrating 60th and 75thwedding anniversaries!
  • A diamond is the most scratch-resistant material in theworld! The only thingthat can scratch a diamond is another diamond!
  • For every million rocks found in most mines, you’dfind just one natural diamond!
  • The first well-known diamond engagement ring datesback to 1477, when Archduke Maximillian of Austria presented one to Mary ofBurgundy. The ring reportedly featured small,flat diamonds in the shape of an “M.”
  • The biggest rough diamond to date was discovered inSouth Africa’s Premier mine in 1905. The stone weighed an incredible 3,106carats (equivalent to 621 grams) and was transformed into 105 polisheddiamonds! One of them was the Cullinan I (aka the Great Star of Africa), apear-shaped diamond weighing 530 carats. It was set in England’s Royal Sceptre withCross, which hasbeen used for every crowning ceremony since 1661.
  • The term “carat,” which indicates a diamond’sweight, gets its name from the Greek word for a carob tree. For centuries,carob tree seeds were used to weigh precious stones, like diamonds. However,these seeds sometimes varied in weight. So, in 1913, the weight of one caratwas deemed equivalent to 0.2 grams.
  • Diamonds will burn if exposed to a flame that rangesfrom 1290-1650 degrees Fahrenheit. Warning: House fires have the potential toreach these temperatures.
  • Arkansas is home to the world’s only diamond mine (Crater of DiamondsState Park) that’s open to the public and allows visitors to freely dig fordiamonds. More than 75,000 diamonds have been extracted from the area since theearly 1900s, including the Uncle Sam Diamond. This 40-carat diamond is apparently the largest roughdiamond ever discovered in the U.S.!
  • The world’s largest, polished blue diamond, calledDe Beers Cullinan Blue, is heading to auction. The stone weighs awhopping 15.10 carats and is valued at $48 million!
  • BUT, the biggest diamond EVER isn’t foundunderground or in a laboratory. It’s actually located 50 light-years fromEarth! According to astronomers, a burned-out star in the constellationCentaurus section of the sky is now just a “chunk of crystallized carbon” – similar to adiamond’s composition. The star is named “Lucy” in honor of the Beatles song“Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” And its weight is equivalent to a diamond thatweighs 10 billion trillion carats!

Shop Our FavoriteDiamond Jewelry

Sage 14K Gold Diamond Eternity Ring

Clair 14K Gold Diamond Stud Earrings

Joelle 14K Gold 2-Prong Diamond Tennis Bracelet

Sienna 14K Gold Solitaire Diamond Bezel Pendant Necklace

Havea question? We can help!

Gage Diamonds is Chicago’s premierjewelry showroom and online retailer of engagement rings, wedding bands, andfine jewelry. We offer a selection of dazzling handpicked diamonds, includingcertified natural and lab-grown diamonds.

We’re committed to helping you find thering of your dreams. For inspiration, browse our selection of natural and lab grown diamonds, or set upan appointment with a member of our trusted staff at our in-person showroom.

We offer no-credit-needed financing –feel free to apply and getyour approval within 24 hours!

Pay over time, because love shouldn’twait.

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