Natural Diamonds

The exact date of the first diamond discovery is not known, as diamonds have been used for thousands of years and there are no historical records of their earliest discoveries.

The first mined diamond is believed to have originated in India, where they were discovered in alluvial deposits as early as the 4th century BC. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great took the very first diamonds with him from India to Europe. By then, diamonds were being used as a form of currency and a symbol of power and status. The first known example of diamonds being used in jewellery dates back to 1074 BC when a Hungarian queen had her crown adorned with diamonds.

India remained the world's primary source of diamonds until the 18th century, when diamond deposits were discovered in Brazil. Later, large deposits were discovered in South Africa in the late 19th century, which drastically increased the world's diamond supply and led to the establishment of the diamond industry as we know it today.

The origination of diamonds began billions of years before they were even discovered. The natural diamonds seen today began forming anywhere between one to three billion years ago, making them most ancient thing an individual can ever happen to touch.

Over 3 billion years ago, deep within the earth’s crust and under conditions of intense heat and pressure, compressed carbon atoms began to crystallise, resulting in the formation of diamonds.

At depths of 100 to 125 miles below the surface of the earth, with a pressure of 7,25,000 pounds per square inch and temperature of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, the ideal environment for carbon atom compression and diamond formation is created. Under these conditions, subvolcanic rock or magma is also formed within the earth’s upper mantle and expands at a rapid rate, intruding the cooler plate above. The expansion causes the magma to erupt at an incredible speed, forming ‘pipes’ on its way to the earth’s surface. The magma also brings diamond bearing rocks along with it.

As the magma cools, the molten diamond bearing rocks harden to form Kimberlite, which settles in the pipes that were created due to eruption of the magma. These pipes containing kimberlite are also called “Kimberlite pipes”. While kimberlite pipes are the most significant source of diamonds, it is estimated that only one in every two hundred kimberlite pipes contains gem-quality diamonds. The name ‘Kimberlite’ was derived from the South African town of Kimberley where the first diamonds were found in this type of rock.

Diamonds are brought to the surface of the earth through volcanoes, and the locations in which volcanic eruptions occur are generally not conducive to human settlement. Hence, the areas in which diamonds can be found are often remote, having harsh climates and difficult to access.

Mining in itself is a difficult process, involving use of heavy machinery, earth movers and other expensive equipment. This equipment is used to transport diamond ore to the surface, where the “rough diamonds” are finally extracted.

There are three main types of diamond mining :

Pipe mining : Pipe mining is the mining of the primary deposits of diamonds, from the kimberlite pipes where they are originally deposited. Pipe mining is of two types, open-pit mining and underground mining.

Open-pit mining involves removing the layers of sand and rock found just above the Kimberlite, which results in a gigantic looking pit or hole on the face of the earth. Examples are the Kimberley Hole in South Africa and the Mirny mine in Russia.

In underground mining, miners reach the kimberlite pipes through tunnels beneath the earth’s surface.

Alluvial mining : Alluvial mining is the earliest form of diamond mining. When the kimberlite pipes near the earth’s surface get eroded as a result of thousands of years of wind and rain, rough diamonds from the kimberlite get carried downstream in rivers. These diamonds are found in their secondary deposits along the river bed, in the gravel layer of other material such as mud or clay.

The alluvial mining process involves building a large wall to accumulate the water in one area and collecting the gravel for processing.

Marine mining : Marine mining involves extracting diamonds from the seabed, deep under water using ships with specialised technology.

Botswana and South Africa are leading producers of diamonds, but mines exist in several countries worldwide. The top diamond producing countries in the world currently in terms of volume are Russia, Botswana, Canada, Angola, South Africa, Congo and Namibia.

A rough diamond in its natural form is a promise of how amazing it can be. In the hands of a master craftsman, it realizes its true potential.

Once the diamonds are extracted, they are sent to diamond cutters and polishers who transform the rough diamond into a brilliant, faceted display of light. This process involves cutting the diamond into its desired shape and then polishing it to achieve maximum brilliance and shine.

It takes years of experience and training for expert craftsmen to acquire the skills needed for diamond cutting. In addition to the technology and equipment at their disposal, diamond cutters need to have mathematical precision and unrivalled attention to detail, as every facet of a diamond must be perfectly aligned to ensure mesmerizing brilliance and sparkle. Planning and analyzing at the beginning is key, as any cutting activity on these rare stones of incredible value cannot be undone. Even the smallest mistake can have a huge impact on the quality of the cut of the final gem.

Next, the cut diamonds are typically sent to grading laboratories for a comprehensive evaluation and certification. Experienced gemologists carry out grading using the latest technology, to ensure that the 4Cs are accurately evaluated. ‘4Cs’ is the universal system of grading that assesses a diamond on its cut, carat, color and clarity aspects. Post grading, each diamond is laser-inscribed with a unique serial number and assigned a certificate that corresponds to that unique number. A certified diamond is ready to be sold or set into beautiful jewellery. Certification is assurance that a diamond truly has the characteristics that the retailer claims. DiamondXE, the best place to buy natural diamonds online, ensures every diamond sold is accompanied by its certificate.

There’s nothing more beautiful than a diamond, especially when it’s cast in a piece of jewellery to make it absolutely stunning. What makes diamonds so special? Let’s have a look:

Rarity : As a natural resource, diamonds are not infinite. This makes them inherently valuable. With the passage of time, rough diamond resources are getting scarcer and closer to exhaustion. It is estimated that only 30% of the diamonds mined around the world are gem-quality. This makes the high-quality diamonds that are used in jewellery, actually very rare.

Perceived value : Each natural diamond has a unique story to tell about the billion-year process taken for its formation. Today, diamonds are created mimicking the natural process, however the natural diamond aficionados perceive that without the earthly origins, man-made diamonds lack the unique qualities infused by nature.

Emotional significance : Diamonds signify eternal love, beauty and commitment. Most individuals perceive them as precious heirlooms for passing down to generations.

Durability : Their incredible durability is one of the many characteristics that sets a diamond apart from other gemstones. Diamonds last much longer than other gems, making them more valuable. As a matter of fact, only a diamond can scratch another diamond!

Fancy-color diamonds : Occasionally, nature displays its creative side and produces a diamond with fancy hues: blue, pink, deep yellows, green etc. Fancy-color diamonds are highly prized, but even more so if their color is the result of natural processes.

Sustainability concerns : There is also the belief that natural diamonds are better for the environment than man made diamonds, due to the carbon-intensive process of producing diamonds in a laboratory.

There have been concerns raised over the environmental and humanitarian effects of natural diamond mining. While we equally appreciate both natural and lab-grown diamonds for their worth, we also acknowledge the existence of ethical dilemmas surrounding the extraction and trade of natural diamonds, such as worker mistreatment, environmental degradation and human rights violations. Nonetheless, the industry has responded by introducing ethical sourcing and certification initiatives to stem the flow of ‘conflict-free’ diamonds in the supply chain. Large scale diamond mining companies now essentially adhere to strict environmental standards and develop environmental management, monitoring, and protection plans.

Also, contrary to popular belief, natural diamond mining and extraction has now evolved into a much greener process. The natural diamond industry plays a key role in contributing to the growth of the regions where it operates, from educating children to providing healthcare and livelihoods to millions. the industry is working tirelessly with and for local communities.

Talking about India, around 80-90% of the world’s natural diamonds are cut and polished in Surat, Gujarat, generating an annual turnover of $24 billion.