Fascinating Facts About Diamonds That You Need to Know
“Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without one” – Confucius
It is believed that the first and early diamonds were minded and know to exist in 800 BC, and it was around 1600 BC that prongs were used to hold diamonds in rings. India was the only known source for diamonds in the world.
"A Diamond is Forever", slogan coined by Frances Gerety, as a part of the campaign for De Beers in the United States in the year 1948. Gerety was a copywriter with N.W. Ayer & Son, the first ad agency in America who handled the account of De Beers. De Beers had wanted to change the image of diamonds in the mind of the Americans. The ad agency started a campaign in 1939, by placing the diamonds on the fingers of Hollywood stars and women of affluent classes. They also got the leading newspapers to have write-ups describing the diamonds worn by the movie stars, wives and daughters of the industrialists and politicians. The idea was to create a status symbol for the diamonds and this continues even today. However, De Beers did not stop there; they wanted to link diamonds with romance and that’s when Frances came up the above mentioned punch-line.
In the 1950s, De Beers wanted to make diamond rings an essential part of betrothal. De Beers came up a new strategy of "surprise" engagement were they encouraged the men to buy the diamond engagement ring. They advised men the more expensive the diamond, more impressed his heartthrob would be. De Beers also came forward with specific guidelines for men who were not sure what and how to buy. One of the specifics of the guideline was American men should spend his two months’ salary on the ring.
The tradition of surprise engagement is kept alive even today, making United States the largest consumer of Diamond jewelry. And
Lesser Known Interesting Facts of Diamonds
- The term diamond was derived from the Greek word “Adamas” meaning "unconquerable and indestructible."
- Diamonds were first mined in India and later in South America. Historians opine that India traded in diamonds as early as the fourth century BC.
- In the olden days the idols in temples of India had diamond embedded on the idols of the gods and goddesses.
- People of the ancient Indian civilization believed that wearing diamonds increased the strength and courage of the wearer. They also believed it had healing properties for ailments such as fatigue and mental illness.
- Roman historian and philosopher, Pliny the Elder stated "Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.”
- The birthstone of those who are born in the month of April is Diamond. · Ancient Romans wore diamonds as talismans to ward off evil. They borrowed this belief from ancient Indians and their mythology. While the ancient Greeks believed diamonds were splinters of stars that fell on the earth.
- The Arch Duke Maxmillian of Austria gave a diamond ring to his betrothed Mary of Burgundy in 1477. The gold ring had the letter “M” spelled in diamonds. This is considered as the earliest record where a man gifts diamond to his lady.
- In 1905, Cullinan diamond weighing 1.33 pounds was mined in South Africa and to this day it is the largest diamond ever mined. The miner owner gifted this to King Edward of Great Britain. Later it was pieced apart into nine large ones and 100 smaller pieces. As a part of the crown jewels, three of the largest diamonds are exhibited in the Tower of London.
Did you know diamond is virtually fire proof? The melting point is 3547 degree centigrade and the boiling point is 4827 degree centigrade. Only 20% of the diamonds mined are of gem-quality. Therefore, 80% of the diamonds are used for industrial purposes. When you buy diamond, jewellery buy them from reputed jewellers. Today, there are many reputed online jewellery stores from where you can purchase your diamond jewellery.
Most diamonds are cut and polished in India, it is said about 12-14 out of 15 diamonds are polished in India, so go on buy more Diamond jewellery and prove your worth in life
