What Exactly is a Diamond?

Timeless. Forever. These are just a few of the many words used to describe one of the world's most infamous stones - the diamond.

Derived from the Greek word "adamas" which means "invincible", diamond is the only known mineral that is composed of a single element. Diamonds are completely made of Carbon which is one of the most abundant elements on Earth. High pressure and temperatures, ranging from 900 to 1300 degrees Celsius deep underground near the Earth's core, liquefy then crystallize carbon atoms into pieces of rough diamond. Eventually, over extremely long periods of time, these rough diamonds are pushed towards the earth's surface, usually through volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other geologic events. This is why rough diamonds, called octahedrons, are usually found in riverbeds and mines.

For the untrained eyes, a rough diamond would be easily mistaken for a piece of broken glass. However, a diamond is far from a piece of glass as it is one of the hardest substances on the planet. Although it can break, it can only be scratched by another diamond.

A diamond needs to be carefully cut and shaped to bring out its beauty and brilliance. The diamond's brilliance refers to its ability to radiate magnificent colors when tilted back and forth. The surfaces of the diamond, called facets, act as a prism to achieve this wondrous display of fire.

Over the past century many have debated the "correct" formula required to achieve the maximum brilliance in a polished diamond. In the next few articles we'll discuss the fascinating history of this remarkable stone.

Timeless and forever. No other stone shines as bright as a sparkling diamond.

By Eli Zabib