Diamond

Diamond is the hardest natural material known to man and the third-hardest known material after aggregated diamond nanorods and ultrahard fullerite. Its hardness and high dispersion of light make it useful for industrial applications and jewelry. more...

Home
Necklaces & Pendants
Other Wedding Jewelry
Body Jewelry
Bracelets
Bangle
Amethyst
Crystal
Diamond
Gold, Plate/Fill (w/o Stone)
Gold, White (w/o Stone)
Gold, Yellow (w/o Stone)
Jade
Onyx
Other Stones, Materials
Pearl
Pearl, Imitation
Rhinestone
Silver (w/o Stone)
Turquoise
Beaded, Strands
Amber
Amethyst
Crystal
Garnet
Glass
Hematite
Jade
Lapis
Moonstone
Mother-of-Pearl
Other Stones, Materials
Pearl
Pearl, Imitation
Peridot
Quartz
Silver (w/o Stone)
Topaz
Turquoise
Cuff
Crystal
Gold, Plate/Fill (w/o Stone)
Gold, Solid (w/o Stone)
Leather, Fabric
Other Stones, Materials
Silver (w/o Stone)
Turquoise
ID, Identification
Jelly, Glow
Link, Chain
Crystal
Cubic Zirconia
Diamond
Gold, Plate/Fill (w/o Stone)
Gold, White (w/o Stone)
Gold, Yellow (w/o Stone)
Jade
Marcasite
Moonstone
Mother-of-Pearl
Onyx
Opal
Other Stones, Materials
Pearl
Pearl, Imitation
Peridot
Quartz
Silver (w/o Stone)
Topaz
Turquoise
Magnetic
Medical, Alert
Other Styles
Tennis
Amethyst
Crystal
Cubic Zirconia
Diamond
Emerald
Opal
Other Stones, Materials
Peridot
Ruby
Sapphire
Tanzanite
Topaz
Charms & Charm Bracelets
Designer Brands
Earrings
Ethnic, Tribal Jewelry
Hair Jewelry
Handcrafted, Artisan Jewelry
Jewelry Boxes & Supplies
Loose Beads
Men's Jewelry
Vintage, Antique
Wedding Apparel
Wedding Rings
Wedding Sets
Wedding Supplies
Wholesale Lots

Diamonds are specifically renowned as a material with superlative physical qualities — they make excellent abrasives because they can be scratched only by other diamonds, Borazon, ultrahard fullerite, or aggregated diamond nanorods, which also means they hold a polish extremely well and retain their lustre. About 130 million carats (26,000 kg) are mined annually, with a total value of nearly USD $9 billion. About 100,000 kg are synthesized annually.

The name diamond derives from the ancient Greek adamas (αδάμας; “invincible”). They have been treasured as gemstones since their use as religious icons in ancient India and usage in engraving tools also dates to early human history. Popularity of diamonds has risen since the 19th century because of increased supply, improved cutting and polishing techniques, growth in the world economy, and innovative and successful advertising campaigns. They are commonly judged by the “four Cs”: carat, clarity, color, and cut.

Roughly 49% of diamonds originate from central and southern Africa, although significant sources of the mineral have been discovered in Canada, India, Russia, Brazil, and Australia. They are mined from kimberlite and lamproite volcanic pipes, which brought to the surface the diamond crystals from deep in the Earth where the high pressure and temperature enables the formation of the crystals. The mining and distribution of natural diamonds are subjects of frequent controversy such as with concerns over the sale of conflict diamonds by African paramilitary groups. There are also allegations that the De Beers Group misuses its dominance in the industry to control supply and manipulate price via monopolistic practices, although in recent years the company's market share has dropped to below 50%.

Material properties

See also: Crystallographic defects in diamond

A diamond is a transparent crystal of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms. Diamonds have been adapted for many uses because of the material's exceptional physical characteristics. Most notable are its extreme hardness, its high dispersion index, and high thermal conductivity, with a melting point of 3820 K (6420 °F) and a boiling point of 5100K (8720 °F).

Read more at Wikipedia.org