The 123's of the Beautiful Diamond

The subject of this article is the most precious of all gemstones…the diamond. We start off by exploring some of the various myths that have been associated with the diamond over the years, and then start to evaluate some of the finer properties.

The diamond has been coveted and lusted after since the early years of man. In the Middle Ages, the uncut version of the diamond adorned the armor of knights. Their "cut" counterparts were used to adorn the crowns of both kings and queens. Today, the diamond is renowned as the international symbol of love and romance. Investors are interested in these gemstones as well…they are great investments to anyone's portfolio.

There was a time when the diamond was thought to be endowed with magical powers. It was thought that by merely possessing a diamond, the holder would be endowed with bravery, courage, and superior strength. Hence the reason that knights wore them on their suits of armor. As a side benefit, it was thought that the diamond could ward off the devil and other evil creatures of the night.

Over the years the diamond has been attributed to many different things. Here's the short list of answers: (1) Invincibility, (3) Sleepwalking, (2) Spiritual Ecstasy, and (4) Sexual Prowess. Did you know that there is a catch to this list? The person would have to have found the diamond in the wild, its natural setting. If the diamond was purchased from someone else this "contract" would not apply, but if the diamond was offered as a symbol of love or friendship (such as a setting in an engagement ring), these magical powers may return to the owner of the object.

Four separate castes, that's how the Hindus classified the diamond. The categories were: (1) The Kshatiya, a brown/champagne colored diamond that prevented old age. (2) The Brahmin diamond, a colorless diamond that provided riches, power, friends, and good luck. (3) The Sudra, a diamond that was gray or black and glistened like a polished piece of metal, which brought about good fortune. (4) The Vasiya, a diamond the color of the "kodali flower" which brought success. Yellow and red diamonds are also available, but they were the exclusive gems of kings.

From a chemical perspective, the diamond is the simplest gemstone around. It's just plain ole' crystallized carbon. This is the same substance that makes our lead pencils. A lead pencil is much cheaper to purchase than a diamond, so it's this crystallized pattern of the diamond that makes it special…and is the reason that it is so prized by collectors.

What is the hardest known substance? Any idea? It's the diamond of course. Even though it's hard, it can be chipped (if it is struck at just the right angle). This ability to be "chipped" is what allows a gemologist to shape the diamond into the thing of beauty that we buy in our jewelry stores.

White diamonds are definitely the most popular version, but diamonds come in every color of the rainbow. A diamond makes the perfect addition to any fine piece of jewelry.

We would love to have you visit our website on heart jewelry. Betsy Johnson goes into great details on the various heart jewelry items for all your needs.