| cent years, much attention has been given to the | | | | 5. Although diamonds are most often seen in their |
| diamond industry, in light of conflict diamonds, also | | | | white/clear variation, they can include the whole color |
| known as blood diamonds. While the story of conflict | | | | spectrum from clear to black! Most often |
| diamonds is heartbreaking, it is at odds with the | | | | they’re brown and yellow; most rarely |
| ever-alluring beauty of “girl’s best | | | | they’re blue or pink. Also, most are tinged with |
| friend.” No matter what happens between the | | | | yellow, so they are often set in yellow gold to mask |
| creation of a diamond and the sale of one, the | | | | the yellowish gem color, believed to be caused by |
| mystique and appeal of a diamond will probably | | | | Nitrogen. |
| always remain. | | | | 6. Extensive diamond mining began in India but now |
| We’ve compiled a list of top ten facts about | | | | occurs in approximately 25 countries including these |
| diamonds, in no particular order. The sources are | | | | top seven: Australia, Botswana, Zaire, South Africa, |
| varied, as is the information, but it’s all very | | | | Russia, Angola, and Namibia. |
| interesting. Keep reading! | | | | 7. In ancient times, diamonds were believed to give the |
| 1. In Botswana, the revenues from the diamond | | | | wearer powers of courage, strength, and invincibility. |
| industry enable every child, to age 13, to receive a free | | | | These days, those adorned with diamonds are more |
| education. This aid is necessary due to insufficient tax | | | | prone to be seen as possessing riches and power. |
| revenue to provide free public education, the way it is | | | | 8. The United States has a diamond mine that is open |
| provided in the U.S. and elsewhere. After the age of | | | | to the public! Since 1906, over 70,000 diamonds have |
| 13, the government pays approximately 95% of | | | | been dug at The Crater of Diamonds State Park in |
| educational expenses. | | | | Arkansas. This includes one that was over 40 carats |
| 2. Diamond revenue is used in the fight against HIV | | | | in weight (the “Uncle Sam Diamond” of |
| AIDS. Diamond revenue in Southern Africa helps | | | | 1924). |
| provide counseling, testing, and free Anti Retroviral | | | | 9. Visitors to realdiamondfacts.org and |
| Treatment (ART). | | | | diamondfacts.org may be confused by their similarity in |
| 3. A diamond may be up to three billion years old! The | | | | appearance but highly-different content. That is |
| diamond crystallization process starts at approximately | | | | because one is affiliated with the diamond industry |
| 200 kilometers, or 320 miles, beneath the surface, and | | | | (diamondfacts.org) and one is affiliated by Diamonds |
| typically rises to the surface in volcanic rock. | | | | for Africa (realdiamondfacts.org). We encourage you |
| 4. Only about 25% of the world’s diamonds are | | | | to look at both objectively and consider the sources. |
| suitable for gemstones. The remaining 75% are used | | | | 10. The largest diamond in the universe is 2,500 miles |
| for industrial purposes—anything from coating drill | | | | wide and found 50 light years away in the constellation |
| bits, enhancing the performance of semiconductors, to | | | | Centaurus. Imagine the number of engagement rings |
| use in phonograph needles! Wait, who uses | | | | that could be made out of that rock! |
| phonographs? | | | | |