Expensive Tastes Taking a look at fabulously Expensive Diamonds and Jewelry

Diamonds are a hard rock crystal formed over time as a result of carbon being pressurized in just the right way and at just the right temperature. These conditions are found deep underground, about 150kms or more under stable parts of the earths continental plates. Diamonds are brought nearer the surface by some volcanic eruptions and when they come to the surface can be billions of years old.

The carbon they are formed from can be from inorganic material already existing deep in the earth or from organic carbon which has over time been pushed down from the surface by natural tectonic movement. All living things are carbon based so there is no shortage of raw material.

Some very small diamonds are formed by by meteorite strike. The impact can cause a pressure and heat wave of the right conditions to turn surface carbon into microdiamonds.

There are other diamonds with a space theme, it has been known for some time that some diamonds come from the stars arriving here on asteroids. Just recently astronomers discovered a huge diamond in the skies above Australia. Its a very long way off but a white dwarf star in Centaurus apparently has a 3,000 km wide core of crystallized carbon or diamond. Its officially named BPM 37093 and unofficially known as Lucy after the Beatles song, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!

Diamonds are found mainly in South and Central Africa, Russia and Canada though historically India was a large source. There are some diamonds found in the US, notably in Montana.

When it comes to grading diamonds the main factors are sometimes known as the “Four C’s”:

Color, Clarity, Cut & Carat (weight)

Color being a measure from blue-white to yellow as well as a description of the ‘fancy’ colored stones like say the pink variety which can be so expensive

Clarity is measured from flawless to imperfect and refers to the various faults that reduce the brilliance of a diamond

Cut refers to how the diamond has been ’shaped’ and is very important in how light and color are seen in he stone e.g. brilliant cut

Carat is the weight of the diamond with one carat = 200mg