Fun Facts about Diamonds
Everyone knows that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but what more do you know about this shiny, dazzling gem? It is the April birthstone as well as the traditional gift for both the 60th and 75th wedding anniversary. Here are some other interesting facts:
- Diamonds are the only gem made of a single element, carbon.
- Diamonds are found in every color of the rainbow with blue, green, orange and red being more rare.
- Only 30% of mined diamonds are gem quality.
- 70-80% of mined diamonds are used for industrial purposes.
- The US is the world’s largest market for diamonds.
- Most natural diamonds were formed 1-3 billion years ago, about 100-200 miles below the Earth’s surface and have been brought to the surface by volcanic activity.
- You can dig for your own diamond right here in the US! The Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas is the world’s only diamond mine open to the public and for a fee, you can try to find your own diamond. One in 100 visitors find a diamond.
- When a diamond burns at more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, it will simply vanish without leaving any ash.
- The planet named 55 Cancri e, discovered in 2004 is believed to be composed of mostly carbon and is one-third pure diamond.
- Scientists discovered a star that is basically a diamond of ten billion trillion carats. They named it Lucy after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
- Diamonds can be created in a lab with the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds. They are a sustainable option with minimal environmental impact.
Want to learn more about diamonds? Check out our past posts here and here. And don’t forget to stop by Bridgewaters to have your diamond jewelry checked and cleaned!