Why People Love Diamonds - The Timeless Allure of Nature's Masterpiece

Look into a diamond and it’s easy to intuit why gems have been charged with such love and lust for so long: they’re pretty! But for all the emphasis on a diamond’s allure, the gem has taken on far more than a bit of bling over the centuries.

What gives diamonds their lasting, worldwide appeal? Let's explore what makes them so captivating.

The Rarity and Natural Beauty of Diamonds

Part of the reason diamonds sparkle so brightly is because they are rare. Natural diamonds are created over billions of years under intense heat and pressure in the Earth’s core, so they are extraordinarily pricey.

Their creation by nature over geological time scales and slow transportation from deep within the Earth also contributes to the sense of mystique. Each diamond is completely unique: the combination of clarity, color and cut and carat can result in a completely characteristic personality.

Known for its impressive display of rainbow-colored flashes when expertly cut and polished, a diamond appears as if pixie dust has kissed it, for it has acquired what jewelry mavens call the superior ability to scatter light into myriad sparkling sprays. A diamond shines much more brilliantly than any other stone.

A Symbol of Eternal Love

One of the main things that makes diamonds shine is associated with the enduring fantasy around love and romance: The diamond is the accepted symbol of love and engagements, and a wedding ring will always include a diamond. Diamonds were part of a spurt of self-assertive symbols of personal royalty that signified the arrival into maturity of Archduke Maximilian of Austria in 1477. Maximilian proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring, and by then a silent romance was underway that has burned brightly ever since.

Diamonds are also symbols of ‘forever’, because they score the highest returns of any substance on the hardness scale: true love and true diamonds are nearly indestructible. Diamonds are, in the words of the song, for ‘ever’. To the romantics, diamonds embody the very definition of eternal love.

Cultural and Historical Importance

But it isn’t only about romance – diamonds are also steeped in great cultural and historical meaning. The first diamonds were discovered in India more than 2,000 years ago and were believed to possess mystical qualities. Ancient Hindus regarded diamonds as magical amulets that had the power to protect from harm and invite good luck.

And so, in Rome, diamonds’ association with Cupid – and Cupid’s association with healthy erotic love – eventually led to the notion of having diamond-tipped arrows ignite desire in lovers’ hearts. Now that’s an aphrodisiac!

Diamonds became symbols of wealth, power and rank – kings and aristocrats wore them in elaborate jewelry and crowns to assert their lofty positions. For centuries, the diamond was seen as a treasure of the elite, a marker of social status.

More standard these days, diamonds appear today to the average user as noble and exclusive as ever. The reason why celebrities and public figures choose to shine with them is because diamonds don’t go out of style.

The Marketing Power of Diamonds

Clearly, shrewd marketing campaigns helped boost the transnational love of diamonds, too. The ‘A Diamond is Forever’ slogan by De Beers ensured that diamond engagement rings define the way that a man’s love and commitment to a woman should be communicated. The message was clear: nothing says ‘till death do us part’ quite as succinctly as a diamond engagement ring.

But through romantic symbolism, diamond marketing positioned these gems as absolutely necessary for life’s largest moments in time. Today, for many, the diamond remains the default gem for engagement, wedding and anniversaries. Marketing also enhanced the bias that diamonds are superior status symbols,; in the end, through advertising, film, and celebrity, diamonds became global symbols of aspiration and success.

Durability and Investment Value

Beauty and status is not the only reason for which individuals covet diamonds! Due to their mo­­­lec­u­lar structure, diamonds are also valued because they are the hardest substance on our planet. In fact, it takes a slightly more industrious rubbing motion to plasticize a diamond compared with a successful flirtation on Tinder.

Diamonds are also a smart, stable investment. Values rise and fall but very fine diamonds usually retain their value or increase it over a period of many decades. Over generations, some of them accrued immense value. For hundreds of years, diamond rings and other jewellery have been passed down from generation to generation.

The Ethical Impact of Diamonds

Recent years have sparked awareness of the ethical and ecological consequences of hard-rock diamond mining, such as environmental disturbances and human labor issues that incorporate

For many a conscientious consumer today, eco-friendly diamonds that are ethically sourced also means striking a chord with one’s ethics. In today’s market, diamonds that shine bright like a diamond can also be enjoyed with unadulterated consciences.

Final Thoughts

Because of their enduring combinability of rarity, beauty, meaning and durability continues to prove irresistible, we will miss them. After all, there are no diamonds in the dust.

Given the fact that diamonds are one of the rare phenomenon of nature, it is certain that in the next several generations they will remain prized and sought-after goods in the whole world.

FAQs

Why are brown diamonds less popular if they're so rare?

Brown diamonds are more common than colorless or fancy colored diamonds, even though they are still relatively rare. The public perception is that brown diamonds are less valuable and desirable since brown is associated with impurities. However, brown diamonds have a beauty all their own with rich, cocoa-like hues. Savvy collectors are starting to appreciate their uniqueness.

How big was the largest diamond ever found?

The largest diamond ever discovered is the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond found in South Africa in 1905. It weighed over 1.3 pounds! The Cullinan was eventually cut into several polished gems, the largest of which is the 530.20 carat Great Star of Africa.

Do diamonds really last forever or can they decay?

Yes, diamonds do essentially last forever! Their tightly bonded carbon structure makes them extremely hard and resistant to change. Diamonds will not decay or disintegrate over time like other crystals. Unless exposed to extreme heat, they will remain unchanged for billions of years. The durability of diamonds adds to their allure as everlasting symbols.

Why are diamonds associated with romance if they have no color?

Diamonds became linked to romance in the 15th century when Archduke Maximilian proposed to Mary of Burgundy with a diamond ring. Their colorless brilliance came to symbolize pure, eternal love. Diamond jewelry later became a standard way to express romantic commitment. Clever marketing has since amplified the emotional associations between diamonds and love.

How are black diamonds formed in nature?

Black diamonds get their inky color from microscopic black inclusions scattered throughout the stone, often carbon or tiny mineral crystals. These dark inclusions give black diamonds their rich, saturated color. They can form when the diamond experiences high pressures and temperatures during creation in the mantle. Black diamonds are quite rare in nature.

Top Five Most Desired Gemstones in the World

Gemstones have captivated people for centuries with their dazzling colors, mystical properties, and timeless beauty. Gemstones have been associated with wealth, status, healing powers, and protection throughout history. Even today, fine gemstones remain highly coveted around the world.

This comprehensive guide will explore the top five most desired gemstones globally based on popularity, value, and meaning. We will cover each gem's history, physical properties, geographic sources, and reasons why it has maintained such prestige over time. Read on to learn what makes these five stones so unique.

Diamond

The diamond is undoubtedly the most famous and sought-after gemstone in the world. Diamonds have been treasured for centuries as a symbol of eternal love, commitment, and prestige.

Diamonds owe much of their popularity to their unmatched physical properties. Most notably, diamonds have the highest hardness rating on the Mohs scale (10 out of 10). This exceptional hardness means diamonds can withstand daily wear without damage, making them ideal for jewelry. 

Diamonds also have incredible brilliance thanks to their high refractive index. Light entering a well-cut diamond bounce internally off its facets to return through the top in a rainbow of colors. This scintillating play of light gives diamonds their famous sparkle.

While small deposits exist in China, India, and Russia, the top five diamond mining countries are Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, Russia, and Canada. Botswana is currently the world's leading source of diamonds by value. 

Emerald

Emeralds have enchanted royalty, aristocracy, and gem lovers for over 4,000 years. Cleopatra herself loved emeralds and often wore them. These verdant green gems are among the most prized today for their lush color, mystical properties, and scarcity.

Emeralds belong to the beryl mineral family, which also includes aquamarine and morganite. Pure beryl is colorless. Emeralds obtain their distinctive green hue from trace amounts of chromium and vanadium. The most coveted emeralds have a vivid green called grass green. Medium to dark green emeralds with a robust bluish tint are also popular. Emeralds form in igneous rock veins, making mining access challenging. Their brittle texture also makes them prone to fractures, limiting supplies of fine gems.

For millennia, emeralds have been associated with healing and mystical powers. In ancient India, emeralds were believed to strengthen memory and intelligence. Healers used emerald gem water to treat eye diseases. The stone has long symbolized hope, rebirth, and eternal youth. Today, emeralds remain the modern birthstone for May and are gifted to celebrate the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

Sapphire

Few gems can match the beauty of a rich blue sapphire. For centuries, sapphires in deep royal blue hues have adorned royal crowns and jewelry as symbols of wisdom, virtue, and holiness. Blue sapphires remain one of the most coveted gems in the world.

Like ruby, sapphire is a precious form of the mineral corundum. Trace elements like iron and titanium give corundum its rich blue color. The most desired blue sapphires have a medium-to-medium dark vivid blue. Fancy-colored pink, yellow, orange, and padparadscha sapphires are also highly valued.

With a 9 out of 10 Mohs hardness, sapphires are highly durable for daily wear jewelry. Their hardness also allows sapphires to be cut into many faceted shapes to maximize their brilliance. For centuries, sapphires symbolized virtues like wisdom, holiness, and faithfulness. Royals believed sapphires could protect them from harm and envy. Today, Kate Middleton's iconic sapphire engagement ring continues the tradition.

Ruby

Ruby has been called the "King of Gemstones" for its captivating red color and aura of nobility. For thousands of years, ruby adorned warriors and rulers' armor, weapons, and jewelry from China to Europe. Today, a fine ruby is often more valuable than even a diamond.

Ruby is a precious form of the mineral corundum. Trace elements of chromium give ruby its iconic red color. The most desired color is a vivid medium-dark red to slightly purplish red called pigeon’s blood. Burmese rubies have this highly saturated red color due to optimal chromium levels.

Ruby is highly durable for jewelry wear with a 9 out of 10 Mohs hardness. Ruby was believed to protect warriors in battle and even turn away darkness. Rubies also symbolize passion and love. It is said that Catherine the Great of Russia loved rubies so much that she had the 385-carat Timur Ruby affixed to her crown. Today, ruby remains the birthstone for July.

Opal

Opal has dazzled gem admirers for centuries with its unique play of color. No other gemstone displays an array of spectral colors that shift and flicker with the light. The rarest and most valuable form is black opal.

Opal is scientifically classified as a mineraloid, not a mineral. Its play of color results from the diffraction of white light as it passes through the opal's tightly packed silica spheres that are only visible under magnification. The varying sizes of these spheres determine the colors observed. No two opals display color in the same pattern, making each opal unique.

Over 90% of the world's opal production happens in Australia. The country's dark body tone black opal from Lightning Ridge is the most prized, but white opals like crystal opal are also famous. Significant opal deposits also exist in Ethiopia and the US. Depending on body tone and play of color pattern, opal value ranges widely from $50 to over $10,000 per carat.

Conclusion

Some gemstones, from diamonds to emeralds, have enthralled humankind for millennia because of their unparalleled beauty, charisma, and permanence. Sapphires, rubies, and opals have adorned warriors and kings as protective talismans or symbols of virtue for ages, thanks to their rarity and allure.

While trends come and go, these five gemstones remain eternal favorites that retain or increase their value over time. As some fine gems become increasingly scarce, the desire and prices for these natural treasures will continue rising. For many, owning one of these prized stones connects to a sense of history, luxury, and even magic that will never fade.