Little Known Diamond Facts That May Surprise You
The Hidden World of Diamonds: From Ancient Legends to Modern Innovation
Diamonds have long been celebrated as symbols of love, strength, and enduring beauty. Yet behind that familiar sparkle lies an extraordinary story—one that spans over the years, crosses continents, and bridges science, art, and human history. From deep within the Earth to the heart of a jewelry setting, these precious stones carry a legacy far greater than its glittering surface suggests.
Below, we explore some little known and surprising fun facts about diamonds—including how they form, where the most famous ones come from, the role of the Kimberley Process, and why most diamonds aren’t worn as jewelry at all.
Diamonds Can Burn
Despite their reputation as indestructible, diamonds are not immune to damage. They can burn at about 1,400°F (760°C) in oxygen which is roughly the same temperature as a house fire. Diamonds are pure carbon. The flame converts carbon atoms into carbon dioxide gas, leaving nothing but a faint ash. Jewelers are careful during repairs to avoid direct torch heat for this reason. In fact, the brilliant sparkle of a diamond can dull if exposed to extreme heat, a reminder that even nature’s hardest substance has limits.
Some Diamonds Came from Outer Space
Not all diamonds were born on Earth. Tiny diamonds have been discovered in meteorites and impact sites from asteroid collisions. These extraterrestrial gemstones formed when cosmic impacts created pressures so intense that carbon crystallized instantly. Scientists have even identified microscopic diamonds in space dust—relics older than our solar system. In a literal sense, some gemstones truly are “out of this world.”
Diamonds Reach the Surface Through Ancient Volcanoes
Diamonds reach the Earth’s surface via kimberlite pipes—vertical columns of volcanic rock named after the South African town of Kimberley, where the modern diamond industry began in the late 1800s. Without these volcanic eruptions that occurred over billions of years, diamonds would remain buried over 100 miles underground. Today, kimberlite sites in South Africa, Botswana, Russia, Canada, and Australia remain the most productive diamond mines in the world.
Diamonds found in Namibia are renowned because of where they were found. Unlike most diamond fields located deep inland, Namibia’s deposits were spread along the Atlantic coastline, buried beneath sand dunes, and later, even beneath the ocean floor.
The Story Behind the Kimberley Process
In the late 20th century, the world was shaken by reports of “conflict diamonds”—rough diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance violence, particularly in parts of Africa. In response, governments, industry leaders, and human rights organizations came together to create the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) in 2003.
This international system requires every shipment of rough diamonds to carry a government-issued certificate verifying it is conflict-free. Today, more than 80 countries participate, representing over 99% of global diamond production.
While not perfect—it doesn’t yet address all ethical or environmental issues—the Kimberley Process remains a crucial foundation for responsible sourcing and transparency in the diamond trade.
There May Be “Diamond Rain” on Neptune and Uranus
In the distant reaches of our solar system, conditions inside planets like Neptune and Uranus are so extreme that scientists believe it literally rains diamonds. The pressure and temperature are high enough to compress methane gas into diamond crystals that fall through icy layers like glittering rain. Laboratory experiments have recreated this effect on Earth, giving us a glimpse of the incredible forces shaping our universe.
Some Diamonds Glow in the Dark
Roughly 30% of natural diamonds fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, glowing blue—though some emit yellow, green, or even orange hues. This mysterious glow happens because certain elements, such as boron or nitrogen, interact with UV energy. Fluorescence doesn’t harm a diamond’s structure or value (and sometimes even enhances its whiteness), but it gives the stone a secret personality—a hidden beauty revealed only under the right light.
Two Diamonds of the Same Weight Can Look Entirely Different
Many people assume a higher carat weight always means a bigger diamond, but “carat” measures carat weight, not diamond size or shape. A deep-cut diamond might hide much of its mass below the surface, while a shallow-cut one spreads that weight out and appears larger.
This is why expert diamond cutters aim for ideal proportions—maximizing brilliance, fire, and sparkle rather than sheer carat number. A well-cut natural diamond can look radiant and larger than one with the same weight but poor symmetry.
Lab-Grown Diamonds Are Chemically Identical to Natural Ones
Unlike simulants like cubic zirconia, lab-grown diamonds have the same chemical structure, hardness, and sparkle as mined gemstones. They’re created using either HPHT (high-pressure, high-temperature) or CVD (chemical vapor deposition) methods—both mimicking nature’s own process, but in a matter of weeks instead of years. Even experts require advanced spectroscopy to tell the difference. What separates them is origin, not beauty or durability. Below is a synthetic diamond.
Modern technology allows scientists to create synthetic diamonds faster than ever. Using powerful lasers and extreme compression chambers, they can reproduce the same conditions that exist hundreds of miles beneath the Earth’s crust and tiny diamonds form in mere seconds.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has created a diamond 4Cs grading scale to measure a diamond’s cut, color, clarity (measures impurities), and carat weight. A synthetic diamond will receive a “lab-grown diamond report” while a natural diamond will receive a “diamond grading report”.
Diamonds Power the Modern World
Despite their association with engagement rings and red-carpet glamour, around 80% of all types of diamonds mined or produced today are industrial-grade, not gem-quality due to their impurities. These diamonds are prized not for beauty, but for their hardness and heat resistance. Diamonds are rated a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale for hardness. The Greek word for hardness is “adamas”. Diamonds are known as the hardest natural substance.
These properties make diamonds invaluable in cutting and drilling tools (diamond-tipped blades, saws, and drills), polishing and grinding materials, high-performance electronics and optics, and medical and scientific instruments.
Most industrial diamonds today are synthetic diamonds, allowing consistent quality and sustainable production. Only about 20% of all diamonds are pure enough to become gemstones—the ones cut and polished to capture light for diamond jewelry.
The Largest World Diamond Ever Found Weighed Over 3,100 Carats
Discovered in South Africa in 1905, the Cullinan Diamond remains the largest gem-quality colorless diamond ever unearthed. Weighing a staggering 3,106 carats, it was so large that cutters had to break it into over 100 smaller gems. The nine largest diamonds became part of the British Crown Jewels, including the famed Great Star of Africa, set in the Sovereign’s Sceptre. Even today, no other single natural diamond discovery has matched its size or legend.
Where the World’s Most Famous Diamonds Come From
Each great diamond has a story—and often, a birthplace that shaped history. Some of these gemstones are colorless diamonds, while a few are famous for their diamond colors. India was the first known diamond source and home to legendary gemstones like the Koh-i-Noor and the Hope Diamond. These early diamonds were renowned for their exceptional purity and historical mystique.
Brazil’s diamond mines brought the Star of the South which was a 128 carat diamond when cut. Botswana is a modern powerhouse known for ethical mining. Botswana has produced marvels like the Lesedi La Rona, one of the largest rough diamonds ever found.
The Spirit of the Rose was found In Russia. This gemstone is an extraordinarily vivid pink diamond. Russia’s kimberlite pipes have produced some of the largest pink and colorless diamonds in history. Russia is a leader in both gem and industrial diamond production. In Canada, diamond mines are celebrated for environmentally responsible operations and pristine, conflict-free stones.
Most rough and polished diamonds entering the United States come through New York’s customs system. New York’s Diamond District handles over 90% of diamonds imported into the United States. This Diamond District has one of the world’s highest concentrations of the diamond industry with diamond cutters, setters, wholesalers, dealers, designers, etc.
The Diamond Engagement Ring Tradition Is Surprisingly Modern
For most of history, diamond jewelry was reserved for royalty and the elite until the mid-20th century. In 1947, the De Beers marketing campaign introduced the slogan “A diamond is forever,” forever changing how we view love and commitment. The idea that an engagement ring “should” be a diamond engagement ring was born from this cultural shift. It’s a brilliant reminder of how storytelling can turn a gemstone into a global symbol of romance.
In the End: The Many Lives of a Diamond
Every diamond, whether set in a ring, embedded in a surgical instrument, or orbiting in a meteorite, tells a story of endurance and transformation. From their fiery origins beneath the Earth to their brilliance in human hands, diamonds bridge the ancient and the modern, the romantic and the scientific.
Diamonds are far more than symbols of beauty. They are testaments to creation, innovation, and the ongoing quest to turn pressure into brilliance.
Finally
In a world where every diamond carries its own remarkable history, from ancient origins to modern craftsmanship, choosing the right one becomes a deeply personal journey. That’s why we invite you to visit E.D. Marshall Jewelers, where our knowledgeable jewelers are here to guide you with expertise, honesty, and genuine passion for the craft.
Whether you’re searching for a timeless diamond engagement ring, wanting to create a custom ring, exploring the sparkle of fancy-colored gemstones, or simply wanting to learn more about what makes each diamond unique, we’ll help you find the piece that truly speaks to you. Stop by and experience the difference of working with a team that cares as much about your story, as the one your diamond will tell for generations.