Did you know that diamonds were first discovered in India about 2400 years ago? The stone, which is considered by many to be absolutely irresistible, is actually billions of years old. And in today’s world, when many are asking questions about the real value of diamonds, understanding the history of diamond mining and its future is critical.
What are diamonds?
The very term “diamond” comes from the ancient Greek word “Adamas”, which means “invincible”. Indeed, there are no minerals in the world that surpass it in endurance. However, this beautiful stone has a deeper symbolism: love, romance, longevity.
From a chemical point of view, diamond is simply a special crystalline form of carbon. However, the strength of the material is so high that it dominates the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. Simply put, diamond is the hardest substance on Earth.
In its pure form, a diamond is transparent and colorless. And the first stones, discovered in India 2,400 years ago, were as attractive and shining as they are today.
Where are the diamonds found and mined?
For the first time, diamonds were discovered in India. However, their deposit was relatively small, the sources were quickly depleted. In the early 1700s, some more diamonds were found in Brazil. But, similarly, their deposit was quickly depleted, as a result of which the miners were forced to go in search of other sources.
In 1866, while exploring the banks of the Orange River in South Africa, 15-year-old Erasmus Jacobs discovered a huge diamond, which he initially mistook for an ordinary pebble. But after the find was appreciated, excavations began in this area. And the prospectors discovered a large deposit of new diamonds.
The deposit attracted more and more prospectors, and soon large-scale excavations began in the Orange River basin. The miners discovered a large spring, which was soon named the Kimberley Mine.
This deposit significantly increased the global supply of diamonds but led to a drop in their prices. By the way, today this mine has a not very euphonious name, the Big Hole kimberlite pipe, and is completely depleted.
By the end of the 19th century, diamonds were no longer considered a rarity and were even inferior in value to rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. To control the production and supply of diamonds, Cecil Rhodes founded De Beers Consolidated Mines, but this did not help much to increase the price. Only after a lengthy advertising campaign did the market recover. By the beginning of the 20th century, diamonds were once again the most expensive gem in the world, and demand for them was at an all-time high.
Today, about 50% of diamonds are mined in South and Central Africa. The rest comes from kimberlite pipes in India, Canada, Australia, Russia, and Brazil. You can also find diamonds in the USA in Colorado, Arkansas, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Future outlook
In recent decades, the diamond industry has worked to develop sustainable and ethical mine development practices. Thus, in 2005, the United Nations established the Responsible Jewellery Council. This was the first step towards adhering to ethical and business standards in the diamond mining industry. For example, the Responsible Jewellery Council has developed a set of guidelines known as the Kimberlite Process.
The Kimberlite Process was created to encourage ethical diamond mining. Many companies are now striving to implement environmentally friendly processes that will help ensure the safety and sustainability of diamond mining in the future. The norms of the Kimberlite process are observed by both small and large enterprises. The business is rejuvenating to create beautiful stones that can be bought safely around the world.
We work with responsible diamond suppliers
At Goldsmith, we pride ourselves on offering 100% natural, ethically mined diamonds. We purchase them from companies that work directly with mining companies and that follow the Kimberlite Process. Therefore, we are confident that our jewelry contains only the highest quality stones, mined in an environmentally friendly way and ethically.
Therefore, when you buy diamond jewelry from Goldsmith, you are not only becoming the owner of excitingly beautiful jewelry. You can be sure that you are also supporting a legal industry that has been around for centuries.
