Diamonds – The Most Expensive of Twelve Beautiful Birthstones
A birthstone represents each month. Of the twelve gems, diamonds are by far the most popular and the most expensive. Why is this the case? What’s so special about diamonds, and how did they become the most sought-after gemstones? Let’s look at the story of diamonds.
A Brief History of Diamonds
The earliest recorded history of diamond mining was in India, sometime between 700 and 500 BCE. Workers found rough diamonds in the sand and gravel along many riverbanks. Due to their hardness, workers used them primarily for cutting tools. However, members of the wealthy class also used them for ornamentation. The findings were not significant but were more than enough to meet the demand.
Trading caravans from India to Europe began to include diamonds in their wares for trade in the 1400s. Diamonds became popular with the European aristocracy. By the 1700s, peasant uprisings displaced much of the aristocracy. They were now as worried about losing their heads as they were about their riches. So, the demand for diamonds fell at about the same time the supply from India declined. Until then, India was the only significant supplier of diamonds in the world.
In 1726, diamonds were discovered in Brazil. Although Brazilian diamonds were not as high-quality or valuable as those from India, they dominated the market for the next 150 years or so.
Modern History of Diamonds
The first diamond, the Eureka Diamond, was found in South Africa on the banks of the Orange River in 1866. In 1869, an 83.5-carat diamond was found on a farm owned by Dutch settlers Diederik Arnoldus de Beer and his brother Johannes Nicolaas de Beer. Within a month, two to three thousand men were digging in the area, looking to make their fortune in diamonds.
In 1888, various smaller mining enterprises merged to form DeBeers Consolidated Mines. Thus began DeBeers’ monopoly of the diamond industry, which ended in 2005 with an antitrust lawsuit in the United States, which cost the DeBeers company US$295 million.
Although many countries are involved in diamond mining today, as evidenced in the chart below, Antwerp, Belgium, is considered the world’s diamond center.
Current Supplier Countries
The following chart is a partial list of the top 12 of 23 diamond-producing countries by carats for 2022.
Country | Carats | US$ | $/Carat | Country Size in Square Km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russia | 41,923,910 | $ 3,550,000,000 | $ 84.77 | 17,080,000 |
| Botswana | 24,509,939 | 4,700,000,000 | 191.77 | 581,740 |
| Canada | 16,249,218 | 1,880,000,000 | 115.56 | 9,980,000 |
| DR Congo | 9,908,988 | 64,960,000 | 6.56 | 2,340,000 |
| South Africa | 9,660,233 | 1,540,000,000 | 159.31 | 1,220,000 |
| Angola | 8,763,309 | 1,970,000,000 | 224.26 | 1,250,000 |
| Zimbabwe | 4,461,450 | 423,610,000 | 94.95 | 390,760 |
| Namibia | 2,054,227 | 1,230,000,000 | 600.95 | 825,620 |
| Lesotho | 727,737 | 314,360,000 | 431.97 | 30,360 |
| Sierra Leone | 688,970 | 142,910,000 | 207.42 | 71,740 |
| Tanzania | 375,533 | 110,940,000 | 295.41 | 947,300 |
| Brazil | 158,420 | 30,450,000 | 192.18 | 8,520,000 |
I have some comments on the above chart.
- I was surprised to see Canada in third place. I didn’t realize diamond mining here was that significant.
- It’s interesting to see that the small country of Botswana is in second place between the two biggest countries in the world by area.
- The difference in the value per carat from country to country is enormous, from a high of $600.95 in Namibia to a low of $6.56 in DR Congo.
- Notice that Brazil, which was dominant before diamonds were discovered in South Africa, only made number 12 on this list.
The 4 Cs of Diamonds
Four characteristics decide a diamond’s final value: cut, colour, clarity, and carat. Colour and clarity are decided by nature, whereas the diamond cutter creates the cut and, to some extent, determines the carats or weight of the final gem.
Let’s start with carat. The weight of a diamond is in carats or partial carats. A carat equals 20 grams. However, the more a diamond weighs, the bigger it is. The diamond cutter will reduce the carat by cutting and shaping the final finished product.
A diamond’s colour can vary from colourless to black. Most gem diamonds have a tinge of yellow, while the most valuable are pale blue. The normal colour range is between white and pale yellow or brown.
Clarity refers to the absence of blemishes or inclusions in the diamond. The more clear and precise the diamond, the more valuable it is.
Finally, let’s discuss the cut. Diamond cutters are professionals who must be very precise and steady-handed when working with rough diamonds. They create a finished diamond to fit a ring or some other piece of jewellery. They may have done the same design previously, or it may be a custom order. Whichever the situation, the customer expects perfection. There is no room for error.
All four of the above characteristics are essential in the quality and ultimate value of the finished product.
Why Diamonds Are So Popular
As seen in the chart above, diamonds are not particularly rare, at least in their rough state. So why are they so expensive, and why does every woman in the Western world think she needs one? Some of the expense is due to the work of the diamond cutter, who turns a rough diamond into a work of art. However, the continued popularity of diamonds, especially among women, is because of a very creative marketing campaign.
As the demand for diamonds was again declining in the mid-20th century, the diamond industry had to take action to maintain production and profit. After all, newer and cheaper methods were being developed to bring diamonds to the surface. Supply was increasing while demand was decreasing. That just wouldn’t do.
Along comes the advertising slogan “Diamonds Are Forever” by DeBeers. And then they likened it to love. “Diamonds Are Forever” equals “Love Is Forever”. Well, what a concept! And the bigger the diamond, the greater the love. It was ingenious! Now, his and her diamond rings are a mainstay in every wedding ceremony, and if there is no wedding, many committed relationships. The importance of the diamond lies in its symbolism only.
Tips on Caring for Your Diamond Jewellery
- Keep it in a vault if it’s valuable.
- Wear it rarely.
- Don’t touch it, as the oil from your fingers obscures the lustre and shine of the diamond.
- Clean it often with only a soft cloth.
- Don’t let the cat swallow it.
And Now For Your Listening Enjoyment
Here’s Gary Lewis & the Playboys with their hit “This Diamond Ring”. Apparently, the “Diamonds Are Forever” equals “Love Is Forever” thing didn’t work out for Gary.
Lyrics
"This Diamond Ring" Recorded by Gary Lewis & the Playboys (1965) Written by Al Kooper, Bob Brass, and Irwin Levine Who wants to buy This diamond ring? She took it off her finger now It doesn't mean a thing This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore And this diamond ring doesn't mean what it did before So if you've got someone whose love is true Let it shine for you This stone is genuine Like love should be And if your baby's truer than My baby was to me This diamond ring can be something beautiful And this diamond ring can be dreams that are coming true And then your heart won't have to break like mine did If there's love behind it This diamond ring can mean something beautiful And this diamond ring can be dreams that are coming true And then your heart won't have to break like mine did If there's love behind it This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore And this diamond ring doesn't mean what it did before So if you've got someone whose love is true Let it shine for you This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore And this diamond ring doesn't mean what it did before
The above essay is for entertainment and English language study only. For suggestions on how to use this post to improve your English reading and listening comprehension, click here.
Vocabulary
- birthstone – noun; a gemstone popularly associated with the month of one’s birth; E.g., the ruby is the birthstone for July
- sought-after – adjective; in high demand; generally desired or coveted; something that everyone wants
- BCE – abbreviation; before the Common Era; previously BC (before Christ)
- wares – noun pl; articles for sale; things for sale
- ornamentation – noun; a thing used or serving to adorn; something to attract or add beauty
- aristocracy – noun; the highest class in society; the nobility; kings, queens, and other royalty
- displaced – adjective; a refugee or person forced to leave his or her home country because of war, persecution, etc.; forced to give up their power and wealth (in this context)
- enterprises – noun pl; an undertaking, esp. a bold or difficult one, a risky business
- merged – transitive verb (merge); combine or be combined; make several smaller companies into one big company (in this context)
- monopoly – noun; the exclusive possession or control of the trade in a commodity or service; the only company with no competitors
- antitrust – adjective; US (of a law etc.); opposed to or controlling trusts or other monopolies; to breakup very large companies that control an industry into smaller companies to encourage competition
- evidenced – transitive verb; be evidence or; demonstrate; as can be seen or observed (in this context)
- blemishes – noun pl; a flaw or defect; makes something less than perrfect
- inclusions – a body or particle distinct from the substance in which it is embedded; a foreign particle inside the diamond (in this context)
- mainstay – noun; a chief support or principal element; a main part of the wedding ceremony (in this context)
- symbolism – noun; the use of symbols to represent ideas; E.g., the use of diamonds to represent love
- obscures – transitive verb; prevent from being seen, heard, detected, understood, etc.; take away the shine (in this context)
- lustre – noun; gloss, brilliance, or sheen; shine or glow
Comprehension Questions
- How many birthstones are there?
(a) 3, (b) 6, (c) 9, or (d) 12 - Which birthstone is generally the most expensive?
(a) ruby, (b) sapphire, (c) diamond, or (d) pearl - What is your birthstone?
- In what country were the first recorded diamonds found?
(a) India, (b) Egypt, (c) the United States, or (d) China - According to the chart, which country is the largest by area?
(a) Russia (b) Botswana, (c) Canada, or (d) DR Congo - According to the chart, which country produces the most carats of diamonds?
(a) Russia (b) Botswana, (c) Canada, or (d) DR Congo - In their marketing campaign, what did De Beers symbolize with diamonds?
(a) health (b) love, (c) wealth, or (d) power - Do you have any diamond jewellery?
Resources
- Wikipedia
- World Population Review – Diamond Production by Country 2024
- Luxury Viewer – When & Why Diamonds Became So Popular?
