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Gemology

The science of gem stones


The History of Diamonds

Up until 1725 diamonds were only found in India. Many of the most famous diamonds come from India: Blue Hope Diamond, Dresden Green Diamond, Wittelsbach-Graff-Diamond and others.

Today India once again plays a central role in the world of diamonds: No other country exports more polished diamonds. 90% (according to volume) and 60% (according to value) of all diamonds are cut and polished in India.

Learn more

Facts and Myths

A sparkling diamond and a normal piece of graphite as you find it in pencils are chemically speaking the same: Carbon. Then why is diamond is much harder? And, is diamond really indestructable?

Mit 10 belegt Diamant den höchsten Wert auf der Diamond scores the highest value of the Moh hardness scale, yet, it is still 140 times harder than the second best, sapphire, that scores a 9 on the same scale.

Find out how it works


Exploration and Mining

High pressure and high temperature over 155 km deep within the earth´s crust are necessary to create diamonds. You can find diamonds in former vulcanic funnels "diamond pipes", in rivers that carry the rocks which have been turned into sand by thousands of years of weathering - which just left the hard diamonds intact. Diamonds are minded in open pit mines and underground facilities. However, you can also find them in the sandy coast regions of nearby vulcanic crates.

Interesting: The biggest man-made whole is the Kimberley Mine.

Find diamonds




Infographic diamonds

Diamonds are between 1 and 3 billion years old. Feel free to download our PDF infographic on diamonds to print out.  All the relevant diamond data at once glance: From diamond market to carat weight, about diamond color to how diamonds are creation within the earth.

Diamonds at once glance