Why is a Diamond so Hard?

Diamonds have long been traditionally used as gifts and in jewelry. Their brilliance is unsurpassed and most are very beautiful. A diamond is also the hardest naturally occurring substance known to mankind, which is why they are frequently used in tools.

A diamond is made from carbon that has had extreme pressure applied to it. They are formed deep below the Earth over the course of billions of years and are often brought to the surface by a volcanic eruption.

Since a diamond is in essence an allotrope of carbon, you might think that carbon should be just as hard as a diamond, but this is not the case. The reason that a diamond is so much stronger than regular carbon is because the molecules in the diamond have been rearranged. Each atom of carbon in a diamond is the same distance from each other and is close enough that they can not move. This forms a very rigid network of bonds that help to make a diamond so strong.

Diamonds come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. They have long been used in traditional religious settings and used as jewelry.

Blood Diamonds

In December of 2006 a powerful film called Blood Diamond was released in the United States. It is a dramatic film that helped to expose the way that diamonds are often sold by warlords in Africa to help them fund their armies. Also called conflict diamonds, blood diamonds have helped to fund many of the atrocities that have occurred in Africa.

While a work of fiction, the movie brings up some very real concerns. Several multi-government committees have been formed to address this issue. Most diamond dealers now take efforts to ensure that their diamonds are not blood diamonds. They generally use what is referred to as the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme, or KPCS for short.

KPCS is intended to ensure that only diamonds that are known to be from conflict free sources are purchased. Established in 2003, the KPCS is a preventative measure that helps make the buyer feel more comfortable that they are purchasing conflict free diamonds.

There are several requirements that a diamond must meet. Most of these requirements focus on the shipping of the diamond. Each shipment must be transported in a tamper resistant container and accompanied by a KPCS Certificate that has been validated by the originating country. The certificate must be designed in a manner that is not conducive to forgery, and it must be uniquely numbered and describe the exact contents of the shipment. When transporting this container, it is only allowed to be transported to other KPCS countries.

The KPCS has helped to reduce the flow of blood diamonds. In 2006 the KPCS monitored more than 480 million carats of rough diamonds that were valued at more than $35 Billion.

Purple Diamonds

Diamonds are a type of gem that is formed deep inside the earth over many billions of years. It is actually a type of carbon that is highly compressed. Since diamonds are so strong they are often used in tools and industrial situations, but when most people think of diamonds, they think of diamond rings. Most diamonds are clear in color, but they can come in many different colors.

Of all colors red is the rarest and there are only six known naturally formed red diamonds on the market. Purple diamonds are also very rare and they can also come in red, pink, or green. Natural purple diamonds are incredibly expensive. Recently the British Gemological Institute evaluated a purple diamond as being worth more than $27 million, which makes this diamond the most valuable substance on a weight by weight comparison.

Recently due to advances in technology it has become possible to artificially create purple diamonds. The process involves taking an existing diamond and using doses of radiation on the diamond until it changes color. After it changes color it is treated with extreme heat to help stabilize and set the color. This only works on some diamonds and often diamonds of less desirable colors are chosen to be treated.

Since naturally formed purple diamonds are so rare, if you are purchasing one that is billed as natural, you should be very careful and make sure it has a certificate. Also if you are at all in question about the reputation of the jeweler, it is a good idea to have the diamond checked out by an unbiased third party.