Throughout the centuries, a shroud of myth has surrounded this, the most precious and brilliant, of all stones; the Diamond. Long before the diamond was used for jewelry it was believed to have, among other things, mystical powers and was often worn as talismans to ward of evil and for protection in battle. The diamond was also used in a decorative manner and was valued because of its ability to refract light. This was the first recorded history of diamonds and dates back some 3000 years to India.
"Unconquerable" is the actual meaning of the word diamond, which comes from the Greek word adamas. Unconquerable may be as close as one can get to the truth about the diamond since its anatomical structure makes it the hardest substance known to man. Thousand of times harder than the next hardest substance but contrary to what many believe, the diamond is not indestructible. Because of its crystal structure the diamond has both soft and hard sides and if struck hard enough in just the right spot it can brake.
Most people when asked about diamond will describe a diamond as a clear color-less stone used in jewelry, which is of course right but unknown to many is that diamonds come in several beautiful colors and shapes. The white diamond was for many years considered the most beautiful of all diamonds but this was about to change with the discovery of the Argyle Pink Diamond. Today the pink diamond is considered the most rare and valuable of all diamonds having been sold for as much as $ 1.000.000 a carat.
Other diamonds that can be found besides the white and the pink diamonds are; Green Diamonds, Yellow Diamonds, Champagne Diamonds, Pink Champagne Diamonds and Blue Diamonds. Although most people say not to use diamonds as investments this stone has shown to always keep its value. Unlike other gemstones and gold as well as silver seem to always be fluctuating in its value while the diamond, throughout the years, has stayed constant. As the cost of living rises, so does the average price of diamonds.
Now, more than ever diamonds are being bought for emotional reasons, like declaring ones love for another. Diamonds will last "forever", they keep their value as well as appreciate in time. The appeal of the diamond for most people is its ability to provide a lasting memory of a special moment. Now knowing there are other types of diamonds than just the white one, perhaps it will be worth looking into other types as well before making a final decision of what type of diamond to purchase, whether it is for yourself or a loved one.
Every one wants their diamond to always look its best and cleaning it about once a month will help it stay its brilliant self. Taking it into a jeweler to have it cleaned might not be an option for everyone but doing it yourself is not hard at all. All that is needed is a bowl of water with some mild liquid detergent, then scrub the diamond gently, a toothbrush can be used. Thereafter rinse the diamond in warm water and pat it dry with a lint free cloth. Liquid cleaning solutions can also be bought which are meant for jewelry.
Last but not least, when caring for your diamonds if you have several of them you need to make sure they are kept separate. There are not many things that can scratch up the surface of a diamond but two diamonds put together can scratch each others surfaces and create a lot of damage which will cost quite a bit to get repaired. Take care of your diamonds and they will "Last Forever".
