Diamonds

You can review the list, below, to find the diamond with the characteristics that you want, which weighs the heaviest in terms of carats. If weight is the only criteria, then just over 500 carats is the answer you want. (The diamond is listed, below.)

To date, the largest uncut diamond found weighed just over 3,000 carats. It fit into the palm of an adult man's hand.

Yes, lab-created diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds and are capable of cutting glass. They are similarly hard and durable due to their structure and composition.

Diamonds are mined in the same way any other raw material is extracted from the earth, using digging equipment, large trucks and sorting strategies which separates the desired material from the composite.

Raw diamonds are not purified, but once fashioned by a diamond cutter can be enhanced to 'bring out' the colour of the diamond. Enhanced diamonds are less expensive than naturally coloured diamonds.

Yes, diamonds are very hard and resistant to scratching, but they can still chip or break if struck with enough force in certain directions. However, diamonds are quite durable and can withstand everyday wear and tear with proper care.

Diamond cutters cut diamonds so as to highlight the stone's natural colour and clarity, while preserving the highest carat weight possible for the stone.

With those guidelines, the plan for cutting a diamond is designed to maximize the refraction of light -- using geometric angles -- taken into the stone from whatever source, then returning it to the viewer's eyes in as many ways and shades of rainbow colours as possible.

Only another diamond is hard enough to cut a diamond. Diamonds are the hardest mineral, scoring a 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Licking a diamond will not have any effect on the diamond itself. Diamonds are the hardest natural substance and cannot be scratched or affected by most materials, including saliva. It is not recommended to put a diamond in your mouth as it can pose a choking hazard and potentially damage the setting.

No, CCl4 is not a diamond. CCl4 is a molecule composed of one carbon atom and four chlorine atoms, known as carbon tetrachloride. Diamonds are made of pure carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure.

Some diamonds are coloured based on the inclusion of other minerals within the carbon crystal: nitrogen being most common, which gives diamonds a yellow cast.

In the case of a red diamond, however, it is the type of diamond, a Type IIa, which gives it its colour. Type IIa diamonds are coloured based on 'structural anomalies" that exist in the stone based on 'plastic deformation'.

(These deformations are caused by the "non-reversible changes" in shape that occur under the enormous pressure required to form diamonds deep within the earth's mantel.)

Other colours produced by this natural phenomenon include pink and brown.

The field test for a raw diamond is 'extreme hardness'. Otherwise, pick up the stone and take it to a jeweler, who may be able to confirm that you have picked up a diamond and not another clear mineral.

There is no natural degrading that occurs in the mineral diamond, so its decomposition hasn't been documented.

One can assume that diamonds will be on the list of earth's assets that can last 'forever'.

Diamonds and emeralds are both precious gemstones that are prized for their beauty and rarity. They are both used in jewelry and are highly valued in the gemstone market. Additionally, both diamonds and emeralds are formed under high pressure and heat deep within the Earth's crust.

Fluorescence in diamonds is a natural phenomenon where the diamond emits visible light when exposed to ultraviolet light. This causes the diamond to glow in different colors, such as blue or green. The presence of fluorescence can affect the diamond's appearance and value, depending on the intensity and color of the fluorescence.

Blue diamonds do not conduct electricity. Diamonds do, however, conduct heat, in fact five times better than silver.

Both diamonds and graphite are produced naturally from carbon. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, graphite is a good conductor of electricity.

A crushed diamond is a tiny fragment of a diamond that has been broken or crushed into smaller pieces. These crushed diamonds are often used in diamond polishing and cutting processes, as well as in some industrial applications.

Diamonds are made up of pure Carbon. In fact, it's the same with graphite, charcoal, and graphine. What makes diamonds special is the structure in which the Carbon atoms arrange themselves. In diamonds the Carbon atoms link together to form a lattice of pyramids. The triangle, being the strongest geometric figure in the world, gives the diamond its unprecedented strength and hardness. Titanium Oxides give diamonds their color.

If you consider other minerals, such as nitrogen -- yellow, or boron -- blue, impurities, these minerals give a diamond the respective colour.

As well, there can be visible flaws in a diamond, which are inclusions of other minerals within the diamond crystal that appear as dots or streaks.

Diamonds have a very high lustre known as adamantine, which gives them a brilliant and sparkling appearance. This lustre is a result of their high refractive index and exceptional light dispersion properties.

One way to differentiate between diamond and glass visually is by looking at the reflections. Diamonds have a higher refractive index than glass, which causes them to reflect light differently, giving off more brilliance and sparkle. Diamonds also have a higher dispersion of light, creating colorful flashes known as fire, which can be seen under certain lighting conditions. Glass, on the other hand, typically lacks the same level of brilliance and fire as diamonds.

Diamonds can be cut so that the facets (planes) refract and reflect light toward the upper surface. The vast majority of the light entering the gem is reflected back by the lower or "pavilion" facets in the so-called "brilliant cut."

Diamond's tight crystalline structure slows light down like no other substance on Earth. The very dense pattern of atoms in the diamond, which is mostly carbon, bends and disperses light more than in other less dense material. The speed of light in diamond is cut by more than half, and this large refractive index allows diamonds to send light back out in a sparkling display.

One negative aspect of diamonds is their high cost, as they can be quite expensive due to their rarity and marketing. Additionally, the diamond mining industry has been associated with environmental and ethical concerns, such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and human rights abuses in some regions. Lastly, the value of diamonds can be artificially inflated by diamond cartels and the industry's marketing strategies, making it difficult for consumers to know the true value of the stone they are purchasing.

Diamond is a covalently bonded material, where each carbon atom forms four strong covalent bonds with neighboring carbon atoms in a tetrahedral structure. This makes diamond one of the hardest naturally occurring materials.

Professional diamond cutters use a mallet and diamond-tipped, hardened steel chisel to cleave a diamond along its natural plane, or use a diamond-tipped saw to remove unwanted material from a rough stone.

In either case, it's not the metal that cuts the diamond, it's the diamond tips: only a diamond can 'cut' a diamond.

Read more about cutting diamonds, below.