Diamond

The mineral diamond is a crystalline form, or allotrope, of carbon (other allotropes of carbon include graphite, fullerene and ceraphite). It is one of the most known and most useful of more than 3,000 known minerals. Diamonds are renowned for their superlative physical qualities, especially their hardness—the word "diamond" derives from the ancient Greek adamas (αδάμας; "impossible to tame")—and their high dispersion of light. These properties and others make diamond valued for use in jewelry and a variety of industrial applications. Most diamonds are mined from volcanic pipes, where they have been deposited by deep-origin volcanoes drawing material from over 90 miles (150 km) deep within the Earth, where the pressure and temperature is suitable for diamond formation. Most diamonds are mined in central and southern Africa, although significant deposits have

Symbolism

Because of their extraordinary physical properties, diamonds have been used symbolically since near the time of their first discovery. Perhaps the earliest symbolic use of diamonds was as the eyes of Hindu devotional statues. The diamonds themselves were thought to be endowments from the gods and were therefore cherished. The point at which diamonds began to be associated with divinity is not known, but early texts indicate that it was recognized in India since at least 400 BC. It is said the Greeks believed diamonds were tears of the gods; the Romans believed they were splinters of fallen stars. Many long dead cultures have sought to explain diamond's superlative properties through divine or mystical affiliations.

Related Topics:
Hindu - India - 400 BC - Greeks - Romans

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In western culture, diamonds are the traditional emblem of fearlessness and virtue, but have also often associated with power, wealth, crime and misfortune. Today, diamonds are used to symbolize eternity and love, being often seen adorning engagement rings and sometimes wedding rings as well. The popularity of this modern tradition can be traced directly to the marketing campaigns of De Beers, starting in 1938. The diamond engagement ring is, however, not an original invention of De Beers. It can be traced to the marriage of Maximilian I (then Archduke of Austria) to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. Other early examples of betrothal jewels incorporating diamonds include the Bridal Crown of Blanche (ca. 1370-1380) and the Heftlein brooch of Vienna (ca. 1430-1440), a pictorial piece depicting a wedding couple. Inaccessibility of diamonds to the vast majority of the population limited the popularity of diamonds as betrothal jewels during this period.

Related Topics:
Engagement ring - Wedding ring - 1938 - Maximilian I - Austria - Mary of Burgundy - 1477 - 1370 - 1380 - 1430 - 1440

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Diamonds were also a symbol of gay community in the 1950s. The Mattachine Society, one of the first and the foremost gay rights groups in the United States, used so-called harlequin diamonds (four smaller diamonds arranged in a pattern to form one larger diamond) as their emblem.

Related Topics:
Gay community - 1950s - Mattachine Society - Gay rights - Emblem

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The LifeGem company further taps modern symbolism by offering to synthetically convert the carbonized remains of people or pets into "memorial diamonds". However, many people feel very uncomfortable at the thought of wearing the carbonized remains of people as jewelry.

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The diamond is the birthstone for people born in the month of April, and is also used as the symbol of a sixty year anniversary, such as a Diamond Jubilee (see hierarchy of precious substances).

Related Topics:
Birthstone - April - Anniversary - Diamond Jubilee - Hierarchy of precious substances

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Diamonds are a common focus of fiction. Notable pieces of fiction include Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever (1956), Arthur C. Clarke's ' (1988) and Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age (1995). In addition, diamonds are the subject of various myths and legends.

Related Topics:
Ian Fleming - Diamonds Are Forever - Arthur C. Clarke - Neal Stephenson - The Diamond Age

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