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> Some diamonds were formed billions of years ago in space as the carbon-rich atmospheres of dying stars expanded and cooled. In our own planet's lifetime, hig

> Some diamonds were formed billions of years ago in space as the carbon-rich atmospheres of dying stars expanded and cooled. In our own planet's lifetime, high-temperatures and pressures in the mantle produced the diamonds that are familiar to us as gems. 5,000 years ago, a large meteorite that struck a carbon-rich sediment on Earth produced an impact diamond. > Each of these diamonds differs from the others in both composition and genesis, but all are categorized as "diamond" by the authoritative guide to minerals—the International Mineralogical Association's Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification. I can picture diamond cartel PR departments salivating over this story.

samizdis 6y ago
> I can picture diamond cartel PR departments salivating over this story. I don't doubt it. High valuations for diamonds take a lot of upkeep (I used to be adjacent to the trade back in the 90s/00s). This is an interesting article: The Diamond Trade: De Beers, Russia, and the Industry Today (2016) https://econ243.academic.wlu.edu/2016/02/16/the-diamond-trade-de-beers-russia-and-the-industry-today/ https://econ243.academic.wlu.edu/2016/02/16/the-diamond-trad... This is also worth a read, esp re marketing: ‘A Diamond is Forever’ – History of Diamond Marketing (2019) https://blog.jake.co.uk/a-diamond-is-forever-history-of-diamond-marketing/ https://blog.jake.co.uk/a-diamond-is-forever-history-of-diam...
- throw0101a 6y ago
  And don't forget the classic 1982 "Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?": * https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/02/have-you-ever-tried-to-sell-a-diamond/304575/ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/02/have-yo... There was a Reddit AMA from a jewelry store employee a while back that had some interesting tidbits: > Faceter (gem cutter) here. List of good-colored rare stones: […] Some of these might not be the best for an engagement ring, since they're a bit soft for 24/7 wear. The best options would be Padparadscha sapphire blue color-change garnet., with bixbite as a close third and chrome tanzanite as a fourth. * https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3asibg https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3asibg > If you buy from a big box store, always insist on taking the display piece. […] If you want a jeweler you can trust, look for an AGS certified store. AGS is a non-profit group that certifies stores that adhere to a strict ethical standard on pricing. […] * https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3ar9xj https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3ar9xj
Retric 6y ago
Impact diamonds are something of a misnomer as cubic kilometers of rock cool quite slowly. What’s interesting isn’t the formation of diamonds which are extremely common, but how they end up close to the surface without breaking down at lower pressures. Amusingly, despite the tag line diamonds slowly break down at standard pressure and temperature into graphite, they also burn at fairly normal campfire temperatures.

samizdis 6y ago

> I can picture diamond cartel PR departments salivating over this story. I don't doubt it. High valuations for diamonds take a lot of upkeep (I used to be adjacent to the trade back in the 90s/00s). This is an interesting article: The Diamond Trade: De Beers, Russia, and the Industry Today (2016) https://econ243.academic.wlu.edu/2016/02/16/the-diamond-trade-de-beers-russia-and-the-industry-today/ https://econ243.academic.wlu.edu/2016/02/16/the-diamond-trad... This is also worth a read, esp re marketing: ‘A Diamond is Forever’ – History of Diamond Marketing (2019) https://blog.jake.co.uk/a-diamond-is-forever-history-of-diamond-marketing/ https://blog.jake.co.uk/a-diamond-is-forever-history-of-diam...

throw0101a 6y ago
And don't forget the classic 1982 "Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?": * https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/02/have-you-ever-tried-to-sell-a-diamond/304575/ https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/02/have-yo... There was a Reddit AMA from a jewelry store employee a while back that had some interesting tidbits: > Faceter (gem cutter) here. List of good-colored rare stones: […] Some of these might not be the best for an engagement ring, since they're a bit soft for 24/7 wear. The best options would be Padparadscha sapphire blue color-change garnet., with bixbite as a close third and chrome tanzanite as a fourth. * https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3asibg https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3asibg > If you buy from a big box store, always insist on taking the display piece. […] If you want a jeweler you can trust, look for an AGS certified store. AGS is a non-profit group that certifies stores that adhere to a strict ethical standard on pricing. […] * https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3ar9xj https://old.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/noqmx#c3ar9xj

Retric 6y ago

Impact diamonds are something of a misnomer as cubic kilometers of rock cool quite slowly. What’s interesting isn’t the formation of diamonds which are extremely common, but how they end up close to the surface without breaking down at lower pressures. Amusingly, despite the tag line diamonds slowly break down at standard pressure and temperature into graphite, they also burn at fairly normal campfire temperatures.