What is Diamond?

If you enjoy the movies you will know that diamonds are a girls best friend and that diamonds are forever.

If you want a little more practical explaination, the Diamond is a form of the very common element carbon but the atoms have been arranged in a very stable lattice giving diamond its amazing strength and beautiful refractive properties.

Nature takes a lot of effort to turn carbon into diamond and does it rarely. Consequently large diamonds are rare and so cost a lot.

We can now make diamonds in the lab through three processes (high-pressure high-temperature synthesis, chemical vapor deposition and ultrasonic radiation) but these are usually tiny. However they have many uses such as in the manufacture of cutting tools.

In jewellery, diamonds are the top of the pile and in the west have long been associated with engagement rings.