Anything extremely rare is also precious. Diamonds, formed thousands of years ago, are rare in that only a few survived the journey from the depths of the earth to reach the earth’s surface. Indeed, you may be surprised to learn that even though diamond production has increased in recent years, it is estimated that as little as 350 tons have ever been mined in recorded history up to date. Of diamonds mined today, only about 50% are judged to be of gem quality. The rest, because of their colour and quality, are suitable only for industrial purposes. Even fewer are large enough to be cut into diamonds that are much bigger than the head of a match. Approximately 250 tons of ore must be mined and processed from the average Kimberlite pipe in order to produce a one carat polished diamond of gem quality. Before a diamond reaches a woman’s hand, it will probably touch at least four continents and the lives of hundreds of people. The expertise of many skilled and experienced craftsmen is necessary for the complicated process of extracting and finishing a diamond.
