MINED DIAMONDS  
Mined diamonds, formed by nature 3  billion years ago, travel the world in secrecy, change hands frequently, take cost mark-ups each time, finally finishing as precisely cut, beautiful gems, with mystique and romance, ready for retail.
       
ABOUT 85 MILLION CARATS (ct) OF GEM DIAMONDS WERE MINED IN 2019.   
       THE TOP 7 COUNTRIES:
  • RUSSIA
  • BOTSWANA
  • CANADA
  • ANGOLA
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • NAMIBIA
  • AUSTRALIA
  • Additional, though smaller, diamond producing countries include South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, China, Sierra Leone, Brazil.                       
  • Many TONS of dirt are moved to obtain a 1 carat gem diamond from volcanic pipes & sea beds.
  • After mining, diamonds are moved to other locations, often other countries, sometimes other organizations, sorted, graded, cut, polished & traded, with prices increasing at each step.

MAN-MADE DIAMONDS

  • Synthetic, also known as Lab grown.
  • The process takes HOURS to WEEKS.
  • Synthetics are graded like natural.
  • 1st synthetics made in the 1950's. 1st synthetic gem quality diamonds made by GE in the 1970's.
  • Physical, optical & chemical properties are identical to the natural.
  • Difference between synthetic & natural is detectable by specialized tools normally found in gemological labs.
  • 2 methods for making Gem Diamonds:   HPHT: High Pressure High Temperature.  CVD:  Chemical Vapor Deposition.

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MIMICS

Some of the many simulants of mined & man-made diamonds.  These are NOT diamond:
  • Moissanite - man-made
  • Cubic Zirconia - man-made
  • Glass & Plastic - man-made
  • White sapphire - natural and man-made
  • White topaz - natural only
  • White zircon - natural and man-made
  • Quartz - natural and man-made
  • Goshenite - natural and man-made beryl
  • White spinel - man-made
  • White Rutile - man-made only
  • Strontium Titanate - man-made only
  • YAG (Ytrium Aluminum Garnet) - man-made
  • GGG (Gadolinium Gallium Garnet) - man-made

BLOOD DIAMONDS   AKA  CONFLICT DIAMONDS
  • Diamonds mined by slaves in war torn areas, from specific countries in Africa, smuggled and sold by rebel groups to fund anti-government & anti-civilian violence.                   
  • THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS was established in 2003 and provides a certification and verification system insuring diamonds entering legitamate world trade channels are conflict free.