16 Fun Facts About Black Diamonds Almost Nobody Knows

Do you like diamonds? Here are 16 fun facts about black diamonds that you may not have known. These curiosities about black diamonds are sure to leave you speechless.

Diamonds are one of the most highly valued gemstones. With them you can create luxury jewelry. And they can enhance the beauty of a person.

Diamonds can be so diverse and vary in color, size, and shape. Within diamonds, there is a category that draws a lot of attention. It’s about the black diamonds.

At Curious Planet we have compiled 16 things about black diamonds that you may not have known

1. A black diamond is a natural diamond that contains many concentrations of graphite, pyrite, or hematite.

2. Strange as it may seem, black diamonds are much older than white diamonds. However, they were discovered in 1840 in Brazil.

3. Natural black diamonds can only be found in very few diamond mines. Some of the mines in Brazil and Central Africa are known to contain black diamonds.

4. Black diamond is mainly composed of carbon, which is why it is also called carbonado. In fact this last name comes from the Portuguese word charred. And if you remember it was in Brazil where black diamonds were discovered.

5. White and black diamonds are very different. A well-cut white diamond can absorb, reflect, and refract light. The more polished and transparent a diamond is, the brighter it will be. On the other hand, instead of reflecting light, black diamond absorbs it.

6. The most expensive diamond in the world is a black diamond called ‘Enigma’. The diamond weighs 555.55 carats and sold for $4.28 million at auction. 

7. The Enigma diamond, with 55 faces, is also the world’s largest cut diamond ever to be auctioned, according to the Guinness World Record . It is heavier than the Great Star of Africa (530.2 carats) and the Golden Jubilee, with its 545.67 carats.

8. Some claim that black diamonds are mined from greater depths than other diamonds. It is estimated that they are located between 140 and 190 kilometers deep. Their dark color is due to the high pressures and temperatures to which they are subjected.

9. Do black diamonds come from space ? This is one of the most popular theories. They are said to have arrived inside an asteroid. 

10. Another theory suggests that a supernova explosion gave rise to black diamonds. The wreckage eventually shot across Earth.

11. The black diamond stone is the hardest stone that exists . On the Mosh scale, the diamond is at number 10, which shows the maximum hardness of the rock.

12. During the 1860s, black diamonds were used to excavate rock in mining operations. However, for some time now, black diamonds have been crafted so that they can be worn as jewelry. 

13. Did you know there are fake black diamonds? That’s right, not all black diamonds have the same origin. There are diamonds that have turned black over time. Understandably, diamonds that are not black in origin are cheaper. This class of diamonds were of another color and when heated to high temperatures they charred. 

14. Natural black diamonds are very rare . The natural black color is produced by the inclusion of graphite in the crystal structure during the formation of the gem millions of years ago. That is the difference, because the structure is the same for all diamonds.

15. To know if a black diamond is natural or real, you must make sure that its color is uniform. Natural black diamonds are also often difficult to polish and cut. Another characteristic is that its surface can be porous.

16. A 1 carat black diamond will be smaller than a 1 carat white diamond . The reason is that black diamonds are denser (or thicker). Carat refers to the weight of the diamond and not the size. 

What do you think of these curious facts about diamonds?

Article originally published on planetacurioso.com.