The Top 6 Misconceptions About Diamonds

Even though diamonds are the world’s most famous gemstone, there are still some misconceptions about them out there. Here are the top 6 misconceptions about diamonds. 

Misconception #1: Diamonds are rare.

In general, diamonds are not rare. Diamonds are some of the most common gemstones found. There are plenty of other rarer gemstones – in fact, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies are much rarer than diamonds. However, there are certain types of diamonds that are rare, like fancy pink diamonds and fancy blue diamonds.  

You may be wondering why diamonds can be so expensive if they are not rare. Demand is a large factor that goes into the pricing of diamonds. Everyone wants a diamond engagement ring or diamond jewelry. Another factor that goes into the cost of diamonds is mining, cutting, and polishing the stones. Cutting a rough diamond into a beautiful, sparkling stone is truly an art.  

Misconception #2: Most diamonds come from Africa.  

A 2019 report from the United States Geological Survey found that Russia mined the most diamonds - 25,000, to be exact, followed by Canada. Botswana was the third largest diamond producer. The fourth largest diamond producer in 2019 was South Africa.     

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Misconception #3: Diamonds do not break.  

While diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring material, this does not mean that they cannot chip or break. Hardness only measures a material’s relative resistance to scratching, not breaking.  

It’s important to remove your diamond jewelry before doing any strenuous work to prevent chipping. Take extra care with engagement rings that have sharp edges, like pear-cut diamond engagement rings or princess-cut diamond engagement rings. 

Another way you can protect your jewelry is with jewelry insurance. You can learn more about jewelry insurance here.

Misconception #4: Diamonds are made of coal. 

There are a lot of inspirational quotes out there involving coal and diamonds, for example, “Don’t be afraid of pressure. Pressure is what transforms a lump of coal into a diamond.” You’ve probably seen dozens of other quotes like this on Pinterest. In reality, diamonds are formed when carbon undergoes extremely high heat and high pressure about 100 miles below the earth’s surface.    

Misconception #5: Carat weight is the most important feature of a diamond.

While larger stones are sought-after, you should prioritize cut grade rather than carat weight. Diamonds with excellent cut grades (an Ideal cut for round cut diamonds and Very Good cut for fancy-shaped diamonds) will sparkle more and have an overall more beautiful appearance. You can learn more about the 4 Cs, which measure the beauty and value of a diamond here. 

Misconception #6: Lab-grown diamonds aren’t real diamonds.  

Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds. They are physically and chemically identical to earth-grown diamonds, and if you place a lab-grown diamond side by side with an earth-grown diamond, you won’t be able to tell the difference. The difference between lab-grown diamonds and earth-grown diamonds is simply their origin.  

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