#jewelleryfacts365 286/365 Diamond facts

Most diamonds contain visible non-diamond inclusions and crystal flaws. The cutter has to decide which flaws are to be removed by the cutting and which could be kept.

This diamond has clearly visible inclusions; some of them are circled in red in the photo.

Monday motivation

#jewelleryfacts365 285/365 Diamond fact

The most time-consuming part of the cutting is the preliminary analysis of the rough stone. It needs to address a large number of issues, bears much responsibility, and therefore can last years in case of unique diamonds.

The Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g), discovered at the Premier No. 2 mine in Cullinan, modern-day South Africa, on 26 January 1905. It was named after the chairman of the mine, Thomas Cullinan.

Nature's gems

Rare red-orange Opal from Ethiopia

#jewelleryfacts365 284/365 Diamond fact

Outside the earth, diamonds are also common. A recent discovery shows that some stars collapse on themselves, creating giant diamond crystals. In the constellation Centaurus, there lies a white dwarf, that has crystallized into a diamond 2,500 miles in diameter and weighing 10 billion, trillion, trillion carats.

An artist's impression of the white dwarf star orbiting with the pulsar PSR J2222-0137. Credit: B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF)

Craft day

What I knitted while taking a break from blogging...

Sold one-of-a-kind jewellery

Fleur de lis dogtag necklace

#jewelleryfacts365 283/365 Diamond fact

It was only in the last century that diamonds became readily available. Prior to that, rubies and sapphires were the most popular gems, especially for engagement rings.

15th Century [!?] engagement ring set with a natural diamond octahedron in a handmade carved gold and enamel setting. German.

Nature's gems

Apophyllite with Stilbite, India

Jewellery photography