Diamond Education/History Part Six
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008Diamonds are first recognized and mined in India.Diamonds have been known in India for at least 3000 years but most likely 6000 years. The most familiar usage of diamonds today is as gemstones used for adornment a usage, which dates back into antiquity. In the twentieth century, experts in the of field of gemology have developed methods of grading diamonds and other gemstones based on the characteristics most important to their value as a gem. Four characteristics, know informally as the four C’s are now commonly used as the basic descriptors of diamonds, which are carat, cut, color and clarity.
The diamond industry can be separately into two basic distinct categories, one dealing with gem-grade diamonds and another for industrial-grade diamonds, while a large trade in both types of diamonds exist, the two markets act in dramatically different ways.
Precious metals such as gold or platinum, gem diamonds do not trade as a commodity. Ninety-two percent of diamond pieces cut in 2003 were in Surat Gujarat, India.
The production and disruption of diamonds is largely consolidated in the hands of a few key players, and concentrated traditional diamond trading centers. The most important being Antwerp, where 80% of all rough diamonds, 50% of all cut diamonds and more than 50% of all rough, cut and industrial diamonds combined are handled.
The De Beers diamond advertising campaign Is acknowledged as one of the most successful and innovative campaigns in history. N.W. Ayer & son, the advertising firm retained by De Beers in the mid-20th century, succeeded in reviving in the American diamond market and opened up new markets, even in countries where no diamond tradition had existed before. This coordinated campaign has lasted decades and continues today; it is perhaps best captures by the slogan “a diamond is forever”
