About diamonds
Name diamond comes from the ancient Greek word Adamas, 2 p. adamantis - or "invincible". The very first diamonds were discovered in the river alluvia Golconda in India. Thanks to the former rulers and rich people were diamonds preserved in their natural state, and as perfectly beautiful crystals were very appreciated.
History
In India can be traced originated and processing of diamonds. In the 14th century. The first diamond saw Europe is probably due to Alexander the Great. They were at that time attributed to the more magical and medicinal properties. The method of processing diamonds at the time strictly concealed.
In the 14th century clear octahedron on a base of polished wood or copper, covered with diamond dust. But it was a long process. Later, irregular crystals began to divide štípáním. Stones were often shaped pyramid and to deploy the Rings. At the end of the 15th century, there were cuts in the shape of diamond, square, rectangle or rosettes. These shapes are also very popular in the 16th century. Remains of the splitting are also used in jewelry and religious objects. Larger chips are polished into rosettes with five to nine flats.
Polishing diamonds
17th century era records grinding in a variety of shapes. The stones were polished like ovals, drops, awnings and other, still used today cuts. Known cut diamond, which was owned by Louis XV. and that it should resemble the shape of the lips, the Marquis de Pompadour.
Many old buildings were later refacing. In the 17th century appeared cut, which was named "Rose la mode". This cut spent a great renaissance in the 30th of 20th century. Then appears another way, and cutting stone cutting. This technology has allowed grind one octahedron two stones.
Popularity of diamonds has risen particularly sharply in the 19th Century n.l. due to greater volume of mining, grinding technology, progress, and not least the increase in the global economy. Since then, diamonds have become regarded as a symbol of wealth and an economic insurance policy in periods of life.
In the mid-19th century comes to light the first modern brilliant cut through Henry Morsemu in the U.S.. He was later refined and mathematically described in 1919. Was thanks to mathematician and enthusiastic cutter Marcel Tolkowski whom still consider the "father" of modern brilliant cut.
Present
Round Brilliant
The past few years become popular diamond cut, which is called the heart (heart) and arrows (arrow). The reason is the view from above, where we see a typical view from the arrows and hearts. This is a precision grinding stone under certain angular and dimensional parameters. The stone is then very effective in terms of brilliance, fire and sparks. These thin sections are now in great demand and their price is obviously higher than that normally sold cut.
Currently harvested each year around 130 million carats (26 000 kg) per year in the price of about 9 billion U.S. dollars. About 100 000 kg are produced synthetically. These synthetic diamonds are very expensive and have applications such as optics, electronics and other special equipment.
mine
Approximately 49% of diamonds come from southern parts of Africa, are also rich deposits of Canada, India, Russia, Brazil and Australia. Industrial diamonds mined in huge open pit mines. Mining of diamonds, especially those in Africa, is often associated with controversial regimes in some countries, where they become the subject of black market in particular for the acquisition of military equipment of various militant tribes. These diamonds are not formally traded and given the conditions in which these countries (eg Sierra Leone) rule, they are called "blood" diamonds.
Diamonds have recently become part of the investment in the Czech Republic. Purchase of investment diamonds has been decades in the world of ordinary affairs, how individuals harness their available funds. Price diamonds on the market is not always constant, or constantly increasing, and therefore diamonds serve as a financial safety also a time of economic crisis when there is a multiplier currency depreciation.
Investing in the future - buying a diamond
The relatively small size diamonds will allow the active investment. Price quality diamonds VS1-F has increased from 1996 to 2004 $ 1900 per carat (CT). The only high-quality cut diamond is more valuable than gold 12000krát same weight.