We all know the saying "diamonds are a woman's best friend". This saying is without a doubt based on a true fact: women tend to be fascinated by this gemstone and the jewelry containing it. It is that fascination for the costly stone that made the diamond industry what it is: a strong industry which is time proof and immune to economic crisis.
This report is not about that fascination and trying to illustrate its reasons. This report is about the history of diamonds and the diamond industry in a nutshell.
Diamond
A diamond is a mineral primarily made of carbon. Diamonds are the hardest mineral in nature and the most brilliant of all minerals.
The first diamonds are said to have been discovered in India in the ninth century Bc. They were related with divinity and were then primarily used as a talisman to safe the warrior engaged in a battle. Diamonds where later found in Borneo in the 7th century and in Brazil in the 18th century but in insignificant size.
A vital source of diamonds was discovered in 1866 in South Africa. Diamond mines were then created in the Southern and central regions of the African continent.
The celebrated De Beers mining enterprise took control of most of these mines and finally formed the central selling society that controls much of the world's trade in diamonds till this day.
During the 20th century the diamond industry was plagued by the "blood diamonds" phenomenon:
Diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance insurgency or a warlord's activity.
The year 2003 brought the preparing of the Kimberley process certification task which is designed to warrant that stones sources are free of disagreement fueled by diamond production.
brilliant - History of the Most beloved precious Stone
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